GO ART! hosted a steel drum band concert in the City Centre concourse on Saturday.
The featured bands were:
Photos by Howard Owens
Press Release:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the onsale dates for two upcoming concerts taking place at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel’s Park Place Room along with the facility’s first “Silent Disco.”
22K Magic – a Tribute to Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars makes it’s Batavia Downs debut on Saturday, September 2nd. Hailing from Canada, music talents Carla and Joshua bring the spirit and energy of Taylor and Bruno to their performances. Together, they put on a show with all your favorite songs, clean lyrics and a whole lot of fun. Tickets are $15 and attendees receive $10 in Free Play on the day of the show.
Also making his first appearance at Batavia Downs is Rick Alviti’s Tribute to Elvis “That’s the Way it Was.” This Elvis tribute is high-energy and full of audience interaction. Rick has performed all over the country and in many parts of the world including the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. This tribute to Elvis show is truly the closest thing to a live Elvis performance you will ever see or hear. The event is happening on Saturday, September 9. Tickets are $30 for VIP, $20 for General Admission and attendees receive $15 in Free Play on the day of the show.
For the first time ever, Batavia Downs will be hosting a “Silent Disco” on Saturday, September 16. A Silent Disco is an event where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones rather than on speakers. Several types of music will be broadcast to attendees who are wearing those headphones, so party goers could be listening to several different types of music at a given time. Since those without the headphones hear no music, the effect is a room full of people dancing to no sound. Tickets for this event are $20 and include $10 in Free Play.
Tickets for these events will be available at www.BataviaConcerts.com beginning on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
“We are thrilled to welcome these new and exciting events to Batavia Downs this fall,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “Tribute concerts featuring modern pop stars have proven to be a huge draw to attract new guests into our facility. We know there are many Elvis fans out there and WNY’s own Rick Alviti is one of the best at preserving the King’s music for all his fans. With so many of our own employees enjoying Silent Discos at other entertainment venues, we knew it was time to do one here.”
By 5:45 p.m. Friday, the dense heat was broken up by intermittent breezes, which provided some cool comfort for a group of students in the back of Le Roy Junior-Senior High School.
They weren’t playing baseball or having a picnic, or goofing around at all. Students and music teachers were at the tail end of a three-hour practice in prep for Saturday’s Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators Association All-County chorus and band concerts. The band room doors were wide open, leaking out a steady rhythm of brass, woodwinds and percussion.
This is Kiptyn Cone’s first all-county event, and he’s enjoying it, he said. His favorite performance piece is “Metal Heads,” which, as the name implies, features a lot of heavy metal style and metal sounds, including cowbells and brake drums. A fifth-grader from Le Roy, Kiptyn is a percussionist who really appreciates the full drum set.
“With all the toms and the snare drum and bass drum with the foot pedal and high hat and splendid cymbal,” he said during a quick break.
The 10-year-old is following in his older brother’s footsteps, but he also believes the drums have an important role in a band.
“They’re keeping the beat, kind of the rest of the band depends on the percussion, the drums in particular. And because we’re the ones like, boom, boom, boom, keeping the beat so they know what to follow,” he said, sharing how he feels about Saturday’s concert. “I’m actually not feeling nervous. I feel pretty prepared. I feel like I know my stuff.”
Kiptyn is far from alone in this being his first all-county music festival. With COVID-19 and the shutdown of schools and most everything, the festival was swept up in that as well. Kids missed out on those opportunities for four years.
Dan Klinczar, vice president of the GW Music Educators Association, is not even sure if 10th graders ever had the chance to participate in all-county. The festival involves all school districts in Genesee County, plus Attica from Wyoming County.
“So for most of the students and all the junior high, and all of the elementary, this is their first all-county experience. So they get to work with a guest conductor, and they get to work for a long time. It's a long practice. So it's a really good opportunity for them to make music with other really strong and dedicated musicians across the county, which is the really cool thing,” Klinczar said. “That's the pinnacle of what musicians want to do -- make music with others. “It’s getting together today and tomorrow before the concert. They'll rehearse tomorrow from nine to 1:30 back in the same spot before they do a concert.
"And like I said, it’s a culminating event for them, you know, and this is supposed to be a mountain experience for kids because it's the opportunity for them to make music with others, and see that people across the county and outside of their small little niche of their own school who can make music and have fun together," he said. "And we’ll be awarding a couple of awards tomorrow. “
The John Mikalski Memorial Career Scholarship will be presented to seniors Evan Williams and Jackson Cain, both of Le Roy.
At 18 and about to graduate, Cain is debating which college to attend. It’s an 80-20 split, with Fredonia State College carrying more weight than Nazareth, he said, to pursue a degree in music education. He’s on a career track to teach music and, hopefully, right in his own hometown.
He is eight years older than Kiptyn and every bit as passionate about the percussion section.
“I think, with all the other tonic instruments, like the ones that have the pitches and all that, it's very easy to express yourself. And I liked that. But with something like a snare drum or a drum set, it's more difficult to bring that out. And I think that's really cool that you can, you know, if you hear someone play a snare drum, you're expecting like, oh … military,” he said. “And then if they come out, and they play the solo that's like, oh, wow, I get expression through this, even though it's just one pitch, I still get that story, and I get what is happening. So I think that's really cool. That you can take something almost one dimensional as a snare drum and turn it into something that's like, artistic and beautiful like that.”
He admitted that, at first, he wasn’t looking forward to a three-hour after-school practice. But then there’s something about several strangers coming together to create something brand new together.
