HEARTFELT RETURN Festival founder Daniel Stroup will perform for the first time in more than 30 years at this year’s Shandelee Music Festival. Provided photo
Shandelee Music Festival concerts to include founder
By Oscar Clevenger | Manor Ink
Shandelee, NY – For all those interested in world-class music, an exciting series kicks off this month as the annual Shandelee Music Festival returns for its 33rd season. And this year’s festival will have a special treat as Daniel Stroup, the festival’s founder, will perform for the first time in over 30 years.
The SMF schedule
As a part of the Sunset Concert Series, the Shandelee Music Festival will host seven events throughout August. All concerts are at the festival’s Sunset Concert Pavilion unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 4 p.m.: An evening of solo guitar with guitarist Daniel Garcia at Catskill Art Space. Free admission.
Thursday Aug. 6, 6 p.m.: Jazz and cocktails, a joint fundraiser for the festival and A Single Bite.
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m.: Chamber music with the Trio Gaia.
Thursday, Aug. 13, 8 p.m.: Chamber music with the Dolphin String Quartet.
Saturday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m.: An evening of choral music with the Mode 8 Chamber Choir.
Sunday, Aug. 16, 3 p.m.: An evening of solo piano with festival founder Daniel Stroup.
Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m.: An evening of solo piano with Maxim Lando, winner of the Franz Liszt Competition.
Manor Ink spoke with Stroup about this year’s the festival and about his upcoming performance. He said he has had a long career as a concert pianist and educator, including with the United Nations International School in New York City. He attended the renowned Manhattan School of Music where he met Carlos Correa in his senior year, and they paired up for a two-piano performance at the school’s annual concerto competition.
“We won to everyone’s surprise!” Stroup modestly said.
The two then developed an extensive repertoire of music and made their New York City debut in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic. From there, they performed all over the world.
Correa sadly passed away suddenly in 1992 and Stroup was devastated. “I did not know what to do with myself,” he said. But he was compelled “by the tranquility of the Catskills to develop a world-class festival and teaching center in the mountains region, one that would feature musicians of great talent in a beautiful setting.” To date, over 240 artists have trained and performed at the center.
Stroup will be playing in public for the first time since the devastating death of his musical partner. The repertoire for his performance will consist of some of his favorite classics, including George Gershwin’s “Prelude No. 1” and Debussy’s “Claire de Lune,” the latter piece dedicated to Carlos Correa. “This concert is going to be from my heart,” he said.
Stroup admitted that he is both excited and nervous about playing in concert for the first time in so many years. “I’ve been practicing like crazy everyday!” he said, laughing.
The Shandelee Music Festival concerts, including Stroup’s, are listed above. All proceeds benefit the Shandelee Music Festival. For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit shandelee.org.
Two local cellists launch festival
By Natalie Westergreen | Manor Ink Mentor
BACH AND MORE Geirþrúður Guðmundsdóttir and her husband Nicky Swett are the co-founders of the new Shin Creek Music Festival. Provided photo
The growing music scene in Livingston Manor has a new addition. The first annual Shin Creek Music Festival will be held from Sunday, Aug. 2 to Wednesday, Aug. 5, where renowned artists will share various compelling classical pieces.
The co-founders Geirþrúður Guðmundsdóttir and Nicky Swett are both highly talented professional cellists, composers and music researchers. Swett grew up immersed in the beauty of the Beaverkill Valley, and his passion for this special place has grown alongside his musical career. He has been able to share this place with his wife, Geirþrúður, whom he met while they were both studying cello at Northwestern University.
Guðmundsdóttir, originally from Iceland, was introduced to the quiet peacefulness of Beaverkill Valley when the couple decided to share their work and passion with the local community, creating the Shin Creek Musical Festival. Here is a list of performances featured at the festival.
Sunday, Aug. 2, 11 a.m.: The first of the concerts is one tailored for children It will take place at Catskill Art Space, 48 Main St., in Livingston Manor. This showcase will feature the festival co-directors, Swett and Guðmundsdóttir, as they perform interactive, animal-themed cello duets.
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6 p.m.: Guðmundsdóttir will perform a solo concert at the Lew Beach Community House, 32 Shin Creek Rd., in Lew Beach. Works include pieces by J.S. Bach and Icelandic composer Guðmundur.
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 6 p.m.: The Quartet Amí – Miki Nagahara, violin; Natalie Lee, violin; Gabe Napoli, viola; and Guðmundsdóttir, cello – will perform works by Bach, Shaw and Mendelssohn at the Lew Beach Community House. Additionally, Swett will perform Bach’s third “Violin Partita,” arranged as a solo cello piece.
Thursday, Aug. 6, 1 p.m.: The Lew Beach Community House will again be the venue for a performance by Nagahara, Napoli, Guðmundsdóttir, Swett and Swett’s brother Willie, double bass. They’ll play the compositions by Ravel, Arensky and Irving Berlin.
Tickets for the concerts will be for sale at the door, and children are free. The Shin Creek Music Festival will undoubtedly be a lovely addition to Catskills musical culture, a series classical music fans won’t want to miss. Find more information at lewbeachcommunityhouse.org/events-calendar.