518 Bites & Sights

Candlen & Friends at The Eleven at Lark Hall
2026-03-04 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Lark Hall, 351 Hudson Ave, Albany, NY, 12009, United States
Join us every 3rd Wednesday at The Eleven for free live music with Candlen & Friends offering ears innovative sounds. 7-9pm

Women Aren’t Funny Series
2026-03-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
“Women Aren’t Funny” is a monthly groundbreaking all-female comedy series that proves just the opposite at UPH. Join us each month for a night of bold, unapologetic humor from some of the funniest women in the business. Expect sharp wit, hilarious insights, and the kind of belly laughs that only women can deliver. This isn’t just a comedy show; it’s a movement. Come for the laughs, stay for the empowerment. Because yes, women ARE funny—seriously funny.

Keb' Mo'
2026-03-04 20:00 - 22:30 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
With five GRAMMYs, 14 Blues Foundation Awards, and a groundbreaking career spanning nearly 50 years under his belt, Keb’ Mo’s got nothing left to prove. Just don’t tell him that.
Born and raised in Compton, Keb’ began his remarkable journey at the age of 21, when he landed his first major gig playing with Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach. For the next 20 years, Keb’ would work primarily behind the scenes, establishing himself as a respected guitarist, songwriter, and arranger with a unique gift for linking the past and present in his evocative playing and singing. In 1994 he would introduce the world to Keb’ Mo’ with the release of his widely acclaimed self-titled debut. Critics were quick to take note of Keb’s modern, genre-bending take on old school sounds, and two years later, he garnered his first GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album with Just Like You. In the decades to come, Keb’ would take home four more GRAMMY Awards; top the Billboard Blues Chart seven times; perform everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The White House; collaborate with many including Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, The Chicks, and Lyle Lovett; have compositions recorded and sampled by artists as diverse as B.B. King, Zac Brown, and BTS; release signature guitars with both Gibson and Martin; compose music for television series like Mike and Molly, Memphis Beat, B Positive, Leanne, and Martha Stewart Living; and earn the Americana Music Association’s 2021 award for Lifetime Achievement in Performance.
In addition to his extraordinary musical output, Keb’ also established himself as a captivating onscreen presence over the years, appearing as himself in Martin Scorcese’s The Blues, Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, and even the iconic children’s series Sesame Street. He flexed his acting chops in a wide variety of projects, as well, portraying Robert Johnson in the 1998 documentary Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl, Howlin’ Wolf on CMT’s Sun Records, and the ghostly bluesman Possum in John Sayles’ 2007 film Honeydripper. A fixture on late night TV and award show stages, Keb’ has also performed on Letterman, Leno, Conan, Colbert, and Austin City Limits in addition to appearing on nationally televised broadcasts from The Kennedy Center, The Ryman Auditorium, and Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival.
A passionate philanthropist and outspoken activist, Keb’ has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of social, environmental, and racial justice throughout his career. As a celebrity mentor with The Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts Program, which began under the guidance of First Lady Michelle Obama and the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, Keb’ “adopted” The Johnson School for Excellence in Chicago, where he teamed up with teachers, students, and parents to help develop a thriving arts education program, and as a longtime ambassador for the Playing For Change Foundation, he’s supported the non-profit from its early days in its quest to provide free music education and basic needs like food, water, medicine, clothing, books, and school supplies to children around the world.

Pretzel Thursday
2026-03-05 00:00 - 23:59 | Nine Pin Ciderworks, 929 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12207, United States
Stop in every Thursday from 12:00 – 9:00 pm for Pretzel Thursday. You get our Bavarian pretzels with mustard and cheese and one 12 oz cider for $15.

Archives Jr Investigation Station
2026-03-05 10:30 - 12:00 | NYS Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY, 12230, United States
Dive into the world of archives with New York Archives Jr! magazine. Each week, we’ll explore a fun learning activity inspired by an issue of New York Archives Jr!, where kids will discover fascinating history, analyze primary sources, and engage with interactive projects!

