From July 23 through 30, 35 aspiring musicians will gather in the village of Oyster Bay to take part in the sixth season of the Oyster Bay Music Festival, an eight-day intensive musical immersion and concurrent free live classical music festival.
Ranging in age from 12 to 24, and hailing from communities throughout Long Island and greater New York, these classical music students will spend their days coaching with expert faculty, rehearsing solo and chamber music, and performing non-stop.
The jam-packed festival hosts 17 public events during the week, as well as eight programs at senior centers and several “pop-up” concerts in the village.
“Our students will often perform two or three times a day, giving them an unparalleled opportunity to develop their performance skills,” says Lauren Ausubel, co-director and flutist. “The level is extremely high this year, many of our students coming from top music institutions such as Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Yale School of Music, and Oberlin Conservatory.”
Unique to the Oyster Bay Music Festival is its dedication to the art of performance and the revival of classical music as a vital part of community.
“Classical music has a long history of passion, breaking boundaries, and community engagement,” says co-director Pippa Borisy, pianist and director of the Great Neck Music Conservatory. “There is no reason for a classical music concert to ever be boring. Our goal is to create an experience of live performance, rooted in the community of Oyster Bay, that is fun, enlightening, and full of surprises.”
The festival approaches concerts with a sense of whimsy and fun, and every concert is themed.
Mozart Shipwrecked takes place in the boatyard at Building Lot J at the Western Waterfront on July 24.
Typical of this festival is the unexpected — audiences will find a Steinway grand piano adjacent to the ongoing construction of a replica of the Ida May boat.
Or drop by Oyster Bay’s famed Cruise Night on July 25, where Steinway & Sons will park a concert grand in front of 20th Century Cycles for Cruising to the Classical Beat.
Prepare for an interactive experience on July 26 with a special Guest Artist concert featuring the internationally recognized ensemble SHUFFLE Concert at Christ Church.
Bring your lawn chairs for Music On The Porch at Sagamore Hill on July 29; but first don’t miss a favorite family event, Clarinets, Clavichords… Carrots and Cucumbers? at Raynham Hall Museum.
This is a one-of-a-kind, simultaneous indoor salon-concert and outdoor vegetable orchestra workshop with Dale Stuckenbruck, who recently performed on the musical saw with the New York Philharmonic.
Oyster Bay Music Festival will partner with the Oyster Bay Historical Society to present Classic Yachts — Classic Music on July 24; and Looney Tunes, contemplating the crazy side of musicians or their music, on July 26.
Additional concert venues during the eight days of music include Oakcliff Sailing Center, Not Just Art, Spinnakers Restaurant, and St. John’s Church in Cold Spring Harbor.
The festival kicks off on July 23 at Christ Church, one of Long Island’s favorite acoustic spaces, with Overture: Opening Festival Concert, featuring faculty and interns of the festival; presents Old But Not Obsolete at Christ Church on July 28; and ends in the same location with a concert called Beautiful Minds on July 30.
Following is a listing of upcoming concerts, which are free and open to the public, with all locations in Oyster Bay unless otherwise noted:
Sunday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m.: Overture — Opening Festival Concert
Christ Church, 61 East Main Street
Opening concert featuring faculty and students of the festival.
Monday, July 24 at 5 p.m.: Classic Yachts — Classic Music
Oyster Bay Historical Society, 20 Summit Street
Monday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m.: Mozart Shipwrecked
Ida May Project in Building J on the Western Waterfront, 1 West End Ave.
Music inspired by adventure or inspiring adventure.
Tuesday, July 25, 6-9 p.m.: Cruising to the Classical Beat
Oyster Bay Music Festival at Cruise Night
20th Century Cycles, 101 Audrey Ave.
A Steinway grand piano in front of Billy Joel’s motorcycle shop with music for everyone.
Wednesday, July 26, 12-2 p.m.: Food for the Soul
Spinnakers Restaurant , 62 South Street
Stop by, have some lunch, and enjoy music — what could be better?
Wednesday, July 26 at 5 p.m.: Loony Tunes
Oyster Bay Historical Society, 20 Summit Street
The crazy side of musicians or their music.
Wednesday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.: Guest Artist Interactive Concert with SHUFFLE Concert!
Christ Church, 61 East Main Street
SHUFFLE Concert, Guest Artist Series.
Thursday, July 27 at 5 p.m.: Salon Serendipity: Music from the 19th Century
Raynham Hall Museum, 20 West Main Street
Like stepping into the past…
Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m.: Waves of Music
Oakcliff Sailing Center, 4 South Street
Friday, July 28 at 2 p.m.: Especially for Kids!
Not Just Art, 183 South Street
Friday, July 28 at 6 p.m.: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
St. John’s Church, 1670 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor
Friday, July 28 at 8 p.m.: Old, But Not Obsolete
Christ Church, 61 East Main Street
Classical music that keeps inspiring.
Saturday, July 29, 1-3 p.m.: Clarinets, Clavichords… Carrots and Cucumbers?
Raynham Hall Museum, 20 West Main Street
Outdoor Vegetable Orchestra Workshop and simultaneous Indoor Festival Concert
This program promises musical magic, curiosities, ice cream, and fun for adults and children of all ages.
Saturday, July 29 at 5 p.m.: Music on the Porch
Front Porch of Sagamore Hill, 20 Sagamore Hill Road, Cove Neck
Hoping that one day the world will stand united — music for peace and love.
Sunday, July 30 at 4 p.m.: Beautiful Minds
Christ Church, 61 East Main Street
Concluding the festival with works from some of the most beautiful minds in humanity.
For more information about the Oyster Bay Music Festival and the concert schedule, go to oysterbaymusicfestival.org.
Support for this event is provided in part by Steinway & Sons, The Joel Foundation, and a Community Arts Grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.