“And then just like, instantly, it all comes together, because we're all practiced, and we all know what we're doing. And it's like, wow, it's like, it's just super fun that, off the ground floor, we all have a very strong understanding of the pieces,” he said. “And we really get to hear these, you know, live, and it's like, we get to watch them grow and build, it's really, really cool. I love every bit of it.”
Cain credits music teacher “Mr. N" (Nordhausen), who first taught him in fourth-grade band, has a sense of humor and other similarities that Cain can relate to, and is a fifth and sixth-grade band teacher; and Miss Dotts, “an incredible band teacher” for grades seven through 12.
The future high school graduate also described a pivotal moment that validated what he wanted to do in life. When a band director was out sick, Cain was picked to fill in, and he worked with students in band camp. He taught drumline and how to march, and afterward realized that he helped those kids.
“And even from then on, it's like, it's helped me realize a lot of things about myself, like marching band specifically was one where I realized if I apply myself, I will see the results that I want. If I really work hard, and I really focus on something that, if I'm passionate about it, I'll see the results that I want,” he said. “And then, of course, the no-brainer’s music education, and then, finding that this is a huge passion for me, and I love doing this and … this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to cultivate this experience for other kids.”
Photos by Howard Owens
It was sun, sand and crashing waves in Batavia Downs' Park Place Event Center on Saturday night, where the Beach Party Boys, a tribute band honoring the legacy of the quintessential Southern California surf band, The Beach Boys, put on a rocking show.
The Beach Party Boys ran through all the Beach Boys' biggest hits for a near-capacity crowd.
Previously: 'Good Vibrations' expected at Batavia Downs on Saturday with Beach Party Boys in concert
Photos by Howard Owens
On April 1st at 7:00pm at the Elba High School, the Genesee Symphony Orchestra with Conductor S. Shade Zajac will be joined by world renowned soloists YooJin Jang (violin) and Mimi Hwang (cello) for a performance of Brahms’ Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra. This performance will mark the completion of a gigantic project started during Mr. Zajac’s first season with the GSO: performing all of the Concertos composed by Brahms. The concert will also include the emotional and exhilarating Fourth Symphony in D Minor by Robert Schumann. Please join the Orchestra for this monumental milestone! Click here to purchase your tickets now!
At 10 years old in June 1963, Fernando Curcione was walking down a street in his Toronto neighborhood when he saw two girls dancing to a Beach Boys record on a veranda. They invited him to come on up and listen to the music.
That's the first time Curcione heard the Beach Boys, and 60 years later, he still loves their music for all the same reasons -- the harmonies and the happiness.
Curcione will bring his "Endless Summer" enthusiasm for the Beach Boys to Batavia Downs on Saturday night with the tribute band Beach Party Boys.
"It was just feel-good, uptempo music," Curcione said to The Batavian. "Years later, when I thought about everything in retrospect, of all the music that came out in the 60s, the Beach Boys, out of everything that happened -- the psychedelic era, and Motown, and R&B, in the British Invasion, everything that happened in the 60s -- it seemed to me that the Beach Boys had a wholesome kind of sound that rang with me. It just was fun music. It appeals to audiences, family audiences, and that's basically where I wanted to go, and the guys that are part of the show are the same type of chemistry."
The Beach Boys came out of the surf music scene in Southern California, adding vocal harmonies to what had been purely instrumental music -- first crafted by Dick Dale and quickly followed by bands like The Safaries, The Bel-Airs, and The Chantays -- and helped revolutionize rock and roll. Before the Beach Boys, surf music had largely been a regional phenomenon. But as Curcione's experience shows, the appeal of the Beach Boys (and all surf music after them) exploded beyond the California coastline and endures well into the 21st Century.
Who hasn't heard, even among the young, songs such as "Let's Go Surfin'," "California Girls," "I Get Around," "Surfin' USA," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Help Me, Rhonda," and, of course, "Good Vibrations," Brian's Wilson's three-minute, 35-second pop song symphony.
Beach Party Boys formed in 2010 and is comprised of four guys who worked in previous Beach Boys tribute bands -- Kokomo and Endless Summer -- and a drummer who worked the long-running Collingwood Elvis Festival, which was a celebration of Elvis Presley tribute acts.
The band's lineup is Curcione on rhythm guitar and the Mike Love vocal parts, Guy Schryer on keyboards and the Brian Wilson vocal parts, Marco Spadafora drums, Andrew Canning, bass, and Jeff Scott, lead guitar.
Not too many bands last 13 years, Curcione noted.
On Saturday, Curcione said Beach Boys fans can hear all of the classics, including the band's last #1 hit, "Kokomo" (1988). Beach Party Boys even tackle some of the trickier tracks laid down by the Beach Boys when Brian Wilson became experimental in the studio after he stopped touring with the band -- starting with "Pet Sounds" -- and setting the bar higher for The Beatles to produce ever more complex and intriguing pop songs.
"It's absolutely impossible to do what they did in the studio," Curcione said. "For example, the biggest challenge is 'Good Vibrations.' It was recorded in three different studios with three different sections of the song. So when we're playing it as a five-piece band, we are taking liberties to use the instruments that we have in relation to the notes that were created by other instruments. For example, at the end of 'Good Vibrations,' you will hear a cello doing this staccato kind of thing. What I do is I turn up my Stratocaster, and I'll do exactly the same notes in the bass section of the guitar to try to emulate that sound. In terms of the harmonies, there's nothing missing from the four-part and five-part harmonies. They are completely covered. So whatever you hear on those records in the studio, we are able to reproduce it live."
