For More Information, please contact:
Jody Redhage Ferber (cellist, composer), EcoTones Founder/Director

EcoTones @ River Hook Preserve on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 2:00 pm (rain date of June 9 at 2:00 pm) invites audiences to walk a half-mile Music Trail through Upper Nyack’s River Hook Preserve, hearing small ensembles play music inspired by the park’s flora & fauna, followed by a sit-down concert featuring the professionals of the EcoTones Ensemble alongside the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra. Audience members self-pace along the meandering Music Trail with small ensembles performing at a ‘Beings of the Air Stage’, a ‘Flora and Fauna Percussion Jam’, 12-foot Alphorns in the former sheep pasture, and a ‘Pollinator Jazz Jam.’ Following the Music Trail portion of the event, all musicians and audience convene at the preserve’s central Carriage House for a sit-down concert set. The full ensemble will perform musical selections inspired by the nearby Hudson River, Hook Mountain, and the concept that everyone belongs in this treasured public nature space—human and nonhuman alike.

EcoTones is thrilled to partner with local arts nonprofit ArtsRock.org to present this family-friendly event open to the public, and thanks the Trustees of the Village of Upper Nyack for making this event possible, as well as the generous support of local business sponsors Greenbush Construction and Long Path Outfitters, and an ArtsAlive Grant from ArtsWestchester. The performance features world-class, Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning professional musicians from Rockland and Westchester Counties and the surrounding region including Alan Ferber (trombone, compositions), Ben Kono (saxophone, composition), Glenn Schloss (drums), Ike Sturm (bass), James Hampson (alphorn/french horn), Jesse Lewis (guitar), Jody Redhage Ferber (cello, compositions), Matthew Jaimes (alphorn/french horn), Noah Fotis (alphorn/french horn), Mayra Casales (percussion), Pao-Chieh Tseng (flute), Sara Caswell (violin), Tom Beckham (vibraphone), Wayne Dumaine (trumpet), Zaneta Sykes (percussion), and members of the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Tanya Chanphanitpornkit.

EcoTones Concerts is inspired by the concept 'ecotone' from ecology--a transition zone between two biomes that is particularly rife with life.  EcoTones Concerts braids together professional musicians, audiences, and public nature spaces for live performances of music inspired by the natural performance settings.  EcoTones musical repertoire exists in a 'musical ecotone' between classical chamber music and jazz improvisation.

BYO- camp chairs, picnic blankets, snacks, and drinks. Audience members should wear footwear appropriate for a sloped, gravel path. The event requires advanced registration at ArtsRock.org and tickets are Pay What You Choose with free tickets made available to those for whom a donation is not possible by request at ecotonesconcerts@gmail.com.

'Music Trail'—Chamber Ensembles 2:00 - 3:10pm

1. 'Beings of the Air’ Stage: Sara Caswell (violin), Jody Redhage Ferber (cello), Jesse Lewis (guitar).  Original compositions by Jody Redhage Ferber inspired by the flying residents of River Hook Preserve.

2. Alphorn Lookout: James Hampson, Matthew Jaimes, Noah Fotis—Alphorn Trio performs at the top of the Sheep Meadow.

3. Flora & Fauna Percussion Jam @ the Spring House: Glenn Schloss, Mayra Casales & Zaneta Sykes, percussion. Interactive percussion jam with instruments made from plant and animal parts--audience interaction encouraged!

4. Pollinator Jazz Jam: Ben Kono (saxophone), Alan Ferber (trombone), Tom Beckham (vibraphone), Ike Sturm (bass).  Jazz inspired by River Hook's native plant meadow & pollinators.

'Carriage House Stage' —EcoTones Ensemble with the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra 3:40 - 5:00pm

1. Grow to the Sun by Jody Redhage Ferber (Rockland Composer)

2. Peace of Wild Things by Jody Redhage Ferber 

3. River of Ugly Fishes by Chris Cheek, arranged by Alan Ferber

4. The River by Keith Jarrett, arranged by Alan Ferber (Rockland Composer) with the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra.

5. Belong by Ben Kono (Rockland Composer) with the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra.

6. Kopi Luwak by Alan Ferber

7. Wildwood by Alan Ferber with the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra.

PARKING is free street parking on Midland Ave. or N. Broadway and parking restrictions have been lifted by the Village for Sunday, June 2 between 1:00-5:00pm. Additional parking is located at Marydell Faith and Life Center on Larchdale Ave. several blocks north of River Hook Preserve. Enter River Hook Preserve from either the Midland Ave. or N. Broadway entrances—there will be registration tables at both entrances.

This project is made possible with funds from Arts Alive, a regrant program of ArtsWestchester with support from the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature and the New York State Council on the Arts.