Performing Arts

AMY GRIFFIN CREATES A THIRD SPACE FOR PUBLIC GATHERING

August 26, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

If you have ever had the privilege to work with Amy Griffin, you know what I do…that she is probably the most easy going, kind and light hearted person that you could hope to meet. Underneath the surface – a talented, creative and highly collaborative arts professional that is really finding her stride in her current role as Director at the Opalka Gallery in Albany. After years of working with her on one of my all-time favorite projects, it felt like high time to sing her praises a bit and share her ideas with the community at large.

Amy Griffin : Director at Opalka Gallery in Albany, New York | Image: Provided

Please state your name, title and organization. Can you also tell us a bit about your history including education, other jobs of note and other special accolades?

My name is Amy Griffin. I am currently the Director at the Opalka Gallery on the Russell Sage College campus in Albany, New York.

The road to Opalka Gallery was long and winding. I got my MFA from Hunter College in Photography and worked in publishing, teaching, and the NYC archives. From there I did college teaching. I also worked at the NY State Museum in the exhibitions department and wrote about art for the Times Union. I’ve been here for 10 years and moved into the Director position 3 years ago.

Seance Exhibit Gallery Performance with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company | Image: Provided

Can you share a bit about your mission at the Opalka Gallery? Maybe a little bit about how the program integrates into academic campus life and the general public.

We are always trying to raise the profile of the gallery to welcome the community in as much as possible, while supporting artists. We want people to feel comfortable coming to check out exhibitions and to participate in our free events, even if they don’t think they know much about art. There’s a lot of interest in “third spaces” and that’s what we want to be for the community–a place that’s not home or work but you don’t have to spend money. This goes for students, as well. Russell Sage‘s Albany campus is small–we want the students here to have a place to go for fun events or just to get away to some place quiet during the day. We also offer free music on most First Fridays, in addition to our September Pop-Up Beer Gardens and we’ll have a free map-making station in our fall exhibition. We’ve been offering a free kids’ art workshop each semester, organized and taught by Russell Sage College Masters of Art Teaching students. We also employ college work study students–so, we have lots of ways that we interact with both the college community and the community at large.

Music Performance at the Osi Audu : The Self in African Art Exhibition | Image: Provided

On the gallery side, would you share a bit about your curatorial philosophy? I have seen some amazing shows there, most recently the Osi Audu : The Self in African Art. I seem to remember there being an interesting back story on how you made that one come to life.

Diversity matters–that includes the types of shows we do and the medium of the work we show. We’re committed to bringing in engaging contemporary art and design from all over, while also supporting the regional art community. We wouldn’t want to do all group shows of local artists or only painting shows from painters outside the region. We mix it up, looking for excellent work that can be linked to the programs and curriculum here at the college, as well as engaging the broader community. For the Osi Audu show, Pierre Brooks, a collector of African art, stopped by the gallery a few times, invited me to check out his collection down in Greene County. Since we emphasize contemporary art, I hadn’t thought of a way to work with Brooks and his collection until I came across the work of Osi, a painter based near Kingston who makes abstract paintings in direct response to African art pieces and then it all came together!

PechaKucha at the Opalka Gallery in Albany New York | Image: Provided

I know you are also running some other public facing programming as well such as PechaKucha and the annual Pop Up Beer Garden and Neighborhood Block Party (Note: ACE! has been a promotional partner of this series for several years now) How do you see that type of programming fitting into your strategic goals for the gallery?

These kinds of events are perfect for our strategic goals because they’re community-building events that bring people into the gallery who might not necessarily choose to come see an art exhibition. They help expand our reach and also support the creative economy, which, I don’t have to tell you at ACE!, supports the local general economy. For a PechaKucha event, we might get close to 150 people–those people typically are then looking for a place for dinner or drinks afterward.

The 2025 Screenprint Biennial at the Opalka Gallery in Albany New York | Image: Provided

Care to share a bit of the personal challenges and rewards of the job? Any mid term or long term goals you are looking to accomplish there?

I love seeing a crowd here for an exhibition reception or other event–it feels good to be helping make Albany a dynamic place to be.

The challenge is, as with any art/non-profit job, that we always feel like we are short on staff. We always want to do more and more but that translates into more and more work and more money! We’d love to have an expanded gallery education program, for instance, or add more events. One smaller scale goal is to expand our Artist Registry. Right now, it’s just a page on our website–artists can upload their name, medium, and website URL and then curators can potentially use it to find artists. But my goal is to build it out to be a searchable database not unlike what White Columns in NYC has done–only tailored for artists based in the region.

