NYS Music 202​2

Tag: Carnegie Hall

  • Carnegie Hall to Present The Music of Paul McCartney in March

    Carnegie Hall will present the 18th annual Music Of fundraising performance, produced by Michael Dorf Presents, spotlighting the work of Paul McCartney, on March 15, 2023.

    Paul McCartney

    Paul McCartney has been bringing people together for decades with his influential music, spanning from one of the most popular groups ever, The Beatles, to his group Wings, and of course his extensive catalog of solo music. McCartney is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and he has written or co-written a record of 32 songs that have topped the Billboard Hot 100.

    The Music Of Paul McCartney will feature Lake Street Dive, Allison Russell, Bettye LaVette, Peter Asher, Ingrid Michaelson, Glen Hansard, Lyle Lovett, The Cactus Blossoms, and Shovels & Rope among others, each performing a song from McCartney’s vast collection of songs. Joining the lineup are Grahm Nash, Bruce Hornsby, Natalie Merchant, Sammy Rae, and The Head and the Heart’s Jonathan Russell. Michael Dorf Presents, established by Michael Dorf in 2003, founder of the Knitting Factory and City Winery, has been putting on the Music Of series at Carnegie Hall for 18 years.

    What an honor to work with one of the greatest singer/songwriters in history and have him interested in our annual show at Carnegie Hall. We have missed doing this during the pandemic and looking forward to this special night. Of course, we will miss Rita Houston of WFUV, our longtime MC who passed from a battle with cancer and to whom we will also be paying tribute this year. Christine Stone of SiriusXM will be joining us this year.

    Michael Dorf

    Previous Music Of tributes has spotlighted the work of Carly Simon, Prince, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, and more. Every year, the tributes have sold out and contributed 100% of the net proceeds, about $100,000 from the evening to different music education programs for underserved youth.

    Tickets to The Music Of Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2023, are on sale now.

  • Empire State Youth Orchestra Drops Schedule for 2022/23 Season

    The Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), a prominent NY youth ensemble, has announced its 2022-23 concert season.

    The first event of their upcoming run is a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, October 30 which features the orchestra in full at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall performing Beethoven’s “7th Symphony.” Other pieces on display include Gabriella Smith’s “Field Guide,” which is described as “a musical safari into the natural world,” and an original student-led “instant” composition.

    Also including a three-event holiday concert series from December 10 to the 20th, the season will feature performances in the capital district up until June 4, when the ESYO will close out with a concert at Carnegie Hall.

    Empire state youth orchestra
    ESYO Music Director Etienne Abelin.

    This marks the first season as Empire State Youth Orchestra Music Director for Etienne Abelin, a Swiss violinist and conductor. “The season builds upon what makes the ESYO experience so unique,” said Abelin. “It challenges the most passionate young musicians in the region to see music-making as a joyful pursuit of musical excellence. This new season will carry this hallmark with a sprinkling of something new.”

    As director, he’s sporting a philosophy called MusicNOW which “allows for more curiosity and risk-taking, which are at the heart of creativity and our sense of well-being,” said Abelin. As part of MusicNOW, the ESYO’s 2022-23 season will include workshops for Soundpainting, a musical sign language which uses more than 1500 gestures to compose music live, something available as early as opening day on the 30th.

    Empire state youth orchestra
    The orchestra rehearses.

    Information regarding tickets and more can be found on the ESYO website.

    2022-2023 FALL CONCERT SCHEDULE:

    Opening Day Matinee

    SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

    Sunday, October 30, 2022, 3:00pm

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    ESYO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES

    Monday, November 7, 2022, 7:30pm

    Brown School, Schenectady

    Three Orchestras! One Incredible Afternoon of Music

    REPERTORY ORCHESTRA, STRING ORCHESTRA, & CONCERTINO STRINGS

    Sunday, November 13, 2022, 3:00pm

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA & REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRA

    Sunday, November 20, 2022, 3:00pm

    Carl B. Taylor Auditorium at SUNY Schenectady

    THE HOLIDAYS AT ESYO:

    WIND ORCHESTRA 

    Saturday, December 10, 2022, 3:00pm

    Massry Center for the Arts at The College of St. Rose

    Capital Region’s Favorite Holiday Tradition is Back!

    MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS

    Featuring ESYO Symphony Orchestra & the Melodies of Christmas Chorale

    Thursday December 15 – Sunday December 18, 2022

    MainStage at Proctors, Schenectady 

    Proceeds benefit the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders at the Albany Medical Center.

    ESYO PERCUSSION HOLIDAY CONCERT

    Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 7:30pm

    Brown School, Schenectady

    ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES:

    ESYO YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT

    Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 10:30am

    MainStage at Proctors

    ESYO SENIORS CONCERT

    Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 1:00pm

    MainStage at Proctors

    ESYO PLAYATHON

    Saturday, March 25, 2022

    Crossgates Mall

    SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT CARNEGIE HALL

    Sunday, June 4, 2022, 2:00pm

    Carnegie Hall, New York, NY

  • Joey McIntyre Set to Make Debut at Carnegie Hall

    New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre is set to make his debut at Carnegie Hall on Jan. 14, 2023, in a special one-night-only show.

    Joey McIntyre

    Joey McIntyre’s career spans decades, more notably being a member of the multiplatinum-selling pop super-group New Kids on the Block. Fans can expect him to play some of the group’s well-known songs, as well as hits from his own solo catalog.

    It’s been asked for decades: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? My answer is, have the greatest fans in pop history. And be lucky enough to pursue a career in what you love. From the pop world to Broadway and being raised on the great American song book, with hat in hand, I feel I have the repertoire to play such hallowed ground. I look forward to sharing this night with the amazing people that got me there.

    Joey McIntyre

    He is the youngest member of NKOTB.  Since their reunion in 2008, NKOTB has released three top-ten albums on the Billboard 200. On those albums, McIntyre has co-written more than half a dozen songs including “Still Sounds Good” and the anthem “Block Party.” He has also maintained success as a solo artist, starting with his debut album Stay the Same, which was certified gold and also delivered a top ten single.

    Joey McIntyre has also had a career in film and television, as well as in theatre. He had his Broadway debut in Wicked, and most recently in Broadway’s Waitress.

    Tickets for his Carnegie Hall show start at $39 plus fees and will go on sale to the general public Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. ET and can be purchased here. NKOTB fan club members will receive access to a pre-sale beginning Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. ET. Live Nation customers will receive access to a pre-sale beginning Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. ET.

  • Composer Blake Allen to Debut “INSOMNIA” at Carnegie Hall in November

    On November 8, award-winning composer Blake Allen will premiere his original work “INSOMNIA” at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

    The two part performance covers stories about two characters a century apart, focusing on the insomniac struggles of 20th century writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and Allen’s own character, the “30-something” woman Jeanna.

    blake allen
    Promotional art for Blake Allen’s “Insomnia.”

    It will feature musical accompaniment from the Argus Quartet, a string collective consisting of Clara Kim, Giancarlo Latta, Maren Rothfritz and Mariel Roberts, in addition to piano work by Chris Koelzer.

    The first piece “Sleeping and Waking” is an adaption of the 1934 Fitzgerald short story of the same name, and features opera soprano Cree Carrico as vocalist.

    The second piece, “Of Which, Tomorrow” features broadway performer Jeanna De Waal as vocalist in an original composition inspired by Allen’s anxiety and insomnia, based around a stream-of-consciousness text brought together during his 4 a.m. restlessness.

    Blake Allen has put together a decorated career, having performed on Broadway in “Tootsie” and Stephen King’s “Misery,” and in renowned concert venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He currently serves as musical director and collaborator for RuPaul’s Drag Race star Tina Burner.

    Information regarding tickets and more can be found here.

  • NYO Jazz Summer Tour, Debut Album “We’re Still Here” Announced By Carnegie Hall

    Carnegie Hall has announced the release of the debut album from NYO Jazz, We’re Still Here. Comprising young musicians ages 16–19 from across the United States, the album will be available everywhere June 24. The musicians of NYO Jazz will also embark on a tour this summer, including shows at Carnegia Hall and Chautauqua Institution.

