A few months ago, having announced our “American Music Festival-Sing Out, New York,” which celebrates New York State’s leading role in social justice movements “from Seneca Falls to Stonewall, and beyond” as I (Buzz Lightyear-like) like to put it, I began to feel ashamed of never having properly visited Seneca Falls during the day. After all, this is the place where America’s suffrage movement began.
“It was a rebellion, it was an uprising, it was a civil rights disobedience.
— Stormé DeLarverie
”
BEFORE THE STONEWALL UPRISING
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and before, it was illegal for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans to live openly and freely. The FBI saved records of people known to be gay, along with the places they frequented and their friends and family. The United States Post Office kept tabs on gay citizens’ mail, gay bars and clubs were shut down, patrons of these establishments were arrested and exposed, it became illegal to wear clothes of the opposite gender, and university professors were fired if suspected to be gay.
Organizations were formed to advocate for gay men and lesbians and provide them with opportunities to socialize safely and live in a society that did not accept them. Formed by Harry Hay in Los Angeles in 1951, the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), formed by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin in San Francisco in 1955, were two of the first national LGBTQ organizations that paved the way for future activist groups, such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. In 1953, One, Inc., an organization that was born from a Mattachine Society meeting, published its first monthly magazine, One, the first U.S. pro-gay publication.
THE STONEWALL INN
Gay bars and clubs were some of the few places that LGBTQ people could feel comfortable about expressing themselves. Although these bars and clubs provided people with a place of refuge relatively safe from public harassment, many of them were frequented by police harassment and raids. In 1966, the New York State Liquor Authority overturned their penalties for bars and clubs that served the LGBTQ community, but “gay behavior” was still illegal. As a result, police harassment continued and many bars continued to operate without a liquor license — one of those bars was The Stonewall Inn, which was also owned by the Mafia.
The Genovese family bribed the NYPD’s Sixth Precinct to ignore what was happening inside Stonewall so, without police oversight, they were able to cut costs on fire safety regulations, running water, clean bathrooms, and “palatable drinks.” In spite of these terrible conditions, Stonewall became one of New York’s most popular bars where gays, lesbians, drag queens, and runaways/homeless gay youths, alike, felt accepted.
Although the Mafia paid off the police, bar raids still occurred but oftentimes renegade cops would warn them, allowing time to hide the illegal alcohol — sometimes in a secret wall behind the bar or in a car down the street. Even though there had been a Stonewall raid just a few days earlier, everyone was surprised when the police came storming in at 1:20am on June 28, 1969. After being roughed up, arrested, and violated, angry Stonewall patrons and local residents who felt they could no longer tolerate the constant social discrimination and police oppression waited outside and became increasingly agitated as the events of that early morning unfolded. The crowd continued to grow as more and more people joined the masses and the frustration and rage bubbled to the surface.
When the crowd discovered that people still inside Stonewall were being beaten and violated by the police, pennies, beer bottles, and bricks started flying through the air aimed at the police and their paddy wagons. As the police were escorting a woman (who many believe was Stormé DeLarverie) out of Stonewall, she repeatedly tried to fight them off and was complaining that her handcuffs were too tight when one of the policemen hit her on the head with his baton. It was then that the woman yelled, “Why don’t you do something?!” and the crowd finally erupted in anger and began fighting against the police.
Within minutes, there were hundreds of people fighting against the police. They tried to push over the police wagons, slashed the tires, and attempted to set the bar on fire. That night, the police and riot squad were able to subdue and disperse the crowed. However, in the days that followed, the uprising continued on Christopher Street and the surrounding area with thousands of people protesting in the streets. The Stonewall Uprising was not, by any definition, the start of the LGBTQ rights movement, but it was a catalyst that awakened a new era in the fight for equal rights.
We will begin the day at the Stonewall National Monument in Christopher Park, enjoy a command performance of David Del Tredici’s Felix Variations for bass trombone featuring David’s nephew, legendary bass trombone virtuoso, Felix Del Tredici, and hear David’s reminiscences about his early life as a gay composer living and working in New York City during the 1960s.
