Join Hip-Hop legend, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and co-founder of the pioneering rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D, in conversation with NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo on Sunday, November 19th at the Canoe Place Inn at 5 pm, as they reflect on hip hop’s rise from the street corner to the world stage and into one of the world’s most prominent cultural influences.

The global influence of hip-hop culture has shaped music styles, fashion, technology, art, entertainment, language, dance, education, politics, media, and more. Hip-hop continues to be a global phenomenon, developing new art forms that impact the lives of new and old generations. Chuck D is the leader and co-founder of the legendary rap group Public Enemy and a social activist, multimedia producer, visual artist, and digital music pioneer. As part of Public Enemy, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and has earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

His “naphic grovel” trilogy STEWdio was the debut release on his Enemy Books Imprint with Akashic Books. He is also the illustrator and author of Livin’ Loud: Artitation (with the near DEF Experience.) His latest “naphic grovel” takes on how America is held hostage by gun violence in Summer of Hamn.

Chuck D and Chris Cuomo’s conversation on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop promises to be a riveting exploration of the genre’s impact on culture and society. As they reflect on the past five decades of hip hop, we can anticipate an engaging discussion that delves into the genre’s past, present, and future, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of a cultural revolution.

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Warriors Rock, a musical tribute to veterans, active military, and first responders, will be presented at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center this Friday night, November 10^th at 7:00 p.m.

The musical boasts an unmatched night of classics in this revival that celebrates our nation’s patriotism. The music in the show will be performed by the founder of Warriors Rock, Gary Racan, who is also the former lead singer of the Vogues, and he will have his studio e band joining him for the presentation with an intentional and captivating setlist. 

The true rockstars and the focus of the night, however, will be the local veterans who are invited to take the stage. A backdrop will show pre-recorded interviews of these featured veterans throughout the concert that creates a well-thought-out final product fusing live and recorded material in this production.

Each of the veteran spotlights that will be shown on the screen ends with a statement from the veteran discussing a song that most reminded them of home when they were deployed. The band then dives into that mentioned song, all of which are wide-ranging and unique to the individual and their experience. The band hits all the emotions and notes to produce the ultimate sensory experience while honoring these warriors.

The musical finishes by bringing veterans and active military to the front of the stage and revering them with a special rendition of “God Bless the USA.” Ending the night on this note reminds the audience and our community about the great sacrifices made among veterans, active military, and first responders in this country. It is sure to be an evening full of sentiments that can bring everyone together through the healing powers of music, performed in a way that unites the crowd as they honor those deserving of this tribute.

Proceeds from Warriors Rock are donated to the Westhampton Beach VFW Post 5350, Hampton Bays American Legion Hand-Aldrich Post 924, and the Westhampton American Legion Post 834. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://whbpac.org/event/warriors-rock-2/.

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Martin Scorsese presents Sag Harbor Cinema’s 3rd Festival of Preservation, scheduled for November 17-20. The festival lineup includes exciting programs and special guests. Notably, a new 4K restoration of Terrence Malick’s “Days of Heaven” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Spellbound,” featuring a memorable Salvador Dalí-designed nightmare sequence, will be screened.

Filmmakers like Josh Safdie and Jonas Carpignano, along with Linda LeRoy Janklow, daughter of director Mervyn LeRoy, and archivist Grover Crisp, will join in introducing films and Q&A sessions. The festival will showcase vintage posters from filmmaker/archivist Joe Lauro’s collection.

Unique preservation experiences will include interviews between iconic directors like Hopper/Welles and Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin. There will be a tribute to William Friedkin with a screening of “Sorcerer” and a presentation of Howard Hawks’s “Rio Bravo.”

Warner Bros.’ centennial will be celebrated with screenings of “Little Caesar” and “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang,” with Linda LeRoy Janklow participating in a Q&A. The Women’s Film Preservation Fund will present restored silent shorts, and Bruce Goldstein will return with his live show of “The Tingler.”

The festival will also feature collaborations such as Emilio “El Indio” Fernández and cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa’s “Victims of Sin,” and restored classics like “I’m No Angel,” “Stella Dallas,” and “Touki Bouki.” The Kids and Families Matinees will offer classic Disney shorts.

A Preservation Panel and brunch, open to all attendees, will feature industry experts. Archivist Joe Lauro will exhibit a rare poster collection on the Cinema’s third floor.

