Glens Falls’ The Park Theater Foundation has announced the launch of their first education initiative, Music & Technology Program, through regional high schools this year, beginning with Glens Falls City School District, part of Music In Our Schools Month. (March 2023).
The program will offer middle and high school students of Glens Falls City School District and Lake George Central School District who are enrolled in general music, band or orchestra classes, to work alongside artists and audio-visual engineers.
Included in the program are performances, workshops and collaboration with various jazz artists that are regularly featured in the Foundation’s ‘Third Thursday Jazz’ series. The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director, Chris Ristau, shared his thoughts on the Music and Technology Program:
The Music & Technology Program is the latest foray for the Foundation, and one that is near and dear to my heart. In an effort to support arts education in our community, this program is only the beginning of what we hope will become a much more regular, robust offering that expands to various local school districts. I would have never found myself in the position I am today if not for the opportunities I had throughout my educational career. I hope this program, and future outreach initiatives, inspire more students to get involved in the arts in our community, and to develop their skills and self-confidence.
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
Students taking part will engage in workshops that focus on music appreciation and cultural education, in addition to audio and visual technology comprehension. Guest artists will explain the history of their genre, as well as provide a demonstration of their instrument(s) to further showcase their musical style. Guest audio-visual engineers will demonstrate various audio and lighting effects, and how they influence and affect both the artists and show experiences.
Through this program, we want to introduce students to a genre of music they might not have otherwise been exposed to, and hopefully spark further interest in those who are familiar with it or who already perform. There isn’t much opportunity available for students to learn general knowledge and gain hands-on experience about how a show comes together. We want them to experience running a venue behind the scenes – from the audio-visual component to booking the artists. There’s so much that happens off the stage before the performer takes the stage!
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
A Lake George High School graduate himself (2004), Ristau saw the potential to introduce gear that was professional so that anyone looking to go down that career path was using the best tools of the trade possible.
Ristau had previously worked at the Glens Falls Music Academy (GFMA) for five years, before heading to the nonprofit world, and finally The Park Theater. Getting to know music teachers from Bolton, North Creek and other regional schools, Ristau saw GFMA as a perfect spot for him to land out of college, where he could work within a recording studio as a studio manager, befriending teachers in the process. Ristau’s experience in working with schools and supplying music programs with items via the storefront aspect of GFMA made it possible for him to identify needs throughout the region.
Thus, when Ristau came to work for The Park Theater, he looked to develop educational programming, in addition to the jazz series each Thursday.
Part of the mission of the Foundation is to bring performing arts opportunities to the community. The Foundation itself runs primarily out of The Park Theater building, a state-of-the-art entertainment facility, which has become part of its identity. When it came time to develop the program, we wanted to find a way for students to experience the space – an operating venue with a full stage and high end sound production equipment.
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
Utilizing The Park Theater venue space allows the Foundation to connect the performance and technical side of things. Ristau notes “The Music and Technology Program was developed considering what we do here and how that, presented to the student body, will be useful to them.” This program will showcase the venue to the students and introduce them to some of the ‘Third Thursday Jazz’ series musicians – many who are educators themselves. The goal is to have the musicians on the stage, performing and talking about how they got into playing music.
Funding was made possible to get a pilot program off the ground and develop it with other schools in the area, to determine the size and scope of the program. A grant from the Glens Falls Foundation was received for Glens Falls High School programming taking place this March. In Fall 2022, they received additional funding for the Lake George High School programming taking place later this year.
Working with Krislynn Dengler, superintendent at Glens Falls City School District, and John Luthringer, superintendent at Lake George, who both started their respective positions in July 2022, led to Ristau’s initial outreach. Said Ristau, “From there we sat down with teachers in the music program who helped shape the program into something that will complement the music and general curriculum already in place.”
Jazz music history will also be learned throughout the program. We will give insight on how to book a show, the technical aspects behind the scenes, how to run sound and lights well to complement what is on the stage, and demonstrate the effects on the board, highlighting the capabilities that lead to a good night of tech, as opposed to a bad one.
