News

Two of the North Country’s leading institutions are joining forces to inspire the next generation through the power of live music.

The Orchestra of Northern New York (ONNY) will present one performance only of a free concert, Carnival of the Animals, for St. Lawrence County students in grades 3, 4, and 5 on February 12, 2027, at Hosmer Hall, Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.

This special field trip experience is made possible through a generous grant from SeaComm Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Massena and serving communities throughout Northern New York.

One of the most beloved works in classical music, Carnival of the Animals transports audiences into a whimsical world where lions roar, elephants lumber, turtles dance, and swans glide. Filled with humor, imagination, and memorable melodies, the masterpiece introduces young listeners to the excitement and storytelling power of a live orchestra.

The performance will be conducted by ONNY’s Music Director, Colonel Michael J. Colburn, USMC (Ret.), a nationally respected conductor and educator. Colburn says, “We are thrilled to partner with SeaComm to offer this unique educational and artistic experience to students across St. Lawrence County. Experiencing live orchestral music can spark creativity, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.”

ONNY Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice added, “All of us at ONNY are deeply grateful for SeaComm’s commitment to creating new opportunities for young people in our region.”

“Music and arts are rich in the North Country. We are extremely fortunate to be living in an area that appreciates the value that the Orchestra of Northern New York brings to us,” says SeaComm President and CEO Scott Wilson.

“We are proud to the be the contributing sponsor of this live symphony Carnival of the Animals, which will provide an enriching experience for grade school students in St. Lawrence County,” he added.

The concert reflects a shared commitment by ONNY and SeaComm to enrich the lives of North Country youth through access to high-quality educational and cultural experiences. By bringing hundreds of students together for a live performance in one of the region’s premier concert venues, the organizations hope to create memories that will resonate long after the final note is played.

Information about the field trip will be sent to music teachers in elementary schools in September. Capacity is capped at 500 students, so those responding early will be assured of a seat.

ONNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a member of the League of American Orchestras. ONNY is funded in part by the Northern New York Community Foundation, and by NYS Council on the Arts, a state agency, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the NYS Legislature. 

For more information, visit onny.org or call/text 315-212-3440.

The Orchestra of Northern New York, the North Country’s only year-round symphony orchestra, begins its 39th season with music by legendary composers.

Music Director Colonel Michael J. Colburn, USMC (Ret.), now in his third year as the artistic leader of ONNY, says, “We have music inspired by literature, movies, the holidays, the four seasons, and national pride. And the composers include Dvorak, Bernstein (both Elmer and Leonard), Vivaldi, Saint-Saens, and Sibelius. You won’t want to miss a single note!”

Frederic Remington’s America

ONNY’s celebrates our nation’s 250th anniversary with a unique and exciting collaboration with the Frederic Remington Art Museum, located in Ogdensburg, New York. The concert, Frederic Remington’s America, has been curated through the lens of one of America’s most important artists, and reflects his family’s heritage, experiences growing up in Northern New York, his travels to Paris and Cuba, and his lifelong love of the cowboy culture of the American West. 

The concert will feature a veritable “Who’s Who” of American composers, including Aaron Copland, Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, and Leroy Anderson, and will finish in traditional ONNY fashion with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever. 

The ever-popular summer Pops concert is a stand-along offering this year, not part of the season subscription offering. For tickets, visit onny.org or call/text 315-212-3440.

The celebration begins with an outdoor free performance on July 1 at 8 pm in Thompson Park, Watertown, followed by fireworks. It continues Thursday, July 2 at 7:30 pm in Hosmer Hall, Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. And because of a special collaboration between ONNY and the Frederic Remington Art Museum, a third performance on Friday, July 3 at 7 pm will take place in the George Hall Auditorium at Ogdensburg Free Academy. The program begins early to give patrons time to get to Morristown for the traditional fireworks display there.

