The Potsdam Brass Quintet will kick off this year’s Summer Chamber Music Series on July 1 with a Classy, Brassy Ice Cream Social. Festivities begin at 1 pm at the Childwold Memorial Presbyterian Church. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy great music with cake and ice cream as an outreach initiative of the Orchestra of Northern New York and The Secret Sits Pro Musica Ensembles, Gull Pond, NY and Athens, GA.
The quintet celebrates its 55th Anniversary this year. It has performed in concert throughout much of the U.S. and Canada, including performances at New York’s Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The series includes four more concerts to be presented on Thursdays and Fridays at Childwold and the Potsdam Presbyterian Church respectively. These performances begin at 7 pm, are free, and open to the public.
Adirondika Pro Musica, a gifted chamber quartet playing light classical works, will be joined by marimbaist Sebastian Buhts. APM members are Kenneth Andrews (flute), Liesl Doty (violin), Scott Woolweaver (viola), and Karen Kaderavek (cello). They perform July 6 and 7.
Mr. Andrews is an accomplished flutist who has performed with the Montreal Symphony, and as Principal or Artist in Residence with several other orchestras and festivals. He recently concluded his 35-year tenure as Music Director of the Orchestra of Northern New York.
Hailed for her “magnetic presence,” Liesl Doty has performed at The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Zankel Hall, and many other venues. She is a faculty member at the Crane School of Music.
Paul Meyers, “one of the most eloquent jazz guitarists,” according to the NY Times, will present The Great American Songbook on July 13 and 14. Mr. Meyers’ remarkable talent has taken him to Japan, Hong Kong, Spain, Brazil, England, Greece, among many other countries. He is very active in New York’s vibrant Brazilian jazz scene. In this performance, he will present favorites from the great American songbook.
Original and traditional songs and tunes from the Adirondacks will be presented by Peggy Lynn (guitar and vocals) and Dan Duggan (hammered dulcimer). They appear August 10 and 11.
Peggy Lynn, who poet Maurice Kenny calls “the voice of the mountains,” is widely recognized for her soulful songwriting and vocal versatility. She is known for ballads of strong women, children’s songs about nature, and bluesy songs of love and life.
Dan Duggan is known nationally for his wizardry on hammered dulcimer and flat-picking guitar. He is a recipient of the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship. A true multi-instrumentalist, Dan has an array of recordings and can be heard on Paul Simon’s CD “You’re the One,” (October 2000).
Rounding out the series will be Donald George (tenor) and Margaret Chalker (mezzo-soprano) with Broadway Memories & Light Opera. Both are members of the Crane School of Music Voice faculty. Performances are August 31 and September 1.