The Granite

Bluegrass Nights
2026-03-26 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | The Granite Church, 5 N. Main Street, Redding, CT, 06896, United States
Bluegrass Nights
4th Thursday of the Month, Winter 2026: Jan 22, Feb 26, Mar 26, 7 PM – 10 PM

Open Bluegrass Jam: 7:30 PM
Granite House Bluegrass Band: 8 PM
Free jamming afterwards
Donations Appreciated

Join us for our monthly celebratory night of bluegrass music! Come to listen, come to jam, come to learn. Live music from the Granite House Bluegrass band starting at 8 PM, an easy, led slow bluegrass jam for beginner and intermediate players starting at 7:30, and late night jamming open to all. Banjos, fiddles, guitars, dobros, mandolins, bass, and similar acoustic instruments welcome.
HOSTED BY AUSTIN SCELZO
Austin Scelzo (Danbury, CT) first studied various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s Berklee String Camps and over time learned all the bluegrass instruments as well as singing and songwriting. During four years as a middle school music teacher, his bluegrass journey began with performing in CT-based bands and teaching in-person and online. Now full-time in bluegrass, Austin performs with respected veterans The Rock Hearts and the Americana quartet On the Trail, teaches jam camps and has created groundbreaking online instruction materials. He has been named Connecticut Arts Hero and nominated as Mentor of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Part of The Granite Bluegrass Series
Bluegrass Nights at The Granite is a recipient of the 2026 IBMA Foundation Project Grant. Thank you so much to The IBMA Foundation for their support!

Swing Dance with Too Blue and Friends
2026-03-28 19:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
Swing Dance with Too Blue and Friends
Saturday, March 28, Dance lesson at 7:30 PM, Show 8 PM – 10 PM (Doors at 7 PM)
Tickets: $20
Learn to swing dance with an introductory lesson at 7:30 – no partner required! Then dance the night away to the sounds of Too Blue and friends.
Traveling freely between the genres of bluegrass, swing, Celtic and jazz, a Too Blue performance is a dynamic dose of serious fun. Smooth harmonies and adventurous musicianship bring stellar arrangements to life and leave the listener anything but “blue”. Their newest release, Trouble With the Grey, produced and engineered by Bob Harris of Ampersand Records, has received national radio airplay and enthusiastic reviews from Bluegrass Today and Bluegrass Unlimited.
Banjoist Joan Harrison brings a swingy bluegrass-influenced feel to the set. Mandolin powerhouse Michael Sassano astounds and entertains, while jazz bassist Jamie Doris brings a creative and unique perspective to the band. Together, Too Blue makes exciting bluegrass that swings and entertains.
Joining Too Blue this night are two members of On the Trail – Austin Scelzo (Fiddle) and Tom Polizzi (guitar).
JUST ANNOUNCED! On-Site Childcare Services
Through Club on the Go, the Boys & Girls Club of Redding-Easton (BGCRE) will provide on-site childcare services for up to 10 kids, ages 4 and up. This initiative is designed to support families, increase event accessibility, and provide safe, engaging experiences for children in our community. The event will be staffed by two BGCRE Senior Youth Development Counselors, who are certified in CPR/First Aid and trained in BGCA safety protocols. Please purchase a childcare ticket below, and include your child’s age. (Food will not be served. Please ensure any food you pack is nut-free.)

Orion Piano Quartet: Resonance
2026-03-29 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Orion Piano Quartet: Resonance
Sunday, March 29, 3 – 5 PM (Doors open at 2 PM)
Classical Music Sundays
Tickets: $45, Kids 12 and under are free
Featuring:

Irina Nuzova, Piano
Beryl Diamond Chacon, Violin
Alexander McLaughlin, Viola
An-Lin Bardin, Cello