American Lit. 101

For the opening concert of the season, ONNY turns to music inspired by great American literature. In some cases, the works are traditional novels, like Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow, and William Faulkner’s The Reivers. In other cases, the music is inspired by other types of writing, such as the series of Pulitzer Prize winning articles by Malcolm Johnson that were the catalyst for the 1954 film On the Waterfront, and the collected writings of the Suffragette movement that led to 19th Amendment. The music resulting from all these works is as varied and stirring as the texts themselves and serves as a reminder of how music can augment and even elevate the power of the written word. 

Two of the works on the program, Stacy Garrop’s “Battle for the Ballot” and John Williams’ “Suite from The Reivers” feature the texts of the authors as part of the concert experience. To share these words, we’re thrilled to be joined by Guy C. “Chip” Lamson and Dr. Colleen Skull as guest narrators.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 in Hosmer Hall, Crane School of Music. On Sunday, the program is presented at 3 pm in Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown. 

‘Tis the Season

When it comes to getting into the spirit of the holiday season, there’s nothing like a concert of your favorite holiday music! Rest assured that ONNY will always do its part to get you ready for all that shopping, wrapping, and decorating. Whether you’re in the mood for classical works by composers like Tchaikovsky and Vaughan Williams, light-hearted gems by Leon Jessel and Leroy Anderson, or music from cherished television specials like Charlie Brown and the Grinch, ONNY has you covered. “Tis the season” to get rid of the humbugs and celebrate the season with ONNY!

Performances include a matinee only on December 12 at 3:00 PM in Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam, and December 13 at 3:00 PM in Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown.

Four Seasons

Is there any better way to brighten up a cold, dark February evening than to listen to music that evokes thoughts of birdsong in the spring, a languid, warm summer afternoon, or a harvest festival in the autumn? Thanks to composer Antonio Vivaldi and soloist Liesl Schoenberger Doty, ONNY will take listeners on a musical journey through the “Four Seasons” that is sure to transport you out of the doldrums of a North Country winter. 

Longtime patrons of ONNY may recall our annual Baroque concerts, which we are bringing back with a twist: While Baroque music will still be featured on these programs, we will also program string orchestra works from other eras as well. In addition to Vivaldi, we will perform Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s charming depiction of country fiddlers, “Pelimannit,” and John Rutter’s heartwarming tribute to British folksong, “Suite for Strings.”

Performances are Saturday, February 6, 2027, at 7:30 PM in First Presbyterian Church, Potsdam, and Sunday, February 7 at 3:00 PM in Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown.

National Treasure

One of the greatest sources of inspiration for many composers is their country and culture, and this program features works in which the country of origin is beyond a doubt! There is perhaps no greater example of this type of composition than Sibelius’ “Finlandia,” a work so nationalistic that it had to be performed under the title “Impromptu” during the years that Finland was under the sway of the Russian Empire. Ironically, Joan Tower’s “Made in America,” a fantasia on “America the Beautiful,” was inspired by the years she spent as a child living in Bolivia, an experience that gave her an even greater appreciation for the opportunities our country offers. Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 is a showcase for the charm and exuberance of the folk music that endlessly inspired him.

Performances are on Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 PM in Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam, and Sunday, April 25th at 3:00 PM in Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown.

Ticket Information

Adult tickets are $30 with discounts for seniors, military, and students. Children 12 and under are always free. Newcomers to ONNY may request a voucher, $30 value, for one free ticket to any concert. 

Purchase a subscription and get four concerts for the price of three. Season subscriptions are $90 adults ($120 value), $81 seniors ($108 value), $30 college students ($40 value), and $15 teens ($20 value). They are on sale until October 16.

ONNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a member of the League of American Orchestras. ONNY is funded in part by the Northern New York Community Foundation, and by NYS Council on the Arts, a State agency, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the NYS Legislature. 

For more information, visit onny.org or call/text 315-212-3440.

The Carriage House Quartet will perform an hourlong concert as part of the Orchestra of Northern New York’s new family-centered outreach initiative, ONNY Pops Up! The program, which is free and open to the public, will be presented at the Frederic Remington Art Museum on Sunday, June 14 at 3 pm. 

