The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes will begin their 2023-24 concert season on October 14 at the historic Park Church in Elmira. The opening show will feature a piece by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, titled Overture to L’Amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover).
Dubbed the “Black Mozart,” Bologne was a Frenchman of Creole descent whose work has been long overlooked, despite comparisons to many classical figureheads in European history. Bologne is the subject of the feature film, Chevalier, released in April 2023 by Searchlight Pictures.
Prior to the concert, the Park Church will host a screening of Chevalier as part of the Meaningful Movies series. The screening will be on October 12 at 7PM. Guests can RSVP at OSFL.org to save a spot.
In everything we perform this season, we are prioritizing music education for all. Listeners get the most out of live concerts by being informed before arriving at the concert hall. We are offering pre-concert lectures, educational activity packets for all ages, and now a popular option of holding a movie night.
Karen Dusek, Managing Director of the OSFL
The second piece of the concert is an instrumental adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw’s “and the swallow.” Originally a choral work based on Psalm 84, the piece has been adapted for orchestra. Finally, Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 will close the show.
The night’s soloist will be OSFL’s principal trumpet, Frank Gabriel Campos, performing the Trumpet Concerto by Hummel. Campos authored the Trumpet Technique method book, used at colleges and universities worldwide, and recently retired from tenure at Ithaca College.
Season ticket packages are still available and include the October 14th concert. Packages also include 3 full-orchestra concerts and 5 concerts in the Musicians’ Choice Chamber Series. Contact the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes office at 607-936-2873 or order online at OSFL.org.
Playhouse Stage Company has announced its 36th Season, presenting both professional and youth musical theatre to the Capital Region. The upcoming lineup features four shows to be presented at Cohoes Music Hall and Albany’s Park Playhouse, as well as productions for schools and young people in the community.
The season will kick off in time for the holidays with the musical adaptation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, running from December 1-23 at Cohoes Music Hall. The classic story by Barbara Robinson follows the “horrible Herdmans,” the rowdy bunch who force their way into the annual Christmas pageant, and transform the story into an unexpected extravaganza.
The group will present Spring Awakening, running from April 12-28, 2024. Featuring a cast of advanced teen students alongside professional actors, Spring Awakening showcases a fearless approach to taboo topics. A winner of eight Tony Awards, the timeless musical is based on the 19th century German book of the same name.
Next summer will begin at Cohoes Music Hall with the musical The Marvelous Wonderettes. Running from June 28-July 24, 2024, this 1950s and 60s musical brings fabulous harmonies and fashions as four friends take the stage at their high school prom with a jukebox full of hits.
Finally, the company will return to Park Playhouse for the fan favorite Legally Blonde: The Musical. Based on the book and hit 2001 film, the musical follows Elle Woods, a fashion-forward, hard-working young woman as she embarks on a journey through Harvard Law. Legally Blonde will run from July 16-August 18, 2024.
With this season’s productions, our goal is to continue exceeding audience expectations with first-rate musical theatre that’s both entertaining and engaging. This season, we’re offering a lineup of shows that, each in their own way, invite audiences to reflect on, reconsider and redefine how they see the world around them. With a mix of the region’s most talented young performers from our Playhouse Stage Academy, local and regional professional actors and musicians, and a world-class design and creative team, we’ll once again work hard to prove to audiences why we were dubbed ‘Broadway in the Capital Region’s backyard’ when we were founded all the way back in 1989.
Playhouse Stage Co. Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith
In addition to the mainstage offerings, the Playhouse Stage Company will offer two shows geared towards children: Grace for President, and Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. Both perfect for family audiences, Grace for President will run from February 26-March 22, 2024. Finding Nemo Jr. will run from August 21-25, 2024 at a new outdoor venue to be announced.
Four-ticket Flex Packs that can be used for any of the company’s mainstage productions will go on sale Saturday, September 30 online playhousestage.org and thecohoesmusichall.org, or by phone at (518) 434-0776. Tickets to individual productions will go on sale later in the season. For more information, audiences can visit www.playhousestage.org.
The Park Theater Foundation has announced their upcoming fall programming for the month of October, continuing a few favorite concerts series. Programming includes The Park Presents, Third Thursday Jazz, Rewind at the Park, and Comedy After Dark as the key events series for this fall.
