he exterior entrance of the New School of Music, a yellow two-story wooden building with white trim. A short set of white wooden stairs leads to a covered porch with a triangular pediment. Two dark red doors sit beneath a small overhead light, and a white sign to the left of the stairs reads "New School of Music" with a small musical note.

“Love Letter to Lowell School” is a Valentine to Culture and Community

By Beth Folsom, 2026

This year the New School of Music will celebrate its 50th year providing instrumental and vocal music lessons and performance opportunities to students of all ages in the Cambridge community. For 46 of those years, NSM has been located at the former Lowell School, at 25 Lowell Street in West Cambridge. On February 10, History Cambridge is partnering with NSM to present a program, “Love Letter to the Lowell School,” that explores the history of the building as a public school, civic center, and now a music school. In addition to a discussion of the various uses of the Lowell School building over the past 150 years, the program will also feature musical performances by NSM students and faculty, as well as an opportunity for the audience to participate in music-making.

In preparation for this event, History Cambridge spoke with Anne Riesenfeld, the New School’s Director, about her experience with NSM, her reflections on the school’s past and its role in the Cambridge community, and her hopes for its future:

black-and-white newspaper clipping from 1982 featuring two people playing acoustic guitars. On the right, Richard Layman, a man with collar-length hair wearing a dark turtleneck, focuses on his guitar. To the left, a young student sits with a music stand, following along. A caption below identifies the school and the program sponsor. — From the *Cambridge Chronicle*, 1982. Courtesy Cambridge Public Library.

How did you first come to be involved with NSM? How has your involvement with the school evolved over the time you’ve been affiliated with it?

My relationship with the New School of Music really has come full circle. I first joined NSM in 1995 as a voice teacher, shortly after earning my master’s degree from New England Conservatory. A few years later, during an unexpected leadership transition, I stepped in as interim co-director and discovered how much I loved the work. I went on to serve as Executive Director from 1999 to 2004, before stepping away to focus on raising my two young children.

Years later, after my children were grown and I’d spent time as ED of two different music performance orgs, I learned the Executive Director position was open again. I had missed arts education and the joy of working with students and families, so I applied—and ended up signing my contract on the very day my youngest graduated from high school.

I returned to a school that was thriving. Along with NSM’s longstanding programs for children, we’ve been expanding offerings for older adults, a growing community with what I’m finding is a real hunger for music education and creativity.

We are passionate about offering tuition assistance to as many students as possible at NSM. We are in constant fundraising mode for our scholarship program and are dedicated to ensuring that our fees don’t prohibit students from learning with us.

What do you think makes the school special? How does it fill a particular niche in the Cambridge community?

What makes the New School of Music special is the deep sense of belonging one feels here. As the only community music school in Cambridge, we welcome people from across the city and beyond—of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities—and our school reflects the diversity of the community we serve. Our beautiful, elderly wooden schoolhouse has a kind of magic to it, and people often tell me it feels like coming home.

I hear that most clearly in the stories people share. Recently, a woman in her 80s stopped by to post a flyer for her Armenian orchestra and told me she had taken violin here alongside her child in the 1980s. She said that walking through the door and hearing the squeaky stairs instantly brought back that same feeling—and it’s something I hear again and again. Families stay with us for years, and we’re now beginning to welcome a second generation of Cantabrigians through our doors. They build close relationships with their teachers and gain confidence in a space that is intentionally welcoming and non-competitive. That spirit shows up at our recitals, where every student—child or adult, beginner or advanced—is met with enthusiastic applause and genuine appreciation.

As you approach your 50th anniversary, what are your hopes for the future of NSM?

I hope the New School of Music continues to grow in ways that deepen our connection to the Cambridge community. I’m excited about expanding our reach and collaborating more with our public schools and with other local organizations. The arts and nonprofit communities here are incredibly strong, and it’s energizing to find new ways to weave our work together.

I’m especially passionate about our programs for older adults. One of my favorites is Memory Café, a free program where people living with memory loss and their caregivers come together for an hour of singing, connection, and (most importantly?) cookies. I never miss it. Recently, a participant shared how meaningful it’s been to sing again with her husband, who is living with Alzheimer’s—they first sang together in a chorus decades ago. Moments like that capture what we’re striving for: deep, genuine connection through music.

In practical terms, we’re also eager to secure a long-term lease on our beloved schoolhouse so we can make needed improvements and ensure the space is fully ADA accessible. My hope is that the Lowell Schoolhouse remains a welcoming, creative home for music-makers of all ages for the next 50 years and beyond.

“Love Letter to the Lowell School” takes place on Tuesday evening, February 10, 2026 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Registration and more information can be found at the History Cambridge website. The program is free and open to all.