Designed to spotlight the talents of ONNY musicians, ONNY Pops Up! aims to build new community partnerships, expand the orchestra’s capacity for future outreach, and bring live music into unexpected spaces. The program focuses on increasing public engagement – especially among youth and families – by offering performances outside traditional concert halls.

The program is chaired by ONNY bassoonist and board director Max Grube, who also serves as Internship Coordinator at SUNY Potsdam’s Lougheed Center for Applied Learning. Grube says, "With the goal of enhancing community connection through music, this series will feature pop-up concerts in new and/or unexpected spaces with an initial focus on family and youth programming. This series has something for all listeners and audience members who can expect a range of musical styles, instrumentation, and engaging demos from ONNY musicians. Please be in community with us when "ONNY Pops Up" at the Remington Art Museum on June 14!"

Members of the Carriage House Quartet are Maggie McKenna, First Violin; Jennifer Kessler, Second Violin; Erin Brooks, Viola; and Robert Docker, Cello. McKenna is ONNY’s Assistant Concertmaster and Executive Director of the Frederic Remington Art Museum. Kessler, Brooks, and Docker also play with ONNY and are faculty members of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.

The Quartet does recitals, community events, weddings, and other private and public events. They enjoy performing various genres including baroque, classical, romantic, new music, pop/rock and tangos. The group is named for the 19th-century carriage houses behind their Victorian homes, where they are known to rehearse and relax on summer evenings.

ONNY is a 501(c)(3) funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency supported by Governor Kathy Hochul and the NYS Legislature and the Northern New York Community Foundation.

For more information about the Orchestra of Northern New York and ONNY Pops Up!, visit onny.org or call/text 315-212-3440. 

The Orchestra of Northern New York (ONNY), the North Country’s only year-round professional symphony orchestra, is launching a new family-centered outreach initiative this spring: ONNY Pops Up!

Designed to spotlight the talents of ONNY musicians, ONNY Pops Up! aims to build new community partnerships, expand the orchestra’s capacity for future outreach, and bring live music into unexpected spaces. The program focuses on increasing public engagement—especially among youth and families—by offering performances outside traditional concert halls.

The program is chaired by ONNY bassoonist and board director Max Grube, who also serves as Internship Coordinator at SUNY Potsdam’s Lougheed Center for Applied Learning. Grube says, "We're excited to launch "ONNY Pops Up!" in spaces across the North Country. With the goal of enhancing community connection through music, this series will feature pop-up concerts in new and/or unexpected spaces (with an initial focus on family and youth programming). This series has something for all listeners—audience members can expect a range of musical styles, instrumentation, and engaging demos from ONNY musicians. Please be in community with us, wherever "ONNY Pops Up" next!"

The inaugural ONNY Pops Up! event will take place Saturday, April 11 at 11 a.m. at the North Country Children’s Museum. The Potsdam Brass Quintet will perform, and all attendees will receive a free keepsake from the event. Admission is free for NCCM members and $10 for non-member adults and children ages one and up.

Additional ONNY Pops Up! performances will feature string quartets drawn from the orchestra. Upcoming dates include events at the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg in June and Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay in July.

Other members of ONNY’s Outreach Committee include principal cellist Marie-Elaine Gagnon, assistant concertmaster Maggie McKenna, and Crane School of Music student apprentices Michael Wong ’26 and Alyssa Spina ’26.

Now in its 38th season, ONNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its next major performance, Summon the Heroes, celebrates American composers and features Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, narrated by Dr. P. Wesley Roy, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the Crane School of Music. Performances are on April 25 in Potsdam and April 26 in Watertown.

For more information, visit onny.org or call/text 315-212-3440.

Enjoy scrumptious desserts while listening to eight fabulous local singers as they perform hits from Broadway and beyond!  The Orchestra of Northern New York is hosting A Cabaret Show with Desserts for one performance only on Saturday, February 13 from 6:30-8:30 pm in St. Lawrence University’s Eben-Holden Conference Center, which is handicap accessible.

