The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

concert

CANTORS COAST TO COAST Presents Songs of Sustenance

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A Virtual Benefit Concert to Fight Hunger from the Worsening COVID Crisis will be held Sunday, January 31, 2021 • 18 Shevat 5781

Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester

Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, and spurred by the worsening COVID crisis, TBE’s Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb is collaborating with an exciting cast of fellow cantors and notable Jewish singer-songwriters across the country to present a virtual benefit concert on Sunday, January 31. Don’t miss this historic event as leading voices representing all five branches of Judaism perform together to fight hunger! Ticket link: www.bethelnw.org/concert

Hosted by Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Chappaqua, NY

Honoring Cantor Meir Finkelstein, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Houston, TX

Featuring
Rabbi Joe Black, Temple Emanuel, Denver, CO
Cantor Magda Fishman, B’nai Torah Congregation, Boca Raton, FL
Cantor Chayim Frenkel, Kehilat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation, Los Angeles, CA
Cantor Netanel Hershtik, Hampton Synagogue, Westhampton Beach, NY
Cantor Robin Joseph, Temple Beth Shalom, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Lisa Jane Lipkin, Singer, Composer, Producer
Beth Schafer, Spiritual Leader, URJ and Cantorial Chair, Temple Sinai, Atlanta, GA
Hazzan Basya Schechter, Music Director, Romemu, New York, NY
Cantor Rosalie Will, Director of Worship and Music, URJ

Admission to the concert will be by ticket only, and funds raised will benefit MAZON, the national advocacy organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the US and Israel. The program will feature original music composed by the cantors and singer-songwriters. General admission is $18.00. Premium admission, including “backstage pass” to a special roundtable with the cast following the concert is $180. www.bethelnw.org/concert

 

 

 

 

‘Halloweekend’ Event at the Irvington Theater Promises a Livestream of Spooky Surprises

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It started on Halloween six years ago…

That’s when Dou­glas Mc­Clure, John Mal­one, and a few of their friends dressed up as the Ra­mones and per­formed on North Dutcher Street where they live. Since then, the ritual has joyfully multiplied into a treasured Irv­ing­ton tra­di­tion: community bands providing their neighbors with a rock and roll soundtrack (and the accompanying light show) while trick-or-treaters and their families crowd the Village side streets to sing and dance along.

“We’ve got ar­chi­tects, psy­chol­o­gists, vet­eri­nar­i­ans, teach­ers, and tech­nol­ogy pro­fes­sion­als,” said McClure of the musicians who comprise each act. “It runs the gamut.”

Half Halloween concert finale at Irvington Theater on April 26, 2019, featuring local bands Wild Thyme, Lennon + Friends, Evil Eckar with special guest the Dirty Irv Horns, and the North Dutcher All Stars.
“The Cure” performing on North Dutcher Street, Halloween 2018. 
The audience was captivated by “Tom Tom Club” and “Talking Heads” at Irvington Theater’s Half Halloween Concert.
“Devo” (fronted by Doug McClure) at Irvington Theater’s Half Halloween Concert.
Downtown Irvington, just before Halloween’s musical magic begins.

The Halloween Bands (as they’ve been collectively dubbed) don’t let their moniker dictate their performance schedule; last spring, they came together for “Half Halloween,” a spectacular concert fundraiser on the Irvington Theater stage that thoroughly enchanted audience members of all ages. For the first time, four beloved bands were all in one place: Lennon + Friends, Wild Thyme, Evil Eckar, and the North Dutcher All-Stars. Local resident Rich Lobel made a wildly entertaining Master of Ceremonies, and the whole evening was replete with uncanny impersonations, impromptu aisle dancing, spooky surprises, and a karaoke contest that brought down the house. The Village of Irvington was abuzz for weeks, basking in the afterglow of such palpable community spiritedness and intergenerational celebration.

“Ever since that magical night, people always ask us if we made a movie of the show,” said participating musician Miyuki Furtado, who also serves on the Irvington Theater Commission. “Folks who missed it were so disappointed, and anyone who was there wishes they could see it again.”

That wish is about to come true. For the first time ever, Irvington Theater will stream this legendary concert for a one-night-only Halloweekend event – from their stoops to our stage, and now directly to you! Costumes, candy, and household watch parties are strongly encouraged.

