ACE! joins up with the Friends of Chamber Music to offer a block of free tickets to this sublime performance.

Experience the acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet as they journey through myth, mystery, and human emotion. Turkish composer Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol’s The Demons and Humans of Siyah-Kalem opens the program with music inspired by haunting 14th-century imagery. Aaron Jay Kernis’s String Quartet No. 4 Oasis offers lyrical reflection and shimmering textures, leading to Beethoven’s powerful String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 130 with its legendary Große Fuge.

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WHAT: Medicus Memorial Concert: Borromeo String Quartet

WHEN: Saturday, February 28th at 3:00 PM

WHERE: Recital Hall | Performing Arts Center | University at Albany SUNY

Enter Ticket Code: ACEFRIENDS

NOTE: While tickets are FREE there is a $1 handling fee charged by the ticket sales application. Limited number available on a first come first serve basis. Please no more that two per interested party.

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Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol’s on The Demons and Humans of Siyah-Kalem: “These were shocking,” Sanlıkol said, describing the drawings as bearing some resemblance to contemporaneous Central Asian works while possessing entirely unique qualities. According to Sanlıkol, the drawings are “most likely from Eastern Anatolia or Central Asia” and incorporate shamanistic, pagan, and Islamic elements. This distinctive blend — and four specific images in particular — resonated deeply with him.

“I wanted to create a musical world that represented these four drawings...” Sanlıkol explained.

The Borromeo String Quarter is ensemble in residence at the following:


The New England Conservatory of Music, the Taos School of Music Summer Program, the Heifetz International Music Institute and is a prize-winner at the International String Quartet Competition in Evian, France.

Photo Credit: Jürgen Frank

It's only January and there has been so much to celebrate in the Capital Region! First though...EMPAC (Troy). Long known as an asset for resident artists and campus related endeavors, the organization has a new focus on finding ways to incorporate this amazing facility into the fabric of the downtown Troy community and the region beyond. Find out what is in process and in store from a recent conversation with newish Executive Director, Dena Beard.

Next up we have some updates on three major regional institutional arts organization resets. January saw the grand re-opening of The Egg (Albany), Saratoga Arts (Saratoga) and a new and expanded space for Albany Center Gallery (Albany). This represents some major investment for our region in community arts, culture and entertainment, and helps drive the Capital Region as a creative economy hub for work and play with an investment to the tune of well over $20M.

Don't miss out on the FREE tickets to an amazing performance by the internationally acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet brought to you by our partners at the Friends of Chamber Music. Big thanks to Executive Director Michael Kirsty for keeping us in the loop. 

Please keep an eye out in the following couple of weeks for an update email regarding some opportunities to participate in events at the capital in Albany including an Arts Day Panel Discussion with press event in the Senate chambers on Tuesday FEB 10th sponsored by Chair of the Tourism, Arts, Parks and Sports Committee, Assemblyman Ron Kim and, the annual Rally on the Capital to raise awareness and advocate for increased funding for the arts in March (Date TBD).

ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE...

Finally, to acknowledge the elephant in the room...as I have been touching on in previous issues, the state of the state in our country is changing. I feel strongly that it behooves us to not only acknowledge the reality that American citizens are getting extinguished in the streets of Minnesota and that we begin to take decisive action to participate in our democracy while we still have the freedom to do so. As we are by and large the story tellers and the conveners of community in society, let's find ways to earnestly build connections with friends and neighbors, and collaborate across organizations. Additionally, we need to continue to find ways to pressure our elected officials. Strong solidarity is in order more than ever...it is our moment to shine. There is more than just funding at stake, the time is NOW.*


*If convening on this matter is of interest to anyone, hit me up in the DM's. Maybe we could convene some kind of gathering of like minds or put a topical workshop together.


As always, if you have any cool creative job listings, open calls, industry news or grant funding opportunities, drop me a line and get them included in our next issue.

Corey Aldrich

ACE! : Executive Director

E: hello@upstateace.org | W: upstatecreative.org | SOCIALS: @upstatecreative

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• ART OMI (Ghent) : Project Based Art Handler
• The EGG (Albany) : Box Office Assistant, Finance Associate
• Made X Hudson (Catskill) : Various including Intermediate - Advanced Stitcher, Sales Associate and Marketing Manager
• Albany Symphony (Albany) : ASO Intern Reports to Director of Development
• Mass MOCA (North Adams MA) : Various including Sr Manager Branded Content and Design, Sr Manager of Marketing Operations, Custodian, Technology Specialist and more.
• The Olana Partnership (Hudson) : Sales Associate, Curatorial and Exhibitions Manager, Communications Associate
• The Palace (Albany) : Concession Staff
• Proctors Collaborative (Schenectady) : Various including Events Coordinator, Shop Assist / Scenic Carpenter, Staff Accountant and Annual Funds Manager
• The Arkell Museum : Part Time Registrar & Assistant Curator 
• Living Resources (Albany) : Assistant Manager - Art Program
• Overit (Albany) : Senior Account Manager, Project Manager
• Flow Albany (Albany) : Window Restoration Tech

• Saratoga Plan (Saratoga) :Office Manager
• Albany Pinebush (Albany) : Summer Environmental Educator Internship

• SUNY (Albany) : Art Model (Part Time)
• RPI (Troy) : Program Manager - New York Fashion Innovation Center
• Skidmore College (Saratoga) : Art Model (Part Time)
• Emma Willard : Various including Director of Annual Giving and English Fellow

• Arts in Education Roundtable : NY Teaching Artists Mentorship Program 2026
  

ACE! is made possible with the generous support of the Kiwi Foundation, the Saratoga Institute and the Nordlys Foundation.