Music, Music + Auction, More Music . . . and Dance

Coming up in the always art-filled Upper Valley

Farmers Night: Did you know that if you happen to find yourself in Montpelier, Vermont on a Wednesday night, you can climb those majestic stairs of the country’s most impressive state capitol, make your way to the House Chamber, and . . . listen to music. The 2023 Farmers Night Concert Series is already underway. Is this something new? Apparently not.

The Farmers Night Concert Series is a longstanding State House tradition which goes back over 100 years to a time when lawmakers entertained themselves in the House Chamber mid-week while away from home. Artists from around the state, in genres ranging from classical music to bluegrass to barbershop, perform in the well of the House Chamber each Wednesday night during the legislative session—and the concerts are free and open to the public.

The New England School of the Arts, slated to open this fall (details here), will host a benefit concert at Lebanon Opera House on February 4 at 7 pm. The event will feature video testimonials from celebrities such as Emily Saliers from the Indigo Girls, acclaimed conductor Bruce Adolphe and local musicians Noah Kahan and Hans Williams as well as other live musicians and performers such as the Dance Collective, Lebanon Ballet School, WR Ballet Academy, Sylvie Rudollf, Tommy Crawford, Julie Ness, Tristan Bellerive and local teenagers. Guest speakers will include Dr. Mike Casey from Dartmouth College and comedian Cindy Pierce. Check out a preview video here. Tickets are available here.

And NESA also has an online benefit auction, happening as you are reading this and now extended until midnight on February 11 with an item pickup date of February 12. (Just in time for Valentine’s Day.) Artworks like “Receding Dreams” by Fred Faudie (photo, top), gift cards for local restaurants and arts venues, and a trip to Mexico with a fully staffed house and margaritas served infinity pool-side. See what you might be itching to bid on. Click here.

More music with Upper Valley Baroque! Concerts will take place on January 28 at 7 pm and January 29 at 3:00 pm, both at the First Congregational Church, 10 South Park Street, Lebanon NH. Details and tickets are here. To read a previous post on Artful about this excellent company and its director, Filippo Ciabatti (photo, above), click here.

Feeling the need to move somewhat rhythmically? Elizabeth Kurylo has announced that White River Junction will be the site again for The Junction Dance Festival, July 14 through 16, 2023, and preparation is ramping up. She writes:

“This year, the festival will have the same format as last year, with dance performances, dance film screenings and free dance workshops throughout the weekend.  We are adding new activities for children and dance instruction specific to older adults.”

Registration for the festival’s ChoreoLab opens on February 27. The ChoreoLab is a program sponsored by TJDF. Its aim is to support dance artists in their creative pursuit by providing them with a studio space for free. All new work created by the ChoreoLab participants during their residency will be performed at the festival. Please go to https://thejunctiondancefestival.org/choreolab for more information.

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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.