Ethnomusicologist, performer, and educator Joseph Alpar is set to perform music of the Ottoman Middle East at Arthur Zankel Music Center in Saratoga Springs on November 16.
Alpar explores the intertwined histories of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the Ottoman Empire through music at Skidmore College’s Arthur Zankel Music Center. Admission is free and open to the public. The central theme of the concert, “Aşk: Music, Love, and Mysticism in the Ottoman World,” is love in all its forms.
It will feature poignant songs of unrequited desire, lyrical wedding ballads about marital loyalty, bawdy tunes delighting in infidelity, driving Sufi and Jewish mystical songs about divine and earthly beloveds, and musical vignettes of everyday courtship, relationships, and separation.
The concert will tell an inspiring story of shared musical traditions and intense cultural collaboration between the peoples of the Ottoman world in several languages — Turkish, Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish (Ladino), Greek, and Arabic. Alpar will sing and perform on several Turkish and Greek instruments, joined by a stellar ensemble.
The event is sponsored by Skidmore’s Jacob Perlow Series, Office of Special Programs, and departments of Music, Environmental Studies and Sciences, Religious Studies, Political Science, and History. Funding is provided by endowments established by Jacob Perlow, an immigrant to the U.S. in the 1920s who was committed to furthering Jewish education, and by a bequest from Beatrice Perlman Troupin.
For more information on Joseph Alpar’s upcoming Nov 16 concert at Skidmore College’s Arthur Zankel Music Center and to purchase tickets, click here.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) has announced that its popular “Sounds of the Season” holiday series will return from December 13-15 in Spa Little Theater.
The show features genre-defying trio Time for Three (DEC 13), Damien Sneed (DEC 14) leading “A Gospel Holiday” celebration, and GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble VOCES8 (DEC 15). Time For Three is back by popular demand following their “Sounds of the Season” appearance in 2023. Known for energetic performances that seamlessly merge classical, Americana, modern pop, and singer-songwriter styles, the trio will bring special arrangements of holiday favorites alongside original music.
Making his return to the Spa Little Theater stage on December 14 is multi-genre recording artist and instrumentalist Damien Sneed alongside his band. Sneed will present his new production of “A Gospel Holiday” featuring his original arrangements of gospel, jazz, and classical holiday favorites including Silent Night, The Christmas Song and Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child.
The “Sounds of the Season” series will culminate on December 15 with 2023 GRAMMY-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 for its “Winter Tales” program. Following their SPAC debut in 2019, the a cappella group will perform a mix of holiday music spanning centuries from Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen to Let it Snow. The announcement marks the continuation of SPAC’s year-round programming in the Spa Little Theater, which is inclusive of a fall, holiday and spring season and is part of SPAC’s mission to present year-round programming.
Time for Three
“Sounds of the Season” Program Schedule:
A Time For Three Holiday
Friday, December 13 | 7 PM
Defying conventions with genre-bending excellence, Time For Three’s captivating sound merges classical, Americana, modern pop, and singer-songwriter styles, and their charismatic performances push creative boundaries. In addition to incredible arrangements of Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Led Zeppelin and others, the trio featuring Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), will present original music and special arrangements of holiday favorites.
Damien Sneed: A Gospel Holiday
Saturday, December 14 | 7 PM
A multi-genre recording artist, Damien Sneed is a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer, and arts educator. Sneed returns to SPAC with an all-new project, “A Gospel Holiday,” featuring his original arrangements of gospel, jazz, and classical holiday favorites like Silent Night, The Christmas Song and Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child.
VOCES8: Winter Tales
Sunday, December 15 | 7 PM
Touring globally, the group showcases their diverse musical expression and versatility through an extensive repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary. Their program “Winter Tales” features a mix of holiday music spanning centuries from Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen to Let it Snow.
Damien Sneed
For more information on “Sounds of the Season” at SPAC and to purchase tickets click here.
Maverick Concerts in Woodstock has announced their new Green Room Project as part of a multi-step fundraising project to revitalize and retain the historic hall.
Maverick Concerts is the oldest ongoing summer chamber music festival in the U.S., attracting the best musicians in the world for 100 years. In addition to classical music, Maverick features jazz, contemporary, folk and world music. Maverick Family Saturdays offers free music, demonstrations and discovery for the whole family. The mainstay of the festival, which runs from June to September, is to be found in the Sunday chamber music concerts performed by renowned soloists and ensembles. Jazz and Contemporary Music presentations have been given more prominence in recent seasons.