Music of Mozart, Dvorak, and Gianono
This program will delve into groundbreaking Piano Quartets – one from each Century. They will start with the Mozart Piano Quartet in Gm, move on to the Romanticism of the Dvorak Piano Quartet in Eb, and then perform a 21st C Classical Rock n’ Roll Piano Quartet written for Beryl and the Orion Piano Quartet by composer Joe Gianono.
Join us to experience the internationally reknowned pianist Irina Nuzova, violinist Beryl Diamond Chacon, Yale master violist Alexander McLaughlin and lyrical cellist An-Lin Barden performing the world of Classical Piano Quartet.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Irina Nuzova
Concert Pianist Irina Nuzova maintains a busy performance schedule year-round in the U.S. and Europe. Her performances include concerts at the Phillips Collection and the National Gallery in Washington DC, the Gardner Museum in Boston, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Schubert Club in St. Paul, as well as numerous concerts in Italy, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Germany.
A passionate teacher, Moscow-born Nuzova has given Master Classes at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Schwob School of Music in GA, the Colburn Conservatory in LA and the Purcell School of Music in London, UK, among many others.
Ms. Nuzova currently teaches at The Special Music School in NY. She previously taught on Faculty at the Hartt School of Music. During the Summer months, Ms. Nuzova teaches and performs at the Olympus Musicus Festival in Prague, the EUROARTS festival in Poland, and both the Clazz International Festival and the Perugia Music Festivals in Italy.
Ms. Nuzova is a co-founder, with concert violinist Dmitry Berlinsky, of the Juventus Pro Musica, a program that presents chamber music concerts for young professionals.
Beryl Diamond Chacon
Beryl Diamond Chacon, Violin, is passionate about making music that speaks to all generations. As a young Juilliard grad, Beryl broke boundaries by breaking down programming and presenting in non-formal listening spaces. She created the Guggenheim WorldBeat Jazz Series, as well as the Met Museum ‘s weekend series of Music on the Balcony, with over 2000 performances with her Piano Quintet.
Traveling worldwide, Beryl has brought her music making to St Bart’s, being presented to and playing for the Queen at Hampton Court, creating light Night Music at Lincoln Center’s Mid Summers Series, appearing onstage on Broadway as Violin Soloist with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as recording for legends Tony Bennett, Carly Simon and Billy Joel and backing up Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.
Chamber Music projects include recording Joe Gianono’s The Orion, a Piano Quartet which was written for Beryl and her group, Beryllium. In June 2025, Beryl created a hip hop Acoustic version of Rap songs (mentioned in Vogue) as well as performing with her Pop Rock group, Beryllium. As a guest performing artist at the most recent Charles Ives Music Festival, Beryl performed Piano and String works of young, emerging composers.
Alex McLaughlin
Violist Alex McLaughlin enjoys the many facets of performing, from traveling to Edinburgh Castle with the Strawberry Hill Fiddlers to serving as the Principal Violist with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra (ECSO), as well as joyfully sharing the world of music with young listeners.
Alex graduated from both the Eastman School of Music, where he received the Robert L Oppelt award, and the Yale School of Music, where he was a featured artist in the Oneppo Chamber Series.
Alex has concertized in several festivals in the United States, including the Spoleto Festival, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Weekend of Chamber Music, and the Endless Mountain Music Festival.
In addition to the ECSO, where he recently performed as the Viola Soloist in Mozart’s Sinfonie Concertante, Alex performs with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, and the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra.
Alex has had the honor of working with many masters of the Viola in his career, including Emily Schaad, Carol Rodland, Ettore Causa, Jeffrey Irvine, Masumi Per Rostad, and Kim Kashkashian. He currently performs on a 1970 viola by Otto Erdesz.
An-Lin Bardin
An-Lin Bardin, Cello. Described as “stunning” by the New York Times, cellist An-Lin Bardin currently teaches cello and chamber music at Sarah Lawrence College. She is the cellist for the Bardin-Niskala Duo, an acclaimed cello-piano duo that seeks to encourage empathy and compassion in society by exploring identity through the lens of music. Additionally, she co-directs the Winterhaven Chamber Music Retreat, a chamber music festival for amateur adult string and piano players in NH.
Bardin is a laureate of several prestigious international quartet competitions, including the Paolo Borciani Quartet Competition in Reggio Emilia, Italy, the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, and the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competitions in the United States, from her time as the cellist for the Vinca Quartet. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the US, including Carnegie’s Perlman and Weill Halls, Aspen, and Vilar Performing Arts Center. Bardin’s performances have been broadcast on Deutschlandradio and WNYC.
She has served as the Artist-in-Residence for the Perlman Music Program in Sarasota, Florida, and was a recipient of a DAAD scholarship (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), a fellowship that enabled her to study with the Vogler String Quartet in Stuttgart, Germany. Bardin also studied extensively with Gunter Pichler and Valentin Erben of the Alban Berg Quartet, Walter Levine of the LaSalle Quartet, under the auspices of the ProQuartet Odyssée Program in Paris, France. Through the Carnegie Hall Chamber Music Workshops, she has worked with the Emerson String Quartet, and she was graduate assistant to the Takacs Quartet at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
A strong proponent of music education, Bardin is a founding member of Music Haven, an intensive mentorship program serving youth in New Haven, Connecticut. Raised in California by two nuclear physicists, Bardin began her cello studies at the age of eight with Irene Sharp. She holds a B.S. from Yale University in Geology and Geophysics, and an M.M. from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Aldo Parisot and was a member of the Grammy-Award-winning Yale Cellos.
WSHU is a Community Partner for The Granite’s Spring 2026 Classical Music Sundays

Songwriting Series: From Seed to Song
2026-03-31 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Songwriting Series: From Seed to Song
Tuesdays in March, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
A five-week songwriting series guided by Carrie Linsky. Open to all – no experience necessary.
This new workshop series is centered on exploring authentic creative expression through songwriting.
Whether you’re an experienced songwriter or just beginning, this series meets you where you are. All you need to bring is curiosity, openness, and the desire to create something you love. You’ll have the opportunity to:

Approach songwriting or creative expression in a new way
Write your first song
Reconnect with your voice more deeply, and create your next song

As a seasoned songwriter and performer, Carrie will relate to your experience, and as a certified coach, Carrie will create a safe, engaging, and non-judgmental space for you to explore and express yourself while supporting your personal and creative growth along the way.
Format: 5 two-hour group workshops, Tuesdays in March – 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31
Capacity: Up to 12 participants
Cost: $300 for the series, $275 Early Registration (by 1/28)
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 27
Each session will include:

Group coaching
Guided personal reflection
Optional sharing and constructive peer feedback
Supportive accountability for personal creative goals

About the Host
Carrie Linsky (formerly Sangiovanni), co-founder of Caravan of Thieves and Fuzz and Carrie, is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and recording artist. Over the last 25 years, she has launched and collaborated on numerous musical projects, recorded 6 original albums, and toured internationally, sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Emmylou Harris, Keb Mo, The Decemberists, and more.
Alongside her musical career, Carrie is a certified purpose, well-being, and resilience coach. Over the last 8 years, she has played a key role with a non-profit dedicated to delivering purpose-centered coaching through in-person programming and a new coaching platform. Blending her deep experience in music with her passion for personal growth, Carrie continues to inspire others through her artistry and her work helping people discover their purpose and potential.
After a successful pilot of the 4-part Songwriter Sessions with Carrie workshop series at The Granite last fall, Carrie is excited to return for another opportunity to connect and grow with others through her creative coaching approach.