As for the Theremin used in "Good Vibrations,"? Well, now bands such as Beach Party Boys have synthesizers (barely even a thing in 1966), and Curcione said it reproduces that wavy, psychedelic sound that is so recognizable in "Good Vibrations" just fine.
"Pet Sounds" -- generally considered by critics as one of the greatest LPs ever recorded -- is well represented in the Beach Party Boys set, Curcione said. They perform "Sloop John B," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and, of course, "God Only Knows."
"I can put the 'Pet Sounds' CD on in my car, and I never get tired of it," Curcione said. "I mean, 'God Only Knows' is Paul McCartney's favorite song of all time, so that's a testament right there. I mean, Paul is an absolute genius with some of the melodies that he has come up with."
The set isn't limited to the Beach Boys catalog. They also perform other classics of the period and genre, such as Jan and Dean's "Surf City" and "GTO" by Ronnie and the Daytonas.
While the Beach Boys had a big impact on Curcione's musical life and career, his musical interests go well beyond just one band. He was a DJ for 30 years. He's an agent for Booking House, a company that specializes in booking tribute bands, including Beach Party Boys. In 2008, he released a CD of original music. He has played in and plays in other tribute bands, such as ones for the Four Seasons and, most recently, Elvis Presley.
"We have a tribute to Elvis because of the movie that just came out," Curcione said. "There's been a resurgence of an appeal for Elvis Presley, and it seems that because Austin Butler is 23 years old. He's attracted fans that are as young as 16, 17 years old. That whole world has opened up. It's not just the baby boomers that are going to Elvis shows now."
With all this experience booking and playing in tribute bands, you might expect Curcione to have some idea why tribute bands have exploded in popularity in recent years. And he does.
First, there are certain bands you can't see any more because key members (or all the members) are dead. It's impossible to see The Beatles or the BeeGees, for example.
Also, he said, ticket prices are through the roof.
"With some of the international acts like Bruce Springsteen, I couldn't believe that I saw ticket prices up to $1,000. I said, 'What the heck is going on?' Curcione said. "When I was a kid, we'd buy a concert ticket for $3.50 or, at the most, 10 bucks, but it's gone insane. So, if you're a fan of, for example, the Eagles, and you can't afford $300 for a seat, you can go see Hotel California for 40 bucks. I think that's among what appeals to fans."
Show time on Saturday is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, and VIP seats (the first two rows) are $25. Tickets include $10 in free play in the casino. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for this show, as well as others, are always available at www.bataviaconcerts.com or at the Lucky Treasures Gift Shop in the Batavia Down's lobby.
Video: Promotional video by Booking House Inc.
The 4th Annual Musicians of Note celebrates five inductees to the Class of 2023
Last evening at Batavia High School, the fourth annual “Musicians of Note” paid tribute to honorees of the Class of 2023.
This year’s honorees were:
The 2022 Musicians of Note honoree Mark Hoerbelt was recognized last evening, as he was unable to attend last year.
Each candidate was recognized for their music successes in high school, college and post-education studies by a tribute video narrated by the Master of Ceremonies Paul Spiotta. Some of the candidates each performed on stage with their music of choice, accompanied by students and staff.
The school district honored two very dear colleagues and supporters of the Batavia Music Department.
First was James Owen, son of Frank E. Owen, a strong supporter of the music department at BHS. He contributed scholarships, served on the Committee of Musicians of Note and was praised for his kindness, generosity, passion and sense of humor.
Second was previous BHS band director, 2001 Musicians of Note honoree, Ken Hay, who taught many students at BHS and made a strong impact for 20 years. He was remembered by many for his inspiration, talent and nurturing of the students he taught.
Superintendent Jason Smith spoke highly and dearly of both Jim Owen and Ken Hay, who recently passed away in his opening remarks along with congratulating the Class of 2023 inductees, ending with a quote from Jimi Hendrix, “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.”
The Musician of Note Committee is accepting nominations for next year's honorees though October. You may find the application for the Musician of Note on BCSD Website or email JHaggett@bataviacsd.org to have one emailed to you personally for future nominations or click here.
The above photo is provided. Pictured left to right, Gloria McLauglin, Mark Hoerbelt ( Class of 2022 inductee ) Deanna Spiotta, Brian Fontaine-Isaac, Melanie Lakin Case “Melzie”, not pictured Diana Dipson.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Pictured left to right, Jane Haggett-Paladino Music Department Chairperson, Jason Smith BCSD Superintendent, Paul Kesler, BHS Principal, Melzie Case, Class of 2023 Inductee
Melanie "Melzie" Case, Class of 2012
Deanna Spiotta, Class of 2005
Brian Fontaine-Isaac, Class of 2001
Gloria McLaughlin - Retired Music Teacher 1970-1989
Mark Hoerbelt - 2022 Musicians of Note Inductee
Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra have won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album. Sturr's orchestra is on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards and has acquired more Grammy nominations than anyone in the history of musical polka awards.
WBBZ will tape several shows inside the Park Place Room with doors at 6 p.m. and taping with music to begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on the Batavia Downs official tickets website, BataviaConcerts.com, now. Tickets can also be purchased at the Lucky Treasures Gift Shop. Tickets can be redeemed for $20 in Free Play on the day of the show.
Those wishing to spend the night can take advantage of a $69 Hotel Special, which includes $20 in Free Play ($10 per person, based on double occupancy) and includes two tickets to the show. Check out the Batavia Downs Facebook Page for info on booking a hotel room to receive these perks.