Viet Cuong Program Note for Transfigured:
When something is “transfigured,” it is transformed for the better. And while there is certainly work to be done in the fight for true equality, the progress that has been made in the last five decades since the Stonewall Uprising is remarkable. In writing this piece, I watched interviews with regulars at the Stonewall Inn in the late 60s, and what struck me most was how they would use humor to deal with the horrible injustices they were facing at the time. I think everyone can relate to this in one way or another — there are times where we feel that all we can do is laugh — but coping with humor only goes so far. Eventually things erupt, just as they did in 1969 in the village.
The music begins in a playful (albeit dark and disjointed) state, as if it’s shrugging off something more important at hand. It gets increasingly agitated and distorted, eventually reaching a climax where things are forced to come together and the piece is urged to reflect on itself. As you will see through Adam Weinert’s incredible choreography and visuals, togetherness is another theme of the work. In any fight for social rights, there will be differing ideas on how something should be accomplished, and it bears repeating that we’re stronger together than we are divided.
Upstate New York is home to a number of beautiful historic homes dating back centuries to the Revolutionary War. Some , like the Schuyler Mansion in Albany and the Hart-Cluett House in Downtown Troy have been beautifully restored to their original luster as museums, while others have sat vacant and in disrepair. But, scattered throughout the Capital Region are historic homes, like the Norman Vale House, which have been lived in and loved by those who call it home.
If you’ve been to the American Music Festival, you know that it is a unique adventure into the music of our time. The Festival is the culmination of our season and highlights the composers, guest artists, and collaborators — and audience members — who are daring to reshape America’s musical landscape. The world premieres and recently composed works might sound like nothing you’ve ever heard before, but what does feel familiar is how the story behind the music connects to our lives, our shared history, and our sense of place.
But wait! Does music always have to be about something? Can’t music just BE music? Well, this is an age-old debate that cannot be settled in one blog post and perhaps there isn’t only one answer. But, you don’t have to be a musicologist to uncover the connection between life and art. In fact, many of the most timeless masterpieces have subtle connections to their time and place. Creating music has given composers the opportunity to imagine, to experiment, and to challenge or celebrate what is happening in the world. It is nearly impossible for a composer to be completely withdrawn from their experiences and their history. So, it seems that music is always about something. In composing a piece of music, there must be an inspiration. That inspiration doesn’t need to be complex, but it should tell its own story. What the bold composers from yesterday and today have shown us is that the greatest music tells the most compelling stories.
“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom & philosophy.
― Ludwig van Beethoven”
Take Beethoven’s Fifth as an example: Most people believe that the opening four notes represent “fate knocking at the door.” But, if you dig deeper into Beethoven’s life and political musings, you begin to see a slightly different perspective. Beethoven was, in many ways, a student of the enlightenment era with a strong revolutionary spirit. It is believed that his passionate belief in liberté, égalité, fraternité served as an inspiration for his Fifth Symphony and the iconic opening.
Like Beethoven, the American Music Festival, Sing Out! New York embodies a “revolutionary spirit.” This Festival celebrates and explores key American milestones — the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment and the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, a definitive moment in the LGBTQ rights movement. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony will also be featured during our Sing Out! New York Tour: June 6 – June 9.
Come face to face with innovative music that will bring you on a musical journey to explore our time, our place, and our shared history. Hear 55 new or recent works by 38 American composers, including 27 world premieres, performed by the Albany Symphony, the genre-bending Dogs of Desire, Argus Quartet & more. The Festival runs from May 30-June 2, 2019 in Troy, NY.
Then, follow the orchestra as we take four new major works on tour with FREE concerts in Schuylerville, Albany, Schenectady, and Hudson. In addition to one of these new works being featured on each concert, all four programs will include Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, summertime favorites such as Stars and Stripes Forever, and sing-alongs. Each concert will conclude with fireworks! The Sing Out! New York Tour starts in Schuylerville on Thursday, June 6.