From the Community
“Carrie creates the most relaxed, accepting, and creative space for songwriters. I made friends and had laughs with the group along the way, plus I wrote one of my favorite songs during her songwriting sessions. We learned what to listen for in songs, dug into our purpose for writing, and worked on writing our songs. She built confidence in me as a songwriter and performer.” James G., Songwriter Sessions with Carrie Fall ’25
“The Granite is a truly warm and welcoming space where creativity and history connect. I loved being there with this group of songwriters and creatives and having Carrie lead us in breathwork, and gaining confidence. Anyone who is willing to show up and be vulnerable in community would and will benefit.” Madeleine C., Songwriter Sessions with Carrie Fall ’25

Mass Energy Healing with Aggregata
2026-04-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-29 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Mass Energy Healing with Aggregata
Wednesdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join a sacred morning of energetic renewal and spiritual alignment led by Aggregata Zupanova, an intuitive healer and facilitator of Source-guided energy work.
This special gathering offers a powerful group healing experience, created to help you release emotional heaviness, reconnect to your inner wisdom, and anchor a deeper sense of peace within your body and spirit.
Whether you’re new to energy work or seeking a space to reset and reconnect, you are welcome here – exactly as you are.
What you can expect:

Guided group energy clearing
Source-aligned transmission for healing and clarity
Time for inner stillness, integration, and reflection
A supportive, energetic field shared by all participants

Suggested Donation: $25
50% of all contributions go directly to support The Granite Church’s community initiatives and ongoing renovations of this special gathering space.
To register, please text the word “Register” along with the number of people attending to (845) 464-4676.

Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
2026-04-03 19:00 (America/New_York)
Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
Friday, April 3rd, 7 PM Doors, 8 PM Show
Tickets: $35, Kids 12 and under are free
Fresh off a first-place win at the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition, Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light have been captivating audiences throughout the northeast. With songs as sweet and biting as the nectar and venom in her voice, Sumner’s lyric-forward writing and penchant for snaking chord progressions demand something far beyond folk conventions, highlighting the acrobatic range of her brilliant bandmates Kat Wallace (fiddle) and Mike Siegel (upright bass).
Sumner is no stranger to the stage. She spent her early career on the bluegrass circuit, singing and writing with the genre-bending roots group Twisted Pine. Since setting out on her own, Sumner’s songs have been critically acclaimed: winning the 2021 John Lennon Award in the folk category for her song “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison);” earning a spot in the Kerrville New Folk Competition, and being chosen four consecutive years as one of the top Massachusetts entries in NPR’s Tiny Desk Competition. Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light released their debut LP in the summer of 2022 to critical acclaim.

Listen on Bandcamp.
Learn more at rachelsumnermusic.com.
Granite Bluegrass Series

Redding Prevention Council Monthly Meeting
2026-04-08 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
The Redding Prevention Council (RPC) is a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization, funded by the Western Connecticut Coalition.
RPC is made up of local citizens who care about the well-being and safety of our community. Our volunteers include but are not limited to: licensed healthcare and social service professionals, faith-based leaders, community-service members, and educational stakeholders.
They meet at the Granite Church on the second Wednesday of each month. All are welcome!
Learn more by visiting their website at reddingpreventioncouncil.org.
This event is part of our Free Weekly Wednesdays program sponsored by Meadow Ridge.

She Sings Dylan
2026-04-10 20:00 (America/New_York)
She Sings Dylan
Friday, April 10, 8 PM (Doors at 7 PM)
Tickets: $25
Playing fresh takes on the classics and deep cuts you’ll love.
She Sings Dylan delivers a unique, female-fronted take on Bob Dylan’s vast catalog with fresh arrangements of beloved classics and rare gems.
The band features lead vocalist Kate Hubbard and supporting vocalist, mandolinist, and clarinetist Sophia Coppola, alongside a top-tier lineup of Northeast musicians: Jeff Martinson (guitar), Bill Carbone (drums), Sean Elkind (keys), and Marty Moroney (bass), all seasoned players known from bands like Max Creek and Mystic Dead.
The band was started in 2014 by one-time Dylan musical director Rob Stoner as Rob Stoner’s Rolling Thunder Revival, and continued on for several years after Stoner’s departure. The group has found a renewed purpose and a fresh sound after a pandemic hiatus.

Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches: Artist Talk
2026-04-11 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches: Artist Talk
Saturday, April 11, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
Donations Appreciated
Kate Keeler will discuss her current exhibition at The Granite, titled Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches, in which nature, local history, visual arts, and music intertwine. Family, local friends, and community members will share photos and stories about Georgetown. Musical accompaniment will be provided by The Keelers, performing songs that share themes with the paintings and prints.
Take Part in the Art
Georgetown community: please bring old photographs of Georgetown to scan and add to our May 22 multimedia presentation, weaving nature, music, art, and local connections at the Granite Church.
Learn more about the exhibit here.

Lindsay Foote
2026-04-11 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York)
Lindsay Foote
Saturday, April 11, 8 PM (Doors at 7 PM)
Tickets: $25
Fresh off her Grand Prize win at the 2025 NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition, Lindsay Foote has been lighting up stages throughout the Northeast. A regularly featured artist on CBS’s “The Young and The Restless,” Lindsay’s music captures a raw, honest, and powerfully groovy sound that blends elements from folk & pop with a gritty rock Americana edge.
A night at a Lindsay Foote show is one you won’t forget—the lyrical candor and infectious grooves just stay with you. Backed by a dynamic band, her welcoming stage presence invites the audience on a journey through the highs and lows of the human experience. Long after the final note fades, her songs linger—haunting, hummable, and deeply felt.