Trivia Night
2026-03-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Wolf Hollow Brewing Company, 6882 Amsterdam Rd, Schenectady, NY, 12302, United States
Join us for trivia hosted by Nat Christiana every Thursday. Test your knowledge and win prizes! Seating is first come, first serve.

Drew Lynch
2026-03-05 19:00 - 20:30 | FunnyBone Albany, 1 Crossgates Mall Rd, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
Ticket Policy:
The Funny Bone has a full bar and a dinner menu is available through your server when you are seated in the showroom!
Seating is first come, first served. We seat the room from front to back and guests will be seated accordingly based on arrival time.
Most of our tables seat 4 people. You may be seated with a separate party of guests at the same table.
If you wish to sit with another party, please arrive and enter the showroom together.
All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Sales tax and service fees are included in the ticket price.
This event is 21+ and all guests will need valid ID to enter.

About the Artist:
Comedian and actor Drew Lynch captured the hearts of America with his Golden Buzzer performance on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent (NBC), where he finished in second place. Since then, Drew has amassed millions of followers on social media while touring the world nonstop to sold out audiences. In February 2023, Drew released his second special ‘And These Are Jokes’ which is catching steam all over the internet. He also appeared in a recurring role in the final season of IFC’s hit series Maron as well as TBS’ Conan. A favorite on the podcast circuit, Drew has made multiple appearances on some of the most downloaded shows, giving his unique take on everything from pop culture to news headlines to the life of a traveling comic.

VIP Ticket Includes:
Preferred Seating in the First Four Rows

Lords of the Sound: The Music of Hans Zimmer
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave, Albany, NY, 12207, United States
The internationally acclaimed Ukrainian symphony orchestra Lords of the Sound is set to make its highly anticipated United States debut in March 2026, bringing one of its most iconic concert experiences—“The Music of Hans Zimmer” —to select cities across the East Coast and Midwest.
A Tribute to a Cinematic Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer
With The Music of Hans Zimmer, Lords of the Sound pays homage to one of cinema’s greatest living composers. Zimmer’s award-winning soundtracks have shaped the modern era of film, creating unforgettable emotional depth and atmosphere. The concert features epic selections from beloved blockbusters including: Dune, The Dark Knight, Inception, Pirates of the Caribbean, Interstellar, Sherlock Holmes, The Lion King, Man of Steel, and more. Audiences will be swept away by the intensity, beauty, and power of Zimmer’s iconic scores performed live.
A Fusion of Power and Passion
Led by conductor Nazar Yakobenchuk and featuring standout soloists Illia Skrebnov and Yaroslava Taran, Lords of the Sound blends classical tradition with rock energy for an electrifying performance. The orchestra has enchanted audiences across Europe, most recently completing a 60-show tour in France and a 30-show tour in Germany—each to sold-out venues and standing ovations.
The visionary behind this global phenomenon is producer Andrii Novatorov, whose mission for over a decade has been to unite music and cinema in emotionally resonant, large-scale productions. His bold creative direction—fusing classical and electronic instruments—has pushed the boundaries of orchestral performance and earned international acclaim.

