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POTSDAM – The Orchestra of Northern New York will honor America’s veterans and celebrate the world’s fascination with space when it presents four performances of its summer Pops concert, Adventures in Space, June 30 – July 3rd.

Maestro Kenneth Andrews conducts the concert by 60 professional musicians, which begins with the Star-Spangled Banner followed by America the Beautiful and Fanfare for Democracy.  A particularly poignant time in the concert occurs when the ever-popular Armed Forces Salute is performed. Americans who have served their country stand tall as the orchestra plays their theme of various branches of the armed services. Audience members applaud enthusiastically each year to recognize the service and sacrifice of these dedicated countrymen.

The second half of the program highlights America’s fascination with space with selections from Apollo 13, Star Wars, Holst’s The Planets and Star Trek.

Free performances are slated for: June 30th at 8 pm in Thompson Park, Watertown; July 1 at 7 pm at Paul Smith’s College; and July 2 a private performance at 7 pm in Thousand Island Park, Wellesley Island. A ticketed concert will take place on Sunday, July 3 at 7:30 pm at Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam.

For more info or tickets for the July 3rd performance, visit onny.org or call 315-212-3440.

CHILDWOLD – With the threat of the pandemic abating, the Third Annual Childwold Chamber Music Series returns to the little church in the Adirondack woods. The concert series is an outreach program sponsored by The Secret Sits Pro Music Ensembles, Inc.  and the Orchestra of Northern New York. It takes place at Childwold Memorial Presbyterian Church and features five offerings starting with an ice cream social.

On Saturday, July 9at 2 pm, Gretchen Koehler (fiddle), inductee in the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame, and Barb Heller (guitar and vocal), host of North Country Public Radio’s String Fever, will entertain concertgoers with great bluegrass and folk music as they enjoy cake and ice cream.

All other concerts are on Thursday evenings at 7 pm at the church located on Bancroft Road. Signs on Route 3 in Childwold will direct concertgoers to the venue.

On July 14th, Pro Musica Adirondika, a new quartet of flute, violin, viola, and cello will make their debut with a program of popular classical music. The talented foursome includes: Kenneth Andrews (flute), Music Director & Conductor of the Orchestra of Northern New York; Liesl Schoenberger Doty (violin), faculty member at the Crane School of Music; Scott Woolweaver (viola), principal viola for the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and the Ann Arbor (MI) Symphony Orchestra; and Karen Kadaravek (cello), former principal cellist of Boston Baroque and Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society.

Sebastian Buhts will wow the crowd on the marimba on August 4th. He is a solo, chamber, and orchestral percussionist based in St. Louis, MO where he teaches percussion at Lindenwood University and St. Charles Community College. He also has appeared as a performer and clinician throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe

The husband-and-wife duo of Karl Doty (bass) and Liesl Schoenberger Doty (violin) will present a blended genre of classical and crossover music on August 18th. Liesl and Karl are “CRIERs” in Boston’s own chair-less, conductor-less chamber orchestra, A Far Cry, that was nominated for a GRAMMY in 2015.

Closing out the series will be the return of Pro Musica Adirondika on September 1 as it presents another program of popular classical music.

All programs of the Orchestra of Northern New York are sponsored, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

For more information about TSS and ONNY, both 501(c )(3) nonprofit organizations, call 315-212-3440.

Brianne Borden Ph.D. has graciously assumed the role of ONNY’s social media director.  A trumpet artist and educator, Dr. Borden joined the faculty at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in fall 2020 as Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet. She is a member of the Potsdam Brass Quintet, the Nova Trumpet Collective, and performs regularly with the Orchestra of Northern New York. Preceding Potsdam, Borden taught for the Phoenix Conservatory of Music, Harmony Project Phoenix, the University of Colorado Summer Academy, as well as maintained a vibrant private studio.

Having an active performance schedule, Borden presents recitals and masterclasses at numerous universities and conferences nationally and internationally. She was a featured soloist for the opening concert of the 2019 International Women's Brass Conference.

