Larry Berk Artist-in-Residence Program
Fall 2007 ~ JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON
Nationally celebrated musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason are SUNY Ulster County Community College’s Fall 2007 Larry Berk Artists-in-Residence.
SUNY Ulster is pleased to announce the selection of Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, nationally celebrated musicians, as the Fall 2007 Larry Berk Artists-in-Residence. Since joining forces in the late 1970s, Jay and Molly have become one of the most celebrated couples on the American acoustic music scene, delighting audiences worldwide. They perform together, with their band, Swingology, and occasionally with Jay's daughter, Ruth Ungar, and her band, The Mammals. Jay and Molly achieved international acclaim in 1990 when their Grammy Award-winning performance of Jay's composition “Ashokan Farewell” was prominently featured in the Ken Burns PBS documentary The Civil War. They've appeared on Great Performances, A Prairie Home Companion, their own public radio specials and their work on film soundtracks such as Brother's Keeper and Legends of the Fall. Recently, they have appeared on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, CBS-TV’s This Morning and the BBC-TV Transatlantic Sessions musical special.
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's Dancing On The Air - Live at the Linda, their radio show broadcasts monthly as part of the WAMC Northeast Public Radio series Live at the Linda consistently showcases exceptional talent in a wide variety of idioms including: Folk, Celtic, Swing, Cajun, Zydeco, Old-Time Country, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Blues, Jazz, Pop, and more. Dancing on the Air is a gathering of musicians brimming with spontaneity and a love for making music.
Local residents may also be familiar with their Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp in the Catskills. Since 1980, the camp has been a place where children and adults can enjoy total immersion in music and dance for a day, a weekend or a week. Campers attend in-depth classes, workshops, dance parties, jam sessions and song swaps.
As part of their residency, Jay and Molly will present four concerts this semester. The first concert will be on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge on the Stone Ridge campus. Other concerts by Jay and Molly at SUNY Ulster will be on Thursday, October 25 at 7:00 pm, Thursday, November 15 at 1:00 pm in the Student Lounge, and Saturday, December 1 at 7:00 pm in Quimby Theater, with a variety of guest artists. The programs and guest artists for these shows will be announced as soon as possible. Suggested donation for the concerts is $8. For information phone (845) 687-5262.
The September 19 evening performance, suitable for all ages, will include their timeless renditions of hard-driving Appalachian, Cajun and Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden age of swing and country, stunning waltzes and deeply moving original compositions. With their violin, mandolin, guitar, banjo and piano, not to mention their beautiful vocals, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason make each concert a musical journey.
The October 25 evening performance will feature Fiddling and Dancing with Jay Ungar & Molly Mason along with Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand, two of the most exciting and creative new faces on the acoustic music scene today. Between them Andrew and Noah play fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bazouki, guitar, bass, percussion and digeree doo in a variety of traditional and original styles. Join Jay, Molly, Andrew and Noah for audience participation in some fun and easy American dances (squares, circles, contras).
The November 15 afternoon will feature three generations of Northeast Fiddling hosted by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason along with friends and special guests. The concert features a range of Northeast tunes, styles, songs and stories. Each fiddler will be featured doing their own thing as well as jamming together on some classic tunes.
The December 1 evening concert, a Winter Holiday Extravaganza, with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and special guests Genticorum and Mike & Ruthy Merenda, will range from traditional and contemporary American and Quebecois fiddle and accordion music to vintage jazz, western swing and original songs – all in the spirit of winter and the Holiday season.
For more information about Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, visit their official website: http://www.jayandmolly.com/index.shtml
Other sites of interest include:
- Dancing on the Air Radio Archives
- Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp
- Interview from"On Point, " WBUR FM
- "Ashokan Farewell"
- Jay and Molly Live in Studio on Minnesota Public Radio
- Jay Ungar on Wikipedia
PRESS RELEASES
LARRY BERK ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE JAY UNGAR AND MOLLY MASON CONCERT SCHEDULE RELEASED
The Fall 2007 Larry Berk Artists-in-Residence, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, have released their planned concert schedule for the semester. Suggested donation is $8.00.
