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Crane School of Music Ensembles Present 'Canta Cuba!' Concerts in NYC Tour

Crane Concert Choir & Crane Latin Ensemble from SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music Perform at NYC Schools; Reprise Concert on Campus Planned

Potsdam, NY (10/11/2018) — Two performing ensembles from SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music will lead an upcoming New York City tour. The Crane Concert Choir and Crane Latin Ensemble will present their "¡Canta Cuba!" program at five NYC-area high schools on Oct. 22 and 23.

The groups' free performance at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, N.Y., will be open to the public. The concert will be offered at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22, and all are welcome to attend.

The program, "¡Canta Cuba!," will feature choral music by Cuban composers Esteban Salas y Castro, Calixto Álvarez, Wilma Alba Cal, Moisés Simons, Tania León, Compay Segundo, Miguel Matamoros and others. The Crane Latin Ensemble will perform traditional Afro-Cuban pieces as performed by Tito Puente, La Lupe, Hector Lavoe, Oscar Hernandez and Chris Washburne, among others.

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has established a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. With more than 540 undergraduate and graduate students, Crane places a strong emphasis on cultural diversity within ensemble programming.

The Crane groups will also perform for students, and lead clinics and Q&A sessions, at the following schools during their tour:

  • P.S./I.S. 119, The Glendale in Queens
  • Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn
  • Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan
  • 75 Morton / M.S. 297 in Manhattan

Following their tour, the Crane Concert Choir and Crane Latin Ensemble will present the same concert on campus at SUNY Potsdam, on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater. This concert will also be free and open to the public.

The Potsdam concert will be broadcast live on the Crane School of Music YouTube channel at the performance time. To view the program and see other upcoming streaming performances, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/streaming.

About the performers:

The Crane Concert Choir is a select, auditioned mixed vocal ensemble directed by Dr. Jeffrey Francom. These performances are the first of several that will focus on diverse American cultures that are prevalent in New York State. The year will culminate with a hike to Machu Picchu in May 2019. In the past 18 months, members of the Crane Concert Choir have walked and performed along the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and while biking the Luther Trail in Germany.

The Crane Latin Ensemble is dedicated to promoting Latin American dance music, specializing in Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican traditional musical styles, including Son, Mambo, Cha Cha, Guaguancó, Cumbia and even a bit of Reggaetón. Directed by Dr. Peter McCoy, the ensemble collaborates with traditional artists, such as former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra, and Los Naranjos, the oldest continuously functioning Son group in Cuba, as well as contemporary artists such as Chris Washburn. The group recently returned from a cultural exchange trip to Cienfuegos, Cuba. In addition, the Crane Latin Ensemble has performed in Monterrey, México, Pachuca, México, Puebla, México, and Ottawa, Ontario. The group has also recently toured around central New York State and New York City, presenting workshops on Afro-Cuban music at local schools.

About The Crane School of Music:

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution. For more information, please visit http://www.potsdam.edu/crane.

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The Crane Latin Ensemble (pictured) and the Crane Concert Choir will perform Cuban music in an upcoming New York City area tour.

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