Music &

Poetry Overlooking the Hudson at SUNY Newburgh

Music and Poetry complement each other naturally. So, when two friends who are award winners in their fields of music and poetry, respectfully, work together, a beautifully thoughtful performance emerges. Such is the event when musician/composer James Emery and poet Paul Kane present their collaborative program, One Art: A Music & Poetry Performance.

Ah! And the dynamics of sound will be much larger than Emery’s Jimmy D’Aquisto-hand-built, archtop, acoustic guitar and Kane’s soft, yet distinctive speaking voice. Emery will be playing with his fellow members of the String Trio of New York: Rob Thomas on five-string violin, and Tony Marino on acoustic bass. In addition, veteran jazz drummer/percussionist Thurman Barker will join them to further enlarge the sound.

In 1977, Emery formed the String Trio of New York which brought the genre-busting sounds of chamber jazz to the forefront. By definition, chamber jazz “combines jazz, western classical, world-music, and experimental forms into a cohesive palette of sonic textures and adventurous energy.” JazzTimes observed, “No individual or ensemble has done more to demystify chamber jazz, and to realize its potential for warmth, sensuousness, and beauty...than the String Trio of New York.”

Virtuoso guitarist and composer Emery has received international recognition for his distinctive and highly original approach to both improvisation and composition.

Emery leads his own trio, quartet, sextet, and septet, and performs solo concerts. A composer of great scope and depth, he has composed for chamber groups, jazz ensembles, solo guitar, chamber orchestra, and symphony orchestra.

Rob Thomas is a highly regarded multi-instrumentalist, fluent on violin, bass, and cello. JazzTimes calls him “a violinist of exceptional creative resources...riveting as a solo voice with a rich complex tone that can sing or shriek.” He is known locally as a member of the Chris Parker bands and is currently a professor at Berklee College of Music, Boston.

Tony Marino is also known for his concerts with the Chris Parker bands. His versatility and wide range of musicality has afforded him opportunities to accompany and record with numerous artists from folk to pop. He has performed regularly with Broadway star Betty Buckley and jazz pianist Kenny Werner as well as performing, recording, and touring internationally with the Dave Liebman Band.

Thurman Barker’s career has spanned decades, and his talent encompasses many musical genres. From jazz and blues to contemporary, classical, and beyond, his sound blurs traditionally rigid lines to the delight of his audiences. He has played behind Bette Midler, Marvin Gaye, Billy Eckstein, Vicky Carr, and Mighty Joe Young. He was a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, and is a professor of music at Bard College.

Paul Kane is a poet, critic and scholar. Awards for his work include Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Bogliasco Foundation, and a Fulbright Award. He is also considered an Australian poet and has an honorary doctorate from La Trobe University in Australia. In November 2022, he was awarded the Order of Australia by the Australian government for “significant service to literature, particularly through the promotion of Australian arts, poetry, and emerging talent.” His poems are cerebral and emotional in equal measure. Kane is a professor of English and Environmental Studies at Vassar College.

Come to Kaplan Hall, Grand & First Streets, Newburgh, on April 29 at 7:30pm for a sure-to-be memorable evening of music and poetry. Kaplan Hall is situated on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River and the Great Room has two walls of glass offering full view of the river.

Admission is $5, cash or check only. Parking is free in the garage at 73 First Street. For questions, email Cultural Affairs: cultural@sunyorange.edu.

Chris Farlekas Fund Premiere Event Benefits

Since the recent renaming and reimagining of the organization, the staff and board of Wallkill River Center for the Arts (WRCA) have been expanding and creating programs beyond the already established and successful visual arts classes, exhibits and festivals.

In 2008, WRCA, formally the Wallkill River School, incorporated as a notfor-profit and moved to the historic Patchett House in Montgomery. Since then, the organization has enjoyed the support and generous donations from Patchett family patriarchs, Arthur and his brother, Joseph and their families. Although the family no longer owns the property, members enjoyed visiting when in the area. After his recent death, WRCA received word that Arthur Patchett included the organization in his will and bequeathed a generous sum to the nonprofit. Honoring his gift, WRCA has named the new music series after Arthur Patchett.