The Foundation continues the Third Thursday Jazz series, hosting The Matt Niedbalski Trio on October 5. The trio features some of the best jazz music in the Capital Region, with Matt Niedbalski, Eric Zolan, and Will Gorman performing.
Rewind At The Park will bring River of Dreams & American Elton on October 7, an authentic Billy Joel tribute. The show features classic rock performed live, with world-class costumes and Bill Connors uncanny resemblance to the iconic Sir Elton John.
The Park Presents will feature Americana group Humbird on October 13th. With roots in the midwest, Humbird moves between experimental folk and Americana influences to embrace explorative ballads, narrative folk songs, and more.
The Park Presents series will also bring Aztec Two-Step 2.0, featuring Rex Fowler, Dodie Pettit and friends live on October 14th. The performance will bring a reimagination of Aztec Two-Step with fantastic musicianship, songwriting, and harmonies not to be missed.
Finally, Atlanta-based comedian Andy Sandford will grace the stage on October 27. With performances on Conan and The Late Late Show With James Corden, Andy Sandford has made a name for himself in the world of comedy with his hour special, “Shameful Information,” currently featured on Amazon Prime.
Bop Shop Records, an independently-owned record store in Rochester, has announced their upcoming lineup of shows for this fall. The run starts with a trio of jazz legends, Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio, consisting of Warren Smith, Scott Robinson, and Joseph Daley.
Bop Shop Records opened in the Cobbs Hill neighborhood of Rochester in 1982 with owner Tom Kohn, who spent the 70s working for MXR and Rounder Records, where he collected music from all kinds of genres. The venue hosts jazz, folk, and blues artists at the store, and boasts a collection of over 200,000 records available.
This fall’s lineup will feature Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio, Preston Reed, Charlie Parr, and Brooklyn’s own Ember Trio. Ember is a collaborative music group that is based in exploration, improvisation, and creativity. The jazz group includes Caleb Wheeler Curtis on alto saxophone, Noah Garabedian on bass, and Vinnie Sperrazza on drums. The group will make their stop at Bop Shop Records on December 16.
Bop Shop Records is excited to welcome Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio on October 3. The group explores improvisational concepts of Sam Rivers, the famed jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist who accompanied the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Daley dedicated his newest record, The Tuba Trio Chronicles, to the memory of Rivers, his good friend and mentor.
More information and tickets are available at bopshop.com/events. Tickets are currently available now for all shows. To attend a show, register at BopShop.com. Concertgoers may pay in advance or at the door. Tickets and information are also available at (585) 271-3354.
Bop Shop Fall Events
10/3 – Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio 10/8 – Preston Reed 10/10 – Soft Machine 10/13 – The Mat Maneri Quartet 10/19 – Eric Vloeimans & Will Holshouser 11/4 – New Origin Trio 11/8 – Charlie Parr 11/18 – Joel Harrison 12/4 – Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show 12/16 – Ember Trio
The Palace Theatre in Albany has announced their lineup of fall shows, with notable events including the iconic Jerry Seinfeld, and Hasan Minhaj, as well as rock group Kansas and the World Ballet Series’ rendition of Swan Lake this spring. The venue is a historic landmark of downtown Albany, with many original features of the building still on display after multiple renovations.
The Palace Theatre was built in 1931, and opened that year as Albany’s largest movie theatre. It went under major renovations in 1960, and in 1989 was purchased by the City of Albany after briefly shutting its doors. The Palace Theatre was established as a non-profit organization in 1984, and is now part of the Clinton Ave Historic District, as well as the US National Register of Historic Places.
The Theatre retains many of its original features, with a striking art-deco, Austrian baroque style. The main lobby maintains the original brass chandelier, and murals throughout the venue painted by Hungarian artists Andrew Karoly and Louis Szanto.
As the summer programming winds down, the theatre is planning family events and holiday film series for the upcoming seasons.
Summer programs like our Summer in the City Free Movie Series & Community Block Party will be back again next summer and other annual community programs are still coming up, such as our free community Trick-or-Treat event on Halloween and our holiday film series & Family Fun Days. Aside from those, the big concerts, comedians & tours that we are perhaps best known for continue on throughout the year and we are always adding new shows to the calendar.
