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The Dunderberg Gallery in Gilbertsville presents the next installment of their music series. This time it’s jazz duo Rob Roman, piano, and Rich Mollin, double bass. Rich Mollin joins us to talk about the collaboration and his journey to SUNY-Oneonta.
Photo credit: Dunderberg Gallery
Union Presbyterian Church in Endicott welcomes Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet, which becomes a Quintet, for Advent Jazz Vespers. A clergyman himself, Carter joins us to talk about the beginnings of his ensemble and how it has evolved over the years
Photo credit: Presbybop Quartet
The Catskill Choral Society welcomes brass and percussion players to celebrate the holidays with music by Michael Praetorius, Daniel Pinkham, and James Whitbourn. Music director G. Roberts Kolb joins us to talk about the program, and tell a little about the history of the group.
Photo credit: Catskill Choral Society
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, and the winter holidays in general with a “Not all Frozen Holiday Concert”. We hear from Music Director Toshiyuki Shimada about this wide-ranging concert that includes a number of surprises.
Photo credit: OSFL
The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble presents a concert in two locations in Ithaca a week apart. Music Director Sean Linfors joins us to talk about the program, and about a new process of commissioning new works.
Photo credit: Cayuga Vocal Ensemble
The Fenimore Chamber Orchestra is a recently-formed ensemble performing a concert of Festive Strings on December 3 in Christ Church, Cooperstown We hear from Thomas Wolf about the series of happy accidents that led to the formation of the orchestra, and connecting with conductor Maciej Zoltowski.
Photo credit: Fenimore Chamber Orchestra
The Neave Trio returns to Upstate New York with a program of music by Germaine Tailleferre, Lili Boulanger, Cecile Chaminade, and Ethyl Smythe for the Stamford Friends of Music. Cellist Misha Veselov talks about the program and tells the heart-warming story of how the ensemble chose its name.
Photo credit: Jacob Lewis Lovendahl via Neave Trio
The Southern Tier Singers’ Collective presents Heaven and Earth, a concert of music inspired by texts expressing deep spirituality. We chat with Artistic Director William Culverhouse about the program, which consists of works by Kathleen Allan, Jocelyn Chambers, Sir William Harris, Dale Trombore, and by the conductor himself.
Photo credit: Southern Tier Singers’ Collective
The Binghamton Community Orchestra presents a concert of music by Mozart, Brahms, and Dvorak. We hear from music director Evan Meccarello about the program, and then from soprano soloist Kearstin Piper Brown, who spoke with us from the theatre where she was preparing for a world premiere of a new opera.
Photo credit: Roshina Franklin
Walking on Water Productions is presenting three musicals over the course of three weekends. Artistic Director Priscilla Hummel (and her daughter) join us from The Cherry Arts, while the set is busy with their work. We find out about the complications of staging three musicals at one time, how audiences can see the three shows and, incidentally, what it’s like to be a working parent.
Photo credit: Walking on Water productions
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra presents a concert entitled “Green Places”. The title comes from one of the pieces on the program, a work for flute and strings by flutist Gary Schocker. Music Director Daniel Hege joins us to talk about the program, which features two soloists from the orchestra, Karen Bogardus and Uli Speth.
Photo credit: Alice G. Patterson
Tenor Tony Villecco is known for his skills performing early music, but musical theatre is close to his heart as well. He joins us to talk about his cabaret show “Some Enchanted Evening”, to be presented in two performances at the Cider Mill Stage with pianist John Isenberg.
Photo credit: Tony Villecco
Internationally-recognized sitarist, and Oneonta native, Arjun Verma, returns to his hometown for a concert sponsored by the Oneonta Concert Association. He joins us to talk about Indian Classical Music, his collaborations with other musicians, and the lecture demonstration the will precede the concert by two days.
Photo credit: Arjun Verma
Flutist Jeanne Sperber teams up with percussionist and electronic music composer Simon Bjarning for Thunder and Wind, the next concert in the OSFL’s Musicians’ Choice series. Jeanne joins us to talk about the wealth of music that is available for flute and electronics. They also welcome double bassist Claire Russel, runner-up in the 2022 Hertzog Competition.
Photo credit: OSFL
A classic episode of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone is presented with the original music by Bernard Herrmann and the roles performed by Southern Tier Actors Read. We hear from Paul Ciennewa, Executive Director of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Michael McGehee, an authority on the music of Bernard Herrmann, who will be leading the orchestra in the score.
Photo credit: Binghamton Philharmonic
The Tri-Cities Opera presents Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium, a psychological thriller about a scam artist who falls victim to her own trickery…or does she? That performance is preceded by an operatic haunted house. We hear from General Director John Rozzoni and Stage Director Jennifer Williams, but they don’t give away any of the surprises.
