MoCA CT

Join Us at MoCA Westport's Artisan Marketplace: Winter Edition on February 11th
2024-02-11 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | MoCA Westport, 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Join us on February 11th, from 12pm to 4pm at MoCA Westport to celebrate local artisans’ talent and creativity. This event transcends a mere marketplace; it’s an immersive experience fostering connections, discoveries, and inspiration.
We are delighted to present Ethan Walmark, Westport’s very own 18-year-old Staples High School senior and musical prodigy. His journey began in 2012, at the tender age of 6, when his viral rendition of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” garnered over 30 million “likes” and earned him a spot on NBC’s TODAY SHOW. Since then, Ethan’s dedication to his craft has been unwavering. He has mastered a diverse range of ten instruments, including piano/keys, vocals, and guitar, and even taught himself guitar during the Covid pandemic. Ethan showcases his talents as a multi-instrumentalist with SHS’s Orphenians, Choralaires, and newly-formed A cappella Club. In Fall 2024, Ethan will embark on a music-based college program, where he will continue to hone his skills and pursue his musical passion.
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness firsthand the talent of our local artisans, immerse yourself in the captivating sounds of Ethan Walmark’s piano stylings and enjoy Cowabunga Food Truck. We look forward to welcoming you to this extraordinary event at MoCA Westport.
For more information about the Artisan Marketplace: Winter Edition or to learn about future opportunities for artisans, please visit MoCA Westport’s website or contact us at info@mocawestport.org
Participating Vendors:
HIPV MODERN VINTAGE JEWELRY
L LINEN + CLAY
SARA HUNSUCKER STUDIO
GRACE CONNELL DESIGNS
YOZO STUDIO
TOP BANANA
ELIBEA, LLC
FLORACO
SCLARANDIS
LMNL
HH PERLA
VIEVE INC
SHAWLS BY SONIKA
GENHAPPY
TOCCO STUDIO
JEWELED COQUETTE
WENDY HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
HAUTE ENERGY
SANT M
RUNO STORE
EMMY STARR DESIGNS
MOCA WESTPORT TEACHING ARTISTS

Camp MoCA Registration is Now Open | Register Now!
2024-03-01
REGISTER NOW FOR CAMP MoCA 2024!

FULL DAY M-F 9:30a-3p HALF DAY M-F 9:30a- 12:30p
OFFERING 12 WEEKS OF CAMP (**WEEK 5: JULY 1-3 ONLY**)
ALL CAMPERS MUST BE FULLY POTTY-TRAINED
Join us on Sunday, August 25th at our annual Camper Art Exhibition “KALEIDOSCOPE”

Camp MoCA is a fully accredited youth art camp that offers weekly half-day and full-day options for families who wish to give their children (ages 4-7) an enriching and educational summer experience. At Camp MoCA, we make connections between self, family, and community in all of our creative pursuits.
Our campers enjoy our air-conditioned and expansive indoor facilities along with our outdoor play and garden areas every day. Our camp is designed to provide children with a fun and creative environment where they will learn new skills, make friends, and explore expressing themselves artistically. We believe that exposure to the arts is essential for a child’s development, and we are committed to providing campers with an experience that is both fun and educational.
On a typical day campers will move through art lessons, immersive exhibition time, a science lesson in our working garden, time to play outside, and time to relax with calm structured activities. We have specific plans to diversify instruction to meet the developmental needs of our campers and we have special activities on some days when they have water play, ice cream and dance parties along with an informal camper talent show.
We have a maximum of 24 campers – 2-3 instructors and 2-4 counselors on site at all times along with a Camp Director. Campers bring with them nut-free snacks, lunch and a water bottle. Camp MoCA is the perfect opportunity for parents to give their children a summer experience that they will never forget. Our camp is fully accredited, which means that parents can rest assured that their children are in good hands. We are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all of our campers. All families and friends will be invited to celebrate their camper’s artwork on Sunday, August 25th at our annual Camper Art Exhibition.
For more information, contact us at campmoca@mocawestport.org

Connecticut Guitar Festival: Global Kick-Off Concert
2024-03-01 19:00 - 21:00
A feat of styles and artists kick off the 2024 festival in our beautiful space.
The Festival will take place over three days. Learn more
Global Kick-Off Concert, March 1 at 7 PM – Get Tickets
Performers:

