Gilbertsville Art Gallery Will Host Summer Concert Series

By TERESA WINCHESTER
GILBERTSVILLE

Otsego County’s cultural life has traditionally tacked toward two centers—Oneonta and Cooperstown. But Barbara Siesel, an accomplished flutist who holds two degrees from Juilliard, is looking to adjust that gravitational pull westward toward the Dunderberg Gallery at 118 Marion Avenue in Gilbertsville. The picturesque village is located in the Town of Butternuts, which, along with Unadilla, Morris, Pittsfield and Edmeston, lies in the westernmost reaches of Otsego County. Siesel, with her husband and artistic partner Keith Torgan, purchased an 1830s stone house in Gilbertsville in 2021.

“There are so many artists and creatives living here. I wanted to find a way to showcase so much talent. The idea of a series developed out of conversations with John Colonna, who has performed at the gallery numerous times,” Siesel said.

“Concerts at the Dunderberg” will offer seven concerts, taking place on Thursdays and Saturdays. They will feature a broad spectrum of musical genres—from baroque to jazz, traditional to experimental. There will also be three world premieres of electronic music composed by Thad Wheeler, Patrick Rost and Siesel.

“There will be something for everyone this summer. We want to bring people together, want them to know there is a place to go to hear music on a regular basis. We hope many people will come over this way to experience not just the music, but the other charms of Gilbertsville,” Siesel said.

Among Gilbertsville’s “other charms,” Siesel counts the variety of architecture in its houses and churches, including the neo-Tudor architecture of the Gilbert Block and the Major’s Inn. In addition, Gilbertsville’s Five Kids Bakehouse and Empire House Restaurant have become destination eateries in and of themselves.

Attending the concerts will also provide an opportunity to take in the vibrant art of Marcus Villagran, who transformed the Butternut Valley Hardware Store into the colorful Dunderberg Art Gallery in 2014. Since then, the gallery has hosted numerous concerts, art exhibits and community meetings. Villagran’s deep appreciation for music comes from his mother, who was a classical pianist.

“My friend and I used to lie under the baby grand and listen to her play Prokofiev, Bach and Mozart. It was very powerful,” he said, adding that to this day he still shares long letters with friends describing the latest music they have been listening to.

“There will be a reception with light refreshments at each event, so attendees will have a chance to meet and mingle with the artists,” Siesel said.

The opening concert will be on May 18 at 7:30 p.m. It is titled “Pairings: Songwriters and the Songs They Love” and will feature Keith Torgan with his friends, songwriters Stuart Kabak and Mary Cordelia Myers. Although their styles are very different, working together, they have discovered thematic commonalities.

“This makes for a very interesting evening of songs,” Siesel said.

Colonna will be featured in three of the concerts. He grew up in Gilbertsville and now resides in New York City. His major musical influences are classical, rock and jazz. He received a degree in jazz composition from the Berklee College of Music and a master’s in jazz piano at New York University. He has since performed in New York City at Club Groove, Tomi Jazz, Cipriani, Hutaoli, Rockwood and the Jazz Club at Aman. He has taught music at SUNY Oneonta and currently teaches at Hartwick College.

For the series, Colonna will be playing with several musicians he met when teaching at SUNY Oneonta and with whom he has played locally—drummers Blake Fleming and Sebastian Green, jazz bassists Tong Cherd and Evan Jagels and jazz guitarist Wyatt Ambrose. Two of his fellow musicians from New York City—jazz pianists Joelle Proctor and bassist Kenji Tokunaga—will play with him for the June 27 concert.

“I’m excited to play in my home territory. I love playing with all the great musicians I know from the area,” Colonna said.

Flutist Siesel has played in major concert venues throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. She was a pioneer in thematic programming as artistic director of the Storm King Music Festival in the Hudson Valley, an event devoted to the intersection of new music and new technology. Siesel has taught flute worldwide, with special emphasis on performing and teaching in China. In recent years, Siesel has co-created (with Torgan), live, award-winning, multi-disciplinary works for children using music, theater, and storytelling to introduce children to classical music and original song.

“I’m excited to use my curatorial experience for this series and grateful to Marcus and the team for what he’s is doing for the musicians in the community,” Siesel said.

Tickets for individual concerts will be available at the door: $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and students; $10 for children. To find out about season passes at reduced rates, call the gallery at (607) 783-2010.