Photo credit: Tri-Cities Opera
The Cornell Concert Series presents a performance by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The program includes the work for string orchestra “Stride” by English-born composer Anna Clyne. We hear from her about her many residencies and the inspiration for this exciting work.
Photo credit: Christina Kernohan via Anna Clyne
The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton presents Brilliant Brass. Artistic Director Bruce Borton tell us about this concert of music for brass and choir from 16th Century Venice, along with a masterwork of 20th Century choral music.
Photo credit: Madrigal Choir of Binghamton
Violist Jordan Bak and pianist Ji Yung Lee have been Young Artists on Performance Today. They are performing for the Friends of Music of Stamford, NY on October 16. We hear from Jordan about how he happened on playing the viola by chance, and his collaboration with Ji Yung Lee, who was originally a choral conductor.
Photo credit: Dario Acosta via Jordan Bak
We hear from Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada about the upcoming concert by the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, which will present music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Amy Beach. There will also be a pre-concert talk two days earlier about supporting suicide prevention, and how that relates to Beethoven’s life.
Photo credit: Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
The Schorr Family Firehouse Stage of the Goodwill Theatre in Johnson City presents “Daydreams and Duets”, featuring Naima Kradjian and Stephen Dell’Aversano, along with pianist Jon Weber. Stephen joins us to talk about how this show, like many others, was first planned before the shutdown due to the COVID pandemic, and how Stephen had thought he had retired from performing.
Photo credit: Schorr Family Firehouse Stage
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival presents its final concert of the season, featuring the American String Quartet. Artistic Director Linda Chesis joins us to talk about the program, which also includes her, as well as guest cellist Philippe Muller.
Photo credit: Cooperstown Summer Music Festival
Just before COVID hit, Rachael Sage was scheduled to perform at Atomic Tom’s on State Street in Binghamton. She is finally arriving with new songs that she wrote during the shutdown. She joins us to talk about how she used that time to pursue new projects, and tells the story of how, at the age of twelve, she started recording and mixing her own music.
Photo credit: Rachael Sage
As a stage show, it wasn’t supposed to run very long. The movie version was not supposed to be a success. Nearly half a century later The Rocky Horror Show is a frequently revived cult classic. We hear from director Ryan Canavan and actor Scot Saggiomo about the history of the show and the performances by the Ti-Ahwaga Community Players and what audiences, both long-time fans and newbies can expect. The musical contains adult themes and situations and discretion is advised.
Photo credit: Ti-Ahwaga Community Players
The Binghamton Philharmonic welcomes guest soloist, pianist Andrew Russo for a performance of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Also on the program is music by Aaron Copeland, Valerie Coleman, and Mexican composer Arturo Marquez. We get some background from Music Director Daniel Hege.
Photo credit: Alice O Patterson
Downtown Binghamton will be packed with people enjoying ten hours of music as the city sponsors Blues on the Bridge. Music Coordinator Don Wilkins joins us to talk about the twenty year anniversary, and the logistics of gathering 14 bands for the celebration.
Photo credit: Blues on the Bridge
Spare Productions is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a gala concert. We hear from Mike Ferguson and Abigail Bennett about the history of the group and what to expect at the concert that takes place at 205 Dry on State Street in Binghamton.
Photo credit: Spare Productions
Historic Hyde Hall in Glimmerglass State Park hosts a concert by folk duo Robin and Linda Williams on August 20 at 6:30pm on the South Lawn. We hear from Robin Williams about Linda and his long career, their travels, and how they used the COVID shutdown as an opportunity to write and record more music.
Photo credit: Hyde Hall
If you are regular listener to Performance Today, you are probably familiar with violinist Danbi Um and guitarist Jiji. They are performing together for the Friends of Music of Stamford, NY. We hear about how they started playing together and how they rehearse while living on opposite coasts.
Photo credit: Friends of Music of Stamford, NY
Ada “Bricktop” Smith may not be a familiar name today, but during the Jazz Age she seemed to know everyone, was always in the right place at the right time, and made things happen. We hear from Gabrielle Lee, who portrays Bricktop in a one-woman show with the Franklin Stage Company. Director Rodney Hudson is also with us to tell about Bricktop’s international career.
Photo credit: Franklin Stage Company
More like a song cycle than a musical, Fugitive Songs tells stories of many people trying to change their lives. Singers Jarod Hinton and Mike Ferguson from Spare Productions join us to give a taste of these varied stories of escape, or just the need to escape.
Photo credit: Spare Productions
The Franklin Stage Company presents the Vicki Kristina Barcelona Band. We get to hear from all three of them, each a soloist in her on right, and how they came together to form this unique ensemble.
Photo credit: Albie Mitchell
Now. Here. This. is an intimate musical with universal themes. We hear from Walking on Water Productions director Priscilla Hummel about a group of friends who tour a natural history museum where the exhibits awaken memories in them.
