NYS Music 2023

Tag: troy savings bank music hall

  • Lift Concert Series Returns to Troy Music Hall in 2024

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has announced the return of the popular Lift Concert Series in 2024. Curated by Organ Colossal, these performances give the audience the unique opportunity to sit on the historic Music Hall stage with the artists while they perform. 

    lift series troy music hall

    The Lift Concert Series presents performances of new, independent music featuring regional performers, curated by local artists Sam Torres and Sophia Subbayya Vastek. The audience is invited to be seated on stage, with the musicians, creating an intimate concert experience. Concerts are designed to last about an hour and, after the performance, concert-goers are encouraged to enjoy the rest of the evening at one of Troy’s many restaurants or breweries. All concerts begin at 6pm

    lift series troy music hall

    Lift Concert Series Lineup

    January 24 – Sophia Subbayya Vastek

    Described as performing with “passion and profound tenderness” (Second Inversion) and “serene strokes and lyrical beauty” (Brooklyn Rail), pianist and songwriter Sophia Subbayya Vastek moves quietly between musical worlds. Her most recent LP, In Our Softening (2022), features nine of her own piano compositions. The album was called “one of the very best things I’ve heard all year” by longtime music journalist Steve Smith (Night After Night). She released her debut record Histories (Innova Recordings) in 2017, and more recently, an EP of the complete piano works by composer Lili Boulanger, entitled Lili (reissued 2023). In 2022, Sophia was recognized as a NYSCA/NYFA Fellow in Music/Sound. She is a co-founder of Organ Colossal, a nonprofit that produces musical projects in her hometown of Troy, NY. She and her husband also run a music series out of their home, a converted church building lovingly called Troy Listening Room. This performance is sponsored by Artist Pianos.

    February 14 – Connor Armbruster with special guest Ian Cotter Wishlist

    After exploring the vast sanctuary of an empty church in 2022’s Masses, Armbruster inhabits a new setting with polar opposite qualities for his sophomore release with Dear Life Records, Can I Sit Here. The music, colored by distortion and cutting rawness befitting its subject matter, was created and recorded live in mono in the small back room of an apartment. Acoustic violin takes a backseat to Armbruster’s heavily distorted electric violin on this record as he improvises over textures simultaneously warm and dissonant. It is a reflection on loss and the feelings that follow a death, the delicate balance between despair, celebration, nostalgia, isolation, and kinship. Armbruster is based in Troy, NY and is behind a multi-faceted body of work exploring performance art, electric violin, Irish fiddle, traditional music, field recording, dance, and theatre. In addition to his solo projects, he plays electric violin and guitar for Blue Ranger, is a member of Hold On Honeys, and performs and records with numerous other artists in the capital region. He was musical director and lead composer for Troy Foundry Theatre’s original musical, City of Myth: Illium Sings. Outside of performance, Armbruster is a cartoonist and music educator, and proud parent of a 4-year-old.

    Thoughtfully eclectic, Ian Cotter Wishlist draws inspiration from fellow songwriters, composers, authors, visual artists, and the natural world to craft their recordings and live performances.

    March 27 – Aubrey Haddard & MAYSUN

    Aubrey Haddard is a self-proclaimed escape artist. When the tides change and personal growth calls for emotional upheaval, Aubrey seeks refuge in her creative discipline. Carving out a boundary-less space to explore the mysteries of the human experience and the vastness of the physical world, she creates a sonic landscape that is both epic and deeply personal. Dreamy synthscapes, overdriven guitars and pulsing electronic drums lay the foundation for Haddard’s vocals, heralded by critics as “harrowingly beautiful” (Clash Magazine) and “herculean” (The Line of Best Fit). Calling upon the inspirations of powerhouse PJ Harvey and dance music giant LCD Soundsystem alike, Haddard blends the analog and the digital with eccentricity. Themes of Greek mythology and Japanese literature weave their way through her stories, inviting listeners to peek into her subconscious and share in the escape. Haddard only leaves a few breadcrumbs and shoots for a surprise with each release. Moving on from her acoustic and minimalist debut EP Adult Lullabies,  her knotty and soulful full length album Blue Part received widespread critical acclaim and earned her the title of Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the 2018 Boston Music Awards before she left to pursue her a career in New York City. Leaning into new, pop-driven inspirations and the chaos of the NYC scene, Awake And Talking proved Haddard’s ability to dive head first into new sounds and set the stage for her current project. Splitting her time between the far corners of New York state, you might find her in a library, at a Yankee game or jumping into a swimming hole. Aubrey Haddard may be a rising star in the indie scene, and one to watch for those interested in the future of experimental electronic music but “above all, it’s humanity that drives Haddard’s art” (Under The Radar).