The ensemble will be performing songs from Bye, Bye Birdie, Hadestown, Little Shop of Horrors, Company, Sweeney Todd, Rent, Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago, Shrek and many more.

Performers include Jim Fryer, Kyle Flint, Meaghan Janovsky, Jennifer Blewett, Hailey Hodge, Andrea Ellison, Laura Gilbert, and Kimberly Busch, with John Barkley on piano.

Jim Fryer has performed with Community Performance Series summer musicals, with Grasse River Players, and Parishville-Hopkinton School. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at SUNY Potsdam.

Kyle Flint has also had roles in CPS summer musicals, including Gomez in The Addams Family. He is a clinical pharmacist at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

Meaghan Janovsky will also be familiar to CPS audience members having played leading roles for several productions. She teaches fifth grade in Massena.

Jennifer Blewett is a veteran of CPS productions, including Once Upon a Mattress and Mary Poppins. She is the Director of Compliance and Continuing Education at Auto Manager.

Hailey Hodge has played Frenchie in Grease and Cinderella in Into the Woods, in addition to other CPS roles. She owns Luna, a women’s clothing and lingerie store in Canton.

Andrea Ellison is a Crane alumna who is honored to be part of the musical community of the North Country. She shares her love of performing teaching her music students at Parishville-Hopkinton Central School.

Laura Fitzsimons Gilbert has worked previously as a soloist in the CPS “Back to Broadway Cabaret” and as a lead in their musical, The Taffetas. In her free time, she performs with her rock/folk/country ban, The Whiskey Room, at festivals and other venues in the area. She is the PreK-12th grade Vocal Music Teacher at Morristown Central School.

Kimberly Busch, who is directing the Cabaret, will join others in production numbers. She has served as guest conductor for the Herkimer County Music Educators’ Association and the St. Lawrence County Music Educators’ Association (SLCMEA). She is the Vocal Music Director at Canton Central School where she directs choir students in grades 5-12. Ms. Busch is also the immediate past president of the Orchestra of Northern New York and a former board member.

Josh Barkley will accompany the performers on piano. He has had a role in more than 25 musicals, from music directing and playing keyboards in the pit to sound engineer and lighting designer. He is the new Assistant Facilities Manager for the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.

Tickets, which are going quickly, are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors (62+) and military personnel including veterans, and $10 for college students. Reserve your seat today by visiting onny.org, by calling 315-212-3440, or at the door if the performance is not sold-out.

Violist Sarvesh Sitaraman, 15, took home First Prize in the Orchestra of Northern New York’s James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition held recently for instrumental students “Pursuing Artistic Excellence.” He earned a $500 cash prize and the opportunity to solo with ONNY in its April 25 and 26 concerts in Potsdam and Watertown, respectively.

Sarvesh performed the First Movement Allegro Moderator of Haendel’s Concerto in B Minor on the viola. 

Sarvesh began playing the viola at age 10 and performs with the St. Lawrence University Orchestra. He studied viola initially with Nancy Kear, then with Lorie Gruneisen, and is currently taking private lessons with Christian Hosmer, all of whom are former ONNY musicians.

In 2023, he attended Crane Youth Music, a summer camp at the Crane School of Music, 
SUNY Potsdam, on a Scott LaVine scholarship. He has participated in area all-state and all-county orchestra since 2022. He began playing viola at NYSSMA in 2021.

Apart from playing viola, Sarvesh enjoys playing violin, clarinet, and piano. He also loves singing. He has been part of his school band, orchestra, chorus, and select choir since 2019. In 2024, he received coaching and feedback as a participant in ONNY’s Vernice N. Church Challenge for Young Artists.

He is the son of Sitaraman Krishnan and Sinduja Sitaraman, Potsdam.

