News

Music Director Kenneth Andrews has worn many hats for over 30 years to keep the orchestra viable. One of the more time-consuming and detail-oriented jobs has been preparing and distributing all the music for over 400 concerts to musicians, which can number as many as 70+ players per event.

Last year, the board hired Keith Ziemba as Orchestra Librarian to relieve the music director of many of the required tasks.

Mr. Ziemba is from West Orange, NJ. He received a BM in Music Education from Ithaca College and a MM in Trumpet Performance from Witchita State University. He is retired from Edwards-Knox Central School, where he taught instrumental music for many years. He has lived in Russell for almost 40 years with his wife, Nancy, a long-time member of the ONNY horn section. He is an active trumpet performer, composer and arranger.

Adept at scanning music and sending it to musicians in an organized, professional manner, Keith has already saved the orchestra a great deal of money in postage by using this technology. ONNY, and especially our Music Director, are grateful to Keith who is doing a great job.

Rebecca Weissman joined ONNY’s board last April. Her willingness to manage social media, including Facebook and Instagram, was welcome news. She quickly demonstrated her expertise in the field of marketing, which has had a huge impact on audience engagement. 

ONNY’s monthly Facebook reach - the number of people who had content from or about a page reach their screen - has grown 459% with her efforts, from 1,033 viewers to 5,782. Women followers of the orchestra outnumber men 2:1.  People, ages 25-44, account for 54% of Facebook followers while those ages 45-65 total 22%.

Instagram engages audiences primarily through photo content, engaging members of the ONNY family with community organizations through tagging, recognizing donors and sponsors, connecting with peer and other organizations through “liking” and reposting. 

These followers represent a younger demographic with 69% between the ages of 18-34. Again, women are twice as likely to be engaged by this social media platform as men are. Growth in Instagram enthusiasts grew 181%.

ONNY is grateful to Ms. Weissman for her ongoing work to engage and grow its audiences.  If you have not already done so, please look for us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Join our growing group of social media supporters.

The Orchestra also wishes to publicly acknowledge and thank volunteer Kevin Angstadt, who has served as ONNY’s website consultant since 2013. He does it all – handling site design, maintenance, and content updates.  Kevin is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan.  He received a Bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University and a Master's degree from the University of Virginia.  He eagerly awaits a move back to the North Country.

Follow ONNY on:

Facebook: The Orchestra of Northern New York
Twitter: @OrchNorthernNY
Instagram: @OrchNorthernNY

Calling all North Country golfers!  The Orchestra of Northern New York invites you to register today for its third annual Golf Classic to be held Saturday, August 29th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Potsdam Town and Country Club.  

Proceeds of this charity event enable children, 12 and under, to attend ONNY concerts for free and teens, 13 to 17, for just $5. 

The entry fees are $75 for each adult and $50 for Junior Division (high school) golfers. The fee for this four-person mixed scramble event includes: 18 holes of golf and cart, contests, heavy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment by Microburst, and prizes for the winning teams. Cash bar, putting contest, skins, mulligans, a silent auction and raffles will all be available and are extra. 

Register today online at onny.org; in-person at Brick & Mortar Music, 15 Market Street in Potsdam, or call 315-212-3440.

Click here to read an invitation letter from Chip Lamson, tournament chair.

Photo Credit: Chris Urbanowicz

Dear North Country Neighbor:

The ever-changing coronavirus threat has completely upended our lives—at work, at home and at play. Everyone is experiencing uncertainty about what tomorrow will bring—and we are being called upon to adapt our habits of living in significant ways. In the challenging days ahead, I encourage you to turn to a remedy that has worked for mankind for millennia—music. 

It is most unfortunate the second half of The Orchestra of Northern New York’s 32nd season had to be cancelled.  It was, however, absolutely the right thing to do for the safety and health of our audience members, musicians and many volunteers who are involved in ONNY concerts.  All of the people in the ONNY family have been loyal to us over 32 years. Now, it is appropriate and necessary for ONNY to put their well-being first.

