An innovative musical performance featuring original selections from their recently released CD, “Exit 33”, as well as classic compositions. Chuck Lamb played with the Dave Brubeck Quartet for many years and Peter Mack has been a respected bassist playing with his own group and other nationally known musicians. Their music reflects the deep roots both artists have in upstate NY and is inspired by an ever-expanding vision of their shared musical expression described as “joyful, bright and magical.”

Suggested donation: $10

Nothing says summer like the sound of steel drum music. The Aurora Free Library is excited to announce that the widely known and acclaimed steel band Panloco will perform Wednesday, July 13^th at 7 pm at the Wells College AA Field near the golf course club house.  A special educational workshop is scheduled from 5 to 6 pm for ages 8 and above. Learn the history and method of playing this unique musical instrument that got its start in the Caribbean.  Both events are free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the club house. Bring your chairs or a blanket for a night of island music and dancing. In case of rain, the performance will take place at the Morgan Opera House 370 Main St. Aurora

Panloco, one of Western New York’s most versatile steel bands, was formed in 1995.  Led by percussionist Ted Canning, Panloco explores the unique musical qualities of the steel pan from its traditional Caribbean roots to a variety of musical forms including pop, jazz, classical. Panloco performs widely in many venues from informal parties, summer festivals to concert stages throughout New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  https://www.panloco.com/

Panloco Director’s Bio

TED CANNING, a percussionist and native of Cleveland, Ohio, has done extensive freelance work in the northeast United States performing classical music, theater, big band and jazz.   His world music studies and performances include Ghanaian, Haitian, Brazilian and Senegalese drumming in a variety of ensembles.  From his start as a lead pan player and founding member of the Pandemonium Steelband of Wesleyan University, Ted now performs with the steel drum here in the US as well as in Europe and Latin America.  He performs in numerous styles, from Caribbean dance music to new classical works.  Ted was the steel drum soloist in performances in Siena, Italy, Mexico City, Mexico and at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, and has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester, New York.  He has performed as well with national champions “Phase II Pan Groove” in Trinidad and Tobago, and with the Moods Pan Orchestra, Crossfire and the D’Radoes steelbands in Brooklyn, New York.  Ted now leads the Panloco Steelband, the “Steel Alchemy” Community Steelband, and the RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) Steel Band.  He performs with the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband, and has performed with “pan” players from Trinidad and around the world.

Since 1993, Ted has been devoted to arts in education as a lead teaching artist.  He has presented performances, workshops and residencies in schools, colleges, and community settings throughout Western New York and Pennsylvania.  In addition to presentations of steelband and other world musics, Ted has used music to teach fundamental curriculum skills such as math, language skills, social studies, history and science, illuminating concepts to students and opening doors to other styles of learning.

On December 3 at 1 PM, as part of Christmas in Aurora, the Bones East Octet, an eight piece trombone ensemble, will perform a family friendly holiday concert featuring popular Christmas music including Jingle Bells, The Twelve Days of Christmas and Silent Night, a few classical pieces and maybe some jazz at the Morgan Opera House. The group has performed at colleges, churches and community events and even to enthusiastic audiences at the Morgan Opera House. The eight trombonists range from semi-pros to talented students who volunteer their time and effort. The concert is free but monetary donations for the King Ferry Food Pantry are appreciated.  The Morgan Opera House, 370 Main Street, Aurora, NY, is handicapped accessible using the ramp on the Cherry Avenue side of the building.

Bones East Octet is fortunate to have William Harris, former principal trombonist with the Syracuse Symphony and music professor at Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College serve as conductor and Tom Camp as Arranger and Co-Conductor.
For further information contact Wayne Blann, fwayneblann@gmail.com

The Poplar Ridge Players’ annual production of the Shepherds’ Play (our 44th year!) will be based in Aurora—at the Morgan Opera House– showtime is 7PM on Saturday, December 17. Admission is free.

The Shepherds’ Play is a Medieval play preserved by an isolated community living on an island in the Danube River and not transcribed until the late 19th Century. Parts were handed down through families—something like that has happened with our group, consisting of your friends and neighbors. Like the wonderful Middle English Second Shepherds’ Play, it blends slapstick with reverence.

The Poplar Ridge Players are grateful to the Morgan Opera House and Aurora Free Library for making the great space available.

For more information call/text Chris MacCormick at 607-351-6864

JD Balloni’s band the Petty Thieves is back at the Morgan Opera House for the first time in five years! Hard to believe. For those of you who don’t know the band well, their focus is the music of Tom Petty as well as that of the artists he has performed with and those who influenced him.

