Music

Aston Magna, performing classical music on period-appropriate instruments, offers  a concert of Bach, Marais, Leclair and Rameau on Saturday, Sept. 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Hudson Hall in Hudson, N.Y.

Crescendo brings a choral concert of much-loved selections from the classical repertoire to the outdoor Veterans’ Field Pavilion in Sharon, Conn., on Friday, Sept. 3. 

If the Tristate region can be said to have a “house band,” then that band is probably The Joint Chiefs, a perennially popular quartet featuring Eliot Osborn, Louise Lindenmeyr, George Potts and Diana Herold.

This season’s Summertime Sounds concerts by the Sherman Chamber Ensemble begin Thursday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. in Washington, Conn., at the Salem Covenant Church and continues with 6 p.m. outdoor performances on Friday, Aug. 13, at Kent Barns in Kent, Conn., and Saturday, Aug. 14, at the IGA Plaza in Sherman, Conn.

One thing COVID-19 taught us all was the need to be flexible; and one challenge arts venues had was the need to book performances well in advance, not only so they could do publicity but also so the performers could create a logical schedule for themselves. 

It’s not “Whiplash,” and it’s not “School of Rock,” even though it’s an educational program for young musicians that emphasizes playing in a group, as a band.

It seems that this summer there are more “tribute” shows than ever in the Tristate region. Maybe it has something to do with the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing uncertainty about when/where/how we can all gather in public venues.

A year ago, many arts organizations in our region were staring into the abyss of a COVID year without live audiences or performances, and an uncertain future as a result. Many found creative ways to keep their audiences engaged through virtual means.