“Polka Buzz” celebrates Polka music as a recorded dance party program featuring the top Polka Bands in the country. Local Media Personality Ron Dombrowski hosts the show and brings his knowledge of Polka music to the television screen. Dombrowski has been broadcasting polka programs since 1979 on both radio and television.
“The Polka Buzz tapings have become an anticipated event here on site,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO at Batavia Downs. “We are confident that by bringing in a Polka Legend like Jimmy and his Orchestra, even more, Western New Yorkers will come out and enjoy good music, food and company!”
The Homestretch Grill, located adjacent to the Park Place Room, will feature food and drink specials for those attending the event. Several specials, including Tyskie Beer, Krupnik Vodka and a Polish Platter, will be available.
With all the flash and bang of the real thing, tribute band KISS This entertained a packed room at Batavia Downs on Friday night.
Photos by Angelina Miconi for Batavia Downs.
Ken Hay, one of the most relentless, unforgettable and endearing forces behind the music program at Batavia City Schools, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28. He is being remembered by former students, staff and friends for his inspiration, talent, confident swagger, and compassionate spirit.
Joshua Pacino, a 2001 Batavia High School grad, has lots of fond and funny memories of Hay, who was band director at the high school from 1982 to 2003.
"Ken Hay was full of bombast and bluster, but he was an incredibly kind teacher. In my freshman year of high school, I was hanging out with my girlfriend at the football game and missed the bus back to school,” Pacino said. “After walking into the band room 30 minutes late, I was expecting to be thoroughly reprimanded. Instead, he just gave me a look and told me my uniform and trombone were by the door and needed to be put away.
"He could be tough on his students. During a rehearsal, he would yell and holler about wanting more from us or explaining that his grandmother could do it better and she was dead,” Pacino said. “But, he was also a champion for them. You would often hear him yell out ‘Nice!’ or ‘Great job!’ in the middle of a piece, sometimes even during the concert, because he wanted you to know you had done well.”
Not only has Pacino walked away with musical lessons and memories from a beloved teacher, but he too is a music teacher, at Batavia Notre Dame High School.
“Most of the music teachers I know chose their profession because one of their own music teachers had a profound impact on their lives. I have been fortunate to have had several such teachers over the years. Each shaped who I am as a teacher, a musician, and as a person,” Pacino said. “When I left music school, I was afraid he was going to think I was a failure. He was, as I should have known, incredibly understanding, kind, and supportive of my decision. That kindness would continue over the years as I finally decided to return to music school, earned my degrees, and began my teaching career.
"We lost Ken Hay today, but I know that his talent and compassion will live on through the decades worth of students that he taught and the uncountable number of lives upon which he had a profound impact,” Pacino said.
A positive influence
Tom Jones played trumpet and met Hay in the summer of 1984 as a freshman in marching band. The 1988 BHS grad played in field marching, concert, jazz, and parade marching bands, and “anything else Mr. Hay requested of me,” he said. That included playing “Taps” at the end of Memorial Day parades in his junior and senior years, and “Amazing Grace” at a service for Terry Anderson, who was being held hostage in Iran.
“Mr. Hay was always providing ways, for me at least, to help me grow as a young man and encourage me. For example, every Batavia Pageant of Bands, a senior band member was chosen to be his second in charge, attend meetings, coordination of adult volunteers, all band students,” Jones said. “I was with the program all four years at BHS. Band was my favorite subject, and Mr. Hay was my most influential teacher. I saw him every day, some evenings for jazz or marching band practices, home football games, occasional weekends for pageant competitions, parades, etc.
“He was a very big part of my life growing up, and one the reasons why I have continued to play in multiple musical organizations since graduating BHS,” Jones said.
Michael Muller posted his online condolences, crediting Hay for making Alexander into "a fabulous band program, in the 70s, before he came to Batavia."
"He inspired me to be the Band Director I am today. He got me started with HS NYSSMA Solos, my college auditions, all of it. The last time I saw him was when we honored him at the 2003 Batavia Pageant of Bands, which was the year he retired," Muller said. "He was a fabulous educator, conductor, leader, mentor and friend. He was the real deal, no excuses, and always got us to do great things, be it in concert band, marching band, pit orchestra, or jazz ensemble. RIP Hayster!!"
The year 1987 was a hard one for Jason Mapes, just a teenager at the time, and it was Hay who lifted him from constant pain by being attentive and caring.
“My father passed away unexpectedly in February of 1987, and that was a dark time for me, I was only 13. I had just learned how to play the trumpet a few years back under his wife, Melinda. That summer, just a few months before starting high school, Mr. Hay kept me busy and distracted. I helped him put in his swimming pool on Ellicott Street,” Mapes said. “This one time, at band camp, I learned patience and discipline and hard work. I began to gain confidence and friends and shared such wonderful memories. I participated in everything I could: band, marching band, jazz band (my favorite), chorus, orchestra. I was in the pit for two school musicals and almost became a music educator. I would have put my horn down for good before high school had it not been for Mr. Hay.”
He said he’ll never forget the manner in which Hay taught him how to shake hands. He never let you do it without putting all you had into it.
“To this day, I still play in a few local music groups, and whenever I shake someone's hand, I almost rip it off!” Mapes said.
Lifelong lessons
Batavia City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith obtained music education from not only Hay but also other deep-rooted instruction, he said.
“As a proud BHS music alumnus, Class of 1990, I am saddened by the passing of our beloved Mr. Hay. He was not only an excellent music teacher of mine for four years, I learned valuable life and leadership lessons from him that serves me well to this day,” Smith said. “He was one of the first to contact me when I was named superintendent here, and his message of congratulations meant so much to me. Music has been and is an important part of my life, and Mr. Hay has been an integral part of the strong BCSD music tradition.”
