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Thanks to an incredible opportunity presented by WPBS based in Watertown, the concert will be broadcast on Saturday, December 19 at 9 p.m.

Mark Prasuhn, WPBS President and General Manager, says: “All of us at WPBS are delighted to be airing the Orchestra of Northern New York’s Holiday concert as part of our schedule of music specials airing throughout the month of December. Showcasing wonderful music of the Christmas season is a long-standing tradition here at WPBS, and it feels especially important to us this year as the COVID pandemic has closed off so many opportunities to celebrate the season as we normally do.”

“ONNY is a much-admired local treasure and does so much for our region. I know this performance will bring joy and inspiration and I look forward to sharing it with our viewers across Northern New York and Eastern Ontario,” Prasuhn added.

The broadcast enables viewers to enjoy the program from the comfort and safety of their homes. Select chamber ensembles from within the Orchestra and a few guests perform beloved seasonal songs and traditional carols. The concert features the Potsdam Brass Quintet, Carriage House Quartet, ONNY Woodwind Trio, The Rubio Duo, and soloist Donald George, tenor.

Potsdam Brass Quintet was established in 1968 and is in-residence at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. It has performed in concert throughout the U.S. and Canada including at New York’s Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. PBQ opens the concert with Leroy Anderson’s exciting Sleigh Ride and also plays A Hanukkah Suite, which includes: O Hanukkah, Rock of Ages, and Dance the Horah, among other works.  Members are: Brianne Borden (trumpet), Clark Hunt (trumpet), Lauren Becker (horn), Christopher Hernacki (trombone), and Charles Guy, tuba.

Carriage House Quartet is a professional string foursome named after the 19th century carriage houses located behind the Victorian homes owned by group's members where they frequently rehearse.  Maggie McKenna, first violin; Jennifer Kessler, second violin, Christian Hosmer, viola; and Robert Docker, cello, entertain with such pieces as Christmas Concerto and Jingle Bells.

The ONNY Woodwind Trio was formed in 2020 with Principal Musicians: Jill Rubio, flute; Julianne Kirk Doyle, clarinet; and Carol Lowe, bassoon. This holiday concert is the trio’s debut performance, in which they perform “March of the Toys” from Babes in Toyland and I Have a Little Dreidel, among other pieces.

The Rubio Duo consists of the husband-and-wife team of Douglas and Jill Rubio. They have been delighting audiences since 1983 with music for flute (Jill) and classical guitar (Doug). In ONNY’s holiday concert, they perform White Christmas and Two Catalonian Carols, (The Son of Mary, and Christmas Night).

Donald George, an internationally renowned tenor, who has brought North Country audiences to their feet in prior years, presents The Lord’s Prayer and O Holy Night, accompanied by local pianist Jeffrey Hinkle.

Bringing Home the Sounds of the Season is produced with generous support from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature; and Northern New York Community Foundation, whose mission is to improve and enrich the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Watertown Savings Bank, which has been a generous supporter of ONNY’s holiday concert in Watertown for many years, is the business sponsor of this concert.

ONNY Executive Director, Kathy Del Guidice, asks appreciative viewers to make a donation in lieu of ticket sales to help cover the cost of the program that includes musicians’ fees.

The Orchestra of Northern New York is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, founded in 1988 by Music Director Kenneth Andrews. Its mission is “to enrich the quality of life for all people, especially youth, in the North Country, Adirondacks, and Southeastern Ontario by inspiring the enjoyment and appreciation of music  through diverse and inclusive, live and online programming by professional musicians.”

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. To contribute, visit onny.org/support; mail a check, payable to “ONNY,” to PO Box 488, Potsdam, NY 13676; or call Ms. Del Guidice with a credit card at 315-212-3440. For more information, contact her at executivedirector@onny.org.

The CPA firm of Gray & Gray and Associates, with offices in Canton, Potsdam, Massena and Spring Hill, FL, donated a $3,500 Konica Minolta c364e printer/copier/scanner/fax machine to the Orchestra last year.

ONNY Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice says, “It will save literally thousands of dollars in printing and copying costs. I am so grateful to John and Angela for this generous contribution.” 

John J. Gray, Jr., managing partner of Gray & Gray and Associates, ONNY board member and Finance Committee chair, says:  “Our firm has always been committed to supporting the arts in Northern New York.  This was a unique opportunity for us to assist ONNY where there was a real need. It allowed us to help a valued arts organization with a benefit that would have a positive impact over several years. It was our pleasure to do so.”   John Gray Jr. & Angela Gray, Partners

(Pictured: John J. Gray, Jr. and his business partner, daughter Angela Gray)

 

In 2015, the late Michael C. Miller, Watertown, gathered together a group of interested individuals from Watertown to ensure that ONNY concerts would become a part of the fabric of life in that region. Today, Mike’s dream is a reality. 

