
Friday, March 28, 2025
ArtsRock and Rivertown Film present a very special evening with six-time Grammy Award-winning conductor Leonard Slatkin. Elliott Forrest and Maestro Slatkin will present 30 film clips as they chronicle the history of movie music, from silent films (that were never silent) to today. Composers include: John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, Elmer Bernstein, Danny Elfman, and Terence Blanchard, among others.
Leonard Slatkin was the long-time Music Director of the St. Louis and Detroit Symphonies. Slatkin was born in Los Angeles, where both his parents played in orchestras for famous film scores. He will share his personal story, as well his vast knowledge of the history of movie music. Mr. Forrest is the Midday Host on WQXR where he plays movie music on weekdays during his "Score at 4."
This event will also feature a live performance of "The Wizard of Oz Fantasy," an arrangement of the beloved songs from the classic film. The piano duo will be performed live by Donna Weng Friedman and Yukimi Song to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the birth of the film's composer, Harold Arlen.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Classical Candlelight Concert Series
MARTHA MOOKE is a Grammy Award-winning, pioneering electric violist/composer, highly regarded for her artistry, music advocacy, and innovative educational programs. Mooke is Founder and Artistic Director of the Scorchio Quartet featured on David Bowie's Heathen, Trey Anastasio's Live From Princeton and Carla Patullo's Grammy-winning album, So She Howls.
Since 2001, Scorchio has performed as resident string quartet in the Tibet House Benefit Concerts at Carnegie Hall produced by Philip Glass and Laurie Anderson performing with David Bowie, Philip Glass, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Phoebe Bridgers and many others.
A solo recording artist with numerous releases, Mooke is featured on Laurie Anderson's recent Nonesuch release, Amelia, a recounting of Amelia Earhart's fatal last flight. She has toured with Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, Peter Gabriel and Star Wars in Concert. Mooke received the prestigious ASCAP Concert Music Award for creating and producing ASCAP's new music showcase Thru the Walls featuring boundary defying composer/performers.
A longtime Yamaha Artist, Mooke created and directs the cutting-edge Multi-Style Strings program at New Jersey City University.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Classical Candlelight Concert Series
American violinist Sean Lee is one of few violinists who dare to perform the complete 24 Caprices of Niccolò Paganini in concert, which he'll do in Nyack. A recipient of Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Career Grant, Lee has captured the attention of audiences worldwide, with performances described by The New York Times as "breathtakingly beautiful".
A long-time violinist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Lee has also collaborated in performances with Itzhak Perlman, Sir James Galway, Deborah Voigt, and members of the Emerson and Guarneri String Quartets.
Lee was born in Los Angeles then moved to New York City at age 17, where he studied at the Juilliard School with Itzhak Perlman earning both Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees, and received the William Schuman Prize upon graduation.
Friday, May 2, 2025
The ArtsRock Annual Fundraising Gala
The Douglas McGrath Conversation Series
Emmy-award winning actor JOHN TURTURRO will be the featured guest at the 2025 ArtsRock Gala. He is the veteran actor of stage, television and some of the most acclaimed films over the last decades, including The Big Lebowski, Do the Right Thing, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Quiz Show, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, Jungle Fever, Five Corners, and The Batman.
Turturro has directed six films, including Mac, which won the Caméra d'Or at Cannes. On stage, Turturro won an Obie for Danny and the Deep Blue Sea and appeared in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, End Game and Sabbath's Theater. On television, Turturro won an Emmy for his role on Monk and starred in HBO's The Night Of and The Plot Against America. He is currently seen on season 2 of Apple's series Severance.
Mr. Turturro will discuss his life and career with Peabody award-winning Broadcaster, Producer and ArtsRock Executive Artistic Director, Elliott Forrest.
Photo Credit: Primož Korošec
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Rockland's own Tom Chapin turns 80 and his family and friends turn out to celebrate, in concert! Featured performers include:
- The Chapin Sisters
- Steve Chapin
- The Harry Chapin Band
- The Jen Chapin Trio
- John Forster
- Michael Mark
- Jon Cobert
- Christine Lavin
- Joe D'Urso
- Jeffrey Friedberg
- Livingston Taylor
- ...and other surprises!
This concert is in support of Soup Angels. Please bring items to donate.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
The Hudson Valley EcoTones Ensemble embeds throughout Upper Nyack's River Hook Preserve in an innovative and enchanting live music performance, inviting audience members to embark on a musical walking journey through the preserve with jazz and classical chamber ensembles highlighting the wisdom offered by River Hook's notable trees.
The Music Trail is followed by a sit-down concert set at the central Carriage House Stage by the world-class Hudson Valley EcoTones Ensemble alongside several intergenerational Nyack ensembles featuring voices, brass, and percussion.
Bring you own (BYO) camp chair, blanket, food, and drink, and wear good walking shoes; the trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Pay As You Choose tickets. Special thanks to the Village of Upper Nyack and ArtsRock for making this live music event possible!
Photo by Andrea B. Swanson Photography.