Real Good for Free: The New York State Presenters Network’s Summer Symposium @ Skidmore College’s Zankel Center, 6/23-24/11

The New York State Presenters Network’s Summer Symposium returns to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs this week, and in conjunction with the annual symposium, there will be a pair of free concerts on campus at the Zankel Music Center which are open to the general public.

There will be a free concert of traditional and contemporary chamber music at 7:30pm on Thursday featuring performances by the violin and cello twosome Duo Parnas (formerly of the Red Lions), the Sweet Plantain String Quartet and solo pianist Rob Auler.

Then at 7:30pm on Friday, it’s an evening of jazz and acoustic roots music featuring jazz pianist Elio Villafranca, the Ben Allison Band (previewing their Freihofer’s Jazz Festival performances on Saturday), jazz vocalist Tessa Souter, award-winning jazz pianist Helen Sung, Bethany & Rufus, the Wiyos and Mike & Ruthy.

MORE REAL GOOD FOR FREE SHOWS, 2011:

Freedom Park, Scotia (7pm on various days)
Music in the Park @ Schodack Town Park, Schodack (6pm on Tuesdays)
Tuesday Nights in the Park @ Cook Park, Colonie (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
Rockin’ On the River @ the Hedley District Riverfront Parking Lot, River St., Troy (5pm on Wednesdays)
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady (12noon on Thursdays)
Alive at Five @ Corning Preserve’s Riverfront Park, Albany (5pm on Thursdays)
Concerts in the Park @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa (6pm on Thursdays)
Guilderland Performing Arts Center @ Tawasentha Park, Guilderland (7:30pm on Thursdays)
UpBeat on the Roof @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs (7pm on Fridays)
Improv Records’ Free Fridays @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7pm on Fridays)
Music at Sunset @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson (7pm on Fridays)
Summer Sounds of Salem @ the Main Street Gazebo, Salem (11am on Saturdays)
Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute Concert Series @ Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center, Saratoga Springs (June 28-July 8)
Jazz at the Lake: Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18)