Recently, it came to light that a rare harp of historical significance, created in the year 1810, has been carefully preserved through the devotion of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Watertown, whose Sister Mary Marcelline used it for teaching and performance throughout her life — during the days of the sisters’ musical conservatory until Sister Marcelline’s retirement in 1974. This Erard harp was one of the first ground-breaking harps that enabled their players to change notes both to sharps and flats using foot pedals.
In honor of this rare discovery, Janet Witman—known, loved and admired for her lifelong dedication to expanding the repertoire of music for harp—will be performing pieces that might have been taught and played on this harp over its history of the last 200+ years. The harp itself will be present at the time of the concert to be admired for its remarkable beauty!

The word CANTIGA means 'song' in the language of Alfonso the Wise, the 13th century Spanish "King of the Three Religions" whose royal court was a haven for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish musicians. Following in their tradition, the members of Cantiga are dedicated to the inclusive spirit of musical improvisation which has flourished among musicians in cultural crossroads throughout history and continues to be celebrated in today's diverse Global Village. Words fail to describe the life, the love, the virtuosity, the fun, the creativity, the freedom, the harmony and the sheer beauty of the music of these four Renaissance musicians!

Uprooted’s members, Camilla Ammirati, Catherine Jahncke, Rosemary Philips and Lenore VanderZee, have come from all over the U.S. at different times to put down new roots here in the North Country. The band plays an eclectic mix of favorites from the 1890’s to the 1990’s, as well as a range of original songs drawing on the stylings of American music traditions from country to swing to hot jazz to rock, all intertwined with the harmonious strands of their guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, fiddle, and rich vocals.

Throughout history, the dance has had historical meaning from early times up to the present, a way to connect with nature, the heavens and a spiritual cathartic experience.
Both music and dance are ways for us to express ourselves, to tell stories, and to enjoy ourselves so it's natural that the two would go hand in hand. It's thought that humans have always danced. It's almost impossible to say exactly when we started dancing to music, but there's evidence that humans were dancing somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago!
Duo Amici’s program will include composers from different periods and different countries.
JS Bach, Gluck, Popper, Piazzola, Shostakovich, Sulchan Tsintsadze, American Fiddle Tunes..Just to name a few!

The ensemble instruments include 7 marimbas:  3 sopranos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone and 1 bass.  The marimbas are accompanied by hosho, or gourd rattles, singing, clapping and drums.“Kambuyu”, a Shona word for “Bugs”, plays happy, percussive music—very rhythmic and driving—meant for dancing.  In most songs, one of the soprano marimbas plays the lead melody, while the other instruments provide curious counter-rhythms and chords.  The music is infectious. Dance in your seat, in your heart, or get up and move to the infectious rhythms and melodies of the Shona people of Zimbabwe!

The irresistible joy of acapella song can be heard nowhere better than with this two-time international championship group of singers! What an opportunity to enjoy the bliss of song, of community and of lending our support to a local food pantry. Come one! Come all! Teens, come early and let the ladies coach you to sing and perform with them!

The irrepressible joy of the triple fiddle sound as it travels through fiddle tunes, country & blues!

While firmly rooted in the fertile ground of Scottish traditional music, harpist Rachel Clemente and piper Dan Houghton’s gritty, avant-garde musical interpretations put them at the forefront of Celtic folk musicians in New England.

Music as history, as storytelling, music that resonates with universal experiences that unite us a human family from our most loved local bluegrass family. "Genuine" is the operative word to describe this amazing group of musicians and human beings. Expect to feel part of their extended 'family' by evening’s end!

Barb Heller, folk musician and host of NPR’s acclaimed radio show String Fever, will pair up with Gretchen Koehler, member of the NYS Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame, to usher in the fall in our final concert, a Harvest Moon Musical Celebration! Rumor has it that we can expect a special guest appearance by Edgar Allen Poe (Todd Moe) who will be reading his legendary poem, “The Raven” and telling us a very scary ghost story! If weather permits, we will close with a marshmallow roast!