The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s Music at Noon series has returned for the 2023-2024 season with The Lost Radio Rounders on Oct. 10. The rest of the year brings an eclectic lineup to the venue, featuring a wide variety of acts.
Carl Gutowski & Yalin Chi.
Since 1988, on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May, the free Music at Noon concert series has presented exceptional musicians with diverse musical styles. Returning in full swing on Nov. 14 is Carl Gutowski, a flutist based in the Hudson Valley and Cape Cod who has been performing in solo and chamber music settings for over 30 years. When he isn’t creating music he is a Software Engineer with nearly 30 years of experience developing software systems for air traffic control, publishing, education, e-commerce, and finance.
Joining him is pianist Yalin Chi from Beijing, China, who made her debut with the Central Opera Orchestra before moving to the United States to study at Interlochen Arts Academy. She has performed and worked with musicians from across the globe, and studied at Julliard for her undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Other performances at the Music at Noon series include singer/songwriter Alan Goldberg, performing a mix of originals and covers on Dec. 12. On Jan. 9, the Vermont-based Woodwind ensemble Heliand Consort performs, featuring a pre-show workshop titled “Explore Double Reeds & Piano: Demonstration & Instrument Petting Zoo.” Students will learn about chamber music and each instrument: piano, oboe, and bassoon, and how each of them operates. The workshop is free, register here.
On Feb. 13, Korean classical fusion group CelloGayageum performs, with a free preshow workshop titled “Exploring Cello & Gayageum through Korean Folk Music,” where students learn about Korean culture through sing-alongs and immersive activities. Musicians Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, Young Kim, and Paul Quigley perform at Music at Noon on March 12, featuring the flute, guitar, and piano.
April 9 brings Spira, a group made up of Jamecyn Morey, violin, Brittany Zellman, viola, David Bebe, cello, and Chrysi Nanou, piano. There is a free pre-show workshop titled “Explore Bowed String Instruments and Piano: Demonstration & Instrument Petting Zoo,” showcasing their respective instruments.
The final Music at Noon performance is on May 14 with Findlay Cockrell, an 87-year-old pianist, who taught music and performed at UAlbany and throughout the whole capital District, retiring from the university after 40 years in 2006.
For more information about Music at Noon or the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s upcoming programs visit here.
Lake George’s annual “Fridays at the Lake” returns in 2023 with music for all ages and tastes, at Shepard Park Amphitheatre. The series starts on July 7 and runs until Sept. 1. The concerts are free to the public, with opening acts taking the stage around 6:00 PM and headliners following up at 7:00 PM.
The concert series helps to deliver entertaining and high-quality performances to the Capital region. Located at the base of the Adirondacks, Lake George is known for its pristine views and historical importance. Originally home to three military forts, the town now draws visitors from all over the Northeast.
Along with Fridays at the Lake, there will also be a special benefit concert series for the charity Kelly’s Angels. The organization looks to help children in the capital region who have lost parents or siblings to cancer. “Summer-Lovin” will occur July 12-15 at Shephard Park in Lake George, featuring food trucks, crafts, and fireworks.
This summer’s final Friday at the Lake at Shepard Park, Canada Street, Lake George hits the stage this Friday, September 1. Ten Most Wanted is a powerhouse band based out of Saratoga that plays all your favorite classic R&B, Funk, Soul and Rock favorites. The heart of the band is a soulful rhythm section complimented by four sizzling horns, all laying the foundation for sensational lead vocalists. Ten Most Wanted’s mission is to provide unrivaled entertainment mixed with top notch arrangements, endless energy and superb musicianship. The series will end on a high note with Ten Most Wanted. They will perform from 7:30-9:30.
The Schmooze open the show, performing from 6:00-7:10. They have been one of the region’s premier party bands for the past 15 years. They will get the party started with their versions of rock pop, dance and country cover tunes that will have the crowd dancing and singing along.
All Fridays at the Lake are free to the public, and food and beverage vendors are on site.
Symphony Space announced its 2023-2024 season, bringing artists, writers, and myriad communities together for one-night-only, only-at-Symphony Space events that celebrate the magic and sanctuary found only in the arts.
Musicians will explore new sides of their work and their influences, and many will also pay tribute to other legendary performers. Additionally, other events will bridge the worlds of literature and performance with artists and authors propelling words from the page onto the stage. In this new season, Symphony Space gives audiences opportunities to experience bespoke events with leading artists in an intimate, one-of-a-kind venue.