Daniel Lippel: Guitarist Daniel Lippel, called an “exciting soloist” (New York Times) has a multi-faceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, collaborator, and recording artist. Recent recital highlights include the Cleveland International Guitar Festival, Le Poisson Rouge (NYC), Sinus Ton Festival (Germany), the National University of Colombia in Bogota, and the Triangle and New York Classical Guitar Societies. As a contemporary chamber musician, he has been a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble since 2005 and counter)induction since 2019, and played as a guest with many other ensembles, including St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New York City Ballet, New York New Music Ensemble, Wet Ink Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, and Ensemble Dal Niente, performing at such venues as the Dutch National Opera, Ultima Festival at the Oslo Opera House (Norway), Guitar Foundation of America Convention (Manhattan School of Music), Macau Festival (China), and Kunst Universitaet Graz (Austria), Mostly Mozart Festival, Ojai Festival, and Ottawa Chamber Festival (Canada). He has worked closely with many composers including Mario Davidovsky, Nils Vigeland, Charles Wuorinen, Ken Ueno, Dai Fujikura, Tyshawn Sorey, Wang Lu, Reiko Fueting, Du Yun, Douglas Boyce, Kyle Bartlett, Mikel Kuehn, and John Link. Lippel has also been active in various creative improvised contexts in performance and on recording, including on projects with Cory Smythe, Will Mason’s Happy Place, Alejandro Florez, Dan Bruce, and Aidan Plank. As a longtime guitarist with the eclectic indie group Mice Parade, he performed on several international tours and albums. He is the co-founder, owner, and director of New Focus Recordings, performing and producing on several of its albums, as well as appearing on recordings on other labels including Kairos, Sony Classical Japan, Bridge, Tzadik, Wergo, and New World. Australia’s Limelight magazine called his recent recording of Bach’s works on a re-fretted Well-Tempered guitar “a watershed in Lippel’s ability to bring together novel musicological and philosophical strands in the service of pure pleasure.” Lippel has given presentations and masterclasses to guitar and composition departments at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule (Berlin), Curtis Institute, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Peabody Institute of Music, and San Francisco Conservatory, among others. He completed his DMA at the Manhattan School of Music.

Đani Šehu: Đani Šehu (b. 1980) received his primary education in his hometown of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After high school, he studied guitar with professor Rafael Andia at the Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot in Paris, France. In 2000, he continued his education at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria. He studied with professors Konrad Ragossnig and Alexander Swete and graduated in 2006 at the concert department for guitar. He earned his master’s degree in 2010 studying under professor Alexander Swete. Throughout his education, Šehu attended several seminars and master classes with world-class professors and artists. As a soloist and chamber musician, Šehu has performed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Austria, France, Sweden, Italy and Germany. He has performed as a soloist with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Tonart Simfonietta (Austria), and the Dubrovnik string quartet (Croatia). Since 2006 he is teaching at the Music Academy of University of Sarajevo. His students have gained worldwide attention with their successes at international competitions and concerts throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. In addition to his active concert schedule, he is a guest of many festivals internationally as a master class clinician and serving as a member of the juries. He is a founder and director of the Sarajevo International Guitar Festival and International “SIGF Summer School”.

Quarantined Quartet: Quarantined Quartet are Elysa (mom), Jason (dad), Joseph (13 y.o) & Noah (12 y.o) Hochman. They are a family guitar quartet that plays a unique brand of guitar fusing Spanish, Classical, Flamenco and Acoustic styles. The Quarantined Quartet has been posting daily on Instagram since March 21, 2020 to track their practice and share it with the world. Right after closing their music school in Manhattan due to the NYC shutdowns. They grew to have a following of over 670k followers on Instagram and over 517k on Facebook throughout these 3+ years. They released an EP under Quarantined Quartet in December 2021. Their uplifting pandemic story was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Good Morning America, NBC Stay Tuned Now and many more media outlets for their unique family band. Elysa and Jason are also the founders of the New York Guitar Academy. Their academy offers classes and lessons for children to adults in all styles and levels of guitar and they had to closed thier Manhattan studio in 2020 and transfer everything to remote learning. New York Guitar Academy was rated the number 1 school to learn guitar in TimeOut New York Kids. They released 3 books with Classical & Flamenco Guitar Solos & Etudes that features over 65 original etudes and songs for classical and flamenco guitar students.. Their family project unexpectedly lifted their academy online classes to new heights. Jay & Lee Rumba Flamenca is Jason (Jay) and Elysa’s (Lee) highly acclaimed guitar duo that performs Rumba Flamenca and Spanish Classical Guitar in New York metropolitan area. They’ve had tons of notable performances including performances at Lincoln Center, US Open Finals Pre-Game Shows and many more events for widely recognized organizations, businesses, celebrities and museums. They released 2 albums under their guitar duo name “Jay & Lee.” These albums are titled “Strums of Brooklyn” and “Guitar Duets.”

David Steinhardt: Winning over 10 competitions, David is the youngest guitarist to place first at the Hamilton International and Great Lakes Collegiate Guitar Competition. A sought after performer, David has concertized across the US, Canada, and Europe in venues including Carnegie/Wigmore Hall and festivals including Hamilton, Montreal, and Ullapool International Guitar Festivals. Concerto highlights include his debut with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 17 and the Los Angeles debut of Steve Goss’ Concerto of Colours with the USC Wind Ensemble. On the radio, David has performed for NPR’s From the Top, WXXI’s Backstage Pass, and Classical KUSC’s Sunday’s Live. Through online platforms, he has been featured by Guitar Salon International and Guy Traviss. As a podcaster, David was host and producer of The Tonebase Classical Guitar Podcast. Through the show, David interviewed guitarists of well renown including Pepe Romero, Judicaël Perroy, Scott Tennant, Eliot Fisk, and Gabriel Bianco. The podcast focused on insightful topics ranging from pedagogical approaches to recording techniques with listeners across 20+ countries. A passionate educator, David has taught masterclasses/workshops for Guitar Hamilton, Guitar San Antonio, and the Interlochen Arts Academy. He is on faculty at Levine Music and holds a virtual private studio. David currently plays a Paco Santiago Marin guitar.