    MAYSUN is a composer and sound artist known for his unique blend of drumming expertise and sound design, creating immersive atmospheric soundscapes. With a focus on the use of physical space to shape and manipulate sounds, he crafts compositions that serve as soundtracks to his life events. MAYSUN’s work is characterized by an innovative approach that transforms real-life sounds into musical tones, skillfully interweaving the dimensions of time and space within its compositions. His artistic journey is driven by a deep passion for exploring spatial audio and a desire to create meaningful emotional connections through his music. MAYSUN’s latest release, ‘Timelines,’ represents his ongoing commitment to the craft of sound artistry, inviting listeners on a deep ambient introspective journey.

    May 1 – Rafiq Bhatia

    The New York Times proclaims “Rafiq Bhatia is writing his own musical language,” describing him as “a guitarist who refuses to be pinned to one genre, culture or instrument.” “His transient approach, combined with his obsession of assiduously studying the past in order to break cleanly from it, makes him one of the most intriguing figures in music today.”  Bhatia’s 2018 album Breaking English (Anti- Records) finds a visceral common ground between ecstatic avant-jazz, mournful soul, tangled strings and building-shaking electronics, resulting in a “stunningly-focused new sound” (Chicago Reader) that “resemble[s] science fiction on a blockbuster scale” (Washington Post). His 2020 EP, Standards Vol. 1 (Anti-) renders repertoire from the American songbook “completely deconstructed, infused with brand new textures and electronic effects, dreamlike and beautiful” (BBC).  Since 2014, Bhatia has been a member of the trio Son Lux; together, they have released several critically-acclaimed albums and given hundreds of performances internationally. A voracious collaborator, Bhatia has also worked with a multitude of artists across generations and musical communities, including Arooj Aftab, Holland Andrews, Hanna Benn, Ian Chang, Sam Dew, Dave Douglas, Marcus Gilmore, Mary Halvorson, Billy Hart, Shahzad Ismaily, Vijay Iyer, Kassa Overall, Kronos Quartet, Okkyung Lee, Nina Moffitt, Qasim Naqvi, Kassa Overall, Chris Pattishall, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Alex Somers, Moses Sumney, Anjna Swaminathan, Rajna Swaminathan, and David Virelles.

    Tickets are available now at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Box Office, 30 Second Street, Troy, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. via phone, (518) 273-0038, or online at www.troymusichall.org.

  • Troy Music Hall to Welcome Joshua Redman & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in February

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall will welcome two incredible jazz legends in February – Joshua Redman will perform on February 7, while Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis will fill the historic venue on February 17. 

    Joshua Redman – February 7

    From its inception, the Blue Note label has stood for “The Finest In Jazz.” The same can be said for Joshua Redman. Over the past three decades, the saxophonist, composer, and bandleader has consistently demonstrated how to honor the music’s verities while expanding its reach in contemporary settings. He found the perfect partner in young vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa.

    “I had maybe heard Gabrielle’s name from her time in the Bay Area,” Redman notes, “but I wasn’t at all familiar with her music. One night in the Fall of 2021, my manager texted me in the middle of Gabrielle’s performance at a party in New Orleans. ‘You’ve got to hear this young lady,’ she said. ‘This is not a concert, it’s a casual event, and she is just riveting.’ Once I heard Gabrielle, I realized that she has an expressive quality and an intimacy and a vulnerability in her sound that is singularly captivating.” Having found a collaborator, Redman embarked on what proved to be a unique process.

