New Arts Organization, Alliance for Music Performance in Troy (AMPT), is Created by Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Empire State Youth Orchestra as a Joint Collaboration to Explore Musical Arts Opportunities for the Capital Region
New Arts Organization, Alliance for Music Performance in Troy (AMPT), is Created by Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Empire State Youth Orchestra as a Joint Collaboration to Explore Musical Arts Opportunities for the Capital Region
(Troy, NY) – Leaders of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Corporation (TSBMH) and the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) have announced the creation of a non-profit organization coined Alliance for Music Performance in Troy (AMPT) that will provide exciting new musical arts opportunities for the region. AMPT was developed to explore the use of the recently acquired vacant floors of the Troy Savings Bank building by the Troy Music Hall Corporation. AMPT will enable its partners to maximize their impact through shared resources, and to realize a broader vision to offer enhanced music and performance opportunities to the community.
“The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Corporation is thrilled to enter into this new relationship with the Empire State Youth Orchestra. This exciting partnership will result in an ever-expanding musical experience for the region. We urge everyone to ‘stay tuned’ as more details are unveiled over the coming months,” said Wally Altes who was recently named to AMPT’s Board of Directors.
AMPT will open the Troy Savings Bank doors to engage the community through increased artist interactions, discussions, events, and educational opportunities. The Empire State Youth Orchestra will gain new rehearsal spaces and an education center where students can benefit from acoustically tuned rooms, and exposure to some of the world’s most celebrated artists.
“From the moment the First Niagara Bank Branch closed, we began to think about ways that would allow the Music Hall to fulfill its potential as an asset in serving the community through promoting the arts. The ability to bring touring artists into contact with young musicians on a regular basis is an exciting reason to move forward,” said Jon Elbaum, who serves as executive director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Corporation. “We are delighted by the creation of AMPT and the opportunities it presents, not only for Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and ESYO, but also for the arts community.”
Elbaum was hired in 2011 to bring more arts programming to the venue. He did just that which resulted in more comedy, pop, and emerging artists on the stage to complement a long tradition of showcasing the finest world music, jazz, and classical programming. As a result, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall ticket sales more than doubled since he accepted the position.
The new Alliance will allow ESYO to expand and continue to fulfill its mission. ESYO attracts more than 600 talented young musicians each season from across the Capital Region and beyond to engage in an outstanding performance-based program. “We are excited to partner with the Music Hall to provide young musicians the opportunity to interact with the professional artists that the Hall attracts,” said Rebecca Calos who serves as executive director of ESYO. AMPT strengthens the ability of its partners to provide outstanding musical experiences for youth and the broader community. It also enables its partners to maximize impact through shared staffing and overhead expense.
The Alliance will also be used to expand educational outreach by both ESYO and Troy Music Hall. In 2015 ESYO partnered with the Schenectady City School District and Proctors to launch CHIME, a free instrumental access program for under-resourced youth who wish to pursue musical study. CHIME expanded to Troy last season. ESYO credits Proctors for serving as a role model in how to expand access to arts education in our region, noting that CHIME would not be the success it is in Schenectady without Proctors support. ESYO will continue to operate CHIME in Schenectady and maintain its hub at Proctors. AMPT will allow ESYO to create a similar hub for CHIME in Troy, as well as to enable Troy Music Hall to grow its community-based arts programming.
The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation is a key supporter of the Music Hall Corporation and has made significant contributions over the years to ensure the preservation of the Music Hall itself, which is owned by the Troy Savings Bank Foundation.
Daniel J. Hogarty, Jr. previously served as president of Troy Savings Bank and now serves as board president for the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation. “The Troy Savings Bank Building is a national treasure, beloved by audiences and performers alike for its world-class architectural and acoustical brilliance. With the creation of AMPT, we’re exploring new cultural horizons that we believe will benefit the community in myriad ways, and we’re hopeful that the community will recognize the value and support this exciting new venture,” he said. The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation grants funds to a number of non-profits throughout the region, in addition to lending its support to the upkeep of the Music Hall through its annual contributions to the Troy Music Hall Foundation.
Abbe Kovacik, who is the executive director of the Capital District Child Care Council, was also recently appointed to the AMPT board of directors. “The Alliance for Music Performance in Troy will enrich the region’s love of music. The Alliance has the potential to support great musical performances enjoyed by all and to sharpen the minds of young musicians to focus on their dreams of becoming great performers. Simply, the Alliance is an opportunity for all of the region’s talent to celebrate our rich history in and deep appreciation of excellent music,” she said.
Additional details about AMPT will be revealed in upcoming months after exploration activities take place and a plan is developed. Visit AMPT.org for updates.
About Troy Savings Bank Music Hall:
The Troy Savings Bank Building is a National Historic Landmark built in 1875 and designed by George B. Post, the architect who also designed the New York Stock Exchange and Equitable Life Assurance Buildings in New York City. The building is internationally recognized for its architectural beauty and near-perfect acoustical environment in the Music Hall that occupies the upper floors.
Today, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall presents over 60 performances per year and is an active professional recording venue. Grammy-award winning recordings have been made in the Music Hall, including the recent recording by the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony, Albany Pro Musica, and many internationally known orchestras and artists perform regularly in the Hall. Past performers include Rachmaninoff, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tito Puente.
The Music Hall’s growth has contributed significantly to the ongoing resurgence of downtown Troy with concerts drawing thousands of visitors to downtown shops, restaurants, and bars. For more information about the upcoming performance season at the Music Hall, please visit www.troymusichall.org.
About Empire State Youth Orchestra:
Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) challenges and inspires young people to achieve excellence through music in a rigorous learning environment leading to high-level performance opportunities. More than 600 youth from the Capital Region of New York and western New England are selected by audition each year for the ESYO program. ESYO has a total of 12 performing ensembles that collectively give approximately 30 performances a year. In 2015, ESYO launched ESYO CHIME (Creating Harmony, Inspiring Musical Excellence). ESYO CHIME seeks to expand access to music in underserved communities, and by doing so, empower children and their families to overcome the barriers to musical excellence caused by economic inequality. Founded in 1979, ESYO is a not-for-profit organization that has been recognized as a premier music education/performance program for youth and has received three ASCAP awards. For more information, visit esyo.org.