Photo credit: Walking on Water Productions
Just north of Binghamton, tucked between to the Cornell Cooperative Extension and a highway interchange, is Cutler Gardens. Master Gardener Eve Berman joins us to talk about Much Ado in the Garden. Music, food, and Shakespeare come together in this summer celebration, with activities for the whole family.
Photo credit: Cutler Gardens
The Summer Savoyards are back in the Chamber Hall of the Anderson Center with the Gilbert and Sullivan favorite H.M.S. Pinafore. Music Director Sherri Strichman and actor Gregory Keeler, who plays the “well-bred” Captain of the Pinafore talk about this tuneful satire, including some satire that almost went too far.
Photo credit: Summer Savoyards
The Franklin Stage Company opens its season on July 1. We hear from co-artistic directors Patricia Buckley and Leslie Noble about the opening show, an innovative production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, and get an overview of the rest of the season.
Photo credit: Franklin Stage Company
The Old Carter Barn, located between Montrose and Tunkhannock fills the summer with music. We hear from Douglas Carter Beane, who inherited a dilapidated turkey farm, and Lewis Flinn, who turned it first into a wedding venue, and now, as part of the North Branch Art Trail, into a summer music festival featuring a wide range of music
Photo credit: Old Carter Barn
The Youth Orchestra of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra gives two performances of its season finale, once in Watkins Glen, and again in Ithaca. We hear from the Music Director, Kirsten Marshall, then narrator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne joins us by phone.
Photo credit: CCO Youth Orchestra
As a young artist, Cynthia Clarey spent a lot of time in the Tri-Cities Opera Center. She returns to it with a performance of her cabaret show “Bridge Over Muddied Waters”. She joins us from Chicago to talk about how her life has led her to create this blend of artistry and social commentary.
Photo credit: Tri-Cities Opera
The Cider Mill Stage presents Once Upon a Mattress, a “fractured fairy tale” version of The Princess and the Pea. Director Rob Egan joins us to talk about this upside-down version of the tale, where the princess saves, not only the prince, but the entire kingdom.
Photo credit: BLAST
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes presents a Young People’s Concert and Hot Glass Show. Music Director Toshiyuki Shimada joins us to talk about the concert, featuring oboist Nikhil Lahiri, pianists Benjamin Pawlak and Alexei Aceto, along with harpist Rosanna Moore in the role of narrator.
Photo credit: OSFL
The Downtown Singers’ spring concert, Remember and Rejoice, features Gabriel Faure’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine led by Marisa Crabb, along with a selection of contemporary works led by Peter Sicilian. The two conductors join us to talk about this combination of works, and how they fulfill the title of the concert.
Photo credit: Downtown Singers
The WFM Festival Orchestra offers a concert of light classics, film music, and a “pick the conductor” contest. Music Director Daniel Fabricius and orchestra member David Ripic join us to talk about the concert, and about a detective story about tracking down parts of a long-lost piece that Timothy Perry stitched back together for the first performance in nearly a century. For more information, search for the WFM Festival Orchestra on facebook.com
Photo credit: WFM Festival Orchestra
Ti-Ahwaga Community Players present the musical adaptation of the film Sister Act. Actors Andrea Gregori, who plays the Reverend Mother, and Alondra Hughes, who plays Deloris Van Cartier join us to talk about the production and how the musical version explores the characters.
Photo credit: Ti-Ahwaga Community Players & Stephanie Willette
The Little Delaware Youth Ensemble and Prep Orchestra perform their Spring Concert at the Foothills Performing Arts Center. Music Director Uli Speth joins us to talk about the program, and about the history of the ensemble and some of the former members who are still pursuing music.
Photo credit: Little Delaware Youth Ensemble
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra honors the memory of Percy Browning by premiering a new work commissioned in her honor. We hear from the composer of that work, Seth Grosshandler, about his composition process. We also meet the soloist, clarinetist Michael Wayne, about the work he performs, the Clarinet Concerto by Carl Nielsen, and why such a major work for clarinet is played so rarely. If you would like to hear some of Mr. Grosshandler’s music, here is a link to the Violin Sonata he mentions, played by Christina Bouey.
Photo credit: Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
Tri-Cities Opera presents the annual “Opera and Beer” program at The Garage Taco Bar in downtown Binghamton. General Director John Rozzoni and mezz0-soprano Amanda Staub join us to talk about the program and about getting onstage again after a long hiatus.
Photo Credit: Tri-Cities Opera
Glassfest returns to the Gaffer District of Corning. Executive Director Coleen Fabrizi joins us to give us a hint of the many events taking place during the three days of the festival.
Photo credit: Glassfest and Alexandra Elise Photography
The Trombone Quartet of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes is presenting a concert at North Presbyterian Church. Trombonist Norm Wilcox joins us to talk about the program, and about the history of music specifically for Trombone Ensemble, dating back to the Eastman School of Music.
