Potsdam, NY, Nov 08, 2012 — One of the finest woodwind quintets in the world will give a concert this weekend in Potsdam. Community Performance Series will host the CALEFAX Reed Quintet on Sunday night(7:30) in the Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music.

The Amsterdam-based quintet launches its U.S. tour in Potsdam with a performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations, as well as pieces by Ravel and Grieg. Todd Moe spoke with saxophonist Raaf Hekkema, who says the group began playing music together 25 years ago, while still in high school. An ensemble member will give a free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 Sunday night  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Oct 23, 2012 — The Orchestra of Northern New York kicks off its 25th season this weekend in Potsdam and Watertown. The orchestra will perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony along with the combined choirs of the Potsdam Community Chorus and the Northern Choral Society. For many, the piece is among Beethoven's greatest works, and is considered by some to be the greatest piece of music ever written.

Todd Moe talks with music director and conductor Kenneth Andrews about 25 years of making music and conducting Beethoven. Andrews has led the Orchestra of Northern New York since it first began in 1988.

Saturday night's concert is in SUNY Potsdam's Hosmer Concert Hall at 7:30, and Sunday's concert is at 3:30 at Watertown's First Presbyterian Church. Tickets: 315-267-2277  Go to full article

Gananoque, ON, Jul 12, 2012 — Internationally renowned Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt gives a recital of music by Brahms, Beethoven and Couperin on Monday night along the St. Lawrence River. It's the first in a series of Monday evening recitals at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, Ontario. The Studio "S" Series is hosted by CBC Radio personality Eric Friesen and will include virtuoso performers from around the world this summer.

Todd Moe has more on Angela Hewitt's recital.  Go to full article

Glens Falls, NY, Jul 03, 2012 — The Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra will be in Crandall Park Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the Fourth of July with lots of music, from patriotic to pops. The concert is free. Todd Moe spoke with GFSO music director Charles Peltz, who says the Summer Cruisin' concert will end with fireworks.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jun 28, 2012 — Pops and patriotic tunes will fill Hosmer Hall at SUNY Potsdam on July 3rd at 7:30 p.m. It's the Orchestra of Northern New York's annual summer pops concert, a musical celebration for the Fourth of July, Canada Day and summer. Todd Moe spoke with conductor Ken Andrews, who says the theme for Tuesday night's concert is the Big Band era.  Go to full article

Norwood, NY, Jun 19, 2012 — The Northern Lights Orchestra kicks off its fourth season with a concert on the Norwood Village Green on Thursday at 7 p.m. Todd Moe talks with string bassist and orchestra manager David Katz about the new season and its "Fiddler's Journey" theme this year.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jan 31, 2012 — Todd Moe talks with Jennifer Choi, the violinist from the eclectic string quartet, Ethel. They're artists-in-residence at the Crane School of Music this week and will present a concert in Potsdam at Hosmer Hall Thursday night (7:30). They have a cool name and the young musicians like to play music influenced by pop and jazz. Ethel will perform its "Present Beauty" program featuring music by Philip Glass from the movie, The Hours. Choi says the four musicians have backgrounds in the classical genre, but the group prefers adventurous music.  Go to full article

Ottawa, ON, Jan 19, 2012 — The Canadian play, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, has played on five continents and in more than 150 cities since it first opened 15 years ago. Its success worldwide is due to its universal themes of dreams and discipline.

The set consists of two grand pianos, and the cast is just two actors. It's a simple show, ostensibly about piano lessons, that's moving, profound and lots of fun. It was written and first performed by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, both brilliant actors and pianists. They're back on stage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa this month for the farewell tour.

2 Pianos, 4 Hands continues through Saturday, January 28th at the National Arts Centre's English Theatre. NCPR's resident theater critic Connie Meng and Todd Moe share a review of the show.  Go to full article

Prescott, ON, Dec 28, 2011 — Crane School of Music professor of piano Paul Wyse has mastered two art forms. He's a classically trained concert pianist and also paints portraits. Earlier this month, he unveiled a full-length portrait of "piano man" Billy Joel in New York City. The artist joined the bestselling musician to unveil the painting at Steinway Hall. Paul Wyse was commissioned by Steinway and Sons to paint Joel's portrait. Two of Wyse's portraits of award-winning pianist and conductor Leon Fleischer are part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection in Washington D.C.

Wyse has performed at the piano on the concert stage around the world and his oil portraits hang in public and private collections and appear in national publications.

So, how does a classically trained concert pianist become an award winning visual artist? "It's hard to explain," says Wyse. But he adds that it's not uncommon for musicians who study the structure of a symphony to use those same skills in the visual arts.

During a visit to his portrait studio in his home near Prescott, Ontario, he told Todd Moe that the mystery of transforming cloth and pigment into something that is looking back at you is powerful, alluring, and part of the compulsion to paint.  Go to full article

Lake George, NY, Aug 09, 2011 — One of the newest arts festivals in the Lake George region kicks off next week. Student and professional musicians from around the world will gather in Lake George village for a new series of classical music concerts. The three concerts will be performed at area churches next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The concerts are free.

Todd Moe spoke with Alexander Lombard, founder of the Lake George Summer Music Festival, who says the idea came after a visit to the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. Lombard says one of the appealing aspects of next week's festival in Lake George will be student and professional musicians performing together.  Go to full article