Press Releases

Geddes Federal Savings presents ‘A Concert for Our Times,’ May 9 on WCNY-TV with live performances by Symphoria musicians

by Rouhollah Goudarzi

May 1, 2020

WCNY, Central New York’s community-owned flagship public broadcaster, in partnership with Symphoria, will broadcast a two-hour concert, performed live from the TV Studios at the Robert J. Daino Broadcast and Education Center, from 8 to 10 p.m., May 9. The concert is presented by Geddes Federal Savings.

The concert will provide viewers and listeners with an evening of comfort, hope, and joy in these challenging times. Diane Jones and Bruce Paulsen of Classic FM will host the concert, which will feature solos, duets, and a special ensemble piece, “Living Room Music.”

“We are excited to present this two-hour live Symphoria concert to our viewers, listeners, and communities across Central New York’s 19 counties and beyond,” said Mitch Gelman, WCNY President & CEO. “We hope the evening featuring soloists and duets will provide those at home with comfort, hope, and joy.”

“Thanks to the support of our generous community and Symphoria musicians, we are honored to continue to share music with Central New York during this time,” said Pamela Murchison, Symphoria Executive Director. “We need beauty and joy around us now more than ever. Symphoria has always worked nimbly and collaboratively, and WCNY is an amazing partner as we work for new ways to remain connected to the people we’re here to serve.”

The concert will air on WCNY-TV, Classic FM, Facebook Live, with a Virtual Watch Party and streams at wcny.org/aconcertforourtimes. Following the concert, guests in the Virtual Watch Party can participate in a Q&A session with the conductor.

Program

• John Cage’s “Living Room Piece,” by percussionists Michael Bull, Ernest Muzquiz, Larry Luttinger, Jennifer Vacanti.
• Solo violin piece by Peter Rovit.
• S. Bach’s Cell Suite No. 2 by cellist Walden Bass.
• Solo clarinet piece by Allan Kolsky.
• Trio performance by Charlie Loh, Hillary Loh, and Larry Loh.
• Martinu’s “Madrigals,” by Peter Rovit and Arvilla Wendland.
• John Williams’ “Sayuri’s Theme from ‘Memoirs of a Geisha,’” by cellist Greg Wood.
• Mark Summer’s “Julie-O,” by cellist Greg Wood.
• Handel/ Halvorson’s “Passacaglia Duo,” by Spencer Phillips and Noemi Milodrovic.
• Piano trio performance by Sonya Williams, Heidi Hoffman, and Rob Auler.
• Sean O’Loughlin’s String Quartet by Peter Robit, Noemi Milodrovic, Arvilla Wendland, and Heidi Hoffman.

About Classic FM

WCNY-FM, or Classic FM, is Central New York’s only classical music radio station that provides listeners with live, locally hosted classical music programs. The station features concerts from around the world six nights per week. Listeners can tune in for performances from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, archival Syracuse Symphony Orchestra programs, as well as specialty Broadway, Italian American music, jazz, and bluegrass programs.

About WCNY

WCNY was founded in 1965 as The Educational Television Council of Central New York. Today, it is a community-owned media company that produces content across multiple platforms, including television and radio programs, dynamic web and targeted email content, the WCNY CONNECT member magazine, and social media. Through online stream technology, WCNY has a global broadcast audience of viewers and listeners throughout the United States and 17 countries. WCNY operates five digital, pledge-free broadcast channels and three radio stations. Towers are located in Watertown and Utica, and WCNY’s radio programming extends into Canada. Classic FM is one of a few radio stations in the world dedicated to locally programmed music.

Educational services include workshops; a 10,000 square-foot building with dedicated Education Center; Read Out, a radio reading service for the visually impaired; Enterprise America for middle school students; and a media and marketing communications program for high school students.

WCNY is LEED® Platinum Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest certification level achievable in Leadership, Energy & Environmental Design. Other achievements include “Business of the Year” in the nonprofit category in 2014 by CenterState CEO.