THANK YOU volunteers, staff, and everyone who attended the 8th Annual Winter Hoot! We enjoyed the outdoor ice sculpture and gorge hikes, strolls to the Blacksmith & Pewter Shops, and an exciting array of indoor music, food, film, and revelry. If you weren't there, this recap article from Mirth Films and our archived video streams are the next best thing. If you took photos or videos, please share them with us!
Ice sculpture by Thomas Brown, photo by Chris Gilner
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WE WERE HONORED to welcome local and international students to (YESS!) Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit last week. The sounds and sights of their critical thinking and positive collaborations have filled us with hope.
The event earned some local press!
The Daily Freeman's article on YESS!
Spectrum News' video report
Buffalo-based youth leader Birch Kinsey, photo by Ovi Horta
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HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
SUN, FEB 16 10AM-2PM
Warm up your winter with food, fun activities, hikes & sledding (weather permitting), and lots of flavors of hot chocolate! $5 admission at the door, includes 2 flavors of hot chocolate. More hot chocolate, lunch, and blacksmithing can be purchased for a small additional fee. Kids under 12 attend for free.
MORE INFO
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WINTER DAY CAMP
MON, FEB 17 - FRI, FEB 21
The perfect cure for cabin fever? A week of environmental education and outdoor exploration for kids 7-12! This camp provides a chance for kids to gain confidence, form new friendships, and explore the beauty of Ashokan in winter with our fun and experienced outdoor youth instructors. Camp includes optional drop off/pick up at High Meadow School and Woodstock Hannaford.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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THE ANCIENT LAW: FILM WITH LIVE SCORE BY DONALD SOSIN & ALICIA SVIGALS
SUN, FEB 29 7PM (new time!)
Join us for a cine-concert featuring this foundational 1923 silent film, with a live original score performed by renowned violinist Alicia Svigals and pianist/composer and silent film music legend Donald Sosin. The Ancient Law is a landmark in Weimar cinema and an outstanding example of the creative contribution of Jewish filmmakers in 1920s Germany.
GET TICKETS
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MAPLE FEST
SUN, MAR 22 10AM-4PM
All-day pancakes (or gluten-free pancakes!) hot off the griddle topped with Ashokan maple syrup, with maple bacon. Plus tree tapping and syrup-making demos and guided tours of the Sugar Shack, guided hikes to our covered bridge (weather permitting), blacksmithing (small additional charge), live music, and more!
MORE INFO
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SPRING DAY CAMP
APRIL 6-10
A week of environmental education and outdoor exploration as the snow melts and wild plants and animals of Ashokan awaken to the spring. Forest ecology, colonial history & crafting, survival skills, outdoor adventure and hiking, music, canoeing, games, and lemonade. Camp includes optional drop off/pick up at High Meadow School and Woodstock Hannaford.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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ASHOKAN ALWAYS, ITHACA!
SAT, APRIL 18
Jay and Molly, family and friends invite you to the Community School of Music & Arts in Ithaca, NY. Come celebrate and share memories at this 40th Anniversary benefit for Ashokan Music & Dance Camps! 3pm workshops & jams, 7pm dessert hour, 8pm evening concert & presentation with special guests, followed by dancing!
LEARN MORE & GET YOUR TICKETS
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OLD TIME ROLLICK
APRIL 24-26
Debra Clifford hosts an Old Time immersion weekend for all levels. Classes in beginner, intermediate and advanced fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, flatfooting, singing and more. Deepen your playing, build your repertoire, make new friends and jam until the wee hours. Open to all folks, all ages, all orientations.
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SCOTTISH STRING FLING
MAY 1-3
World-class Scottish traditional musicians and teachers Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas welcome intermediate and advanced string players for a fantastic learning experience that’s tremendous fun for all with tunes, techniques, and a strong emphasis on self-expression, finding your inner musician and bringing the music to life!
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If you can’t make the weekend, join us for the culminating May 3rd Scottish Concert!
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ASHOKAN ALWAYS, NYC!
TUES, MAY 12
Jay and Molly, family and friends invite you to St. James Chapel Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC! Come celebrate and share memories at this 40th Anniversary benefit for Ashokan Music & Dance Camps. 6:30pm Reception with cocktails and hors d'œuvres, 7:30pm concert and presentation with special guests!