Mnozil Brass
2026-03-05 19:30 - 21:30 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
Thomas Gansch, trumpet
Robert Rother, trumpet
Roman Rindberger, trumpet
Leonhard Paul, trombone & bass trumpet
Gerhard Fu¨ßl, trombone
Zoltan Kiss, trombone
Wilfried Brandstötter, tuba
Mnozil Brass has established itself as one of the world’s premier brass ensembles. With over 130 performances a year, the group has sold out houses from the farthest reaches of the European continent to Israel, China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United States, and has captivated audiences with their blend of immense virtuosity and theatrical wit. No wonder their videos have garnered millions of YouTube views and their fans have travelled countless miles to hear them play.
The group’s recent returns to North America were hailed as “seriously funny” and “whimsically brazen.” Their shows include Yes! Yes! Yes!, which blends original compositions with classical favorites, jazz standards, and popular hits; Cirque, where the musicians combat the monkey business of daily life with music and humor, and transform the stage into a musical flea circus; Gold, showcasing their greatest hits; and their latest Jubliee, which celebrates their 30 years together with new works and Mnozil Brass favorites. As always, the repertoire is presented with the group’s iconic humour and wit in scenes so clever that they would be worthy of Monty Python.
Mnozil Brass take their name from the “Gasthaus Mnozil,” a restaurant across the street from the Vienna Conservatory, where, in 1992, seven young brass musicians met and began playing at a monthly open-mic. Since then, the group has embraced repertoire for all ages and stages of life: from folk to classical to jazz to pop; all executed with the same fearlessness, immense technical skill, and typical Viennese “schmäh” (almost impossible to find an English translation, but best rendered as a kind of sarcastic charm!).
In their time away from touring, Mnozil Brass has recorded 8 albums and 6 DVDs. They’ve collaborated on three operetta and opera productions, and composed and recorded the music for the 2006 film “Freundschaft.” The group has been nominated for the Amadeus Austrian Music Award and won the prestigious Salzburger Stier Cabaret Prize in 2006.

Matthew Morrison: Rhythms & Revelations
2026-03-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
Matthew Morrison, known for his standout role as Will Schuester on “Glee,” is a dynamic performer whose charisma and versatility have captivated audiences for years. With a background in musical theater, Morrison effortlessly blends his impressive vocal talents with a strong acting presence, bringing depth and charm to his performances. Here’s a description of Matthew’s brand-new show “Rhythms & Revelations” in his own words:
Step into a world where music and dance become more than just entertainment—they become a journey into the heart of what makes us human.
Welcome to Rhythms & Revelations— a car wash for your soul.
In this show, I’m not just here to perform; I’m here to spark something within you. I want you to leave with a sense of inquiry, curiosity, and wonder about your own life. Many concerts entertain, but I invite you to take a closer look inside. To see the beating heart of music and dance, not just as art forms but as reflections of our deepest selves. This show comes from my heart—it’s a piece of my soul laid bare. I’m stepping outside of all the characters I’ve played, shedding every mask, and diving deep into my authenticity and vulnerability.
In Rhythms & Revelations, I’m fully alive, and I want you to feel that aliveness too. Join me on this journey, and let’s explore the depths within us all.
– MM

Archduke
2026-03-06 00:00 - 2026-03-29 23:59 | Capital Repertory Theatre, 251 N Pearl St, Albany, NY, 12207, United States
By Rajiv Joseph
“The comic energy of the writing carries the characters to their tragic finish line.”—The Los Angeles Times
Serbia, 1914. When teen-aged Gavrilo Princip coughs blood into a doctor’s lace handkerchief, he’s delighted that the doctor lets him keep such a fancy souvenir. But the outlook quickly dims when Gavrilo and two other boys are diagnosed with deadly tuberculosis. Suddenly, these hungry urchins have nothing to lose. A fanatical captain exploits their despair for his own nationalist ends. Soon, they’re hapless assassins bumbling their way into the start of World War I. In this pitch-dark farce, the notorious demise of Archduke Ferdinand is an allegory of our own perilous moment.
This audaciously theatrical production comes to Capital Repertory Theatre directly from Philadelphia’s Wilma Theater, winner of the 2024 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Inventive, hilarious and heartbreaking, “Archduke” reminds us that a world torn apart by political extremism inevitably eats its young.
If you have a group of 10* or more, you can save on ticket prices! Contact Group Sales at (518) 382-3884 ext. 139 or send an email to groupsales@proctorscollaborative.org for more information. *Some exclusions apply to Group Sales

Coffee & Community
2026-03-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Arthur’s, 35 North Ferry St., Schenectady, NY, 12305, United States
On the first Friday of every month, Arthur’s will be reserving a space for the 518 Asian Alliance to connect with members of the local community. All are welcome to join!