An advocate for wellness within the classical music community, Borden teaches a Musicians' Wellness class at Crane and has researched heavily in the field. Prior to her arrival at Potsdam, she served as Instructor for a weekly class titled Movement for Musicians at Arizona State University, as well as Instructor of Yoga for Musicians at the University of Colorado. Borden's wellness expertise is centered in the realms of performance anxiety, musculoskeletal health, trauma-informed mindfulness, and the practical application of yoga techniques. In addition to yoga and meditation accreditations, Borden has also completed the Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine certification through the Performing Arts Medicine Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. Furthermore, Borden currently acts as Co-Owner and CEO of a virtual yoga studio, Yoga for All Musicians, catering specifically to the physical and emotional needs of musicians.

Borden completed her Doctoral studies at Arizona State University, where she served as Teaching Assistant to David Hickman and was recipient of Raphael Mendez Scholarship for Outstanding Graduate Student. Preceding ASU, Borden received her Master's degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Colorado - Boulder where she taught as a Teaching Assistant as well as performed with the Graduate Brass Quintet. Lastly, she is a proud alumna of SUNY Potsdam where she received a Bachelor's degree in Trumpet Performance and her love of brass chamber music was established in the Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet. Borden is honored to be an S.E. Shires Artist.

Last week, the Board of Directors of the Orchestra of Northern New York accepted the retirement letter of its Maestro of the last thirty-four years that is effective July 2023.

Kenneth Andrews, Founder, Music Director and Conductor since 1988, made his announcement at a recent board meeting.

ONNY Board President Kimberly Busch says, “Ken Andrews is an outstanding musician and conductor. Our North Country region has been a fortunate beneficiary of his artistry and passion for creating and performing professional quality live orchestral music for 34 years. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”

In a prepared statement, Andrews notes, “Although this has been a very difficult decision, I have decided to retire as Music Director and Conductor from the Orchestra of Northern New York in July 2023, at the end of ONNY’s 35th Anniversary Season.”

“From its first concert in fall 1988, it has been my extreme honor and pleasure to conduct over 400 concerts. I have been blessed to work with musicians and soloists from Northern New York, the Northeast, Canada and beyond,” he added.

Andrews continued, “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the thousands of musicians, staff, volunteers, donors, and concertgoers who, since 1988, have made this organization what it is today. I wish all the best for the future of the Orchestra and look forward with excitement and enthusiasm to our upcoming 35th anniversary season!”

President Busch added, “Our audience should rest assured that the Board is forming a search committee for a new Music Director and Conductor and will work to maintain the high-quality professional orchestra Ken Andrews played such a large role in creating and building.”

ONNY Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice remarked, “This is Ken’s life legacy. He built ONNY from the trunk of his car into a premier arts organization that has impacted thousands of lives, whether musicians or audience members, staff or volunteers, in the last three-plus decades. He will be sorely missed.”

The North Country’s only year-round professional symphony orchestra publicly thanks its volunteers during National Volunteer Week. The Orchestra of Northern New York relies heavily on dedicated individuals to help with everything from putting up posters throughout the region to planning and staffing its annual golf tournament.

ONNY volunteers, coordinated by Volunteer Committee Chair Michele Meyers of Canton, perform a host of cost-saving activities. Steve Bateman, Lisbon, and Marc Boyer, Ogdensburg, move from one venue to another music stands, percussion instruments, chairs, and anything else needed to produce a concert. The rented truck they use is loaded after the final rehearsal and unloaded upon return from Watertown to the Crane loading dock in the wee hours of the morning.  Past ONNY President Timothy Savage, Canton, and current ONNY President, Kimberly Busch, also lend a hand on the road crew from time to time.

Barbara Burdick, Canton, manages many volunteer ushers who take tickets and distribute concert programs.  Jane “Wink” Beadel, Wellesley Island, arranges ushers for Watertown concerts.

Roland and Deborah Lauther, Madrid, prepare snacks and refreshments for the musicians to enjoy during rehearsal breaks and concert intermission. Linya Bell, Watertown, also generously arranges for food and drink for musicians at Watertown concerts.

Until recently, Nancy Kear, Potsdam, arranged for host families for ONNY musicians from out-of-town. Several local families offer musicians a clean bed, a few meals, and a place to practice between rehearsals and prior to concerts.

