The Albany Symphony has announced they will be presenting three free concerts at Water Music NY: More Voices Festival 2026. The festival will make three different stops in Waterford, Rome, and The Tonawandas.
The Water Music NY: More Voices Festival will commence this summer to honor the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. David Alan Miller, the Music Director of the Albany Symphony, highlights the way the festival brings the community together.
“We have engaged three extraordinary composers and are collaborating with vibrant New York State communities to celebrate with thousands of residents and visitors at day-long festivals filled with recreational activities,” Miller said. “These powerful community-driven events point us toward a bountiful and inclusive future for the Erie Canal — one for all to experience and enjoy.”
The Waterford festival will take place on July 10 at Erie Canal Lock E-2. The all-day event will feature student showcases, Canal heritage activities, and will end in a drone show. Composer Celka Ojakangas will provide a performance that connects art with the environment.
The Rome festival will take place on July 11 in Bellamy Harbor Park. It will be block-party style, with student performances and other art oriented activities. Composer Jack Frerer will bring a theatrical twist, using local actors with an original score he will perform live.
The Tonawandas festival will take place on August 15 in Gateway Harbor. This concert has been in the works for three years, culminating in a performance with visual arts. Composer Hannah Ishizaki will call on the audience to create music in a unique way, by using their cell phones.
The three-day festival is in collaboration with New York State Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, and New York State Council on the Arts. This year’s programming looks to highlight the Erie Canal as a historic and recreational space, with most activities taking place near the water.
New York State Power Authority President and CEO, Justin E. Driscoll, expressed his approval for the festival. “We are proud to support the Water Music NY Festival this summer, an initiative that commemorates not only the rich history of the Erie Canal, but its role in fostering community connections and creativity.”
All three dates are free to attend. Day-to-day activities can be found here.
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