Leonard Bernstein Weekend
David will also be participating in our Leonard Bernstein weekend which celebrates the Maestroโs extraordinary contribution not just to music but to education with two concerts that will raise funds for the Bernstein family charity Artful Learning, the teaching model founded by Alexander Bernstein that puts his fatherโs philosophies of education into practice, making students and teachers co-creators.
Image: Leonard Bernstein with his wife Felicia and (from left) children Nina, Jamie and Alexander, at home, 1965
Family-Friendly Orchestral Concert
Classical Cool! Family Fare KidsKoncert is a family-friendly orchestral concert on September 20 featuring a performance by the talented young winner of the Third Street Music Schoolโs Concerto Competition. Alexander will narrate Saint-Saรซnsโ whimsical and magnificent family favorite, Carnival of the Animals.
Bernstein Remix!
Meanwhile, Jamie Bernstein has corralled a group of distinguished musician friends who run the gamut from Broadway to jazz, classical to Latin American and beyond for Bernstein Remix!, an intimate evening of words and music at the Loft at City Winery on September 21. Her unique all-star line-up includes Colombian harp virtuoso Edmar Castaรฑeda, actor and singer Darius de Haas, renowned classical guitarist Sharon Isbin, and singer-songwriter Janis Ian, whose talent Bernstein championed way back in 1967 on his TV show Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution. The Queer Urban Orchestra (QUO) will play a rarely heard arrangement from 1935 by 17-year-old camp counsellor Leonard Bernstein!
We will share more names with you very shortly, plus there will be some surprise guests โ but weโre going to keep you in suspense! Book early or youโll miss out on all the excitement!
The Village Trip Lecture
The opening weekend will include a number of guided walks, plus The Village Trip Lecture, delivered this year by Clay Risen, New York Times journalist and author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and The Making of Modern America. Plus รงa change, it sadly seems.
Free Concert in Washington Square Park
The closing weekend, as always, includes The Village Tripโs signature free concert in Washington Square Park. Taking the stage: Kennedy Administration, whoโll be celebrating the launch of their third album, and Dali Rose, a 22-year-old with a terrific musical pedigree whoโs just released his debut EP.
Art Show
Freedomland! The Village Trip Art Show will open on September 16, just ahead of the festival proper, with a party for all those artists whose work is selected for exhibition, as well as friends of The Village Trip. Donโt forget to get your entries in!
Weโve lots more names and news still to share, so stay tuned, spread the word โ and mark your calendars!
And please consider a donation. However modest, please know that your money makes a big difference to our small non-profit. Every cent goes to performers and production costs โ the organizers all volunteer their time.
We canโt wait to see you all!
Liz Thomson & Cliff Pearson
Joint Artistic Directors
Credit: Marrapodi, Ornstein, Ball, Schreier
THE VILLAGE TRIP READING LIST
A selection from the reading list compiled for The Village Trip by Three Lives & Company, Booksellers
The Village Trip Festival thanks its sponsors, partners and supporters.
The Village Trip has been named Best Urban Celebration Event 2025
in the LUXElife Magazine Travel & Tourism Awards 2025
