Caroga Lake Music Festival 2017

Biggest. Season. Yet.

5 Weeks of Music
30 Performances
85 Total Artists
6 Special Guest Artists

This past Sunday, the sixth annual Caroga Lake Music Festival concluded with two concerts at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts and the Hawthorne Valley School in Ghent, NY. From there many artists from the leading music conservatories, bands, orchestras and chamber music groups headed back to their homes across the U.S. and beyond.

CLMF 2017 was a success from every measure. Having over a hundred to five hundred people at every concert, the talent on stage was out of this world!

Musicians From Around The World

The countries represented at this year’s festival was more wide ranging thane ever! We had musicians from New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan, England, Switzerland, France in addition almost every state from Hawaii to California to Ohio to Boston and more.

Swiss conductor Luc Baghdassarian and violinist Florence von Burg, whom CLMF collaborated with during its Switzerland Tour in May 2017, spent two weeks making music with CLMF artists on their first trip to the U.S.

Sherman’s Revival Series with Chris Jamison (pc: Ken Kubota)

Two New Series in Caroga Lake

This season’s new feature, “Encore! Jazz Sessions” packed the upstairs dining room of the Nick Stoner Inn every time to standing room only. David Cook Trio, J-Music Pocket Band and Jason Anick Trio wowed audiences at CLMF’s inaugural jazz series.
Led by Caroga Arts Collective board president, Rick Ruby, the former Sherman’s Amusement Park was made to shine with paint, carpentry, new fences, and landscaping with help from a village of volunteers.
Their efforts were well-received by the crowd of 450 who gathered to hear Chris Jamison from NBC’s “The Voice” perform the inaugural “Sherman’s Revival Series” concert, and every crowd at the following Revival series with cellist Mike Block, J-Music Pocket Band, Geoff Saunders & friends, and Lo Marie & CLMF Musicians.

Geoff Saunders & friends at Nick Stoner Inn (pc: Jackie Fake)

Music on the Lake

The Barge at Canada Lake Marine continues to be crowd favorites and are a highlight of our season. We want to thank the Fielding family for making these concerts possible.

Caroga Chapel was where it all began. As our first concert space, it is always nice to return “home” and perform at Caroga Chapel, thanks to host Jack DeWeese.

The Barge at Canda Lake Marine (pc: Kathy Esposito)

Reaching Outside of Caroga Lake

In addition to performing across upstate New York, CLMF was invited to perform as the opener for the Grammy-Award winning O’Connor Band at the L.L. Bean’s “Summer in the Park” concert series in Freeport, Maine.

CLMF made its debut at the prestigious PROCTORS Theatre on August 9th and also led an educational performance through PROCTORS’ community outreach program at Schectedy’s YMCA. A couple from Binghamton even traveled 130 miles to hear CLMF perform for the first time in Schenectady – they agreed the concert made their trip well worthwhile!

L.L. Bean Summer in the Park series in Freeport, ME

Thank you volunteers!

From its modest beginning at “Grandma” Joyce Skinner Barrett’s house in 2012, CLMF grew to offer over 30 concerts performed by 85 musicians who rotated through the schedule – some staying five weeks, some staying a few days.

Their housing and meals donated by the community was generously coordinated by Mary Peck and Martha Price. Additional thanks to Kathy Manning who coordinated and sold CLMF merchandise, James Long for providing program inserts for all concerts and Carolyn Suffern for distributing the press release.

Similar music festivals across the United States rely on this system of community support. CLMF wishes to thank the continuing support and efforts of the community to make this festival possible.

Last but not least, w extend great thanks to Caroga Arts Collective board member Patricia Lowry and her husband Jim Hopkins for hosting the 2017 Gala at their lovely historic camp – this magnificent evening raised over $40,000 for Caroga Arts Collective.

Mary Peck and her helpers at Sherman’s Revival Series (pc: Ken Kubota)

What’s Next?

Focus continues on the MyHil/Schine estate, donated last year by Richard and Bruce Veghte to be our permanent campus. We are moving cautiously to assure we develop this magnificent property well for its best use.
We extend our greatest appreciation to our board and advisors, the many volunteers and supporters who contributed to the festival and made this season a great success! Special thanks to the administrative team – Hina, Debbie, Stephanie, Jackie and Lizzie – for your tireless work and energy.

Finally, congratulations to Artistic Director Kyle Barrett Price for putting together an incredible season from programming to concert booking and artist booking.

It has been a pleasure performing for our engaging audiences and we look forward to many more summers making music in the Adirondacks!

CLMF Musicians from week 5 at Caroga Chapel post-concert (pc: Carolyn Suffern)