NYS Music 2024

Category: News

  • Berklee NYC Celebrates Landmark 2024 Commencement

    The Berklee College of Music announced that their New York City graduate program recently celebrated its graduation with a commencement ceremony at Lincoln Center.

    On Sunday, June 29, Berklee NYC honored its largest cohort of Master’s recipients in the Appel Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. 

    berklee nyc
    Photo credit – Yusuke Yamanouchi

    Betsie Becker, acting executive director of Berklee NYC and Power Station at Berklee NYC, and David Bogen, interim president and provost of Berklee College of Music, conferred degrees to 119 scholars and four post-master’s fellows. The graduates were recipients of one-year Master of Arts degrees in creative media and technology, specializing in either songwriting and production, live music production and design, or writing and design for musical theatre. Music for the ceremony was even written and produced by the graduates, with the processional written by Power Station at Berklee NYC alumnus and staff member Glenn Forsythe (Class of 2008).

    The commencement speech was given by Grammy and Tony award-winning musician and composer Charlie Rosen, a Berklee graduate of the class of 2012. This past February, Rosen took home the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album as orchestrator of the Broadway smash hit Some Like It Hot. In 2022, Rosen and his band, 8-Bit Big Band, received the Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella.  Rosen has won two Tony Awards for Best Orchestration for his work on Moulin Rouge! The Musical (2020) and A Strange Loop (2023).

    berklee nyc
    Charlie Rosen ’12 addresses graduates at the 2024 Berklee NYC commencement ceremony. Image by Yusuke Yamanouchi

    Rosen, who is also a cancer survivor, gave a rousing speech to the graduates and fellows, inspiring each to pursue their creativity, even in the face of an incredibly difficult, competitive industry. Other keynote speakers were Xenia Rubos (Class of 2006), an assistant professor of songwriting and production, and songwriting and production scholar Tamieyah Johnson, who delivered remarks on behalf of her fellow graduates.

    “This industry and this city can be challenging and unpredictable. Having a community around you of people who understand your struggles, share your passion, and celebrate your successes is invaluable. They will help you navigate the uncertainties, celebrate your victories, and provide solace during tough times,” said Rosen. “As a recent cancer survivor, I can attest most to the power of the support system of friends and peers. If there is one thing I continue to learn, it’s that no one succeeds in this industry alone. The connections you have made at Berklee are just the beginning.”

  • Canandaigua Announces 2024 Art and Music Festival

    The Canandaigua Business Improvement District has announced the 2024 Art and Music Festival, celebrating local musicians, artists, and businesses throughout the city.

    The festival begins on Friday, July 19 at noon and goes through the weekend, ending on Sunday July 21. From 12 pm-7 pm on Friday and 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, Historic Downtown Canandaigua will feature over 150 restaurants, artists, and musicians.

    canandaigua art and music festival

    For 34 years, the historic sidewalks of Downtown Main Street have hosted the Art and Music Festival, aimed to celebrate the works of artists belonging to several mediums. Although its start was small and featured a few artists scattered around the region, the festival has grown into a mounting success in the last three decades. Now in its 35th year, Downtown Main Street is home to over 150 artists and musicians and includes activities, classes, demonstrations, and raffles.

    After an extensive jury process, artists are selected to display their works throughout the entirety of the festival. Each year, new artists in almost every category, including ceramics, pottery, jewelry, woodworking, fiber, glass, photography, and gourmet foods, showcase and sell their creations at booths. Art students at local schools join in on the fun, too, showing off their coursework for all to see.

    Musical acts at the festival will take place for the entire weekend on the Maxion Stage at Commons Park. The concerts start at noon every day. This year, the Art and Music Festival features select musical acts from all genres, including Bluegrass, Blues, Rock & Roll, Jazz, and singer-songwriter Acoustic performers from all over Upstate New York. Returning performers and newcomers alike, the musicians performing at the Art and Music Festival will be bringing their best for the entire weekend.