Photo credit: Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
After a hiatus due to COVID, the Geneva Music Festival returns. Artistic Director Geoffrey Herd joins us to talk about the eight concerts coming up in the next few weeks, and what it’s like to, not only be the Artistic Director, but also to perform during the festival.
Photo credit: Geneva Music Festival
The Friends of Music of Stamford, NY welcome the Euclid String Quartet this weekend. We heard from violinist Jameson Cooper about the two works on the program, Claude Debussy’s one and only string quartet, and a string quintet by Franz Schubert. The extra member for the quintet is cellist Adrian Daurov. Mr. Cooper also tells us how the quartet got its name.
Photo credit: Stamford Friends of Music
The Binghamton Community Orchestra presents “Noble and Mischievous Spirits”, a concert of music by Mykola Lysenko, Edward Elgar, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Harvey, and Franz Schubert. We hear from Music Director Evan Meccarello and Concerto Competition winner Alex VanTassel.
Photo credit: Binghamton Community Orchestracompe
The Ithaca Community Orchestra presents “Homage”, a concert of music by Schubert, Ravel, and both Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn in the Hangar Theatre. Music Director Aaron Burgess joins us to talk about the program and the history of the Community Orchestra
Photo credit: Ithaca Community Orchestra
Composer and choreographer Lavinia Reid joins us to talk about her ballet version of the story of Snow White, a fan favorite that returns to Ithaca Ballet. She tells about creating a scenario that gives opportunities to the adult, as well as to the young dancers, and about creating movement while composing the music.
Photo credit: Ithaca Ballet
BLAST presents actor Andrea Gregori in role she has played before, Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s Master Class, this time at the Cider Mill Stage in Endicott.
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra closes its season with Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No.9, “from the New World”, along with a work by American composer Stacy Garrop’s “Bohemian Cafe” which returns Dvořák’s favor. Artistic Director Daniel Hege joins us to talk about the relationship of the two pieces, and the performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 with soloist Andrew Russo
Photo credit: Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra
Organist Mark Laubach is celebrating the bicentennial of French composer Cesar Franck by performing the complete works for organ. Sponsored by the Binghamton AGO, the Wilkes-Barre musician performs a selection of those in Binghamton at United Presbyterian Church on Friday, April 22. He joins us to talk about Franck’s legacy, and deep influence on the generations of organist who followed him.
Photo credit: Mark Laubach
The Schorr Family Firehouse Stage welcomes jazz musician Camille Thurman and her ensemble. Schorr Jazz Series organizer Mike Carbone joins us to talk about Camille Thurman’s path to a busy career in jazz as a performer and teacher, and her upcoming show at the Schorr Firehouse.
Photo credit: https://www.camillethurmanmusic.com/
The Southern Tier Singers’ Collective presents the premiere of a Mass by composer Zanaida Robles. STSC Artistic Director William Culverhouse talks about commissioning this work for the STSC performance on Sunday, April 24 in St. Patrick’s Church, and the weekend residency of Dr. Robles at Binghamton University featuring performances by the University choral ensembles. You can hear some of Dr. Robles’ music here.
Photo credit: Southern Tier Singers’ Collective
Expressions shines a spotlight on the Appalachian mountain dulcimer in this month’s premiere episode. It’s one of only two original American instruments along with the banjo. Our guide is luthier Bernd Krause, who has built more than 250 dulcimers over the past 40 years. Find out who inspired his very first dulcimer and visit the shop where he still crafts these wondrous instruments.
We also hear dulcimer performances from both Bernd and Beth Fallon, recorded at the ArtFarm Studio and Gift Shop in Chenango Bridge.
Opera Ithaca has had a production of Mozart’s comedy The Marriage of Figaro planned for many years. Director Ben Robinson and Board of Directors Chair Deborah Montgomery join us to talk about the roadblocks, and the final production at the Community School of Music and Arts.
Photo credit: Opera Ithaca
Tri-Cities Opera is presenting Gioachino Rossini’s setting of the tale of Cinderella in a joint production with Syracuse Opera. It’s a different version of the tale, with a stepfather instead of a stepmother, a wise tutor instead of a fairy godmother, and matching bracelets instead of a glass slipper — but lots of laughs. We hear from executive director John Rozzoni, Camille Sherman who plays Cinderella, and Aaron Crouch who plays the Prince.
Photo credit: Tri-Cities Opera
Leo Sowerby was a major composer of sacred music. The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton joins with the choir of Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church for a performance of his cantata “Forsaken of Man’. We hear from the accompanist, Bill Trafka, who has wanted to perform it for a long time, and learn about Sowerby and this rarely-performed masterpiece.