Tickets and passes can be purchased on the cinema’s website, sagharborcinema.org, with passes and member pre-sale tickets available from October 27th and general public tickets from November 3rd.

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No stranger to the Hampton theatre scene, Long Island playwright Cindi Sansone-Braff has been creating plays since she majored in playwrighting, receiving a BFA in 1975 from the University of Connecticut. Her theater reviews and theater columns are read all over the Hamptons and Long Island in both print and websites via the various “Messenger Papers.” Yet, as she attended the staged World Premiere of her play, “The Menu,” produced by the Kingdom Theatre in NYC on Friday, November 3, she said, “I didn’t know what to expect, but it was spectacular. C.Kelly Wright and her actors brought my words to life, with action and terrific movement.” 

The Kingdom Theatre’s mission is to empower, encourage, and uplift people through the visual and performing arts. “The Menu” was part of the Playwrights Weekend Celebration produced by Kingdom Theatre’s talented Artistic Director, Nickolas III. 

Unlike Sansone-Braff’s other produced full-length plays, “The Menu” is an attention-grabbing ten-minute play. The  main character, Chris, receives an Evite to a Come-As-You-Are Party at “The Final Exit Bar and Grill.” When Chris is handed a menu, the whole event takes on a tragic twist. This play is based on a dream the  playwright had, which centered on “selecting your method of death.” Although this does not seem to be a comical topic, Sansone-Braff’s brilliant writing, augmented by great actors and the brilliant direction of C.Kelly Wright,  took “The Menu” to a place where there is much-needed comedic relief as the characters rattle through this serious topic as if it were a menu at a diner. 

Playwright Cindi Sansone-Braff was ecstatic about the participation of Director C. Kelly Wright,  a New York City native actor, singer, and dancer whose greatest love is developing new works. Wright has given voice to the development of Broadway shows, from the Tony-award-winning musical “Memphis” to Katori Hall’s “The Mountaintop.” 

The audience truly enjoyed the talent of the two actors. Their facial expressions, movements, and gravitas captivated the audience. Taifa “Harmony” Bartz portrayed the part of Chris. Bartz, born into a  musical family, is the daughter of two-time Grammy winner Gary Bartz. She has been singing, acting, and dancing since she was two years old and followed her passion by studying music, theatre, and dance in college. She now leads her own jazz/funk/neo-soul band and has starred in and directed many stage, film, and TV productions.  

Meanwhile, the role of Pat was powerfully portrayed by Nubia. While aptly demonstrating her talent as an actor, Nubia is also a poet and a classical hip-hop artist from the Bronx. Nubia’s album, “THE UPTOWN QUEEN,” is available on all digital distribution platforms. Many predict one day, she will be a Grammy-winning songwriter and perhaps an Oscar-winning actress. 

Sansone-Braff is a member of the Dramatists Guild and is an award-winning playwright. She is also the author of  three books available on Amazon; “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her dramatic play, “A Whole, Empty House,” was a finalist in the Robert A. Forest Playwriting Competition. Her full-length, romantic comedy, “Angel’s Mice and Men,” was a finalist in Lodi’s National New Play contest and Theatre Festival and was produced in  2019 at the Summerfest Theater Festival at the Hudson Guild Theatre in NYC and was published in 2021 by Next Stage Press. Her full-length, dramatic play, “Phantom Pain,” was a finalist in Minneapolis’s Playwrights Center’s Playlab program. Her full-length music drama “Beethoven’s Promethean Concerto in C Minor WoO,” was produced at the BACCA Center on Long Island in August 2017 and is published by Next Stage Press. 

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2023 Long Island Restaurant Week: Fall Edition

Friday, November 2nd – Sunday, November, November 5th

2023 Long Island Restaurant Week: Fall Edition starts Sunday, October 29th and ends on Sunday, November 5th. Enjoy delicious 3-course meals at your favorite restaurants on Long Island. Check out the list below and plan the perfect lunch or dinner date.

Click Here For The List 

Guild Hall’s
84th Artist Members Exhibition

Friday, November 3rd, 2023
12:00pm – 5:00pm

Guild Hall
158 Main St,
East Hampton, NY 11937

The Artist Members Exhibition began in 1938, and Guild Hall continues this long-standing, democratic tradition as the oldest non-juried museum exhibition on Long Island. This lively presentation features over 300 works and showcases a variety of media. As with the concept of the Salon, established artists are exhibited alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors, offering a glimpse of artistic practices within our community.