Maverick Concerts is located in Hurley on the outskirts of Woodstock, in Ulster County. TZHe barn-like, rectangular building with its gambrel roof was built by hand as part of the Maverick Colony in 1916 by the utopian writer and philosopher Hervey White.
With a roof of wood shingles and a frame of heavy timber, to which the walls—sheaths of wide planks—are nailed directly, the wooden construction and luminous acoustics create an environment perfectly suited to the intimacy of live chamber music. Maverick Concerts, a multi-starred destination by the National Register of Historic Places since 1999, was awarded for Excellence in Historic Preservation by the Preservation League of New York State.
This fall, the iconic venue plans to harbor new initiative in the creation of the new Green Room. Maverick Concerts has been awarded $457,000 in New York State grants for two capital projects vital to retaining the historic hall as an artistic home. The Green Room project starts this fall and as a first step in this multi-step fundraising project we are focusing on raising the full $257,000 of the New York State Council on the Arts matching grant.
The Green Room Project is an exciting new addition to the already fantastic venue. With the newly added Green Room, the Maverick Concert Hall expands their possibilities and capacity. $146,000 has been raised so far and with help they can raise the remaining $111,000 to better utilize the building for the expansion of musical legacy.
For more information on Maverick Concerts, upcoming events, and the Green Room Project, click here.
Powerful vocals, expressive dance, rousing instrumentals, moving testimonials, and stunning views of the city lights in Columbus Circle were in store for attendees of Josh Groban’s “Find Your Light” benefit concert for arts education. The annual fundraiser at Jazz at Lincoln Center raised $1.35 million to support arts programs across the country during its 20th anniversary event on October 29th.
Sara Bareilles, Jojo Levesque, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renée Fleming, Josh Groban, Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Misty Copeland. Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
After a social cocktail hour, patrons flooded the Appel Room in the iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center venue for a star-studded lineup of performances. Throughout the night, the audience witnessed a reflection of the wide array of programs that received the Find Your Light Foundation’s support through the variety of song and dance on the setlist. From Jojo’s energetic delivery of Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire” to Matthew Whitaker’s jazz piano improvisation to contemporary dance choreographed by MOVE|NYC| to accompany Josh Groban’s live “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, there was truly something for everyone during the benefit.
Matthew Whitacre. Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
The concert not only raised money for music, dance, and theater programs, but it also recognized the work of two advocates in arts education. The awards segment was initiated with a beautifully harmonized rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” sung by Sara Barielles and Josh Groban. The song, originally recorded by the duo during the Covid-19 pandemic, was dedicated to the first award recipient of the night: U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. For his advocacy of the arts as it relates to medicine and world health, Dr. Murthy received the “Arts for Healing Award”. To celebrate the accolade, Dr. Murthy joined the band and treated the Find Your Light audience to a demonstration of the mridangam, a drum instrument commonly found in Carnatic music.
The arts are not optional
Dr. Vivek Murthy
Dr. Vivek Murthy. Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
For the second award introduction of the night, Angel Blue’s masterclass-level vocal delivery of Puccini’s “Vissi D’arte” soared through the room as she sang the aria without a microphone. The sonic landscape of the piece provided the perfect opportunity for Josh Groban to acknowledge the second honoree. Renée Fleming accepted the “Find Your Light Award” for her notable contributions to the expansion and advocacy in music across the wide range of genres in which she has sung and joined Groban for a performance of Leonard Cohen’s well-known “Hallelujah”.
Renée Fleming. Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
At the end of our lives, the last thing that remains is music memory
Renée Fleming
Groban closed the event alongside a choir of representatives from Broadway Bound Kids and the Stuttering Association for the Young, two organizations that were highlighted earlier in the evening. The ensemble’s uplifting “Bridge Over Troubled Water” left patrons feeling proud of the work they had done to support the arts and hopeful about the advances that are now possible through the funds raised during the benefit. Thanks to the work of Josh Groban and countless others behind the scenes, students across America may, too, find their light.