Photo credit: Madrigal Choir of Binghamton
The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble presents “The Spirit Sings” in two performances, one in Ithaca and another in Seneca Falls. Artistic Director Sean Linfors joins us to talk about the themes of the concert, the long break the ensemble had during the shut-down, and the excitement accompanying the premiere of a new work.
Photo credit: Cayuga Vocal Ensemble
Harpsichordists Paul Cienniwa and Michael Bahmann perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Art of the Fugue in the Ballroom of the Phelps Mansion Museum on Sunday, April 3. Paul Cienniwa joins us to talk about the mysteries of this unfinished work.
Photo credit: Phelps Mansion Museum
Cellist Eric Johnson explains how this special instrumentation originated, and contrasts the ways in which the two composers wrote for the piano trio.
Expressions returns with a new episode featuring ‘Tenor’ Tony Villecco singing a set of baroque era songs in a special on-location performance. Tony has been performing since he was ten years old and has spent the last five decades entertaining audiences with his angelic voice and easygoing charm. The performance was recorded at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Binghamton and Tony was accompanied by a seasoned group of local musicians including John Isenberg, Marijane Wojtowitz, Joanne Peters and Melanie Valencia. The setlist includes pieces from Georg Handel, and ‘Ave Maria’ by Caccini.
The Little Delaware Youth Ensemble and Preparatory Orchestra return to performing live with a concert on Sunday, March 13 in the United Ministry Church of Delhi. Music Director joins us to talk about the concert by the older orchestra, with pieces performed by the Preparatory Orchestra led by Deborah Devine. To hear some performances, click here.
Photo credit: Little Delaware Youth Ensemble
Opera Ithaca is presenting the premiere of a new opera, We Wear the Sea Like a Coat. We hear from the composer, Sally Lamb McCune, and Artistic Director, Ben Robinson. They tell us about the gestation of the opera which began with a chance meeting in the Orkney Islands and grew into a poetic, but dramatic story.
Photo credit: Opera Ithaca
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes is presenting “Musica Diversa”. We hear from Music Director Toshiyuki Shimada about this wide-ranging concert featuring music by Florence Price, Arturo Marquez, Bright Sheng, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and William Grant Still. The pianist in the Rachmaninoff is Christopher Tillen.
Photo credit: Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
The Binghamton University Music Department is presenting Mozart’s comic opera The Magic Flute in two performances with two casts. Stage Director David Toulson joins us to talk about this story of a prince and princess on a path to enlightenment, with a lot of laughs along the way. The opera will also be live-streamed on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
Photo credit: Binghamton University Music Department
The Binghamton Community Orchestra welcomes cellist Anne Jacobs-Perkins for the New York premiere of Peteris Vasks’ Cello Concerto No.2. She and conductor Evan Meccarello join us to talk about the piece, and the other works on the program, that highlight different parts of the orchestra.
Photo credit: Binghamton Community Orchestra
After over a decade of providing the best in regional arts coverage, Expressions has returned with a new look and a new host. WSKG is pleased to be working with actress Adara Alston on a new set of episodes which have begun to roll out this month. Adara has performed across the region over the past 15 years from the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca to the Cider Mill Playhouse in Endicott. She has appeared in countless productions including ‘Doubt: A Parable’, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, ‘The Crucible’, ‘South Pacific’ and even a stage version of ‘Shrek’. With this type of range, Adara is perfect in her role of introducing our audience to the eclectic group of musicians and artists we have coming up this season.
Clarinetist Timothy Perry joins us to talk about a special program of music, mostly from south of the equator, that he and pianist Pej Reitz have been exploring over the past few years. The concert, Musica Australis, is Friday, February 18 at 7:30 in the Casadesus Recital Hall on the Binghamton University campus.
Photo credit: Photo by Iain Cridland on Unsplash and Binghamton University Music Department
Expressions returns with a new episode featuring traditional African folk artist, Samite. This world renowned talent performed his first concert since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic at the WSKG Studios in the fall of 2021 and we are happy to give you a front row seat to the performance. Samite is joined onstage by longtime friend and collaborator Nate Richardson in a career spanning setlist of songs. Along with the concert performances this half hour episode features a segment detailing Samite’s journey to upstate New York and the amazing challenges he has faced along the way. We are also pleased to introduce Adara Alston as our host of Expressions.
DSP Shows is presenting the Howard Jones Trio with guest artist singer/songwriter Rachael Sage in the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca. Rachael Sage joins us to talk about her many albums, as well as her many collaboration with other musicians. She also talks about her Poetica project and the different aspects of writing poetry versus writing songs.
Photo credit: Rachael Sage
“If we’re going to call ourselves ‘WSKG Classical then we need to have a place for ‘America’s Classical Music.”