    Throughout the entirety of the festival, a wide range of activities are available in Historic Downtown. Activities include a musical petting zoo, an interactive experience complete with instruments to explore. Demonstrations of pottery making, candle creation, and glass flameworking are readily available. Lastly, the Golden Palette Studio Trail includes special events and access to original art, crafts, classes, services, and unique gift items.

    For more information, visit the city’s website, linked here.

  • Jim Jones, Brady Watt Join Forces At ‘Godspeed’

    Jim Jones’ rapping and delivery have aged like wine. Thus it comes as no surprise that as Brady Watt sifted through beats at — Dipset affiliates — Heatmakers’ studio, he could not help but think of Capo. “With Dipset already on my mind, we reached out to Jim Jones, and he miraculously came to the studio a few days later,” Watt recalls. 

    Jim Jones and Brady Watt in the studio
    Brady Watt adds his touch to The Heatmakers’ beat, creating “Godspeed.”

    Hence, the end result –“Godspeed”– is classic Heatmakers beat. Backed by a high pitch and soul sample, the record sees Jim Jones introspectively shares his life and times and Brady Watt delivers a passionate chorus. Yet during the recording process, Watt was mourning the loss of a close friend’s father. Thus channeling his emotions into the song, turning his sadness into a passionate message about gratitude, alignment with destiny and God’s timing.

    “Jim did the verse on the spot and brought everything to the next level. Thankfully, my cameraman was there to document everything,” Watt reveals. Indeed, the music video for “Godspeed” consists of the intimate studio session, showcasing Watt’s diversity as he provides vocals, production and instrumentation on the record.

    “I’m a lifelong Dipset fan,” Watt shares. “Over the years, I’ve developed a friendship with Jim and Heatmakerz. I’m always making beats, but I wanted to see what would happen if I used someone else’s production while still adding my instrumentation and bass.”

    More From Brady Watt

    Ultimately, “Godspeed” is the latest feather in the cap of the the multi-instrumentalist/producer. After all Watt has been a hip hop mainstay thanks to his musical chops. Aside from being a well-renowned live musician and session bass player, he continues to push musical boundaries with his groundbreaking “Bass & Bars” series, which has now garnered over 100 million views. 

  • Ten Years After to Release Woodstock 1969 album on August 16th

    The legendary British blues band Ten Years After will release their Woodstock performance on streaming and physical media. This release is the first time their Woodstock set has been released as a standalone recording. The album will release on Friday, August 16. 

    Ten years After

    Singer/guitarist Alvin Lee and bassist Leo Lyons rose to local fame in Nottingham, England as the Jaybirds in the early 1960s. Following the addition of drummer Ric Lee and keyboardist Chick Churchill in 1966, the band rebranded themselves as Ten Years After. Throughout the 1960s, the band released four studio albums, including the live LP Undead. This album contained the first rendition of their anthemic hit “I’m Going Home.” 

    As the band made a name for themselves, they quickly began playing shows across the United States. In July 1969, they broke barriers being one of the first rock groups to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. Following a summer of cross country touring, the band arrived in Bethel, NY for the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. 

    Alvin Lee on stage at Woodstock

    Ten Years After were slated to perform on Sunday, August 17th: the festival’s third day. Following acts like Joan Baez, Santana, and Long Island’s Mountain, they certainly had a high bar to meet. By the time their 8:15 set began, conditions were gloomy. The sun had begun to set, and rain poured down covering the stage and turning the fields into mud pits. These conditions in tandem with a jet-lagged band seemed to spell disaster for their performance. 

    However, their set was anything but a disaster. Looking out to the audience, Alvin Lee calmly said “This is a thing called ‘I’m Going Home’… by helicopter!” In no time, Lee’s guitar erupted into a fiery breakneck solo, before the rest of the band joined. The 12 minute long jam seamlessly switched between funky numbers and psychedelic guitar passages enthralling the audience of 500,000. Throughout the live recording, the audience can be heard whistling, hooting, and clapping along illustrating just how captivating their performance was. 

