Watch Caroga Arts spotlight on CBS 6 Albany
Happy Hour Music QuaranTalk: Saunders Brothers
After a successful first QuaranTalk, we’re excited to bring you another Happy Hour Music QuaranTalk, our free live virtual interactive event! Our special guests this Thursday are Canada Lake’s award-winning musicians and SAUNDERFEST co-founders Richard, Geoff and Rob Saunders!
Thursday, April 30, 2020 – LIVE at 5:15 pm EST
Special Guests:
Richard Saunders, vocal (CLMF ’16-’20)
Geoff Saunders, bass (CLMF ’16-’20)
Rob Saunders, mandolin(CLMF ’16-’20)
Moderated by Kyle Price, Artistic & Executive Director of Caroga Arts
Please RSVP on Eventbrite to receive an invitation link via email.
Happy Hour Music QuaranTalk offers a fun opportunity to get to know our CLMF Artists and learn more about music and performance. Talks may include discussions on the life of an artist, musical works, music history, and more. Join us for an interactive musical talk and enjoy from your home with a glass of wine or your favorite drink!
QuaranTalks are open to the public and welcome all ages.
Donations to our virtual tip jar will be appreciated to support our special guests and Caroga Arts.
Richard Saunders
Vocalist Richard Saunders is a member of new duo band Refs whose music can be heard on Apple’s new iPhone 11 Pro ad. As a founding member of the vocal pop trio Thirdstory, Richard has toured as an opener for Tori Kelly‘s Unbreakable Tour in 2016 and as a member of Chance The Rapper‘s band on his Be Encouraged Tour in 2017. Richard regularly performs with Chance The Rapper, most recently at this year’s All-Star Game Halftime Show.
Geoff Saunders
Grammy-Award winning bassist Geoffrey Saunders is a versatile performer and composer who is experienced in a wide range of styles and genres. While studying at Frost School of Music, Geoff was a fellow at the Henry Mancini Institute where he worked closely and performed with such notable artists as Mark O’Connor, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Gloria Estefan, Steve Miller, Larry Rosen, Phil Ramone, Dave Grusin, Terence Blanchard, and James Newton Howard. Geoff currently lives in Nashville and tours with notable artists like Sierra Hull and The Hit Points.
Rob Saunders
Rob has been playing folk and country music for over 15 years all across the eastern seaboard. A multi-instrumentalist, he and his ever growing family of like-minded classic music lovers perform tunes spanning the extensive American Songbook, from old-timey to modern country. Growing up in a family of highly skilled musicians and educators, he developed his passion for music performance within American Vernacular and classical music and his interest in discovering musical development. Robert wishes to share his love for American music through teaching for understanding and lifelong participation.
Listen to The Loon Call – April 27th, 2020
Welcome back to another episode of The Loon Call! In prep for this Thursday’s QuaranTalk, Kyle shares recordings from Caroga Lake Music Festival featuring the three Saunders brothers.
Lakeside Classics
We are excited to present to you a series of recorded CLMF performances from our archives! Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks, and enjoy our new selections below.
David Wong, violin; Jose Guzman, guitar; Ken Kubota, cello; Geoff Saunders, bass
Mark Chien, violin; Ray Kim cello; Sun-Min Kim, piano
Caroga Arts goes virtual!
YOU’RE INVITED!
Introducing our first virtual interactive live event, Happy Hour Music QuaranTalk! Our first QuaranTalk special guests are CLMF Artists and Seattle Symphony musicians Andy Liang and Nathan Chan. We look forward to seeing you “on the web!”
Thursday, April 23, 2020 – LIVE at 5:15 pm EST
Special Guests:
Andy Liang, violin (CLMF ’13-’20), Seattle Symphony
Nathan Chan, cello (CLMF ’17-’19), Seattle Symphony
Moderated by Kyle Price, Artistic & Executive Director of Caroga Arts
Please RSVP on Eventbrite to receive an invitation link via email.
Happy Hour Music QuaranTalk offers a fun opportunity to get to know our CLMF Artists and learn more about music and performance. Talks may include discussions on the life of an artist, musical works, music history, and more. Join us for an interactive musical talk and enjoy from your home with a glass of wine or your favorite drink!
QuaranTalks are open to the public and welcome all ages.
Donations to our virtual tip jar will be appreciated to support our special guests and Caroga Arts.