If you had tickets to one or more of the March, April or July cancelled concerts, you may:  a) request a refund, b) receive a credit for future ONNY concert(s), or c) donate the value of your tickets to ONNY. Please contact Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice at onnybusiness@gmail.com or 315-212-3440 to tell her your choice. 

My nine-year tenure as Board President will end June 30.  In the past several months, my focus has been on succession planning for all aspects of the organization, striving to ensure a smooth transfer in the office of the presidency.  In light of the coronavirus situation, difficult decisions will have to be made to ensure that this cultural gem of the North Country remains viable for many more years to come.  During my remaining two months in office, I promise to communicate any decisions made by the board in a timely manner. 

I have every confidence that President-Elect, Kimberly Busch, a board member and President of ONNY’s Volunteer Guild for the past three years, will lead the North Country’s only year-round professional symphony orchestra to new heights, with the assistance of ONNY’s other dedicated, talented, and highly-engaged volunteer board members. 

If you have not yet attended an ONNY concert, please consider this my personal invitation to do so when it opens its 33rd season later this year. 

In the coming days, allow music to uplift your spirit for it surely will. Stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,
Timothy L. Savage
ONNY President  

The 2019 Annual Report to the Community is intended to keep ONNY stakeholders informed of the Orchestra's successes and challenges as it marks its 32nd year of operation. The report is available here. 

POTSDAM – Last evening, the Board of Directors of The Orchestra of Northern New York voted unanimously to cancel its summer pops concert. Two performances were slated to take place: Watertown’s free Concert in the Park on Thursday, July 2, followed by an evening concert in SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall on Friday, July 3.

“We are all saddened by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths caused by this disease. Every board member agreed we cannot take any chances,” said Timothy L. Savage, President, of the Board of Directors. “Although we hope the situation will improve dramatically by that time, we do not want to risk bringing large groups of people together when things may be getting better and experience a second wave.”

Music Director Kenneth Andrews said, “We look forward to performing this exciting concert next summer.” He has made modest changes to this year’s program, renaming the concert for next year, Celebrating America. Guest soloists will be Fiddling Hall of Fame member Gretchen Koehler and North Country favorite guitarist/vocalist Barb Heller. The 2021 summer pops concert will be Thursday, July 1 in Thompson Park and Friday, July 2 in Potsdam.

ONNY expects to announce its 2020-2021 season next month, the 33rd year for the North Country’s only year-round professional symphony orchestra. 

Concert-goers with summer pops concert tickets will be notified by mail early next week of their three options, according to ONNY Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice.  “They may receive a refund, a credit toward future concerts, or donate the value of the ticket(s) to ONNY. We will gladly honor and process all requests promptly.”  

For more information, contact Ms. Del Guidice by calling 315-212-3440 or by sending an email to onnybusiness@gmail.com.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Ticket-holders for the cancelled concerts have three options. They may receive a refund, a credit toward future concerts, or donate the value of the ticket(s) to ONNY. All requests will be honored and processed promptly.

If applicable, please complete this response form and mail it to ONNY, PO Box 488, Potsdam, NY 13676. Or, contact Ms. Del Guidice by email at onnybusiness@gmail.com or call 315-267-3251 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Please take precautionary measures and stay well. We thank you for your past support and look forward to seeing you at a future ONNY concert. 

Photo credit: Vince Alongi

POTSDAM - A senior at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, NY, won the 2020 James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition for Junior High and High School Students held recently at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. For the fourteenth consecutive year, the event has been hosted by the Orchestra of Northern New York, the North Country’s only year-round professional symphony orchestra. 

Cellist Joyce Cheng, 17, bested six other students from around Northern New York, Central New York and the Capital Region. She performed the 4th Movement of the Elgar Cello Concerto in E Minor.  She will receive the $500 first prize and solo with ONNY when it presents its Star Wars concert at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18 at Jefferson Community College's Sturtz Theater in Watertown, and at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at SUNY Potsdam's Hosmer Hall.