Learn more about Lindsay Foote here: lindsayfoote.com

A Bird Came Down The Walk
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
A Bird Came Down the Walk: Weaving Poetry and Music Together
Sunday, April 12 at 3 PM (Doors open at 2 PM)
Between Us: Sunday Chamber Music Series
Tickets: $45
Featuring:

Shane Barker, Viola
Michael Maronich, Piano
Charles Frederick Secrease, Actor
Jeanine Pardey, Actor

In honor of National Poetry Month, violist Shane Barker has fashioned a program that pairs two art forms: Poetry and Music. Audiences will hear spoken aloud the words of Emily Dickinson, Alfred de Musset and William Shakespeare, and in the intimate listening space that is The Granite, hear the musical companion to each literary work: music of Töru Takemitsu, Rebecca Clarke and Sergei Prokofiev.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Shane Barker, Viola
Violist Shane Barker enjoys a rich and varied career as soloist, chamber musician, freelance orchestral player and as violin and viola teacher. He has performed across most of the United States, Canada and Europe, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kimmel Center, and the Philharmonie in Paris.
A strong proponent of the viola as a solo instrument, he has premiered over twenty-five solo pieces by established and emerging composers, including Jeremy Gill, Andrea Clearfield, Andrew Ardizzoia, Florence Maunders, and Joseph Hallman. Shane believes that classical music is for everyone and has organized community outreach concerts in women’s and children’s shelters, retirement centers, museums and the veterans association, including curating a multi-disciplinary concert series at the Nurture Nature Center in Easton PA.
As a teacher, he has held faculty positions at Lafayette and Muhlenberg colleges, Temple Music Prep, Moravian Academy, the Newark School of the Arts and currently serves on the faculty of the Greenwich Education Association. Shane holds degrees from Temple University and the North Carolina School of the Arts where his main teachers were Karen Ritscher, Evelyn Jacobs-Luise and Sheila Browne, to whom he served as teaching assistant. Shane plays on a viola by Sergio Peresson.
Michael Maronich, Piano
Pianist Michael Maronich has been praised for his “intelligent readings” and “interpretive sensitivity” (Rorianne Schrade, New York Concert Review), as well as his “power and uncanny lyricism” (Kitty Montgomery, Kingston Daily Freeman).
A Connecticut native, Michael began his piano studies at age seven and, in 2001, became the youngest first prize winner in the history of the Renée B. Fisher Competition. Amongst his other achievements, Michael has been a top prizewinner at the Great Neck Young Artists Competition and the Carlson Horn Competition. In 2004, Michael won the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Concerto Competition and performed Liszt’s First Piano Concerto with the Manhattan School of Music Philharmonic Orchestra. As winner of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra competition, Michael also performed the Liszt Concerto with the Hartford Symphony. In 2005, Michael won second prize in the Jacob Flier International Competition. He has performed throughout the tri-state area, as well as internationally in Russia, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Czech Republic, and China.
Michael is the organist and choir director of Christ Church Parish in Redding, having previously served as director of music at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Queens, New York. Michael is on staff at Sarah Lawrence College as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. Also active as a pedagogue, he is on the faculty of the Rudolf Steiner School, Wilton Music Studios, and Rockland Conservatory, and has also taught at the Burgos International Music Festival in Burgos, Spain.
Michael earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University, studying with John Perry and Daniel Epstein. He completed his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Phillip Kawin.
Charles Frederick Secrease, Actor
A native of Western Massachusetts, Charles began performing publicly at the age of six, though not as an actor. The youngest in a family of musicians, his first love was the piano, which has continued to this day.
Having studied classical performance through undergrad, and continuing at the Shanghai Conservatory and Juilliard, Charles has enjoyed over thirty years with one foot firmly planted in the world of classical music. His other foot, however, began to wander in a different direction when, at the age of 10, he experienced a family friend’s performance as Fagin in a summer stock production of the musical “Oliver”. Captivated by the actor’s complete transformation into the rapscallious character, Charles knew this was something he had to explore.
In the years since and alongside his continued professional life in music, Charles has studied, worked and performed with numerous teachers, directors and companies across Europe, Asia, Africa and of course, the U.S. Finding a particular love of the Shakespearean theater, Charles has performed numerous roles including Marc Antony, Macbeth, Cymbeline, Orsino, Angelo, Oberon, MacDuff and Othello.
Jeanine Pardey, Actor/Vocalist
Jeanine’s performing experience spans concert and oratorio, opera, musical theatre and cabaret. Musical theatre experience includes Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music at CW Post Tilles Center, She Loves Me at the Opera Ensemble of New York (conducted by Jonathan Tunick), Anna Held in Tintypes, Elsa in The Sound of Music, and a featured performer in Fascinating Gershwin (semi-national tour).
Concert credits include CAMI Hall, The Walter Reade Theatre, Wave Hill, Trinity Church, and the Bruno Walter Auditorium in New York, as well as a season in Europe performing with the International Institute for Chamber Music. Her operatic roles include Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Baby Doe in The Ballade of Baby Doe, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, with the Brooklyn Opera Ensemble and the Opera Ensemble of New York.
Her work in higher education began in 2001 as a Professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, developing a new musical theatre program and ultimately becoming Chair of the Media and Performing Arts Department. She has held faculty and/or administrative positions at Molloy College, Manhattanville College, and Adelphi University. Summers have been spent in Colorado, teaching musical theatre and voice at the prestigious Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School in Steamboat Springs. Jeanine has performed in their New Noises Festival, working on new play development with such musical theatre luminaries as Stephen Schwartz, Peter Flynn, Cheryl Coons, Stephen Weiner and Glenn Slater, as well as playwright Dana Yeaton.
Jeanine has performed in cabaret with pianist/arranger and husband Andrew Levine and served as vocal coach for several cabaret artists, including Mary Ann Franks’s acclaimed Spinning. She is currently a Teaching Artist and Co-Coordinator of the Musical Theatre Department in the Theatre Division of The Hartt School – University of Hartford, and a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is adept at teaching all vocal styles and continues to develop professionally both as an artist and educator, performing and attending various workshops and master classes year-round.
WSHU is a Community Partner for The Granite’s Spring 2026 Classical Music Sundays

Old Time Jam
2026-04-15 19:30 (America/New_York)
Old Time Jam
Third Wednesday of the Month, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Donations Appreciated
Calling all fiddles, guitars, and banjos for an Old Time Jam at the Granite!
Play along or sit back and listen to Appalachian music with us. Bring any acoustic string instrument and make new friends playing old-timey tunes with other musicians.
For an excellent representation of the types of music played at these jams, listen to The Old Time 100 album by Tristan Scoggins and George Jackson here.
Come as you are, give as you can. All are welcome!