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
Drummer Matt Niedbalski, who met Ristau at Parkway Music in Clifton Park, learned of his vision to bring more jazz to Downtown Glens Falls, and has become a key part of the once-a-month series, Third Thursday Jazz. Getting additional musicians from around the area on board was easy for the jazz drummer, given his proximity to The Park Theater, and his background teaching drumming made for a great role in developing the series and onstage portion of the educational program.
Chris Reed Jr, a Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam graduate opened the Glens Falls Music Academy with his wife, Meredith, a teacher at Glens Falls. Reed now handles sound tech at most of the Foundation’s performances, and was previously Chris’ supervisor at GFMA.
Ristau further explained how the educational portion of the Music & Technology Program comes together: “The initial performance will be for the full student body in the arts wing, then they break it down for a more hands on, in depth portion for the older kids who may be looking into this as a career. They then reconstruct things back so they have a full performance with students who are able to play with the gear to experience it first hand.”
For more information on the Park Theater and the Park Theater Foundation, please visit their website.
Upcoming Events in March
March 1: The Park Theater Foundation hosts Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties. Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, this listening party will focus on Paul & Linda McCartney’s “Ram” (1971). Tickets: $12.00. Doors: 6:30pm | Showtime: 7:00pm.
March 9: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Live & Local’ featuring indie-folk group, Cricket Blue. Dubbed one of the “10 Vermont Bands You Should Listen To Now,” Cricket Blue have taken their music and storytelling to stages and folk festivals across the United States and Canada. Tickets: Early Bird – $15.00 | Day Of Show – $20.00. Doors: 6:30pm | Showtime: 7:00pm.
March 16: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Third Thursday Jazz’ with The Matt Niedbalski Trio featuring The Dylan Canterbury Quintet. Experience some of the best jazz music in the Capital Region! Tickets: $10.00. Doors: 7:00pm | Showtime: 7:30pm.
March 17: ‘The Park Presents:’ St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Show ft. Cassie & Maggie: In partnership with Park Street Hospitality, The Park Theater Foundation presents St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Show on March 17th, 2023! This event features a special ‘The Park Presents’ performance by award-winning Celtic duo, Cassie & Maggie, and includes a delicious Irish-inspired 3-course prix fixe menu curated by Park Street Hospitality’s executive chef, Matthew J. Delos. Nova Scotian sisters, Cassie and Maggie, have been lighting up the world with their unique blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic instrumentals and vocals. Appearing on stages across North America, the UK, and Europe the sisters have enchanted audiences far and wide with lively fiddle, piano and guitar arrangements, stunning sibling vocal harmonies in both English and Gaelic, all complemented by their intricate and percussive stepdancing style. View the full menu at parktheatergf.com. Tickets: $65.00 (includes tax and service fee). Doors: 5:30pm | Dinner: 6:00pm | Showtime: 7:30pm.
March 23: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Live & Local’ featuring world music band, HEARD. Heard is a collective of musicians that bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Energetic and upbeat, HEARD will open your ears and hearts! Tickets: Early Bird – $15.00 | Day Of Show – $20.00. Doors: 7:00pm | Showtime: 7:30pm.
March 29: The Park Theater Foundation hosts Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties. Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, this listening party will focus on Rod Stewart’s “Every Picture Tells A Story” (1971). Tickets: $12.00. Doors: 6:30pm | Showtime: 7:00pm.
March 31: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Comedy After Dark’ featuring highly-acclaimed New York City stand-up comedian, Adam Mamawala. He has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, BET, and SiriusXM. Adam has been a freelance contributor to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update and Someecards and currently co-hosts podcasts Away Games and HORSE, as recently featured in the New York Times. Enjoy an evening of laughter and fun with family and friends! Tickets: Early Bird – $22.00 | Day Of Show – $25.00. Doors: 7:30pm | Showtime: 8:00pm.
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