Hudson Opera House :: Event Calendar

July - August 2010 Events

Hudson Jazz Faculty/Student Concert
with Armen Donelian and Marc Mommaas
Special Concert Guest, Jim McNeely
Sunday, August 15, 3:00p.m.

A faculty and student concert presented as part of the Hudson Jazz Workshop, produced by Hudson Jazzworks. The workshop attracts a pool of multi-generational talent from local, regional and international areas as far away as Denmark, Japan and Armenia, and includes professionals, amateurs and beginners just embarking on artistic careers. In this concert, they perform their works-in-progress for the public and are joined by their teachers, pianist Armen Donelian and saxophonist Marc Mommaas.

Special Concert Guest is the the Grammy-winning pianist, arranger, bandleader, recording artist, teacher, author and composer-in-residence of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Jim McNeely. For more information contact Armen Donelian at 518-822-1640 or info@armenjazz.com. $10, $8 HOH members.

moira smiley & VOCO
Friday, August 20, 7:30 p.m.

HOH commissioned Song Overheard with poet Joan Murray and composer Robinson McClellan. Performed by Moira Smiley and her ensemble with four-part vocal harmony, cello, accordion and banjo. Named #1 a cappella group in the U.S. and recently featured on NPR's Harmonia. Performance takes place at St. James Church, 129 Hudson Avenue, Chatham, NY. $15 per person.

Poetry Reading
Lee Gould
Stuart Bartow
Barbara Louise Ungar
Saturday, October 10, 2:00 p.m.

Stuart Bartow is the author of two full-length poetry collections, Whelk (Pgymy Forest Press, 2001) and Reasons to Hate the Sky (WordTech, 2008), as well as four chapbooks, including The Stars Belong to No One, winner of the Owl Creek Chapbook Prize (1994) and The Perseids, winner of the Palanquin Prize from the University of South Carolina (1997). This year his poem, "Shinto," won the California State Poetry Society's annual poetry contest. He has published innumerable poems in various journals, and is a seasoned reader; he can be heard bimonthly on WAMC's Vox Pop poetry show, reading work of his own and others. He is professor of English at Adirondack Community College in upstate New York, where he teaches British and World Literature.

Lee Gould will be reading from her new chapbook Weeds from Finishing Line Press. Marie Ponsot calls Gould's poems "radically lively" catching "both reality and the wildness under it..." while Peg Boyers refers to Gould's "vibrant, accessible often darkly funny free verse."
After teaching at Goucher College, Lee retired to the Hudson Valley where she continues to teach, write poems and reviews, gardens, makes far too much jam and explores the marvels of Columbia County and Hudson where she serves on the Democratic Party Committee. Her poems and reviews have appeared in Quarterly West, The Gay and Lesbian Review, the Berkshire Review, Chronogram, Magma, Phoebe, Passager, Women and the Environment and other journals.

Barbara Louise Ungar's most recent poetry collection, Charlotte Bronte, You Ruined My Life, was a 2009 finalist for the National Poetry Series and Sarabande Books' Morton Prize. Her last book, The Origin of the Milky Way, won the 2006 Gival Press Poetry Award, the Adirondack Center for Writing Award for Best Book of Poetry 2007 (co-winner), a silver Independent Publishers Book Award, and an Eric Hoffer Notable for Poetry Award. She is also the author of Thrift (WordTech Editions 2005), and the chapbooks Sequel (Finishing Line Press 2004) and Neoclassical Barbra (Angel Fish Press 1998), as well as the monograph Haiku In English (Stanford 1978, reprinted in Simply Haiku 2007-9). A professor of English at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, she lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Save the Dates...

HOH Gala
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Winter Walk
Saturday, December 4, 2010

Local Self Portraits
June 12 through August 14

HOH presents a show of self-portrait paintings, photographs and sculpture curated by Richard Roth. The artists' styles run the gamut, from primitive to photo realist, documentary to minimalist to abstract expressionist. What they have in common is geography: They all live and work, exhibit work, or spend their leisure time in Hudson or Columbia County. Artists include Marina Abramovic, Richard Artschwager, Donald Baechler, R. O. Blechman, McWillie Chambers, Mihail Chemiakin, Lynn Davis, Judy Glantzman, Musho Rodney Alan Greenblat, Nancy Hagin, Phyllis Hjorth, Ellsworth Kelly, Dylan Kraus, Annie Leibovitz, Barbara Lehman, Reggie Madison, Gerard Malanga, Maria Manhattan, Richard Minsky, Sedat Pakay, Ken Polinskie, Lucio Pozzi, Eric Rhein, Dan Rupe, Edwina Sandys, Barbara Slate, Tim Slowinski, Ed Smith, Bill Sullivan, Earl Swanigan, Benjamin Swett, Franklin Tartaglione, Tony Thompson, and Arthur Yanoff. A limited edition, full-color catalogue for the exhibition is available for purchase, sponsored by Stair Galleries of Hudson. Click here to purchase.

Jonathan Wallen
Portraits from Rwanda
August 21 through September 25

HOH presents a photography exhibition by Jonathan Wallen featuring portraits shot during his travels in Rwanda. An opening reception with the artist is on Saturday, August 28 from 6 - 8 pm.

Beginning Sight Singing
with Sheri Bauer Mayorga
Thursdays, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, & 12

For all musicians who are new to music notation, music theory (ie. intervals, keyboard skills, rhythmic reading, etc.). Consider this to be music lessons centered around the voice rather than an instrument. Director Sheri Bauer Mayorga leads singers through the study, and work and practice at home will be required to build familiarity with concepts and develop an ear for the concepts practiced. Open to adults and youth ages 13 and up. $5 adults, free for youth.