The James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition was established in 2007 for talented high school students in Northern and Central New York. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews were great supporters of various activities for young people and were especially fond of those involving music. The mission of the YAC is to inspire young musicians to reach the highest level of artistry they can achieve.

For more information about the Young Artist Competition, visit onny.org/youth-programs, email info@onny.org, or call 315-212-3440.

Two full pages of sponsor and donor names are evidence of the staunch support this cultural gem of the North Country has in the region. The report also summarizes ONNY’s new, three-year strategic plan that will take the orchestra to its 40th anniversary season in 2027-2028.

Finally, ONNY’s annual report discloses its finances for 2024-2025, noting total assets of $430,814 for this nonprofit organization. Programming accounts for 47% of expenses while donations are 45% of all revenue received. 

Significant contributions last season enabled the orchestra to establish a reserve fund, a dedicated savings account that will provide support in the event of unexpected financial emergencies and unique, mission-aligned opportunities, once all other reasonable funding sources have been considered.

The report is available online at onny.org. A copy can also be obtained by calling/texting 315-212-3440 or emailing info@onny.org.

Enjoy scrumptious desserts while listening to eight fabulous North Country singers as they perform hits from Broadway and beyond!  The Orchestra of Northern New York is hosting A Cabaret Show with Dessert for one performance only on Sunday, September 21 at 2 pm at the Italian-American Civic Association, 192 Bellew Ave., Watertown.

Performers include a pharmacist, psychology professor, music teachers, small business owner, and others. Josh Barkley will accompany them on piano.

Jim Fryer has performed with Community Performance Series (CPS) summer musicals, with Grasse River Players, and Parishville-Hopkinton School. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at SUNY Potsdam.

Kyle Flint has also had roles in CPS summer musicals, including Gomez in The Addams Family. He is a clinical pharmacist at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

Meaghan Janovsky will also be familiar to CPS audience members having played leading roles for several productions, including Midge Mahoney in the Community Performance Series production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She teaches fifth grade in Massena.

Jennifer Blewett is a veteran of several CPS productions, including the aforementioned Spelling Bee show, Once Upon a Mattress, and Mary Poppins. She is the Director of Compliance and Continuing Education at Auto Manager.

Hailey Hodge joins other CPS production actors in this cabaret show. She has played Frenchie in Grease and Cinderella in Into the Woods, in addition to several other roles. She owns Luna, a women’s clothing and lingerie store in Canton.

Andrea Ellison is a Crane alumna who is honored to be part of the musical community of the North Country. She shares her love of performing with her music students at Parishville-Hopkinton Central School.

Laura Fitzsimons Gilbert has worked previously as a soloist in the CPS “Back to Broadway Cabaret” and as a lead in their musical, The Taffetas. In her free time, she performs with her rock/folk/country ban, The Whiskey Room, at festivals and other venues in the area. She is the PreK-12th grade Vocal Music Teacher at Morristown Central School.

Kimberly Busch, who is directing the Cabaret, will join others in production numbers. She has served as guest conductor for the Herkimer County Music Educators’ Association and the St. Lawrence County Music Educators’ Association (SLCMEA). She directed the CPS production of Once Upon a Mattress and was Vocal Director for The Addams Family. She is the Vocal Music Director at Canton Central School where she directs choir students in grades 5-12. Ms. Busch is also the immediate past president of the Orchestra of Northern New York.

Josh Barkley will accompany the performers on piano. He has had a role in more than 25 musicals, from music directing and playing keyboards in the pit to sound engineer and lighting designer. He is the new Assistant Facilities Manager for the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors (62+) and military personnel including veterans, and $10 for college students. Some musical works may not be suitable for children. 

Reserve your seat today by visiting onny.org, by calling 315-212-3440, or at the door if the performance is not sold-out.

Award-winning Canadian cellist Marie-Elaine Gagnon will present a classical music program on Thursday, July 24 at 7 pm in the Childwold Memorial Presbyterian Church. The program includes works by Gabriel Fauré, Alberto Ginastera, Camille Saint-Saëns, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and a few more surprises! Think of the Swan, Papillon, Silent Woods, etc... She will be accompanied by Risa Okina on piano.