You can tune a tuba, but you can’t tune a fish. That was one of Hay’s final true/false exam questions that Bob Pastecki remembers from his student days in 1986-87. Pastecki played trumpet for concert and jazz band, and mellophone for marching band.
What did it mean to be part of the music program?
“My younger brother was the athlete. This gave me something to do as an extracurricular activity,” Pastecki said.
“I now run The Mark Time Marchers, a fire department marching band that does 25-30 parades a year," he said. "I also serve as the Finance Manager for The Batavia Concert Band. So music is still a big part of my life.”
Playing mellophone was interesting, he said, because it is in a different key than trumpet, and his music teacher never told him that.
“He only told me that the notes on the staff were the same fingerings for both instruments. That meant I played the wrong scale to warm up,” Pastecki said. “He looked right behind me and said, ‘One of you trumpets is AWFULLY flat.’ It took me 15 years to tell him it was me. We had a good laugh at that.”
Batavia Board of Education member Alice Ann Benedict knew Ken Hay not only through the board but also because her daughter Emily had him in the band throughout her years in the district.
“Mr. Hay was a wonderful person and a very capable director of the music department. He was enthusiastic about introducing music into the lives of many of the students, starting at a very young age,” Benedict said. “Emily said to me that Mr. Hay was one of her favorite and most influential teachers. I will remember that he always had a smile on his face. He was always positive about improving the music department, and he was a dedicated teacher to the students of the district.”
Kenneth “Ken” Hay was a 1966 graduate of Byron-Bergen Central School and participated in Concert Band, Concert Choir, Yearbook Club, and Wrestling. After graduating high school, he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Fredonia State College, after which he continued with graduate work at Fredonia, Brockport and Geneseo state colleges, and the University of New Hampshire at Durham.
He taught music at East Irondequoit, Alexander and Batavia school districts. He started working as Batavia City High School band director from 1982 until his retirement in 2003, being named Music Department chairman in 1991. Hay played a significant role in the success of Batavia’s concert and marching bands, jazz ensemble, and the musical pit orchestra.
For many years, he organized the Pageant of Bands in Batavia to show the musical talents of high school bands. He directed the pit orchestra for Batavia Rotary Club productions for many years.
Hay served as president of the Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators’ Association and was a member of the New York State School Music Association. Accolades include Paul Harris Fellowship (awarded by the Rotary Club), the University of Rochester’s Teaching in Secondary Schools Award (1995), recognition by Warner School of Education as being a Teacher of Excellence (2003) and earned a GO ART! Genesee-Orleans Community Arts Award (2003).
Hay shared his musical passion, inspiring students to "make music, not just play music,” and was a 2020 Musician of Note, a wall of fame to honor past BHS graduates in music.
As Jason Mapes said, “RIP Mr. Hay — you will be missed!”
Sunset has expanded to 5:45 p.m. now, have you noticed? And local organizers are taking every minute of daylight for inspiration to plan beer walks, cookouts, an outreach, trail run, and music in the parks.
First up is Febrewary — no, that’s not a typo, though the computer keeps wanting to edit. With 21 stops throughout downtown Batavia, this event promises a nice sampling of craft brews, ciders and meads, according to Shannon Maute, executive director the Business Improvement District-sponsored event.
The event, set for 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 25, was just picking up steam for a few years when COVID hit, and it was derailed in 2021, resuming the crafty beer fun walk last year.
A close replica to the BID’s popular fall wine walk, Febrewary features tastings at various downtown merchants, many of which will have specials, drawings, and giveaways, Maute said.
Of the featured brewmeisters, 810 Meadworks of Medina, Windy Brew from Sheldon and OSB Ciderworks from Buffalo have been confirmed. Not familiar with a mead? This libation is made with honey, and dates back to Biblical times as “probably the first fermented beverage,” the company’s website states.
“More versatile than liquor, wine, or beer, mead can taste like a refreshing summer shandy, a hoppy IPA, a full-bodied Cabernet, or a fine dessert wine,” it states.
Windy Brew is a Wyoming County-based brewery of craft beers, and OSB’s lineup of ciders will be featuring anything from the crispy bite of homegrown concord grapes from along the Finger Lakes, and Intergalactic Raspberry combined with hibiscus flower, to the Scotch Bonnet Bomber, described as “apple forward with a throat chop of spicy.”
Of course, brewmasters such as Eli Fish of Batavia are also expected to participate, as Maute is seeking out a sour, Belgian witbier, stout, lager and other varieties of craft brew.
General admission tickets are $30 and include a collectible snifter glass, snacks along the way, raffles and giveaways and tastings. VIP tickets are $40 and include all of the regular features plus an extra hour, from 4 to 8 p.m., an exclusive tasting and a food station.
Designated drivers will be able to partake of the specials, raffles, snacks and non-alcoholic tastings for $10.
There were a total of 600 tickets available and 25 for designated drivers. They may be purchased at Event Brite, and there will be a limited number of paper tickets available at Adam Miller Toy & Bicycle shop on Center Street and Yngodess on Main Street, Batavia. For more information, go to BID Febrewary.
Care-A-Van Ministries is planning to have a series of cookouts at 5 p.m. every Thursday at Austin Park in Batavia. The event, led by Paul Ohlson, is set to run in June, July and August, and include a cookout of hotdogs, hamburgers, a variety of sides and live music each week. This is event is free to the public.
Living Waters Apostolic Ministries has also mapped out an event at Austin Park, to run from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 16. Organized by Pastor Timothy Young, the community outreach is to include games, food, music, a sermon, prayer, and “showing love to the community.” This event is free to the public.