First Friday
2026-03-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Albany Institute of History & Art holds extended hours for the city of Albany’s popular First Friday program! Enjoy free gallery admission to visit our current exhibitions.

The Fab Four: Tribute to the Beatles’ “Help!” and the Hits
2026-03-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Hart Theatre at The Egg, Agency Building 1, S Mall Arterial, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
Member pre-sale: Sept 10 @ 10AM | Public on sale: Sept 12 @ 10AM
If you want to experience the best Beatles tribute ever, you won’t want to miss The Fab Four-The Ultimate Tribute. The 2025 tour brings their all-new show to the stage, celebrating The Beatles’ second film, HELP!, with performances from the movie soundtrack, as well as the Beatles’ greatest hits of every era.
The Emmy Award Winning Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles’ classics such as “Help!,” “Yesterday,” “A Day In The Life,” “Twist And Shout,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Hey Jude”, the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing.

The Orchestra: Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members
2026-03-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
The Story Began in 1970…
The story starts in 1970 in Birmingham, England, where the Electric Light Orchestra began their journey as one of the world’s most popular rock bands. Their music was characterized by a fusion of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography.
Mik Kaminski joined the band in 1973 with his legendary blue violin. The classic lineup of ELO solidified in 1974 with the addition of bassist/singer Kelly Groucutt and orchestrator Lou Clark, who augmented the band’s unique orchestral rock sound with his inventive classical arrangements. Mik, Lou, and Kelly played their way onto an astonishing library of hit records that sold more than 50 million copies. The albums include Eldorado, Face the Music, A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery and Xanadu.
After the original line-up of ELO broke up in 1986, drummer Bev Bevan created ELO Part II in 1988 with English guitarist Pete Haycock, American keyboardist and songwriter Eric Troyer, and ELO former members Kaminski, Clark, Groucutt, and cellist Hugh McDowell. The band later recruited English guitarist Phil Bates to fill out the lineup. Groucutt, Bates, and Troyer were all accomplished lead and harmony singers which provided an abundance of vocal riches that pushed the band’s classic sound into fresh sonic territory. Phil Bates left ELO Part II in 1998 and was replaced by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Parthenon Huxley.
In late 1999 drummer Bevan retired and was replaced with American drummer Gordon Townsend. The band began touring as THE ORCHESTRA in 2000. The new lineup released a brilliant album called No Rewind. The album features original songs by Kaminski, Troyer, Huxley, and Groucutt, as well as a stunning interpretation of “Twist and Shout.”
Nine years later in 2009, THE ORCHESTRA bassist and congenial front man, Kelly Groucutt, suddenly passed away the day after performing a concert with the group in Berlin, which was a devastating shock to the band and to class rock fans around the world. His boyhood home features a plaque honoring Kelly’s accomplishments with ELO. THE ORCHESTRA recruited occasional ELO Part II member and former Styx bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer Glen Burtnik to fill Kelly’s spot center stage.
While Lou Clark’s multi-talented son, Louis Clark Jr., worked with ELO Part II in the 90s, he became a permanent band member with THE ORCHESTRA in 2015. The father and son team lived the dream of performing together onstage around the world until 2021 when Louis Clark Sr. passed away. Louis Jr. now carries on in his late father’s role as orchestral keyboardist and symphonic conductor, along with the occasional romp on cello and guitar.
These days multi-instrumentalist Cliff Hillis joins the band on select shows and brings an extra layer of vocals, guitar, and sometimes bass to THE ORCHESTRA’s dynamic sound.
In 2024, the documentary No Rewind: The Orchestra Starring ELO Former Members was released, providing rare behind-the-scenes band footage, stories of life on the road, and performances of each song from the album No Rewind. Edited together in a music video style, the film is a fast-moving reveal of how this iconic band has earned its place in rock and roll history.
Over the years the members of THE ORCHESTRA have played ELO’s greatest hits to millions of fans in over fifty countries.