    NYO Jazz’s debut album features a range of classic and contemporary charts

    Along with this, the album features Artistic Director and Bandleader/Trumpeter Sean Jones and special guest Melissa Aldana on tenor saxophone, plus an appearance by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. 

    We’re Still Here presents four new works written for the band since its inception. NYO Jazz’s debut album features a range of classic and contemporary charts that are hallmarks of its live concerts. Along with works exploring themes that include social justice, resilience, and the power of music to spark joy.  

    “We’re thrilled for NYO Jazz to release its debut album this spring—the first recording by any of our national youth ensembles,”

    said Sarah Johnson, Chief Education Officer and Director of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

    “It’s a tremendous opportunity for these gifted young players to train, perform, and now record alongside some of today’s leading jazz artists including special guest Melissa Aldana. It was especially meaningful for the musicians to gather for an extended residency last summer as it marked the first time many of them had the opportunity to come together to play in a full ensemble since the start of the pandemic”

    “With We’re Still Here, we are proud to showcase the incredible depth of talent and high level of musicianship of these standout jazz musicians from across the country who will help ensure one of America’s quintessential art forms is preserved for generations to come.” 

    “The big band has always been America’s orchestral format and one of the most wide-ranging ensembles ever devised,” said Jones, NYO Jazz’s Artistic Director and Bandleader. “It can convey nearly any style of music in a sonically stimulating and interactive way. This recording exhibits that diversity by placing classics by Duke Ellington and Neil Hefti alongside pieces that utilize the big band as a vehicle for contemporary American music and represent a wide variety of genres.” 

    “You close your eyes and think they’re all 20 years older than they are,”

    said Sean Jones who pays it forward through his passionate leadership of NYO Jazz, carrying on the tradition of mentorship in jazz. 

    The album will be released by Platoon and available for digital download and on all streaming platforms. Likewise, the album is available for pre-order here.

    Carnegie Hall has also announced the schedule for the first-ever US tour by its acclaimed NYO Jazz set to take place on the heels of the release of We’re Still Here. The NYO Jazz US Tour kicks off at Carnegie Hall on July 28 featuring GRAMMY® Award-nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn as Special Guest.

    NYO Jazz US Tour Dates

    July 28 | Carnegie Hall | New York, NY

    July 30 | Tri-C Metro Auditorium | Cleveland, OH

    August 1 | Chautauqua Amphitheater | Chautauqua, NY

    August 2 | The August Wilson African American Cultural Center | Pittsburgh, PA

    August 4 | Navy Pier, Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park | Chicago, IL

    August 5 | The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center | Detroit, MI

    August 7 | Wisconsin Union Theater | Madison, WI

    August 9 | John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts | Washington, D.C.

  • Rhiannon Giddens to Curate Carnegie Hall Series

    Rhiannon Giddens has curated a four-concert perspective series for Carnegie Hall. During the 2022-23 season, she will appear in four performances alongside a number of other talented instrumentalists. 

    Rhiannon Giddens

    The performances will focus on music traditions from different regions and backgrounds as well as the history of Black influence in American music. The first performance, “When I Am Laid in Earth”, will feature Giddens alongside Francesco Turrisi in Weill Recital Hall. Together, they will use a range of musical sources to showcase the wonders of classical and modern music.

    The following performance will bring together banjo players Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell for “Songs of Our Native Daughters”. Giddens will contribute to a tale of struggle and resistance while bringing a Black female perspective.

    In Stern Auditorium, Giddens and Francesco Turrisi will welcome bassist Jason Sypher for “They’re Calling Me Home”, a Grammy winning album recorded in Ireland during the pandemic. 

    Rhiannon Giddens
    Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

    She will conclude her perspective series with a performance featuring women and nonbinary members of the Silk Road Ensemble, along with Tuscarora and Taino singer-songwriter, Pura Fé. The final show will give audiences a taste of Indigenous North America.

    Giddens is an award winning singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist that has previously performed at Carnegie Hall in 2017. Her album, Freedom Highway, was the focus of her Sing Sing Correctional Facility concert. She has also appeared  alongside other artists on Hopes & Dreams, an album of lullabies written by NY parents through Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project.