After the powerful Dogs of Desire Concert, grab a drink and stay for the Late Night Lounge Session with Molly Joyce. Composer/performer Molly Joyce takes to the late night stage for a set of musical works for voice, vintage toy organ, and electronics. Joyce aims to engages and challenge her impaired left hand physically and artistically in an act of “breaking and entering” the human body to a realm beyond ability.
Sing Out! New York
Downtown Troy | A Unique Cultural Destination and the perfect backdrop for the American Music Festival.
Experience orchestral music like never before at the American Music Festival. Whether you’re a music aficionado, a casual listener, or simply culturally curious, the American Music Festival in Troy, NY is a perfect weekend getaway for you to explore and enjoy. It’s a bold escape into the music of our time. It’s innovative. It’s uniquely spirited. Not to mention, Troy is an easy drive from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Montreal.
A genre-bending ensemble that blends the power of popular culture with the finesse of a chamber orchestra.
The Argus Quartet returns to the American Music Festival to perform David Del Tredici’s stirring piano sextet, Bullycide.
Two American Vanguard composers, David Del Tredici and John Corigliano team up with David Alan Miller to perform and record two contemporary masterpieces.
In addition to the Dogs of Desire, Argus Quartet, and the Albany Symphony, you can hear 55 new or recent works by 38 composers, including 27 world premieres. Plus, FREE concerts, under the stars on June 6-9, 2019.
Set on the edge of urban revival, Troy is home to 120 unique boutiques, art studios, cafes, breweries, and restaurants and is the perfect backdrop for the American Music Festival.
Take a stroll along the Hudson River in Troy Riverfront Park and explore the official “Home of Uncle Sam” on a guided history tour with the Rensselaer County Historical Society. Grab a cup of coffee (or a New York Craft Beer) and challenge your friend to a game of Clue (or 1 of the 599 other games) at Bard & Baker, Troy’s first board game cafe. Don’t forget to visit the gallery at the Arts Center of the Capital Region on River Street.
Lucas Confectionery
If you’re a “foodie” with an appetite for local fare, Troy is home to some amazing restaurants. Start your day with breakfast and mimosa’s at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, then pair your Festival experience with a fine glass of wine and small plates at Lucas Confectionery. If seafood is more your palette, Plumb Oyster Bar’s Happy Hour is a sure bet. Can you say $1 East Coast Oysters? If Beer and BBQ is more your style, Browns Brewing Co. and Dinosaur BBQ are local favorites. Not to mention, their waterfront patios are amazing.
Are you looking for a Downtown Hotel? Or is an historic Bed & Breakfast more your style? Troy is home to small family owned B&B’s and luxurious contemporary hotels. Book the Courtyard Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Downtown Troy, the cities newest hotel and receive a special discount with your Festival Pass. We will even have your concert tickets, festival passes, and program books waiting for you on your pillow. Call the Courtyard Marriott (518) 240-1000 and reserve your room today.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in Troy, stay in Downtown Albany — only a 15 minute drive away!
15 minute drive from the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station with daily arrivals from NYC, Boston, Montreal & beyond.
15 minute drive from the Albany International Airport with 54 daily arrivals from major U.S. cities and airports.
At the intersection of I-90, I-87, and I-88, Troy is within an easy drive from cities in Canada, PA, MA, and NJ.
15% discount off the regular (full) adult rail fare on Amtrak within New York State on selected service routes.
I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission.
The Albany Symphony’s 2019 American Music Festival, Sing Out! New York frames two anniversaries: the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a turning point for LGBTQ rights. Sing Out! New York draws inspiration from these events to tell the stories of the heroic figures, milestone events, and great passions behind New York’s leading role in championing equal rights.