Dr. Gagnon is a first prize-winner of numerous music competitions in Canada, which led to many solo performances in her native home. In 2000, she was chosen amongst several young candidates to perform a cello recital for the prestigious Canadian Broadcasting Company program: "Jeunes Artists." Gagnon has performed in many music festivals, including: Le Festival International du Domaine Forget, The Penderecki String Quartet Chamber Workshop, Orford Music Center and The National Youth Orchestra of Canada. In May 2002, she was the first cellist to win a scholarship from the D. Robinson Foundation to study at the Aspen Music Festival. Her participation in these many music festivals gave her the opportunity to study with well-known cellists such has Leslie Snider (Quebec), Sharon Robinson (Indiana), Desmond Hoebig (Cleveland), Philipe Muller (Paris), Roland Pidoux (Trio Pasquier), Paul Watkins (London), and David Ellis (Alcan String Quartet).

An avid chamber music player, Marie-Elaine was a member of the Rawlins Piano Trio from 2007 to 2017, in residence at the University of South Dakota. The trio has formed a reputation as a preeminent interpreter of 19th and early 20th century American music. Owing to its expertise, the ensemble has recorded four CDs of these works on the Albany Records label. The fourth disc- American Discoveries-, released in July 2009-is "...another winner from the Rawlins Trio...they continue their work of bringing us American composers' music that is worth hearing...Their playing is artful, suave and pleasing." (Morrison) Since joining the Rawlins Piano Trio in 2007, Dr. Gagnon has toured in Taiwan, South Korea and Panama. She has performed to prestigious music conferences such as the Chamber Music Society in New York and the College Music Society National conference in San Diego.

A strong advocate for music education and outreach, Dr. Gagnon has taught at the Barry University in Miami and prior to join the music faculty at the University of South Dakota, taught at the Université de Montréal for the Preparatory Program. She was associate professor of cello and chamber music at the University of South Dakota since 2007. Raised in Québec, she received her Diplôme d'Étude Supérieur I at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, her Diplôme d'Étude Supérieur II from the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec, M.M. from the Florida International University and finally her D.M.A from the University of Miami. Several times a year, she performs with her newly formed ensemble, the Zapateado Duo with Venezuelan-born pianist Angelica Sganga. Gagnon is principal cello for the Sioux City Symphony since 2015 and owns a cello made in 1904 by the French Master Paul Bailly. She is an assistant professor of cello at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.

Risa Okina is a theorist and collaborative pianist who has performed throughout the United States and Japan. Before moving to upstate New York, she was a much-sought-after collaborative pianist in the Philadelphia area and regularly performed with students and local musicians. She has also collaborated with many local opera and theater groups, including the Philadelphia-based opera company, ENAensemble. She was a member of the Toradze Piano Studio, where she studied with the world-renowned pianist Alexander Toradze. She performed regularly at the Toradze Studio Recital series during her master's program.

Dr. Okina received her Ph.D. in Music Theory from Temple University, where she has taught both written and aural music theory. Her dissertation "Brahms and The Uncanny" explores the musical uncanny in the piano chamber music of Johannes Brahms, utilizing the notion of the uncanny from the perspective of the German philosophers Ernest Jentsch and Sigmund Freud. Her primary argument is that the musical uncanny acts as a hermeneutic window to reach a deeper musical meaning, which can open us up to unique interpretations.

Her research interests include Sonata Theory, Musical Semiotics, Musical Narrative, Psychoanalysis, Schenkerian Analysis, and Hermeneutic Analysis of the music of Johannes Brahms and other 19th-century composers. Her work has been presented in both national and international conferences, including the International Brahms Conference in Irvine, CA (2019), Music Theory Midwest Annual Conference and the Society for Music Theory Annual Metting (2020). She was also invited as a guest scholar for the Performance and Analysis Graduate Seminar at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where she performed Brahms's Violin Sonata in D minor, Op. 108 and discussed how our analysis and hauntological reading of the piece could shape our interpretations and performance. This past summer, she presented at two international conferences: The 29th European Association for Music in Schools (EAS) Conference, Belgrade, Serbia, and the 15th International Congress on Musical Signification, Barcelona, Spain.