Wednesday, September 19, 7:00 pm
Vanderlyn Hall, Student Lounge
Fiddle and Folk music concert and jam session with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason along with Michael and Ruth Merenda of The Mammals, two musicians and songwriters on the cutting edge of the acoustic string band revival. The concert features vintage and contemporary fiddle, banjo, guitar, songs and more. Bring acoustic instruments and your voices for round robin instrumental and vocal jam session afterwards. All levels and styles welcome.
Thursday, October 25, 7:00 pm
Vanderlyn Hall, Student Lounge
An evening of Fiddling and Dancing with Jay Ungar, Molly Mason along with Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand, two of the most exciting and creative new faces on the acoustic music scene today. Between them Andrew and Noah play fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bazouki, guitar, bass, percussion and digeree doo in a variety of traditional and original styles. Join Jay, Molly, Andrew and Noah for audience participation in some fun and easy American dances (squares, circles, contras).
Thursday, November 15, 1:00 pm
Vanderlyn Hall, Student Lounge
Three generations of Northeast Fiddling hosted by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason along with friends and special guests. The concert features a range of Northeast tunes, styles, songs and stories. Each fiddler will be featured doing their own thing as well as jamming together on some classic tunes.
Saturday, December 1, 7:00 pm
Quimby Theater, Vanderlyn Hall
Winter holiday extravaganza with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and special guests. The music will range from traditional and contemporary American and Quebecois fiddle and accordion music to vintage jazz, western swing and original songs – all in the spirit of winter and the Holiday season.
FIRST OF THREE CONCERTS BY SUNY ULSTER'S FALL 2007 LARRY BERK ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE, JAY UNGAR AND MOLLY MASON, ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 ... On September 19 at 7:00 p.m., nationally celebrated musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Ulster County Community College’s Fall 2007 Larry Berk Artists-in-Residence, will present a concert in Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge on the SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge campus.
Since joining forces in the late 1970s, Jay and Molly have become one of the most celebrated couples on the American acoustic music scene, delighting audiences worldwide. They perform together, with their band, Swingology, and occasionally with Jay's daughter, Ruth Ungar, and her band, The Mammals.
Jay and Molly achieved international acclaim in 1990 when their Grammy Award-winning performance of Jay's composition “Ashokan Farewell” was prominently featured in the Ken Burns PBS documentary The Civil War.
Jay Ungar and Molly
The September 19th evening performance, suitable for all ages, will include their timeless renditions of hard-driving Appalachian, Cajun and Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden age of Swing and Country, stunning waltzes and deeply moving original compositions.
With their violin, mandolin, guitar, banjo and piano, not to mention their beautiful vocals, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason make each concert a musical journey.
They've garnered legions of fans through their appearances on Great Performances, A Prairie Home Companion, their own public radio specials and their work on film soundtracks such as Brother's Keeper and Legends of the Fall. Recently, they have appeared on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, CBS-TV’s This Morning and the BBC-TV Transatlantic Sessions musical special.
Local residents may also be familiar with their Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp in the Catskills. Since 1980, the camp has been a place where children and adults can enjoy total immersion in music and dance for a day, a weekend or a week. Campers attend in-depth classes, workshops, dance parties, jam sessions and song swaps. Suggested donation for the concert is $8. For information phone (845) 687-5262.
Other concerts by Jay and Molly at SUNY Ulster will be on Thursday, October 25 (7 pm) , Thursday, November 15 (1 pm) and Saturday, December 1 (7 pm) , with a variety of guest artists.
JAY UNGAR AND MOLLY MASON AT SUNY ULSTER THURSDAY, OCT. 25 ... Internationally acclaimed and perennially popular musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will present an evening of fiddling and dancing, with audience participation, in the Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge on the Ulster County Community College Stone Ridge campus on Thursday, October 25, at 7:00 p.m. This concert is their second performance in SUNY Ulster’s fall 2007 Larry Berk Artists-in-Residence Series. The event is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $8.
