In Times of Fear
Some of the finest works in all music have been inspired by periods of oppression, tyranny and war. This powerful program demonstrates the power of music to represent such forces, yet provide solace and healing. Featuring works by Shostakovich, Vaughan Williams, and Palka, the performers are, Robert Zubrycki, Lisa Tipton, violins; Adria Benjamin, viola; Peter Sanders, cello. At the Studio Around the Corner, 67 Main Street, Brewster, NY on Thursday, June 1st at 7:30PM. The program opens with Process, by Katie Palka (b. 2001). This piece dialogues with Ethel Smyth’s March of the Women and was written in honor of the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Smyth wrote The March of the Women in 1911, it quickly became the anthem of the suffragette movement, she would later be jailed along with 100 of her fellow protestors during their fight for equality.
In the summer of 1960 Shostakovich was in Dresden, the German city that had been destroyed in World War II. There, in the course of three days, he composed his 8th string quartet. It is inscribed “In memory of victims of fascism and war”. Some interpret this as a reference to the victims of all totalitarianism, while others believe he dedicated it to himself. The work is a journey through heart-felt anguish and is truly a masterpiece of the twentieth century.
Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote his String Quartet no. 2 in A minor in the years 1942-44 for the violist Jean Stewart, (hence the subtitle "For Jean on her birthday"). It is colored by wartime experience, a work of turbulence that movingly gives way to consoling serenity. The main theme of the scherzo was taken from RVW's own music for the film "49th Parallel".
Violinist Robert Zubrycki is the Director of the Concerts Around the Corner series. Robert, and his colleagues are active performers at major venues in the NY region, performing for Broadway, Ballet, and Symphonies, including the American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos, New York City Chamber Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, American Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online with a credit card here audience space is limited, we encourage you to book in advance.
Running time is approximately 75 minutes, with no intermission.
This project is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with public funds provided through the NY State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s Office and the NY State Legislature and public funds from Putnam County.
Photo of Robert Zubrycki by Laurie Rhodes
Some of the finest works in all music have been inspired by periods of oppression, tyranny and war. This powerful program demonstrates the power of music to represent such forces, yet provide solace and healing. Featuring works by Shostakovich, Vaughan Williams, and Palka, the performers are, Robert Zubrycki, Lisa Tipton, violins; Adria Benjamin, viola; Peter Sanders, cello. At the Studio Around the Corner, 67 Main Street, Brewster, NY on Thursday, June 1st at 7:30PM. The program opens with Process, by Katie Palka (b. 2001). This piece dialogues with Ethel Smyth’s March of the Women and was written in honor of the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Smyth wrote The March of the Women in 1911, it quickly became the anthem of the suffragette movement, she would later be jailed along with 100 of her fellow protestors during their fight for equality.
In the summer of 1960 Shostakovich was in Dresden, the German city that had been destroyed in World War II. There, in the course of three days, he composed his 8th string quartet. It is inscribed “In memory of victims of fascism and war”. Some interpret this as a reference to the victims of all totalitarianism, while others believe he dedicated it to himself. The work is a journey through heart-felt anguish and is truly a masterpiece of the twentieth century.
Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote his String Quartet no. 2 in A minor in the years 1942-44 for the violist Jean Stewart, (hence the subtitle "For Jean on her birthday"). It is colored by wartime experience, a work of turbulence that movingly gives way to consoling serenity. The main theme of the scherzo was taken from RVW's own music for the film "49th Parallel".
Violinist Robert Zubrycki is the Director of the Concerts Around the Corner series. Robert, and his colleagues are active performers at major venues in the NY region, performing for Broadway, Ballet, and Symphonies, including the American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos, New York City Chamber Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, American Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online with a credit card here audience space is limited, we encourage you to book in advance.
Running time is approximately 75 minutes, with no intermission.
This project is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with public funds provided through the NY State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s Office and the NY State Legislature and public funds from Putnam County.
Photo of Robert Zubrycki by Laurie Rhodes
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Concerts Around the Corner Presents: Inspired by BrazilBrewster, NY — [Insert Date Here] — Concerts Around the Corner is thrilled to present the debut performance of new jazz repertoire led by acclaimed vibraphonist and composer Tyler Blanton, recipient of a 2025 NYSCA Support for Artists Grant. This dynamic group will unveil a repertoire deeply rooted in traditional Brazilian styles--Samba, Baião, and Choro—reimagined through a vibrant, contemporary jazz lens.
Blanton, a stalwart of the New York City jazz scene for over 15 years, brings a distinctive voice on the vibraphone and a passion for Brazilian music that has shaped much of his recent work. His critically acclaimed album Sense of Place was hailed as a new benchmark in vibraphone-led modern jazz by Downbeat, All About Jazz, and The New York Times.
Joining Blanton are three master musicians with deep ties to Brazilian musical heritage:
Following the concert, attendees are invited to stay for an engaging post-performance talk with the musicians, offering insight into the group’s creative and compositional process.
This event continues the mission of the Cultural Arts Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to creating and sustaining the arts in Brewster, the Town of Southeast, and the region. Since 2010, the Coalition has celebrated the community with transformative and inspiring arts experiences, while actively working to restore the historic Southeast Old Town Hall—its home.
Date & Time: September 21, 2025 at 2 PM
Location: Old Town Hall Theater, 67 Main Street, Brewster, NY
Reservations: www.culturalartsco.com/upcoming-events.html.
Admission: $20 payable online or at the door. Students and those in need are free.
Accessibility: Theater access requires navigating a steep staircase. Please call to arrange streaming accommodations. Free parking available in the lots near the building.
This event is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Blanton, a stalwart of the New York City jazz scene for over 15 years, brings a distinctive voice on the vibraphone and a passion for Brazilian music that has shaped much of his recent work. His critically acclaimed album Sense of Place was hailed as a new benchmark in vibraphone-led modern jazz by Downbeat, All About Jazz, and The New York Times.
Joining Blanton are three master musicians with deep ties to Brazilian musical heritage:
- Vitor Gonçalves, the celebrated Rio-born pianist and accordionist whose collaborations span legends like Hermeto Pascoal, Maria Bethânia, and Anat Cohen, and whose international performance résumé includes stages from Jazz at Lincoln Center to the Umbria Jazz Festival.
- Eduardo Belo, a virtuosic bassist and composer from Brasília, known for his stylistic versatility and collaborations with global icons such as Michel Camilo, Romero Lubambo, and Clarice Assad.
- Dennis Boolyoins, an award-winning drummer and percussionist from João Pessoa, Brazil, known for his dynamic performances across Brazil, Europe, and Africa, and his deep commitment to the study and performance of Brazilian rhythmic traditions.
Following the concert, attendees are invited to stay for an engaging post-performance talk with the musicians, offering insight into the group’s creative and compositional process.
This event continues the mission of the Cultural Arts Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to creating and sustaining the arts in Brewster, the Town of Southeast, and the region. Since 2010, the Coalition has celebrated the community with transformative and inspiring arts experiences, while actively working to restore the historic Southeast Old Town Hall—its home.
Date & Time: September 21, 2025 at 2 PM
Location: Old Town Hall Theater, 67 Main Street, Brewster, NY
Reservations: www.culturalartsco.com/upcoming-events.html.
Admission: $20 payable online or at the door. Students and those in need are free.
Accessibility: Theater access requires navigating a steep staircase. Please call to arrange streaming accommodations. Free parking available in the lots near the building.
This event is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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