Josh Groban auctions the prop razor from his recent Broadway bow as the title character in Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd”. Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Albany Symphony has announced a dazzling new program for the month of November which features outstanding and captivating works presented November 16 and 17. The concerts take place at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
The November concert features Smetana’s “Moldau”, Joan Tower’s Cello Concerto, “A New Day” and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” These shows take place on November 16 at 7:30 PM and November 17 at 3:00 PM. The evening opens with the flowing, lyrical, “Moldau,” by Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, which evokes the Vlatava River (the Moldau). The piece evokes the composer’s deep love of his homeland.
“A New Day,” written in 2021 by GRAMMY Award-Winning composer Joan Tower, will feature cellist Raman Ramakrishnan. The piece is an appreciative, hopeful, and nostalgic work of art reflecting on love and a long, fruitful relationship. Joan wrote the piece with the thought in mind that this life of love lasts only a limited time, and a duo must appreciate every moment together until the end. Joan Tower is widely regarded as one of the most important American composers living today. Her works have been commissioned by major ensembles, soloists, and orchestras across the country and the world.
Composer Joan Tower
The evening concludes with one of the most beloved symphonies of all time, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” The piece was composed in 1893 while Dvořák was the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. It premiered at Carnegie Hall to ecstatic acclaim. Dvorak conceived the piece as a blueprint for future American composers to find their uniquely American voices. It is an anthem to America and reflects Dvorak’s great interest in Spirituals and Native American Music.
The 2024-2025 season runs through the American Music Festival in June. It includes the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a Symphony Side-by-Side with the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Magic of Christmas, Tiny Tots concerts for young people, and more. The shows on Nov 16 and 17 are ones you’ll certainly regret missing. These shows highlight legendary classical pieces that have shaped the way composition is done. Seeing an art form like this is timeless.
For more information on the Albany Symphony and to purchase tickets for the upcoming November 16 and 17 concerts, click here.
Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra has announced their 19th Season celebrating all things movie score, opening with “The Golden Age of Hollywood.”
Formed in 2006, the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra brings live orchestral music to northern Dutchess County and the surrounding Hudson Valley area. The Orchestra is entering their 19th season this year conducted by artistic director and leadership mainstay Kathleen Beckmann, with shows ranging between 40 and 50 performers depending on the repertoire.
Between their five main performances, special concert events, internationally acclaimed guest artists, and talented dance ensembles featured at family-affordable prices each and every season, the NDSO has and continues to cultivate a community of classical music and live performance fans within Dutchess County and beyond. Returning with their 2024-2025 season, the Orchestra has announced a series of exciting performances for music lovers of all ages.
With events like the annual “Home for the Holidays” December concert, a “Disney and Zimmer” blockbuster evening celebrating movie scores, the time-traveling “An Organ in the House” show that brings a theater organ into the fold as the Orchestra brings music from the silent film era to life, and the “Music of The Knights” show celebrating incredibly successful songwriters Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Elton John, and Sir Paul McCartney, the NDSO’s lineup for this year will certainly be one for the books.
Perfectly fitting the film-themed season, “The Golden Age of Hollywood” concert is set to open the Orchestra’s activities for the year on October 27. Featuring scores from classic films like Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard, Psycho, and Ben-Hur, the North Dutchess Symphony Orchestra will immerse the audience in the theatrics and magic of classic cinema.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Uli Speth will make an appearance during the evening of theater to perform Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto, famously known as the “Hollywood Concerto” for its rich and cinematic sound.
A graduate of the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, Speth has performed extensively across the U.S. as a soloist and chamber musician in addition to performances on public radio, collaborations with renowned quartets and members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and premiering new works alongside a string quartet among many other accomplishments. Currently the concertmaster of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra and a dedicated educator in his own right, Speth will make a spellbinding addition to the evening’s celebration of all things hollywood.
In addition to Speth’s exciting guest appearance, prior to the show at 3:15 PM folks in attendance will be able to experience a special presentation from Bard College Professor Joseph Luzzi complete with film clips and anecdotes about this exciting period in Hollywood in order to put the show and its contents into further context.
Tickets for the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” on October 27 are available now, priced at $38 per person with special discounts available for seniors and students. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit the Orchestra’s website here.
The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls has a large schedule of shows for the coming months. From late October to late December, the venue plans to present shows for all walks of life.