Paint & Sip With Artist Pamela Trastelis

Friday, November 3rd, 2023
5:30pm – 7:30pm

East End Food Market
139 Main Rd,
Riverhead, NY 11901

Enjoy a delightful evening of creativity and relaxation at a Paint and Sip event featuring the talented artist and teacher, Pamela Trastelis. Unleash your inner artist as Pamela guides you step-by-step through the process of creating a beautiful masterpiece, all while sipping on your favorite local wine. Whether you’re a seasoned painter or a complete novice, Pamela’s expert guidance and warm personality will ensure a fun and memorable experience.

Southampton Artists Association Fall Art Exhibit

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 – Sunday, November 5th, 2023
12:00pm – 4:00pm

Southampton Cultural Center
25 Pond Ln,
Southampton, NY 11968

The Fall Art Exhibit has over 40 participants from the Southampton Artists Association (SAA)

Sticks And Stones Presents:
All-Star Comedy

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 –  Saturday, November 4th, 2023
7:00pm

Sticks & Stones Comedy Club
25 Pond Ln,
Southampton, NY 11968

On Friday, Nov 3 and Saturday, Nov 4th, Vanessa Hollingshead will headline an all-star comedy show! Vanessa Hollingshead is one of the most brilliant, raw and legendary comics you’ve ever seen. She’s performed all over the world and was touted as among ‘Fifty of the Funniest Women Alive’ by Oxygen. You may know Vanessa Hollingshead from her episode on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast, or from the groundbreaking Showtime Special, Funny Women of a Certain Age, hosted by Fran Drescher, or from her own Comedy Central Special.

Hamptons Theatre Company:
Rose and Walsh

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 – Saturday, November 5th, 2023
7:00pm – 9:30pm

Quogue Community Hall
125 Jessup Avenue,
Quogue, NY 11959

“Rose and Walsh,” a romantic comedy from acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and author Neil Simon, will kick off the Hampton Theatre Company’s 2023-2024 season, with performances running from October 19 through November 5 at the Quogue Community Hall. The company’s 39th season is dedicated to Don and Judy Gruhn, Quogue residents and longtime friends and supporters of the HTC.

Marders: Birds of Prey

Shucking, Shaking, & Tasting
At R.AIRE

Sunday, November 5th, 2023
4:00pm – 10:00pm

R.AIRE at The Hampton Maid
259 E Montauk Hwy,
Hampton Bays, NY 11946

Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with a truly unique culinary adventure as Chef Alex Bujoreanu and the R.AIRE team welcome Georgette Moger-Petraske, acclaimed author and cocktail expert, on Sunday, November 5. This extraordinary event will take you on a journey into the world of bivalves and cocktails.

Herbal Wreath Workshop In Southampton

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Hamptons Doc Fest celebrates its 16^th year with an enlarged seven-day festival of 30  enlightening documentary films, screening November 30 to December 6 in Sag Harbor, at both the Sag Harbor Cinema and Bay Street Theater.  

“Our 2023 documentary program promises you the power and experience of quality storytelling that surprises us, makes us think and feel, and connects us with wider ideas and concepts,” says Jacqui Lofaro, founder and executive director of Hamptons Doc Fest. “Plus the festival provides us as always with a festive, celebratory opening to the holiday season.”

Opening Night Film at the Sag Harbor Cinema on Nov. 30 features “In the Company of Rose” directed by James Lapine, about widow Rose Styron’s life with novelist William Styron, while Frank Marshall’s “Rather” about newscaster Dan Rather closes the festival at Bay Street Theater on Dec. 6.

The line-up includes films about artists, musicians, dancers, fashion and photography, nature and the environment, biography, history and human rights.

“Among the many award-winning films and talented filmmakers we have invited to our festival,” states Hamptons Doc Fest artistic director Karen Arikian, “we are honored to recognize the stellar career of Matt Heineman with our Pennebaker Career Achievement Award; Artemis Rising Foundation with our Impact Award to Regina K. Scully; and new this year, our Legacy Award, given posthumously to filmmaker Nancy Buirski. We are also thrilled to be showing Wim Wenders’ “Anselm”—shot in 3D—about artist Anselm Kiefer, as well as to warmly welcome master filmmaker James Ivory with his film “A Cooler Climate.”