MoCA Some Noise | Open Mic Night
2024-03-08 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for an Open Mic night at MoCA Westport featuring acoustic music, poetry, and slam poetry on Friday, March 8th at 6:30 PM! Everyone is invited to participate and attend.
Get your tickets to participate or attend here.
Open Mic night is FREE for Members to watch; MoCA Member Participation is FREE; General Admission $10; Participation Fee $5
Contact Isabelle at isabelle@mocawestport.org with questions.

Heida Competition Alum Stephanie Tang Returns with the Paddington Trio
2024-03-20 19:00 - 21:00
Suggested Donation: $25
To RSVP email thepaddingtontrio@gmail.com
Heida Competition alum pianist Stephanie Tang to return to Westport with the Paddington Trio: Don’t miss an evening of wonderful chamber music! Featuring works by Beethoven and Shostakovich as well as exciting new works by Ellen Lindquist and Sam Perkin.

Program:

Beethoven Op. 1 No. 3
Sam Perkin: Freakshow (2016)

Intermission

Ellen Lindquist: Shining Through (2023)
Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2

About Paddington Trio:

“Their youth does not remotely detract from their excellence – these are accomplished musicians by any standard, not only in technique but in rapport and nuance. In places, there was true beauty but never as an end in itself: everything served a higher conception of the music. I have rarely been so excited by performers new to me.” –Strings Attached
Seen as one of the most exciting chamber ensembles of their generation, the Paddington Trio has been recognized in international competitions and live performances for their fresh interpretations and exuberant energy. As did the famous bear, Finnish violinist Tuulia Hero, Irish cellist Patrick Moriarty and American pianist Stephanie Tang have made London their home and emerged as an ensemble of an entirely unique and lasting entity. The trio is celebrated for its close and energetic communication, insightful and imaginative programming as well as its highly refined ensemble playing. The trio’s grand mission is to bridge the gap between new listeners and serious classical music enthusiasts by welcoming everyone into their living room of musical discovery and shared love of chamber music.
Having started their first adventure together at the Paddington Station in 2020, a year after they met, the trio won the First Prize in the 70th Royal Over-Seas League Competition for Strings & Piano Ensemble. Firmly committed to promoting new music, education and outreach in chamber music, they were also honoured with the First Prize of the NEW FORMATS Project Prize 2022 in Graz, Austria, and the First Prize at the Clara Schumann International Competition. In April 2023, they were the winners of the prestigious Parkhouse Award held in Wigmore Hall, and they are currently generously supported by the City Music Foundation, Kirckman Concert Society and GBZ Management. In the summer of 2023, the trio completed an Artist Fellowship programme at their alma mater, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, and in 2023/24 continues to teach and inspire young ensembles as Chamber Fellows in the renowned Chamber Fellowship Programme at the Royal Northern College of Music.
In March 2023, the Paddington Trio made its concerto debut performing the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Jan Söderblom and the Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra in Finland. They have appeared in prominent halls and series, such as Wigmore Hall, LSO St. Luke’s, Oxford Coffee Concerts, St. George’s Bristol and the BBC Total Immersion. Their most recent debuts saw them at the TivoliVredenburg and the Schiermonnikoog Festival in the Netherlands, the Edinburgh Fringe, Buxton International and Brighton Festivals, and Lake District Summer Music. The trio has appeared on YLE Radio (Finland) and BBC Radio 3 In Tune.
Tuulia, Patrick and Stephanie have had the privilege to work closely with internationally renowned musicians, such as Eberhard Feltz, Marc Danel, Gary Hoffman, Levon Chilingirian, Robert Levin, Johannes Meissl, David Dolan and members of the Ébène, Takács, Endellion and Meta4 quartets. They join the European Chamber Music Academy in 2023 and also receive mentorships from ChamberStudio and the Netherlands String Quartet Academy. The trio studied under Thomas Adès at the IMS Prussia Cove’s 50th anniversary masterclasses.
Tuulia plays on a 1707 Stradivarius violin, generously on loan from the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.
Tuulia Hero is an award-winning concert violinist and chamber musician, as well as an accomplished improviser and educator currently based in London. Originally from Finland, Tuulia was trained in violin from the age of 4 and brought up at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Playing a Stradivarius violin from 1707, generously lent to her by the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, Tuulia is the 2024 artistic grant recipient of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation in Finland. Tuulia gave her debut in 2012 at the Kauniainen International Music Festival and has since been invited to perform at the Presidential Palace in Finland, Wigmore Hall in London, Konzerthaus in Berlin, and numerous festivals and concerts around Europe, North America and Eastern Asia.
A native of Los Angeles, Stephanie Tang performed in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall at the age of 12 and has since then performed in major venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), Shenzhen Concert Hall, Himalayan Concert Hall (Shanghai), Sendai Concert Hall, venues throughout the Netherlands, Place Flagey (Brussels), Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, Milton Court (London), Banff Centre, and Koerner Hall (Toronto). Most recently, Stephanie won Guildhall School’s most distinguished award, the Gold Medal, and in the past she has won 1st prize at the Young Pianists’ Beethoven Competition, 2nd prize at Louisiana International Piano Competition and the Jury’s Discretionary Prize at the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Bronislaw Kaper Awards.
Cellist Patrick Moriarty is one of Ireland’s foremost musicians and is in high demand as a soloist and as a chamber musician. Patrick has performed in venues across Europe such as Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, Victoria Hall, Muziekgebouw, Musiikkitalo, IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, West Cork Chamber Music Festival, and GAIA Music Festival. He has won numerous competitions and prizes such as the 70th Royal Over-Seas League Competition and the prestigious Parkhouse Award in Wigmore hall. Recording work includes working with The Abbey Road Studios Institute as well as multiple recordings for BBC3, RTE lyric FM, YLE and VPRO.