April 23 QuaranTalk Special Guests:
After making his solo debut with the Oregon Symphony at the age of 11, violinist Andy Liang went on to perform in Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Jordan Hall by the age of 15. Andy has been a CLMF Artist since 2013 and a Seattle Symphony violinist since 2017. Andy is also a member of the KASA Quartet and ALKALI. Andy completed his Bachelor and Master of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music with Cho-Liang Lin and his Artist Diploma at the University of Texas at Austin with the Miró Quartet.
Cellist Nathan Chan made his musical debut at age three conducting the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, The Royal Philharmonic, and the Albany Symphony, among others. Nathan was a chosen artist for Fondation Louis Vuitton’s Classe d’Excellence du Violoncelle with renowned cellist Gautier Capuçon. Nathan earned his Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and has a growing internet presence with over 7 million views. Nathan studied with Richard Aaron at The Juilliard School, where he earned his Masters of Music. He is currently Assistant Principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony.
Listen to Caroga Arts’ new weekly podcast “The Loon Call”
On today’s episode, Kyle offers a preview of this Thursday’s Happy Hour Music QuaranTalk featuring performances by Andy and Nathan at Caroga Lake Music Festival.
Lakeside Classics
We are excited to present to you a series of recorded CLMF performances from our archives! Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks, and enjoy our first selections below.
KASA Quartet; Aaron Mossburg, viola; Ray Kim, cello
Mark Stein & Brian Shank, percussion
KASA Quartet; Nathan Chan, cello
Your Body Is Your Strad Institute – Postponed
On behalf of Uri and Hagit Vardi and the entire YBIYS team, our thoughts are with you, your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones in a safe place.
So much has happened in our world since our last email update to you. As you can imagine, Uri, Hagit and the YBIYS team have been discussing the situation we are all in on a regular basis. While we were optimistic about our summer together, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this summer’s Institute. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our participants, faculty, staff, and the community as a whole, and unfortunately this is our only responsible course of action.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a harsh reality. We have seen our loved ones in New York become victims of the virus, many dedicated workers losing income, and vital cultural institutions closing its doors and canceling events. But it gives us hope that there are people and organizations taking responsible actions to help “flatten the curve” – and by postponing our Institute, we hope we are contributing to this worldwide effort in a small way.
With that said, our tentative YBIYS Institute dates for next year are June 17 – 27, 2021 and it will be held in Caroga Lake, NY. We are planning to keep the same program structure for next summer’s Institute.
We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy as we collectively navigate through these difficult times. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you and stay well.
Sincerely,
Uri, Hagit, and the YBIYS team
We’re all in this together
Dear friends of Caroga Arts,
Our thoughts are with you, your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones in a safe place.
Since the beginning of this month so much has happened in our world. As new developments related to COVID-19 continue to evolve almost daily, I want to let you know that we are planning for our summer season with our usual excitement and optimism. Of course this is coupled with concerns about the spread of the coronavirus and the impact it may have on our programs this summer. While plans for Caroga Lake Music Festival remain on track starting July 13, we will continue to closely monitor the situation on a daily basis. We are committed to taking reasonable and responsible measures to ensure the health and safety of our artists, staff, and the community as a whole.
During these unprecedented times, your support and enthusiasm for our mission to Reignite the Caroga Experience is appreciated more than ever to continue to serve our community. By making a contribution to Caroga Arts, you will continue to ensure that our music provides a source of healing and comfort when we are reunited once again in our beloved community. If you are able, please consider:
- Making a tax-deductible donation of any amount. Your charitable gift of any amount, one time or monthly, will be greatly appreciated to support our program offerings for the community.
- Donating to “Sponsor a Concert” with a gift of $500. Your generous contribution will help maintain accessibility to the arts in our community.
- Donating to “Adopt-an Artist” with a gift of $1,000. Your charitable gift will help bring world-class musicians to Caroga Lake (plus receive two concert passes to any ticketed performance presented by Caroga Arts).
Thank you for your continuing support as we collectively navigate through these difficult times brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy, and we look forward to a music-filled summer in Caroga Lake. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us at 518-832-2041 or by email at info@carogaarts.org.
Thank you and stay well.
Sincerely,
Kyle Barrett Price
Executive & Artistic Director
Caroga Arts welcomes General Manager
Welcome, Torrance Fish!
Caroga Arts welcomes Torrance Fish, newest member of the team serving as General Manager.