Shameless Plug: What are you excited about that we should be putting on our calendar?

In addition to “Compass Roses: Maps by Artists–Albany“ which opens on Sept. 2, we’re in the thick of planning for our fall Pop-Up Beer Gardens–the first 3 Fridays in September! In addition to our whole slate of fall programming of course!

WEB: opalka.sage.edu
IG: @opalka_gallery | FB: @opalkagallery

The Pedigreed Couple Bringing World Class Performance and Education to Saratoga Springs, New York

July 8, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

My good friends over at Saratoga Arts were kind enough to provide tickets to the Sunday (06.15) performance of the Mostly Modern Festival at the Arthur Zankel Music Center on the Skidmore Campus, so I decided to drop by and check it out. In the past I have worked on projects with the Albany Symphony, Musicians of Malwyck and the Friends of Chamber Music to name a few so I have had a reasonable exposure to quality classical performance work. That said, I was not prepared for the resplendent beauty that I was privy to that day! The highlight being the world premier of Journey of a Dragonfly by Composer and MMF Co-Director Robert Paterson. It was a tour de force that felt like I had witnessed a new and unfamiliar format that left me hungry for more. (That and a great after party at the Surrey Williamson Inn!) I caught up with Victoria and Robert to better understand their organization and to ask how they are able to make this ambitious level of annual programming possible, with its attendant challenges, not only in Saratoga but with a sister festival in the Netherlands as well.

Robert and Victoria Paterson : Founders and Co-Directors at Mostly Modern Festival | Image: Lisa Marie Mazzucco — Robert and Victoria Paterson : Founders and Co-Directors at Mostly Modern Festival
Image: Lisa Marie Mazzucco

Please state your individual name(s), titles and give me a little bit about your background.

Victoria Paterson, General Director, Violinist and Co-Founder of Mostly Modern Projects. I am a violinist who is equally comfortable with classical, pop, and the healing arts. I have performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall, Birdland, and Madison Square Garden to Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Today Show. I am the General Director of Mostly Modern Projects where I hire musicians year-round, delivering vital programs to the community via senior centers, hospitals, and Alzheimer’s patients, as well as ‘rush hour’ & ‘lunchtime’ programs in public spaces and parks all over New York State. I lead the ever-popular FAB5 with a great line-up of live shows. My career spans a 20-years on Broadway, including full-time 1st violin positions for Lincoln Center’s My Fair Lady, The Palace Theater’s Sunset Boulevard and West Side Story, Lunt-Fontanne’s The Addams Family, and Off-Broadway : Heathers and The Thing about Men. I love collaborating with my husband and award-winning American composer, Robert Paterson. We celebrate his music with life-long projects, including the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York as well as the European edition, Mostly Modern The Netherlands.

Robert Paterson, Artistic Director, Composer and Co-Founder of Mostly Modern Projects. As an American composer, I strive to embody the diversity and breadth of New York State. Born in Buffalo, NY, I spent over a decade in Rochester and Ithaca, more than twenty years in New York City, and now live in Saratoga Springs, near the Adirondacks. My goal is to create colorful music that embraces everything from the environment to goddesses, online dating to mathematics. I had the privilege of being named Composer of The Year by the Classical Recording Foundation at Carnegie Hall. I was the winner of the Alfred I. DuPont Award, and my opera Three Way won the Grammy® under Best Classical Producer of the Year. I am honored to often get recognized as Best of the Year pick on National Public Radio where my orchestral tone poems, Dark Mountains and Triple Concerto, regularly air on NPR’s Performance Today. Three Way premiered with the Nashville Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and across the United States. The Oratorio Society of New York, Minnesota Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Albany Pro Musica, Albany Symphony Dogs of Desire, Musica Sacra, Austin Symphony, Vermont Symphony, and ensembles worldwide also perform my music. I am a lifelong vegan and an advocate for animals and the environment, celebrating the natural world with seminal works such as Triple Concerto, A New Eaarth, Listen, and I Go Among Trees.

Mostly Modern Ensemble | Image: Lindsey Fish

Can you share the history of the project? What was the genesis of the Mostly Modern Music Festival? How about the mission? Is this an annual event based at the Zankel only?