An annual tradition, the festival also presents its Young Voices Program on Dec. 6 at Bay Street Theater to hundreds of local middle and high school students, where award-winning filmmaker Roger Sherman will conduct a hands-on workshop after the screening of a short film “Rocks 4 Sale!”

Tickets and passes for films at both theaters are available starting November 1 at www.hamptonsdocfest.com.

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Montauk’s iconic Memory Motel is partnering with NYC and East Hamptons’ party hot spot Common Ground for an East Village popup bar now through New Year’s Eve. The two-level bar is located on the corner of 13^th Street and 3^rd Avenue. The bar will be open Thursday – Monday, now through December 31^st. 

Paying homage to its original location in Montauk, the space has been transformed to create the rowdy beachside dive bar feel that resembles the space that served as inspiration for the Rolling Stones hit song “Memory Motel.” Anyone who’s partied at the original Montauk spot will find familiar DJs and staff, in addition to its staple drinks served in plastic cups (after 9PM), drinks without fruit (don’t ask for a lime!), and a painting of the iconic Montauk Memory Motel on the side of the building. This popup will give NYC residents and visitors a taste of Montauk fun during the New York winter.

The bar menu will feature classic bar snacks like nachos, wings, burgers and “Weenieville” hot dogs. For game days and events, guests can order food towers. Kicking off each weekend, bargoers can enjoy Thursday trivia and Thursday night football and end their weekend with Memory Mondays.

“I think it’s the perfect time for Memory Motel to enter NYC,” said Brian Kenny, owner of Memory Motel. “People are excited and ready to have high energy fun without having to spend stupid money on bottle service they don’t have. I’m looking forward to making some new friends, and seeing some familiar Montauk faces. Memory Monday industry night is going to be insane – I can’t wait!” 

“It’s been a long time coming for Memory Motel to open its doors in NYC so that we don’t have to wait all year round for those (not so memorable) Memory Motel nights,” said Chris Reda.

“Your new favorite dive bar is open for business. NO Reservations. NO Fuss. NO Fancy Door Lines. Just a cover and a good time. Meet us at the Memory Motel.”

Experience the ultimate night out at the Memory Motel Pop up, located at 103 3rd Ave. New York, NY.

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On Friday, October 27^th, Canoe Place Inn & Cottages in Hampton Bays hosted “A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics” presented by Fever’s Candlelight Concerts. Those in attendance were invited into an intimate seating space where hundreds of tealight and flameless candles adorned the room surrounding the perimeter and stage, along with spiderweb décor, and a simultaneous eerie and cozy ambiance.

The bar served beer, wine, and a couple holiday-themed cocktails as ushers attentively helped guests locate their sections and seating. As guests awaited the performers, the mood was set with music aligned with the Halloween season from the likes of Radiohead, Evanescence, Misfits, and other haunting melodies.

The performance from the Highline String Quartet started promptly at 9:00 p.m. as the young and talented artists took the stage, beginning the evening with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The Highline String Quartet is a group of four musicians based out of Manhattan, performing shows across New York and Long Island, one of which is their events through Fever’s Candlelight Concerts. They performed well over 100 shows throughout the year, noting how much they love to take the stage and that no one performance is ever exactly the same as they take in the energy of each unique audience, channeling this through their live playing.

The artists, consisting of two violinists, a violist, and a cellist took turns introducing their favorite songs and themes of the evening and speaking about their background and affiliation with the music. Their passion for the music and attention to detail was evident as they went on to perform classics from the horror and Halloween world like the theme from The Exorcist, “Tubular Bells,” by Mike Oldfield, the Stranger Things theme by S U R V I V E, Danny Elfman’s Beetlejuice theme, as well as a medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas by Elfman.

The quartet involved the crowd with their rendition of Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr., queuing them to sing along to the ever-popular verse “Ghostbusters!” Other haunting numbers included the prelude to Psycho by Bernard Herrmann, The Addams Family theme by Mic Vizzy, and of course, a Halloween-themed evening of chamber music wouldn’t have been complete without John Carpenter’s Halloween theme song. Other terrifying, ominous, and fan favorites were executed with precision and an engaging stage presence throughout the evening by the quartet.

