entertainment

Janet Root opened her art show of fabric art Thursday night at GO ART! called "Innovations." The show runs through July 6 in the main gallery.

During the show openings, Thursday, Valerie Antonetty and Katie Elia served as guest bartenders with their tips benefitting GO ART!

A mixed-media show by Lydia Zwierzyanski and Megan Peters (not available for photos) also opened Thursday.

In the bar, there is now a member's art show on display, including work by David Burke (top painting).

Today we're officially launching a new series, "The Batavian Sessions."

Though I've recorded a couple of live performances in the past few months and called those videos "The Batavian Sessions," those were really tests of the concept. Last month, we started recording area bands for the launch of this new series. 

I'm a big rockabilly fan and a year or so ago I discovered a series on YouTube called "The Bopflix Sessions." I've watched all 200-plus of those videos, many multiple times. I loved the kind of web-native, intimate and immediate vibe of the videos and those videos, as much as anything, are why you've been seeing a lot more video on The Batavian since November.

We kick off the series with "A" Blues Band performing their original composition, "Shelby Swamp Boogie." 

Here's an invitation to all bands in the region: If you can meet me at an appropriate venue (well lit and quiet) somewhere in Genesee County ready for a live recording of two or three songs, we will include you in "The Batavian Sessions." If you're able and willing, email howard@thebatavian.com.

It was 1924, a world-renowned musician had a dream of creating a band in Batavia. Angelo Colarusso, a famous conductor and baritone player, formed the first Batavia Boys’ Concert Band as the conductor and instrumental instructor.

Over the next two years, the band was reorganized and called the American Legion Band. Edward Sullivan conducted the band until 1933 and was followed by conductor Angelo Zimmarino.

During World War II the group disbanded and restarted in the late '40s under the direction of Gordon Cox. Daniel Martino and Joseph Puccio were original boys' band members and continued to play through the early 1980s.  

During this time the band consisted of only 15 to 20 professional musicians. Over the next 10 years, the band expanded to include qualified adults who enjoyed playing and added advanced high school and college music students. Now the band had 40 to 50 participants.

In the '90s, the band consisted of several music teachers throughout Genesee County, several adult amateurs, and students from area high schools and colleges. The Batavia Concert Band always welcomed community musicians to join the band.

Today the Batavia Concert Band is proud to have an equal number of men and women that includes players with ages that range from advanced high school players in their teens to musicians who have enjoyed playing for 50 to 60 or more years.

Instruments that make up the band are saxophones, French horns, trumpets, baritones, tubas, flutes, trombones, and percussion.   

Members of the band learn from each other. The main objective of the Batavia Concert Band is to bring quality live band music to an appreciative audience. The band’s goal has always been to give free concerts to the public in an outdoor family-oriented atmosphere and it remains the same today.

The Batavia Concert Band programs have varied. To name a few; Civil War Concert, Music from Around the World, Italian-American Night, Irish Folk Song Suite, Marches, Jazz, Show Tunes, Plays the Pops, Polka Fest, Baseball Hotdogs & Apple Pie, Sock Hop & Cruise Night, and Swing’s the Thing.

Every band needs an excellent conductor. Returning for his seventh season as conductor is John Dailey, Instrumental Music teacher at Lyndonville Central School.

Other conductors that have led the Batavia Concert Band are, in alphabetical order: Roger Bolton, Phil Briatico, Wayne Burlison, Frank Dow, Donna Flood, Jane Haggett, Gordon Hardy, Neil Hardwick, Ken Hay, Kevin McLaud, Josh Pacino, John Ranalli, Derek Reiss, Don Rogers, Mike Rudnicki, and Skip Taylor. 

The Batavia Concert Band’s main financial support is provided by a variety of sponsors. Their main sponsor is, in part, funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered locally by GO ART! In the past, local service organizations and local businesses have supported the Batavia Concert Band.

The Batavia Concert Band also offers a scholarship to a high school graduate. Preference is given to a student majoring in Music Education or a Music major, and they must also demonstrate a commitment to community bands and music.

Every Wednesday, beginning June 26  through Aug. 7, the Batavia Concert Band will be performing at 7 p.m. in Centennial Park. They will also be at the Picnic in the Park at 11 a.m. on July 4th.

This organization has purchased their own chairs and a trailer to haul them and their equipment. If you see a musician in a green shirt with the logo Batavia Concert Band, you are looking at a musician who has dedicated his or her talent to giving you a night of music.

During the summer if you are driving down Ellicott Avenue or Richmond Avenue and you hear beautiful band music coming from Centennial Park and notice many lawn chairs on the grass, you can thank the music teachers from the area and the very talented high school and college students who are performing for your pleasure.   