Symphony Space
Symphony Space is a multi-disciplinary performing arts center where bold programming, presented in a uniquely warm and welcoming environment, forges indelible relationships between artists and audiences.
Their fundamental mission is to connect art, ideas, and community through their performances and their commitment to literacy and education through the arts. Known for an array of ground-breaking programs, including Selected Shorts, their immersive Wall to Wall concerts, and their innovative Global Arts education initiative, Symphony Space presents a full slate of original, affordable (and free) programming within New York City and in communities throughout the country through tours, public radio broadcasts, podcasts, and virtual events.
One of the most beautiful things about Symphony Space is we offer performance, literature, and music and embrace our identity as an organization of broad communities. That has been the DNA of who we are since the very beginning, when we were founded on marathon, day-long programming: ‘throw open the doors and invite the community in.’ This season, we’re excited for so many captivating artists in so many disciplines to bring their worlds into Symphony Space.
Executive Director Kathy Landau
Events held at Symphony Space typically fall under one of three main categories: music, literature onstage, and film.
Music
This season’s musical offerings traverse a spectrum of genres in thrilling and unique live performances. One example in the upcoming season is Black Opry, a home for Black artists working in country, Americana, blues, and folk music. The groundbreaking collective will be in residence from Nov. 9-11. Spring 2024’s resident musician is the legendary Nona Hendryx, whose performances span genres and disciplines, mirroring her multifaceted and ever-evolving six-decade career. Her residency concludes with a special celebration of Betty Davis on May 16, initially explored by Nona at Symphony Space’s Wall to Wall Women of Soul in April 2023.
The season also features two major events celebrating vibrant, world-changing musical legacies. Symphony Space will host a special celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the influential, music history-making record label Blue Note Records, featuring The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time GRAMMY Award-nominee Gerald Clayton, with Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Kendrick Scott, and Matt Brewer. Later in the season, Prince gets Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall treatment in a free all-day marathon celebration of his electrifying artistry.
In numerous concerts throughout the season, audiences can witness both rip-roaring and intimate live acts. They will also have the opportunity to see multiple Grammy Award winners, including Sam Bush and the band Cha Wa. Additionally, Symphony Space’s dynamic concert series Revelry returns after a pandemic hiatus. The Revelry series features local, national, and international artists across musical genres in an intimate venue where interactions between artists and audiences are part of the fun.
Literature Onstage
Selected Shorts is Symphony Space’s best-known series. It was conceived over 35 years ago with a simple premise: take great stories by well-known and emerging writers and have exceptional actors perform them live. It continues in Fall 2023, beginning with a sesquicentennial celebration of Willa Cather, hosted by influential documentarian Ken Burns, a longtime Cather fan. Another event includes acclaimed author Min Jin Lee, editor of The Best American Short Stories 2023, hosting a Selected Shorts event curated from the much-anticipated anthology. One of the most groundbreaking and beloved contemporary genre-crossing authors, Neil Gaiman, will also host an evening celebrating Ray Bradbury.
While Selected Shorts brings literature into the sphere of performance, special literary events this season celebrate beloved performers who have turned to the page to tell their stories. This programming features evenings with five accomplished performers introducing their new memoirs, including Leslie Jones and Seth Meyers discussing Leslie F*cking Jones and icon of the stage and screen Sir Patrick Stewart on Making It So: a Memoir.
Another exciting event is comedy legend Keegan-Michael Key and writer and producer Elle Key discussing their book The History of Sketch Comedy, which stems from their Webby Award-winning podcast.
Film
Symphony Space transports theater and art lovers to some of the most talked-about plays and exhibitions from around the world through its film programming. The NT Live presentations feature exquisitely recorded performances from London’s prestigious National Theatre. NT Live productions scheduled to screen this season include the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of King Lear starring Sir Ian McKellen.
The Exhibition on Screen film series takes audiences behind the scenes at the most acclaimed museums and galleries to see how the blockbuster exhibitions come together, with curator interviews, close-ups, and context that goes far beyond the wall text of a typical art gallery. Exhibitions on Screen will include Leonardo: The Works, which details every single attributed painting from the 500th anniversary of his death.