Chamber Music Reading
2026-04-19 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Chamber Music Reading
Monthly on Sundays, 10 AM – 12 PM
March 22, April 19, May 17, June 14, July 12, August 23
Open chamber music reading for string players!
This event is open to everyone – students, professionals, hobbyists, teens, adults – anyone who would like to sight-read chamber music, meet other local musicians, and have fun.
Plenty of sheet music will be available, and attendees are welcome to bring their own.
Pay what you can! Donations are greatly appreciated.

Jacob's Ladder
2026-04-19 17:00 (America/New_York)
Jacob’s Ladder
Sunday, April 19, 5 PM (Doors at 4:30 PM)
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door
Jacob’s Ladder blends bluegrass and Jewish music, creating a unique sound that brings community, energy, and reimagined tradition to performances.
Jacob’s Ladder is an internationally touring band pushing the boundaries of contemporary Jewish music and traditional American Roots music through Jewish communal singing and prayer. In melding these two musical worlds, they tell their story through Eastern European Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewish traditions, but also through their American heritage and its influence on their unique musical style. Their debut album, “Beit El”, explores genre-bending across choral and cantorial traditions, finding their way into communal prayer, rock, West-African styles, bluegrass, and American folk song. Jacob’s Ladder has been performing coast to coast, highlighted by their 2024 appearance at Ashkenazfest, 2023 Bay Area tour, Nashville’s 2nd Annual NashFest, and have headline for 3 years in a row at Portsmouth’s Jewish Arts and Music Fest. They have performed and offered residencies to dozens of Jewish communities nationally, and continue to shed light on the conversation of identity, particularly regarding what it means to be an American Jew.
Their early inspirations were drawn from bluegrass icons such as Tony Rice, The Bluegrass Album Band, and Bill Monroe, as well as original “Jewgrass” musicians from the 70’s and 80’s, including Andy Statman, David Grisman, and Stacy Phillips. Their recent record, “Beit El”, takes a step away from the more traditional bluegrass path and taps into multiple different genres, including rock, gospel, and klezmer, packed with diverse and eclectic vocal and instrumental arrangements.
With roots music as the bedrock of their expression and instrumentation, their melodies and songs are inspired by the likes of Shlomo Carlebach, Eitan Katz, Zusha, Moshav Band, and Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble, to name a few.
Jacob’s Ladder is rooted in the traditional liturgy that one might find in an Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Traditional Jewish setting. They believe that Jewish liturgical music can expand beyond traditional melodies while maintaining its essence in a traditional prayer structure. Additionally, they believe in the power of these prayers to have meaning and purpose outside of a prayer setting. These age-old lyrics are at the heart of what makes up their music, and have been at the forefront of our Jewish story for centuries.
Their creative process incorporates different approaches and techniques. While all of their core band members are rooted in their own idiosyncratic musical styles and approaches, they joyfully approach the challenging process of weaving their stylistic differences into the fabric of new arrangements. Together, they strive to highlight each of their individual sources of inspiration into their ever-changing and evolving sound. At heart, Jacob’s Ladder is comprised of bluegrass musicians, and they center themselves–and thus their new music—in its natural groove and language.

Learn more at jacobsladdermusic.com

Moving Meditation with Live Music
2026-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Moving Meditation with Live Music
Wednesday, April 22, 7 – 8 PM
(This month only, moved from the first to the fourth Wednesday.)
Experience the power of movement, breath, and mindfulness with the beauty of live violin to create a grounding and rejuvenating experience.
Join Josh Liebling, qigong teacher, and Megan Yee, violinist, for an immersive experience designed to help you find your flow through movement and live music accompaniment. You’ll be guided through practices that help you slow down, tune in, and connect deeply with a sense of calm and presence. You’ll like this if you’re curious about gentle, meditative movement, want to experience the calming effects of flow, or are looking for a fresh way to connect mind and body. No prior experience necessary; all are welcome!
Please bring a mat. We may do some exercises on the ground, ending in savasana.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Josh Liebling is a life-long learner. He enjoys discovering and sharing practices that help people return to a peaceful state that feels like home. For the past 15 years he’s explored many different types of meditation modalities ranging from transcendental meditation and mantra meditation to mindfulness and breathwork. But it was in Qigong that he found a practice that enriched his life so much that he absolutely needed to share its benefits with others.
He received his Qigong teaching certifications from Masters Lee Holden, Robert Peng, and Ken Cohen. He also works 1-on-1 with clients through personalized Qigong and Daoist Coaching.
Megan Yee combines her identities as a psychotherapist and violinist to explore the intersection of wellness, creativity, and embodied healing. Whether in session with clients or performing with her local community orchestra, she believes in the transformative power of presence and connection. Music has offered Megan a lifelong source of joy and collaboration. In this gathering, she accompanies the flow of gentle meditative movements with live violin, creating a space that supports emotional balance and invites participants to discover and embody their rhythm.