She holds a MM in music theory from Temple University, a MM in piano performance at Indiana University South Bend, and a baccalaureate degree from the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Japan. She has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Temple University, a pianist for the Villanova Singers and the Main Line Singers, as well as Rowan University, and West Chester University, and an organist for Trinity Reformed UCC in Collegeville, PA, and Emanuel UCC in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Okina is an Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Accompanying at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.

The Orchestra of Northern New York and The Secret Sits Pro Musica Ensembles, Inc. open their  2025 summer chamber music series this week with an incredibly talented husband and wife duo, The Dotys on Thursday, July 10 at 7 pm in the Adirondack Presbyterian Church in Lake Clear. Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted.

The Dotys perform traditional and original tunes from a variety of folk and classical music styles. They wow their audiences with engaging personal interactions that are as fun to watch as they are to listen to. Liesl is an amazing and award-winning violinist and fiddler while Karl is a talented composer and bass player.

LIESL DOTY, Violin – Although originally from quaint Cape Girardeau, MO, Liesl’s career has taken her well beyond the banks of the Mississippi River. Hailed for her “magnetic presence,” she has performed across North America and Europe, appearing at major venues including Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, Zankel Hall, The Musikverein, The Kravis Center, The Kennedy Center and performs actively as a soloist having worked with several orchestras in the United States.  She has appeared as a recitalist and chamber musician in numerous festivals and concert series including Yellow Barn, Skaneateles Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa Chamber Fest, White Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, New Music New Haven, Chamber Music at Yale, Orford Centre d’Arts, Sommerakademie Mozarteum in Salzburg and Ferme de Villefavard in France.  As a crossover artist, she released three commercial fiddle albums in collaboration with musical legends, Buddy Spicher and David Grier, and has appeared as a guest artist at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 2009, Ms. Doty has been featured as a soloist in composer/pianist Eric Genuis’ national tours. In 2012, Liesl became a member of Boston’s own Grammy-Nominated chamber orchestra, A Far Cry and has enjoyed touring, recording and collaborating with all 16 of her co-artistic directors in the collective.  Her favorite “crier” in the orchestra is her husband, bassist Karl Doty, with whom she performs regularly as part of their classical and crossover duo, “The Dotys.”

Liesl earned her Bachelor and Master of Music from Indiana University under the instruction of Mimi Zweig and Mauricio Fuks and an Artist Diploma from Yale University as a student of Ani Kavafian.  Liesl is a candidate in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at New England Conservatory and was the teaching assistant to Lucy Chapman during her studies there. Previous faculty appointments include Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, Saint Anselm College and Southeast Missouri State University. She is currently Assistant Professor of Violin at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She is the concertmaster of the Orchestra of Northern New York.

KARL DOTY, Bass – Born and raised in Duluth, MN, Karl Doty has become one of the most versatile bassists of his generation. Along with being a founding bassist with A Far Cry, he has also recorded and toured internationally with the Grammy award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Being versed in different musical languages, Karl has performed with Edgar Meyer, Väsen, Darol Anger, K2 and Morning Zephyr as well as with his wife, champion fiddler Liesl Schoenberger Doty. He has performed as a soloist at home and on tour with A Far Cry, BMOP, and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. Karl has performed with the Boston Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Boston Pops, and New Century Chamber Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Karl has collaborated with the Bridgehampton,  Andover, North Country, Long Lake, and Walden chamber players as well as on NEC’s First Monday concert series. Karl received his Bachelor’s degree in double bass performance in 2007 from the New England Conservatory, and his Master’s degree in 2009 on a full scholarship from the same institution.