Concerts
Thank you for your support of the SUNY Schenectady School of Music.
Unless otherwise noted, all performances are free and take place in Carl B. Taylor Auditorium.
September 2025
September 5
Jazz clinic/masterclass, 3:30 p.m.
A Place for Jazz: David Murray Quartet, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 each; students with an ID are $10. Cash or checks, no credit cards.
Since he arrived in NY in 1975, David Murray established himself as one of the prominent saxophone players and leaders of jazz. He has released over 200 albums under his own name, working with the likes of Max Roach, Randy Weston, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Taj Mahal, Mal Waldron, Amiri Baraka, Jerry Garcia, Doudou N’daye Rose, Cassandra Wilson, Jason Moran, Macy Gray, Omara Portuando, Saul Williams, Vijay Iyer, Quest Love, Black Thought, and Gregory Porter, to name a few. He is also a founding member of the groundbreaking World Saxophone Quartet which toured and recorded for 40 years. As well as being a well-known bandleader, he is a noteworthy composer and arranger providing memorable melodies and harmonies. His approach to improvisation is instantly recognizable. Even in its freest flights, he acknowledges the gravity of a tradition he honors more than most, combining all the influences he grew out of: gospel, jazz, free/avant-garde jazz, rhythm ’n blues, R&B and, in his associations with writers, poetry. The great Cecil Taylor compared him to his greatest predecessors who had signature sounds: “You stick your ear in the door, you know it’s David!’’ His most recent quartet (Marta Sanchez (piano), Luke Stewart (bass) and Russell Carter (drums), the group that’s performing for us) released Francesca in May 2024. The critics unanimously agree that he is at the top of his game!
September 10
Faculty Recital, 12:00 p.m.
September 19
Jazz clinic/masterclass, 3:30 p.m.
A Place for Jazz: Peter Bernstein Quartet, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 each; students with an ID are $10. Cash or checks, no credit cards.
Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein (b. 1967, New York City) has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time, he has participated in over 80 recordings and numerous festival, concert and club performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released nine albums and a DVD, Live at Smoke. He got his first break while attending the New School when he met the legendary guitarist Jim Hall. Hall asked Peter to participate in his Invitational Concert as part of the 1990 JVC Jazz Festival. The event featured such guitarists as John Scofield and Pat Metheny and was release as Live at Town Hall Vol. 2 by Music Masters. Hall noted that Peter “…has paid attention to the past as well as the future. He is the most impressive guitarist I’ve heard. He plays the best of them all for swing, logic, feel and taste.” Also in 1990, Peter Bernstein was discovered by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and took part in the first of four recordings with him. He was a regular member of his group throughout the 1990s. “Some people just have it.” Donaldson said. “…most of the time you have to teach someone what to do, but Peter knows it all.” Peter has also enjoyed long musical associations with legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb (Cobb’s Mob), as well as organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart as a member of their highly acclaimed trio.
Joining Peter will be David Hazeltine, piano; John Webber, bass; and Willie Jones III, drums.
September 25,
Troubleshooting, 12:50 p.m.
Union College, Taylor Music Center: Emerson Auditorium, Schenectady, NY 12308
A micro-opera by John Carroll '16, for two voices and piano, Troubleshooting depicts a phone call between a lonely, socially dysfunctional young adult (Sam) and a volunteer social worker with similar issues (Rory). The show portrays the struggle neurodivergent people often face when they desire connection and closeness but feel thwarted when having to navigate social settings which do not adequately accommodate their issues.
October 2025
October 1
Troubleshooting, 7:00 p.m.
A micro-opera by John Carroll '16, for two voices and piano, Troubleshooting depicts a phone call between a lonely, socially dysfunctional young adult (Sam) and a volunteer social worker with similar issues (Rory). The show portrays the struggle neurodivergent people often face when they desire connection and closeness but feel thwarted when having to navigate social settings which do not adequately accommodate their issues.
October 3
Jazz clinic/masterclass, 3:30 p.m.
A Place for Jazz: Sarah Hanahan Quartet, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 each; students with an ID are $10. Cash or checks, no credit cards.
Sarah Hanahan is an up-and-coming jazz saxophonist in New York City. Sarah is a graduate of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2019, as well as The Juilliard School where she received her master’s degree in 2022. She has had the privilege of studying with some of the greats of our time including Abraham Burton, Nat Reeves, Steve Davis, Billy Drummond, and Marc Cary.
Recently, Sarah has been working with many renowned musicians including Jeff “Tain” Watts, Nat Reeves, Peter Martin, Steve Davis, Billy Hart, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jason Moran, Marc Cary and many others. Sarah plays regularly with her own band in venues around NYC such as Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Birdland, The Django, and more. She also recently had the opportunity to play for the 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert at the Kennedy Center honoring Sue Mingus with the Mingus Dynasty Band. Sarah tours both nationwide and internationally with Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y, Sherrie Miracle and the Diva Orchestra, Joe Farnsworth, and the Grammy award-winning Mingus Big Band.