After the hour-long performance, they ended with an encore, which their program director and violinist touted as the “greatest theme song of all-time in his opinion,” which was Hedwig’s Theme (theme from Harry Potter) by John Williams.

The Highline String Quartet certainly brought the spirit of Halloween alive and had viewers riveted and ready to embrace the remainder of this spooky season. It was the perfect event to kick off Halloween weekend, capturing all the sensory, ominous vibes.

Candlelight Concerts presented by Fever take place throughout the year, all with different themes and to suit holiday seasons. Next up for Candlelight Concerts at Canoe Place Inn & Cottages will be “The Best of Hans Zimmer” and “A Tribute to ABBA” both in different time slots on November 17^th, “Holiday Special featuring ‘The Nutcracker’” on December 15^th, and many other specials across New York and Long Island.

For more information about upcoming events, visit https://candlelightexperience.com.

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The buzz up and down Jobs Lane in front of the Southampton Art Center this past weekend (October 21 and 22, 2023) was all about the successful production of “War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast.” This Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center presentation, Directed by Michael Disher, Written by Joe Landry with the Musical Score by Jack Seabury, was a great success at a new and beautiful venue.

The sold-out show I attended on Sunday afternoon had the audience applauding throughout the ninety-minute radio play. They totally enjoyed this triumphant presentation.

Although Disher may have been hindered by copyright restrictions, with editing forbidden, the end product (the show) was masterful. Daniel Becker, who portrayed Orson Welles, said he believed, “The most important concept was not to automatically believe what you hear on radio or television or the web.” Then he turned his focus to Director Disher, saying, “Michael is the most literate experienced, trained director out here. He gives and has given a start to numerous countless performers. He is and has always been an educator.”

Regarding the importance of a show like “War of the Worlds,” now in today’s world, Daniel Becker said, “The show is timely because, like back then when the Martians attacked on the broadcast, we are now flooded with false information before it is fact-checked, and that unchecked information is dangerous and divisive.”

The show takes place at a studio at WBFR, a metropolitan radio station, on Sunday, October 31, 1948, with some action suggesting Studio One at CBS in Manhattan and other locations on Sunday, October 30th, 1938, along with other newsworthy dates and periods.

The Stage Management was brilliant and by Joey Giovingo. Both the Lighting Design and the Sound Design were by Ken Blessing. The play was performed by an ensemble of WBFR Playhouse of the Air Actors who created all of the characters and most of the sound effects. The WBFR Center Stage Ensemble of Players for “War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast” consisted of Richard Adler, Daniel Becker, Richard Browning, Susan Cincotta, Joey Giovingo, Vincenzo James Harty, Jenifer Maxson, Matthew O’Connor, Franco Pistritto, Jack Seabury, Michael Lyn Schepps, along with Ken Blessings.

A cast must come together to create a certain energy that propels the show to a memorable level. This cast was outstanding. It is important to single out the players and their roles.

The important roles of Orson Welles and Professor Richard Pierson were both played by the east-end iconic actor Daniel Becker. Becker’s gravitas elevates every production he is in. Kudos go out to WBFR Stage Manager, played by the multi-talented Richard Adler. Also effective was Matthew O’Connor as the Mercury Theater on the Air Stage Manager. Franco Pistritto played both John Houseman and The Stranger with great merit. Carl Phillips was effective as Jack Seabury, while the audience truly loved the Studio Announcers who were played by Susan Cincotta, Jenifer Maxson, Vincenzo James Harty, with the Foley Artist Joey Giovingo and Ken Blessings.

“War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast” was produced through special arrangements with Playscripts.com.

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This Sunday, October 29^th, The Perlman Music Program will present their annual Alumni Retreat Chamber Music Concert. This program invites sixteen PMP graduates back to Shelter Island for five days of chamber music study, with a focus on community performance practices. Located at 73 Shore Road in Shelter Island Heights, The Perlman Music Program invites everyone out to enjoy this free-of-admission public concert on Sunday evening at 4:30 p.m.

The Perlman Music Program was established by Toby Perlman in 1994 for aspiring young violinists, violists, cellists, bassists, and pianists. The program is situated on Shelter Island, overseeing Crescent Beach, and sits among twenty-eight acres, creating the perfect setting for students to hone their craft and become part of a lasting community of likeminded artists.