    “Most of my previous recordings grew out of bands that had played and toured together consistently, and eventually developed a vibe and chemistry and repertoire to the point where we felt like we had to record. But in this case, while I had worked with each of the other instrumentalists many times before in a wide variety of settings, we hadn’t yet played all at the same time in the same group; and Gabrielle and I had literally never made a note of music together.” The resulting program is “not really about the pandemic itself,” Redman stresses, “but the uniquely isolating conditions of that time certainly played a role in the music’s creation. What began as a formal concept allowing two unacquainted artists to organize their ideas – something that could be discarded if necessary over time – had gained a deeper significance. “This was an album whose meaning revealed itself in the making.” where are we will leave listeners seeking to define where they, and we, are — inspired by the latest example of Joshua Redman at his finest.

    Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – February 17

    The world’s premier big band, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis consists of 15 permanent members performing live in New York City and around the world. In 1988 the Orchestra was formed as an outgrowth of its concert series, Classical Jazz, with David Berger conducting. When Wynton Marsalis became artistic director in 1991, he emphasized the history of jazz, particularly Duke Ellington. The first album was Portraits by Ellington (1992), and seven years later the Ellington centennial was honored with the album Live in Swing City: Swingin’ with the Duke (1999). Under the leadership of Marsalis, the band performs at its home The House of Swing , tours throughout the U.S. and abroad, visits schools, appears on television, and performs with symphony orchestras. The Orchestra backed Wynton Marsalis on his album Blood on the Fields , which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.

    Since 2015, the Orchestra’s albums have been issued on its own label, Blue Engine Records. The first release from Blue Engine Records, Live in Cuba, was recorded on a historic 2010 trip to Havana by the JLCO and released in October 2015. The label issued Big Band Holidays in December 2015, The Abyssinian Mass in March 2016, The Music of John Lewis in March 2017, and the JLCO’s Handful of Keys in September 2017. Blue Engine’s United We Swing: Best of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Galas features the Wynton Marsalis Septet and an array of special guests, with all proceeds going toward Jazz at Lincoln Center’s education initiatives. Blue Engine’s most recent album releases (2023) include Wynton Marsalis Plays Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Sevens  and The Jungle, a recording of Marsalis’ fourth symphony featuring the JLCO and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

    Tickets are on sale at 10am Wednesday, December 6th to Music Hall Members.  Anyone can become a member and gain access to the pre-sale.  Single tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, December 8th, at 10am via phone, (518) 273-0038, in person, or online at www.troymusichall.org.   More information on the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and upcoming programs is available on the website at www.troymusichall.org.  

    Pre-sale tickets for Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Members are available Wednesday at 10am.  Single tickets will go on-sale at 10am to the public this Friday December 8.

  • Free Music at Noon Series Returns to Troy

    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.

  • Albany Symphony November Concert to Feature “The Blue Danube”

    The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony, led by Music Director David Alan Miller, presents a concert that includes one of the most beloved works in the repertory and a soon-to-be new favorite “dance symphony,” evoking early rock ‘n’ roll at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

    Recognized as one of America’s most innovative and creative orchestras, the two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is renowned for performances featuring classic orchestral favorites, lesser-heard masterworks, and a diverse array of new music from leading and emerging voices of today. The Symphony has received more ASCAP Awards than any other orchestra in America, as well as several GRAMMY nominations, including the orchestra’s most recent win in 2021.

    Led by Music Director David Alan Miller, the Symphony presents a core classical series throughout the region, each featuring a world-premiere or recent composition; a multi-day American Music Festival that celebrates established and emerging living composers; performances by its cutting-edge new music chamber ensemble, the Dogs of Desire; and a family series and holiday concerts in collaboration with youth performing arts groups. The Albany Symphony’s award-winning education programs include Symphony in Our Schools, which brings musicians into classrooms for interactive music education.

    Founded in 1930 in New York’s Capital Region, the Albany Symphony serves a diverse regional audience covering more than seven counties and parts of three states. It regularly serves as an ambassador for new music and Upstate innovation beyond the Capital Region.

    This gorgeous concert will absolutely delight you, bringing two Romantic masterpieces together with Michael Daugherty’s amazing orchestral tour-de-forces. I’m particularly excited to present Tchaikovsky’s glorious Third Symphony, the work of a brilliant young composer that leads the way directly to his major masterpieces, ‘Swan Lake’ and the Symphony No. 4. Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube,’ and Michael’s ‘Last Dance at the Surf,’ will make everyone want to jump up and dance, and ‘To the New World,’ a riveting tribute to Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 mission, is a glorious tone poem about space travel. Audiences of all ages will love this program!