Gallery closed for J.Y. Park Piano Competition
2024-04-13 - 2024-04-14
The gallery is closed for the J.Y. Park Piano Competition
About the Competition
The Ninth Annual J.Y. Park Piano Competition, generously supported by the Jumy Foundation, is pleased to announce the ninth annual competition, to be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at MoCA Westport.
The J.Y. Park Piano Competition promotes young pianists and rewards the artistic accomplishment of outstanding performers. Further, the Jumy Foundation provides awards to the teachers of the winning competitors.
Competition Chairman: Dr. Russell Hirshfield, Professor of Music, Western Connecticut State University

Eligibility
Middle school and High School students living and/or studying in Connecticut, and in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties in New York.

Divisions
Junior Divisions: Ages 10-13 (as of April 1, 2024)
Senior Divisions: Ages 14-18 (as of April 1, 2024)

Required Solo Repertoire: Senior Division

Compulsory Work: Sonata in B-Flat Major, Opus 22, I. Allegro con brio by Ludwig van Beethoven
A Baroque work
A 19th, 20th or 21st Century work
An American work (jazz compositions are acceptable)

Required Solo Repertoire: Junior Division

Compulsory work: Sonata in G Minor, Opus 49, no. 1, I. Andante by Ludwig van Beethoven
A Baroque or Romantic work
An American work (jazz compositions are acceptable)

Required Four Hand Repertoire: Junior Division (at least one member must be a Junior and a past JYPPC winner)

Compulsory work: Dolly Suite, Opus 56, Movements 1 & 2 by Gabriel Fauré
A contrasting work for piano four hands

Note for solo divisions: all works must be for solo acoustic piano and all repertoire must be performed from memory. For more, visit Jumyfoundation.org

Prizes
Senior Division
First Prize: $1000
Second Prize: $750
Third Prize: $500
Honorable mention(s): $250 each
Junior Division
First Prize: $300
Second Prize: $250
Third Prize: $200
Honorable mention(s): $100 each
Junior Division Four Hand
First Prize: $250 each
Second Prize: $200 each
Third Prize: $150 each

Winner’s Recital & Award Ceremony
Saturday, April 14, 2024 at 2pm, MoCA Westport

Application & Information
The application process will be all virtual. Please visit jumyfoundation.org for further details. Questions may be addressed by email to info@jumyfoundation.org.
The site of the J.Y. Park Piano Competition has moved to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Westport, CT. This facility boasts a Steinway D piano, and is home to the Heida Herman International Piano Competition. We are excited to be associated with MoCA Westport.
Date: April 13, 2024
Location: MoCA Westport 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT 06880

Faces in Clay with Bianca Barroca
2024-04-25 18:00 - 20:00
Faces in Clay with Bianca Barroca | 4/25 (6-8 PM)
Learn the basics of sculpting a face with Brazilian ceramicist & sculptor, Bianca Barroca. In this two hour workshop, Bianca will guide you with easy steps to creating your own face mask out of clay, with ample opportunity to add your own personal flair & expression. We provide the clay, tools & glaze options, you make your mask, choose your glaze, and pick up your finished creation one week later. This is the ultimate intro class for people that have always wanted to sculpt human form, but didn’t know where to start.

MoCA Some Noise | Open Mic Night: Poetry Month Special
2024-04-26 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for an Open Mic night at MoCA Westport featuring acoustic music, poetry, and slam poetry on Friday, April 26th at 6:30 PM! Everyone is invited to participate and attend.
Get your tickets to participate or attend here.
Open Mic night is FREE for Members to watch; MoCA Member Participation is FREE; General Admission $10; Participation Fee $5
Contact Isabelle at isabelle@mocawestport.org with questions.