    More information on the perspective series can be found here.

    Series Dates : 

    October 15 – 7:30 PM – Weill Recital Hall

    Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi: When I Am Laid in Earth

    November 4 – 8 PM – Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

    Rhiannon Giddens: Songs of Our Native Daughters

    January 24 – 7:30 PM – Zankel Hall Center Stage

    Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi: They’re Calling Me Home

    March 10 – 7:30 PM – Zankel Hall

    Rhiannon Giddens with Members of the Silkroad Ensemble: Indigenous Connections

  • The Indie Collaborative To Celebrate Earth Day With Performances From 20 Award-Winning IC Artists At Carnegie Hall This Spring

    On April 25th the Indie Collaborative (IC) will host an Earth Day Celebration, a night of blended music including jazz, rock, classical, Americana, and theatrical, at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.

    The Indie Collaborative

    This show was to first take place in April of 2020, but unfortunately it has been rescheduled twice to accommodate the safety and health requirements during an ongoing pandemic. Therefore, the performers are truly excited to show off their talents and make this Earth Day Celebration an unforgettable one.

    This performance will be broken down into two acts, the first presents the possibilities and newness of “The Beginning” and the second follows with the “Reality” of the situations. There’s only one way to discover what happens in the end, which is why The Indie Collaborative have worked hard to establish such an event with amazing artists.

    This show is produced by Eileen Sherman, along with emcee Grant Maloy Smith. Lastly these are the following performers: Alan Storeygard, Alex Otey, Amy Otey, The Bluestone Sisters, Benjamin Lerner, David S. Goldman, Elaine Romanelli, Helen O’Shea, Grant Maloy Smith, Jerome Brooks Jr., Leti Garza, Mike Greenly, Mowgli Giannitti, Noshir Mody (with his band, Benjamin Hankle, Campbell Charshee, Yuka Tadano, Ronen Itzik), Ricky Persaud, Jr. (with his brother, LilNicky Persaud), Ryan VanDenBoom, Sophia Agranovich, Thomas Hutchings, and Yocontalie Jackson.

    The Earth Day Celebration will be at 8PM come the day of the performance, but the doors will open at 7;30PM. Standard tickets are $60, student/senior tickets are $40, and Indie Collaborative members are $36 each. The IC discount code can be found in the members chat upon request for it. Additionally, full vaccination and masking is required, including at least one booster shot. For more information and to acquire tickets visit the Carnegie Hall website.

  • American Symphony Orchestra will host tribute to Duke Ellington on March 24 at Carnegie Hall

    The American Symphony Orchestra will be lead by music director Leon Botstein on March 24 in a tribute to the great Duke Ellington. The Duke Ellington tribute will be an all-Ellington symphonic concert at Carnegie Hall. The event will also feature American jazz pianist, Marcus Roberts and Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Catherine Russell.

    The performance was originally scheduled for March of 2020 but had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. In response to the pandemic, Marcus Roberts collaborated with the ASO on the short film titled United We Play which released in December of 2020. The film features three world premieres commissioned by the ASO and composed by Roberts.

    Duke Ellington employs a unique blend of classical and jazz compositional techniques that also combine improvisation with written works. As a result, this makes him one of the most influential jazz composers of all time.

    Featured acts for the March 24th tribute concert include Leon Botstein, conductor Marcus Roberts Trio Marcus Roberts, Pianist, Rodney Jordan, Bassist, Jason Marsalis, Drummer, Catherine Russell, singer All-Ellington program Black, Brown, and Beige Suite (Arr. Maurice Peress) Satin Doll (Arr. Chuck Israels) Harlem (Arr. Luther Henderson & Maurice Peress) Sophisticated Lady (Arr. Morton Gould) Night Creature for Jazz Band and Orchestra (Arr. Luther Henderson, Ed. Gunther Schuller) New World A Comin’ (Arr. Maurice Peress) Three Black Kings (Completed by Mercer Ellington, Arr. Luther Henderson)

    Tickets are available at carnegiehall.org. You can also visit the box office at 57th St & 7th Ave. 