Alexis Chartrand & Nic Gareiss
2026-04-24 20:00 (America/New_York)
Alexis Chartrand & Nic Gareiss
Friday, April 24 at 8 PM (Doors at 7 PM)
Tickets: $25
Melding unparalleled virtuosity with an introspective sensibility, Nic Gareiss and Alexis Chartrand trace, with disarming spontaneity, their path across French Canadian, Appalachian, and Irish traditions. Propelled by melodies inherited from Québécois folklore, the duo explores, with palpable pleasure, the sharing of sounds and gestures, blurring the lines between music and dance, melody and movement.
This concert is a privileged opportunity to witness the contemporaneity of our traditions, the singular creativity of Nic Gareiss’ flatfooting and step dancing, and Alexis Chartrand’s unique playing on the baroque violin.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Montreal fiddler Alexis Chartrand has traced a singular path across the Québécois traditional music scene. “Known for his pensive reworkings of Québécois fiddle tunes” (Songlines), he has pioneered the use of baroque violin and bows for the interpretation of this repertoire. His partnership with multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Nicolas Babineau has led to the release of three albums and to many concerts in Québec, Canada, the United States, and Sweden. Hailed in 2019 as “two must-hears of Québécois traditional music” (Penguin Eggs), their 2024 collaboration with Nicolas Ellis and Orchestre de l’Agora “was a revelation and an intense emotional shock” (Le Devoir). He has explored the connection between music and dance with percussive dancers Nic Gareiss and Antoine Turmine. He has released duo albums with multi-instrumentalists Colin Savoie-Levac and Cédric Dind-Lavoie. Learn more at agchartrand.com
One of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” Nic Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance.” He reimagines movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as a medium that appeals to both eyes and ears. Gareiss engages many percussive dance traditions, weaving together a singular dance practice marked by his love of clog, flatfoot, and step dance footwork, improvisation, and musical collaboration. Gareiss received the 2020 Michigan Heritage Award, his home region’s highest distinction bestowed on traditional artists. He has performed in seventeen countries, including at London’s Barbican Centre, the Irish National Concert Hall, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He holds an MA in Ethnochoreology from the University of Limerick. Learn more at nicgareiss.com
“Gareiss’ dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance…” – New York Times
“…his feet coax music from the ground.” – Provincetown Independent

Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop
2026-04-25 11:00 - 12:15 (America/New_York)
Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop
Saturday, April 25 at 11 AM
Tickets: $30
Play folk music with your feet! For movers of all experience and backgrounds.
Flatfooting is a solo form of improvised percussive dance originating in the Appalachian Mountains, with sonic and gestural connections to West African, Indigenous, and Western European dance. Using the toe, heel, and ball of the foot to strike and slide across the floor, flatfooting articulates the rhythms of old-time fiddle and banjo tunes.
Wear comfortable clothes and smooth-soled, supportive shoes with a low heel or no heel for this class. Beginner to advanced workshop.

ABOUT THE HOSTS
Montreal fiddler Alexis Chartrand has traced a singular path across the Québécois traditional music scene. “Known for his pensive reworkings of Québécois fiddle tunes” (Songlines), he has pioneered the use of baroque violin and bows for the interpretation of this repertoire. His partnership with multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Nicolas Babineau has led to the release of three albums and to many concerts in Québec, Canada, the United States, and Sweden. Hailed in 2019 as “two must-hears of Québécois traditional music” (Penguin Eggs), their 2024 collaboration with Nicolas Ellis and Orchestre de l’Agora “was a revelation and an intense emotional shock” (Le Devoir). He has explored the connection between music and dance with percussive dancers Nic Gareiss and Antoine Turmine. He has released duo albums with multi-instrumentalists Colin Savoie-Levac and Cédric Dind-Lavoie. Learn more at agchartrand.com
One of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” Nic Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance.” He reimagines movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as a medium that appeals to both eyes and ears. Gareiss engages many percussive dance traditions, weaving together a singular dance practice marked by his love of clog, flatfoot, and step dance footwork, improvisation, and musical collaboration. Gareiss received the 2020 Michigan Heritage Award, his home region’s highest distinction bestowed on traditional artists. He has performed in seventeen countries, including at London’s Barbican Centre, the Irish National Concert Hall, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He holds an MA in Ethnochoreology from the University of Limerick. Learn more at nicgareiss.com
“Gareiss’ dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance…” – New York Times
“…his feet coax music from the ground.” – Provincetown Independent

The Way It Is
2026-04-26 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
The Way It Is: Five Stories and Their Musical Companions
Sunday, April 26 at 3 PM (Doors open at 2 PM)
Between Us: Sunday Chamber Music Series
Tickets: $45
Featuring:

Storytelling by Andrew Levine
Music by Jim Bauer, Ernest Bloch, Andrew Levine, Franz Liszt, and Richard Rodgers
Performances by An-Lin Bardin, cello, Jeanine Pardey, vocalist, and a few surprise guests

