The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has announced “Holiday Celebration,” its annual holiday concert, to be hosted on December 14 at 3:00 pm.
The concert takes place at Ford Hall at Ithaca College under the baton of Guest Conductor, Grant Cooper. Cayuga Orchestra’s “Holiday Celebration” is the perfect performance to get settled into the festive spirit ahead of Christmas. The program will feature a side-by-side with the CCO Youth Orchestra. The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1976 and is officially designated “Ithaca’s Orchestra.”
Each season includes an Orchestral Series, Chamber Music Series, a Holiday concert, free Family Concerts, and the long-standing Willard Daetsch Youth Outreach Program, which earned the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator award.
Grant Cooper served as Interim Music Director for two seasons, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Cooper had collaborated with the CCO a number of times previously, both as guest conductor and commissioned composer. He remains especially passionate about creating works designed to introduce young audiences to the orchestra and has created a substantial body of works for this purpose, including Rumpelstiltzkin, a Cayuga Chamber Orchestra commission. His wry sense of humor and meticulous dedication to detail, together with his considerable experience as music director and conductor, and thoughtful approach to music making, drew in audience members and musicians alike.
For more information on Cayuga Orchestra’s “Holiday Celebration,” and to purchase tickets online, click here.
Championing artists and their creative process for each step from studio to stage, the Works & Process Spring 2025 season starts in January across New York City and Long Island.
Works & Process Artists-in-Residence, provided with fully funded, week-long LaunchPAD residencies, gather for the first Dance Out East on Long Island on January 9–11, in partnership with The Church in Sag Harbor, Guild Hall of East Hampton, and The Watermill Center.
Also kicking off the season is the third Works & Process Underground Uptown Dance Festival at the Guggenheim New York on January 9–13, as part of JanArtsNYC. The Underground Uptown Dance Festival is one of the city’s largest and most influential arts gatherings and draws more than 45,000 performing arts leaders, artists, and enthusiasts from across the globe.
The 40th season of Works & Process at the Guggenheim continues in the museum’s Peter B. Lewis Theater with events that highlight creative process by blending artist discussion and performance. A highlight of the programming will be a series of social dances in the Guggenheim’s rotunda, including a swing social to open the first Uptown Rhythm Dance Festival in partnership with 92NY.
Dance will to a key aspect of this Works & Process season, with new dances by BalletX, Ballet Hispánico, Andy Blankenbuehler, New Jersey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and the Vail Dance Festival. All events feature post-performance receptions that continue the conversation and help foster understanding, appreciation, and community.
The upcoming season sees shows at a multitude of venues including the Guggenheim Museum, Manhattan West, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, The Watermill Center, National Sawdust and more. The season also sees multiple sub-series including the 40th Guggenheim Series, Dance Out East in Long Island, Underground Uptown Dance Fest, Rotunda Social Dances, and more.
The season plans to include step by step showcases of various Broadway plays, detailing behind the scenes actions that prepare the play for the big stage. SMASH, inspired by the hit TV show, is finally coming to Broadway this spring.
SMASH is a hilarious behind-the-scenes rollercoaster ride about the making of a Marilyn Monroe musical called Bombshell, it’s got all the iconic songs, kick-ass choreography, and backstage pandemonium that make Broadway the beloved institution it is today. The production will be helmed by five-time Tony Award–winner Susan Stroman and feature a score by Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award–winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote over two dozen songs for the television show (many of which will be heard in the musical); a book by Tony Award–nominee Rick Elice and Tony Award–winner Bob Martin; and choreography by Tony Award–nominee Joshua Bergasse. Members of the creative team will participate in a moderated discussion and excerpts will be performed in advance of previews.