Beginning the last Wednesday in June, music lovers will find live music at Centennial Park for several Wednesdays throughout the summer. Batavia Concert Band is set to take the grassy stage at 7 p.m. on June 28; July 5, 12, 19, and 25; and Aug. 2 and 9. These concerts are free and open to the public. Patrons are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and or blanket.
The Association for Conservation Of Recreational and Natural Spaces (better known as the ACORNS), a county parks volunteer organization, is planning its third annual music in the park event, however, has requested to use DeWitt Park this year to make it more accessible to folks. Batavia Concert Band is slated for a performance on Aug. 5 at the park on Cedar Street, Batavia.
The ACORNS have also asked to use the Genesee County Park and Forest for its 11th annual 5K/10K trail run and walk fundraiser, set for Oct. 1. The event is expected to be approved by the county Legislature at a future meeting.
File Photo of Acorn run at Genesee County Park by Howard Owens.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Press release:
The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation has re-scheduled the BBC Band, a Beatles & Sixties Tribute Band. It is being held at the Historic Palace Theatre, 2 East Ave, Lockport, on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $40 for regular admission and $75 for premier seats in the lower balcony which includes an hour-long reception prior to the show.
All seats are reserved and may be purchased at https://historicpalaceinc.thundertix.com/events/203461. There is a bus being organized from Batavia -- if interested, call Diane at 585-409-3485.
About the Band
Though the band has local roots in Buffalo, the BBC Band has a true connection with The Beatles.Russ Thomas has spent a good amount of time with Peter Best, the Beatles' first drummer, pre-Ringo. They talked about the early days and how the band had evolved while and after his tenure with the group.
John Connelly and his family had the opportunity to meet and spend some time with Sir Paul McCartney one afternoon, chatting about life, family and how Paul’s music has inspired and influenced John’s musical career.
Meeting a Beatle has offered musical insights and an incredible inspiration to The BBC Band. Their shows are magical, the music is infectious, making you want to jump out of your seat, sing along and dance in the aisles….and in the words of “She Loves You”…You know that can’t be bad!
In August of 2018, The BBC Band performed six concerts at International Beatles Week in Liverpool, England, including two standing-room concerts at the world-famous Cavern Club. ( www.bbcband.com)
The beautiful Palace Theatre is newly renovated with spacious seating, your favorite “movie concessions”, beer, wine and non-alcoholic items. There will be Autographed Bills jersey raffle and a 50/50.
A night to sing, dance, and celebrate friends, all while Lending a Hand for Hope to Others. We do “Get by With a Little Help from our Friends” – Beatles.
A Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble concert originally scheduled for November has a new performance date: Jan 22.
The concert begins at 4 p.m. at the Oakfield-Alabama Junior/Senior High School.
Conductor Philip J. Briatico will lead the ensemble through a varied program.
Tickets: Adult, $10; seniors, $8, students, $5, and children five and under are free.
Press Release:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for their sixth Rockin’ the Downs concert series, presented by Pepsi, which will take place outside on the racetrack, with eight Friday dates, starting in June and running into August of 2023.
Kicking off the series on Friday, June 23rd is Almost Queen. The Ultimate Queen Tribute show delivers a live performance, showcasing signature four part harmonies and intricate musical interludes. Donning genuine costumes, Almost Queen recaptures the live energy and precision that is the Queen experience. Almost Queen was the first post-pandemic concert to take place at Batavia Downs in June of 2021 and played to a packed house. Hear hits like We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions and many more.
Next up, on Friday, June 30th, Batavia Downs welcomes back Get the Led Out. One of the best attended concerts from last year, this group of professional musicians are passionate about their love of the music of Led Zeppelin, making it their mission to bring the studio recordings of the Mighty Zep to life on stage. Songs performed by the band could include Led Zeppelin hits like Black Dog, Immigrant Song, Stairway to Heaven and many others.
Making his debut on Friday, July 7th is Country Music Artist, Craig Morgan. Morgan has charted 17 times on the Billboard Country Charts including That's What I Love About Sunday, Almost Home, Redneck Yacht Club, Little Bit of Life, International Harvester, Love Remembers, and Bonfire. Morgan’s New Album, God, Family, Country has just been released along with his memoir. Morgan is an Army Veteran and is involved with several Veterans charities, having also been inducted into the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame in 2022. Opening for Craig Morgan will be Drake White.
Rocking the stage on Friday, July 14th is Heavy Metal Rockers Skid Row. After forming in New Jersey in 1986, the band has performed all over the world with hard guitars and a unique songwriting style. They’ll be performing their hits; In a Darkened Room, We Are the Damned, Youth Gone Wild, 18 and Life and many more.
On Friday, July 21st, Batavia Downs welcomes back Southern Rock legends The Marshall Tucker Band. MTB will bring their 40 years of hits to Batavia Downs with hit singles like Heard It In a Love Song, Fire On The Mountain, Can't You See, and Take The Highway, The Marshall Tucker Band earned seven gold and three platinum albums. During the 90's, the MTB scored four hit singles on Billboard's country chart and one on Billboard's gospel chart.
