Our summer issue starts on the SUNY Purchase campus, then looks back a bit before looking ahead to summer fun.
Let’s first shine a spotlight on Purchase faculty member Jen Schriever, lighting designer, 2026 Tony Award winner for Best Lighting Design of a Musical (The Lost Boys, with co-designer Michael Arden).
Watch Jen Schriever’s reaction to her Tony Nomination on Instagram
Listen to Jen Schriever’s acceptance speech at the Obie Awards (2020, Sustained Excellence in Lighting Design)
Watch “Anatomy of a Scene: The Lost Boys Bridge” on You Tube
Watch Light Talk Episode 478 – “I Love a Lightbulb! – Our Conversation with Jen Schriever” on YouTube: In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Designer Jen Schriever. Join Jen, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, Zac, and David, as they discuss: Everything you ever wanted to know about lighting “The Lost Boys”; Straight onto Broadway; Lighting flying Vampires; Longing for “Luma-Suck”; Co-designing with the Director; Tech table madness; The beauty of slow cues; Being a part of Broadway history: Being a member of the first all-women production team on Broadway; Teaching at SUNY Purchase; Living and designing in a LED world; Cutting noisy lighting fixtures; “Revolutions, baby!”; “The Essence of Love”; How AI could help the process; and “The Tour” conversation. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
All*Arts Presents In Concert with CMS: Schubert
On demand
Pieces that showcase the range of Franz Schubert’s artistry. Hear “Auf dem Strom” performed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center followed by the String Quartet in G major performed by Escher String Quartet. Hosted by CMS artist Kristin Lee.
Watch Schubert | In Concert With CMS | ALL ARTS
Carter Brey, Principal Cello of the New York Philharmonic, is retiring.
Listen to Carter Brey perform Dvořák: Trio in F minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 65
Watch “We Are NY Phil: Principal Cello Carter Brey” on YouTube
Watch New York Classical Players: Schumann Cello Concerto (Carter Brey, cello)
Carnegie Hall Presents the National Youth Orchestra of the United States (NYO-USA) / NYO2 / NYO Jazz
Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles bring together the brightest young American instrumentalists on the campus of SUNY Purchase, for intensive training and performances on some of the world’s greatest stages. All three programs – NYO_USA, NYO2, and NYO Jazz are free and led by an all-star faculty of professional musicians, giving students the opportunity to hone their talents while working with the world’s finest artists. As national ensembles, these programs include a broad range of musicians from across the country that reflect the exceptional talent and diversity of the United States. We love having them here each summer!
Learn more about National Youth Ensembles on Carnegie Hall’s website
NYO-USA Performs Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” (Excerpt) | Carnegie Hall+
NYO2 Performs Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite” | Carnegie Hall+
NYO Jazz Performs Veronica Leahy’s “20/20” | Carnegie Hall+
Westchester County Presents Cultural Heritage Celebrations
Kensico Dam Plaza, at the north end of the Bronx River Parkway, in Valhalla
Ridge Road Park, 287 Ridge Road, Hartsdale
All festivals are from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and 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 are free unless otherwise noted. All events, dates, times and locations are subject to change.
The 2026 schedule is as follows: • Albanian, Sunday, June 7, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Irish, Saturday, June 27, Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale *Admission: $5 adults; free for ages 14 and under • African-American, Sunday, June 28, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Hispanic, Sunday, July 12, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Italian, Sunday, July 26, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Heritage of India, Sunday, Aug. 2, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Jewish, Sunday, Aug. 16, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Muslim Heritage, Sunday, Aug. 23, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla • Arab-American, Sunday, Sept. 13, Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale Kensico Dam Plaza is located at the north end of the Bronx River Parkway, in Valhalla.
View the Westchester County Cultural Heritage Celebration schedule online.
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, NY 10536
Enjoy a picnic or afternoon tea, explore the sound sculptures, and listen to great music. Here are a few highlights of the upcoming summer season.
- Sunday, June 21, at 4pm: Dedicated Men of Zion: Celebrating Juneteenth
- Friday, June 26, 7:30pm: Isaac Mizrahi: Celebrating Pride
- Sunday, July 12, at 4pm: Apollo’s Fire: Dueling Double Concertos
- Sun, Aug 2, 4pm: Orchestra of St. Luke’s & Gil Shaham
Visit Caramoor’s website to learn more
Jazz Forum Arts Presents Free Outdoor Summer Concerts
Jazz Forum Arts has been presenting free outdoor summer concerts since 1985! We present 32 concerts annually in July and August at five Hudson River locations: Waterfront Park in Dobbs Ferry (Wednesdays, July 8 – August 26), Matthiessen Park in Irvington (Thursdays, July 9 – August 27), Pierson Park in Tarrytown (Fridays, July 10 – August 28), Horan’s Landing in Sleepy Hollow (Tuesdays, August 4, 11, 18, 25) and Henry Gourdine Park in Ossining (Mondays, July 13, 27; August 10, 24). All concerts play 6:30 – 8pm.
View the Jazz Forum Arts Summer Concerts schedule
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For many years now, PAC staff member Coni Guhl has been writing Culture Picks, a monthly feature on our blog that celebrates the performing arts, 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. However, all good things have their time. Culture Picks will be on hiatus for the summer; stay tuned to see how we reinvent this feature when it returns in the fall.
Thank you Coni for all you’ve been doing to keep us informed and excited about the arts!
All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.
Pictured: NYO rehearsing on stage in our Concert Hall (c) ChrisLee