The band is a product of the Auburn Public Theater’s open mic nights and the many musicians who appear there regularly. Sam Pruyn, a transplant from Long Island, started appearing at the APT in September 2016, where he met Loren Miller (among others) who had a Sunday Morning Jam every week. Sam and Loren started doing a duo set together and subsequently heard JD Balloni performing Tom Petty material at the open mic night. The three started doing Tom Petty and related artists’ songs at the open mic nights to enthusiastic response. Eliott “Oz” Vanderveer, who was playing bass with Loren Miller in their classic rock band Rockinspiel and finally, Rich Howard, a drummer from Auburn, were asked to join.

Petty Thieves will play a set of influences and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album tracks and obscurities, followed by a set of hit songs. All are welcome. There is no cover charge, however contributions (to the band and the Opera House) are encouraged.

See you there, and welcome back!

Aurora’s very own Matt Haenlin brings his band, Little House Blues, to the Morgan Opera House, Saturday, July 29th at 8pm. The concert is free, but donations are welcome.

Based in Massachussetts, the band draws much of its inpsiration from the Chicago blues scene of the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s – iconic figures like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, James Cotton, Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson inform the spirit of their music. They interpret a range of standards from that period, honoring the inventors of the genre. But, they also play originals and covers of a few more contemporary surprises in a way that tries to sustain the essence of the blues: a good time, danceable antidote, however fleeting, to the feelings of self-doubt, weariness and despair so undeniably a part of everyday life, that are the blues as such.

Little House Blues is a collaboration of Bill Blatner on blues harp and vocals, Matt Haenlin on electric guitar, Nina Rossi on electric bass and Ben Sears on drums. They started jamming in the fall of 2017 and liked the chemistry so much that they just kept going, building a repertoire and beginning to perform publicly about a year later.
Featured in the band are: Bill Blatner, a journeyman blues harp player and singer who also performs with Blue Shade. Ace guitarist Matt Haenlin, co-founder of the band Cart Blanch, that enjoyed a huge following in Central New York and Boston in the 90’s and 2000’s. Fans of the band, She Said, will recognize local artist, musician and writer Nina Rossi holding down the groove on bass. Ben Sears is best known for his remarkable work as a painter and fine artist, bringing the same focus, professionalism and creativity to his drum work with Little House Blues.

Written and performed by Anna Marck and directed by D.B. Schroeder, “Women of the Watch, Keepers of the Light,” is an uplifting 45-minutes of music, laughter, and simple honest storytelling. Hosted by the Aurora Free Library

POSTPONED~POSTPONED!

This event will be re-scheduled for a later date.

Meet a Founding Mother of the United States! The Morgan Opera House premiers a staged reading of “The Fairer Sex” written by Stephen Cedars. Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 1 at 2 pm. Mercy Otis Warren is renowned as one of the principal activists and writers in the years leading up to the American Revolution. This original play is set in the early 1800s, as a conversation among her, and John and Abagail Adams, with visits from their youthful selves popping up throughout. The play is likewise sprinkled with appearances by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and sundry other characters, who provide all manner of commentary on what she did to further the revolutionary cause. Directed by Susan Forbes, a past Chair of the Wells College Theater Department, the play will be a staged reading featuring members of the community. The performances are free, but a $10 donation is suggested.

Open Cast Call is September 25th at 6:30pm. 2 rehearsals that week. Tech rehearsal Fri Sept 29.

As a tribute to his wife, Gloria, George Peter started the Gloria Ann Barnell Peter playwright competition which solicits original works by playwrights, selects the best scripts and then presents them to our audiences. The Peter family has generously continued this tradition. For more information, call 315-364-5347.

POSTPONED~POSTPONED!

This event will be be re-scheduled for a later date.

Meet a Founding Mother of the United States! The Morgan Opera House premiers a staged reading of “The Fairer Sex” written by Stephen Cedars. Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 1 at 2 pm. Mercy Otis Warren is renowned as one of the principal activists and writers in the years leading up to the American Revolution. This original play is set in the early 1800s, as a conversation among her, and John and Abagail Adams, with visits from their youthful selves popping up throughout. The play is likewise sprinkled with appearances by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and sundry other characters, who provide all manner of commentary on what she did to further the revolutionary cause. Directed by Susan Forbes, a past Chair of the Wells College Theater Department, the play will be a staged reading featuring members of the community. The performances are free, but a $10 donation is suggested.

Open Cast Call is September 25th at 6:30pm. 2 rehearsals that week. Tech rehearsal Fri Sept 29.

As a tribute to his wife, Gloria, George Peter started the Gloria Ann Barnell Peter playwright competition which solicits original works by playwrights, selects the best scripts and then presents them to our audiences. The Peter family has generously continued this tradition. For more information, call 315-364-5347.