PMP offers a vast curriculum of programs, mentorships, concerts, residencies, and other educational engagement throughout the year. At The Perlman Music Program they say, “The most promising young musicians from across the world have a platform to thrive, make music together, challenge each other, form life-long bonds, and transform their potential into a life-changing reality.” And the sixteen participants in this Sunday’s Alumni Retreat Concert will be showcasing these values.

For the past few days, throughout the retreat, the participants have worked on developing educational presentations for the young audiences at East End schools that will be taking place at Shelter Island School, Greenport School, Southold High School, and Westhampton Beach Middle School on Monday, October 30th.

For the performance open to the public on Sunday, the sixteen participants will be grouped into four quartets, each performing selections from chamber music masterworks. PMP says that attendees can expect to hear works by Haydn, Mozart, Brahms, Dvorak, Schubert, and Ravel during this evening of brilliantly crafted chamber music.

The sixteen participating artists have shared a bit about their backgrounds. They are excited for this upcoming performance on Shelter Island and to showcase their work. For more information, and to RSVP to the event, visit https://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org.

Meet the Artists:

K.J. McDonald

Boston, MA

K.J. McDonald, violin received his B.M. and M.M. with Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho at the Juilliard School, where he received a Kovner Fellowship (a full ride scholarship only awarded to a select few students). He currently studies with Donald Weilerstein at the New England Conservatory with the Dean’s scholarship. He has worked with composers Steve Reich, Thomas Ades, Alvin Singleton, Kaija Saariaho, Tan Dun, and John Adams, and regularly premieres and commissions music from upcoming composers in venues such as Alice Tully Hall. KJ McDonald has founded several string quartets and piano trios, and has worked with both present and past members of the Juilliard string quartet, members of the Cleveland Quartet, Joseph Kalichstein, Merry Peckham, and Kirsten Docter. KJ has a passion for pedagogy and has traveled the world teaching underprivileged children, including in Sal Paolo, Brazil. He has attended the Perlman Music Program, Yellow Barn, Lucerne, and IMS Prussia Cove music festivals.

Tong Chen

Centereach, NY

Shanghai-born violinist Tong Chen is an avid soloist whose love lies in chamber music. This has taken him to music festivals including Verbier Music Festival, Four Seasons Chamber Music Winter Workshop, International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Perlman Music Program. Tong has been blessed to have performed with inspiring musicians including Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Paul Biss, Areta Zhulla, and Vivian Weilerstein. Chen received BM, MM, and Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory under Miriam Fried, Paul Biss, and Donald Weilerstein. He is now pursuing his doctoral studies at Stony Brook University.

Isabella Bignasca

New York, NY

Violist Isabella Bignasca, from Sydney, Australia, is a thoughtful and expressive performer with a passion for chamber music and community engagement. She is a 2023-25 fellow in Ensemble Connect at Carnegie Hall and completed her master’s degree under the tutelage of Paul Neubauer and Heidi Castleman at The Juilliard School, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. International festival appearances include the Verbier Festival Academy, Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop, Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Heifetz International Music Institute where she was also a part of Heifetz on Tour.

Camden Archambeau

Cambridge, MA

Camden M. Archambeau is a cellist and conductor based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He studied History and German and cello performance in the Harvard–New England Conservatory Dual Degree program. This year he is serving as Artist-in-Residence in Lowell House at Harvard University. Camden has served as Principal Cellist of the New York String Orchestra, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestra, Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra, and New York Youth Symphony. He has completed residencies at the Stauffer Center in Cremona, Italy, studying with the Quartetto di Cremona and Antonio Meneses. In the summers, Camden attended festivals including the Perlman Chamber Music Workshop, Meadowmount School of Music, and Bowdoin International Music Festival. He received Honorable Mention in the Harvard Yannatos Concerto Competition, First Prize in the NFMC Cox String Award, and was a National YoungArts winner. For his work as a cellist and conductor, he received the Robert Levin Prize for Musical Performance from Harvard College. He has studied with Paul Katz, Hans Jensen, Sieun Lin and David Finckel. Camden served as the Music Director of the Harvard Bach Society Orchestra, Assistant Conductor and Vice President of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra under Federico Cortese. He works with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras as a conductor and chamber music coach.