    Music Director and Conductor David Alan Miller. 

    Michael Daugherty, a composer, pianist, and music educator is a long-time friend of the Albany Symphony. Two of Daugherty’s pieces will be performed including, “Last Dance at the Surf” and “To the New World.” 

    One of Daugherty’s favorite road trips in Iowa, the state where he grew up, was to the majestic Surf Ballroom. Many of America’s famous swing, jazz, and rock-n-roll bands have performed at this venue for music lovers who dance the night away. In memory of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper who gave their last performances at the Winter Dance Party tour in 1959 before their plane crashed, and in celebration of the Surf Ballroom being declared a National Historic Landmark in January 2021, Daugherty’s piece will be performed on the November program.

    “My dance symphony starts with woodblocks and pizzicato strings, playing a five-note rhythmic groove reminiscent of a Buddy Holly guitar riff. This groove is repeated in various transformations throughout the composition and provides a counterpoint to the main theme, a syncopated ascending melody played in unison by the woodwinds. The main theme goes through elaborate rhythmic and timbral developments, followed by a rousing ‘rockabilly’ section,” Daugherty said.

    His piece “To the New World,” is about the 1969 Apollo-11 space mission. Like the rocket, which separated into three stages after lift-off, and the spacecraft, which was divided into three modules, his 22-minute composition is divided into three movements.

    “The Blue Danube” is one of the most consistently played pieces in classical repertoire. Johann Strauss Jr. originally wrote the work for a carnival choir with satirical lyrics. The instrumental version, which will be performed at the November concert, is by far the more popular version played today. The piece was first performed in the United States in 1867. For pop culture fans, the piece is used in several movies and shows. Most recently, it was used throughout the 2021 Netflix series, Squid Game. Johann Strauss Jr. was born into a very musical family in Austria. As a child, he secretly took violin lessons because his father wanted him to become a banker, not a musician. However, his mother supported his dreams and Strauss moved forward making music his career.

    The evening will conclude with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 also known as Polish. It is the only one of Tchaikovsky’s seven symphonies that is in a major key and the only one to contain five movements. During its first performance in the UK, conductor Sir August Manns referred to it as the Polish symphony because of the recurring Polish dance rhythms in the final movement. The piece was originally premiered in 1875 in Moscow. Ballet lovers may recognize the work from the Diamonds section of George Balanchine’s full-length ballet Jewels premiered in 1967.

    The Albany Symphony November Concert will take place at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday, November 11, and Sunday, November 12.

    For ticket information, visit this website.

  • Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop Event To Feature at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall announced an addition to their fall schedule: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop. The night on Friday, October 27 at 7:30 PM will feature performances to highlight the history of hip hop with classic tracks and the genre’s favorite artists.

    Live shows feature JB!! aka Dirty Moses, Ohzhe, KATANI, DJ Nate da Great, Shiloh the Messenger and Mundy.

    The performers will be joined by Albany’s Victory Soul Orchestra. The horn funk favorite cites influence from classic New Orleans brass bands, as well as artists including Galatic and the Dap Kings.

    alive at 5 soule monde

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is thrilled to celebrate a half century of rhythm, rhyme, and revolution, with the beats of our local, talented artists in a timeless tribute to our community’s cultural evolution.

    Jon Elbaum, Executive Director, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    JB!! aka Dirty Moses

    Capital Regions 2022 & 2020 Eddies award winner for HipHop/Rap Artist of the year. JB!! aka Dirty Moses is on a mission to educate and enlighten others through music. This is your invitation to JB!! aka Dirty Moses World: a world of rhythm and rhyme; a world of love and inspiration: and a world of energy and music. This is where you’ll find JB!! aka Dirty Moses’s photos, music, videos and much more. For over twenty years JB!! aka Dirty Moses’s unique and methodical style has awakened the joy of music in thousands, young and old, all over the world.

    Ohzhe

    Albany native rapper with southern roots is marking his territory in the rap game with powerful lyrics, a diverse flow, and confidence that is undeniable.  From being Eddie award nominated as best HipHop artist in his city, to creating opportunities for the youth Ohzhe stands true to his goal, to inspire the world and push forward the culture.