William Stafford’s poem, The Way It Is, speaks of a thread present in each of our lives, a thread that Stafford implores us to hold on to so we don’t get lost. Andrew will tell five stories drawn from his musical journey that speak to finding, holding on to, and sometimes losing the thread. Each story has a musical companion, weaving through various genres and styles.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Andrew Levine, Actor/Piano
Andrew has enjoyed a multifaceted career in the performing arts, working as a musician, arts administrator, educator, and producer. Andrew served as managing director of The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, a project of the Archdiocese of New York, and as the executive director of The York Theatre Company, an off-Broadway theater that produces musical theater works.
Andrew is a member of the advanced cohort at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. Recent theater compositions include The Old Man and the Sea with Jessica Carmona (BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop), Spinning, with MaryAnn Frank (Long Wharf Theatre, 2019), Dora Dreams of Fire with MaryAnn Frank (Prospect Theatre, 2020).
Andrew is currently an adjunct faculty member at Western Connecticut State University, where he teaches theater management, and The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where he is an on-staff coach in the musical theater division. Additionally, Andrew is currently serving as executive producer for a new musical called Parcel from America, which will play The Everyman Theatre in Cork, Ireland, in October 2026.
An-Lin Bardin, Cello
Described as “stunning” by the New York Times, cellist An-Lin Bardin currently teaches cello and chamber music at Sarah Lawrence College. She is the cellist for the Bardin-Niskala Duo, an acclaimed cello-piano duo that seeks to encourage empathy and compassion in society by exploring identity through the lens of music. Additionally, she co-directs the Winterhaven Chamber Music Retreat, a chamber music festival for amateur adult string and piano players in NH.
Bardin is a laureate of several prestigious international quartet competitions, including the Paolo Borciani Quartet Competition in Reggio Emilia, Italy, the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, and the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competitions in the United States, from her time as the cellist for the Vinca Quartet. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the US, including Carnegie’s Perlman and Weill Halls, Aspen, and Vilar Performing Arts Center. Bardin’s performances have been broadcast on Deutschlandradio and WNYC.
She has served as the Artist-in-Residence for the Perlman Music Program in Sarasota, Florida, and was a recipient of a DAAD scholarship (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), a fellowship that enabled her to study with the Vogler String Quartet in Stuttgart, Germany. Bardin also studied extensively with Gunter Pichler and Valentin Erben of the Alban Berg Quartet, Walter Levine of the LaSalle Quartet, under the auspices of the ProQuartet Odyssée Program in Paris, France. Through the Carnegie Hall Chamber Music Workshops, she has worked with the Emerson String Quartet, and she was a graduate assistant to the Takacs Quartet at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
A strong proponent of music education, Bardin is a founding member of Music Haven, an intensive mentorship program serving youth in New Haven, Connecticut. Raised in California by two nuclear physicists, Bardin began her cello studies at the age of eight with Irene Sharp. She holds a B.S. from Yale University in Geology and Geophysics, and an M.M. from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Aldo Parisot and was a member of the Grammy-Award-winning Yale Cellos.
Jeanine Pardey, Actor/Vocalist
Jeanine’s performing experience spans concert and oratorio, opera, musical theatre and cabaret. Musical theatre experience includes Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music at CW Post Tilles Center, She Loves Me at the Opera Ensemble of New York (conducted by Jonathan Tunick), Anna Held in Tintypes, Elsa in The Sound of Music, and a featured performer in Fascinating Gershwin (semi-national tour).
Concert credits include CAMI Hall, The Walter Reade Theatre, Wave Hill, Trinity Church, and the Bruno Walter Auditorium in New York, as well as a season in Europe performing with the International Institute for Chamber Music. Her operatic roles include Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Baby Doe in The Ballade of Baby Doe, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, with the Brooklyn Opera Ensemble and the Opera Ensemble of New York.
Her work in higher education began in 2001 as a Professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, developing a new musical theatre program and ultimately becoming Chair of the Media and Performing Arts Department. She has held faculty and/or administrative positions at Molloy College, Manhattanville College, and Adelphi University. Summers have been spent in Colorado, teaching musical theatre and voice at the prestigious Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School in Steamboat Springs. Jeanine has performed in their New Noises Festival, working on new play development with such musical theatre luminaries as Stephen Schwartz, Peter Flynn, Cheryl Coons, Stephen Weiner and Glenn Slater, as well as playwright Dana Yeaton.
Jeanine has performed in cabaret with pianist/arranger and husband Andrew Levine and served as vocal coach for several cabaret artists, including Mary Ann Franks’s acclaimed Spinning. She is currently a Teaching Artist and Co-Coordinator of the Musical Theatre Department in the Theatre Division of The Hartt School – University of Hartford, and a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is adept at teaching all vocal styles and continues to develop professionally both as an artist and educator, performing and attending various workshops and master classes year-round.
WSHU is a Community Partner for The Granite’s Spring 2026 Classical Music Sundays

Bluegrass Nights
2026-04-30 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
Bluegrass Nights
4th or 5th Thursday of the Month, Spring 2026: Apr 30, May 28, 7 PM – 10 PM

Open Bluegrass Jam: 7:30 PM
Granite House Bluegrass Band: 8 PM
Free jamming afterwards
Donations Appreciated

Join us for our monthly celebratory night of bluegrass music! Come to listen, come to jam, come to learn. Live music from the Granite House Bluegrass band starting at 8 PM, an easy, led slow bluegrass jam for beginner and intermediate players starting at 7:30, and late night jamming open to all. Banjos, fiddles, guitars, dobros, mandolins, bass, and similar acoustic instruments welcome.
HOSTED BY AUSTIN SCELZO
Austin Scelzo (Danbury, CT) first studied various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s Berklee String Camps and, over time, learned all the bluegrass instruments as well as singing and songwriting. During four years as a middle school music teacher, his bluegrass journey began with performing in CT-based bands and teaching in-person and online. Now full-time in bluegrass, Austin performs with respected veterans The Rock Hearts and the Americana quartet On the Trail, teaches jam camps and has created groundbreaking online instruction materials. He has been named Connecticut Arts Hero and nominated as Mentor of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Part of The Granite Bluegrass Series
Bluegrass Nights at The Granite is a recipient of the 2026 IBMA Foundation Project Grant. Thank you so much to The IBMA Foundation for their support!

Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches: Artist Talk
2026-05-02 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches: Artist Talk
Saturday, May 2, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
Donations Appreciated
Kate Keeler will discuss her current exhibition at The Granite, titled Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches, in which nature, local history, visual arts, and music intertwine. Musical accompaniment will be provided by The Keelers, performing songs that share themes with the paintings and prints.
Don’t miss the linocut demonstration!
Kate will do a printing demonstration of a small linocut. Attendees will have the opportunity to take home a print.
Take Part in the Art
Georgetown community: please bring old photographs of Georgetown to scan and add to our May 22 multimedia presentation, weaving nature, music, art, and local connections at the Granite Church.
Learn more about the exhibit here.

