The Sacandaga Valley Arts Network has been dedicated to increasing the awareness and presence of the arts - both visual and performing - since its inception in 1997. In 1999 we began developing a performing arts series whose purpose was to increase the availability of quality music in the area while helping to expose our audiences to different genres of music. We are committed to bringing local talent to the forefront when possible, and support musicians in the New York area. We have and continue to find genres of music that will both entertain and teach. In our search we have also sponsored groups from other parts of the United States and abroad. We are dedicated to grow and expand as we see our community need change and develop.
SVAN Song Sundays, Northville Waterfront Park
The Winter Coffeehouse Series
The Edinburg Classical Concert Series
Entertainment at the Hope Pavilion
Adventures in Folk Music for Youth
Drum Circle
, our first concert series, is in it’s 12th year. Held at the Northville Waterfront Park, the seven concert series begins on Sunday, July 11 with an “Arts in the Park” exhibition beginning at 3pm. Come early and enjoy artwork created by talented local artists. The will perform and explain the different aspects of drumming. It will be followed by our featured musicians— the Stonewall Girls. Concerts continue on six more Sundays, ending with a Family Fun Day with featured artists, the world famous Zucchini Brothers. You can find out more about this series on our calendar. SVAN Song Sundays program.
warms the cold Adirondack winters by offering great entertainment and some tasty fare. The Coffee House Series is a smaller venue held at the Northville Methodist Church who graciously offers their hall. Area churches rotate each season to provide hot chili, soup and light dinner fare, served an hour before the concert and at intermission. The hall holds up to 100 people. The intimate feel of this series has been commented on by musicians and patrons alike, adding to the success of this series. The winter 2011 concert will be posted later this fall.
is a joint presentation of SVAN and the Town of Edinburg, bringing high-quality classical music to our area for ten years. The concerts (usually two each summer) were held in the Edinburg Common School for the first two years, but all since then have benefited from the excellent acoustics of the Batchellerville Presbyterian Church, at the bridge in Edinburg.
This 10th Anniversary Series is dedicated to the memory of Bert Phillips, who passed away last year. As Founder & Director of the Luzerne Music Center in Lake Luzerne, Bert provided talent for the first seven annual Concert Series. After retiring from an illustrious career as cellist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, he was the driving force behind The Music Center’s Chamber Players bringing the beautiful sounds of Schubert, Brahms, Dvorak, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart and so many more to our little hamlet.
The Concert Committee, chaired by Jeanne MacCorkle, has enhanced its offerings over the years by including programs from The Ballet Brass, a quintet of the New York City Ballet Orchestra; Tritonis, a nationally acclaimed trio of classical guitar, flute & cello; and Dr. John Weaver, Chairman Emeritus of the Julliard School of Music Organ Department & his wife, Marianne accompanying an historic reed organ on flute.
While NYSCA and private grants have provided most of the funding for these concerts, the Committee also seeks individual, business & corporate sponsors to cover expenses.
SVAN has added a new venue to the summer concert programs. Expanding northward into Hamilton County, we are proud to sponsor four events. We are excited to be able to reach a larger audience, bringing musicians and a Shakespearean Comedy to the area. The performances are sponsored by the Town of Hope and produced by SVAN. Please check the calendar for performance schedules.
Hope Pavilion Series program.
was created by then music chairperson Robin Gaiser, demonstrating SVAN’s dedication to education and to the youth of our area. For the past few summers the program has been run by Gary Van Slyke who has worked with upwards of 275 children accompanied by their parents.
Gary has been named “Award Winning Children’s Musician” two years running by the Tri-County Arts Council! He is dedicated to teaching children through music and exposing them to new musical instruments and their application. His program consists of a 45 minute concert where he plays the guitar, banjo, pennywhistle, and harmonica. It is followed by a 40 minute hands-on workshop - with handouts and instruction in pennywhistle or harmonica. Gary chooses themes which are environmentally and socially responsible with songs reflecting those themes.
In the summer of 2010, “Adventures in Folk Music” will be held in five locations - Broadalbin school, Perth community building, Mayfield school, Northville school and Wells library. Dates TBA. In order to provide each child with an instrument to keep, we are committed to raising the funds. If anyone would like to make a donation toward this project, please contact the SVAN president.
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