The mission of Hudson River Music Hall Productions, Inc. is to create community through music and the related arts. They accomplish this goal through their venue, the Strand Theatre, at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls, NY. Since its first production on December 19, 2010 in the former Washington County Courtroom, The Strand Theatre has brought over 150 events per year to the public; live music, art gallery openings, dance seminars, theatrical productions, private gatherings and many more opportunities for the community to gather through the arts.
The theatre presents all genres of music from rock to folk, country to classical, jazz and world music, modern pop and more. They mostly host music events, but also 6-10 theater productions and 6-10 dance performances per year, monthly classic films, a World Cinema Series, Silent Film Festival, a weekly open mic, lectures and more. This fall to winter 2024 season at the theatre is no different.
For the coming months, The Strand Theatre hosts at least 50 new events within its walls. These shows range from folk and rock tributes to concert film, ensemble performances to movie screenings, dance shows to instrumental showcases, and so much more. The events hold a wide array of genres for all types of music enjoyers: rock, jam/progressive, world & reggae, pop, R&B, hip-hop, metal, classical and more.
Strand Theatre Hudson Falls has a 350-seat auditorium with a 32’x24’ stage for music performance, dance, theatre production and film, a professional concert sound system, a 9’ Steinway concert grand piano, a WiFi coffee shop, an art gallery/lobby and education/rental space. There’s simply a little something for everyone.
Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room
The Strand Theatre 2024 Schedule
10/22 – Prog Night with: Lifesigns, Mike Keneally Trio with Gregg Bendian and Teddy Kumpel, 7:30pm, doors at 7pm, $35/general admission, $50/orchestra section, VIP Post concert meet and greet for an additional $25 10/24- Artimus Pyle Band – a tribute to Ronnie Van Zandt’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7:30pm, ARTIMUS PYLE BAND Honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, $50/floor level, $40/lower balcony, $30/upper balcony 10/25 – E1 Presents Raise Your Hands – a tribute to Bon Jovi, $25/balcony, $30/floor, $50 VIP Front Row 10/26 – Neil Diamond Tribute with Rich Ortiz! 7:30pm, $25/floor seats, $20/Balcony 10/27 – Monsters of Rock Band, 80’s hair metal, 3pm, $20/adults, Kids 12 and under are free, Costume Contest too! 10/28 – Lobby show – Jared Curtis, 7pm, free admission 10/30 – Movie: Rocky Horror Picture Show with shadow actors from SUNY Adirondack Theatre Club 11/1 – David Cross and Larks’ Tongues Band plays King Crimson 1972-74, $50/orchestra section, $35/general seating. 11/2 – Ernie LaRouche Band, 8pm, hosted by Mark Abodeely, Journey’s Escape album in its entirety and more, opener Nocturne Troubadours at 7:30pm featuring Marc Clayton and Tania Halko-Susi, 11/3 – North Country composer’s concert hosted by Catherine Reid, 3pm, 11/4 – Lobby Concert-Elizabeth Conant and band, pianist/singer/songwriter 7pm, free admission 11/7 – Thursday Showcase: Polar Identity, atmospheric rock, 7:30pm, $5 11/8 – Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre – a Brief History of Tull, 8pm, $60/Orchestra Section, $50/lower level, $40/lower balcony, $30/upper balcony. 11/9 – Manticore – a tribute to Emerson Lake and Palmer, 7:30pm, $25 11/10 – The Bob Cats – Rock ‘n’ roll salute to Bob Dylan with Jerry Marotta and friends, $25/floor, $20/balcony 11/11 – Lobby Concert-The Newells, family acoustic quartet-guitars/vocals, 7pm, free admission 11/12 – Movie Night – Sweet Dreams, 7pm, free admission 11/14 – World Cinema Series – Gojira, (Japanese), 7pm, free admission 11/15 – Strange Magic – a tribute to Electric Light Orchestra 11/16 – Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room, former Boston guitarist plays Boston and more, 8pm, $35/orchestra section, $30/floor, $25/balcony 11/17 – Jonathan Newell, classical chamber works, 3pm, $20/general, $15/seniors&veterans, $10/students 