Nancy Peschko, Norwood, has coordinated the Young Artist Competition, which just marked its 16th year in February.

Guy C. “Chip” Lamson, Potsdam, chairs the annual golf tournament committee. His colleagues include: Jeremy Carney, Potsdam; Timothy Savage and Michele Meyers, Canton; Kimberly Busch, Hannawa Falls; Susan Bellor, Massena; and Steve Bateman, Lisbon. This year’s event will be held Saturday, July 9 at the Potsdam Town and Country Club.

Victoria Day, Hermon, ensures that ONNY posts appear regularly on social media. She is assisted in these duties by Anita Prather-Harvell, Watertown.

Several people put up posters and flyers in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, including Cynthia Morin, Potsdam; Ned Potts, Norwood, Bradshaw Mintener, Canton; Carolyn Pierce, Heuvelton; Lin Griffin, Ogdensburg, Ralph Hastings, N. Bangor, Michael Busch, Hannawa Falls; and Mona Vroman, Massena.

ONNY’s Watertown Advisory Committee members also share postering duties, while providing valuable feedback to ONNY management on everything from programming and operations to marketing and fundraising. They serve as ambassadors for ONNY in their local communities, opening doors to funding possibilities. Chair John Goloski, Theresa, heads the twelve-member group that includes: Jane “Wink” Beadel, Wellesley Island; Lia Call, Theresa; Jacinda and Steve Hirst, Black River; Mark Prasuhn, Sackets Harbor; and from Watertown: Shannon and Joseph Foy, Anita Prather-Harvell, T. Urling “Tom” Walker, Clement Wong, and John Wrape.

ONNY is especially grateful to Kevin Angstadt, Madrid, who makes possible all things digital and online as ONNY’s Website and Technology Director.

Finally, members of the Board of Directors spend countless hours serving on committees, helping staff fundraisers, and meeting monthly to govern this 34-year-old nonprofit organization.  President Kimberly Busch, Hannawa Falls; Vice President Victoria Day, Hermon; Treasurer John J. Gray, Jr., Colton; and Secretary Adrienne Hartman, Potsdam, are joined by Kevin Angstadt, Madrid; Rich Basler, Canton; Steve Bateman, Lisbon; Jane Beadel, Wellesley Island; Susan Bellor, Massena; Marc Boyer, Ogdensburg; William Gibbons, Potsdam; John Goloski, Theresa; Charles V. Guy, Colton; Carol C. Lowe, Parishville; Richard Maloney, Constable; Michele Meyers, Canton; and Mark Prasuhn, Sackets Harbor.

To all those listed and countless others who assist in a myriad of ways, ONNY offers its deepest appreciation.

The Orchestra of Northern New York, the North Country’s only professional year-round symphony orchestra now in its 34th year, has created a Music Education Advocacy Committee, in recognition of National Music in Our Schools Month in March.

At its monthly meeting, ONNY’s Board of Directors endorsed the League of American Orchestras “Statement of Common Cause,” which reads, in part, “America’s orchestras are committed to advocating for equitable access to comprehensive and sequential music education in our nation’s schools.”

Two ONNY musicians are co-chairs of the new Music Education Advocacy (MEA) Committee. Jill Roberts, Canton, who teaches band for Grades 5-12 at Madrid-Waddington Central School and plays clarinet with ONNY, will lead the effort in St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties. Lia Call, Theresa, who instructs the seventh and eighth grade orchestra at Indian River Middle School and performs on viola with ONNY, will oversee activities in Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

This nascent committee is planning focus groups with area music teachers in April to determine how ONNY can best advocate for music education in schools, and address specific needs of music teachers.

Kimberly Busch, President of ONNY’s Board of Directors, a vocal music teacher at Canton Central School, said, “Orchestras can and should serve as a resource for music educators, whether they are teaching general music, vocal music, band, or orchestra. A complete education must include the arts.”

For more information about ONNY’s Music Education Advocacy Committee, contact Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice at executivedirector@onny.org or 315-212-3440.