40th Works & Process at the Guggenheim Series – Performance Highlights and Discussions
Boston Lyric Opera: The Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, libretto by Sarah Ruhl with Anthony Roth Costanzo, Sarah Ruhl, Zack Winokur, and Pam Tanowitz – Jan 14
Miami City Ballet: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Pam Tanowitz – Jan 25
Buena Vista Social Club by Marco Ramirez with Saheem Ali, Patricia Delgado, and Justin Peck – Jan 26
Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Phylicia Rashad– Jan 27
SMASH by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Rick Elice, and Bob Martin, with Susan Stroman and Joshua Bergasse – Feb 3
Never Alone by Andy Blankenbuehler – Feb 7
Williamstown Theatre Festival: Jeremy O. Harris’s New Play First Look – Feb 9
BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical with Jerry Mitchell – Feb 10
Ballet Hispánico: Tango with Alejandro Cervera, Graciela Daniele, and Matthew Neenan – Mar 3
San Francisco Opera: THE MONKEY KING (猴王悟空) by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang with Diane Paulus – Mar 9
BalletX: Maslow’s Peak by Jennifer Archibald – Mar 23
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: This House by Ricky Ian Gordon, Lynn Nottage, and Ruby Aiyo Gerber – Apr 6
Glimmerglass Festival: The House on Mango Street by Derek Bermel and Sandra Cisneros – Apr 7
New Jersey Ballet: Maria Kowroski and Harrison Ball – Apr 14
The Metropolitan Opera: John Adams’s Antony and Cleopatra – Apr 28
Vail Dance Festival – May 4
The Works & Process 2025 season begins on January 9 and comes to a close on May 15, 2025. To see a complete calendar of events for the upcoming season, and to purchase tickets to any of the events, click here.
The Albany Symphony plans to take the holiday season to new heights with their “Magic of Christmas” concert at The Palace Theatre this December.
The award-winning Albany Symphony provides a whole lot of extra sparkle this holiday season in one of the Capital Region’s favorite holiday musical traditions. On Sunday, December 8, “The Magic of Christmas” fills The Palace Theatre with festive holiday music, family fun and special guests. The Albany Symphony and its sleigh-full of hometown talent will delight and entertain audiences of all ages with an afternoon of holiday musical favorites, a carol sing-along and a visit from the big man in the red suit.
In keeping with the Albany Symphony’s longtime role as a collaborator, the orchestra is proud to be joined by community partners, including The Music Studio, Capital District Youth Chorale, Rince go Brach (formerly Boland) School of Irish Dance, Northeast Ballet, Saratoga Springs High School Choraliers, and Schalmont High School Concert Choir.
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. In addition to an eight-concert subscription season, an annual multi-day American Music Festival including performances by the orchestra’s genre-bending ensemble Dogs of Desire, and a host of education and community outreach events, the Albany Symphony regularly serves as an ambassador for new music and Upstate innovation beyond the Capital Region.
“The Magic of Christmas” takes place from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, December 8 at The Palace Theatre in downtown Albany. Conducted by David Alan Miller, prepare for an afternoon of festive family fun and cheer. Sponsored in part by Price Chopper and Market 32, the concert is jam-packed with holiday classics. Like everything the Albany Symphony does, the afternoon includes a medley of familiar and brand-new tunes, including “Joy to the World,” “Sing Noel,” “Santa’s Holly Jolly Little Christmas,” Nutcracker selections with dancers, and much more. In traditional joyful fanfare, audiences join in a Christmas sing-along to close the program.
For more information on “The Magic of Christmas” concert at The Palace Theatre on Dec 8 and to purchase tickets, click here.
Brooklyn-based soft rock/indie artist Harrison Lipton has released his latest single “On My Own” which masks post-breakup sadness with cheeky humor.
Musical jack-of-all-trades Harrison Lipton releases his cheeky new breakup anthem “On My Own” via Amuse. The facetious, 70s-inspired dad rock song uses the all too familiar coping mechanism of poking fun at inherent sadness to make it through the day. His voice full of smooth earnestness, Lipton ushers listeners towards the greener grass on the other side. Harrison Lipton is a 30-year-old singer, songwriter and producer. The Brooklyn artist’s musical flair resides in the intersection of indie, R&B and 70s soft rock.
Now with the focus shifted to his own releases, Lipton unveiled “Synchronized Swimming,” with its captivating accompanying music video, back in September. Exploring romance coyly nestled within the metaphor of synchronized swimming, listeners witness Lipton’s proven songwriting and production talent in raw form. Complete with dusty piano, laid-back Khruangbin-like drums, and an underwater guitar solo, the final touch is the perfect pairing of background vocals from MICHELLE’s Layla Ku. “On My Own” keeps building the world “Synchronized Swimming” started, putting forth a distinctly clean and modernized late 70s aesthetic.
Lipton prides himself on fully realizing a track from start to finish, leading the charge with songwriting, producing, and mixing, as well as creative direction. Lipton’s music is a product of his singular imagination, presenting a style that is sincere, authentic and all his own.