Ms. Cheng began playing cello at age 9.  She joined the Empire State Youth Orchestra in 2015 and has been its principal cellist since 2018.  She is the daughter of Chiu-Ling Wu and Wen-Hua Cheng, Clifton Park.

Alex Wu, 15, a freshman at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, placed second for his rendition of the First Movement Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37. 

Mark Severtson, 17, a sophomore from senior at Parishville-Hopkinton Central School, won third place for his performance of the First Movement of the Vaughan Williams’ Concerto in F Minor on tuba.

Other participants from around the North Country were: Madilyn Connor, 15, a sophomore from Poland; Victoria Huffman, 14, a ninth grader from Theresa; Gabriel Schmid-Doyle, 17, a senior from Canton; and Sylvain Foisy, 17, a senior from Potsdam.

This year’s judges were: Gary Busch, Professor of Music in Piano Performance and Music History at the Crane School of Music; Mark Hartman, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in Trombone at Crane; Jennifer Kessler, Instructor of Music Education and Director of the National String Project at Crane; and Kenneth Andrews, Music Director and Conductor of ONNY since he founded it in 1988. He is a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus. Students receive valuable written feedback from the judges sent to them by competition coordinator and former ONNY violinist, Nancy Peschko, Norwood.

ONNY's Young Artist Competition was established in 2007 for talented high school students. This year, the ONNY Board of Directors opened the competition to junior high students. The program’s mission is to inspire young musicians to reach their highest level of artistry.  All performances must be played from memory.  Students also receive a taped recording of their performance to help them prepare for future performances or competitions.

For more information about next year's competition slated for February 20, 2021,  contact Nancy Peschko, Competition Coordinator at 315-391-0873 or nancypeschko@gmail.com.

April 13 Update: The Summer Pops Concert has also been cancelled.  Read more here.
April 5 Update: Cancelled Concerts Response Form

In light of the ever-changing coronavirus situation, the Orchestra of Northern New York Board of Directors canceled its March Baroque and Beyond concert and April Star Wars concert at its monthly board meeting last night.

“It is absolutely the right thing to do for the safety and health of our audience members, musicians and many volunteers who are involved in ONNY concerts,” said Timothy L. Savage, President, of the Board of Directors. “All of the people in the ONNY family have been loyal to us over 32 years. Now, it is appropriate and necessary for ONNY to put their well-being first.”

The Baroque and Beyond concert was slated to take place Saturday, March 21 in Hosmer Hall, which seats 1200.  SUNY Potsdam is following Governor Cuomo’s mandate to ban all gatherings of 500 or more.  Michael Sitton, Dean of the Crane School of Music, indicated that the music school will not be holding public concerts during the spring term both due to the Governor’s mandate and due to SUNY Potsdam’s understanding of even more restrictive recommendations from the St. Lawrence County Department of Health.

The Star Wars concert was scheduled for three performances, two at Jefferson Community College’s Sturtz Theater on Saturday, April 18 and one at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall on Sunday, April 19. Music Director Kenneth Andrews said, “We look forward to performing this exciting concert in some future season.”

Whether the summer pops concert, Celebrate Freedom, will proceed will be decided at the April 9th ONNY board meeting. Those performances are planned to take place  Thursday, July 2 at Thompson Park in Watertown and Friday, July 3 at Hosmer Hall in Potsdam.

Ticket-holders for the canceled concerts have three options, Ms. Del Guidice noted, which will be explained in a letter sent today.  “They may receive a refund, a credit toward future concerts, or donate the value of the ticket(s) to ONNY. We will gladly honor and process all requests promptly.” 

Interested persons are encouraged to check the onny.org web site as updates will be posted there and on social media.   For more information, contact Ms. Del Guidice by calling 315-267-3251 or by sending an email to onnybusiness@gmail.com.