ROBERT: From the outset, our goal has been to continually reassess the world of classical music, to reinvent it as a vibrant art form for the 21st century and beyond. Mostly Modern Projects (MMP) is dedicated to shining a spotlight on music by (mostly) living composers. We founded MMP in 2005, initially as a new music ensemble in New York City, with the critically acclaimed American Modern Ensemble (AME). AME’s mission is to “turn classical music programming on its head,” programming mostly and usually entirely by living composers. To this day, AME showcases and celebrates living composers, featuring world premieres in engaging and fun-filled concerts. Around the same time, we launched Lumiere Records, a classical label featuring string quartet music with broad market appeal, and then American Modern Recordings, a house boutique label focusing on music by living composers.

Mostly Modern Festival | Image: Provided

In 2018, Mostly Modern Festival (MMF) was founded in Saratoga Springs, New York. Each June, it takes place on the campus of Skidmore College at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. Quickly becoming the “Aspen of the East“, MMF hosts the MMF Institute, an educational experience for 200 instrumentalists, singers, composers, and conductors. Each year, people from all over the world descend on Saratoga Springs for the unique MMF experience. MMF’s international reputation began in 2021 when MMF The Netherlands was launched. MMF NL is held every April in historic Holland in Middelburg, Zeeland.

Mostly Modern Festival 2023 in the Netherlands | Image: Provided

Putting on a multiday, symphonic classical festival is a challenging endeavor on many fronts. How are you paying the bills? Is this mostly grant funded?

VICTORIA: The Mostly Modern Festival was founded in 2018 in Saratoga Springs, NY and takes place at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. It is an expensive endeavor indeed- I had an audience member say at the last MM Orchestra concert that she saw about $1,000,000 on that stage: 80 world class musicians, their instruments, especially the Steinways, the harp, all those precious violins and stringed instruments which can run about $10,000- $100,000 +, all the winds and the brass, all the percussion instruments. We pay top conductor fees and principal fees in our field to lead the orchestra with side-by-side learning with students who are all in their 20’s on average. It is a magnificent site and sound to behold, and yes, it is expensive. The hall and facilities at Skidmore College are world-class and top-of-the line in acoustics, sound and overall aesthetics and beauty. The price tag to rent the Arthur Zankel Music Center for 3 weeks is expensive. As of 2025, Mostly Modern is not affiliated with Skidmore. Mostly Modern is not presented by Skidmore College: it is a straight rental agreement, just as the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra rent their facilities for the summer for housing, meals etc.

We pay the bills with tuition income, generous patrons, our board, local and national partners, as well as private foundations and public grants. Historically we receive funding from the NEA and NYSCA. Mostly Modern did not get those two grants in the 2025 current cycle. This was a loss of about $75,000. 2025 also brought on students who had far less money to cover tuition, so Mostly Modern awarded more tuition-free scholarships than ever before. Our goal is to have an endowed student education fund to ensure tuition-free scholarships for our 110 students (based on need, as well as merit) which will also help ensure 40 faculty salaries every summer. Student education fund goal: $2,000,000 by 2027.

Good news in 2025: local support really stepped in and shout out to local partners: Adirondack Trust Company, Stewart’s-Dake Foundation and Phinney Design Group.

Good news in 2025: We have a new collaboration with Yaddo. Mostly Modern performs and celebrates one Yaddo composer every summer, culminating with a performance at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. Big thanks to President of Yaddo, Elaina Richardson!

Mostly Modern Festival 2025 Audience | Image: Provided

I was excited to be there for the debut of your piece JOURNEY OF A DRAGONFLY and was really excited about the format and the story-based narrative style. Can you tell us more about this piece…the process, how long where you working on this one? What was your motivation? What was it like to hear that performed in front of an audience for the first time?

ROBERT: I first started conceiving, outlining, and composing Journey of a Dragonfly twenty years ago, while I was in-residence at Aaron Copland‘s house. (Each season, the Copland House offers residencies at his house for a few select composers from around the world.) Knowing that I didn’t have a premiere lined up, or even the right orchestra conductor, I put that piece aside, and worked on a handful of commissions I had at the time. The conductor I wanted for the premiere of this piece was JoAnn Falletta. Since I love her conducting, and aspects of the piece are inspired by an area near Niagara Falls near Buffalo, I felt like I really needed to wait until I had a chance to work with her in order to finish the piece. Fast-forward twenty years later, we now have JoAnn as a guest conductor at Mostly Modern Festival, and I felt the time was right to complete this work. This piece is dedicated to JoAnn and MMF’s fifth season, and to the Mostly Modern Orchestra in-residence at MMF.

