The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has announced the lineup for its 26th season. The festival begins July 17th, and will include six concerts. With shows ranging from jazz to blues to classical, there is a concert for everyone.
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has prided itself in presenting a high variety of quality shows for over 20 years. Founded in 1999, the festival has hosted over 100 artists in its history. In its 25 years of existence, the festival has exhibited classical, cabaret, and even special children’s concerts. Performance Today, the most popular classical radio program, has also frequently featured festival concerts.
“Our new season features an impressive collection of performances that will bring best-in-class artists in a wide variety of genres to perform for audiences in Cooperstown,”
– Linda Chesis, Festival founder
The Miró Quartet will kick off the season with a July 18th program titled “Voices of Home.” Beginning in 1995, the Austin-based quartet has made a name for itself as one of the most celebrated classical groups. The band takes its name from surrealist painter Joan Miró, with much of their music reflecting themes of imagination and fantasy. The quartet has previously toured across the United States, Europe, and Asia, receiving critical acclaim wherever they go. The July 18th show, titled “Voices of Home,” will tackle themes like nostalgia and yearning. It will feature compositions by Franz Joseph Haydn, Caroline Shaw, Kevin Puts, and George Walker. This concert will take place at 7pm at Cooperstown’s Farmers’ Museum.
July 25th will see a performance by the Caroga Arts Ensemble, titled “American Journey.” Cellist Kyle Price founded the ensemble in 2019, as part of the Caroga Arts Collective. The ensemble features prizewinning instrumentalists, music school faculty, and members of chamber groups. Since its founding, the ensemble has played at Chicago’s Symphony Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and more. Their July 25th show will feature pieces by American composers, such as Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, and more. The concert will take place at Cooperstown’s Farmers’ Museum at 7pm.
Pianist Richard Goode will perform a selection of Beethoven pieces on July 30th. Famous for his emotional interpretations of classical and romantic pieces, Goode has become one of the most acclaimed pianists of our day. He has played concerts across the United States and Europe, and has hosted multiple music masterclasses. As part of this concert, Goode will perform some of Beethoven’s later work, illustrating the emotional depth of his playing. The concert will take place 7pm at the Otesaga Resort Hotel.
Grammy award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell will perform a blues and jazz selection on August 6th. Coming from a musical family in New York, Russell has spent much of her life performing. She has previously toured with legends like Steely Dan, Paul Simon, and Cyndi Lauper. Her third album Inside This Heart of Mine reached #1 on the iTunes jazz charts upon release. Since then she has won various awards, including a Grammy for her work on the Boardwalk Empire Soundtrack. NPR hailed Russell’s vocals, saying she “wails like a horn and whispers like a snake in the garden of Eden.” She will perform at the Otesaga Resort Hotel at 7pm.
August 16th will feature two performances as part of the program’s Family Music Fest. The concerts will be hosted by Justin Jay Hines, percussionist for the NY Philharmonic Young People’s Orchestra. These family friendly performances will begin with an interactive workshop. During this workshop, kids will learn how to make instruments from natural materials, and craft different beats. The workshop will end with a performance using these handmade instruments. These workshops will be followed by a performance from Hines. The first performance will take place at Origins cafe at 10:30am. It will be followed by a second 3pm performance at the Farmers’ Museum. These performances are free, but registration is required.
The festival will conclude with an August 20th performance titled “Bach Again.” This performance will feature harpsichordist Bradley Brookshire, cellist Wolfram Koessel, flautist Linda Chessis, and violinist Rachell Ellen Wong. The night will celebrate the musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, featuring renditions of his instrumental sonatas. Mezzo-soprano Winona Martin will join these instrumentalists to perform a selection of Bach’s arias. This concert will take place 7pm at Christ Episcopal Church.
Concert Schedule
7/18 – Miró Quartet: Voices of Home – 7pm @ The Farmers’ Museum
7/25 – Caroga Arts Ensemble: American Journey – 7pm @ The Farmers’ Museum
7/30 – Pianist Richard Goode Plays Late Beethoven – 7pm @ Otesaga Resort Hotel
8/6 – Catherine Russell, Blues and Jazz Singer – 7pm @ Otesaga Resort Hotel
8/16 – Family Music Fest with Justin Jay Hines, Percussionist and Host of NY Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts – 10:30am @ Origins Cafe
8/16 – Family Music Fest – 3pm @ The Farmers’ Museum
8/20 – Bach Again – 7pm @ Christ Episcopal Church
Tickets are $30 for all concerts, with students under 18 having a reduced price of $15. All tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information on ticketing and concerts, visit the Cooperstown Music Festival website here.
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