While the main events of the Festival will take place here in the Capital Region, these two special previews will connect Sing Out! New York to the historic sites central to the women’s rights movement and the LGBTQ rights movement and their fight for equality and justice for all people.
We hope to see you at these inspiring and exciting previews!
The iconic June 28, 1969 Stonewall Uprising was a catalyst for the LGBTQ rights movement, awakening a new era in LGBTQ political activism. In 2016, the Stonewall National Monument, which comprises the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the streets where the events of the Uprising occurred, was designated as the 412th national park and the first to commemorate LGBTQ rights and history.
We will begin the day at the Stonewall National Monument in Christopher Park, enjoy a command performance of David Del Tredici’s Felix Variations for bass trombone featuring David’s nephew, legendary bass trombone virtuoso, Felix Del Tredici, and hear David’s reminiscences about his early life as a gay composer living and working in New York City in the 1960s.
It was at Seneca Falls, at the Conference on Women’s Rights, on July 19-20, 1848, that Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Frederick Douglass, and others met for the first time in American history to formally affirm the audacious idea that women deserve the same rights as men.
We will relive that glorious moment in New York State’s history: touring the National Historic Site and legendary Wesleyan Chapel with the Park’s rangers; having a talk with a brilliant Harvard professor and human rights scholar, Kathryn Sikkink; exploring the town, including the Women’s Hall of Fame; and enjoying an unforgettable, suffrage-themed performance by the four brilliant young singers of the IAMIAMIAM collective from the Bard College Vocal Arts Program in the Wesleyan Chapel, the very room in which the original Conference of 1848 took place.
March 5: How much do you know about the orchestra? Take our quiz and test your knowledge!
March 12: Angélica Negrón, Literacy-Through-Songwriting, First Visit to Giffen Memorial and New Scotland Elementary Schools
March 19: Angélica Negrón, Literacy-Through-Songwriting, Making Balloonchords
March 26: Angélica Negrón, Literacy-Through-Songwriting, Field Trip to Tech Valley Center of Gravity
March 6: “How playing an instrument benefits your brain” | Anita Collins
March 13: “What if every child had access to music education from birth?” | Anita Collins
March 20: “Social change through music education” | Patricia Abdelnour
March 27: “A different way to visualize rhythm” | John Varney
TROY, NY (March 26, 2019)- The Albany Symphony today announced the 2019 American Music Festival, Sing Out! New York, a bold two-weekend national festival and regional tour of musical performances and new art happenings, taking place in renowned concert venues in Troy and in public parks throughout New York State’s Capital Region. Sing Out! New York kicks off on Thursday, May 30 with First Draughts Reading Session & Beer Tasting and runs through Sunday, June 2 in Troy, then embarks on a four-concert tour of the greater Capital Region on Thursday, June 6,2019.
Two milestone anniversaries frame the festival: the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Sing Out! New York draws inspiration from both these events, and celebrates New York’s leading role in championing equal rights, through innovative concerts, close encounters with today’s most adventurous artists and composers, interactive workshops, collaborative community events, film screenings, and artistic happenings. Curated by GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor and Albany Symphony Music Director, David Alan Miller, the festival will turn downtown Troy into a national hub and incubator for new American concert music, featuring 50 new or recent works by 38 composers, including 26 world premiere performances.
Albany Symphony at EMPAC in Troy. Photo Credit: Gary Gold
The Festival’s programs include world premieres by Clarice Assad, Viet Cuong, Molly Joyce, Alexis Lamb, Loren Loiacono, Danika Lorén, Evan Mack, Beata Moon, Andre Myers, Rachel Peters, Tanner Porter, Jorge Sosa, Bora Yoon, as well as recent works by John Corigliano, David Del Tredici, Melissa Dunphy, Stacy Garrop, Gilda Lyons, Missy Mazzoli, Frances Pollock, Juri Seo, and Christopher Theofanidis. Joining the Albany Symphony and Music Director David Alan Miller are artistic collaborators including the Argus Quartet, Clarice Assad, the Albany Symphony’s Dogs of Desire with vocalists Lucy Dhegrae and Lucy Fitz Gibbon, pianist Phillip Fisher, IAMIAMIAM Vocal Collective, Patrick Jones, Angelica Negron, and choreographer Adam Weinert. The Festival also includes works by acclaimed composer-activist David Del Tredici, and four-time GRAMMY® and Academy Award-winning composer, John Corigliano, as well as performances by composer/performer Molly Joyce, and soprano Hila Plitmann.