Additionally, other films at Symphony Space further reflect the institution’s passion for Broadway, music, and literature. During the fall, Symphony Space invites audiences to join the fun for sing-along screenings of 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, 1982’s Annie, and 1954’s White Christmas. As part of the Thalia Film series, Symphony Space will screen François Truffaut’s adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451, a complement to the Selected Shorts event dedicated to the author earlier in the fall.
Comedy fans will also delight in the return of Symphony Space’s comedy series that promises to incite heated debate among A-list performers, Uptown Showdown.
See the list of Fall 2023-Spring 2024 programming to date below. Many programs offer livestreaming options, and discounted tickets for those under 30. Visit here for further details on tickets, programs, and accessibility options, and stay tuned for additional program announcements as the season unfolds.
Symphony Space Fall 2023-2024 Programming
September 2023
NT Live – The Best of Enemies | Tuesday, September 5, 1 pm
Maria Bamford, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult | Tuesday, September 5, 7pm
Sing Along – Bohemian Rhapsody | Tuesday, September 12, 7pm
Exhibition On Screen – Degas: Passion for Perfection | Wednesday, September 13, 1pm
Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Song of the Cell | Thursday, September 14, 7pm
Leslie Jones, Leslie F*cking Jones | Tuesday, September 19, 7pm
NT Live – Life of Pi | Wednesday, September 20, 7pm
Thalia Book Club – Ann Patchett, Tom Lake | Thursday, September 21, 7pm
Amanda Gorman, Something Someday | Tuesday, September 26, 5pm
Selected Shorts – Ken Burns Presents Willa Cather’s America | Wednesday, September 27, 7pm
October 2023
Patrick Stewart, Making It So | Monday, October 2, 8pm
Keegan-Michael Key & Elle Key, The History of Sketch Comedy | Tuesday, October 3, 8pm
Exhibition On Screen – Leonardo: The Works | Thursday, October 5, 1pm
Sarah Cooper, Foolish: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation | Thursday, October 5, 7pm
Roxane Gay, Opinions | Tuesday, October 10, 7pm
Uptown Showdown – A Comedy Debate Series: Humans vs. AI | Thursday, October 12, 7pm
Selected Shorts – The Best American Short Stories 2023 with Host Min Jin Lee | Wednesday, October 18, 7pm
Sing-Along – Annie | Saturday, October 21, 11am
Sam Bush | Friday, October 27, 8pm
NT Live – King Lear | Tuesday, October 31, 1pm
NT Live – Frankenstein | Tuesday, October 31, 7pm
November 2023
Selected Shorts – A Celebration of Ray Bradbury with Host Neil Gaiman | Wednesday, November 1, 7pm
Thalia Book Club – James McBride, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store | Thursday, November 2, 7pm
Andrew Rannells, Uncle of the Year | Monday, November 6, 8pm
Black Opry in Residence
Chris Pierce | Thursday, November 9, 7:30pm
Kaia Kater | Friday, November 10, 7:30pm
Elizabeth Lubin | Saturday, November 11, 7:30pm
Exhibition On Screen – Munch | Tuesday, November 14, 1pm
Thalia Book Club – Sigrid Nunez, The Vulnerables | Tuesday, November 14, 7pm
Revelry – Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton & Dennis Lichtman | Friday, November 17, 7:30pm
Thalia Film – Fahrenheit 451 | Tuesday, November 21, 7pm
Uptown Showdown – A Comedy Debate Series: Brains vs. Brawn | Thursday, November 30, 7pm
December 2023
Revelry – Soule Monde | Friday, December 1, 7:30pm
Selected Shorts – Roz Chast, While You Were Sleeping | Wednesday, December 6, 7pm
Revelry – Mile Twelve | Friday, December 8, 7:30pm
Exhibition On Screen – Manet | Tuesday, December 12, 1pm
Sing-Along – White Christmas | Tuesday, December 12, 7pm
Revelry – Stephane Wrembel | Thursday, December 14, 7:30pm
2024 Schedule
Thalia Book Club – E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India 100th Anniversary | Tuesday, January 16, 7pm
Revelry – Cillian Vallely & Kevin Crawford | Friday, January 19, 7:30pm
Revelry – Queen Esther | Thursday, January 25, 7:30pm
Revelry – Hazmat Modine | Friday, January 26, 7:30pm
Blue Note 85th Anniversary Celebration | Friday, February 23, 8pm
Revelry – JigJam | Thursday, March 21, 7:30pm
Wall to Wall Prince | Saturday, May 4, 3-11pm
Nona Hendryx in Residence
A Celebration of Betty Davis Music | Thursday, May 16, 8pm
The Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce began its Music On the Erie Concert Series in Newark, NY this month. Throughout the summer, performances will take place weekly from a variety of artists in the Wayne County village.