    KATANI

    Anti-misogyny, pro-black, community uplifting raptivist duo comprised of Amani O+ & Kat SoPoetic. Kat + Amani = KATANI.  Best friends who began collaborating in 2016 as a response to the corruption, abuse and silence we experienced and observed locally and nationally. We found ourselves alchemizing our rage and disappointment into visionary medicine and inspiration.

    DJ Nate da Great

    DJ, turnt-tablist, thinker, maker, coder, etc… Been doing this DJ thing for 30+ years. Been doing this human-being thing for 40+ years. First and foremost I’m a creative thinker. I appreciate artistry, thinking outside the box and the creative process. I prefer to take the path less traveled. That actually happens sometimes.

    Shiloh the Messenger 

    Located in Upstate New York, Shiloh The Messenger is a rapper, producer, and writer who pours his soul into his musical passion. Originating with a background of reggae and calypso, he’s found solace in hip hop, and over the years has continued to hone his skills and elevate his mastery of the craft.

    Victory Soul Orchestra

    Victory Soul Orchestra is a hometown horn funk favorite. The dirty sounds of New Orleans brass drive their sound with some influences including Galactic as well as the Dap Kings. You can also find them fronted by Albany’s own JB aka Dirty Moses and singer Dali Soto.

    Tickets for Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop are on sale via phone at (518) 273-0038, in person at the box office, or online at troymusichall.org. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Box Office is located at 30 Second Street, Troy. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10AM-3PM. 

    More information on the venue and other upcoming programs area available at troymusichall.org.

  • Troy Savings Bank Music Hall To Debut New Event ‘Kaleidescape’

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall will unveil a brand new event, Kaleidescape: A Sonic Journey, on October 14. The event will feature over 15 artists and is set to be a musical experience unlike anything the venue has ever hosted before. The venue has commissioned seven artists to create an original piece of work that will debut at Kaleidescape.

    Originally part of a historic bank, the Music Hall has become an artistic staple in Troy and the surrounding area. The Music Hall will serve as the central artistic inspiration for the new pieces of music . The mission of Kaleidescape is to celebrate the local musicians and fans who have helped to support Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. 

    Curated by Organ Colossal, Kaleidoscope will feature performances from Buggy Jive, Sara Ayers, Ohzhe, Zan and the Winter Folk, Sam Torres, and composer Patrick Burke. The event will also include multiple special guests like Julia Alsarraf and Girl Blue. 

    Kaleidescape will continue the venue’s mission of keeping music open and accessible. To ensure that cost is not a barrier, the organization has announced that there will be a limited number of free tickets. The Troy Redevelopment Foundation is sponsoring the Community Ticket Bank. To inquire or reserve these tickets contact Troy Savings Bank Music Hall by email, by phone at (518) 273-0038, or by visiting the box office.

    Click here for a full list of performers, and visit here for paid tickets and more information.

  • Troy Music Hall Announces 2023 Summer Square Concert Series Lineup

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has recently announced the anticipated return of their Summer Square Concert Series. The free concerts will be held in the Music Hall courtyard every Saturday evening at 6 p.m. beginning on July 8 and will run all the way through the summer until August 26.

    The Troy Summer Square 2023 lineup presents concert goers with the opportunity to hear all types of genres from Jazz to indie/rock. The concert series’ kick off performance on July 8th will present the unorthodox Dust Bowl Faeries to the Troy community, a circus, post-punk, gypsy and psyche-folk band founded by Ryder Cooley & Hazel, a taxidermy ram who performs with the band as their spirit animal. In addition, The Summer Series will present seven more performers to their outdoor stage.

    The Troy Music Hall is known for bringing forth top talent from around the state to the area as well as highlighting old and new performers from their own community. This summer will be no different as the Music Hall is prepared to take Troy on a most memorable musical journey. For more information, visit here.

    Troy Summer Square 2023 Lineup

    July 8th: DUST BOWL FAERIES:

    A faerie-tale fusion of circus, post-punk, gypsy and psyche-folk music.

    July 15th: BRONTE ROMAN:

    Pop Vocalist performs lush Jazz ballads and delightfully swings to hits from the Great American Songbook. 

    July 22nd: CAROL DAGGS:

    Pianist and vocalist, composer and arranger applying musical Jazz sounds to the auditory apparatus and soul via vocal and instrumental flow. 

