Press Releases

Spencertown Academy Arts Center announces the winners of its sixth annual Young Writers’ Contest. Held in conjunction with the Academy’s Festival of Books (which will be virtual this year), the contest was open to writers in grades 9 through 12 attending school or homeschooled in Columbia County, NY and Berkshire County, MA.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center Hidden Gardens Virtual Lecture Series presents a talk by Ron and Jennifer Kujawski titled “Vegetable Garden Planted: Now What?” on Saturday, June 19 at 4:00pm via Zoom. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A with participants. Tickets are $10. To register, please see www.spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents Hidden Gardens: Twilight in the Garden Party on Saturday, June 26, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm (rain date: Sunday, June 27 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm) at Austerlitz Historical Society’s Old Austerlitz grounds (GPS 11550 NY-22 Austerlitz, NY 12017). The Academy’s traditional summer kick-off fundraiser will feature pre-packed baskets filled with wrapped homemade and locally sourced snacks, as well as festive beverages, a silent auction, and live music by Rob Fisch. Tickets range from $100 to $250 with an array of perks. For details, please see www.spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Streams will broadcast a virtual concert by three-time Latin Grammy nominee, Brazilian pianist Jovino Santos Neto on Saturday, June 5 at 8:00pm. The performance is free (though tips are welcome via a virtual tip jar) and advance registration is not required. A link to the performance will be posted on the Academy’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/spencertownacademy.

Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Streams presents a virtual folk concert by Taylor Ashton and special guests on Saturday, May 8 at 7:30pm. This concert is free (though tips are welcome via a virtual tip jar) and advance registration is not required. A link to the performance broadcast will be available via the Academy’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/spencertownacademy.

Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Streams will broadcast The Lucky 5, performing live on the Spencertown stage, via YouTube on Saturday, April 17 at 7:30pm. The Lucky 5 is a hard-swinging jazz band that blends swing and gypsy jazz to create a unique, foot-stomping blend of music. The performance is free (though tips are welcome via a virtual tip jar) and advance registration is not required. A link to the concert will be posted on www.spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center Hidden Gardens Virtual Lecture Series presents a talk by Ellen Ecker Ogden titled “The Art of Growing Food” on Saturday, May 1 at 4:00pm via Zoom. The lecture will be about an hour, followed by a Q&A with participants. Tickets are $10. To register, please see www.spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center launches the 2021 Hidden Gardens Virtual Lecture Series with a talk by Master Gardener Mary Ann Iaccino titled “Why Start Plants From Seed?” on Sunday March 21 at 1:00pm via Zoom. The lecture will be about an hour, followed by a Q&A with participants. Tickets are $10. To register, please see www.spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Streams will broadcast a concert by Colombian singer Lucia Pulido and Mexican multi-instrumentalist Ulises Martínez via YouTube on Saturday, March 20 at 8:00pm. Recorded in Mexico especially for the Academy, the program will feature a mix of traditional “pirekua” indigenous songs from Michoacán, Mexico and “cantas de guabina” from the Andes in Colombia, along with a sprinkling of Spanish “boleros”—all interpreted in a personal way. The program will conclude with an interview with the artists conducted by Gerald Seligman, member of the Academy’s Music Committee. The performance is free (though tips are welcome via a virtual tip jar) and advance registration is not required. A link to the concert will be posted on www.spencertownacademy.org.

Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Streams will broadcast The Magdalens Unplugged, performing live on the Spencertown stage, via YouTube on Saturday, March 13 at 7:30pm. The Magdalens Unplugged is an alt-folk-rock band comprised of Renée DaVink (lead singer and songwriter), Britany Orlebeke (violin), and John Caplis (guitar). Based in Albany, New York, the band plays both original songs and covers a unique blend of Americana, post-punk, and indie classics. The performance is free (though tips are welcome via a virtual tip jar) and advance registration is not required. A link to the concert will be posted on www.spencertownacademy.org.