FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 39
Flushing Town Hall welcomes back larger audiences for fall season
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Flushing Town Hall is introducing a new
lineup of fall programs in September, along
with plans to expand its soft reopening as
the venue continues to welcome back artists
and the public to in-person events.
Aft er completely selling out its in-person
performances this spring and summer for
smaller audiences at a 25 percent capacity,
the institution is eager to meet
demand and serve larger crowds
again, said Flushing Town Hall’s
Executive and Artistic Director
Ellen Kodadek.
“We will not let our excitement
get ahead of our safety protocols,
however, which is why
we are increasing to a 50 percent
of capacity and not yet
packing the house. We continue
to proceed with great
care and love for the artists,
staff , audiences and
donors who sustained us
through the pandemic
shutdown, and we
have planned a very special
season for everyone’s
enjoyment!” Kodadek
said.
Flushing Town Hall’s
popular Louis Armstrong
Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam
will once again be held in-person at the
venue starting Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.
Since its inception in March 2020, more
than 200 musicians from over a dozen
countries as far as New Zealand, Italy and
South Africa have participated in the virtual
event. More than 7,000 viewers from
across the globe have enjoyed the music
and tuned in to the monthly jams to listen
as the venue moved its programming
online.
Gabrielle Hamilton, director of education
and public programs, said they’re “utterly
thrilled” to see everyone return for a live,
in-person jam.
“Over the last 17 months as musicians
joined us online, we heard some amazing
jazz from across the globe, including six of
the seven continents, but now it is time to
jam again in person! It is sure to be a healing
and celebratory reunion.”
House Band Leader Carol Suhalter
thanked everyone
who went on the
virtual, musical
journey with
them this
past year
and a
half.
“Th e pandemic keeps testing the resolve
of the arts community, but we have proven
ourselves resilient and inventive,”
Sudhalter said.
Th e monthly Jazz Jams will be performed
live from Flushing Town Hall,
just like in pre-pandemic times, with participating
musicians and an audience of
jazz lovers attending in person. For those
who are unable to attend, virtual audiences
from across the globe can still join
the livestream and tune in for free via
Flushing Town Hall’s Facebook page.
For September, Flushing Town Hall has
planned a calendar of events from minimash
up series to jazz concerts and its
fi rst-ever art exhibition.
Audiences can enjoy the “Common
Ground” series, which is a fresh take on
its beloved Global Mashups from prior
years but now in “mini-mashup” form,
featuring a new mashup each month.
On Sunday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. the venue
will host “Common Ground: Mini-Global
Mashup #1 – Haiti Meets Middle East.”
Th e event features artists seemingly different
in discipline, practice or cultural
identity who explore global connections,
celebrating distinctions that make cultures
unique.
Th e new series are curated by acclaimed
trumpeter and composer Frank London
bringing together two global music artists
along with accompanists for an aft ernoon
of music, conversation and exploration.
Following the show, there will be an
Q&A session.
Emeline Michel, a singer who is called
the “Th e Joni Mitchell of Haiti,” is internationally
acclaimed for merging native
Haitian compas and rara music with jazz,
pop, bossa nova and samba into deeply
moving, joyful music. Bandleader and
solo artist Dan Nadel’s style combines fl amenco,
jazz and Middle Eastern infl uences.
He also collaborates with Gypsy/
Neo-Balkan, Macedonian band Tavche
Gravche.
On Th ursday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m.
join Flushing Town Hall’s deputy director,
Sami Abu Shumays, as he talks about
what makes a compelling grant application
during a live professional development
session.
Th e venue is inviting artists creating
in all disciplines to take part in the new
series, Artist Professional Development
Conversations, that will share tips,
insights and best practices for navigating
the business side of an artistic career.
Each virtual session will feature a conversation
with FTH staff members to discuss
how to better support, present and
market an artistic practice. During this
workshop, attendees will edit real artist
application materials live during the
session to help them write a better arts
application and see what a panelist looks
for when answering these questions. Th e
conversation will be followed by a Q&A
session.
Additional concerts this fall will include
another performance in Th e Lioness
Women in Jazz series that features baritone
saxophonist Lauren Sevian, followed
by concerts with Dayramir González &
Habana enTRANCé Cuban Jazz, then Yui
Kitamura & Th e Mark Wade Trio, and
the in-person return of Flushing Town
Hall’s monthly Louis Armstrong Legacy
Jazz Jam.
Also, Flushing Town Hall will present
the very first art exhibition,
“Communicating Beyond Words,” inside
its gallery since the pandemic fi rst closed
its facility in March of 2020, and its
fi rst dance presentation since the Hall
reopened, Julia del Palacio: Son Jarocho
Dance.
In adherence with the city’s COVID
policy for performance venues, Flushing
Town Hall will require all visitors, performers
and staff to show proof of vaccination
against COVID-19 with matching
identifi cation.
Additionally, masks will be required at
all times. For more details on Flushing
Town Hall’s COVID-safety measures and
vaccine requirements, visit fl ushingtownhall.
org/covid-safety.
buzz
Photos courtesy of Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall House Jazz Band.
Emeline Michel
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