11/18 – Lobby Concert – Warren Sieme, acoustic guitar/vocal 11/20 – PAKT – with PERCY JONES – bass ADAM HOLZMAN – keyboard KENNY GROHOWSKI – drums TIM MOTZER – guitars, electronics, progressive rock improv. $25 11/21 – Thursday Showcase: Kaleb Dingmon, opening acts TBA, Pop/R&B/Hip-Hop, 8pm, $5 11/22 – Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute with The Fortunate Sons, 8pm, $25 11/23 – Aquanett, 80’s Rock Night!, $20/in advance, $25/day of show 11/24 – The Cosmic American Music Circus w/ The Lazy Suns, The Bluebillies, The Zorbas Trio, 3pm, $15/10 11/25 – Lobby Concert-Kevin Maynard and Ana Maynard, 7pm, free admission 11/26 – Movie Night – Miracle, 7pm, free admission and free popcorn 11/27 – Patsgiving: Benefit Concert for The Pat Nolan Scholarship Fund 11/29 – E1 Presents Kisstory – Kiss Tribute in full make up 11/30 – Mark Abodeely’s 4rd annual Thanksgiving Spectacular 12/2 – Lobby Concert: Marc Vincent, 7pm, free admission 12/5 – Thursday Showcase: Petra and Sola: The Painter and the Poet 12/6 – Across The Pond – Beatles Tribute, 7:30pm, $15/general admission, $5/students 12/7-Stephanie Schnieder Voice Studio Recital 12/7 – Seven Wonders – a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, 12/8 – Professor Louie and The Woodstock Horns play the music of The Band 12/9 – Lobby Concert- Art-n-Shawna, 7pm, free admission 12/10 – Movie Night – Somewhere In Time, 7pm, free admission and popcorn 12/12 – Thursday Showcase: HaHa Events presents Rockin’ For Christmas 12/13 – The McKrells Christmas Show, 12/14 – The Bluebillies Ol’ Time Christmas Revue, $15 general admision. $12 seniors/students. Start time 7:00 PM 12/15 – Lake George Community Band 12/16 – Lobby Concert – Johnny Clifford, 7pm free admission 12/20 – Movie Night – It’s a Wonderful Life, 7pm, free admission, 12/21 – Rock This Town – an oldies show of 50’s&60’s rock and pop and a salute to Brian Setzer and The Stray Cats 12/27 – Beyond Purple – tribute to Deep Purple, Rainbow, Dio and Whitesnake featuring guitarist Jimi Bell, 8pm 12/28 – Storm Front – Billy Joel Tribute, 8pm, presented and hosted by Mark Abodeel
For more information on The Strand Theatre’s upcoming events and to purchase tickets to any of the shows, click here.
World-renowned classical guitarist Eliot Fisk joins the Glens Falls Symphony for a guest solo performance on Nov 9-10.
The residency by one of the world’s most acclaimed classical guitarists, Eliot Fisk, begins on Saturday, November 9, at 7:30pm. Mr. Fisk will perform a solo performance of works by Barrios-Mangore, J. S. Bach, Gyorgy Ligeti, Isaac Albeniz, and others as part of the de Blasiis Chamber Music Series. Then on Sunday, November 10 at 4pm, the Glens Falls Symphony’s 2024-25 season continues in the beautiful and acoustically unique sanctuary of Christ Church United Methodist in Glens Falls.
Esteemed composer Michael Gandolfi will be in residence for rehearsals and performance of his work, “Sinfonia Brevis”, for strings and woodwinds. Eliot Fisk then joins the orchestra for a performance of “Fantasia para un gentilhombre” by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Following intermission, the orchestra will perform Franz Schubert’s incredibly charming jewel box of a work, the Symphony No. 5.
“Classical Guitarist Eliot Fisk” Concert and “Fisk Fest” COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 30 at 2:30pm: “Sound+Film” series, featuring a screening of a BBC Documentary about classical guitar at our NEW location the Queensbury Senior Center, 742 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY. FREE
Saturday, November 9 at 7:30pm: Eliot Fisk Solo Recital: At the Helen Froehlich Auditorium, Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY. This concert is part of the de Blasiis Chamber Series. Punch & cookies reception following the performance – all are welcome. Tickets $25/Adults, $10/Youth.
Sunday, November 10 at 3pm: Pre-Concert Talk: Music Director Charles Peltz discusses the concert, the music, and the guest artists in a free talk at 3 pm, in the Christ Church United Methodist. FREE.