Chamber of Commerce History
The New York government established a Chamber of Commerce before the United States went to war against Great Britain. In 1765, the New York Chamber of Commerce was established in opposition to the Stamp Act enacted by the British Parliament. Early Chambers promoted trades and markets, but eventually evolved into community organizations where businesses prospered.
The website of the Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce includes a mission statement, reading, “The purpose of the Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce is to do all the things necessary through the public services to encourage and support the healthy growth of business and industry in the Greater Newark Community.”
Music on the Erie Concert Series
Performances for the Music on the Erie Concert Series take place every Friday until Aug. 25, rain or shine. Featured artists include classic rock and blues band Roll the Dice, cover artist, and singer-songwriter Xarika Suffredini, and classic rock cover band The Marbletones.
The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College have announced the return of its popular summer concert series Upbeat on the Roof, occurring each Thursday from July 6 through Aug. 17.
This year marks Upbeat on the Roof’s twenty-second season, remaining a premier summer destination for the best music created by the region’s musicians. Different genres like folk, R&B, Latin jazz, classical Indian, and pop are all on tap for summer 2023. Included are craft kits for kids aged 5-12 starting at 5:30 p.m. Performances begin at 6 p.m. on the lawn outside the Tang. Bring picnic blankets, camping chairs, and food and drink, and in case of inclement weather, everything will move inside the museum.
The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College is a pioneer of interdisciplinary exploration and learning. A cultural anchor of New York’s Capital Region, the Tang’s approach has become a model for college and university art museums across the country, with exhibition programs that bring together visual and performing arts with interdisciplinary ideas from history, economics, biology, dance, physics, and more. The Tang is open to the public on Thursdays from noon to 9 pm and Fridays through Sundays from noon to 5 pm, with expanded hours beginning in July to include Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 5 pm.
Tang Museum.
Admission to Upbeat on the Roof is free and open to the public. For more information, visit here.
Upbeat on the Roof Lineup
July 6: The Albany-based band Blue Ranger reminds us that there are small moments of magic in the everyday. Formed in 2015, the trio has been crafting soft-focused folk that celebrates the beauty in uncertainties with an existential flair. Following their 2018 LP Saving A Beauty comes fresh single “True Blue,” where candid, autobiographical tales dance among a wealth of imaginary characters. The trio brings their folk-influenced sound to improvisatory heights in live settings, the product of countless years of moving sound.
July 13: For Adrian Lewis (The Age), making music is a portal into how he sees the world, piecing together fragments of introspection and humility, through a reflective and universal lens. Weaving together textural authenticity with his live band, The Age touches on themes of devotion, insecurity, and heartache with an optimistic flair, incorporating Neo-Soul tendencies and the electrifying groove of 70s guitar.
The Age.
July 20: Returning to Upbeat is the Hot Club of Saratoga, the Capital Region’s premier gypsy swing ensemble, playing a repertoire that reflects the spirit and style originated by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in The Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Most prominently developed in the 1930s and 40s Paris, this genre has been kept alive through a long line of gypsy jazz artists. Most of the tunes Hot Club of Saratoga plays were written or recorded by Reinhardt at some time in his musical life, hot swing music of the 1920s, ’30, and ’40s.
July 27: Also returning to Upbeat on the Roof Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra. Formed in October 1980 in Amsterdam, New York, the orchestra is led by the Bronx-born bassist Alex Torres. The 12-piece has performed its original blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bomba, Plena, and Latin Jazz at hundreds of festivals, performing arts centers, and events. The group last played Upbeat in 2017.
August 3: Veena Chandra is an internationally renowned sitarist, composer, teacher, choreographer, and founder and director of the Dance and Music School of India in Latham where she teaches Indian classical music. She has been a faculty member at Skidmore College since 1990, teaching sitar in the Music Department. Since 2014, she has also been the Artist Associate in Sitar at Williams College.