Harmony Singing Workshop
2026-05-04 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-11 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
Harmony Singing Workshop with Austin Scelzo
Mondays, May 4, 11 & 18, 7 – 8:30 PM
Wish you could sing harmony with more ease and confidence? Develop a natural approach to harmony singing using bluegrass, folk, and country standards.
Good three-part vocal harmony can be the most exciting part of bluegrass and folk music. Learn the basic terminology of folk-style harmony singing (Lead, Tenor, Baritone), how to find your first note, how to “stay in your lane” and not sing what the person next to you is singing, and how to blend.
Learn to sing standards in perfect three-part harmony and develop a natural understanding and approach to harmony singing. Join the fun!
Each class is $40. Come to one, two, or all three! Sign up at: AustinScelzo.com/harmony
ABOUT AUSTIN SCELZO
Austin Scelzo (Danbury, CT) first studied various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s Berklee String Camps and over time learned all the bluegrass instruments as well as singing and songwriting. During four years as a middle school music teacher, his bluegrass journey began with performing in CT-based bands and teaching in-person and online. Now full-time in bluegrass, Austin performs with respected veterans The Rock Hearts and the Americana quartet On the Trail, teaches jam camps and has created groundbreaking online instruction materials. He has been named Connecticut Arts Hero and nominated as Mentor of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Part of The Granite Bluegrass Series

Moving Meditation with Live Music
2026-05-06 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Moving Meditation with Live Music
First Wednesday of the Month, 7 – 8 PM
Experience the power of movement, breath, and mindfulness with the beauty of live violin to create a grounding and rejuvenating experience.
Join Josh Liebling, qigong teacher, and Megan Yee, violinist, for an immersive experience designed to help you find your flow through movement and live music accompaniment. You’ll be guided through practices that help you slow down, tune in, and connect deeply with a sense of calm and presence. You’ll like this if you’re curious about gentle, meditative movement, want to experience the calming effects of flow, or are looking for a fresh way to connect mind and body. No prior experience necessary; all are welcome!
Please bring a mat. We may do some exercises on the ground, ending in savasana.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Josh Liebling is a life-long learner. He enjoys discovering and sharing practices that help people return to a peaceful state that feels like home. For the past 15 years he’s explored many different types of meditation modalities ranging from transcendental meditation and mantra meditation to mindfulness and breathwork. But it was in Qigong that he found a practice that enriched his life so much that he absolutely needed to share its benefits with others.
He received his Qigong teaching certifications from Masters Lee Holden, Robert Peng, and Ken Cohen. He also works 1-on-1 with clients through personalized Qigong and Daoist Coaching.
Megan Yee combines her identities as a psychotherapist and violinist to explore the intersection of wellness, creativity, and embodied healing. Whether in session with clients or performing with her local community orchestra, she believes in the transformative power of presence and connection. Music has offered Megan a lifelong source of joy and collaboration. In this gathering, she accompanies the flow of gentle meditative movements with live violin, creating a space that supports emotional balance and invites participants to discover and embody their rhythm.

Rock Hearts
2026-05-08 19:00 UTC
Rock Hearts at The Granite
Friday, May 8 at 7 PM (Doors at 6:30 PM)
An intimate evening of live bluegrass music
Tickets: $25 (Ages 12 and under are free!)
Formed in 2013, Rock Hearts brings together five seasoned musicians from southern New England who love to sing and pick bluegrass and old country tunes, and seek out tunes from other genres to “Bluegrass-ify.”
Named an official 2021 IBMA Showcase Band, the band is enjoying national radio and chart activity. They are a sought-after band for major festivals. They are 615 Hideaway Record label artists and work closely with label owner, Sammy Passamano in Nashville, TN.
Their first independent project, Starry Southern Nights, put them on the national radar. A year later they signed with Sammy Passamano and released their first 615 Hideaway Records label single from their new project, Wanderlust, which continues to receive outstanding fanfare and radio attention. Their third project and second with the 615 is due to be out soon.
“For anyone unfamiliar with this group they are a powerhouse, featuring some of New England’s finest. They bring lots of talent, experience, and a distinctive sound of their own.”
— Rick Lang – Singer/Songwriter/Publisher *Grammy nominated

Weavings, Wires, Roots, and Branches: Reception & Concert
2026-05-09 18:00 (America/New_York)
Weavings, Wires, Roots & Branches: Where Nature, Local History, Visual Arts, and Music Intertwine
Artist Reception & Concert
Saturday, May 9, 6 PM
Donations Appreciated
6 PM: Kate Keeler Gallery Walk
7 PM: The Collators
8 PM: The Keelers
Come to Georgetown, where nature and the arts converge with the historic Wire Mill and Granite Church.
Enjoy a multi-media discussion with Kate Keeler and special guests about her art and her family’s multi-generational history in Georgetown. Following the reception and conversation, indulge your senses in music as The Collators take the stage, followed by a special set by The Keelers.
Learn more about Kate Keeler’s exhibit at The Granite here.
The Collators is a band of four songwriters playing original music (and some covers) in the New York City Metropolitan area, consisting of Ralph Dickinson (vocals and bass), Kyle Sutton (vocals and guitar), Dylan Keeler (vocals and guitar), and Mike Friedman (drums). Check them out on Bandcamp.
The Keelers‘ music focuses on what Gram Parsons called “cosmic American music” – rock, soul, blues, country. This dynamic duo features Kate Keeler (vocalist and our event exhibit artist) and Dylan Keeler, who also performs with The Collators. The pair lives in Redding.