When asked about the significance of Sing Out! New York, Music Director David Alan Miller said, “The Albany Symphony is committed to telling the stories of our time, place, and history through the creation of compelling new music and collaborations between composers and fellow artists. The fight for women’s equality in the 19th and early 20th century, and for LGBTQ rights beginning in 1969, are great New York stories. To tell them, we drafted a broad team of artists, including a number of emerging composers who represent our richly diverse community, and partnered them with other creative artists and community organizations from myriad disciplines. We paired these news works with established ones by composers who have told related New York stories, and have designed immersive events that celebrate the things that bring us together as New Yorkers and human beings.”
Albany Symphony will also record both Pop-Pourri and the Piano Concerto for commercial release. Photo Credit: Eric Berlin
The American Music Festival Sing Out! New York includes more than 22 concerts and related events over two weekends starting on Thursday, May 30 and again on Thursday, June 6. On Friday, May 31, the orchestra’s new music chamber orchestra, Dogs of Desire will premiere five new works on subjects ranging from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention to Frederick Douglass’ participation in the abolitionist and suffragist movements, from the aftermath of the Stonewall Rebellion to, Alice Duer Miller’s Women are People and Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” speech. On Saturday, June 1, the full orchestra will premiere a suffragist-inspired piece by composer/performer Tanner Porter alongside Pop-Pourri with soprano Hila Plitmann, David Del Tredici’s first work based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from 1968, and John Corigliano’s Piano Concerto, with pianist Phillip Fisher. Committed to giving new music life beyond the concert hall, the Albany Symphony will also record both Pop-Pourri and the Piano Concerto for commercial release.
Other festival highlights include: a screening of the powerful new documentary film, “Of Rage and Remembrance” in which composer John Corigliano tells the story of his Symphony No. 1, commemorating the friends he lost to AIDS; Del Tredici’s Bullycide, performed by the Argus Quartet in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, one of the only fully integrated Tiffany interiors in the world; Late Night Lounge performances on Friday and Saturday night; and a free family-friendly concert and suffragist themed street fair in Monument Square with performances by Molly Joyce, IAMIAMIAM, and local jazz/folk bands on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, David Alan Miller and a 14-member chamber orchestra will premiere four newly commissioned melodrams by Evan Mack, Jorge Sosa, Molly Joyce, and Bora Yoon. The following weekend, the Festival will break out of the concert hall with free outdoor concerts at Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville (June 6), Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady (June 7), Albany’s Jennings Landing (June 8), and Basilica Hudson in Hudson (June 9), NY.
According to Executive Director Anna Kuwabara, “The American Music Festival is the annual blossoming of the Albany Symphony’s commitment to the music of our time, giving voice to the stories, aesthetics, thoughts, and emotions of our society right here and now. The Festival is a hub for new music, and it is our opportunity to celebrate and unite our community, to transform lives and be transformed through the power of music. The four free Sing Out! New York Tour events are our joy and honor to present. The program in each community includes Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, sing-alongs, and summertime favorites. The centerpiece of each is one of the newly commissioned works from the Dogs of Desire concerts earlier in the Festival. Along with great music, we look forward to bringing attention and business to each site with family activities, food trucks, fireworks, and other festivities.”
The American Music Festival and Tour is made possible with New York State funding through Market NY/Empire State Development, New York State Council on the Arts and the Regional Economic Development Councils, as well as funding from the National Endowment of the Arts.