August 10: Zan & The Winter Folk, a Troy-based Americana/folk outfit, create anthems for the revivalists, lullabies for the lonely, and ballads for the hopeful. Paired with lead Zan Strumfeld’s vulnerability and soulful lyrics, The Winter Folk reveal a unique and captivating sound in both their recordings and live performances. Their first full-length album will be released in the fall of 2023.
Zan & The Winter Folk, photo by Beth Mickalonis.
August 17: Ending the Upbeat series is Nathan Meltz and The House of Tomorrow. Nathan Meltz writes pop songs about failed utopias, backed up by his band The House of Tomorrow. Combining influences from The Kinks and classic Elephant 6 bands, the band uses fuzzy indie pop songs to tell stories about communities, religious visionaries, and drug cults.
From never ending winters to erratic springtime temperatures, New York weather can be brutal. For communities across the Empire State, summer is a time to work outside, enjoy wildlife, and of course catch some live music. Residing in the southeastern corner of NY, the picturesque Catskill Mountains provide the perfect setting for local performances and shows.
Catskill Mountains – Taste of Country Music Festival
Warm weather means it’s time for residents in the region to trade in snowboards and skis for folding chairs and picnic blankets. Teeming with countless unique small towns and villages, there’s plenty of live performances to catch in the area. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best Catskill summer concert series and performances to see this year.
Greenville Summer Concert Series
The Greenville Summer Concert Series is a free, family-friendly concert series that happens Tuesdays from 6–7:30 PM at Veterans Park in Greenville, New York. The concerts are held at the intersection of Routes 32 and 81. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic, or buy dinner from Church Street Caterers. The kickoff event features the Michael Benedict Quartet and ice cream from Stewart’s Shops of Greenville. Other acts include Lustre Kings, Moonshine Mule, Dusk Til Dawn, and more. The series is sponsored by the Greenville Rotary, among others.
Voted “Best Place for Live Music” in the Best of Greene County Awards, enjoy Music in the Park every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at Dutchman’s Landing Park on Main Street in Catskill. Concerts are free to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy great live music on the shores of the beautiful Hudson River. If rainy, concerts are moved to the Historic Catskill Point at 1 Main Street. Presented by the Heart of Catskill Association. Photo credit: Keith Collesides.
Here for more details and information | 518-943-0989
June 22 — Guilty Pleasure—pop rock
June 29 — Lustre Kings—rock and roll
July 6 — Back to the Garden—Woodstock tribute
July 13—Lex Grey and The Urban Pioneers—award-winning blues band
July 28—Lex Grey and The Urban Pioneers—blues/rock
Aug. 3—The Lost Cowboys—classic country
Aug.10—Soul Purpose—Motown soul
Aug. 17—In The Dust—country & Western
Aug. 24—Second Chance—local rock heroes
Aug. 31—Dead Beats—Grateful Dead tribute band
Sept. 7—Alexis P Suter—award-winning blues singer
WINDHAM MOUNTAIN RESORT, WINDHAM
Windham Mountain Facebook
Music on the Mountain Series
Music on the Mountain takes place Fridays from 6-8:30 p.m. at Windham Mountain. This free concert series features local artists, cover bands and some of New York City’s favorite performers. Additionally, there are raffles, a BBQ and scenic sky rides during the early portion of the event. No tickets or reservations needed. Outside food, beverages and pets are not allowed. Windham Mountain is located at 19 Resort Drive, Windham, NY.
Here for more details and information | 518-734-4300
July 7—10 Most Wanted —soul/funk/R&B/rock
July 14—Soul Purpose—soul/funk/R&B
July 21—Guilty Pleasure—pop rock
July 28—The Four 26—rock
Aug. 4—Serene Green—bluegrass
Aug. 11—Rollin’Rust—indie/folk
Aug. 18—Dial Up!—1990s songs
Aug. 25—Die Schlauberger—renditions of German favorites
Sept. 1—The Outcrops—blues-infused rock n’ roll
RIVERSIDE PARK, COXSACKIE
Coxsackie Music in the Park Series
Every Sunday from 6-8pm. Concerts are free to the public. Pack a chair or blanket and enjoy riverside entertainment at the spacious Coxsackie Riverside Park, Betke Boulevard, Coxsackie.