    Their Woodstock performance and the ensuing 1970 Woodstock film propelled Ten Years After to newfound levels of fame. The concert footage made the then up-and-comers seem like rock gods. Throughout the performance Alvin Lee’s long hair waved in the wind, as Lyon’s headbanged in the background. 

    Ten Years After

    Following the release of the Woodstock film, the band’s shows began to grow larger and larger. Soon audiences of all ages were attending their shows, propelling their releases even further up the charts. 1970 also saw the band’s highest chart success with the release of “Love Like a Man,” which reached no. 10 on the UK Singles Chart. This success however worked to destroy the band. Growing arguments and disillusionment with touring slowly ate away at the group. Lee remembered ““You’d walk on stage and people would be shouting for I’m Going Home, which was the last song. I often wonder what the rest of our career would have been like if the Woodstock movie had used another song. As it was, everything became focused on the last song, the high-energy number.” 

    Following the release of their 1974 record Positive Vibrations, the band broke up. Throughout the 1980s, the band occasionally reunited to play shows like the 1983 Reading Festival. In 1988, the band permanently reunited, releasing four albums and touring – albeit with varying lineups. 

    Now for the first time in history, the original recording of Ten Years After’s Woodstock set will release to the public. This release features a new remaster of the original 2” multitrack tapes. In addition to streaming platforms, the album will also release on physical media. The album releases as a 2LP, 180gm black vinyl, and single-disc CD. There will also be an independent record store exclusive release on pink tie-dye vinyl. All releases come with liner notes from legendary music journalist Chris Welch. 

    For more information on the August 16th release of Woodstock 1969, visit the link here. 

  • Ann Nesby & The Sounds of Blackness Reinvented In ‘We Rise (Raf N’ Soul New York Remix)’

    From Brooklyn-based Bassline Records, grammy-winning r&b/gospel ensemble The Sounds of Blackness return with a reinvented Ann Nesby in an uptempo dance and soul infused remix with producer Raf N’ Soul. Released on July 4, “We Rise (Raf N’ Soul New York Remix)” was originally written by Ann Nesby and Victor Simonelli for the Atlanta Olympic Games. At the present time Simonelli sought out DJ and producer Raf N’ Soul to revamp the powerful record. Hence, the resulting arrangement of diverse musical styles brings life to the record and its powerful and unifying message.

    Ann Nesby "We Rise" cover art

    Thus, in 7 minutes and 10 seconds Raf n’ Soul takes everything to the next level with an orchestra of gospel, r&b, house and dance music all seamlessly coinciding. Chiefly, “We Rise (Raf N’ Soul New York Remix)” sets the stage with an uptempo dance beat as Ann Nesby’s ferocious vocals carry throughout. However the record is a makeup of varying styles with Detroit string player Marleen Rice offering an r&b/orchestral touch while trumpet player Syreeta Thompson bringing a southern jazz twist to the electric blend.

    “We Rise” Behind The Scenes

    To top this momentous release Raf N’ Soul Productions shared a a behind the scenes documentary into the making of “We Rise (Raf N’ Soul New York Remix).” The short-film offers an inside look into the impressive production team behind the record. A studio session hosting Recording Academy voting members Raf N’ Soul and Syreeta Thompson, multiple grammy winners, and Aretha Franklin’s former violinist in Marleen Rice was expectedly a free-flowing exchange of talent and creativity. After, Ann Nesby shared thoughts on the meaning behind “We Rise,” before getting an inside look into the concept and photoshoot behind the single’s artwork.

    We Rise is a song that was developed to encourage people that were going through something or working to rise above a goal that they felt was so depressing for them and to know that there’s a winner inside of you that no one can stop. And when you see that goal coming through you know who you are and that your dream has become reality.