All You Need Is George” : An All-Star Celebration of George Harrison
2026-03-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Lark Hall, 351 Hudson Ave, Albany, NY, 12009, United States
Join us for a once in a lifetime celebration of George Harrison feat. Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Berry Duane Oakley and more

For the first time in over 50 years, The Music of George Harrison tours North America!
An extraordinary ensemble of world-class musicians come together to celebrate the timeless genius of George Harrison. Their deep camaraderie and unmatched artistry shine through every note, driven by a profound love for Harrison’s music. From his groundbreaking years with The Beatles, to the lush brilliance of All Things Must Pass, through solo treasures like Any Road, and the magic of The Traveling Wilburys, this show is a journey through one of music’s most soulful legacies.
Jam-band legends Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli, Reed Mathis, Berry Duane Oakley, and Gil Assayas unite for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of George Harrison’s timeless legacy. Don’t miss it!

Pete Correale: As I Was Saying
2026-03-06 21:00 - 22:30 | Cohoes Music Hall, 58 Remsen St, Cohoes, NY, 12047, United States
Pete has performed on numerous late night tv shows such as The Tonight Show, Letterman and Conan. as well as filming three of his own one hour television comedy specials, THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, LET ME TELL YA and the last being on FOR PETE’S SAKE. He has also released two comedy albums, GIVE IT A REST and MADE FOR RADIO.
Pete is also the co-host of The Pete and Sebastian show, a podcast with comedian and longtime friend Sebastian Maniscalco.
The Pete and Sebastian Show is one of the most wildly popular comedy podcasts on air today. The show is almost 10 years running with an ever growing fanbase and has featured guests to the likes of Bill Burr, Jay Mohr, Bobby Lee, Yannis Pappas, Billy Gardell and more!
Aside from his podcast, Pete has been a staff writer on several tv shows, most recently Kevin Can Wait on CBS as well as The Crew on Netflix.
Pete’s love for entertainment started when he went off to college. During his senior year, Pete took an acting class and knew immediately what he wanted to do – be in show business. This burning desire has evolved for over 20 years to what we know it as today – a reflective comedic take on his life and the experiences he’s been through.
With a conversational delivery and his trademark disarming regular guy attitude, Pete makes you feel like you’re listening to the funniest guy at a party as opposed to just another comedian on a stage.
His tours continue to grow exponentially as more and more people discover him and immediately fall in love with his accessible and extremely relatable point of view.
Because of this, Pete has evolved from being a must see on the club scene to now a nationally recognized headlining theater act.

Recently he’s coming off of Sebastian Maniscalco’s record breaking “It Ain’t Right” arena tour where he has been capturing the eyes and ears of fans all over the country.

Family Saturday
2026-03-07 14:00 - 15:30 | Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore, 815 N Broadway #1632, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
Family Saturday programs foster multigenerational creative cooperation through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engaging in a hands-on art-making activity. Programs run from 2-3:30 pm and include a tour of selected works. All programs are free and open to the public, and suitable for children age 5 and older, accompanied by their adult companions. No registration required; supplies provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Live Music
2026-03-07 20:00 - 22:00 | Nine Pin Ciderworks, 929 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12207, United States
Stop by the cidery on the first Saturday of every month from 8:00 – 10:00 pm for live music from local musicians.