Song Session
with Sheri Bauer Mayorga
Thursdays, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, & 12

This workshop centers around the learning basic choral vocal technique, familiarization with song anthologies (both traditional folk and classical from around the world), learning how to bring a song to life, and working on material in preparation for a community sing at the end of the workshop. Open to adults and youth ages 13 and up. $5 adults, free for youth.

Summer Creative Writing for Teens
with Kathe Izzo
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
July 12, 13 & 14, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Student writers ages 13-18 explore their own voice and style through writing games and activities designed to bring their writing to the next level. The end of writer's block forever. Excellent for all writing genres. Led by poet Kathe Izzo.

Summer Teen Printmaking Workshop
with Amy Madden
Monday through Friday
July 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30
1:00 - 4:00 pm

A weeklong experimental process workshop with artist Amy Madden for teens ages 13 through 19. This workshop will focus on exploring unusual 2D processes, such as block printing, stencils, and batik. Projects will include large-scale mixed media works and mail art. There will be a culminating exhibition at HOH.

Author Da Chen
Saturday, August 7, 2:00 p.m.

New York Times best selling novelist, memoirist, children's book author & speaker. Da Chen grew up in the deep south of China, running barefoot in muddy fields and riding the backs of water buffaloes. As the grandson of a disgraced landowner, he was a victim of communist political persecution and hollowing poverty during the Cultural Revolution. His family was beaten, his father thrown in reform camp, and young Chen, at the age of nine, was threatened with imprisonment. Da arrived in America at the age of 23 with $30 in his pocket, a bamboo flute, and a heart filled with hope. Families of all ages.

Teen Cuisine
Led by Chef Matthew Locricchio
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday
August 18, 19 & 20
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Matthew Locricchio's latest book Teen Cuisine features gourmet American recipes for young, enthusiastic young chefs. Join Matthew for hands-on cooking at HOH for this three-day intensive. A must for young chefs! Led by Chef Matthew Locricchio. Ages 13 & up. Registration Required.

Hudson Community Book Group
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. July 6 through August 17

In collaboration with the Hudson City School District, students ages 8 and up and their parents participate in literacy activities at HOH. Free.

Storytime, Music, & Movement with Abby Lappen
Wednesdays, July 7 through 28
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Discover new songs and sing along with some of your children's favorites. Have fun as Abby gets you moving and dancing. Parent participation encouraged. For children of all ages. Free.

Open Studio for Young Artists
Thursdays, July 8 through 29, 10:00 a.m. - noon

Come with an idea or let our resident artist help you get creative with drawing, painting, pottery and more! We provide the materials, you bring the creativity. For young artists ages 7 & up. Free.

Beginner Chess
Fridays, July 9 through August 13, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.

A beginner chess workshop with NY Chess Kids Instructor Chris Chanin for youth ages 5 to 10 years old. All necessary chess equipment and materials for the class and for the kids to take home for their own use will be provided. Registration is required and attendance at all six sessions is requested.

Keeping Our Earth Green
Nancy Castaldo
Fridays, July 9 through August 13, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Keeping Our Earth Green provides readers with over 100 hands-on ways to help save the Earth. Discover facts about pollution, global warming, biofuels, and much more. Nancy will talk about experiments to do at home or in a classroom, and cool things being done to help our planet now. Become an Earth Hero - make a difference. Free and open to the public, books will be available for purchase and signing.

Short Fiction Intensive Writing Workshop
Hillary Jordan
Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, & August 1 (no class on July 4)

HOH offers a Short Fiction Intensive Writing Workshop with author Hillary Jordan. Participants will learn skills to sharpen their prose and make every word count, through critiquing of work as well as close reading of a wide array of masters of short fiction. Fee is $150, $120 for HOH members. Scholarship assistance is available.

Life Drawing
Summer Session
Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
July 11 - August 15

The workshop allows artists to work independently in a disciplined environment; No instructor or specific method is followed. $10 per session.

Painting Studio: Figure Painting
with Yura Adams
Sundays, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m., July 11, 18, 25, August 8 & 15

Artist Yura Adams teaches an integrated blend of traditional and contemporary practices in painting the human figure. This course is for all levels and oil, acrylic or water soluble oil paints can be used in class. For all levels, beginners and more advanced students. $100 for five sessions, $85 HOH members. Registration required.

Landscape / Plein Air Painting
with Yura Adams
Saturdays, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m., June 5, 12, 19 & 26

Artist Yura Adams returns to teach a plein air painting workshop. Participants will enjoy the experience of open air painting as they meet at different locations in Columbia and Greene Counties. The first class will meet at the gazebo in the Hudson Waterfront Park. For beginners and advanced painters. A material list will be provided upon registration. In case of rain, classes will meet at HOH. $80 for four sessions, $70 HOH members. Registration required.

Adult & Teen African Drumming
Saturdays, 10:15 to 11:15
through June 12

In collaboration with Kuumba Dance and Drum and Operation Unite. Adults $5, youth ages 12 and up free.

Family African Dance
Saturday mornings, 11:00 to noon
through June 12

In collaboration with Kuumba Dance and Drum and Operation Unite. Ages 7 to adult, under 7 parent participation required. Call 828-3612 for more information. Adults $5, youth free.