The format of the work is highly-programmatic, meaning, it has a story and a narrative ‘program‘ woven throughout the work, about a dragonfly that explores the world above, finds a portal to hell, sneaks into the Devil family’s house, is captured by the Devil child, and finally escapes back to the world above. The story is so descriptive that we decided to show each scene as super-titles above the stage so the audience could follow along. Although the piece is meant as a concert piece, it is also designed to be animated, so kind of the reverse process to how it’s usually done in the world of film. Usually, a film comes first, and the music is added at the end. With this piece, the music already exists, so the animation can be designed around the music. It took me one month to complete the first ten minutes at the Copland House, and another two to three months to complete the remaining twenty-five minutes.

Hearing this work for the first time was certainly cathartic! I feel like I’ve literally waited twenty years to hear it realized for the first time. It was definitely a little scary: with a piece that large, you want to make sure the audience is captivated the entire time, and fortunately, I received a lot of wonderful comments after the premiere, so I think I succeeded!

Mostly Modern Orchestra with Andrew Crust | Image: Provided

I noticed that your web address is MOSTLYMODERNPROJECTS…what else do you have going on we should know about?

VICTORIA: Mostly Modern Projects is a 501c3 non-profit music organization that runs and brings music to everyone year round. This summer brings more community and parks concerts than ever: here is our lineup

Special shout out…3 Yaddo events entitled Wine & Roses featuring Mostly Modern’s FAB5, July 17, July 31 and August 14.

Left to Right: *Victoria, Corey, Danielle and Amara yuck it up at the 2025 Mostly Modern Festival*
*after party at the Surrey Williamson Inn in Saratoga Springs. |* Image: Provided

Extra Credit: Anything else you would like to share or plug while you have the talking stick?

VICTORIA: Seeking new board members for Mostly Modern Projects who live in Saratoga Springs and/or the upstate New York region – the lift is light and the benefits are robust!

Mostly Modern delivers vital and incredible music through concerts, festivals, outreach and community engagement all year round. Help us continue to provide this valuable platform for an ecosystem of classical performance artists, students and those who love the craft!

WEB: mostlymodernfestival.org | IG: @mostlymodernfestival | FB: @facebook

Michael C. Clarke Leaves an Established Law Career to Promote Irish American Heritage

June 3, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

I met Michael C. Clarke, Executive Director at the Irish American Heritage Museum, recently at an event and was bowled over by not only his enthusiasm but his career story and how he came to be where he is today. Having decided to leave corporate real estate several years ago to pursue a career in arts and culture, I am always fascinated to find those kindred souls who make the plunge. But I guess for Michael, it is no surprise he ended up where he is…he has music in his soul and a strong connection to his immigrant heritage. Side note, ask him about a recent trip to Ireland where he helped deliver over 60 lambs on his brothers farm, it’s a good one but to long for this piece!

Micheal C Clarke : Performing Musician and Executive Director at the Irish American Heritage Museum
Image: Corey Aldrich

Could you please state your name, organization, position and give us a little bit about your history including educational, experiential and career background.

My name is Michael C. Clarke. I’m the Executive Director of the Irish American Heritage Museum (IAHM) at Quackenbush Square in Albany. I’ve been here for about six months. I’m a recovered lawyer. I left the law after about 30 plus years of practice and was reasonably successful. When I did, I had the intention of landing somewhere in the Irish cultural space. For a little background, I started playing Irish music when I was six years old and loved it. I was raised in a household of two Irish immigrants and had been very involved and aware of Irish culture and history growing up. I paid for college in law school, not by student loans, but by being a full-time musician playing music in New York City in the 1980s.

Micheal gets his first serious instrument at 13 years old | Image: Provided

IAHM is in the former Albany Planetarium location. In addition to a permanent exhibit including objects and artifacts of historical note, including a actual life sized cottage, there is a beautifully intimate 60 seat venue with a dome ceiling set up like a living room performance space. People come in and they sit down as if they’re at a friends home with the main difference being that there are stars shining up above while they listen to traditional and folk Irish music. We have an intensive program of music here and it’s filling up with internationally recognized artists. Additionally, we have a gallery space that currently has an amazing collection of canvases by painter Kevin McKrells, who is mainly known for his musical pursuits, first as a founding member of Celtic Folk band Donnybrook Fair and his current band, the Celtic Bluegrass band The McKrells.