Here for more details and information | 518-731-2718
June 25—Lex Grey & the Urban Pioneers—fusion of old-school blues & classic rock
July 2—Donna Tritico Band—mix of blues, R&B and rock
July 9—Nite Train—award-winning rockin’ blues, funk & R&B
July 16—Samantha Jane Band—jazz standards quartet
July 23—Hammerhead Horns—old-timey blues, ragtime and honkytonk
July 30—Playing with Fire—classic rock & roots
Aug. 6—Night Moves—classic rock; country; 50’s thru 90’s
Aug. 13—Silver Chain Band—playing BB King, Muddy Waters & other greats
Aug. 20—Nite Train—award-winning rockin’ blues, funk & R&B
Aug. 27—Lustre Kings with Mark Gamsjager—rockabilly; real roots rock & roll
RIVERFRONT PARK, ATHENS
Athens Performing Arts Corporation 2023 Summer Concert Series
Athens Summer Concert Series takes place every Friday night from 7-9 p.m. at Riverfront Park, 1 Water Street, Athens. Spend a night under the stars and enjoy this free concert series on the banks of the Hudson River.
Here for more details and information | 518-522-9470
July 14—Les Dudek—rock music legend
July 21—Dark Desert Eagles—world premier Eagles tribute
July 28—Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen—Grammy-winning New Orleans funk
Aug. 4—Double Vision-The Foreigner Experience—rock cover band
Aug.11—Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds—soul, rock, dirty funk
Aug. 18—Conehead Buddha—rock, ska, funk, Latin, reggae, jam, hop
Over July 10-21, Proctors Collaborative School of the Arts is hosting Rock Camp, a program designed to provide an environment for aspiring musicians (ages 10-16) to strengthen their skills, develop new techniques and build confidence in performing.
From 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, Rock Camp deals with several aspects of music, including technical aspects of instruments, the musical history of the genre, song writing, theory, arranging, rehearsal techniques, stage presence, and more.
With practical instruction from professionals, students are exposed to the elements of performing, arranging original music, forming a band, and much more. Additionally, a gig in the Great Hall of Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) to showcase their talents. We spoke with Crispin Catricala, the director of Rock Camp this summer, to learn more about the program, its origins, audition process, and outcomes.
Background
Rock Camp is not the first musical camp to be hosted at Proctors Collaborative School of the Arts. However, the origins of Rock Camp begin with director Crispin Catricala, selected specifically for the program.
Proctors Collaborative School of the Arts has had long success with their other camps like the Broadway Camp, Broadway Camp Junior and Summer Stage Young Acting Company. I was honored when, just after I had retired from teaching public school, they approached me to be the director for a new summer camp for young rock musicians up at UPH in Saratoga. With a bit of a delayed start due to the pandemic, we started our first summer session in 2021 and have been growing ever since.
Crispin Catricala, born into a musical family, has long possessed a passion for music, playing guitar by 13, and playing professionally by 17. Crispin would go on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition and a Master’s Degree in Musical Education, teaching public school music education for more than 28 years. Additionally, Crispin has worked as a private guitar instructor for more than 30 years, and has played in several bands throughout all that time.
Audition Process
An audition based program, Rock Camp requires musicians to record a performance of two songs that they feel comfortable with. However, the recording itself can be quite basic – according to Crispin, an iPhone video would suffice. Musicians can play along with tracks, as long as it is clear that their playing is separate from the original recording.
So, what qualities does Rock Camp look for in potential musicians? While Rock Camp is open to all styles of rock music, Crispin noted that they specifically seek individuals who possess basic, foundational skills, and demonstrate a desire to enhance their knowledge and acquire additional expertise. Critical thinking and active listening skills are important for applicants, but most of all, a love and passion for music and an openness to feedback within the creative process are necessary.
This year, 17 young musicians were selected to join the program.
A Typical Day at Rock Camp
The two week program runs Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm. Crispin’s detailing of a typical day at Rock Camp reveals the enriching, well-rounded nature of the program.
Morning sessions generally deal with either a guest artist/presenter, a lesson that deals with either your instrument or maybe a lesson that deals with music history or theory. By afternoon we’ve broken down to smaller ensembles working on specific songs and by the end of the day meet upstairs to play for our peers on the main stage and group discussion.