    July 29th: JULIA ALSARRAF:

    Singer and multi-instrumentalist whose songwriting ranges from contemporary folk to indie pop/rock. Her music has been described as deep, soulful, and vulnerable.

    August 5th: IDA MAE SPECKER:

    Fiddler, folk singer and songwriter whose music fuses original, contemporary, and traditional material, bringing heartfelt new life and relevance to the chain of American folk music. 

    August 12th: TRISKELE:

    The Capital Region’s premier all female Irish Band! Stunning harmonies that touch your soul. 

    August 19th: AIVA & HAYLEY:

    Singer songwriters from Latham, NY now attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. Performing covers from different genres and original music as well.

    August 26th: JEANNE O’CONNOR QUARTET:

    Jeanne O’Connor is a vocalist who brings her clear, expressive alto voice to pop, Latin music, and R&B.  

  • Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Awarded $3.4 Million By NYSCA

    The New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA) has awarded Troy Savings Bank Music Hall a $3.4 million grant. The venue, which is located on 2nd Street in Downtown Troy, received the money to support renovations that aim to make the building more accessible and preserve its historical elements.

    Most of the money from the grant will go towards the renovation of the first floor of the venue. The Troy Savings Bank was commissioned in 1875 with the first level originally designed to be used for banking and businesses, while the top level was composed of a music hall. The new renovations look to transform the first floor, which has been vacant since 2012, into a vibrant multi-purpose space. The goal is to create an affordable and accessible place for musical and cultural education.

    “We have long hoped and planned to make improvements and offer more programming and a broader spectrum of experiences to our community. This grant sets us on the path toward accomplishing our dream”

    Jon Elbaum, Executive Director of the Music Hall

    The new “Music Hub” will feature a community space, classrooms, a community board room, a recording studio, and rehearsal rooms. The money from the grant is a small part of a massive funding plan constructed by the NYSCA. There are 19 projects across the state that will divide up the $90 million plan.

    Initially, Governor Nelson Rockefeller created NYSCA back in 1960. The goal of the organization is to preserve and advance the arts and culture of New York. The Music Hall’s renovation is a piece of NYSCA’s “Large Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Cultures” program. The project looks to support institutions and organizations that are “undertaking impactful, large-scale capital improvements”. 

    Artwork by Kelly Garrett

    “Capital projects for the arts are an investment in our communities, our health, and our prosperity for decades to come. On behalf of the Council and staff, I congratulate Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on its vision and dedication to serving the residents and visitors of New York and we look forward to seeing all that will flourish from this initiative,” NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said.

    Once the updates finish, the building looks to serve as a year-round venue. The Musical Hall celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025. Throughout the years it has established itself as a historical and cultural pillar in and around Albany. 

    Here you can find more information on the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

  • Barker Park Kids’ Series Returns to Troy for Summer 2023

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has announced the return of the Barker Park Kids’ Series for the summer of 2023. The free concerts will take place every Thursday at 11 AM starting July 6th to August 24th at the Barker Park playground in Troy.

    Troy Music Hall is strongly committed to supporting education in the arts as well as enriching the community, and this concert series is one of many events in which they offer free and discounted performances for students and kids. Additionally, as a way to further assist the Troy community, this year’s Barker Park Kids’ Series will also be partnering with local organization, Sidewalk Warriors, a group of volunteers who support individuals in need. Throughout the series, the park will serve as a drop off location for items to be donated especially shampoo, boxes of cereal, and more.

    Along with their mission of education and enrichment, the Music Hall aims to foster diverse cultural experiences for their audiences. Thus, the partners will present a lineup of musicians spanning a multitude of genres including historic jazz and traditional West African music.

    Barker Park Kids’ Series LineUp

    July 6th – JORDAN TAYLOR HILL

    Jordan is an artist rooted in traditional music from West Africa and the diaspora combined with today’s sounds. His early influence in song writing and performance is coupled in a unique way meant to equally inspire and entertain. 

    July 13th – RAGTIME WIND JAMMERS

    The “Ragtime Windjammers” play historic tunes meant to illustrate several facets of Jazz music as it developed in America around the turn of the 20th century. Audience participation is encouraged and several volunteers are used to visually illustrate several acoustic ideas. 

