Community Calendar

19th Year of Juilliard Young Artists Concert program kicks off Oct. 4 Featuring 2 Prized Students;
Also Will Serve as Musical Memorial Tributes to Late Co-Founder Marie Duane of Woodstock

WOODSTOCK—Two prize-winning classical musicians from the Juilliard School will appear in concert Sunday, October 4 as part of the Young Artists Concert Series which begins its 19th year at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in Woodstock.

The top attractions are mezzo-soprano Sarah Lekaj of Kingston, who studied at Juilliard and is now a first-year medical student at Rutgers, and pianist Gracie Yeung who began her musical journey at the age of five in Beijing.

The October 4 concert begins at 3 pm in the beautiful sanctuary of St. Gregory's, 2578 Route 212 in Woodstock. This concert is of special note because it will be a tribute to its late co-founder Marie Duane of Woodstock and a long-time member of St. Gregory's.

Adelaide Roberts, who is on the Juilliard faculty and serves as artistic director for the program, will perform a special piano tribute. In addition, the concert will feature musical pieces and poetry readings from members of St. Gregory's.

"We cannot think of a better way to honor Marie Duane and continue this rich tradition that she orchestrated many years ago," said Scott
Widmeyer, events chair at St. Gregory's.

Everyone is welcome to this free concert. Donations are appreciated. A short social will follow the concert.

This event is part of Hudson Valley Community College's Fall 2026 Lunchtime Concert Series presenting the free concerts from the very best local and regional musicians. This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the HVCC Cultural Affairs Program. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Viking Cupboard Food Pantry.

Fiesta del Norte is an authentic Mariachi band that performs traditional Mexican folk and popular music dressed in traditional sombreros and “charro” outfits. The multi-talented musicians/singers perform Mariachis of Jalisco, Norteñas of Chihuahua and Marimba music of Chiapas with guitar, violin, trumpet, plus the stringed vihuela and guitarrón.

The lively program is enhanced with stories and cultural insights shared by Dave Giardina, director, who welcomes audience members to dance.

The Connecticut-based ensemble’s performance complements HVCC’s annual Día de los Muertos exhibit held in the Marvin Library.

The Alasdair Fraser Band brings together legendary Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser with sons Galen and Cameron Fraser and Galen’s Castilian wife, María San Miguel. Blending Scottish and Iberian traditions, the family quartet moves from fiery dance tunes and lyrical airs to original compositions, rich harmonies, and inventive string arrangements. Alasdair—hailed as “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling”—brings virtuosity and joyful spontaneity to a vibrant sound rooted in heritage and alive in the present.

This event is part of Hudson Valley Community College's Fall 2026 Lunchtime Concert Series presenting the free concerts from the very best local and regional musicians. This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the HVCC Cultural Affairs Program. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Viking Cupboard Food Pantry.

In 2009, Stephen Guerra left his career in finance to study music full time. Today, Guerra performs and teaches Brazilian choro around the U.S. and Brazil and has played with Rogério Souza, Ronaldo do Bandolim, Sungmin Shin, Tiago Souza, Eduardo Belo, Ami Molinelli and Edinho Gerber. Guerra regularly appears at universities, festivals, cultural centers and music clubs, including the University of Louisville Guitar Festival, Northwest Jazz Festival, Folkfaces Fest, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo International Guitar Festival, Yale University, Georgetown University Friday Music Series, Friends of Vienna Concert Series, Pausa Art House, Jazz Forum Arts and Boulder Guitar Society.

His work has been supported by numerous competitive artist grants and composer residencies. He has recorded three full-length albums — “Um Violão na Cidade Maravilhosa” (2026), “No Balanço do Choro-Samba” (2023) and “Choro in the Time of Bossa Nova” (2020) — and published sheet music with Mel Bay, Guitar Chamber Music Press and Bergmann Editions. He teaches music theory and the choro ensemble at the University at Buffalo and lives between New York and Rio de Janeiro.

This event is part of Hudson Valley Community College's Fall 2026 Lunchtime Concert Series presenting the free concerts from the very best local and regional musicians. This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the HVCC Cultural Affairs Program. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Viking Cupboard Food Pantry.

Musician and educator Scott Hopkins is an accomplished banjo player whose performances blend traditional bluegrass influences with contemporary interpretations.

He became interested in bluegrass and banjo music by listening to recordings of Flatt & Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers that his father played while he was growing up. At age 15, he started taking private banjo lessons and joined the school band on tuba to fully immerse himself in the study of music.

As a tubist, Hopkins earned a Bachelor of Music Education from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master of Music Education from the University of Connecticut. He won the Crane Concerto Competition on tuba in 1995 and, since his college days, has played banjo in a variety of bands and collaborations.

In 2013, Hopkins released his first solo banjo recording project, a self-titled album featuring guest artists Mike Compton, Stephen Mougin, Casey Driessen, Andy Hall, Jesse Cobb, Randy Kohrs and Becky Buller, among others. In 2023, he released his second project, Just You, an album of duets with musical friends and heroes featuring Tony Trischka, Joe Newberry, Smokey Greene, Ellen Carlson and Bob Amos, among others. Both projects garnered critical acclaim.

Experience the legendary album LIVE in concert!

Tapestry, the Carole King Songbook, starring Suzanne O. Davis, is the premier musical tribute to Carole King. This show captures the essence and vibe of a 1970s Carole King concert, while respectfully paying homage to her iconic album, Tapestry. Released in 1971, Carole King’s Tapestry is one of the best-selling and most celebrated albums of all time. With heartfelt reverence, and impeccable attention to detail, Suzanne O. Davis and her world-class band deliver a stellar performance of the complete Grammy-winning album. The concert also showcases hits written by Carole King and her husband Gerry Goffin during the 60s. They proved to be one of the most successful song writing teams in pop music history, composing more than 400 songs recorded by over 1,000 artists.

Suzanne’s boundless energy, piano and vocal skills are immediately apparent from the moment she takes the stage. Her exceptional performance recreates the era of iconic recordings, uncovering the rich music history of Carole King’s extraordinary career. Including anecdotes and multi-media about Carole’s life, this show promises to be a memorable and fun interactive experience for all audiences.

This young Scottish-Indian artist has won multiple European competitions and makes his recital debut in London’s Wigmore Hall in 2026. A member of Britain’s prestigious YCAT program, we feature our Horizons Young Artist in a free concert of solo guitar works for all to enjoy.

Works of Bach, Schubert, Dowland, & others