2023 Caroga Lake Music Festival Programming Announced

The Caroga Arts Collective announced the complete Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF) 2023 programming, featuring more than 125 artists for over 35 concerts, starting May 27 and ending Sept. 15.

Photo by Kevin Bacon.

The Caroga Lake Music Festival features many performances, as well as the second annual edition of the CLMF Lesson & Ensembles Program, providing music workshops and individual or small group lessons, led by Caroga Arts Ensemble artists, to community members looking to learn new instruments or hone their talent. “We’re excited to bring a robust lineup of artists to Caroga Lake for our 12th summer season,” said Kyle Barrett Price, Founder and Artistic Director of the Caroga Arts Collective. “Our concerts will feature a diverse array of genres, classical, jazz, rock, and everything in between, presented lakeside at Sherman’s Park and at other beloved venues across the region.”

The venue is important to the wider community, notes Dr. William Crankshaw, Caroga Arts board member and Superintendent of Schools at the Greater Johnstown School District. “Caroga Arts is breathing life into musical arts in our communities, and even in our schools. The potential to offer students the opportunities to experience a wide variety of world-class musical programs, not to mention exposure to string instruments and summer ensembles, excites me. There have been hundreds of educators in our region who have been pining for these types of opportunities, which, until now, were only available to communities with the resources and affluence to do so.”

Over the course of its five-week season, the Caroga Lake Music Festival 2023 will feature more than 20 touring guest artists and ensembles at Sherman Park. Well-known names include Grammy-nominated folk singer Judy Collins, group Baha Men, known for the Grammy-award-winning song “Who Let The Dogs Out,” husband and wife duo The War and Treaty, the Zac Brown Tribute Band, Queen tribute band: Almost Queen, and many more. CLMF will also highlight up-and-coming artists such as Laufey, an Icelandic musician and songwriter who recently ranked #1 on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Chart. Returning performers include Eddie Barbash, performing at Sherman’s Jazz Fest; The Ultimates, back for a Labor Day concert with fireworks; and Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra at Fiesta Caroga, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

For the second time in its 12-year history, this year’s festival will include a full symphony performed conductorless by the Caroga Arts Ensemble, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony on Aug. 11. Also happening are two world premieres, including “27 Steps,” an immersive theater experience presented in partnership with Utica Dance and family-friendly “Louie the Loon,” composed by Brian Shank based on a short story by Julian Muller, which will be performed at a Kids Carousel Concert. Caroga Arts will return with its five-week-long artist-in-residence experience, 100+ musicians living amongst the community and curating unique chamber music and orchestral collaborations as part of the Caroga Arts Ensemble. These artists hold positions as leading soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral musicians from across the country, performing in the Met Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Verona Quartet, KASA Quartet, and more.

In addition to collaborations at Sherman’s Park, CLMF resident artists will be featured at partnering venues and festivals across the region in the CLMF on Tour performances. These include Little Falls at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Johnstown Midsummer Concert Series at Charles Jenner Memorial Band Shell, Barge Concert at Canada Lake Store & Marina, the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival at Otesaga Resort Hotel, shows at the Glove Theatre, and more.

Barge Concert at Canada Lake Store & Marina.

For the first time ever, Caroga Arts are offering a 2023 season pass, with discounted premium seats. To learn more about Caroga Arts and the Caroga Lake Music Festival 2023, as well as reserve tickets, visit here.

2023 SEASON SCHEDULE

Sherman’s Concerts

Sat, May 27 @ 7 PM – Zac Brown Tribute Band

Sun, June 4 @ 3 PM – Alex Moffat and Friends: A Comedy and Music Block Party

Sat, July 1 @ 2 PM – SAUNDERSFEST, artists to be announced

Sat, July 15 @ 7 PM – Tommy V Live

Wed, July 19 @ 7 PM – The Gibson Brothers

Fri, July 21 @ 5 PM – Caroga Arts Collective Gala, featuring Tony DeSare and the Caroga Arts Ensemble

Sat, July 22 @ 7 PM – Baha Men

Wed, July 26 @ 7 PM – Rich with Caroga Arts Ensemble

Fri, July 28 @ 7 PM – “27 Steps” World Premiere – Caroga Arts Ensemble, Utica Dance

Sat, July 29 @ 7 PM – Almost Queen: A Tribute to QUEEN

Sun, July 30 @ 7 PM –  “27 Steps” – Caroga Arts Ensemble, Utica Dance

Wed, August 2 @ 7 PM – Laufey with Caroga Arts Ensemble

Fri, August 4 @ 7 PM –  Musical Kaleidoscope: A Tribute to Jonah Poplove

Fri, August 4 @ 9:30 PM – “Dime-a-Dance” with Kyle Athayde Dance Party 

Sat, August 5 @ 11 AM – Kids Carousel Concert – WARP Trio

Sat, August 5 @ 5 PM – Sherman’s JazzFest – Kyle Athayde Dance Party, Eddie Barbash with KASA Quartet, WARP Trio, Miriam Elhajli

Wed, August 9 @ 7 PM –  Concert by Candlelight: An Evening of Encores

Fri, August 11 @ 7 PM – Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony

Sat, August 12 @ 11 AM – Kids Carousel Concert – “Louie the Loon” World Premiere – Composed by Brian Shank

Sat, August 12 @ 7 PM – Judy Collins with Caroga Arts Ensemble

Wed, August 16 @ 7 PM – Grace Kelly Quartet

Fri, August 18 @ 7 PM –  The Coda: A Chamber Music Round-robin

Sat, August 19 @ 7 PM – The War and Treaty

Sat, September 2 @ 7 PM – The Ultimates (with fireworks)

Fri, September 15 @ 7 PM – Fiesta Caroga: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra

Caroga Lake Music Festival on Tour

Thur, July 20 @ 7 PM – CLMF on Tour: Caroga Chapel

Sun, July 23 @ 3 PM – CLMF on Tour:  SVAN at Mayfield Presbyterian Church

Thur, July 27 @ 7 PM – CLMF on Tour: Little Falls at Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Sun, July 30 @ 2 PM – CLMF on Tour: Pecks Lake at Pecks Lake Marina

Thur, August 3 @ 6 PM – CLMF on Tour: Johnstown Midsummer Concert Series at Charles Jenner Memorial Band Shell

Sun, August 6 @ 6 PM – CLMF on Tour: Barge Concert at Canada Lake Store & Marina 

Thur, August 10 @ 7 PM – CLMF on Tour: The Glove Theater

Sun, August 13 @ 2 PM – CLMF on Tour: Lorenzo State Historic Site

Tue, August 15 @ 6 PM – CLMF on Tour: Cooperstown Summer Music Festival at Otesaga Resort Hotel

Thur, August 17 @ 7 PM – CLMF on Tour: Arkell Museum

Sun, August 20 @ 12 PM – CLMF on Tour: Brunch Concert at Paul Nigra Center for the Creative Arts

Sun, August 20 @ 6 PM – CLMF on Tour: Caroga Museum

Sat, August 26 @ 6 PM – Caroga Arts Ensemble: Maverick Concerts

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