  • New York Youth Symphony Releases Debut Recording

    The New York Youth Symphony have worked throughout the pandemic to create their first studio recording, set to release on April 8th. The recording features four pieces by Florence Price, Valerie Coleman and Jessie Montgomery. 

    The New York Youth Symphony has achieved something remarkable by creating and releasing their first studio recording. It features a number of member premieres, as well as work from three talented Black women composers. Recorded in the midst of the pandemic at the DiMenna Center in Manhattan, the orchestra had to be socially distanced, with one section recording at a time. The set up was created by Grammy winning producer, Judith Sherman. 

    A majority of the recording centers itself around different aspects of the Black experience. Price’s pieces blend African American folk with the European Romantic tradition she was trained in. Coleman transformed a simple song meant for a women’s chorus into an orchestral piece while maintaining the feel of a traditional drum circle. NYYS alum, Montgomery drew inspiration from MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech to create her piece, ‘Soul Force’.

    The symphony is made up of some of the most talented young musicians available, ranging from ages 12 to 22. While focus is on the performance aspect of the orchestra, at its’ core, the NYYS is here to contribute to the musical education of young musicians. Executive Director, Shauna Quill cites the recording process as “an important and invaluable skill” for students to learn.

    “We put a lot of thought and energy into creating a special project that NYYS students could accomplish during this difficult time. I couldn’t be prouder to have led this amazing orchestra in these performances, and for the resiliency of the students who always play at such a high level and with incredible spirit.”

    Conductor Michael Repper

    In addition to the new release, NYYS will be returning to the stage with performances at Dizzy’s Club on 3/7,  Carnegie Hall on 3/13, Scandinavia House on 5/4 and the Times Center on 5/9. More information can be found here.

  • MasterVoices to Celebrate 80th anniversary with Carnegie Hall performance of “Anyone Can Whistle”

    MasterVoices, the acclaimed chorus based in New York City, will celebrate it’s 80th anniversary with a performance of the Stephen Sondheim musical Anyone Can Whistle at Carnegie Hall on March 10.

    MasterVoices is an interracial, interfaith chorus based in New York City.

    The musical tells the story of a corrupt, small-town mayor in 1960s America. Vanessa Williams stars as the aforementioned mayor who fabricates a miracle to attract tourists. The cast also features Tony Award winner, Santino Fontana, as  J. Bowden Hapgood, a stranger who comes to town during the mayor’s scam and may or may not help uncover it.

    The show is directed by Ted Sperling the Artistic Director of MasterVoices. Prior to his role at MasterVoices Sperling directed the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, and was Principal Conductor of the Westchester Orchestra.

    anyone can whistle
    View of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim onstage during an event at the Fairchild Theater, East Lansing, Michigan, February 12, 1997. (Photo by Douglas Elbinger/Getty Images)

    “Steve was a friend, a great colleague and a mentor,” Sperling said. “He was delighted we were revisiting Anyone Can Whistle, which has one of his favorite songs, ‘With So Little to Be Sure Of,’ and he had agreed to help us with the project. The month ahead will be a labor of love, and we know his spirit will be with us.”

    carnegie hall michael dorf
    The rarely performed musical’s notable songs include “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” “Anyone Can Whistle,” “Everybody Says Don’t” and “With So Little to be Sure Of”.

    Sondheim, and his long-time creative partner, Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book, conceived the story as a treatise on the importance individuality in 1960s America. In particular, when faced with the inherent contradiction of attempting to remain sane in an increasingly insane society.

    While a product of the 1960s the show has been lauded for its timelessness. Specifically for its portrayal of an unscrupulous leader and the consequences that occur should a community decide to follow one. The musical also satirizes religion and science, examining their ties to political power.

    This is the first performance of Anyone Can Whistle in New York City since the Encore! series at City Center in 2010.

    Tickets

    Anyone Can Whistle will play at Carnegie Hall for one night only on March 10. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 212.247.7800, or in person at the box office. Guests must show proof of vaccination to attend the performance.