Monthly Knitting Club
2026-03-08 15:00 - 17:00 | Arthur’s, 35 North Ferry St., Schenectady, NY, 12305, United States
A monthly gathering (every second Sunday) with fellow fiber enthusiasts to knit, relax, and socialize. All levels of experience are welcome! Please bring your own materials. No tickets or RSVP necessary.
Questions? Email Shannon at syzhang123@gmail.com

Albany Pro Musica presents: A SACRED PLACE
2026-03-08 15:00 - 17:00 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
A SACRED PLACE: An Artist Series performance, featuring the Pro Musica Piano Trio
Sunday, March 8, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

A Sacred Place explores the intersection of love and nature through works by Evenalds, Boykin, Paulus, Rutter, Pärt, and others. The singers of Albany Pro Musica will be joined by the Pro Musica Piano Trio. Featuring the U.S. premiere of Alex Berko’s “Sacred Place,” an ecological service that connects the old with the new, the sacred with the secular, and the individual with their community.

Family Tree
2026-03-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Putnam Place, 63 Putnam St, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
Doors: 6:30pm
Show: 7:00pm
Ages: 21+
Admission: FREE (2 drink minimum)
Come join Family Tree every other Monday from 7pm – 9pm. Family Tree features Steve Candlen, Kenny Hohman, Lori Friday, Chris Carey and Chad Ploss. They will be joined each week by various guests from the regional music scene.

Trivia Night with Typhoid Mary
2026-03-10 18:00 - 20:30 | Nine Pin Ciderworks, 929 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12207, United States
Join us for Nine Pin Trivia hosted by Typhoid Mary every second Tuesday of the month! Sign-ups start at 6:00 pm and trivia begins promptly at 6:30 pm.
Categories range from pop culture, sports, entertainment, music, current events, and more. Prizes include cider flights and other great Nine Pin items!

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
2026-03-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
Program:
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
MICHAEL STEPHEN BROWN, piano
TARA HELEN O’CONNOR, flute
JURI VALLENTIN, oboe
DAVID SHIFRIN, clarinet
PETER KOLKAY, bassoon
DAVID BYRD-MARROW, horn
Century of Winds
Maurice Emmanuel (1862–1938)
Sonata for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano, Op. 11 (1907)
Allegro con spirito
Adagio
Molto allegro e leggierissimo
O’CONNOR, SHIFRIN, BROWN
Richard Strauss (1864–1949)
Andante for Horn and Piano, Op. posth. (1888)
BYRD-MARROW, BROWN
Carl Czerny (1791–1857)
Andante e polacca in E major for Horn and Piano (1848)
BYRD-MARROW, BROWN
August Klughardt (1847–1902)
Quintet in C major for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn, Op. 79 (c. 1898)
Allegro non troppo
Allegro vivace
Andante grazioso
Adagio—Allegro molto vivace
O’CONNOR, VALLENTIN, SHIFRIN, KOLKAY, BYRD-MARROW
INTERMISSION
André Jolivet (1905–1974)
Sonatine for Oboe and Bassoon (1963)
Ouverture
Récitatif
Ostinato
VALLENTIN, KOLKAY
Louise Farrenc (1804–1875)
Sextet in C minor for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano, Op. 40 (1851–52)
Allegro
Andante sostenuto
Allegro vivace
O’CONNOR, VALLENTIN, SHIFRIN, KOLKAY, BYRD-MARROW, BROWN