Torrance is a Fulton County native growing up 10 minutes from Sherman’s and greatly enjoyed the park in his youth. Torrance is a regionally exhibiting artist, educator, and has held various artistic non-profit positions for the past two decades. His work has been shown throughout the northeast and he has won several awards for his sculpture. Torrance has also been commissioned for numerous projects including the University Torch for the University at Albany and Nightfire for Albany’s 60th Tulip Festival. He proudly won the first place award for his parade float Somethin’ Fishy at the 2018 Northville Doin’s.
Since 2010, Torrance has been an arts instructor at Fulton Montgomery Community College having taught a variety of visual arts courses and was nominated for the 2013-2014 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. He has worked at the Tang Museum at Skidmore College for fifteen years in roles of Senior Preparator, Head of Installations, and Building Manager. He has also managed The Hub maker space at Skidmore, worked at Func Art Design, The Fields Sculpture Park at Art Omi, been on the Albany Center Gallery Exhibition Committee, chair for the Saratoga County artist grant panel, a juror for local art shows and Curator for the exhibition, Powers of Ten at the Perrella Gallery.
Torrance began his college education at Fulton Montgomery Community College, earning an A.A. in Visual Fine Arts, transferred to SUNY Potsdam to complete his B.A. in Studio Art and completed his studies at The University at Albany with an M.A. and M.F.A in sculpture.
Caroga Arts is pleased to welcome Torrance to the team!
Staying Home?
Enjoy Virtual Performances by CLMF Artists!
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, many of us our left to stay inside as events are cancelled across the country. Here are some of our favorite videos featuring or created by CLMF Artists you can enjoy from your home!
Major Donation to Breathe New Life into Historic Sherman’s
PRESS RELEASE
Major Donation to Breathe New Life into Historic Sherman’s Amusement Park in Caroga Lake, NY
Caroga Lake, NY (January 7, 2020) – Caroga Arts Collective (Caroga Arts), is pleased to announce that local resident George Abdella has donated the former Sherman’s Amusement Park lakefront property to the organization. Caroga Arts, one of the fastest growing non-profit community organizations in the Southern Adirondacks and the Mohawk Valley region, has been bringing world-class artists and educators to Caroga Lake since 2012 and presents the annual Caroga Lake Music Festival, MyHil Film Series, and InterArts Residencies among other arts initiatives.
Regarding the donation, Abdella stated at a Caroga town forum that, “Caroga Arts will attract the most talented musicians and artists of all kinds. It will be a wonderful thing and will make the town a better place.”
Sherman’s Amusement Park, once a major attraction of the Southern Adirondacks, has been closed for many, many years. In recent years, Caroga Arts has taken initiative to put Sherman’s back on the map by presenting accessible community events including the Sherman’s Revival Series, SaundersFest, Caroga Tree Lighting, and the Red, White, Blues & Bluegrass Festival. This donation will bring a new level of energy and focus that will help restore this iconic property to its previous glory.
Caroga Arts Artistic and Executive Director Kyle Barrett Price said, “We are filled with gratitude for the exciting opportunity this generous donation presents, both for the organization and for the community as a whole. The historic lakefront Sherman’s is being placed in the care of Caroga Arts with the goal of turning it into a world-class arts and community center. We are excited for the future of Caroga Arts, Sherman’s, Caroga Lake, and the Southern Adirondacks. Together, we can fulfill our mission to reignite the Caroga experience through the arts.”
Since 2012, Caroga Arts has presented over 175 free events with more than 550 world-class artists, 15 educational programs, and attracted over 15,000 audience members to its events and programs. These talented artists have included winners of GRAMMY awards, NBC’s the Voice, America’s Got Talent, and various international competitions.
Caroga Arts Board Chair Rick Ruby noted that, “Caroga Arts, which recently received the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce Barbara V. Spraker Tourism Partner Award, and the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth Start-Up Business of the Year Award, is now poised to present amazing music and art in an unparalleled lakeside setting in the Southern Adirondacks.”
Caroga Arts is a registered 501(c)(3) organization sponsored in part by the New York State Council on the Arts. Learn more at www.carogaarts.org.
A new beginning for Sherman’s
What a year it’s been for the Caroga Arts Collective! In November, Caroga Arts received word that Sherman’s Amusement Park is being gifted to us by local donor George Abdella. The beautiful and historic Sherman’s is being placed in our care to steward it for generations to come. We are so excited for our future, the future of Sherman’s, and the future of Caroga Lake!
