Community Calendar

Leading the vanguard in interabled opera, Opera Praktikos presents the world premiere of its latest project La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) as part of National Sawdust’s 2026 makemake Festival. In a one-night only concert performance on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, this unique 90-minute work transforms Bellini-Romani’s classic masterwork into an unparalleled integrated experience where Italian song and American Sign Language become one expressive whole. Featuring arrangement and orchestration by Spicer Carr, ASL translation & integration by Brandon Kazen-Maddox, Director of Artistic Sign Language by Patrice Creamer; Book, and English translation by Marianna Mott Newirth, this production integrates ASL and Deaf culture into the narrative of a classic opera setting the standard for what’s possible when Disability-creativity is brought into the field.

Next Stage guest hosts an Open Stage evening, typically hosted by Vermont Timbre. This is an open, supportive space for musicians, poets, storytellers, and performers of all kinds to share their work. Sets will be 10–15 minutes. To sign up to perform, email Mike at mmrowicki@gmail.com. Audience members, please RSVP. $10 suggested donation; performers and audience alike help support the space. Come to perform, come to listen, or come to do both—community, creativity, and great music guaranteed.

Clarion Concerts and the exciting young Verona Quartet bring string quartets of Mendelssohn, Bacewicz and Beethoven to the Hudson Valley! Among the most distinguished ensembles on the chamber music scene today, the award-winning Verona Quartet's adventurous new recording, Shatter, entered the Billboard Classical music chart at #1. Their program combines a much-beloved early quartet by Mendelssohn with a work by the under-appreciated Polish woman composer Grażyna Bacewicz and the first of Beethoven's Razumovsky quartets. Treat yourself to a luscious end-of-summer evening of beautiful chamber music!