Rather than form one or two bands that rehearse a set of songs together, the program forms numerous combinations of musicians, making up several groups song by song for an evening’s performance. According to Crispin, this allows the musicians to engage with everyone in the camp and not be grouped into one ensemble or style.
Rock Camp is open to young musicians ages 10-16. While the age gap may seem wide to some, Crispin explained that the music itself works as an equalizer.
Once you start making music with people, age is not a huge factor. Plus, we’ve had 11-year-olds that have been playing since the age of five and 14-year-olds that started when they were twelve. So really, everybody has something to bring to the table.
Program Goals and Outcomes
At the end of the two-week camp, the groups will perform an hour-plus concert, open to the public at UPH, complete with incredible lighting and sound in one of the area’s newest and most beautiful premiere performance spaces. While the performance will surely showcase the talent and accomplishments of the program, Crispin hopes that the impacts of Rock Camp on the musicians will run deeper.
Our hope and our expectations are that the experience leaves everyone better at their instrument and overall craft. Also, that new musical connections and friendships have been created that could last long past Rock Camp.
For more information about Rock Camp, the audition process, and ticket reservations for their performance at UPH, visit this website. To learn more about camp director Crispin Catricala, visit his website.
Super 400, from Troy, NY, opened rock night with a strong 1 hour set. Playing together for over 20 years, they are no stranger to the Capital Region spot light. The trio were inductees to the Class of 2022 Eddies Hall of Fame. Their psychedelic and class rock sound really drew in the very adult Albany crowd. Towards the end of their set, they brought up singer, writer, and producer Sean Whiteford for a song. They crowd gave them a strong exit as they really played straight through the summer heat.
Sean Whiteford and Kenny Hohman – Photo by Jarron Childs
Lead vocalist, Moriah Formica, got her start in music at a fairly young age. She was previously on The Voice at the age of 16 in 2017. She made it to the last playoff round before getting eliminated; but it was enough to jump start her professional music career. Plush was formed soon after during the COVID-19 pandemic mainly through ads on social media. The young, all female rock band has been capitalizing on the growing female rock scene. From debuting their first song “Hate,” it wasn’t long before they were supporting acts like Kiss.
Lead by Albany native Moriah Formica, they did not not let the heat stop them from playing a full hour and a half set. Plush braved the humidity with a burst of energy the radiated well into the crowd. With lots of bopping around stage, they really brought the excitement of rock to the stage with their classic and hard rock rock style. Bassist and New York native, Ashley Suppa, seemed to be a crowd favorite as she really took up the as much as the stage as she could. Her and guitarist, Bella Perron, kept switching places which helped really stimulate the audience to keep on moving with them. Perron also had some great solos where she really used her guitar to bring the energy from some of Plush’s newest fans.
Even though they may have had a weird start, they had a powerful exit with their latest single, “Left Behind.” They took a photo with the crowd before greeting them by the merch table for fans to greet their new favorite band. Their great sound coupled with young energy make them really hard not to like.
The closest show the band has to New York is in Atlantic City on September 8th. They play at Rock Fest in Cadott, WI on July 15th for anyone that can check them out soon.
Plush Setlist: Athena, Champion, Sober, Better Off Alone, Baracuda, Found A Way, Walk Away, Don’t Say That, Man in the Box, Hate, Will Not Win, I Don’t Care, Bring Me Down, Why Do I Even Try, Sorry, Heaven’s On Fire, Left Behind
This Saturday, July 15, the second annual Bronx Summer Jam will be held at Bronx Park East – Oscar Comras Memorial Mall. Catch live music from local Bronx musicians for free from 12-6 pm.
July Quinn, WIN, and Kony Brooks return to the festival alongside a number of local artists. Drew Torres, The Phoenix Within, Wastewood, Balcony Talk, Richard Pigkaso, and Ki Storii will perform on the Kings Stage. Audience members can enjoy an array of genres, ranging from rap and indie rock to hip hop and reggae.
While artists from the Kings Stage take breaks after their thirty minute sets, the music continues on the Sirens Stage. Audiences will hear Jynn, DJ Mike, and F1rst Class perform.
The festival is produced by Sirens & Kings, a co-production company made of two Bronx music collectives, Sounds & Sirens and The Fox & King. Their goal is to showcase the often overshadowed music scene of the Bronx.