Ceramic Multi-bowls with Leah Corbett
2024-04-27 13:00 - 15:00
Ceramic Multi-bowls with Leah Corbett | 4/27 (1-3 PM)
Make your own multi-bowl centerpiece with Fairfield-based ceramicist Leah Corbett. In this two-hour workshop, Leah will guide you through easy steps to pinch & smooth multiple bowl forms out of clay, attach them, and manipulate their shapes to fit your own creative style. We provide the clay, tools & glaze options. You get your hands a little dirty, choose your glaze, and pick up your finished creation one week later. This is a great intro to hand-building class to get some basic knowledge that will take you far in the world of pottery.

The Upscale Garage Sale at the Artisan Marketplace: Spring Edition
2024-05-04 12:00 - 16:00
The Upscale Garage Sale at the Artisan Marketplace: Spring Edition
MoCA Westport and Designport host the “The Upscale Garage Sale at the Artisan Marketplace *Spring Edition*,” taking place on May 4th, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at MoCA Westport. This exclusive collaboration between MoCA Westport and Designport promises an unparalleled fusion of creativity, community, and curated craftsmanship.
The Artisan Marketplace will be an exciting shopping experience, from exquisite jewelry to thoughtful hostess gifts and bespoke items perfect for Mother’s Day gifts. A special addition to The Marketplace, Designport’s first ever “Upscale Garage Sale” brings top interior designers, stagers and local shops together to “spring clean” their excess inventory at discounted prices. Shop an array of small furniture pieces (end tables, dining chairs, ottomans), tableware, vases, lamps, pillows, accessories, throws, frames, small rugs, coffee table books etc! All in the beautiful industrial “garage” @MOCAwestport.
What to Expect:

The Artisan Marketplace Makers: Held seasonally at MoCA, this spring edition of the Marketplace offers an array of creative delights, from exquisite jewelry to hostess gifts and bespoke items, perfect for Mother’s Day shopping!
The Upscale Garage Sale Sellers: Apadana Fine Rugs, Kerri Rosenthal, House of Prim, The Post, The Rath Project, House of Huck, Maison Sheik, Smart Playrooms, Innate Studios and stay tuned for more!
For the Kids: A “Drop In Kid’s Art Studio’ is available while you shop. The museum will be open for you to take in MoCA’s current exhibition!
Awesome music by LeRoy Decker

Suggested $10 donation to enjoy the day’s festivities. Mark your calendars and join us on May 4th for an unforgettable experience at MoCA Westport.

For more information about the Artisan Marketplace and upcoming events at MoCA Westport, please visit mocawestport.org
Featured Vendors
Blue Door Vibes
AMiRA Jewelry
SantM
Love Oz the Label x Karma Knitted
Vivid Cottage
Ellis Sant’Andrea Fine Art
Jeweled Coquette
LeahTriesAgain Ceramics
MoCA Westport Teaching Artists
MoCA Westport

Voices of Poetry
2024-05-05 14:00 - 16:00
MoCA Westport is delighted to host an afternoon of great poetry & music, presented by Voices of Poetry, on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2 pm. This event will feature a quartet of acclaimed poets – Frederick-Douglass Knowles II, Ralph Nazareth, Laurel Peterson &
Natasha Scripture – plus music by violinist Kristen Young & pianist Joseph Bush.
RVSP here.
Frederick-Douglass Knowles II – former Poet Laureate of Hartford, CT – is Professor of English at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, CT. He is a recipient of the Nutmeg Poetry Award from the Connecticut Poetry Society, and the Connecticut of the Arts Fellow in Artist Excellence for Poetry/ Creative Non-Fiction. He is the author of the poetry collection, BlackRoseCity (AuthorHouse, 2011), and his work has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. He has read at a variety of venues, including New Britain Museum of American Art, The Mount / Edith Wharton’s home in Lenox, MA, and Hartford Public Library.

Ralph Nazareth is a poet, teacher and publisher. Born and raised in Mangalore, India, Ralph got his Ph.D. in English Literature from State University of New York at Stony Brook. After forty years of teaching at various schools – including SUNY Stony Brook, Purchase College & Nassau Community College – he retired from academia in 2015. He is now a volunteer-teacher at maximum security prisons in NY. He has published four books of poetry and his writing has appeared in books, magazines, and journals in the U.S. and abroad, including the award-winning collection Indivisible: An Anthology of Contemporary South Asian American Poetry.

Laurel S. Peterson – former Poet Laureate of Norwalk, CT (2016 – 2019) – is a Professor of English at Norwalk Community College. She is the author of two poetry chapbooks, That’s the Way the Music Sounds (Finishing Line Press, 2009) and Talking to the Mirror (The Last Automat Press, 2010); the full-length poetry collection, Do You Expect Your Art to Answer You? (Futurecycle Press, 2017); and a mystery novel, Shadow Notes (Barking Rain Press, 2016). Laurel also co-edited a collection of essays on women’s justice, (Re)Interpretations: The Shapes of Justice in Women’s Experience (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008).