    – Ann Nesby

    Ann Nesby & The Sounds of Blackness

    Ann Nesby and The Sounds of Blackness walk hand-in-hand as less heralded legends of R&B, gospel and soul-music. However, their lasting influences are in the generation of artists that honed their voice in church. Nonetheless, they are vital part of history, to which their sustained cultural relevance and critical-acclaim is a testament to.

  • Albany’s Palace Theatre Announces Free Movie Series

    Palace Theater’s free movie series will return this year with eight free family-friendly movie screenings. The series will open one hour before the movie starts for fun & educational activities. On August 28, the series’ finale, the Palace Theater will host an Ice Cream Social immediately following the screening of Spider Man: Into The Spider Verse.

    Palace Theater Gives Back

    The movie series is part of Palace Theater’s Community Engagement Initiative. Thus the initiative has garnered local support from numerous donors, including Stewart’s Shops, who will be providing ice cream for the Ice Cream Social. Art, educational activities, games, and giveaways will take place before the movie starts. Additionally free popcorn will be provided for all children 12 and younger.

    Moreover Broadway’s Chief Community Officer Kathy Lanni expressed her excitement about the Palace Theater movie series, saying, “The Palace is the perfect place for families to beat the heat, spend quality time together, and gain an appreciation for the arts and the rich history of our community.”

    For the past 80 years, The Palace has been a landmark of Albany’s downtown. The theater maintains its original beauty and design from its construction in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, and is a historical landmark in the City of Albany. Chiefly the Palace’s mission is to bring world-class arts and entertainment to New York’s Capital Region. Through performing arts entertainment, free arts education, family-friendly performances, free summer movies and a classic movie program series, the Palace continues to give back to the community.

    As a result local businesses like Stewart’s Shopshave made generous donation to the Palace Theater. A report of a previous summer music series is available here, and free tickets are available at the following link.

    Palace Theater Movie Series Dates

    Tue, July 9: Wish
    Tue, July 16: Shrek
    Tue, July 23: The Lion King
    Tue, July 30: Wonka
    Tue, Aug. 6: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem
    Tue, Aug. 13: Trolls: Band Together
    Tue, Aug. 20: The Princess and the Frog
    Wed, Aug. 28: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

  • Anderson .Paak Brings The Malibu Tour To Jones Beach Theater

    Eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak is heading on tour. The Super Bowl halftime performer announced The Malibu Tour, featuring Maurice Brown and Gawd, where he will perform his critically-acclaimed sophomore effort, Malibu, in its entirety. The 3-week trek will see .Paak make 14 stops with a performance at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY for the penultimate performance.

    Maya Sarin

    Anderson .Paak is renowned for his work as a singer, rapper, and producer. His passion for music began as a child in his church band in Oxnard, California. In 2014 .Paak released his debut album, Venice, followed by Malibu in 2016.

    .Paak is known for his collaboration with other accomplisted artists. Silk Sonic, .Paak’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, earned the duo four Grammy’s and a sold out Vegas residency. Hits like “Leave the Door Open” and “Smokin’ out the Window” have cemented .Paak’s place in the public consciousness. .Paak appeared as a surprise guest at Logic and Friends’ show in 2022.

    Anderson .Paak’s tour will showcase all of his strengths. With experience playing at the Met Gala, F1 Las Vegas, and Coachella, .Paak is an experienced performer with an engaging stage presence.

    Tickets are currently available, and a full list of tour dates is available below. Anderson .Paak’s NPR performance is also available below.

    The Malibu Tour Dates

    Wed Sep 18 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

    Thu Sep 19 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

    Sat Sep 21 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

    Tue Sep 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

    Thu Sep 26 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl

    Fri Sep 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

    Sat Sep 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas

    Wed Oct 02 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

    Fri Oct 04 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

    Sat Oct 05 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre

    Tue Oct 08 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann

    Wed Oct 09 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

    Fri Oct 11 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater

    Sun Oct 13 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

  • Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers Announce Manhattan Show at Drom

    Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, a genre-bending band from Michigan, announced new dates on their 2024 tour. The Rainbow Seekers will be playing Drom, a venue in the East Village. Known for their high energy, danceable music, the Rainbow Seekers’ tour promises an exciting show.