Expressions, WSKG’s long running local arts and culture program, is returning to the television schedule on a new night and time! Tune in Friday nights at 8:30 for the best in concert performances and regional art. New episodes are scheduled to premiere on the second Friday of each month and we have an exciting line-up for you in 2022. In the next few months you will see a brand new concert from African folk artist Samite, Tenor Tony Villecco performing baroque period songs with his unique panache and we visit an art shop that expertly uses its location to create a unique visiting experience. We are also pleased to work with talented actress and musician Adara Alston this season.
A dilemma confronts a teenage girl in SRO Productions’ performances of the musical based on the acclaimed children’s book Tuck Everlasting. Director Scott Fisher and singer Lonna Pierce, herself a librarian and long-time fan of the book, talk about the themes of the book, and how well it works as a musical.
Photo credit: SRO Productions
After the success of last year’s Cocoa and Carols streaming event, Tri-Cities Opera is again offering an online concert. General Director John Rozzoni joins us to talk about Gather Together, a Musical Potluck featuring past, present, and future singers from TCO.
Photo credit: Tri-Cities Opera
The Binghamton Downtown Singers had to give up their annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, but are back with Part I of the popular oratorio. Music Director Marisa Crabb and one of the co-presidents, Julie Drozdowski, join us to talk about this “Welcome back” concert.
Photo credit: Binghamton Downtown Singers
Opera Ithaca presents a filmed production of the seasonal favorite Hansel and Gretel. Director and librettist Ben Robinson and Opera Ithaca Board President Deborah Montgomery join us to talk about the ingenious concept, the cast, and the logistics of filming the production in three states.
Photo credit: Opera Ithaca
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes presents a concert of traditional music for Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as new music by composer Polina Nazaykinskaya. We hear from the composer, and from Music Director Toshiyuki Shimada. The concert also features aerial violinist Janice Martin.
Photo credit: OSFL
Conductor Paul McShee joins us to talk about “Changing Worlds”, a concert of music by Adolphus Hailstork, Jessica Curry, and Antonin Dvorak. Choirs of Binghamton University also joins the Symphony Orchestra for the music by Jessica Curry.
Photo credit: Binghamton University Music Department
Organist Jean Henssler celebrates the season with an organ recital of holiday favorites in new arrangements. She also talks about the imposing organ at United Presbyterian Church.
Photo credit: Jean Henssler
The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton returns to its annual tradition of Lessons and Carols for Christmas. Artistic Director Bruce Borton joins us to talk about the wide variety of music presented in this free concert at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in Binghamton. Photo credit: Madrigal Choir of Binghamton
Two years ago Binghamton University acquired a famous manuscript of music from the Convent of La Crocetta in Florence, Italy. Associate Professor of Musicology Paul Schleuse tells the story of its journey from its origin in 1543 to Binghamton University. Then the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective, prepared by William Culverhouse, performs a selection of excerpts from the manuscript.
A long-postponed concert is finally presented by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth joins us to talk about the program, and the guest soloist, superstar guitarist Jordan Dodson.
Photo credit: Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
The Akropolis Reed Quintet performs for the Friends of Music of Stamford. Saxophonist Matt Landry joins us to talk about this new kind of ensemble and how it differs from the traditional wind quintet, and how composers are writing new music specifically for this combination, and arranging existing music.
Photo credit: Stamford Friends of Music
A little naughty, but mostly comic, Hung With Care, a long-time holiday tradition in the Hudson Valley, is coming to Ithaca.
The Southern Tier Singers’ Collective presents excerpts from a 16th century manuscript created for the Convent of La Crocetta in Florence. Paul Schleuse describes its creation and its mysterious journey from Italy to South America, and the exciting story of how it was acquired by Binghamton University, then conductor William Culverhouse continues the story with how it got from the page to the singers.
Photo credit: Binghamton University and the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective
In its second concert of the season, the Binghamton Philharmonic presents “Ascend”, a program including music by Richard Wagner, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and emerging composer Jessie Montgomery (pictured above). Music Director Daniel Hege joins us to talk about discovering the music of Jessie Montgomery, the astonishing artistry of Mozart’s Symphony No.41, and Wagner’s Christmas present to his wife, and the conductor who taught himself to play the trumpet in the middle of a lake so that he could participate in the premiere.
Photo credit: Binghamton Philharmonic and Alice G. Patterson
The many-facets of the music of Claude Bolling are on display at the Cider Mill Stage. We hear from flutist and ensemble leader Jeff Wahl about Bolling and his long career and the huge legacy of music he composed and performed.
Photo credit: Jeff Wahl and Cider Mill Stage
The correspondence between singer Patsy Cline and a fan who grew to be a treasured friend is the basis for Always, Patsy Cline presented by SRO Productions. Director George Kurbaba talks about the true story of this friendship and how it translates to the stage.
Photo credit: SRO Productions
Punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s in London, New York City, but was also going strong in Binghamton. The Binghamton University Art Museum hosts a Punk Rock Reunion and Exhibit. We hear from organizers Claire L. Kovacs and John J. Lee.