Performing on Friday, July 28th is the returning Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone. Peter Noone is a multi-talented entertainer, who achieved international fame as Herman, lead singer of the legendary Sixties pop band Herman’s Hermits. His classic hits include: I’m Into Something Good, Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter, I’m Henry VIII, I Am. The Grass Roots will once again open for Peter Noone. Last year’s Concert featuring both artists saw one of the largest concert crowds in Batavia Downs History.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles, will perform on Friday, August 4th. As a renowned former lead guitarist of The Eagles, one of the most popular and influential rock groups of our time, Don has helped write and perform many iconic classics. His 2008 memoir was a New York Times best seller. Don will perform solo and Eagles’ hits during his set including Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride), Hotel California, Life in the Fast Lane, the Long Run and Tequila Sunrise.
Closing out the series on Friday, August 11th is Mike DelGuidice and the Big Shot Horns. A recording artist, singer and songwriter who is currently on tour with Billy Joel, Mike has wowed audiences across America with his voice and musicianship . Mike and the Big Shot horns enjoyed a standing ovation after each of their last 5 songs during last year’s concert series. Mike and his band play all of Billy Joel’s big hits along with other renditions of classic rock songs.
“We are excited to be welcoming new artists and some of the most popular ones from year’s past,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “We’re appreciative to have Pepsi again as our headline sponsor this year and looking forward to allowing great charities like Make-A-Wish Western New York and Kat Colony Animal Rescue to utilize our events to help raise much needed funds for their organizations.”
Tickets for all eight concerts will be available only at www.BataviaConcerts.com beginning on Wednesday, January 11th at 10 a.m.
Tickets this year will be $15 for General Admission, $30 for VIP, $60 for Premium and $75 for front row seats. All tickets can be redeemed at Player’s Club at any time in the three days following the concert for $10 Free Play to be used on one of Batavia Downs Gaming’s 950+ gaming machines.
Season Tickets are also back and will also go on sale for General Admission, VIP and Premium Sections. A Season pass for General Admission will be $100 (a savings of $20) Season Passes for VIP tickets are $200 (a savings of $40). A Premium Season Pass is $400 (a savings of $80). Season passes may ONLY be purchased online.
Until February 8th, tickets purchased online for the General Admission section will only be $10. Concert goers will still receive $10 in Free Play on show day with this ticket.
Concerts are held Rain or Shine. Additional information may be found at www.BataviaDownsGaming.com.
Photos: File photos. Top photo, Almost Queen by Philip Casper; second photo. Get the Led Out, by Howard Owens
Area musician and songwriter, and former WBTA news producer, Alex Feig has released a new Christmas song, "The Truth About Christmas," and a video shot in Medina to go with it.
The set list for tonight's (Dec. 15) Christmas Concert at City Church promises to be as diverse as it is joyful, with more than just gospel and hymns but also hip-hop, R&B, and smooth jazz celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ryan Macdonald also promises concertgoers will enjoy engaging and energetic performers and great musicians.
"We've done (the Christmas Concert) every year now, with the exception of COVID, for about five years," Macdonald said. "It's really been a wonderful night of really coming together and celebrating."
The artists, Macdonald said, are also personal friends.
"They are not just great artists but great people," Macdonald said.
Carlton Wilcox, Rufus McGee Jr, and Trellis Pore have all performed at previous Christmas concerts. This is the Batavia debut for Kimera Lattimore (top photo).
Macdonald said he's tried to get her on the bill for years, but there was always a scheduling conflict. He said he met her in Buffalo years ago, where she is the music director and worship leader of Renovation Church. She is a national recording artist, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, rapper, vocal teacher, theologian and Elder of the gospel."
"She is really a great spirit, a great believer," Macdonald said. "She believes people matter. She believes humanity matters."
Her bio states that she believes, "We were all created, by the creator, to create."
The concert, Macdonald said, is intended to uplift the whole community, and all are invited.
"Our goal the whole Christmas season is the celebration of the birth of Christ, but beyond that, we're celebrating each other," Macdonald said. "The term that has really stuck with me is that we're not independent; we're interdependent. We need each other. We don't only need each other as believers, but we need the whole community."
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at City Church, 210 East Main St., Batavia. The concert is also live-streamed.
Submitted photos.
Submitted information:
Pastor Trellis Pore, multi-instrumentalist and Vocalist. A Western NY native. He started singing and playing instruments at the age of 5 with his family gospel group, The Cooper family Gospel singers. Singing traditional quartet Gospel music. Also was apart of the band Perifial Vision, and The Glorious Sons of Rochester. Currently, he leads The Trellis Cooper Band. Singing gospel music with a twist. Trellis has his own Signature series guitar with the company Mucho Guitars of Rockwall, Texas. Trellis is currently the Pastor of Shiloh Church Albion.
Submitted information:
Rufus McGee Jr., son of Bishop & Lady Rufus and Linda McGee is Rochester’s best-kept secret, however, now the secret is out! His parents began molding him at age 2 years old to become a musician. Although he began as the church drummer at 6 years old, at 11, he progressed to becoming one of the most extraordinary organists/keyboardists that anyone has ever heard.
His ability is God-given, but can also be attributed to years of absorbing gospel music passed down through the classic COGIC style of music, and the music of the church that he attended growing up in his hometown, Rochester, New York. His drive and confidence developed from the challenge to rise above mediocrity.
He is an exemplary musician, producer and the founder of RMJ Productions. He enjoys listening to George Duke, Chick Corea, Kevin Bond, Jason White, Mike Bereal and Eddie Brown.
He has recorded with: Aaron Lindsey, Kathy Bowman, Ricky Dillard, Jason Wright, Serena Young, Shirley Murdock, Eddie Balltrip, Danell Daymon and Royalty, Malcolm Williams, Amar’rae Hill True Foundation and Jerome Francis and Divine Nature.