New York City Benefit Committee: Governor George Pataki, Honorary Chair, Mary Jane Brock, Ken Burns, Gideon D’Arcangelo, Mimi Fahs, Carol Fowler, Dan Herman, Jason Tuchman
LEARN MORE & GET YOUR TICKETS
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AUTOHARPS & DULCIMERS 2
MAY 15-17
Sing, play, and learn together at a fun weekend of Old Time tunes and folk songs. All instruments welcome! Beginning, intermediate and advanced instruction for autoharp, hammered and mountain dulcimer, plus coached group ensembles, open mic, concert, jams, dancing, and activities for non musicians.
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ASHOKAN ALWAYS, BOSTON!
TUES, MAY 19
Jay and Molly, family and friends invite you to the Grand Lobby of the Boch Center Wang Theater! Come celebrate and share memories at this 40th Anniversary benefit for Ashokan Music & Dance Camps. 6:00pm reception with cocktails and hors d'œuvres, 7:00pm concert and presentation with special guests!
LEARN MORE & GET YOUR TICKETS
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UKE FEST
MAY 22-25
Workshops for all levels beginning to advanced, concerts, jam sessions, and lots of ukulele fun! You’ll meet new people, learn new techniques and styles, and gain confidence as a player.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
If you can’t make the weekend, join us for the all-star Uke Concert on Sat, May 23rd!
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WESTERN & SWING WEEK
JUNE 28-JULY 4
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason host a fun and friendly full-week of vintage Jazz, Swing, Western-Swing, Country, and everything in between. Enjoy daytime classes, post-dinner jams and song swaps, evening dancing to hot live music, and special nights like Caberet Night, Camper’s Night, and Honky Tonk. Beginners are welcome! Have fun learning and playing together!
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Wanna get a taste? Come to the public Swing Dance Saturday, June 27th!
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NORTHERN WEEK
JULY 19-25
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason host a fun and friendly full-week of Northern-influenced traditional music & dance from New England to Québéquois to the musical roots overseas in Scandinavia, France, and the British Isles. Enjoy daytime classes, pre-dinner Cinq à Six, post-dinner jams and song swaps, nighttime dances to the finest live music, and special camp traditions like communal quilt-making, Camper’s Night, Late Night Contras, and Soirée Française. Beginners are welcome! Have fun learning and playing together!
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Wanna get a taste? Come to the public Contra Dance, July 18th!
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ACOUSTIC GUITAR CAMP
JULY 27-31
Hosted by Peter Davis, Ashokan Acoustic Guitar Camp offers guitarists of all levels an opportunity for real immersion and growth in a friendly environment where people can sing, jam and share valuable musical knowledge. You’ll come away with new repertoire and techniques, a reinvigorated sense of direction and purpose, and a greater confidence and joy in making music on your guitar!
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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FAMILY CAMP
AUG 3-7
John Krumm hosts a heartfelt gathering with music, dancing, singing, storytelling, puppet-making, traditional crafts, and quality time in the great outdoors… age-old activities that enhance well-being and bring people together. Toddlers, teens, teachers, parents, grandparents, and families of all shapes and sizes will head home with hearts full of music and memories that last a lifetime.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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BLUEGRASS CAMP
AUGUST 10-14
Tony Watt hosts a deep-dive into Bluegrass, with instrument-specific instruction, singing classes, electives, and lots and lots of jamming. Don’t miss this chance to learn from and jam with some of the best musicians and teachers in bluegrass music.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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SOUTHERN WEEK
AUG 16-22
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason host a fun and friendly full-week of Southern traditional music from the Bayou to the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond. Enjoy daytime classes, pre-dinner cultural history sessions, post-dinner jams and song swaps, nighttime dances to rollicking live music, and special evenings like Old-time Radio Hour, Mardi Gras Parade, Camper’s Night, and Honky Tonk. Beginners are welcome! Have fun learning and playing together!
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Wanna get a taste? Come to the public Zydeco & Square Dance on Sat, Aug 15th!
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CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF MUSIC & DANCE CAMPS!
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We’re planning too much fun for just one city, so you can share the joy at Ashokan Always benefit concerts in Ithaca, New York City or Boston – or come to all three.
Jay & Molly and the greater Ashokan Music & Dance community invite you share memories, eat, drink, dance, listen, see old friends, introduce new friends to Ashokan, and have a great time!
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Saturday, April 18 • Community School of Music & Arts Ithaca, NY
Tuesday, May 12 • St James Chapel at the Cathedral of St John the Divine New York, NY
Tuesday, May 19 • Grand Lobby of the Boch Center Boston MA
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235 donors have already surpassed last year's annual fund, raising over $40,706! Please consider helping us raise $10,000 more in 2020 to meet this year's goal! Your donations support our mission to teach, inspire, and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and the arts.
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