Wild Symphony, by Dan Brown, New York Times best-selling author of The Da Vinci Code, brings to life nearly two dozen musical portraits drawn from the animal kingdom. From the joyous rhythms of the "Bouncing Kangaroo," to the mysterious melodies of the "Wondrous Whale," to the hair-raising harmonies of the "Brilliant Bat," this is a very wild symphony indeed!

Narrator Didi Conn is a much-loved actress, best known for playing "Frenchy" in the hit movie Grease. This is an ArtsRock Milk and Cookies Playhouse performance for the whole family. Milk and Cookies are served after the show.

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."

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.

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

More information including featured performers to be announced soon!

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.