The Thurston Consort Duet Ensemble, featuring Lisa Kempskie on violin and Laurie Strubbe on cello, performed for the North Central Mass Creative Network Summit 2025 Saturday Luncheon in O’Neil Hall at the Old Armory, downtown Fitchburg. This performance is the first of the Thurston Consort full ensemble and Duet Ensemble’s 2025 monthly, downtown Fitchburg concerts. These free performances are funded through grants from the Fitchburg Cultural Council and the North Central Massachusetts Community Foundation. In the case of our full ensemble performances, additional funds are provided by our donors from the Fitchburg Creative City Partnership.

It is a stated goal of Fitchburg’s Strategic Economic Development Plan that Downtown Fitchburg become the regional center the arts and culture with regular in-town performances attracting city families and regional visitors to our reviving downtown to enjoy cultural and civic events, our stores and restaurants. The Thurston Consort Duet Ensemble’s March performance will be on Saturday, March 8th, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Gallery Marquee. The Gallery will be opening their new exhibit, “Water: Currents of Change.”

In April the Thurston Consort Duet Ensemble will be part of the city wide 01420 Week celebration by presenting a brown bag lunchtime concert; date, time and venue still in the works. On Saturday, May 31st, the full ensemble will be performing a fundraiser for the Friends of Fitchburg Cemeteries at the Forest Hill Cemetery Abby Mausoleum.