Furtado says it’s the perfect time to revisit such a cathartic, live event: “Especially now, with so much uncertainty in the air, that night takes us back to a feeling not so long ago… when we could all gather together and share an incredible, creative community bond that made everyone on the stage and in the audience feel so welcomed, close, and inspired.”

This world premiere concert film will stream at 7:30pm on Friday, October 30. Purchase your ticket ($12 per household) to receive the viewing link and password at irvingtontheater.com/irvingtonanywhere. 

Irvington Theater is home to a diverse range of innovative programming that entertains, enlightens, and inspires, establishing itself over its 118-year history as the cultural heart of the Rivertowns. The theater continues its tradition with unprecedented reach with “Irvington Anywhere,” their entirely virtual fall season of short films, lively concerts, and classic celebrations. Irvington Anywhere is made possible thanks to the generous support of Eric Bernstein of Compass, Dobbs Ferry.

 

PHOTOS BY Paula Romanow Etzel

The Hudson Valley Electric Jazz Band at ChappPac on Saturday, December 7

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The Hudson Valley Electric Jazz Band is a jazz pop and fusion instrumental and vocal group covering artists such as George Benson, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Chaka Kahn, Stevie Wonder, John Scofield, Michael Brecker and many more.  The band’s music has accessible, strong melodies, both as instrumentals and vocal tunes with a feature of at least one of the soloists showing their virtuosity at some point during each piece. We will show that we have tight arrangements with an expressive moody side as well.

“We want to make sure that there are at least a few songs that the audience is familiar with so we mix in some Motown and R&B vocal numbers so the audience isn’t just listening to a group of performers playing complicated riffs and soloing all night long,” said Jeff Weiner, the band’s drummer who is also helping produce the event.

The Hudson Valley Electric Jazz Band will perform LIVE on Saturday, December 7th from 8 pm to 9:30, at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.

General seating, first come first serve.

Two sets. Each set is 60 minutes in length. 15 minute intermission.

For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/83000373351

New courtesy of the Hudson Valley Electric Jazz Band; to learn more, visit www.hvejb.com

 

Erev Yom HaShoah Concert

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On Wednesday night, May 1, 7 p.m., Temple Shaaray Tefila is sponsoring a unique Erev Yom HaShoah concert with musicians from the Boston Symphony. Mark Ludwig, Executive Director of the Terezin Music Foundation, will be narrating a multi-media presentation with music and archival video of the composers of Terezin and an examination of life/survival/death in the so-called Model Ghetto. Free attendance.

shaaraytefila.org

Choral Music Concert To Celebrate 175th Anniversary of St. Stephens Church and Founding of Armonk

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Britain’s favorite composer Paul Mealor
PHOTO BY CHRIS O’DONOVAN

North Castle residents are in for a treat at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 29 at 4 p.m. A concert of choral and instrumental music featuring Vivaldi’s Gloria and additional works by Handel and Parry will be included in the concert to celebrate the founding of the church and the town of Armonk 175 years ago. The concert will also introduce a world premier commissioned by St. Stephen’s from acclaimed British composer Paul Mealor titled “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place.”

Mealor rose to fame in the U.K. after composing and performing Ubi Caritas et Amor  at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. His song “Wherever You Are” performed by the Military Wives Choir became a #1 single in the U.K. and he has worked with choirs and orchestras all over the world.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located in the historic Mile Square center of Armonk, is celebrating 175th year, with a year-long series of special events and concerts. Rev. Nils Chittenden stated “In 1842, a small group of Episcopalian Christians founded a parish in the town of North Castle, built a beautiful sanctuary in the Greek Revival style and, in so doing, established a community that led to the founding of modern-day Armonk.” Armonk, which means “the fishing place between the hills” derived its name from the word Armonck, the name used by the Native Americans known as the Siwanoys who were based on the Byram River.

The piece by Mealor is an adaptation of the New International Version translation of Psalm 84. “A psalm was chosen so as to be as inclusive as possible to all of Armonk’s faith communities: both Christian and Jewish. We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate all of the good that St. Stephen’s has brought to Armonk,” noted Rev. Chittenden.

Tickets for Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ are $15/$10 online at www.ststephensarmonk.org or $20/$15 at the door. The concert will take place in the church from 4p-6p.

A reception follows the concert and is included in the ticket price.