    The additional tour dates were announced following the release of their newest single, “Turn This Train Around”. The track describes Hertler’s experience after a breakup, specifically, the moment, “joy pierced through [his] sorrow” and it “felt good to dance again”.

    Jake Mulka

    Founded in Lansing, Michigan, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers are known for their upbeat, spirited performances. The Rainbow Seekers’ energy is contagious, they live up to the optimism their name invokes. Their music is far from one dimensional: high-energy, life-affirming live shows feature pensive-yet-uplifting lyrics featured on their album, Pursuit of Wonder.

    The band explores philosophical truths on their album, “looking at opposites: life or death, good or bad, happiness or sadness. None of those things can exist without the other.” Though the subject matter is existential, Joe Hertler is far from nihilistic. He described the process of writing the album as “uplifting’, and expressed a desire for the listener to “appreciate the brevity of their existence”.

    Tickets are available at the following link. A full list of tour dates is below, along with the “Turn this Train Around” music video. Pictures of a previous Rainbow Seekers show are also available at the following link.

    Tour Dates

    June 29 – St. Louis, MO @ Duck Room at Blueberry Hill

    June 30 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Twilight Series

    July 2 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s

    July 4-5 – Quincy, CA @ High Sierra Music Festival

    July 7 – Portland, OR @ The Get Down

    July 9 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s

    July 10 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux

    July 11 – Victor, ID @ Music On Main

    July 13 – Denver, CO @ Meow Wolf Denver: Convergence Station

    July 24 – Thomas, WV @ Purple Fiddle

    July 25 – Check, VA @ FloydFest

    July 26 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings

    July 27 – Fayetteville, WV @ The Outpost New River Gorge

    August 8 – Lowell, MI @ Sizzlin Showboat at Riverwalk Plaza

    August 9 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi Fi

    August 15 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Sonic Lunch (Daytime Set)

    August 22 – Charlotte, NC @ River Jam at the US National Whitewater Center

    August 23 – Chattanooga, TN @ Nightfall Concert Series at Miller Plaza

    August 24 – Covington, KY @ The Rooftop at Madison Live

    September 27 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Café – Beer Garden

    September 28 – Valpraiso, IN @ Valpo Brewfest

    September 29 – Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s Grandview

    October 1 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Crafthouse Stage & Grill

    October 2 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest Café

    October 3 – New York, NY @ Drom

    October 4 – Boston, MA @ Arts at the Armory

    October 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy

    October 6 – Washington, D.C. @ Pearl Street Warehouse

    October 8 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall

    October 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl

    October 11 – Nashville, TN @ East Room

    October 12 – Bentonville, AR @ City Sessions

    October 13 – Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co.

    October 15 – Austin, TX @ 3STEN ACL Live

    October 17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar

    October 18 – San Diego, CA @ Winston’s Beach Club

    October 19 – Venice, CA @ Venice West

    October 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

    October 22 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Atrium at the Catalyst

    October 24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell

    October 26 – Basalt, CO @ The Arts Campus at Willits

    October 27 – Greeley, CO @ Moxi Theater

    October 30 – Minneapolis, MN @ Green Room

    November 1 – Appleton, WI @ Appleton Beer Factory

    November 2 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean

    November 3 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon

    November 9 – Lansing, MI @ Grewal Hall

  • WNYC Announces Centennial Program Ahead of 100th Anniversary

    New York City Public Radio (WNYC) is celebrating their 100th year on air with a months-long celebration and a centennial album to go with it. The celebration starts on July 8 and continues through the fall, including special broadcasts, concerts, and public participation.