Daniel Dastoor

San Francisco, CA

Canadian violinist Daniel Dastoor studies with Ian Swensen at the San Francisco Conservatory, pursuing an Artist Diploma in Chamber Music. A native of Montreal, Daniel is a winner of the Sylva Gelber Award, the Calgary Philharmonic’s Marley Rynd Prize, and won first and second prize at the Fontainebleau Festival’s Prix Ravel. He has performed as soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic and the Lethbridge Symphony. A passionate chamber musician, Daniel won first prize at the Trondheim International Chamber Competition as part of the Rilian Trio. He has participated in the IMS Prussia Cove Masterclasses, Bowdoin Fellowship Program, Kneisel Hall, NAC Young Artist, Banff Centre, and Lunenburg Academy festivals. Daniel performs on the 1700 Taft Stradivari violin, on loan by the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.

Clara Neubauer

New York, NY

Praised for her “seductive artistry” and “rare grace” (Classical Voice North America), violinist Clara Neubauer is a recent recipient of the Ana Chumachenko Award from the Kronberg Academy and the Peter Mennin Prize from The Juilliard School. Clara has appeared at festivals including the Ravinia Festival, Bravo! Vail, Taos School of Music, Music@Menlo, Four Seasons, Music From Angel Fire, and Olympic Music Festival, and as soloist with orchestras including the Symphony of Westchester, the National Repertory Orchestra, the New York Concerti Sinfonietta, the Little Orchestra Society, Ensemble 212, and the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn. Clara received her Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School as a recipient of the Kovner Fellowship, studying with Li Lin and Itzhak Perlman.

Annie Hyung

Boston, MA

Korean-American cellist Annie Hyung has performed internationally as a soloist and ensemble musician at venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, and Taipei’s National Performing Arts Center. She most treasures the human connections built through music, and has performed at festivals such as Kronberg Academy’s Chamber Music Connects the World, Perlman Music Program, and the Taos School of Music. She currently studies with Laurence Lesser at the New England Conservatory of Music; previous mentors include Hans Jorgen Jensen and Sarah Koo Freeman.

Ayano Nakamura

New Haven, CT

Originally from Hudson, Ohio, Ayano Nakamura is currently earning a master’s degree at the Yale School of Music where she studies with Ettore Causa. She recently received a bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory, studying with Martha Katz and Mai Motobuchi. She has attended the Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop and Kneisel Hall Young Artist Chamber Music Program among others, and has recently performed with A Far Cry Chamber Ensemble and Nobuko Imai’s celebration concert in Japan.

Sterling Elliot

Newport News, VA

Cellist Sterling Elliott is a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and the winner of the Senior Division 2019 National Sphinx Competition. He has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony. In his spare time, Sterling enjoys wrenching on cars at his home garage in Virginia. Sterling is pursuing an Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School studying with Joel Krosnick and Clara Kim. He performs on a 1741 Gennaro Gagliano cello on loan through the Robert F. Smith Fine String Patron Program, in partnership with the Sphinx Organization.

Wenqi Ke

Los Angeles, CA

Wenqi Ke, 24, born in China, is pursuing her Master of Music degree at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Robert Lipsett. She was the first prize recipient at the 2014 Hong Kong International String Competition, and was awarded a scholarship from the Shanghai City Government. Ms. Ke appeared as a soloist with the Shanghai Chamber Orchestra and the Colburn Orchestra. She has served as Assistant Principal Second Violin of the American Youth Symphony Assistant Concertmaster of the Seiji Ozawa Music Festival, Assistant Concertmaster of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, Concertmaster of Music Academy of the West and Principal of the Colburn Orchestra. In 2021 She won the London Symphony’ Keston Max audition and has performed in the assistant concertmaster chair under Simon Rattle with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Cassia Drake

New Haven, CT

Cassia Drake, a native to Southwest Florida, made her debut with the Artis-Naples Philharmonic at the age of 14 and has since appeared as soloist with the Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra, Colburn Orchestra, and the Bravo Summer Music Festival, among others. She has won top prizes in competitions throughout the world, such as National YoungArts Foundation, Berlin Philharmonie Competition and has toured throughout North America, the Middle East, and Europe giving recitals and masterclasses. As an avid chamber musician, she has collaborated with quartet members of the Tokyo, Calidore, Aviv, and Vermeer quartet as well as chamber festivals such as the Mainly Mozart Chamber Festival, Ojai New Music Festival, and the Reno Chamber Music Festival. Cassia Drake is pursuing a Master of Musical Arts degree at the Yale School of Music, studying with Ettore Causa. Previously, she studied at the Colburn Conservatory where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees under the tutelage of Paul Coletti and Yura Lee.

