While the organization has no religious affiliation, Grace Episcopal Church at 130 First Avenue, Nyack, has graciously played host to the GraceMusic concerts. Performances start at 4pm on Sundays and admission is $15, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Childcare is available. A meet-the-artists reception follows each concert. All admission fees go to defray costs but primary support is through generous contributions from Friends of GraceMusic. A board of seven members chaired by Fredrica Wyman plans and oversees concerts. For additional information please call (845) 358-1297 ext. 16 or visit their website, www.gracechurchnyack.org. . The schedule for the upcoming season is as follows:

Sunday, October 26, 2008; 4pm - GraceMusic presents Walden Chamber Players

The acclaimed Massachusetts-based Walden Chamber Players perform Mozart’s first chamber music masterpiece, Britten’s colorful oboe solo, a crowd-pleaser Dohnanyi trio, a sophisticated and original surprise and more. This dynamic group (oboe, cello, violin, and viola) presents a refreshing alternative to standard concert fare, mixing and matching works of classical and contemporary composers with an eye to new understanding.

Walden Program:

Mozart: Quartet for oboe and strings in F major, KV 370
Schedl: “A Due” for violin and cello
Milhaud: Sonatine à Trois
Britten: Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, op. 49, for oboe solo
Dohnanyi: Serenade in C major, op. 10

Christoff Heubner, one of the musicians, comments; “The Mozart oboe quartet is significant because it was his first real masterpiece in the chamber music genre. The piece by Gerhard Schedl is equally a masterpiece. We discovered his music a few years ago and have been strong advocates. He is in a league of his own as far as sophistication and originality is concerned. The Britten piece for solo-oboe is rarely performed yet it is such an imaginatively crafted work. The string trio by Dohnanyi is also a wonderful piece, one of the true staples of the string trio repertoire. He is not that well known as a composer, but he was a very gifted man and this serenade is full of beautiful music and always an audience-favorite.”

Sunday, December 9, 2008; 4pm - Messiah Sing

A holiday tradition and Rockland’s only Messiah Sing! We provide the professional soloists, you sing the choruses! Admission only $10 and children free.

Sunday, February 22, 2009; 4pm - Brass Roots Trio

A program of popular and jazz-influenced music featuring piano, French horn and trumpet

Sunday, March 22, 2009; 4pm Grace Church Choir Concert
Choir and instrumental music

Sunday, April 19, 2009; 4pm - String Theory
The String Theory was formed when a group of Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera musicians got together to play Arnold Schoenberg’s challenging work: Verklarte Nacht. The result was so exciting that the group decided to explore more string sextet and quartet literature.
by Kathleen Sykes

Concert Alert

Jacquelyn Drechsler, an accomplished flautist, grew up in Palisades and is a member of the Rockland Symphony Orchestra. She writes: “The Rockland Symphony has moved to Riverspace in Nyack for its 2008-09 season and I invite all to come out and support Rockland’s own orchestra which has been in existence for over 50 years.

We will be presenting three concerts: Sunday, Nov. 2, The Young People’s Concert, with the winners of the Rockland County Music Teachers Guild Competition; Sunday, Feb. 8, Melodic Classics and April 26, Eine Kleines Mozart Concert. All concerts will be at Riverspace, 119 Main Street, Nyack, at 3pm.

There will also be chamber music in intimate spaces as special fund-raising events preceding each concert. The first is on Thursday, Oct. 23 at Riverspace with the high energy group, High 5, performing a mix of pop and jazz vocals. Next is David Shire with Friends on Jan. 24 where David will talk about and perform several of his compositions at a special “Energy Star” home. The third chamber music concert at Riverspace features violinist Avi Nagin with the Fairbanks Trio.”
Please contact Jacquelyn for information or tickets at (845) 535-3091.

Purple Rose of Cairo

(Click to enlarge)

A Woody Allen film shot in Piermont in 1983 will be shown at the Piermont Library at 8pm on Friday, Oct. 3. In 1983, Piermont was turned upside down for a few months to look like a 1935 Depression-era town. Main Street’s buildings took on a drab dark green hue, and two fake buildings appeared opposite the Turning Point. At 7pm on Oct. 3, preceding the film, Piermont photographer Sally Savage will relate her experiences photographing the 1983 filming and exhibit her photos. All are also invited to a photographer’s reception on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 2-4pm at the Piermont Library.

The Purple Rose of Cairo is a presentation of the newly formed Piermont Cine-club. The club will offer a free film at the Piermont Library on the first Friday of each month.

Wednesday Night at the Movies

Rivertown Films presents the following movies in October:

Oct. 15: “Mongal,” directed by Sergei Bodrou, 2007, English subtitles, 126 minutes. Showings at 2pm and 7:30pm.

Oct. 22: “Seasons in the Valley,” directed by Adam Matalon, 2008, documentary, 87 minutes. Showing at 7:30pm.

Oct. 29: “The Edge of Heaven,” directed by Faith Akin, 2007, English subtitles, 122 minutes. Showing at 7:30pm.

All films shown at Riverspace, 119 Main St., Nyack. General admission $9, $7 for students, seniors and general members.

For information: 353-2568 or rivertownfilm.org. For tickets at the door: 348-1880 or riverspace.org.

Riverspace

A not-for-profit arts organization, Riverspace offers innovative programming in theatre, dance, music, film and education. Over 400 events have been offered over the past 3 years ranging from adult programs such as the Riverspace Conversation Series (with Ellen Burstyn, Edward Albee, Bill Irwin, Lewis Black, Kathleen Turner and Alec Baldwin) to the popular children’s Milk and Cookies Playhouse which has brought hundreds of children together monthly to enjoy live theatre.

Riverspace is proud to feature performers both world renowned and emerging, with a special focus on local artists. Series such as Young Musicians, Poetry Readings, Jazz and Songwriters provide an exciting venue for both the artists and the community to experience a wide range of talent.

October offerings include:
• Milk and Cookies Playhouse with local favorite Fairy Una Wildwood. Saturday, Oct. 18, 10:30am.
• Conversation Series featuring Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep joining Academy Award winning Director Jonathan Demme, Saturday, Oct. 18, 8pm.

For all October offerings, visit riverspace.org or check The Nyack Villager which provides a complete monthly list.

For tickets or information, call 348-0741 or 348-1880. Riverspace is located at 119 Main St., Nyack.