Performer at last year’s Bronx Summer Jam. Photo courtesy of Sirens & Kings.
“Everyone always focuses on Brooklyn, or Queens, or Manhattan for New York City’s music scene,” DJ Mike Nickerson, Founder of Sounds & Sirens, said. “There’s a thriving scene in the Bronx. We hope to be able to showcase it, have it grow, and support everybody in it.”
DJ Mike hopes the Bronx’s music scene will be heard by all, allowing a music community to grow, just like the one from his teenage years. During their teenage years, DJ Mike and Co-Owner and Founder of The Fox and King, Fernando Michael, were part of the Bronx’s The Underground community. The Underground was a prominent music scene in the late 2000s and early 2010s before its decline.
“Going to Bronx Underground shows when I was younger shaped the person I turned into,” DJ Mike said. “When you’re in high school or middle school, you may not like things that other people like. You’re not cool or popular, because you like rock, hip hop, or classical jazz. But coming together in a music community, like what we experienced growing up, helps foster a community that tells you that you’re not alone – that you have a group of people you can identify with and can party with.”
In 2018, The Fox & King started a reemergence of The Underground. They brought back live music shows to the First Lutheran Church in the Bronx. The pandemic, however, killed any efforts of a rejuvenation of this music community. After a lull in live shows, they hope the Bronx Summer Jam will reignite the drive to rebuild this music community.
At last year’s Bronx Summer Jam, sparks of their dream were seen. The first Bronx Summer Jam started off slow, but as the festival continued, its audience grew.
Performers and organizers from last year’s Bronx Summer Jam. Photo courtesy of Sirens & Kings.
“Slowly the public, the regular folks that go to the park, were showing up to the event, without knowing it was there,” said Christopher Vasquez, Co-Owner and Public Relations Manager of The Fox & King. “It became a natural audience.”
Fernando Michael referenced Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come.” Not only does this refer to the audience but to the musical artists as well. Fernando said, “We have musical artists reaching out to us in mass, because what we do is so prominent to the borough.”
They will come, even in the rain. The original date of the Bronx Summer Jam was this past June 24. It had to be rescheduled due to potential thunderstorms. Instead of doing nothing, some of the musicians got together and performed at Legendary Bar and Grill in the Bronx. They proved this musical community is back.
Christopher Vasquez notes how essential it is to have this musical community back. “Without someone to tell the story of the people in a community, it’s detrimental. You need the voice. You need the storytellers. The storytellers that are on a mic, the writers that write in a book or a journal – music does all these things. It brings people together.”
To be part of this music community and to check out the vast array of performers, head to the second annual Bronx Summer Jam this Saturday, July 15, from 12-6 pm at Bronx Park East – Oscar Comras Memorial Mall.
The 13th season of the Geneva Music Festival came to a close, showcasing how exceptional music can create and build community with ten performances, 32 artists, and over a thousand attendees.
Geneva Music Festival’s Theme
Each season of the Geneva Music Festival has a theme, and this year’s was Gods, Myths, and the Divine. A rather capacious theme, it lent itself to a truly fascinating lineup of concerts in a variety of styles. From modern myths to Taiwanese legends to Christian and Jewish religious music, the season spanned cultures and belief systems.
Concert attendees commented not only on the quality of the musicianship but on the music’s ability to form connections. The breadth of repertoire from the Jason Clayborn Band impressed Charles McCadd, a Geneva resident. “The actual diversity of how much music they fit in of everything was amazing,” McCadd said. “Being able to go from all these different generations of music and then collide them all together to make everyone in the audience happy was just amazing.”
It’s easy when listening to music, especially classical music, to forget the interpersonal connections that underpin it. The intimate setting of chamber music reminds the audience of the connection between artists. They also orchestrate chamber music together, rather than training their focus on a conductor. One of the really striking themes of the Geneva Music Festival is the camaraderie the artists share. The audience member feels like they are being let in on an inner world.
Artistic Director Geoffrey Herd wrapped up the season by concluding, “Many thanks to our dedicated patrons and supporters who helped make our 2023 season sensational. The GMF musicians were honored, as always, to perform for our community and explore the diverse repertoire inspired by our theme, Gods, Myths, and the Divine. I wish all of you a peaceful and happy summer, and I look forward to sharing details about our next season soon.”
Livestreams of all performances are available to be purchased here until July 31.