Sean Allen, Director of Marketing at the Palace Theatre
This fall’s comedy lineup includes a show from the legendary Jerry Seinfeld on October 27, known for co-writing and starring in the hit sitcom Seinfeld. In addition, Hasan Minhaj will perform on October 14. Minhaj, known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show, has multiple successful stand-up specials on Netflix.
Music fans can enjoy The Wood Brothers, a NYC-based roots band, with a performance on October 28. The Palace also will have visits from British rock group Jethro Tull, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and an upcoming show in March from world-renowned vocal group Celtic Woman.
The theatre recently announced a rendition of Swan Lake, presented by the World Ballet Series, to grace the stage this upcoming February. In addition, rock group Kansas will mark their 50th Anniversary Tour at The Palace Theatre in May. Both shows are now on sale at the Palace Theatre Box Office and Palacealbany.org.
A full calendar of events and more information are available here. Tickets are available at The Palace Theatre Box Office and Palacealbany.org.
A year since its inception, Midtown Manhattan’s Midnight Theatre has announced its Grand Opening date of September 22. For the official opening, the Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. investment rolled out a robust lineup of resident acts and concepts for the 2023-24 season.
The announcement includes an official Opening Week, showing off numerous acts from Monday, September 18.
The official Opening Week kicks off on Monday, September 18 with The Moth StorySLAM, an open-mic storytelling competition, which will continue to be featured each month.
On Wednesday, September 20, the talented Freestyle+ will put on an interactive showcase, celebrating hip-hop with some of New York’s top improv performers.
Thursday, September 21 will feature Samantha Bee’s Wits End, a star-studded live trivia game show hosted by Adam Kesner with Kenice Mobley.
Friday night’s opening party at the Midnight Theatre will host Dez Duron, frontman of NBC’s The Voice, showcasing his signature sound with hits from American songbook classics to genre-bending performances.
Special guests throughout the week will include David Cross and Eugene Mirman.
As colleges are preparing to welcome back students, the University at Albany is anticipating the music as its Department of Music and Theatre has announced its upcoming performances for the 2023-2024 season. The performances will begin on Sept. 19 and will take place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center.
The Music and Theatre programs have prepared for a year jam-packed with incredible musical talent. The Music program itself will present twenty-three performances while the Theatre Program will prepare three full productions offering five to six performances of each show plus its annual festival of new plays written and conducted by students.
Tickets for all shows are now available for purchase here.
Full 2023-2024 Schedule
Viva Mexico
Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 7 pm
Pianist Max Lifchitz celebrates the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month performing a recital featuring music by Mexican composers.
Tangos & More
Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 7 pm
Pianist Max Lifchitz marks the ending of Hispanic Heritage Month performing a recital featuring dance-inspired music from the Americas.
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
• Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 8 pm
• Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 8 pm
• Friday, October 20, 2023, at 3 pm
• Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 2 pm & 8 pm
• Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 3 pm
This poetic drama, about the choices in the life of a young artist, made the yet-unknown playwright an overnight sensation. It’s an American classic: envisioned for our world today and our unique theatre in the round.
UAlbany Symphony Orchestra & Concert Band
Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 1 pm and Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 7:30 pm
Two of the University’s large ensembles present a shared program.
The Choral Hour
Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 3 pm and Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 3 pm
The UAlbany Chamber Singers and Community Chorale perform separately and combined in a program of music from a wide array of styles and cultures.
Senior Recital
Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 7 pm
This program of guitar music features solo classical pieces as well as jazz ensemble selections arranged by Sam Piazza.
Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage
• Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 8 pm
• Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 8 pm
• Friday, November 17, 2023, at 3 pm
• Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 2 pm & 8 pm
• Sunday, November 19, 2023, at 2 pm
The most produced play in America in 2022, this comedy, by the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Sweat and Intimate Apparel, is set in the kitchen of a truck stop where the art of making a sandwich is perfected by a group of formerly incarcerated individuals.
Bach to Broadway
Friday, November 17, 2023, at 7:30 pm
Students in the vocal program perform staged versions of classical and contemporary song repertoire.