His music has been featured in NPR and Early Rising as well as on numerous editorial playlists such as Apple Music’s Late-Night Menu and Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Chill Vibes. Now focusing on new singles leading toward a larger project, Lipton emerges as a promising and unique voice, blending soulful vocals with singular and catchy production.
For more information on Harrison Lipton and to lend an ear to some of his recent works, click here.
Park Avenue Armory in NYC has announced its 2025 season that features bold, transformative artistic experiences from various notable names – Yoko Ono, Jamie xx, and Anne Imhof – among the many.
Comprised predominantly of world and North American premieres, the 2025 season builds on the Armory’s history of presenting masterpieces in spatial music, site-specific concert experiences, genre-defying theatrical works, and elevating singular artistic perspectives from across the world. In the expansive Wade Thompson Drill Hall, these productions will engage with the Armory’s iconic architecture in unexpected ways, offering unique settings for audiences to experience music, photography, and performance.
The historic period rooms will host intimate Recital Series performances and Artists Studio programs curated by Jason Moran, showcasing the talents of visionary artists across genres. These programs will be complemented by Making Space at the Armory, a series of talks and symposia.
Jamie xx
The Armory’s 2025 Wade Thompson Drill Hall programming begins in January with Jamie xx’s In Waves, a co-presentation with Bowery Presents that launches the North American tour for the artist’s first solo album in 10 years. Returning to the Armory following his sold-out residency with The xx in 2014, Jamie xx will perform a career-spanning set with an emphasis on his newest album, In Waves, which captures the bliss, volatility, and introspection of a night out.
Revolutionary artist and activist Yoko Ono will bring the largest installation to date in North America of her ongoing work Wish Tree to the Armory in February. Featuring a grove of 92 trees installed in the Wade Thompson Drill Hall to mark the artist’s 92nd birthday, the work will invite visitors to write and attach wishes to the branches, creating a large-scale yet personal activation. Ono’s work will be the topic of a two-day symposium as part of the Armory’s Making Space series, which will emphasize her legacy of advancing female empowerment, creativity, and peace.
Yoko Ono
Multifaceted contemporary artist Anne Imhof will transform the Armory with her new performance piece DOOM. Working across painting, drawing, video, music, and sculpture, Imhof is best known for creating large scale installations that meld various media, including endurance performance, to create singular compositions— one of which, Faust, received the Golden Lion at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Commissioned specifically for the Armory and curated by Klaus Biesenbach, DOOM marks Imhof’s largest performative work to date and will take over the Drill Hall. This sequential, durational performance punctuated by dramatic tableaux vivants of performers, sound, and scenography, will invite audiences into a shared experience that juxtaposes apathy and anxiety with resistance and optimism.
One of the most original and influential photographers of the twentieth century, Diane Arbus captured the wide breadth of humanity in postwar America with iconic documentary-style photographs that continue to resonate with artists and viewers today. Following Arbus’ death in 1971, a photographer and student of hers Neil Selkirk began printing for the Arbus Estate and remains the only person authorized to create prints from her negatives. Presented at the Armory in its North American premiere, Constellation brings together all prints from the set of more than 450 that Selkirk produced—the largest and most complete assemblage of Arbus’s work to date. Presented as an unconventional “constellation” of photographs, the exhibition invites visitors to wander freely among the works, revealing new connections between the images and highlighting the imperceptible architecture of chance, chaos, and exploration that underlies all creations.
Tickets for each show are sold on the Park Avenue Armory website – for more information on the upcoming 2025 season and to purchase tickets, click here.
Legendary rock band Blue Öyster Cult has announced the release of a live performance video for 2020 track, “The Alchemist.”
Riding the triumphant success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Blue Öyster Cult is rolling into the release of ‘50th Anniversary Live – Third Night,’ the final installment of the live album celebrating the band’s 50th Anniversary. This electrifying performance, which includes the band’s third album ‘Secret Treaties’ performed back-to-back, is set to hit the shelves on December 13, 2024, and promises to be a spectacular follow-up to the band’s historic three-night stint at Sony Hall in NYC. Today, in anticipation of the album’s release, Blue Öyster Cult share a new live performance video for “The Alchemist”.