Natasha Scripture is an author, poet, health coach and former aid worker. As an emergency spokesperson for the United Nations, she covered humanitarian crises around the world, including conflicts and natural disasters in Ethiopia, Haiti, Libya, and Pakistan. Before the UN, she worked as a writer, producer and editor for a variety of organizations, including the BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera English, National Geographic and Condé Nast Publications. She has been interviewed by CNN, ABC News, BBC Radio, the Irish Examiner and Women’s Health (Australia), among other news outlets, been published in The New York Times, The Telegraph, Marie Claire, Glamour UK, The Sydney Morning Herald, Huffington Post, The Boston Globe & The Atlantic, among other publications, and been featured in The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Sunday Times Style magazine. Natasha has a Masters of Science in Gender and Development Studies from London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree from New York University.

Kristen Young – Director of Performing Arts at MoCA Westport – holds a Master’s in Violin Performance and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Management from University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor’s in Music Management from University of Delaware. Her musical involvement includes serving as a violin instructor at Westport School of Music and serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Greater CT Youth Orchestras.

Joseph Bush is a graduate of UConn with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music under the tutelage of Irma Vallecillo. He received his master’s in piano performance from Indiana University studying under Alexander Toradze. He has performed at numerous venues over many diverse genres and has been artist in residence at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Newburgh, NY. In 2020, Joe won second place in the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) New York, a regional competition where he was also the recipient of one of the two national encouragement prizes.
Voices of Poetry was formed by Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and poetry activist Neil Silberblatt. Since 2012, VOP has presented more than 400 poetry events in NY, NJ, CT & MA. Those events – which have featured Poets Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winners/nominees – have been presented at numerous venues, including Forbes Library in Northampton, MA; Cambridge Public Library; New Britain Museum of American Art; Provincetown Art Association & Museum; Brooklyn Public Library; The Rubin Museum of Art and Jefferson Market Library in NYC; The Mount / Edith Wharton’s home in Lenox, MA; and The Stockbridge Library and Chesterwood in Stockbridge, MA.Poster for VOP at MoCA

The Wish
2024-05-08 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-05-08 19:00 - 20:30
Tickets here.
Presented by A Chronicles in collaboration with MoCA Westport
Sex. Abortion.
When a script called” the wish,” a last-ditch manual to save abortion in the United States through theater,” written by six young women on the eve of the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to criminalize abortion was handed to me, I was reluctant to take on such a radical theater piece. I had just launched the “A” Chronicles with a grand vision to find and stage stories of heartbreak, moral indignity, quandaries, love, and passion, all dealing with abortion. I had been a lobbyist for Roe V. Wade in New York State in 1973. I had witnessed the scary times “before,” and then the freedom and peace of “after.”
The Wish was unlike anything I ever saw, read, or heard. Like listening to Rap and Hip-Hop lyrics, I had to adjust my experiential lens to hear/see the pathos in the mini-dramas and get used to the true language of women living in environments where they have little control over their own lives. Yes, profanity is part of how they tell their stories.
To make a difference in the arts we must push past discomfort. I had to resurrect and strengthen the outrage of my own younger self. After three workshop readings of these compelling monologues, wry short play cycles, mesmerizing mythological tales, along with witch’s spells for herbs, and magical empowerment, producing The Wish became an imperative.
Because theater makes visible lives other than your own, we hope you enter the real world of where we are in women’s reproductive rights, now in 2024.
-Ina Chadwick, Executive Producer, “A” Chronicles

Original Script & Dramaturgy by Justice Hehir, Dena Igusti, Phanésia Pharel, Nia Akilah Robinson, Julia Specht & May Treuhaft-Ali
Additional Script Contributions by Laurel Marlantes, Imprint; Faith de Savigne, Preconceived; Germaine Shames, Thelma and Louise Get An Abortion
Director – Martha LoMonaco, PhD
Executive Producer – Ina B Chadwick for the achronicles.org

Performing Arts at MoCA: Stella Cole (Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist)
2024-05-10 19:00 - 20:30
Register now!
Come as early as 6:30 PM to purchase a drink and check out the current exhibition.
To watch Stella Katherine Cole perform is to be transported back in time. Her voice, personality, and presence all shine with a timeless quality, as if she’s been plucked straight out of an old MGM movie. The joy she derives from the music of the Great American Songbook is irresistible. Spend a few minutes scrolling through the thousands of comments on her viral singing videos, and you’ll see she has people of all ages falling in love with this music.
On her highly anticipated debut studio album, produced by Matt Pierson, Stella will perform a collection of her favorite standards with an all star band featuring Alan Broadbent, Ben Paterson, and Chico Pinheiro. For Stella, singing is putting herself inside the lyrics of a song and letting the story carry her away. She sings these songs like they were written about her own life, an approach that requires deep emotional vulnerability. The sensitivity and honesty in Stella’s performances is deeply moving. People wiping tears from their eyes is not an uncommon sight throughout Stella’s performances. In combination with her rich tone and impressive vocal control, her unique approach to song interpretation will set her versions of these classics apart from any you’ve heard before.
About Stella Cole:
Stella Katherine Cole is a multifaceted performer based in New York City. You might know her from social media, where she has amassed well over half a million followers and nearly 6 million likes from posting singing videos that are beloved by a worldwide audiences of all ages. Her videos have been reposted and praised by musicians like Michael Bublé, James Taylor, and Meghan Trainor and Broadway legends like Betty Buckley, Stephanie J Block, and Donna Murphy. In New York, Stella has performed at iconic venues such as Dizzy’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, 54 Below, Town Hall, Mezzrow, and the Cafe Carlyle as a guest soloist with Darren Criss. She has toured the country with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ). She recently collaborated with PMJ on a jazzy cover of “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus. The music video has already racked up a combined total of 5 million views between PMJ’s youtube and Stella’s social media. Stella is recording her highly anticipated debut studio album this summer with producer Matt Pierson.
Stella first fell in love with the Great American Songbook as a toddler, transfixed by movies like The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Signing in the Rain. These old movie musicals and their stars continue to impact her work today. Her biggest inspirations are Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, two powerhouse performers who straddled the world of jazz, musical theatre, and popular music.