They hope to keep band music alive and to continue to generate interest in band music, inspire children to study music, and encourage students and adults to continue playing, and in doing so the band will have accomplished its worthwhile goal.

Lots has changed over the years, but the Batavia Concert Band has remained a wonderful addition to the music community of Batavia. Hope to see you at Music in the Park!

Photo: File photo.

Carol Burnett's Hollywood Arms opens at 7:30 p.m. at the Harvest 56 Theater.

Additional performances are at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $13 or $11 for students and seniors.

UPDATE: While deleted some unpublished videos from our YouTube account yesterday I must have accidentally deleted the original upload of this video.  Here it is again.

Thursday evening GO ART!, located at 201 E. Main St. in Batavia, the Livingston Arts Council is hosting a bartender challenge. 

Come see Deborah Bump and Gregory Hallock at GO ART!'s Tavern 2.o.1 from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 9.

Admission to the bar and galleries are free to all. If you would like to have a beer, some wine or mead, Gregory or Deborah will be more than happy to serve you and compete for your tips (donations).

Support them as they compete to be the ultimate celebrity bartender (fundraiser). All donations go toward GO ART!’s many programs offered to the public and cheating is ENCOURAGED here! Who will reign as the victor director in this intense battle?

Tell all your coworkers, friends and family to come and help support ART and CULTURE within our region.

Lynn McGrath, a Rochester-based classical guitarist who has performed on four continents and has upcoming solo performance dates in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Albuquerque, and Miami, performed Thursday night at the Richmond Memorial Library.

Eric Zwieg reads one of his poems during a poetry reading Thursday night at Moon Java Cafe on Harvester Avenue in Batavia.

The "Four Poets in Search of An Answer" reading also featured Jen Ashburn, Jason Irwin, and Scott W. Williams.

Jason Irwin

Batavia Players premier their production of Shakespeare's "King Lear" at 7:30 p.m. at the Harvester 56 Theater.

There are also performances at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Next weekend, there will be two performances, Friday and Saturday, at the Wyoming Village Hall.

Tickets are available at the box office prior to each performance.

Cast:

• King Lear, Norm Argulski
• Gonoril, Wendy Williams 
• Duke of Albany, Sean Williams
• Regan, Kathy Johns
• Duke of Cornwall, Xander Farley
• Cordelia, Malloryann Flanagan
• Duke of Burgundy, Russell Lang
• King of France, Paul Meloon
• Fool, Cynthia Nelson
• Earl of Gloucester, Kevin Partridge
• Edgar, James Barcomb
• Edmund, Anthony Baldwin-Giambrone
• Earl of Kent, Steve Coburn
• Oswald, Erin Stamp
• Lewis, Jim Lewis
• Doctor Gerhart, Dorothy Gerhart
• Curan, Patrick D. Burk
• Captain, Michele Stamp
• Messenger/Herald, Jocelyn Coburn
• Jailor, Russell Lang

The annual All-County Music Festival is underway and began with a performance this afternoon by the Elementary Chorus, Middle School Band, and Senior High Chorus at Batavia High School.

The performances followed rehearsals yesterday and this morning at the high school.

Next Saturday, April 6, at 2 p.m. there will be performances by the Elementary Band, Middle School Chorus, and Senior High Band at Attica High School. It is located at 3338 E. Main St. in Attica.

No Blarney! performed a concert of traditional Irish music Friday night at the Holland Land Office Museum.

Here are two videos from that performance, one of "Drink It Up, Man," and the other "Drunken Sailor."

Thank you to No Blarney! and the audience for allowing me to make these two videos. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Le Roy High School presents the musical "Once On This Island" this weekend.

A description of the story:

Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island, Daniel, with whom she falls in love. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over which is stronger, love or death, the stakes being Ti Moune's life.

When she pursues Daniel, who has returned to his people, Ti Moune is shunned because of her lowly status. Her determination and capacity to love, though, is not enough to win Daniel's heart, and Ti Moune pays the ultimate price; but the gods turn Ti Moune into a tree that grows so strong and so tall, it breaks the wall that separates the societies and ultimately unites them.

Lead cast members:

• Ti Moune -- Marlena Pencille
• Daniel -- Lukas Austin
• Agwe -- Xach Carr
• Asaka -- Alexis Pfendler
• Erzulie -- Hailey Grasso
• Papa Ge -- Megan Privatera
• Mama Euralie -- Emily Overacker
• Ton Ton Julian -- Daniel Ferrara
• Little Ti Moune -- Ashlyn Puccio

All show times are at 7 p.m., opening tomorrow with shows on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at leroycsd.org or at the door.

The Batavia High School Production Club presents the musical "The Sound of Music" in three performances starting tonight at 7 o'clock.