Last season, 1,600 people purchased tickets to four ONNY concerts in Watertown. Literally thousands of people enjoyed ONNY’s summer pops concert and fireworks at the free Concert in the Park held around July 4th.  The event is sponsored by the City of Watertown and the Watertown Noon Rotary Club.

The twelve-member Watertown Advisory Committee (WAC) meets quarterly.  These dedicated volunteers:

• Serve as ambassadors for The Orchestra of Northern New York
• Open doors and build bridges with community groups, businesses and foundations in the area
• Help solicit sponsorships, program advertising, donations and grants to defray the cost of the annual five-concert Watertown series
• Provide valuable feedback to the ONNY board and management on everything from programming and operations to marketing and outreach activities.

John Goloski, WAC chair, is a voting member of ONNY’s Board of Directors. Membership is open to anyone in the greater Watertown region who is interested in assisting ONNY in a host of ways. Committee members provide refreshments and even dinner on occasion for musicians before concerts and during intermissions. They also serve as ushers, sell CDs, distribute posters, respond to management’s requests for feedback, and share social media posts.

In 2020, the group is examining their role and relationship with the ONNY Board. They are developing an operations manual for the Committee Chair’s office to minimize the learning curve for future WAC leaders. 

Persons interested in WAC’s mission are asked to contact Goloski at johngoloski@ircsd.org or 315-592-8740.

(Photo: Members of the Watertown Advisory Committee display ONNY reusable tote bags at their last quarterly meeting. They are, left to right, front row:  Emily Sprague, Watertown, retired English teacher from Watertown City Schools; Agnes McCarthy, Philadelphia, director/co-founder of Trillium Music Center and an ONNY violinst; Shannon Zaykoski, Adams, music teacher in the South Jefferson Central School District and an ONNY hornist; Wink Beadel, Wellesley Island, retired Communications Associate at Clayton’s Antique Boat Museum; and Aileen Anderson, Watertown, Grants Management Specialist for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Back row:  Richard Lake, Watertown, retired Vice President of Harleysville Insurance Co.; Anita Prather Harvell, Watertown, IT Specialist for Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation on Fort Drum; Clement Wong, Watertown, Financial Officer of the United Way of NNY; Lia Call, Theresa, 7th and 8th grade orchestra teacher at Indian River Middle School and ONNY violist; John Goloski, Theresa, Watertown Advisory Committee chair, 7th and 8th grade band teacher at Indian River Middle School; and John Wrape, Watertown, retired Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in the Watertown City School District. Missing: T. Urling “Tom” Walker, Watertown, retired businessman and former Mayor of the City of Watertown.)

Dear Friends,

As I begin a two-year term as President of the ONNY Board of Directors, I wish to thank our sponsors, donors, advertisers, audience members, musicians, volunteers and staff for their past support. As we navigate a world-wide pandemic, the ONNY Board is committed, first and foremost, to protecting the health and safety of our musicians and audience members, then determining how best to proceed with live music-making onstage.

Our Music Director Kenneth Andrews, Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice, and Personnel Manager Jill Rubio are working diligently, researching the latest recommendations from the CDC and best practices from the League of American Orchestras and other professionals in the field. Although ONNY cannot present live concerts at this time, we will fulfill ONNY’s mission of “enriching the quality of life in Northern New York” and inspiring “the enjoyment and appreciation of music” in new and creative ways. Online programs are being developed that we expect to launch in late summer/early fall. These offerings will include interviews with our musicians, solo or chamber performances by ONNY musicians, play-along musical improvisation activities, and more. 

I would like to sincerely thank Tim Savage for his excellent leadership as President of ONNY’s Board of Directors for the last nine years. His knowledge, passion and calm demeanor have been one of the secrets of the Orchestra's success. I am grateful that he will remain on the Board this year to help ensure a smooth transition. The other 2020-2021 ONNY officers are: Vice President Vicki Day (Hermon), Treasurer Mary Jane Watson (South Colton), and Secretary Adrienne Hartman (Potsdam).

ONNY board members are dedicated and engaged volunteers. I am excited and humbled to work with this amazing team as we explore new ways to bring orchestral music to North Country communities and lead our dedicated volunteers and talented musicians to a “new normal.” These are challenging times, but I believe the Orchestra will endure - with your support. Please give generously when we undertake our annual appeal in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Busch
ONNY Board President

 

Photo Credit: Justin Sorensen, Watertown Daily Times (ONNY Pops Concert)