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason have been described as “the heart and soul of American roots music.” The celebrated couple won international acclaim for the musical soundtrack of the PBS series, The Civil War, produced and directed by Ken Burns. The soundtrack won a Grammy, and Ashokan Farewell, the theme composed by Jay Ungar, was nominated for an Emmy.
Jay and Molly will be accompanied by Andrew and Noah Van Norstrand, two creative acoustic musicians who between them play fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bazouki, guitar, bass, percussion and didgeridoo in a variety of traditional and original styles. The concert will be followed by some fun and easy American dances—squares, circles, contras—backed by Jay, Molly, Andrew and Noah.
For more information, call the SUNY Ulster Community Relations office at 845-687-5262.
JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE, NOVEMBER 15 AT 1:00 PM IN THE LOUNGE
Nationally celebrated musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Ulster County Community College’s fall 2007 Larry Berk Artists-in-Residence, will present the third of four concerts as part of their residency today, November 15, 2007, at 1:00 pm in Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge on the SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge campus.
Three generations of Northeast Fiddling hosted by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason along with friends and special guests. The evening features a range of Northeast tunes, styles, songs and stories. Each fiddler will be featured doing their own thing as well as jamming together on some classic tunes. Suggested donation is $8.00
WINTER HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA CONCERT TO WRAP UP RESIDENCY FOR JAY & MOLLY, DECEMBER 1 AT 7:00 PM
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Ulster County Community College’s fall Larry Berk 2007 Artists-in-Residence, will present the fourth and last of four concerts as part of their residency tonight, December 1, 2007, at 7:00 pm in Quimby Theater on the SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge campus.
The concert is a Winter holiday extravaganza with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and special guests. Their guests tonight include Genticorum and Mike & Ruthy Merenda. The music will range from traditional and contemporary American and Quebecois fiddle and accordion music to vintage jazz, western swing and original songs – all in the spirit of winter and the Holiday season. Suggested donation is $8.00.
For more information, click on the link above.
JAY UNGER AND MOLLIE MASON PRESENT "THE PLEASURES OF WINTER" HOLIDAY CONCERT AT SUNY ULSTER ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 ... SUNY Ulster Artists-in-Residence Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will present their holiday extravaganza, “The Pleasures of Winter,” in Quimby Theater on the Stone Ridge campus of Ulster County Community College, Saturday, December 1, at 7:00 p.m.
Jay and Molly will be joined by their band, Swingology, featuring Peter Ecklund on cornet, Peter Davis on clarinet, saxophone, piano and guitar and Harry Aceto on bass, plus special guest singers, songwriters and instrumentalists Mike and Ruthy Merenda and Genticorum, a band of musicians from Quebec featuring fiddle, accordion, guitar and much more.
Seasonal offerings will abound during this very special concert with friends and family and much sitting-in and musical cross-pollination. The performance will be recorded for broadcast by Public Radio International in 2008.
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason have been described as “the heart and soul of American roots music.” The celebrated couple won international acclaim for the musical soundtrack of the PBS series, “The Civil War,” produced and directed by Ken Burns. The soundtrack won a Grammy and “Ashokan Farewell,” the theme composed by Jay Ungar, was nominated for an Emmy.
The public is welcome. Suggested donation is $8. For more information, call SUNY Ulster Community Relations at 845-687-5262.
Previous Artists-in-Residence at SUNY Ulster have included Wilhelmina Frankfurt, Gillian Farrell, Bill Vanaver, Larry Packer, Danielle Woerner, Kathleen Anderson, Robbie Dupree, Anthony Giaimo, Martha Frankel, Karl Berger, Bar Scott, Charles Pistone, Artie Traum, Casey Kurtti, Nina Shengold , David Sancious and Johanna Hall.
For more information on these concerts, contact SUNY Ulster’s Office of Community Relations at 845-687-5262.
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