Ria Honda

New Haven, CT

Twenty-three-year-old Japanese-American violinist, Ria Honda, was recently named a 2022 Rohm Music Foundation Scholarship recipient. She was awarded the fourth prize at the 2021 Klein International Competition. She has been featured on WFMT’s Introductions, NPR’s “From the Top,” “Heifetz on Tour,” the Evermay Concert Series in Washington D.C., the Dame Myra Hess Recital series, and has performed with the Seattle Symphony, Cascade Symphony Orchestra, and the Oistrakh Symphony, among others. A passionate chamber musician, Ria has been a first prize winner in the M-Prize International Chamber Music Competition and has received the silver medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. She has a B.A. from Columbia University, an M.M. from the Juilliard School, and is currently continuing her studies at Yale School of Music.

KayCee Galano

Cincinnati, OH

Kristine Clair “KayCee” Uchi Galano has established herself as one of the leading young violinists of her generation. Highlights of KayCee Galano’s 2021/22 season include  winning first prize at the 2021 Mary Lane Memorial Violin Competition and participating at the 2021 Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition and 2022 Internatiomal Violin Competition of Indianapolis. KayCee made her Carnegie Hall debut on October, 2019, performing all 6 Bach solo sonatas. In 2018, she was invited to perform the Bruch Violin Concerto with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in her native country, the Philippines. She was featured on National Public Radio’s “From The Top” with Christopher O’Riley at age 12. At age 14, she toured the USA with pianist Rohan DeSilva and China with the Starling Chamber Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, KayCee Galano spends her summers at the Perlman Music Program, Kneisel Hall, and Bowdoin Music Festival. Ms. Galano studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with Kurt Sassmannshaus.

Joseph Skerik

Interlochen, MI

Born in 1999 and raised in Michigan, Joseph Skerik is the newly appointed violist of the Vega String Quartet, where he is an artist and faculty member in residence at Emory University and the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta. He has performed at festivals such as the Ravinia Institute, Vivace Music Foundation, Heifetz Hear and Now Series, Highlands-Cashiers Festival, Perlman Music Program, Aspen Music Festival, and the Lake George Music Festival, and his chamber music performances include concerts with musicians such as Ani Kavafian, Ilya Kaler, Jaime Laredo, Erin Keefe, Colin Carr, Margaret Batjer, and Edward Aaron. Joseph is a Young Arts Merit Violist, a prize-winner at the American Viola Society Competition and at the 4th Oskar Nedbal Viola Competition in Prague. This season’s performances include collaborations with the Juilliard Quartet, Ransom Wilson and Zuill Bailey. He is the co-founder of Viridian Strings, a summer chamber music series in Northwest Lower Michigan.

Dilshod Narzillaev

Boston, MA

In the fall of 2021, Narzillaev performed Martinu’s string sextet with members of the Borromeo String Quartet as part of the Borromeo Guest Artist Award at NEC. In May of 2022, Narzillaev made two main debuts with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Symphony Hall and the State Orchestra of Uzbekistan in the Grand Hall of Tashkent Conservatory. Narzillaev was a featured artist at the iPALPITI festival in Los Angeles this past summer. He also attended the Kronberg Festival and played public masterclasses with Frans Helmerson in the fall at Kronberg Academy. He spent his 2023 summer at the Perlman Music Program Workshop, and Sitka Cello Seminar and he was a guest Artist and Junior faculty at the Vivace Music Festival.

Angie Zhang

Ann Arbor, MI

Praised as “warmly expressive, sensitive, and polished” and “a valuable advocate for classical music” by New York Concert Review, American pianist Angie Zhang is committed to showcasing the modern piano, fortepiano, and harpsichord as solo and collaborative instruments in impactful and awe-inspiring ways. Recently named Third Prize at the Chopin International Competition on Period Instruments in Warsaw, she is internationally sought after as a soloist and chamber musician. Angie has been invited by concert presenters at Lincoln Center, La Jolla Music Society, Bravo! Vail, Tippet Rise Art Center, Sarasota Music Festival, Perlman Music Program, Explorers Club, American Liszt Society, and

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