Photo credit: Binghamton University Art Museum
After a long time of being unable to perform due to COVID restrictions, the Binghamton Community Orchestra is back. Music Director Evan Meccarello joins us to talk about the upcoming concert that spotlights the various sections parts of the orchestra, and also a wide range of music.
Photo credit: Binghamton Community Orchestra
Organist/Choirmaster Timothy Smith joins us to talk about the upcoming concert at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in Binghamton. The concert features music by Dietrich Buxtehude, Jehan Alain, Francis Poulenc, and Daniel Pinkham.
Photo credit: Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church
Master of many musical styles and many stringed instruments, David Rogers performs at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Music. He joins us to talk about the varied styles he plays.
Photo credit: David Rogers
Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth gives us a preview of the upcoming Cayuga Chamber Orchestra season after a long time off due to COVID-19. Old favorites, new suprises, and a world premiere highlight the season.
Photo credit: Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Christina Bouey is the soloist in this weekend’s concert at Ford Hall on the Ithaca College campus. She speaks with us about her deep love for Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, and the story behind the composition of the concerto. The overture to the comic opera The Bartered Bride by Bedřich Smetana and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 are also on the program.
Photo credit: Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
After a year of not singing, the Madrigal Choir of Binghamton presents a concert intended for last year’s proposed Beethoven festival. Music Director Bruce Borton speaks to us about some of Beethoven’s smaller and lesser know works they will be performing.
Photo credit: Madrigal Choir of Binghamton
The Friends of Music of Stamford, NY welcome cellist Shirley Hunt and fortepianist Sylvia Berry.
Next week, Barlow will kick off a solo tour with three dates in Rochester, Ithaca and Buffalo.
The Binghamton Theatre Organ Society welcomes theatre organist Jason Comet to supply music for the 1920 German silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Jason tells us how he assembles a score to accompany a silent film, and how this ground-breaking film became a classic.
Photo credit: Binghamton Theatre Organ Society
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the Broome County Forum after a long hiatus with “Emerge”, a program featuring Haydn’s last symphony, Mendelssohn’s famous violin concerto with young violinist Julian Rhee, and a recent work, “Pizzicato” by composer Vivian Fung. Music Director Daniel Hege joins us, along with the composer of “Pizzicato”. We hear how Maestro Hege discovered “Pizzicato” and immediately knew that he had to program it, and we hear about the work of this busy young composer.
Photo credit: Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra
The Endicott Performing Arts Center and Theatre Street Productions are teaming up once again for performances of the beloved musical Man of La Mancha. Director Patrick Foti and actor Andrea Gregori join us to talk about the production and the play’s journey from being a non-musical television drama to becoming the Broadway musical that has been translated into more languages than any other.
Photo credit: EPAC and Theatre Street Productions
“The Falling and the Rising” is a new opera formed from interviews with many soldiers. It is being performed at the Broome County Forum. Tri-Cities Opera General Director John Rozzoni and tenor SFC Ben Hilgert talk about the genesis of the opera and the many veterans services that will be available at the performance.
Photo credit: Tri-Cities Opera
The First Presbyterian Church of Gilbertsville, NY again hosts the annual Labor Day weekend concerts by the Millenium Strings, musicians from the Magic Mountain Music Farm. We hear from the founder, Burton Kaplan, violinist Marvin Suson, and hard-working pianist Cullan Bryant.
Photo credit: Magic Mountain Music Farm
The WFM Festival Orchestra presents a Labor Day weekend concert. Conductor Daniel Fabricius and orchestra member David Ripic join us to talk about the program, how this orchestra differs from most large ensembles, and some music of historical importance played for the first time in this century. And we finally find out what “WFM” stands for.
Photo credit: WFMFO
The Friends of Music of Stamford, NY present the ensemble Invoke in an outdoor concert on Sunday, August 14 in Rexmere Park. We hear from one of the members of the multi-instrumental band, Zach Matteson
Photo credit: Invoke
The Town of Binghamton Historical Society is presenting a workshop led by violinist/fiddler Ed Pettengill on “How to Play Old Tyme Fiddle”. Ed joins us to demonstrate the difference between the two styles, and to talk about how classical violin playing and fiddle can help each other. All violinists are welcome. Students should be able to play at least NYSSMA grade 3 music. For reservations, call (607) 669-4151.
Photo credit: Ed Pettengill
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting a series of Chamber Music concerts. Executive Director Paul Ciennewa and cellist Michael Newman join us to talk about the two programs.
Photo credit: Binghamton Philharmonic
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival presents the Imani Winds. We hear from Artistic Director Linda Chesis about this concert, with a preview of the remainder of the Festival….Due to rising COVID cases in Otsego County, this concert has been postponed indefinitely.