    July 20th – ELLEN SINOPOLI DANCE COMPANY

    31-year-old not-for-profit arts organization located in NYS’s Capital Region. ESDC’s commitment to CREATE, COLLABORATE, EDUCATE and PARTNER remains in the forefront as it shares its work with diverse audiences through concerts, showcases, residencies, workshops, educational and community outreach. 

    July 27th – ANDY THE MUSIC MAN

    Popular children’s musician renowned for the special way he connects with his audiences. A talented guitarist, mandolin player and songwriter, Andy mingles traditional and original songs and novelty, delighting and involving kids through sing-a-longs, dancing, play-acting and storytelling. 

    August 3rd – HEARD

    A collective of musicians that bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Together for a decade, their vibrant sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond. 

    August 10th – DJ HollyW8D

    Originally from Brooklyn, DJ HollyW8D energizes crowds throughout the Upstate New York Capital Region. He has always gravitated to music throughout his life and hopes to bring versatility in his music mixing wherever he goes. Drawing inspiration from many including his mother, Sean P. Diddy Combs and DJ Puffy, HollyW8D aims to inspire others with his daily grind and optimistic energy.

    August 17th – WATCH REGGIE RUN

    Formed in 2017 by Dave and his son Luke who has autism, WATCH REGGIE RUN, is named after how they spend their time when not making music (watching Luke’s sister Reggie run in Track and XC meets). The father/son duo shares a love of music and has found it to be a great way of connecting despite Luke’s limited communication skills. The songs were all inspired by Luke. It’s fun music for ALL AGES! 

    August 24th – Safety Day

    Learn all about safety with helpful tips and a bit of fun.

  • Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame Awarded $165,000 in Grants

    The Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame announced that it has received $165,000 in grant awards to non-profit arts and cultural organizations in the Capital, Catskills, and Southern Tier districts.

    Formed in partnership with New York and four casinos in the three gaming regions previously listed: Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, Resorts World Catskills, del Lago Resort & Casino (Waterloo), and Tioga Downs Casino Resort (Nichols).

    11 additional theater/venue members also make up the Upstate Theater Coalition, with them being major local figures in the towns of Albany, Bethel, Binghamton, Elmira, Ithaca, Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Rochester.

    27 counties were able to apply for $1,000-$5,000 dollar grants in order to help enrich the community and the respective shared spaces. Through its community engagement, the Coalition created Fairgame Arts Grants, a funding program published in 2019 to assist organizations in regions across New York State. 

    Since the 2019 mark, over 100 non-profit arts and cultural organizations have received grant awards, compiling a total of over $450,000 for these groups. 

    Jon Elbaum, Executive Director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and President of Fairgame, is looking forward to revitalizing local theaters and businesses that have had trouble rebounding since the pandemic.

    “So many programs were delayed or even cancelled because of the pandemic shutdown; this type of support often represents the difference between a great idea and a fully realized and measurably beneficial initiative. We are thrilled to be able to offer this funding once again.”

    -Jon Elbaum

    Between the Catskills, Capital, and Southern Tier regions, almost 40 venues will receive grant awards.

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy

    Award Recipients

    Capital Region recipients: 440 State St. Inc., Albany Center Gallery, Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center, Frank Chapman Memorial Institute, Home Made Theatre, LAKE GEORGE Opera Festival Association, Inc. (dba Opera Saratoga), Media Alliance, Inc., Millay Colony for the Arts, Music Haven, New York Folklore, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Saratoga Chamber Players, Inc. and The Orchard Project.

    Catskill Region recipients: Arm-of-the-Sea Productions, Inc., Arts Mid-Hudson, Athens Cultural Center, Bridge Street Theatre, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, DENIZEN Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Gardiner Library, Hudson Opera House, Inc. dba Hudson Hall, Kingston Midtown Arts District, Nego Gato Inc., NYTOS, Pan American Dance Foundation, Inc. dba Woodstock Playhouse, Roxbury Arts Group, The Vanaver Caravan and Voice Theatre, Inc.

    Southern Tier recipients: A Magical Journey Thru Stages, Inc., Binghamton Philharmonic, Inc. Binghamton Theater Organ Society, Circus Culture, Community Arts Partnership of Thompkins County, Corning-Elmira Musical Arts, Inc., Grupo Cultural Latinos En Rochester, Inc., Southern Finger Lakes Pride and The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.