Updated Refund Information:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Ticket-holders for the cancelled concerts have three options. They may receive a refund, a credit toward future concerts, or donate the value of the ticket(s) to ONNY. All requests will be honored and processed promptly.

If applicable, please complete this response form and mail it to ONNY, PO Box 488, Potsdam, NY 13676. Or, contact Ms. Del Guidice by email at onnybusiness@gmail.com or call 315-267-3251 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Please take precautionary measures and stay well. We thank you for your past support and look forward to seeing you at a future ONNY concert. 

North Country Public Radio is the Media Sponsor for Baroque and Beyond presented by the Orchestra of Northern New York, the North Country’s only year-round professional symphony orchestra. Only two performances will be held: Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Watertown, and Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 p.m. at Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Tickets range from $5 to $27. Get more information and a link to tickets at ncpr.org/calendar.

Renowned Trumpet Professor from the Crane School of Music, Dr. John Ellis, will solo on trumpet and flugelhorn when the Orchestra of Northern New York presents its winter concert,  Baroque and Beyond.  Dr. Nelly Maude Case, Professor Emerita of the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, will join Maestro Kenneth Andrews for a pre-concert lecture 45 minutes before each performance. 

Two performances are slated for 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 21 at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall and 3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 22 at the First Presbyterian Church, 403 Washington Street, Watertown. 

The Potsdam concert is sponsored by an individual who donated $3,000 and wishes to remain anonymous. 

The Program

The program opens with the high energy of Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings (Concerto alla rustica), followed by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s contemporary work, Concerto Grosso (1985), based on Handel’s D Major Violin Sonata. The haunting sounds of Richard Peaslee’s Night Songs (1973) precedes the closing work, Joseph Haydn’s masterful Symphony No. 45 in F# Minor (Farewell).

Featured Soloist

[[{"fid":"327","view_mode":"medium","fields":{"format":"medium","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"medium","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-medium","data-delta":"3"}}]]Since winning the John Philip Sousa award at McClure Junior High School, John Ellis knew at an early age he wanted to be a professional trumpet player.  A native of Chicago Illinois, he has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada and Europe 

Former Principal Trumpet of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, he is Principal Trumpet of the Orchestra of Northern New York and a member the Potsdam Brass Quintet. He is retiring this May as a Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music. He is also an Edwards Performing Artist.

Pre-Concert Conversation

ONNY is delighted that Dr. Nelly Maude Case is returning to the North Country from her retirement home in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to enlighten audience members with her comments about the repertoire for this concert. She will speak at 6:45 p.m., Saturday, March 21 and at 2:15 p.m., Sunday, March 22.

Dr. Case taught courses in music history, theory, and women in music for 25 years. She served as organist and bell choir director at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton from 1989-2016 and played viola in the Orchestra of Northern New York from 1991-2016.  She also published biographies of two Crane icons: Worry Early: The Life of Brock McElheran (2006) and Helen Hosmer: The Spirit of Crane (2011).

Since retiring to Los Alamos, she has become choirmaster at Trinity on the Hill (Episcopal Church), taught music appreciation at the University of New Mexico, and played violin and viola in the Los Alamos and Roswell Symphonies. 

Tickets are available through the CPS box office at 315-267-2277, online at www.onny.org, and in downtown Potsdam at Brick and Mortar Music, 15 Market Street. They are $27 for adults, $22 for seniors and military personnel, $10 for college students and $5 for teens (13-17). Children, 12 and younger, are admitted free to all ONNY concerts. 

ONNY is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, a  state agency with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature. The Watertown concert is sponsored, in part, by the Northern New York Community Foundation.

ONNY is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, founded in 1988 by Music Director and Conductor Kenneth Andrews. In the first half of the 2019-2020 season, ONNY received $74,715 in donations from individuals, businesses and foundation - 79% of its annual goal of $94,675. This year’s budget is $216,425.

For more info or to become an ONNY donor, contact Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice at 315-267-3251 or onnybusiness@gmail.com

(Photos: Nelly Maude Case, John Ellis)