There are also shows at 7 p.m. tomorrow and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the high school's auditorium.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors.

Cast list:

• Zofia Bailey, Gretl von Trapp
• Michael Bartz, Friedrich von Trapp
• Cameron Bontrager, Max Detweiler (Friday & Sunday)
• Jack Bruggman, Herr Zeller, Ensemble
• Macayla Burke, Louisa von Trapp
• Emily Caccamise, Frau Schmidt, Nun
• Pierce Corbelli, Captain Georg von Trapp
• Cassidy Crawford, Brigitta von Trapp
• Jocelyn Cryer, Nun, Ensemble
• Lyndsay Debo, Baroness Elberfeld, Nun
• Ariana Desa Frias, Mother Abbess, Ensemble
• Colin Dunn, Kurt von Trapp
• Eryn Dunn, Maria Rainer
• Kathryn Fitzpatrick, Baroness Elsa Schrader
• Abrianna Gabriel, Girl in Pale Pink Coat Dancer, Ensemble
• Kristen Gloskowski, Sister Berthe
• Elise Hoerbelt, Liesl von Trapp
• Oline Jakobsgaard, Nun, Ensemble
• Karissa Kesler, Sister Margaretta
• Lilya Kotmel Nun, Trio of the Saengerbund of Herwegen, Ensemble, Admiral von Schrieber 
• Leigh LeFevre, Marta von Trapp
• Laura Lepkowski, Sister Sophia
• Courtney Lougheed, Nun, Ensemble
• Riley Macdonough, Cantor, Nun, Ensemble
• Hayley Mercer, Nun, Fraulein Schweiger, Ensemble
• Martin Moore, Franz, Soldier
• Jordyn Mott Nun, Ensemble
• Sam Rigerman, Rolf, Lonely Goatherd dancer, Ensemble
• Max Sernoffsky, Soldier, Ensemble
• Kayla Stone, Nun, Trio of the Saengerbund of Herwegen,  Ensemble
• AT Thatcher, Admiral von Schrieber, Max Detweiler (Saturday)
• Gavin Tucker, Baron Elberfeld, Bishop, Ensemble
• Noelia Ventura, Nun, Trio of the Saengerbund of Herwegen, Ensemble
• Lily Whiting, Nun, Ensemble 
• Sydney Ziminski, Nun, Ensemble

The Elba Central School Drama Club presents Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" this week with performances on Friday and Saturday.

Performers, in a cast of 45 people, include Lindsay Augello as Belle, Garrett Sinemus as Beast and Young Prince, Devyn Reigle as Gaston, Carolyn Sybertz as Lumiere, Herman Sinemus as Cogsworth, Lucy LoBello as Mrs. Potts, and Elliott Walsh as Chip. Steve Hawley is the narrator.

Performances are in the Elba Central School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. The school is located at 57 S. Main St., Elba.

Presale tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $8 for adults, available at Roxy's Music Store and the ECSD Office.

All tickets are $10 at the door.

The Genesee Jazz Collective played at GO ART! on Thursday night as part of GO ART!'s Fifth Thursday night, this time with a theme of Jazz & Jam. The evening featured P&J sandwiches, live jazz and a jazz jam session.

Members of the Genesee Jazz Collective are: Dan Klinczar on Brass, Mike Grammatico on Sax and Clarinet, Andrew Lawton on Drums, Phil Briatico on Bass, And Brian Goeltz on Guitar.

Joining the Genesee Jazz Collective during the jam session on vocals, Stuart McLean.

GO ART! is open for Jazz & Jam tonight (Jan. 31) as part of its Fifth Thursdays series.

The Genesee Jazz Collective will be performing from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

Then from 8 to 9 p.m. the Genesee Jazz Collective will host an open Jam Session.

Tavern 2.o.1 will be open and will be serving flights of jam sandwiches in honor of the Jam Session -- you get to choose from three fruit jams.

Come on in and break your cabin fever!

GO ART! is located at 201 E. Main St. in the historic Seymour Place building in Downtown Batavia.

Busking in Batavia is uncommon -- in fact, I've never seen it before and a couple of longtime residents I spoke to said they've never seen street musicians in the city before, so when I spotted Anthony Coco in front of Aldi yesterday evening, I had to stop and chat with him.

He wasn't too talkative, so no interview in the video. 

He said he's been in Batavia for three months. He's from Las Vegas. He's busking -- accepting donations while playing music -- because that's his only option to feed himself. He's lost his Social Security card and birth certificate so can't get help from any social services. He's been couch surfing since moving to Batavia.

Yes, "that would be the idea" to become a professional musician he said, but right now the best he can do is busk.