BIO:
Michael Stephen Brown is a composer and pianist hailed by the New York Timesas “one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers.” A 2025 MacDowell Fellow, 2024 Yaddo Artist, and winner of Lincoln Center’s Emerging Artist Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant, Michael performs internationally and receives commissions from orchestras, soloists, and festivals around the world. Recent highlights include a recital at Alice Tully Hall for CMS, collaborations with cellist Nicholas Canellakis and violinists Pinchas Zukerman, Kristin Lee, and Arnaud Sussmann, and an Asia recital tour. Currently he is composing The Magical Carnival, a CMS-led project co-presented by a consortium of US presenters. His first album devoted entirely to his music, Twelve Blocks, will be released in fall 2025. He is the composer for Angeline Gragasin’s upcoming film Look But Don’t Touch. An alum of CMS’s Bowers Program, Michael lives in New York City and Wallkill, New York, with his two 19th-century Steinways, Octavia and Daria.
David Byrd-Marrow is the solo hornist of the International Contemporary Ensemble and a member of The Knights. He has premiered works by Matthias Pintscher, Arthur Kampela, George Lewis, Tyshawn Sorey, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Du Yun, Marcos Balter, Anna Webber, Jörg Widmann, Miguel Zenón, and Chick Corea. Formerly a member of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, he has also made appearances with the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Atlanta, Seattle, and Tokyo symphony orchestras, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. Byrd-Marrow holds degrees from the Juilliard School and Stony Brook, and is Assistant Professor of Horn at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.
Called “stunningly virtuosic” by the New York Times and “superb” by the Washington Post, Peter Kolkay is the only bassoonist to be awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. In addition to performing with CMS, he regularly appears as a chamber musician at the Sarasota, Music@Menlo, and Bridgehampton summer festivals. Kolkay has commissioned and premiered solo works by Joan Tower, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Elliott Carter, and Tania León, among many others, and his most recent recordings include an album of music for bassoon and strings with the Calidore String Quartet, and the Christopher Rouse concerto with the Albany Symphony. He is Professor of Bassoon at the Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music and has given master classes throughout the US, Mexico, and South Korea. Kolkay is an alum of CMS’s Bowers Program, and holds degrees from Lawrence University, the Eastman School of Music, and Yale University. He is a native of Naperville, Illinois.
Tara Helen O’Connor, recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a two-time Grammy nominee, was the first wind player to participate in CMS’s Bowers Program. A regular performer at major music festivals around the country, she is also the Co-Artistic Director of the Music from Angel Fire Festival in New Mexico, the Artistic Director of the Essex Winter Series, a member of the woodwind quintet Windscape, and a founding member of the Naumburg Award–winning New Millennium Ensemble. She has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics, Koch International, CMS Studio Recordings, and Bridge Records, and can be heard on numerous film and television soundtracks. She has premiered hundreds of new works and has collaborated with the Orion, St. Lawrence, and Emerson String Quartets. A Wm. S. Haynes flute artist, O’Connor is on faculty at Yale School of Music. Additionally, she teaches at Bard College and the Manhattan School of Music.
A Yale University faculty member since 1987, clarinetist David Shifrin is artistic director of Yale’s Chamber Music Society and the Yale in New York concert series. He has performed with CMS since 1982 and served as its artistic director from 1992 to 2004, inaugurating CMS’s Bowers Program and the annual Brandenburg Concertos concerts. He was the artistic director of Chamber Music Northwest from 1981 to 2020. Winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant (1987) and the Avery Fisher Prize (2000), he has held principal clarinet positions in numerous orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra and the American Symphony under Leopold Stokowski. As soloist, Shifrin has performed recitals at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Library of Congress. Notable concerto performances include the Philadelphia and Minnesota orchestras; the Dallas, Seattle, Houston, Milwaukee, and Denver symphonies; as well as orchestras in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. Shifrin performs on clarinets made by Morrie Backun in Vancouver, Canada, and Légère synthetic reeds.
German oboist Juri Vallentin has gained international attention as a prize winner of major competitions such as the International Tchaikovsky Competition as first oboist, the German Music Competition, and the International Oboe Competition of Japan. He has performed as soloist with the MDR Symphony Orchestra, the Mariinsky Orchestra, the Lower Saxony State Orchestra, the Brandenburg State Orchestra, and the Munich Chamber Orchestra, among others. His albums Bridges, featuring Italian concertos, Ebenbild, which combines music and literature, and Bridges, with music from five centuries, as well as numerous radio productions for BR, SWR, and Deutschlandfunk, document his artistic work. He co-founded the wind quintet BREEZE in 2021. Born in Mainz, he studied in Nuremberg and at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he graduated with highest honors. Vallentin is Professor of Oboe at the Karlsruhe University of Music and a member of CMS’s Bowers Program.