    New York Public Radio/WNYC Centennial

    Since WNYC’s founding in 1924, they’ve transformed and fostered New York City’s connection through delivering news, entertainment, and technological advances. This year, they celebrate 100 years of doing so, beginning in July.

    On July 8, Happy Birthday WNYC! An on-air celebration, hosted by Brian Lehrer at 7 PM can be found on 93.9 FM. Followed by the Re-imagining of WNYC’s inaugural broadcast hosted live from The Greene Space. Then, in true New York fashion, the Empire State Building will light up red to kick off the festivities.

    Other special offerings include “From the Archives” Audio Spots  (July 8 – ongoing), where past and current staff will guide listeners through important radio moments from the WNYC archives. Artist Katie Merz will create an ongoing art exhibition called Public Art for Public Radio inspired by New York City and Listener stories. Next, “Your New York Stories” – an audio storytelling initiative (July 8 – ongoing) will allow listeners to broadcast their own stories. Lastly, 100 Years of 100 Things with Brian Lehrer (July 8 – ongoing) will cover significant NYC political histories and events.

    Brian Lehrer, Brooke Gladstone, and Michael Hill

    The celebration extends down to the subways as well. Starting July 8, subway announcements will feature the voices of WNYC radio personalities, Brian Lehrer, Michael Hill, and Brooke Gladstone.

    Additionally, All of It‘s “Public Song Project,” invited listeners to submit reimaginings of songs from the 1920s. A panel of esteemed judges selected the top entries for WNYC to play on air. The winners will also be featured on the Centennial album alongside, Rosanne Cash, The Lemon Twigs, Steve Earle, and They Might Be Giants, among others. Listeners will have a chance to perform their renditions on July 20 at 6 PM in The People’s Concert at Lincoln Center alongside award-winning musician, Jay Blount.

    Later, on July 27, WNYC will present the Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music free concert. The show will take place in Brooklyn Bridge Park and feature pianist, Lara Downes. Other artists featured include Christian McBride, Rosanne Cash, Arturo O’Farrill, Time for Three, and the Orchestra Elena under Aram Demirjian.

    Picking back up again in the fall on September 9, the celebration will include a live broadcast from Central Park SummerStage with Brian Lehrer. Furthermore, the show will include comedy, music, trivia, sets by Freestyle Love Supreme, mxmtoon, Donwill, and segments from WNYC hosts. Along with some currently unannounced guests, a few surprise ones will also be in attendance.

    Lastly, the last festivity on November 19 will bring the Centennial celebration to a close. The New York Public Radio’s Centennial Gala, held at The Greenhouse will celebrate contributors and supporters. Attendees will get to enjoy a cocktail hour, dinner, and an afterparty to celebrate WNYC’s century of accomplishments.

    For a timeline of WNYC’s last 100 years visit www.wnyc.org/100. To find the complete schedule of events for the WNYC Centennial visit nypublicradio.org.

  • American Symphony Orchestra Shares 2024-25 Season Lineup

    The American Symphony Orchestra is presenting four full orchestra concerts as a part of their upcoming 63rd season. The lineup consists of free shows at Bryant Park and Kupferberg Center for the Arts on September 6 and 7 as well as ticketed shows at St. Bartholomew’s Church on January 24, Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall on March 23, and Carnegie Hall on June 6, 2025.

    American Symphony Orchestra

    The exciting upcoming season of the American Symphony Orchestra will have rich offerings for fans of a vast variety of music styles. The series of shows will start with a free concert as a part of the Bryant Park Picnic Series and will bring more exposure to the artists, classical music fans, and curious listeners.

    Highlights that concert attendees have to look forward to include the U.S. premiere of C.P.E. Bach’s oratorio Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu, the ASO’s David Geffen Hall of Lincoln Center debut, and the first New York City performance this century of Richard Strauss’ first opera Guntram.

    In 1962 Leopold Stokowski created the American Symphony Orchestra with the intention of playing music fit to everyone’s liking. The ASO consistently upholds that sentiment and will continue to do so throughout their upcoming 63rd season. Audiences are sure to get a unique experience at any of the four shows.