Photo credit: Cooperstown Music Festival
The Pulitzer-winning, Kanye-collaborating composer began her career with a creative blank check, but she’s spent much of the past decade moving sideways. Her latest trick: reinventing as a songwriter.
In a Twitter message, the co-creator of In The Heights wrote: “In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry.”
The Friends of Music of Stamford, NY welcome the Ulysses Quartet for a concert of music by Germaine Tailleferre, Felix Mendelssohn, and Leos Janacek. We hear from violinist Christina Bouey and cellist Grace Ho about the program, and about their historic instruments
Photo credit: Ulysses Quartet
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting a short concert in two performances at the Forum.
Set during a record-breaking New York City heat wave, this vibrant screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage musical pulses with musical numbers that blend of hip-hop, Latin pop and salsa.
The one-hour concert will be presented in two performances to accommodate audiences in a socially-distanced manner. We hear from Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth.
Well ahead of a celebratory Central Park concert announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio for August, New York City’s venues are coming back in June for vaccinated audiences.
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes welcomes the English-Tobin Duo for a concert of music from between 1530 and 1800 on period instruments. We hear from them and learn what may be a new word for you: “Bicinium”.
Photo credit: OSFL
Kitchen Theatre presents the premiere of the comedy Shape by Kara-Lynn Vaeni, who is also the director. We also hear from Annie Henk who does the heavy lifting — literally — of the lead role.
For most artists, 2020 was a year of forced isolation and few opportunities. But Dan Tepfer, a jazz pianist and composer, had a busy year, partly thanks to his technological acumen.
The Geneva Music Festival is returning with a series of live and online concerts with a large range of musical genres. We hear from the artistic director, and also one of the performers, Geoffrey Herd.
Photo credit: Geneva Music Festival
After cutting his teeth in Detroit, a move to New York near the middle of the century found him directly in the center of a deeply important moment for jazz.
Deborah Fox of NYS Baroque joins us to talk about an online concert and lecture about Jewish musicians and composers of early modern Europe. Exile and Connection features musicologists Liza Malamut and Rebecca Cypess, along with the ensemble Incantare.
Photo credit: NYS Baroque and Libby Hedrick
In these challenging times the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra is adjusting to make music while making conditions as safe as possible for the musicians and the audience. We hear from conductor Cornelia Laemmli-Orth about some exciting and innovative upcoming concerts.
The gifted conductor who had wielded immense influence in the classical music world, was publicly accused by nine men of sexual abuse. He died March 9 at age 77 of natural causes.
During this pandemic actors and musicians have struggled with new technology to share their performances. Playwright Rachel Lampert has teamed with producer Priscilla Hummel of Walking on Water Productions to produce a trio of mini-musicals called Comfort Food.
In a pastoral track from the New York duo, Randa Leigh asks an essential question: “What you follow, fear or love?”
While a valiant endeavor, the Metropolitan Opera’s new series of steaming concerts can’t seem to shake off opera’s fusty, aristocratic traditions.
By Special Invitation presents a stunning line-up of world-class musicians who perform classical music concerts around our region. From a preserved barn in the idyllic setting of the western Catskills and a Binghamton Opera Company to a concert stage at Ithaca College, By Special Invitation invites you to witness music performance recorded specifically for WSKG Classical. These performances can be heard Saturdays at 10:00 a.m, and at your convenience by clicking on the concerts listed below.
Hear Waterloo, NY native Lindsay Kate Brown sing from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera
WSKG Classical will broadcast a concert by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
With the help of a few “wrong” notes, the principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic turned “America the Beautiful” into a solemn protest of police violence.
Augusto Diemecke and Christine Lowe-Diemecke perform on the OSFL Facebook page.
The Grammy-winning American cellist had a wide-ranging career that spanned Bach to new music written by Augusta Read Thomas. His colleagues also treasured him as a generous musical collaborator.
Konitz was devoted to improvisation and played on more than 100 albums over a seven-decade career, including the historic sessions that became Miles Davis’ album Birth of the Cool.
The music of this quintessential Nashville songwriter and lifelong independent spirit makes room for the wide range of emotions that careen through people as they stumble and dance through life.
Jazz pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis has died at the age of 85, according to tweets from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
A native of Waterloo, NY, mezzo-soprano Lindsay Kate Brown was one of nine finalists in the Grand Finals Concert, out of thousands of singers from around the world. She talks to us by phone from Houston, where she is with the Houston Grand Opera, about the process, and about a dizzying week when she sang in the Metropolitan Opera Grand Finals Concert, and won another competition just two days before.
Photo credit: Kristin Hoebermann
The U.S.’ largest performing arts organization has told its orchestral players, chorus and stagehands they will not be paid after March 31. The company has also canceled the rest of its season.
The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble presents ‘Passages’
The Binghamton University Theatre Department presents the musical ‘Sweet Charity’