Sunday, November 10 at 4pm: Performance with the Orchestra: Christ Church United Methodist, in concert with the Glens Falls Symphony. Tickets $35/Adults, $12/Youth.
Tickets to both Eliot Fisk concerts can be had at “Fisk Fest Weekend Ticket”, which includes a special collector edition button. Includes performances on 11.9.2024 and 11.10.2024 $55 for Adult $23 for Student.
For more information on the upcoming Eliot Fisk performances and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) will start their 2024/25 concert season with “Confluence: A Celebration of American Music” at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Oct. 27.
Led by Music Director, Etienne Abelin, in his third full season with ESYO, the Symphony Orchestra will perform a program of classical, jazz, and rock to celebrate American creativity. Confluence will explore the dynamic nature of the rhythms, stories, and emotions that have shaped the musical landscape of American culture.
The concert will open with Copland’s iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, and Hoe Down from Rodeo. Also on the program are Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question, Samuel Barber’s emotionally rich Second Essay for Orchestra, and Jimi Hendrix’s legendary Purple Haze, arranged by Swiss American composer Daniel Schnyder. The blending of rock with classical traditions, highlights the concert’s title, confluence. The orchestra will perform two encores: Leonard Bernstein’s Mambo from West Side Story, capturing the vibrant cultural mosaic of America, followed by Somewhere, a poignant expression of hope and unity.
The featured alto saxophone soloist, Teresa Rodrigues, will bring her lyrical prowess to Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood, Horace Silver’s Peace, and George Gershwin’s Summertime, all arranged for orchestra and saxophone by Daniel Schnyder. Nina Shekhar’s Lumina, a vibrant contemporary work that contrasts light and dark to capture radiance also adds to the theme of confluence.These pieces between compositions by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and Samuel Barber, create a tapestry of sound highlighting the fluidity of American music across genres.
“Flow is all about how music and emotions move, how they carry us forward, much like a river gathering energy and changing course. Our goal is to explore reaching states of flow in our rehearsals and performances, where skill, focus, and letting go merge, allowing the music to take on a life of its own. We’ll also be experimenting with creating seamless transitions between pieces during performances, so that the music flows continuously without interruption.”
Musical Director Etienne Abelin
EYSO’s calendar is full through the spring with highlights such as, the Symphony Orchestra’s collaboration with the Rensselaer Orchestra in March and April. Under the direction of Robert Whalen, they will perform Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique in “Fluid Realities.” Other season highlights include an exchange of ESYO’s Youth Jazz Orchestra with the Worcester Youth Orchestras (MA), the beloved Melodies of Christmas performances, and a tour in Central Europe with concerts in Bratislava, Vienna, and Prague.
ESYO Season Schedule:
Oct. 27, 2024 | 3:00pm CONFLUENCE : A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN MUSIC Symphony Orchestra
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes (OSFL) presents its opening concert in the Musicians’ Choice Chamber Series, The Lyric Sounds of Flute and Piano, on Friday, November 1 at North Presbyterian Church in Elmira.
Jeanne Sperber on FLute
An evening of elegance and musical mastery awaits as OSFL’s Principal Flute Jeanne Sperber and acclaimed pianist Michael Salmirs share the stage to perform some of the most beautiful and introspective works ever written for flute and piano. This performance will explore a wide spectrum of colors and moods, as the duo trades melodies back and forth between the flute and piano. The program includes music from C.P.E. Bach’s Hamburg Sonata, Jake Heggie’s Soliloquy, Pierre Sancan’s Sonatine, and César Franck’s Sonata.
Sperber, a renowned flutist and educator, has been a beloved figure in the Southern Tier for over twenty years. She has performed in legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Weill Hall, and has toured South America and Cuba twice as a concerto soloist. This event promises to be a delightful experience for music lovers of all ages. The concert is sponsored in part by Dick and Judy Sphon and the OSFL Chamber Music Society.
This event is part of OSFL’s 30th concert series. A stellar show with supreme talent like this is one not to miss. The OSFL offers four regular season full orchestra concerts, a Musicians’ Choice Chamber Music Series, concerts by the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes, and educational programs for children. Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for college students with ID, and FREE for attendees under 18 with a ticketed adult.
Michael Salmirs
For more information on the opening concert in the Musicians’ Choice Chamber Series, and to purchase tickets to the show, click here.