Under the extraordinary creative energy and talents of Music Program Director, Judi Silvano, WRCA has formed the Arthur Patchett Memorial Music Series. The plan is to offer several concerts a year in various genres in select venues throughout Orange County.

WRCA Executive Director Sarah Pierson explains, “Arthur was a lover of music, notably opera and classical. We found it fitting to honor the memory of this generous man, who supported

Wallkill River Center for the Arts

awards and an Honorary PhD from Mount St. Mary College our mission and graciously thought to include us as part of his legacy.”

A recent addition to the board of directors, Silvano added, “The concert series will not only serve as a fundraiser for WRCA, but also as a form of outreach and introduction to our organization for those who may not be familiar with our vibrant and varied offerings.”

A series of this nature could not be offered without further support. In this case, the inaugural sponsor and kickstarter of the first concert on April 30 is the Chris Farlekas Legacy Fund. “We are grateful for the generous support and enormous inspiration provided by the Farlekas Fund!,” exclaimed Silvano.

The Fund will distribute grants to various charitable projects in memory of Chris Spero Farlekas (1929-2015), longtime Times Herald-Record arts reporter and columnist, and Port Jervis native. Through his writing and his fundraising efforts he raised, throughout the tri-state area, over $4.5 million dollars for charitable causes including hunger, domestic violence, homelessness and others. His work in the community earned him numerous “Man of the Year”

Cranky Seniors in Grahamsville

Cranky Seniors is a performance sure to have seniors (and audience members of all ages!) chuckling. Only seniors know what it’s like to have SENIORITIS!

Let Catskill Reader’s Theatre members Albee Arctic, Jean Eifert,

Sally Gladden, Peter Natasi and Paul Preuschner entertain you on April 16, at 2:00pm in the Time and Valleys Museum, 332 Main Street, Grahamsville. Phone: 845-985-7700.

Decorate your own Umbrella w/ Miss Beth

What makes a leisurely walk in the rain even more enjoyable? Why, using your own customized umbrella of course! Paint, paint markers and stencils to get creative with, and if you are not sure to get started, we’ll have ideas to get you going!

April 20 at 6:00pm

Mahjong Club meets every Monday, 9:00am-1:00pm.

April 12 at 4:30pm:

Kids’ Art Club

April 13 at 4:30pm:

Kids’ Book Club waldenpubliclibrary.org

“We’ve been raising money for a few years via the Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan, and the Fund Board is so happy that its inaugural donation is going to our dear friends at WRCA,” said Barry Plaxen, Fund Chair. “And speaking of dear friends, who better to perform for the Chris Farlekas Legacy Fund’s first event than Farlekas’ dear friend and colleague, another Orange County treasure, soprano Julie Ziavras.” Julie is sharing the spotlight with Orange County composer Steve Margoshes, the composer of FameThe Musical and other theatrical and classical works.

“There seems to be a general theme of spring, and pieces we love,” Julie told Barry. “We are considering songs by Faure, Duparc, Mompou, Grieg’s Våren, your favorite lied (“spring” in Norwegian), Mahler, R. Strauss, Montsalvage, Gershwin,

Kern and Margoshes; (French, Catalan, German, Norwegian, English). I am opening with a ditty Steve wrote for me to the words of “Will” Shakespeare.”

Steve will also solo works of his own, two of which are “in the style of Faure & Satie,” he stated. “And Julie will sing at least two pieces, including a premiere I just wrote for her, In-Just spring, from a poem by E.E.Cummings.”

The April 30, 3:00pm concert will take place on the Howard Garrett (1931-2020) Stage, (named for a dear friend of Chris’, Julie’s & Barry’s), in the Montgomery Senior Center, 36 Bridge Street. Suggested donation is $20. For tickets: www.wallkillriverschool. com (click on “Events and Music”), and at the door. Proceeds benefit the WRCA and The Chris Farlekas Legacy Fund.