    I’m delighted that ASO’s two previous outdoor season-opening concerts with free performances in Bryant Park have attracted so many new concertgoers, and I am looking forward to repeating this success again in September. It’s a wonderful start to our exciting 2024-25 programs and a perfect introduction for these ever-widening audiences to ASO’s mission of presenting surprising premieres and music rarely heard onstage today in a way that’s accessible and affordable for everyone

    Leon Botstein, Music Director and Principal Conductor

    ASO 2024-25 Program

    Friday, September 6 (Bryant Park at 7 PM) and 7 (Kupferberg Center for the Arts at 3 PM)– Beyond the Hall: Free Opening Concerts

    Featuring: American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein, conductor, Scott Joplin: Treemonisha: Overture (1911), Florence Price: Suite of Dances (1933), Bernard Herrmann: Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra in Three Parts (1960), Kurt Weill: Kleine Dreigroschenmusik (Little Threepenny Music) (1928), Leonard Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from On the Town (1945)

    The pieces being played in Beyond the Hall come from different backgrounds and forms of musical entertainment. Ranging from opera and theatre to movies and dance halls, the music played will provide audiences with an authentic and diverse preview of the upcoming season.

    For Bryant Park on Sept. 6, no tickets or RSVP required; For Sept. 7 at Kupferberg Center for the Arts, attendance is free with online RSVP at americansymphony.org (starting on Aug. 7)

    Friday, January 24, 2025 (St. Bartholomew’s Church at 7 PM)- Bach at St. Bart’s

    Featuring: American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein, conductor, Bard Festival Chorale, James Bagwell, music director of the Bard Festival Chorale, C.P.E. Bach: Heilig ist Gott, H.778 (1776), C.P.E. Bach: Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu, H.777 (1787) (U.S. premiere)

    Dipping into the Baroque and Classical periods with vocal compositions from Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach. The ASO in collaboration with the Bard Festival Chorale will explore changes in mood, harmonic writing, and Romanticism. This performance marks the U.S. premiere of Bach’s Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu (The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus).

    Tickets, priced at $25–$45, are available on Sept. 9 at americansymphony.org.

    Sunday, March 23, 2025 (David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center at 2 PM)- Tapping into the Twenties

    Featuring: American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein, conductor, Orion Weiss, piano, John Alden Carpenter: Skyscrapers (1924), Erwin Schulhoff: Concerto for Piano and Small Orchestra, Op. 43 (1923), William Grant Still: Symphony No. 1, Afro-American Symphony (1929-30), Edgard Varèse: Amériques (1922)

    Signifying the ASO’s David Geffen Hall debut, Tapping into the Twenties will honor composers whose careers flourished in the 1920s. This list of composers includes Edgar Varèse whose work portrays imagery, and Erwin Schulhoff who brings jazz and piano pieces to the mix. In the March 23 show, Orion Weiss will perform as the piano soloist.

    Tickets, priced at $25–$65, are available on Jan. 3 at lincolncenter.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.721.6500, or by visiting the box office at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza.

    Friday, June 6, 2025 (Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at 7 PM)- Strauss’ Guntram

    Featuring: American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein, conductor, Bard Festival Chorale, James Bagwell, music director of the Bard Festival Chorale (Soloists to be announced at a later date), Richard Strauss: Guntram (1887-93, rev.1939)

    ASO will perform Richard Strauss’ rarely performed first opera, Guntram, in New York City, for the first time this century. Themes of love, guilt, and renunciation tell the story of Strauss in his youth. With exemplary orchestral work and vocal techniques, this execution of Guntram is not to be missed.

    Tickets, priced at $25–$65, are available on Sept. 9 at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800, or by visiting the box office at 57th St. & 7th Ave.

    More information about the ASO’s 2024-25 season is available at americansymphony.org