Cambridge’s New School of Music (NSM) this year will celebrate 50 years of providing instrumental and vocal music lessons and performance opportunities to students of all ages in the community. For 46 of those years, NSM has been located at the 150-year-old building of the former Lowell School in West Cambridge. On February 10, History Cambridge is partnering with NSM to present a program, called “Love Letter to the Lowell School,” that will explore 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, 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 executive 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. This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity:
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?
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 executive director of two different music performance organizations, I learned the position at NSM 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 a real hunger for music education and creativity.
What do you think makes the school special? How does it fill a particular niche in the Cambridge community?
What makes NSM 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. 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.
We are also 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.
As you approach your 50th anniversary, what are your hopes for the future of NSM?
My hope is that NSM 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.
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, 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 accessible according to standards set by the American Disabilities Act. 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, from 6:30-8:00 p.m at Lowell School, which is located at 25 Lowell Street. Registration and more information can be found at the History Cambridge website. The program is free and open to all.
About History Cambridge
History Cambridge started in 1905 as the Cambridge Historical Society. Today we have a new name and a new mission. We engage with our city to explore how the past influences the present to shape a better future. We recognize that every person in our city knows something about Cambridge’s history, and their knowledge matters. We listen to our community and we live by the ideal that history belongs to everyone. Throughout 2025, we are focusing on the history of East Cambridge. Make history with us at historycambridge.org.
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