Summer is in full swing and so are the arts. This month’s selections include lots of local artists and outdoor events in our region; don’t forget to get out and enjoy your town’s fireworks displays as well. Happy 4th, and fingers crossed for no rain!

PBS presents A Capitol Fourth
Premieres July 4. Most stations air the Concert at 8pm and repeat the program at 9:30pm.
The concert is broadcast on PBS as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The concert can also be streamed live on this website, on YouTube, the PBS app and PBS.org. The concert will remain available for two weeks following the live broadcast.
Watch “PBS Presents A Capitol Fourth”

The Aspen Music Festival and School presents Sunday Livestreams and Live Broadcasts
Concerts stream live, free, on the AMFS Virtual Stage and/or will be broadcast live on Aspen Public Radio.

Livestream and live broadcast on Sunday, July 2, at 6pm:  Robert Spano,  conductor; Daniil Trifonov, piano

    • BRIAN RAPHAEL NABORS:  Of Earth and Sky :  Tales from the Motherland
    • GERSHWIN:  Piano Concerto in F major
    • STRAVINSKY:  The Rite of Spring

Live broadcast on Aspen Public Radio on Sunday, July 9, at 6pm:  Kevin John Edusei, conductor; Inon Barnatan, piano

  • ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour
  • RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G major
  • RACHMANINOFF: Symphonic Dances, op. 45

Livestream and live broadcast on Sunday, July 16, at 6pm:  Markus Stenz,  conductor; Augustin Hadelich, violin

  • DONNACHA DENNEHY:  Violin Concerto (AMFS co-commission)
  • WAGNER/HENK DE VLIEGER:  The Ring, an Orchestral Adventure

Livestream and live broadcast on Sunday, July 23, at 6pm:  James Conlon,  conductor; Lise de la Salle,  piano; Sasha Cooke,  mezz-soprano; Rodrick Dixon, tenor

  • MENDELSSOHN:  Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, op. 40
  • G. MAHLER:  Das Lied von der Erde

Livestream and live broadcast on Sunday, July 30, at 6pm:  Robert Spano,  conductor; Kelley O’Connor,  mezzo-soprano; AOTVA Treble Chorus,  Colorado Children’s Chorale

  • CAGE: 4’33”
  • G. MAHLER:  Symphony No. 3 in D minor

Access Aspen Music Festival events and view the complete calendar on their website.

 The Town of Rye presents The Phil’s Boppin’ Brass Quintet
Sunday, July 2, at 3pm, in Crawford Park, Rye Brook, NY
The Westchester Phil’s beloved brass quintet swings, literally and figuratively, from Baroque to be-bop, with trumpeter Wayne duMaine’s guided tour narrative that grown-ups love as much as the kids!  Great for the whole family and absolutely free. Bring a picnic blanket!
Learn more on the Town of Rye website

Jazz Forum Arts presents Free Outdoor Summer Concerts
In July and August, including Purchase alum Anais Reno on July 14 in Pierson Park, Tarrytown.
Enjoy live Jazz with your friends and family in your neighborhood park!  We present 32 concerts annually at five Hudson River locations: Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park, Lyndhurst and Pierson Park in Tarrytown, Horan’s Landing in Sleepy Hollow, and Henry Gourdine Park in Ossining.
Learn more on the Jazz Forum Arts website

The Pleasantville Music Festival presents the 2023 Festival
Saturday, July 8, on Parkway Field in Pleasantville, NY
Thousands of friends, families, and lovers of live, world-class rock, setting out their chairs, blankets, and tents, going up to the stage and dancing.  Food and drink, a beer & wine garden for the adults, fun activities to keep the kids happy, and a zero-waste program to keep the Earth happy. Plus stuff to buy, charities to learn about, and a warm, positive backyard vibe.  All combined with world-class headliners, breakout stars and local artists you need to know, hand-picked and brought to our stages by dedicated music fans.  It’s New York’s Backyard Jam.
Visit the festival website for event times and ticking information

