Lisa Green reports from Hillsdale. It wasn’t just standing room only at the Leaf Peepers fundraising concert on Saturday, May 30. It was a stair sitting, loft leaning and barstool perching audience that packed Richard Collens’ home in Hillsdale for a benefit concert to help fund one of Columbia County’s most beloved concert series (and the county's oldest classical music organization). Pianist Christopher O’Riley, host of NPR’s "From The Top," was as articulate and engaging as he is on his radio show, introducing the pieces and the musicians, who included Leaf Peepers Music Director and flutist Eugenia Zukerman, clarinetist Paul Green, cellist Edward Arron and violinist Tessa Lack (a three-time “From the Top" performer). Above, Eugenia Zukerman, Carl Schuster, who is on WMHT's board of trustees, and Jeff Daly.
Gabriel Kosakoff, who inspired thousands of students as the long-time music teacher at the LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, Carol Kosakoff and Renee Rota, Tanglewood Business Partners marketing coordinator; Actress and food writer Madhur Jaffrey, regarded by many as the world authority on Indian food, and Deepak Crawford.
Conductor and violinist Joseph Silverstein, Tessa Lark and Richard Collens.
Pianist Christopher O'Riley and clarinetist Paul Green; Gary Delemeester, Matthew Bernstein and Elissa Bernstein.
Sam the dog was on his best behavior at the reception; Ron Tanner and Maureen Gara.
Bathed in brilliant sunlight, the artists capped off the concert with an encore piece by Astor Piazzolla.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
