We are thrilled to continue our partnership with ArtsWestchester, The City of White Plains and the White Plains Business Improvement District on White Plains Jazz Fest 2016! Below is a special set of clips from the People & Stories Oral History Project. Each of the clips below includes stories and music from musicians who live locally, but have performed all over the world. Tom Van Buren, of ArtsWestchester, co-produced the interviews. Check out the Jazz Fest 2016 webpage for tickets and more information about all the great music happening September 20-25, 2016 in White Plains. Bob Baldwin (keyboardist, composer, producer,
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Archives for music
People & Stories Oral History Project: Kenny Lee
We are grateful to start our collaboration with White Plains Jazz Fest and ArtsWestchester on a good note–with an oral history by Kenny Lee, whose life and music are important parts of White Plains history. Lee is known to different people for different things. Some know him as a trumpet player and band leader of the Kenny Lee All Stars. Others know him as a detective with the White Plains Police Department. Lee was born in White Plains and, taking after his father, started playing trumpet at an early age. He played in the White Plains Schools in the jazz
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People & Stories Oral History Project: Lord Judah & JCA
This is the first time People & Stories is presenting a produced oral history, and it's for a good reason. Lord Judah is the artist behind H.I.P.H.O.P., which stands for Highly Intelligent People Healing Our Planet. H.I.P.H.O.P. is many things. It's a philosophy for engaging with social issues, a mobile-teaching unit, and an artistic collective. H.I.P.H.O.P. is combining music with a social justice mission through teaching workshops with young people and support for local artists. Lord Judah and JCA mix their personal stories about coming up in White Plains with insights about how to find a place as an artist
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17th Annual Clarice Wilson Memorial Concert
Join us for the 17th annual Clarice Wilson Memorial Concert, presented by White Plains Library Foundation. On Sunday, April 17 at 2:00 p.m., violinist Alejandro Mendoza and pianist Adam Kent present an afternoon of sonatas for violin and piano by several of Clarice Wilson's most beloved composers, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, and Cesar Franck. We welcome your donations to the Clarice Wilson Memorial Fund of the White Plains Library Foundation, in memory of Clarice Wilson, Music Specialist at the Library from 1974-1999. Mrs. Wilson supported gifted, young musicians at the start of their performance careers.
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Suzuki Guitar Concert on Sunday, February 28 at 2 p.m.
Come hear the Suzuki guitar students of the Music Conservatory of Westchester play on Sunday, February 28 at 2 p.m. For families and children.
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Chamber Music of William Eckfeld
Please join us Sunday, February 21, at 2 p.m. for a free concert featuring the chamber music of William Eckfeld, composer and performer. The program includes works for strings, piano, clarinet, euphonium and tubas. Mr. Eckfeld, a White Plains resident, was the orchestra director at White Plains High School from 1987-2013. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra before beginning his career in music education. As a composer, he has written numerous works for chamber groups, soloists, and orchestras. He serves as organist for the
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People & Stories Oral History Project: Dennis Polanco
Probably known to most White Plains residents as “Mr. Polanco,” since that is what students in his English classes at White Plains High School call him, Dennis Polanco is in fact much more than a teacher. He is a father, musician, and community leader who has great insights into our city.
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Featured Collections: David Bowie
Access many of your favorite David Bowie albums, books, movies, and music videos from our collection or our online resources listed below: Westchester Library System Catalog hoopla! Freegal
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People & Stories Oral History Project: Kevin Doherty
Kevin Doherty grew up in White Plains as part of the post-WW II baby boom, a group that, in his words, “causes problems wherever we go.” Doherty has done much more than just cause problems though-he raised a family in White Plains and spent many years as an educator with BOCES. A member of Union Hook & Ladder and a blues aficionado, Doherty also has strong connections to fascinating political and cultural strands of White Plains history.