Miolina: The Dueling Violinists
Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 4 pm
Mioi Takeda and Lynn Bechtold perform music for two violins by contemporary composers including Capital District composers Hilary Tann, Max Lifchitz, and Rain Worthington.
Student Recitals
Friday, December 1, 2023, and Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 6 pm
A host of performers showcase their vocal and instrumental talents as part of their departmental studies.
Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 3 pm
Music Program ensembles (Chorale, Chamber Singers, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra) are joined by student groups (Serendipity, Pitch Please) for a concert celebrating the season.
UAlbany Percussion Ensemble & Jazz Band
Monday, December 4, 2023, at 7 pm
Two of the University’s large ensembles present a shared program.
American Romantics
Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 7 pm
Pianist Max Lifchitz performs piano music by American composers.
Albagli & Friends
Friday, February 16, 2024, at 7 pm
Faculty member Richard Albagli and his top students perform a percussion recital.
“To Refresh Their Spirits” – Keyboard Music of Bach and Handel
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 7:30 pm
Pianist Kuok-Wai Lio presents two great works side by side: the Handel Chaconne in G Major, HWV435, and Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988.
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
• Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 8 pm
• Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 8 pm
• Friday, March 8, 2024, at 3 pm
• Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 2 pm & 8 pm
• Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 2 pm
Unfolding with music and merriment, a nearly all-female cast of players takes on Shakespeare’s classic comedy about the politics of empowerment and who wears the pants when two fabulously headstrong individuals fall in love.
Festival of Contemporary Music
Monday, March 11, 2024, at 7 pm
This concert of percussion music features four ensembles.
Music by Women Composers
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 7 pm
Pianist Max Lifchitz marks Women’s History Month by performing music by women composers.
Fresh Acts
• Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 8 pm
• Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 8 pm
• Friday, April 12, 2024, at 3 pm
• Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 2 pm & 8 pm
This spring festival of brand-new plays is written, directed, and performed by students, the future of American theatre.
Showcase Concert
Friday, April 12, 2024, at 7:30 pm
Vocal students complete their study of the operatic and oratorio repertoire with this staged production.
Youth Movements XVI
Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 3 pm
The annual festival includes musicians of all ages from around the Capital Region.
UAlbany Jazz Band
Monday, April 22, 2024, at 8 pm
Directed by Keith Pray, this student and community ensemble presents a concert featuring classic and contemporary jazz.
UAlbany Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3 pm
With conductor Christopher David Neubert, this large ensemble performs works representing outstanding repertoire from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Sound of the Trumpets, The Roar of the Drums
Monday, April 29, 2024, at 7 pm
The UAlbany Concert Band and UAlbany Percussion Ensemble present a shared program.
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
Rochester’s acclaimed music chamber ensemble fivebyfive recently unveiled its 2023-2024 season. The theme for this year’s round of programming is “Dichotomies” and is aimed at pushing artistic boundaries. As part of “Dichotomies” the ensemble will be releasing an album, holding collaborative concerts, hosting discussions, and much more.
Created in 2015, fivebyfive has earned a reputation for its ambitious performances and creative programming. The outfit is devoted to commissioning, developing, and performing the works of living artists. Boasting an incredible roster of musicians, fivebyfive takes pride in trying to highlight underrepresented and overlooked creators in the field. “Dichotomy” serves as another impressive artistic challenge for the ensemble. In honor of the theme, the group has curated an extraordinary lineup of visual and auditory experiences based on juxtaposition and contrast.
Fivebyfive is comprised of world-class artists, including Laura Lentz (Artistic Director & flute), Marcy Bacon (clarinet), Ken Luk (electric guitar), Eric Polenik (bass), Haeyeun Jeun (piano) and Marc Webster (Executive Director & audio/video engineer).
The upcoming season is designed to captivate and engage audiences through a range of complex feelings from primordial expression to celestial wonderment. We cannot wait to share these transformative musical experiences with the world.
Laura Lentz
Laura Lentz
Release of fivebyfive’s Third Album
“breath & fire”
Release date: Oct. 15, 2023
The project is inspired by the explosive and intense nature of fire balanced with the steady and tranquil essence of breath. Pieces on the album strongly invoke stillness or motion, and the recording process of matching spaces to the mood or pace in the music seeks to further draw out these energies as you listen.