Tales for Tots
2026-03-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Ave, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
Step into a world of imagination and wonder! Join The Book House for Tales for Tots, story hour designed to delight little ones and their grown-ups.
On the 1st Wednesday of each month, dive into magical tales and spark creativity with fun activities. Perfect for children ages 2 – 4 years old, this is the ultimate storytime adventure that will leave your child excited to turn the next page.
Parents are required to attend with children. Space is limited so tickets are required. One ticket covers child and parent.

Finnegan’s Farewell
2026-03-12 00:00 - 2026-03-15 23:59 | Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
Get ready for laughter and shenanigans in this all-new hilarious musical comedy from the co-creator of “Tony & Tina’s Wedding!”
Come to an authentic Irish wake and pay your last respects to dearly departed US Postal worker, Paddy Finnegan. Paddy took a trip to an Atlantic City casino where he won 10 million at the slots and then promptly dropped dead. As Father Seamus presides, you’ll be treated to eulogies, sing-alongs and a missing corpse!
While they search for the missing body, be ready to eat, drink and dance to the music of The Dublineers, and watch Irish dancing champions, The Riverkids, strut their stuff on the floor. You might even come away rich after Max reads the will.
This funny and highly entertaining Irish wake concludes with a surprise twist of the tale!

Man of La Mancha
2026-03-13 00:00 - 2026-03-22 23:59 | SLOC Musical Theatre, 427 Franklin St., Schenectady, NY, 12305, United States

Passport Series: Baklava Express
2026-03-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Proctors, 432 State St, Schenectady, NY, 12305, United States
Get ready to travel around the world – one concert at a time!
The Passport Series takes the same beloved world music that patrons of the Music Haven Concert series have come to cherish and brings it to Proctors in Schenectady and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga so the party can continue all year.
Baklava Express – Middle Eastern Fusion
Baklava Express is a NYC-based Cross-Cultural fusion project, led by Oud player and composer Josh Kaye. The band performs original music, influenced by various traditions of the Arab world, Turkey, and Armenia, as well as drawing inspiration from both the Ashkenazi and Mizrahi folk traditions. The eclectic influences and vast differences in the musical backgrounds of its members have created a group whose style is distinct, yet genre-defiant.

Albany Symphony presents: Francisco del Pino + Beethoven & Bruckner
2026-03-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
Francisco del Pino + Beethoven & Bruckner
Saturday, March 14 at 7:30pm
Sunday, March 15 at 3:00pm
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Tickets: $70-20
$15 Student Tickets Available!
David Alan Miller, conductor
Anwen Deng, piano
Francisco del Pino: New Work (world premiere)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7
Saturday 3/14: https://purchase.albanysymphony.com/ChooseSeats/1202
Sunday 3/15: https://purchase.albanysymphony.com/ChooseSeats/1801

Word Plays: Shenanigans
2026-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Proctors, 432 State St, Schenectady, NY, 12305, United States
The word shenanigans means: devious tricks used especially for an underhand purpose; tricky or questionable practices or conduct; or high-spirited or mischievous activities. These will be wonderful experiences to learn about WITHOUT having to live through them yourself!
The story titles include:
The Ghost’s Revenge
Who Created the Ice Cream Sundae?
Sean O’Mallely and the Blackthorne Tree.
Our tellers are: Siri Allison, Fran Combs Berger, Joe Doolittle, Kate Dudding, Claire Nolan, Nancy Marie Payne, Sandy Schuman, and Beverly Schwartz.
At every Story Circle show, superb performers tell rarely heard contemporary and traditional stories celebrating the human spirit. The shows are shared experiences between audience and performer, combining the intensity of a solo performance with the intimacy of a face-to-face conversation. Since 2008, over 4,000 people have enjoyed our shows at Proctors. We hope to see you there!
Click here to watch many of our performers tell stories. http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/youtube.shtml
Click here to find out about our performers.
http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/performers.shtml
Our website: http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/word–plays.shtml