The Untermyer Gardens Conservancy Minnie Untermyer Concert Series
presents the Westchester Philharmonic String Quintet
Sunday, July 9, at 5pm
In the amphitheater in the Walled Garden of Untermyer Gardens, Yonkers
RAIN OR SHINE: In case of inclement weather, the performance will move indoors to the Community Room of the Cola Center at Untermyer Park and Gardens
The quintet will be presenting a truly monumental program, featuring one of the most celebrated and beloved chamber music works: the Schubert String Quintet.
Deborah Wong and Laura Oatts, violin; Jessica Troy, viola; Eugene Moye and Roberta Cooper, cello
SCHUBERT: String Trio in B-flat Major, D. 471
BOCCHERINI: Cello Quintet Op. 37 No. 7 in C Major
SCHUBERT: String Quintet in C Major
Visit the Untermyer Garden website for tickets and more information

 Westchester County presents 2023 Cultural Heritage Celebrations
The series of ethnic festivals continue in July!  Enjoy a multitude of cultures through music, dance, handicrafts, and food.  The festival will be held rain or shine. Seating is informal; bring blankets or folding chairs for seating on the lawn. No coolers will be allowed. Admission and parking at Kensico Dam Plaza are free.
Kensico Dam Plaza is located at the north end of the Bronx River Parkway, in Valhalla.
Ridge Road Park is located at 287 Ridge Road, Hartsdale.

  • Hispanic / Sunday, July 9, noon – 6pm, at Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
  • Irish-American / Sunday, July 16, noon – 6pm, at Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale
  • Italian / Sunday, July 23, noon – 6pm at Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla

Click for more festival information

The Metropolitan Opera in association with PBS and The WNET Group presents Lohengrin
Premieres beginning Sunday, July 9, at 2pm on PBS (check local listings)
Back at the Met after 17 years, this production of Wagner’s opera is directed by François Girard with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting. Tenor Piotr Beczała leads the cast in the title role of the mysterious swan knight, with soprano Tamara Wilson as the virtuous duchess Elsa, falsely accused of murder, and soprano Christine Goerke as the cunning sorceress Ortrud. Bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin is Ortrud’s power-hungry husband, Telramund, and bass Günther Groissböck is King Heinrich. Christopher Maltman hosts.
Learn more on PBS.org

UPAW presents the fourth Upstate Art Weekend
Friday, July 21, through Monday, July 24
Over 130 cultural organizations will participate in this year’s edition, celebrating art and culture in the Hudson Valley and Catskills.  The participants are art organizations, galleries, museums, residencies, and creative projects.
Visit the UPSTATE ART WEEKEND website for details

White Plains Public Library presents Takaizo Japanese Drums & Flutes Performance
Thursday, July 27, 6:30–7:30pm, at the White Plains Public Library
Roughly translated, “Taiko” means “big drums” and that’s exactly what this performance brings. Experience the thunderous rhythms of the ancestral Japanese Taiko drums and the magical sounds of the bamboo flutes. Hear the 150 lb. Taiko drums give a thunderous voice to traditional and new compositions with big drums, powerful rhythms, and electrifying, room-thumping energy alongside the Shakuhachi and the Fue (Japanese bamboo flutes).
Visit the White Plains Library website to learn more

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The Performing Arts Center Purchase College 2023-2024 Season
Tickets go on sale July 12
Our spaces are crackling with energy and alive with possibility and we’re thrilled to announce a season centered on the creative journey.
View the season line-up and get tickets on our website.

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Culture Picks celebrates the performing arts. In each post, PAC staff member Coni Guhl shines the spotlight on work by artists that you know and love from their appearances at The Purchase PAC, and offers recommendations about other performing arts events that you really should not miss. Experience them all!

All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.

Pictured: Jazz musicians playing at the Dobbs Ferry Summer Concert. Photo (c) Jazz Forum Arts.