“Clarice Assad is quite simply a phenomenon who has streaked across the world’s musical landscape like one of those comets that appears just once in a lifetime.
— Latin Jazz Network”
Today, the Albany Symphony was thrilled to welcome Clarice Assad back to Albany who is working on her newest project with high school students from Girls, Inc. to create an original, collaborative composition. This morning, the students began by analyzing Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” speech from the 1851 Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. They discussed how society’s perception of women has changed throughout history and how it influences girls’ lives today. Afterwards, Clarice and the girls worked together to construct the foundation of their new piece with inspiring lyrics, compelling spoken word, and beautiful melodies. This world premiere will be presented in June during the Albany Symphony’s 2019 American Music Festival!
A powerful communicator renowned for her musical scope and versatility, Brazilian American Clarice Assad is a significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop and jazz genres. A Grammy nominated composer, celebrated pianist, inventive vocalist, and educator, she is renowned for her evocative colors, rich textures, and diverse stylistic range. As an innovator, her award-winning education program, Voxploration, has been presented throughout the United States, Brazil, Europe and Qatar. With her talent sought-after by artists and organizations worldwide, the multi-talented musician continues to attract new audiences both onstage and off.
A passionate educator, in 2015 Ms. Assad founded VOXploration, an award-winning, trailblazing program which presents a creative, fun, and accessible approach to music education through meaningful, interactive experiences. In an era where digital interaction is part of the daily routine, participants utilize their bodies and voices as musical instruments in spontaneous music creation, songwriting and improvisation in a class which combines music, theater, technology and countless other creative approaches tailored to enhance human interactivity. Carefully curated to work equally well with participants of any age who have little music education or those having musical backgrounds, VOXploration has received grants and awards from Brazilian foundations such as CAIXA CULTURAL and SESC, as well as American grants from New Music USA and the McKnight Foundation. Ms. Assad has given masterclasses, residencies and workshops throughout the United States, Europe and Middle East, including at the Juilliard School of Music, the Aarhus Conservatory of Music, Columbia College of Chicago, the University of Michigan, Pratt University, the University of Texas and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.
To learn more about Clarice Assad, visit her website.
You can also check her out on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SoundCloud, and Vimeo.
“Angélica is one of the country’s most creative, original, and brilliant music educators. We are so proud to have her working with us on this amazing project. — David Alan Miller, Music Director and Conductor of the Albany Symphony”
The Albany Symphony is excited to have Angélica Negrón as our composer-educator-in-residence! Starting this month, Angélica will be working with students at Giffen Memorial Elementary School and New Scotland Elementary School through our Literacy-Through-Songwriting program. Together, they will learn about the foundations of music and acoustics, create their own instruments, and compose original music.
This week, we sat down with Angélica to talk about Literacy-Through-Songwriting and why she thinks music education in our schools is important:
Puerto Rican-born composer and multi-instrumentalist Angélica Negrón writes music for accordions, robotic instruments, toys and electronics as well as chamber ensembles and orchestras. Her music has been described as “wistfully idiosyncratic and contemplative” (WQXR/Q2) and “mesmerizing and affecting” (Feast of Music) while The New York Times noted her “capacity to surprise” and her “quirky approach to scoring”. Angélica has been commissioned by the Albany Symphony, Bang on a Can All-Stars, A Far Cry, MATA Festival, loadbang, The Playground Ensemble and the American Composers Orchestra, among others. Her music has been performed at the Kennedy Center, the Ecstatic Music Festival, EMPAC, Bang on a Can Marathon and the 2016 New York Philharmonic Biennial and her film scores have been heard numerous times at the Tribeca Film Festival. She has collaborated with artists like Sō Percussion, The Knights, Face the Music and NOVUS NY, among others and is a founding member of the electronic indie band Balún. Angélica is currently a doctoral candidate at The Graduate Center (CUNY), where she studies composition with Tania León and focuses on the work of Meredith Monk for her dissertation. She's a teaching artist for New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers Program and Lincoln Center Education working with learners of all ages on creative composition projects. Angélica is currently an artist in residency at National Sawdust working on a lip sync opera titled Chimera for drag queen performers and chamber ensemble exploring the ideas of fantasy and illusion as well as the intricacies and complexities of identity. She is the composer in residence for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for their 2018-2019 season.