Gallery of Games Night
2024-05-17 19:00 - 23:00
Purchase tickets here.
MoCA Westport is excited to invite the community to Gallery of Games Night – Deal Yourself In to Support the Arts, a unique fundraising event to be held on May 17th, from 7 PM to 11 PM. This special evening will combine the excitement of gaming tables, the joy of live music, and the allure of silent auction prizes, all within the vibrant setting of MoCA Westport. With tickets at $50 per person, guests are offered a unique opportunity to support contemporary art and education while enjoying a night out filled with entertainment.
The event is graciously sponsored by Sono 1420, a local distillery renowned for its exceptional spirits. Guests will have the pleasure of savoring drinks provided by Sono 1420, adding an extra layer of local flavor and craftsmanship to the evening.
Gallery of Games Night is more than just an event; it’s an invitation to the community to come out and play in support of MoCA Westport. Every ticket, every game, and every bid at the silent auction contributes directly to MoCA Westport’s mission. The funds raised will support our ongoing efforts to offer dynamic exhibitions, educational programs, and performances that inspire and engage audiences of all ages.
This event underscores our commitment to enriching the cultural life of Westport through contemporary art. We believe in the power of art to connect, challenge, and celebrate our shared experiences. Gallery of Games Night is an embodiment of that belief—a chance for us to come together as a community, enjoy an unforgettable evening, and ensure the continued success of MoCA Westport’s valuable programs.
Join us for an evening where your love for games and art can play a crucial role in fostering creativity and education. Let’s raise the stakes for contemporary art and education together. Your participation is not just about a night of fun—it’s a contribution to a thriving cultural scene in Westport.
Don’t miss this opportunity to support the arts, enjoy fantastic live music, and experience the best of local craftsmanship with drinks from Sono 1420. Secure your tickets now and be part of a night to remember.
Live music by Michelle Pauker, an actress, singer-songwriter, and artist raised in Westport, CT. You may have caught Michelle’s past MoCA performance , “Broadway Through the Ages,” and her “Joni Mitchell Tribute: The Gallery” which played to a sold-out audience! Past credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Great Lakes Theatre Co.), Into The Woods (Forestburgh Playhouse). Michelle would like to thank her friends at MoCA for the opportunity to connect with you through art and music.

Westport Public Schools Art Exhibition: SPARK
2024-05-25 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-26 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-30 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-31 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-01 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-02 12:00 - 16:00
Exhibition Dates: May 25 – June 2

Reception: June 2, 2-4 PM, click here to register.
Westport Public Schools Visual Arts is excited to announce the return of their art exhibition, Spark. Inspired by the imagination and self-expression of our students, Spark is a PreK-12 showcase of the creative spirit happening in our schools each day. The exhibition, presented by WPS students and faculty, serves as an expressive platform for Westport students to demonstrate multiple ways of knowing and learning that are inherent in the unique nature of each child.
In partnership with MoCA Westport, WPS Visual Arts looks forward to sharing the unique perspectives of our student artists with the community in this special event.

Ceramic Multi-Bowls with Leah Corbett
2024-05-29 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-06-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-06-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-06-27 18:00 - 20:00
Register Here
Make your own multi-bowl centerpiece with Fairfield-based ceramicist Leah Corbett. “Multi-bowls” are one of Leah’s most popular forms, and can be used for numerous things like snack boards, jewelry catchers, air plant displays, or general organizers for keys & miscellaneous items. In this two-hour workshop, Leah will guide you through easy steps to pinch & smooth multiple bowl forms out of clay, attach them, and manipulate their shapes to fit your own creative style. We provide the clay, tools & glaze options. You get your hands a little dirty, choose your glaze, and pick up your finished creation a few weeks later. This is a great intro to hand-building class to get some basic knowledge that will take you far in the world of pottery.