Rufus gives every ounce of his being to excelling and finishing well! Rufus has a great passion and love for gospel music and enjoys devoting his life to giving God his all. His greatest inspiration is God. He often says, “Without God, I would be nothing.”
Submitted information:
Carlton Wilcox has been creating a standard of excellence in music that embodies, style, quality, and substance. This singer, songwriter, and accomplished bassist has been entertaining Western NY for over two decades. Resounding melodies accompanied by rich voice make this crooner one of our area’s sought talents. With gospel, smooth jazz and R&B roots, Carlton wants to spread the message of hope through music. Carlton Wilcox is also a Monroe County Deputy Sheriff, event promoter and music instructor for the City of Rochester’s ROC Music Program. Carlton Wilcox wants to make a difference in the world, one day at a time, by giving back the love and support that he has been given.
Country music recording artist Claudia Hoyser, pictured left above with WBTA's Nici "Noir" Johnson, was at Mr. Wine & Liquor in Batavia on Friday evening to promote her coffee-whiskey blend, Drunken Bean Whiskey, during a special event at the store that included tastings of a variety of wine and spirits.
WBTA was on site for a live broadcast during the event.
Hoyser released a music video three months ago that was partially filmed at farms in Genesee County.
Photos by Howard Owens
The Genesee Chorale performs its annual holiday concert -- From Star to Star -- at 4 p.m. on Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church.
Ric Jones is the director. Janine Fagnan is the associate conductor, and Doug Hanson is the accompanist.
Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or at www.geneseechorale.com/box-office.
St. James is located at 405 East Main St., Batavia.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Not naming all of the musical line-up ahead of time is not to be punitive, says conductor S. Shade Zajac.
But rather, it’s similar to how Christmas operates: there’s usually an element of surprise by not opening the gift until it’s time.
“The idea was, normally, we put all the pieces we're playing on the poster, or at least most of them, so people kind of know what to expect. But you know, I've been thinking that it's, it's really easy sometimes to fall into the trap of just doing the same things over and over again, especially for holiday concerts,” Zajac said about his orchestra’s upcoming concert. “And, you know, it'll just have to wait until Sunday when you come to the concert to see or to hear exactly what we're doing, just so that there's a little bit of mystery, kind of like getting a gift or something you can't open until the day of. ”
The gift of Genesee Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Holiday Surprise will be opened at 4 p.m. Sunday at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.
To be sure, there will be plenty of holiday favorites tucked into some new, and perhaps less familiar songs, he said. Zajac, now in his seventh season with GSO, takes his time to develop a concert menu and does so well in advance.
“I’m always looking ahead to what’s next, logistically and practically. We start planning things now for next year, especially when working with soloists,” he said, adding that next year’s soloist has been booked since 2020.
“There are a lot of different holiday pieces with different arrangements of the same piece. So, it always makes things a little difficult. I had this realization this is my seventh season. And I try to always change it up a little bit each year,” he said. “We are always exploring different music and sometimes in different avenues, and always wanting to bring a new experience and bring pieces that people haven't maybe heard before, or maybe the orchestra hasn't played before.”
After asking the orchestra how many have played a particular piece that he was considering, only a few hands went up, which meant the number would not only introduce a new melody to patrons but also create a challenge for versed musicians.
And they have earned it.
“I just feel us getting better and better. I can certainly feel it, and I know the orchestra is starting to feel it as well,” he said. “There are so many things I still want us to do together. This orchestra really has a special place in my heart.”
Zajac continues to strengthen his own professional chops by performing with other groups and, for a week in January, working with Baltimore Orchestra.
This concert also features a promising violinist, Hilton High School senior Luke Pisani, recipient of GSO’s Young Artist Competition award, among many others.
Pisani, whose LinkedIn account states that he is a motivated, straight-A student who demonstrates a strong work ethic and creative ability, put that hard work on display for the competition, Zajac said. Pisani had competed previously, and, although he did not win that time, his musical prowess was a teaser of what was to come.
When Zajac heard him this time around, he couldn’t believe it was the same person playing.
“Some years, it’s really, really challenging to pick a winner, the talent is so vast. And some years you have someone who comes in, and that’s it,” he said. “He blew us all away; he stood out from the rest of the competition. The Concerto (for violin and orchestra in D major) is a very well-known, very challenging piece of music. He's playing the first movement, and so our audience will absolutely recognize some of the tunes and will just be blown away by his playing, I'm sure.”
Pisani also won competitions with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Violin, Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra, Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra and the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music. His versatility spreads over to jazz piano, basketball and serving at his church. His list of accomplishments is quite lengthy, and his performance for the GSO competition demonstrated that his “amount of growth is incredible,” Zajac said,
“He is very technically advanced, you have to be to be playing Tchaikovsky,” he said. “He has that little something extra that makes people pay attention. And that's, of course, something that we look for in these competitions. A lot of people can play the notes. And then there are people who can actually play the music and just kind of give it that little extra something that grabs your attention. And he did that for us, and we were engaged his entire audition.”
As for the remaining concert, there will be “plenty of holiday cheer,” Zajac said. It will include works by Tchaikovsky, Anderson, Rimsky Korsakov and Vaughan Williams.
“Of course, there's holiday favorites that everyone loves that I'm sure we'll be playing. And maybe a couple of other little pieces that people wouldn't expect," he said.
Click HERE for a sample of Pisani on violin.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for students with an ID, and are available at YNGodess, Holland Land Office Museum, The Coffee Press, from any board member or at GSO.
Top Photo: Conductor S. Shade Zajac leads the Genesee Symphony Orchestra through rehearsal for its upcoming holiday concert. Photos by Howard Owens.
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