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month®, the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
MIOSM and the events surrounding it are the ideal opportunities for increasing awareness of the benefits of high quality music education programs in our nation’s schools. NAfME hopes that teachers, students, and music supporters alike will find ways to join in on the celebration through creative activities and advocacy.
To learn more about the National Association for Music Education and MIOSM, click here.
“Music In Our Schools is...for administrators, parents, and the community, to call attention to music education and what music teachers are doing. It’s our chance to make them realize that our subject area is important and a basic part of the school curriculum.”
Programs for Children & Schools
ADOPT-A-SCHOOL
The Adopt-a-School program is the Albany Symphony's flagship education program that helps to introduce students in area elementary schools to the world of classical music and the instruments of the orchestra by bringing the musicians and their instruments to the classroom. At each visit students explore science, math, language arts, and musical concepts by learning about each instrument. This 2018-2019 season includes:
Albany
Albany School of Humanities, Albany Community Charter School, Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology, Delaware Community School, North Albany Academy, Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy, Eagle Point Elementary School, Montessori Magnet School, Sheridan Preparatory Academy, Pine Hills Elementary School, Giffen Memorial Elementary School, and Arbor Hill Elementary School.
Troy
School 2, School 14, School 16, School 18, and Carol Hill Elementary School
LITERACY-THROUGH-SONGWRITING
Every year the Albany Symphony invites one composer-educator to work with local music students in the Capital Region. Over the course of multiple working visits, our resident composers work in local schools to guide students through the process of creating original music. Final projects created in collaboration with Albany Symphony's composer-educators are incorporated into the official schedule of the Symphony’s American Music Festival. Starting this March, Angélica Negrón is our 2019-2020 composer-educator-in-residence!
Uncover your secret superpower with the Albany Symphony’s team of musical heroes! David Alan Miller needs your special power to help the Albany Symphony on an adventure through the greatest melodies in the galaxy! Featuring super selections from Pictures at an Exhibition, Bolero, & more! CAPES & COSTUMES WELCOME!
Monday Music for Schools is a fun-filled hour-long concert that engages young listeners in learning about music and the symphony orchestra. Great for field trips! This program is specifically geared toward elementary school students. Since Monday Music is organized as a school program, teachers are able to work with students both before and after the concert to maximize the educational value of the experience.
For more information about Albany Symphony #MusicInOurSchools, check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Follow our daily hashtags and share your own #MusicInOurSchools posts!
Please visit albanysymphony.com or call the box office at 518.694.3300
The Albany Symphony is thrilled to announce its new concert shuttle program, starting with Romantic Chopin on February 9!
The shuttle will cost $15 round-trip. The pick-up location will be at the CDTA Park & Ride on 141 Elm Avenue, Bethlehem, NY 12054. The shuttle will leave for the venue at 6:00pm and will leave from the venue at 9:45pm.
This offer is available for the following concerts:
Romantic Chopin
Saturday, February 9
Boléro
Saturday, March 9
Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto
Saturday, April 6
American Music Festival
Saturday, June 1
“The world’s finest and most daring percussionist
— The Spectator (UK) —”
Lawrence Loh, guest conductor
Chee-Yun, violinist
“Her technique is brilliant and utterly secure,
her tone like butter: smooth, rich, and flawless.
— Strings Magazine —”
Give the Perfect Gift This Holiday- Great Late Gift Ideas for the Music-lover on Your List!
With the holidays right around the corner, you've most likely made your list and checked it twice. For the music-lover on your list, surprise them with the gift of music and memories that will last a lifetime.