To recap the 2018-19 season, Caroga Arts hit a record-breaking number of events throughout the year. Caroga Arts successfully presented its first year-round program with the Winter, Spring, and Summer Residency, which included school outreaches, community classes, and engaging showcases.
The 8th Annual Caroga Lake Music Festival presented 30 performances featuring more than 120 world-class artists and bringing over 6,000 audience members to Caroga Lake and beyond. This past season’s CLMF brought new artistic facets to the festival including America’s Got Talent magician Steven Brundage at Sherman’s and a collaborative ballet and orchestra performance featuring Caroga Arts Ensemble and Utica Dance.
Jazz prodigy Matthew Whitaker returned for our 4th Annual Gala, and we celebrated July 4th at our first Red, White, Blues & Bluegrass festival with music, art, festivities and fireworks.
For the second year in a row, Caroga Arts attracted nationwide talent to Caroga Lake for the National Summer Cello Institute and invited award-winning film directors and producers to speak at the 2nd Annual MyHil Film Series.
As we look forward to our 2020 season, we are filled with gratitude to you as one of our patrons and ask you again to consider being a part of the exciting growth of the Caroga Arts Collective. This year we are implementing our new Adopt-an-Artist program. Each summer we have more than 75 Resident Artists. You may adopt one of these artists and you will get to know them up close and personally. Donors who adopt an artist will receive two passes to a ticketed concert (presented by Caroga Arts) of their choice and an invitation to an exclusive artist/sponsor only event.
Whether you joined us for a special evening with Terre Blair Hamlisch at the Caroga Chapel, discovered something new with the “Cello Goblin” at The Arts Hub or danced in the rain to Indie pop band Air Traffic Controller, we hope you will come back next season and join our growing community for fun and fellowship.
In addition to all of our performances and outreaches, Caroga Arts invites you to support us at the 5th Annual Gala on July 25, 2020 and Caroga Arts Golf Outing on August 9, 2020. Stay tuned and sign up for our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook or check our website carogaarts.org to keep up with our latest developments.
Sincerely,
Kyle Barrett Price
Artistic & Executive Director
Santa surprised everyone by arriving on a horse-drawn wagon, and then handed out candy canes to the children. There was holiday music performed by the Caroga Arts musicians inside the Carousel, carol singing by the bonfire, a variety of warm beverages and cookies, and lots of holiday spirit!
CLMF WinterFest 2019
The music never stops!
CLMF WinterFest: December 16 – 20, 2019
World-class musicians from the Caroga Lake Music Festival return to Caroga next month to celebrate the holiday season. Join us for this very special week of musical festivities!
Enjoy a night of jazz with Richard & Geoff Saunders at Nick Stoner Inn!
Make it an extra special night out with our Concert + Dinner Package! For $40 enjoy a delicious meal at the Nick Stoner Inn restaurant before the show. Online reservations required. Learn more
Wheelerville School Side-by-Side Concert
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 6:30pm
Wheelerville School, Caroga Lake
Free Admission
CLMF Musicians will join the Wheelerville School Band for a side-by-side performance at the end of their holiday concert.
Featuring Caroga Arts Ensemble and mezzo-soprano Jazimina MacNeil, the Holiday Classics program will include selections from Handel’s Messiah and Holiday favorites!
Celebrate the Holidays with music form Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and more with the Caroga Arts Ensemble at The Glove Theatre!
Caroga Holiday Tree Lighting
Celebrate the holiday season at the Caroga Holiday Tree Lighting!
Saturday, November 30
Sherman’s Amusement Park
4:00 – 6:00pm
4:00pm Enjoy Hot Chocolate, Eggnog, and Cookies
4:30pm Carol Singing by Bonfire
5:00pm Tree Lighting Ceremony
5:15pm Holiday Sing-A-Long with CLMF Musicians
Bring your friends and family to Sherman’s for an evening of hot beverages, delicious snacks, carol singing, and tree lighting festivities! There will be a bonfire to keep us warm.
This event is free and open to all
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. This year’s GivingTuesday is December 3, 2019.
We encourage you to celebrate generosity on this global day of giving and support Caroga Arts by donating on our Facebook, website or by check.
Additionally, Facebook will match up to $7 million in donations made on Facebook to US nonprofits on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8am EST on December 3, 2019.
Join the movement! Save the date!