Performing Arts at MoCA: Herlin Riley – Jazz at Lincoln Center
2024-05-31 19:00 - 20:30
Register now!
Come as early as 6:30 PM to purchase a drink and check out the current exhibition.
Herlin Riley is a native of New Orleans. He’s a member of a New Orleans musical family (The Lastie Family). Today he’s considered to be one of the most premier and prolific drummers in the world today. The range of his musical experiences makes the demand for his drumming skills a first call for performers, recording artist and teaching engagements. Herlin started on the drums when he was three. He played trumpet through high school but went back to drums after college. Soon afterwards he began getting more calls to play drums than trumpet. In the early 80’s Herlin switched to playing the drums exclusively and was called to London, Australia and Europe to play in a 1920’s style musical called “One Mo Time“. Immediately following, he got the call to play with trumpeter Al Hirt. After leaving Hirt’s band he spent 5 years with jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. In 1988 Herlin was invited to play with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, which augmented to a septet and later became The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. As a member of The LCJO, Riley played a large roll in developing the drum parts for Wynton Marsalis’s Pulitzer Prize–winning recording “Blood On The Fields“. Herlin has also played and/or recorded with Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste, George Benson, Dr Lonnie Smith, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Ruth Brown, Dr John, Cubanismo, McCoy Tyner, John Clayton, Dee Daniels, Ambrose Akinmusire, Junko Onishi, Yutaka Shiina, Rufus Reid, Ellis Marsalis, Steve Turre, Terence Blanchard, Nicolas Payton, Ellis Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Victor Goines, Clifford Lamb and many more. Riley has collaborated with two other New Orleans drummers (Shannon Powell and Jason Marsalis) to form a group called The New Orleans Groove Masters. In 2020 The Groove Master recorded a single entitled “Get Back” during the Covid 19 pandemic. Herlin Riley is also an educator and lecturer in jazz drumming and percussion. Herlin was an adjunct professor at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University in Chicago, The Juilliard School of Music in New York and The University of New Orleans jazz studies program. He has four recordings as a leader “Watch What You’re Doing” & “Cream Of The Crescent” on the Criss Cross Jazz label and “New Direction” & Perpetual Optimism” on the Mack Avenue label. Herlin Riley is the featured artist in the book and video titled “New Orleans Jazz and Second Line Drumming. In addition he wrote the forward to the book ” Drumsville The Evolution Of The New Orleans Beat“, written by Robert H. Cataliotti.
Photo by James Wighams of JWP Photographer Studio in New Orleans

Westport Public Schools Art Exhibition Reception
2024-06-02 14:00 - 16:00
Click here to register.

Westport Public Schools Visual Arts is excited to announce the return of their art exhibition, Spark. Inspired by the imagination and self-expression of our students, Spark is a PreK-12 showcase of the creative spirit happening in our schools each day. The exhibition, presented by WPS students and faculty, serves as an expressive platform for Westport students to demonstrate multiple ways of knowing and learning that are inherent in the unique nature of each child.
In partnership with MoCA Westport, WPS Visual Arts looks forward to sharing the unique perspectives of our student artists with the community in this special event.

MoCA Some Noise - Open Mic Night
2024-06-07 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for an Open Mic night at MoCA Westport featuring acoustic music, poetry, and slam poetry on Friday, June 7 from 6:30-8 PM! Everyone is invited to participate and attend.
Get your tickets to participate or attend here.
Open Mic night is FREE for Members to watch; MoCA Member Participation is FREE; General Admission $10; Participation Fee $5
Contact Kristen at kristen@mocawestport.org with questions.

The Art of Mindfulness
2024-06-08 16:00 - 17:30
Register Here
Join us on June 8 from 4-5:30 PM for “The Art of Mindfulness” at MoCA Westport. This meditative workshop is designed to be inclusive and welcoming for participants of all backgrounds and experience levels. In this program, participants embark on a journey of self-awareness and bond with others through practicing mindfulness during a gallery tour at MoCA Westport, culminating in a sound bath meditation experience led by Lisa Pak of Hummingbird Healing Center.
Sound bath meditations have been shown to reduce stress, enable deep relaxation, strengthen the immune system, enhance creativity, and uplift the spirit. Participants begin by lying down on yoga mats (think Savasana) and use blankets, bolsters, eye pillows, and other props to become comfortable while the sound starts to “wash” over you.
Lisa uses a wide palate of sound healing instruments, including gongs, Himalayan bowls, crystal bowls, Native American-style flute, percussion, and vocals. She leads you through a journey of the senses, eventually resting in a profound space of deep inner peace.

Artisan Marketplace Summer Series
2024-06-16 12:00 - 16:00
Announcing our Artisan Marketplace Summer Series, outdoor events that celebrate local artisans and their creations.
Outdoor Artisan Marketplaces will take place on select Sundays throughout the summer from 12p-4p:

June 16
June 30
July 14
July 28
August 4
August 18
September 8

This year’s Artisan Marketplace will be held outdoors, providing a beautiful and spacious setting for visitors to explore a wide variety of unique, handcrafted items. From jewelry and pottery to textiles and artwork, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate. The galleries inside will also be open to enjoy our latest exhibition.
The Artisan Marketplace Summer Series is a perfect opportunity for families and friends to spend a leisurely afternoon supporting and discovering the talent and creativity of local artisans. We continue to accept vendor applications – click here to apply!