Blue Öyster Cult’s legacy spans over five decades, captivating fans with intelligent hard rock loaded with classic songs. Hailing from Long Island, NY, the band is renowned in the hard rock and heavy metal scene for their pioneering work, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success. Cited as a major influence by acts like Metallica, BOC boasts a timeless catalog, including iconic tracks like “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” “Godzilla,” and “Burnin’ for You.” The creative vision of the original core duo, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and Eric Bloom, is complemented by Richie Castellano, Danny Miranda, and Jules Radino, forming a powerhouse lineup.
As the band embraces its status as a ‘classic rock’ phenomenon, they continue to create vibrant work, offering a refreshing alternative to mainstream trends. With a relentless touring schedule and the critically acclaimed 2020 album The Symbol Remains which contains “The Alchemist,” Blue Öyster Cult remains an enduring force, ready to ignite the stage once again with the upcoming release of 50th Anniversary Live – Third Night. With the release of a live performance of “The Alchemist,” the band celebrates their 2020 success along with the anticipated success of their upcoming 50th anniversary live album.
For more information on Blue Öyster Cult, their upcoming works, and to watch their live performance of “The Alchemist,” click here.
Post Malone has announced his upcoming tour. “The BIG ASS Stadium Tour” with special guest Jelly Roll. The tour sees one date in New York at Citi Field in Queens.
Known for redefining the modern concert experience with his genre-blending sound and electrifying stage presence, Post will bring a massive production to 25 stadiums across the United States and Canada. Post Malone is set to deliver unforgettable performances across North America, including a stop at Citi Field in Queens on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Adding to the excitement, Post Malone will be joined by the breakout sensation Jelly Roll, whose recent crossover hits and authentic storytelling have made him a powerful voice in modern country music.
Post’s catalog comprises the GRAMMY® Award-nominated “rockstar” [feat. 21 Savage” (Diamond), “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)” [feat. Swae Lee] (2x Diamond), “I Fall Apart” (Diamond), “Psycho” [feat. Ty Dolla $ign] (Diamond), “White Iverson” (Diamond), “Better Now” (Diamond), and more. It all started with his quintuple-platinum influential 2016 debut, Stoney. With records under his belt that will likely never be surpassed and a generation of artists and audiences worldwide under his spell, Post Malone simply doesn’t stop.
Jelly Roll and Post Malone
POST MALONE PRESENTS: THE BIG ASS STADIUM TOUR 2025 DATES:
Tue Apr 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rice-Eccles Stadium^
Sat May 03 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium^
Wed May 07 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome^
Fri May 09 – Dallas, TX – AT&T Stadium^
Sun May 11 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes Benz Stadium^
Tue May 13 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium^
Sun May 18 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field^
Tue May 20 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium^
Thu May 22 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field^
Sat May 24 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park^
Mon May 26 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre^
Wed May 28 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium^
Thu May 29 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park^
Sat May 31 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
Mon Jun 02 – Washington, DC – Northwest Stadium
Wed Jun 04 – New York, NY – Citi Field
Sun Jun 08 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium*
Tue Jun 10 – Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium
Fri Jun 13 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
Sun Jun 15 – Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High
Sat Jun 21 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium*
Tue Jun 24 – Boise, ID – Albertsons Stadium
Thu Jun 26 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park
Sat Jun 28 – Portland, OR – Providence Park
Tue Jul 01 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park
*Without Jelly Roll
^With Sierra Ferrell
For more information on Post Malone’s upcoming tour and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Second City has announced their brand new, fast-paced, interactive holiday revue “Wreck the Halls” which debuts November 21 in Brooklyn.
Following the successful launch of The Second City New York earlier this year, the iconic comedy institution has announced their highly anticipated, interactive comedy revue, designed specifically for the holidays. Building on the legacy of its renowned Chicago and Toronto siblings, the New York outpost is debuting Wreck the Halls: The Second City’s New York’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays on November 21, 2024, and running through December.
The upcoming Mainstage show Wreck the Halls: The Second City New York’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays is an interactive comedy revue; packed with seasonal songs, sketches, and their signature improv. The show roasts all the things we love, and love to loathe, about the season. Opening November 22, the show promises to deliver plenty of laughs as The Second City’s brightest talents turn holiday traditions upside down.