Joining Sarah will be Caelan Cardello on piano, Matt Dwonszyk on bass, and Sam Bolduc on drums.
October 8
Music Business Lecture Series: Bruce Pilato, 2:30 p.m.
October 11
Brass Day, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
October 17
A Place for Jazz: Lee Russo Sextet, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 each; students with an ID are $10. Cash or checks, no credit cards.
Leo Russo Sextet, with Lee Russo, Michael Novakowski, Larry Ham, Pete Toigo, and Cliff Brucker.
October 18
Percussion Day, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
October 22
Musicians of Ma’alwyck preview The Merry Musical Family, A Celebration of Dutch Composers, 12 p.m.
Musicians of Ma’alwyck presents a captivating concert series of exquisite chamber works by 17th and 18th century Dutch composers.
Featuring masterworks by Pieter Hellendaal, Josef Schmitt (the “Dutch Haydn”), and Christian Graf, this program celebrates the deep cultural ties between the Netherlands and the Capital Region. Learn more about the Musicians of Ma'alwyck.
October 24
High School Choral Workshop, 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
High school choirs are invited to join the School of Music for a unique opportunity to explore various aspects of choral singing under the guidance of renowned professionals. Led by our distinguished faculty and featuring internationally acclaimed conductor and clinician Bruce Rogers, this workshop promises to be an exceptional learning and performing experience. Learn more about the Choral Workshop.
October 25
Conducting Workshop, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
All choral conductors in the Capital Region are welcome to come and explore various aspects of choral conducting techniques under the guidance of internationally acclaimed conductor and clinician, Mr. Bruce Rogers. Learn more about the Conducting Workshop
October 28
Chamber Music Series: Ida Nyman Piano Recital, 7:00 p.m.
November 2025
November 7
A Place for Jazz: Tyreek McDole, 7:30-10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25 each; students with an ID are $10. Cash or checks, no credit cards.
Tyreek McDole, a 25-year-old Haitian-American vocalist from Florida, is making waves in the New York and international music scene. His journey began with a standout debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2018 Essentially Ellington Competition, where he won the Outstanding Vocalist Award, presented by Wynton Marsalis.
Since then, he has shared the stage with artists like Rodney Whitaker, Theo Croker, Gary Bartz, Maurice Brown, and Joey Alexander. In November 2023, he won 1st place in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition becoming only the second male to do so in its 12-year history. Noted as one of the most anticipated events in jazz, McDole’s accolade now ranks him among the competition’s previous winners including the standout artists Samara Joy (2019 winner).
Tyreek is also earned a degree in jazz performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of esteemed instructors LaTanya Hall, Gary Bartz, Gerald Cannon, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, Dan Wall, Sullivan Fortner, and Weedie Braimah.
Accompanying Tyreek: Gary Jones III on drums, Caelan Cardello on piano and Daniel Finn on bass.
November 9
Capital Region Wind Ensemble presents Aegean Festival, 3 p.m.
Exploring the music of Greece, Turkey, and the Aegean islands.
Anthony O'Toole, Phalanx for Brass Ensemble; Andreas Makris, Aegean Festival Overture; Paul Creston, Anatolia; Adam Gorb, Dances from Crete
$10 for adults, $8 for students, $5 for children under 10
More information: 518-381-1231 ext. 2 or CapitalRegionWindEnsemble@gmail.com
November 15
Friends of Chamber Music: Quatuor Agate Masterclass, TBD
November 20
Musicians of Ma'alwyck: David Amram Open Rehearsal, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
November 21
Musicians of Ma'alwyck: David Amram Open Dress Rehearsal and Q&A, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Musicians of Ma’alwyck: David Amram, 7:00 p.m.
Concert tickets: $40; Reception tickets: $10; Reserve a combo ticket for $50.
Free for SUNY Schenectady students
Get tickets for Musicians of Ma'alwyck: David Amram
Join Musicians of Ma’alwyck in honoring the 95th birthday of legendary American composer David Amram, a genre-defying icon whose seven-decade career has earned him "rockstar" status in the classical music world.
We celebrate this milestone with a beatnik-inspired concert featuring a special performance by the composer himself.
November 24
Guitar & Bass Recital, 12:00 p.m.
Guitar Ensemble Concert & Audio Listening Recital, 7:00 p.m.
November 25
Brass Recital & Brass Ensemble Concert, 12:30 p.m.
Chamber Ensemble & Percussion Ensemble Concert, 7:00 p.m.
November 26
Percussion Recital, 12:00 p.m.
December 2025
December 1
Woodwinds & Strings Recital, 12:00 p.m.
Digital Music & Beat Production Listening Recital, 1:00 p.m.
Chorus Concert, 7:00 p.m.
December 2
Piano Recital, 12:30 p.m.
Vocal Chamber Ensemble Concert, 7:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
603 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
December 3
Voice Recital, 12 p.m.
Wind Ensemble Concert, 7:00 p.m.
December 4
Applied Lesson Recital, 12:30 p.m.
December 5
Jazz Combo & Jazz Ensemble Concert, 7:00 p.m.