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Take Movies, TV Shows and More on Vacation with You
Want to keep the kids (or yourself) busy on vacation? Did you know you can get thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks for mobile and online access through a partnership with hoopla digital? White Plains Library card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or iOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers. hoopla digital has a simple sign-up and attractive, easy-to-use interface, so it’s easy to get to your listening and viewing
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Adam Kent to Perform at 16th Annual Clarice Wilson Memorial Concert
Please join us on Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 PM to hear accomplished local pianist Adam Kent. On the program are works by composers especially esteemed by the Library's former music specialist Clarice Wilson, as well as classics of the Spanish repertory and George Gershwin’s ever-popular “Rhapsody in Blue.” Come enjoy works by Schubert, Mozart, Bach/Busoni, Gershwin, and others. A reception will follow. The White Plains Library Foundation welcomes your donations to the Clarice Wilson Memorial Fund, in memory of Clarice Wilson, Music Specialist at the Library from 1974-1999. Mrs. Wilson supported gifted, young musicians at the start of their
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hoopla: Streaming movies, tv, music and audiobooks
Did you know you can get thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks for mobile and online access through a partnership with hoopla digital? White Plains Library card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or iOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers. hoopla digital has a simple sign-up and attractive, easy-to-use interface, so it’s easy to get to your listening and viewing experience. There’s also no waiting to borrow popular movies, TV
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Music Conservatory of Westchester Family Concerts
Join the White Plains Public Library and the Music Conservatory of Westchester for two interactive musical adventures exploring wind, brass, and string instruments as well as the voice. The programs will feature musical performances from a variety of musical styles including classical, jazz and popular selections. In addition, children will have the opportunity to explore and touch the instruments in an instrumental “petting zoo.” Sundays, February 8 and 22 at 2 p.m.
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Klezmer on a Sunday Afternoon
Bring the whole family and enjoy a delightful program of spirited klezmer music on Sunday, January 25 at 2 p.m. The Westchester Klezmer Program is an intergenerational klezmer band program in Westchester County, New York. It is among the largest programs of its kind in the country, if not the world! Westchester Klezmer Program musicians participate by learning and rehearsing klezmer music and then performing at various community based events. Westchester Klezmer Program last played White Plains Library in 2010. Come enjoy their music again. This concert is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the White Plains Library.
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Hoopla Launch Event planned for this Saturday
We are excited to announce the public availability of thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks, all available for mobile and online access through a new partnership with hoopla digital. White Plains Library card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or iOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers. hoopla digital has a simple sign-up and attractive, easy-to-use interface, so it’s easy to get to your listening and viewing experience.
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adults, all ages, children, collection, eBooks, movies, music, technology, teens, and television.
Hoopla: Streaming Movies and Music Now Available
We are excited to announce the public availability of thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks, all available for mobile and online access through a new partnership with hoopla digital. White Plains Library card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or iOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers. hoopla digital has a simple sign-up and attractive, easy-to-use interface, so it’s easy to get to your listening and viewing experience.
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all ages, audiobooks, books, collection, computers, eBooks, movies, music, services, and technology.
How to Make Dubstep
Learn how to produce Dubstep like the pros do on an iPad! Novice musicians and Dubstep fans alike will learn how to create songs at The Edge in December every Thursday from 4:30-5:30pm. Teens will discover how to use modern iPad audio applications and sound like modern professionals. For teens only. No registration or equipment is required, limit of 9 students based on arrival time. Bring headphones if possible.
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Julia and the "Duke"
The White Plains Jazz Festival is coming to town September 6, 7 and 8! Our contribution to this celebration of excellent music and food is to bring back Julia Breanetta Simpson, who performed her acclaimed one-woman show “Harlem On My Mind” here in February 2011. The auditorium was packed! It's best to arrive early to ensure a seat – and entrance to the concert, we have fire codes to adhere to! Please join us for another amazing show, this time featuring the music of Edward “Duke” Ellington, on Saturday, September 7 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Like
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Downloading Free Music with Freegal
Come to our computer class on Thursday, August 1, from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m., and learn how to download files from Freegal Music, a service provided by the Library. Bring your MP3 player and choose from thousands of artists and millions of pop, rock, country and classical songs, in genres ranging from acapella to zydeco. You can listen to a 30-second clip of any available song before you decide whether or not you want to download it. The downloads on this site are all in MP3 format with no DRM. Freegal will work with any MP3 player, including iPod, and
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Honoring the Incomparable Ethel Waters
Jazz vocalist Shirley Crabbe (shown at left) joins us on Sunday, May 19 at 2:00 p.m. to perform a one-woman show featuring 12 songs made famous by America's first black superstar, Ethel Waters. Seasoned with stories drawn from Ms. Waters' autobiography, His Eye is on the Sparrow, this show celebrates the music and life of Ethel Waters. The show features several of Ms. Waters' signature songs and innovative arrangements such as: “Throw the Dirt,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Am I Blue,” and “(What Did I Do To Be So) Black and Blue.” Scott Albin of JazzTimes.com said, “…you are immediately struck by
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