Second City New York’s MainStage
The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown to become the world’s most influential name in improvisation and comedy, celebrating its 65th year in business in 2024. The Second City’s stages, Touring Companies, and Training Centers across North America have proudly been the launch pad and artistic home for many of the funniest performers, writers, directors, and comedic minds on the planet. For decades The Second City’s corporate education and entertainment arm, Second City Works, has supported global businesses using the same methods pioneered on its stages to drive individual growth and organizational improvement.
For more information on Second City’s upcoming Wreck the Halls – taking place at 64 N 9th St in Williamsburg – and to purchase tickets to any of the dates, click here.
Opera Saratoga based out of Saratoga Springs has announced their 64th Summer Season which runs from May 20 – June 29.
Offenbach, Meilhac & Halévy’s sparkling, witty, and electric La Vie Parisienne takes us to the heart of the demi-monde in 1860s Paris where two bachelors play tour guide to a Swedish Baron and Baroness. They showcase the Paris of their imagination, complete with visits to dives that they claim are fancy palaces and meetings with friends who are disguised as aristocrats. La Vie Parisienne is social critique at its most hilarious. You will leave the theater humming catchy patter songs and raucous party numbers. This show includes four performances at Universal Preservation Hall on June 20, 26 & 28 at 7:30 pm and June 22 at 2:00 pm.
Offenbach’s romp runs in repertory with Bock, Harnick & Masteroff’s jewel-box musical She Loves Me. Famous for tunes like “Vanilla Ice Cream”, “She Loves Me”, and “It’s Been Grand Knowing You”, this sweet story focuses on two employees in a Budapest parfumerie who are sworn enemies during the day but unsuspecting lonely hearts penpals at night. This show consists of five performances at Universal Preservation Hall June 21, 25, 27 at 7:30 pm and June 28 & 29 at 2:00 pm.
Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs
Earlier in the month, the company will produce a site-specific installation version of In a Grove composed by Chris Cerrone with libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann. This operatic adaptation of Akutagawa’s classic short story “In a Grove” which inspired the plot of Kurosawa’s renowned film Rashomon, offers a searing investigation into the impossibility and elusiveness of truth. This show takes flight with four performances at the Ferndell Pavilion in Saratoga Spa State Park on May 28 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and May 29 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm.
Saratoga Spa State Park
Finally, the company will present a work-in-progress showing of composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Naomi O’Connell’s A Mass for Women in Bathrooms. This opera-theater work for three singers, an actress and electronic sound design by Alex Dowling reframes the structure of the Irish Catholic Mass to tell an intimate family story of three sisters and their mother. A story born from personal experience, A Mass for Women in Bathrooms examines themes of infertility, reproductive rights, and dementia, while reclaiming bodily autonomy for women in a historically violent space. This project is funded in part by the Arts Council of Ireland. This show airs with two work-in-progress performances at Universal Preservation Hall on June 22 at 7:30 pm and June 27 at 2:00 pm.
For more information on the Opera Saratoga Summer Series and to purchase tickets click here.
A biography of The Band’s Richard Manuel is slated to release this spring for the 50th anniversary of the group’s 1974 tour.
The biography is titled, Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band (Schiffer Publishing, on sale May 28, 2025) celebrates Manuel’s immeasurable contributions to music, ensuring his soulful voice and profound artistry endure in the annals of rock. Richard Manuel sang and played piano for The Band, which originated in Toronto, Canada and Woodstock.
The Band began as a backing group for the legendary Bob Dylan. The Band is often credited with helping to define the sound of roots rock and Americana, blending rock, country, blues, and folk into a cohesive and groundbreaking style. Their music was characterized by a raw, earthy quality that bridged the gap between traditional American folk music and modern rock.
Richard Manuel was sweetly soulful and creatively multifaceted, leaving his mark on rock history that is still celebrated today. Through insightful analysis and interviews, his troubled yet inspired spirit is contextualized within music history. From his role in forming the Band to his iconic vocals and songwriting, Manuel’s influence resonates deeply.
Author Stephen Lewis is a rock-and-roll archivist, collector, and storyteller. He owns and operates the Talk from the Rock Room website and podcast and has been writing about music for over 20 years, including contributing articles on Summer Jam and Little Feat for NYS Music. He delves into Manuel’s influence on the history of rock, along with discussing some of Manuel’s life as told through his forth coming book.
The Band in London, June 1971. From left: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson.
For more information on the biography Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Bandclick here.