Oct. 21, 2023 (Syracuse) and Oct. 22, 2023 (Rochester).
Musicians from Pegasus Early Music/NYS Baroque and fivebyfive will perform back-to-back concerts in Syracuse and Rochester. The concerts will feature both traditional and newly arranged versions of Sephardic music. Based in Jewish culture from medieval Spain and Portugal, the traditional performance will include instruments such as the lute, recorder, duduk, shawm, harp, and percussion. The new renditions will be performed in chamber style by fivebyfive featuring flute, clarinet, bass, piano and electric guitar. Additionally, artist Lynne Feldman will display several tapestries depicting Jewish life and discuss Judaic art.
Concert Featuring Medieval and Renaissance-Inspired Music
“Reflections: Music of Then & Now”
Nov. 15, 2023.
As part of a Jewish Music Series, fivebyfive will travel to Buffalo to present a program that reflects back in time to explore medieval and renaissance-inspired music. The performances will also incorporate other pieces that connect us to this present moment. This concert will feature Sephardic music, pieces from the Of and Between album, and Pale as Centuries, composed by Sarah Kirkland Snider.
Meet the Composer: Special Public Discussion with Roberto Sierra
Zoom presentation: Nov. 19, 2023
Grammy-nominated and Latin Grammy winning composer Roberto Sierra will be part of an online Zoom discussion. Through a grant provided by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), fivebyfive commissioned Sierra to create a new work for the ensemble. In Sonidos de Tlön, Sierra explores the dichotomy of fantasy vs. reality using inspiration from 20th-century Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. During the 2024-2025 season, fivebyfive will showcase his piece in a concert of music and poetry from Latin America.
Multimedia Presentation with Eclipse-Inspired Music and Immersive Video
“Light & Dark: Eclipse Music”
Jan. 20, 2024 & Jan. 21, 2024.
To celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse, fivebyfive has created a multi-media concert experience with original music by five composers. Jessica Meyer, Marc Mellits, Glenn McClure,Julie Herndon, and Kamala Sankaram were all invited to create work for the celebration. The Strasenburgh Planetarium at the Rochester Museum and Science Center will also present an immersive to go along with the event. The program combines art, science, music, and audience engagement activities to mark this unforgettable event.
Fivebyfive visits Minnesota’s Carleton College in 3-day Residency
In February of 2024, fivebyfive will travel to Carleton College in Minnesota for a three-day residency. The ensemble will present a concert, lead a reading session of student works, and participate in several workshops.. Composition professor and frequent fivebyfive collaborator, Andrea Mazzariello has previously produced works for fivebyfive including Of and Between which was featured on Performance Today several times.
Specialists and Space Carnival, two New York-based bands, will perform at Brooklyn Bowl on August 9. The show will also feature funk fusion group ShwizZ. Since 2017, the venue has not hosted Space Carnival, while Specialists are scheduled to make their Brooklyn Bowl debut.
Specialists
Spanning 23,000 sq. ft. Brooklyn Bowl is one of the most unique and dynamic event spaces in New York. Boasting a bowling alley, music venue, conference space, and much more, the Williamsburg location offers something for everyone.
I saw my first show at the Bowl in 2014, when I was just 16… My 16 year old self cannot believe this.
Specialists’ guitarist Billy
Specialists are a Brooklyn outfit that expertly blend together elements of rock, dance, and funk to create a fun and playful sound. The group puts together high energy performances that showcase the band’s extraordinary songwriting and musicianship. Specialists have performed all over NYC, including shows at Brooklyn Made and Wonder Bar. The band’s style and groove is the perfect sonic addition to any summer day.
Space Carnival
Space Carnival is made up of Jeremy Kraus on guitar, Cameron Fitch on keys and vocals, Chris Meier on bass, and Josh West joining on drums. Originally created in 2013, the Oneonta band has amassed a following for its one-of-a-kind mixture of progressive rock, alternative rock, disco, and funk. 2023 has signaled the return of Space Carnival, as the group has plans to stop at festivals across the country as well as release new music.
Click here for tickets and information about the August 9 performances.