Current Exhibit ‘Old Men in Hats’ at the Irish American Heritage Museum : Paintings by Kevin McKrell
Image: Corey Aldrich

What is the mission of the organization?

The mission of the organization is to educate. It’s to raise awareness in folks of the richness of Irish culture and art. My job is to curate shows, lectures, performances and exhibits that teach and expose our community to the impact of the Irish on America.

Irish American Heritage Museum Performance Space | Image: Provided

What artists have you had come through? Maybe you could elaborate a bit about that part of the program.

So we’ve had the Irish duo Ivan Goff and Katie Linane, who are internationally known for performing the Uilleann pipes, which is the Irish bagpipes in addition to the elbow pipes and fiddle. Last week we had Gerry O’Connor, who tours the EU and the United States constantly as an international recording artist. He has written books and he teaches at Celtic and traditional Irish music festivals around the globe. We had a band called Open the Door for Three. They are famous in the traditional Irish music and folk scene. They were performing in Buffalo and Maine and reached out to me and asked if they could perform in Albany on the way back through. So many people want to come because of the intimate nature of the venue which is perfect for this style of music. Albany is kind of a strategic stopover for them. I’ve been blessed in the six months that I’ve been here to be able to have this great pool of talent to choose from and only see that expanding over time. Oh one more…I am really excited to announce that later this year we have Kevin Burke who is one of the early members of the world-renowned Bothy Band and later the founder of Irish super-group Patrick Street, who will be performing on September 8th.

Irish Immigrant Objects at the Irish American Heritage Museum | Image: Corey Aldrich

Beyond the music, you said you had a connection with some genealogical research as well?

We have an in house genealogist! Lisa Walsh Dougherty has nearly 20 years experience helping people discover the specifics about their Irish roots. She is fantastic as far as sitting down with folks and is available on a regular basis. One of the scheduled times she comes in is before an open Irish jam style music event we sponsor called the ‘Traditional Music Sessions.’ These are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at the museum. They start at 7:00 PM and we typically will have anywhere from 8 to 12 musicians from the community, who are very good at what they do, sitting around a table jamming out / performing together. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Lisa comes in an hour before so anybody who wants to come early to do some family history research are able to do so.

Irish American Heritage Museum : Traditional Music Sessions Series | Image: Provided

Anything you can tell us about your midterm or long-term plans that you’d like to share?

I’m a very visual person. The reason why I am where I am today is because three years ago I was like, “What does a photograph of me look like three years from now?” I saw myself exactly where I am. Involved in Irish Cultural and Arts promotion and being a proponent for that.

To fast forward, the photograph of the museum and me three years from now is one where we are encouraging a new generation to embrace their heritage of Irish music, culture, dance and in general creating an overall appreciation of Irish immigration’s impact on America in the community at large. I am focused on activities involving children. Two areas I am actively looking at right now involve Irish music and dance programming, integrating schools and / or education. We’ve got the perfect space for a teacher to come in and organize recitals for kids and their families…

I recently hired a new Assistant Director, Hayden-Grace Francis, and am looking to integrate her more deeply into the various aspects of running the organizational mission. In addition to having a History Degree from Siena College, Heyden is a Certified Irish Dance Instructor through An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha which adds a nice dimension to some of my aforementioned forward planning. Ultimately, I want this to be family oriented. It’s really about the mission, about getting the message out regarding the impact of Irish traditions, art and culture on American life while keeping them alive in a new generation.

HIstoric Cottage at the Irish American Heritage Museum | Image: Corey Aldrich

If people want to get involved, what’s the best way to do that?

Visit our website at irish-us.org or contact me at 518 . 427 . 1916.

Also, check out some of the events we have coming up later this month!

FIRST FRIDAY ALBANY Event – feat. Live Music with CURRAGH
Jun 6, 2025 | 6:00 PM | FREE SHOW! In collaboration with Metroland NOW!

THE EAST COASTERS – Trad / Folk Series
June 10, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Ticketed Event. Three renowned Irish performers from the eastern US weave together their regional styles in a memorable evening of tunes and songs

2025 Celtic Influences Performance Series: SEA SHANTIES W/SEÁN DAGHER
Jun 19, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Ticketed Event. The Sea Shanty resurgence is real! Join world renowned sea shanty expert and performer Seán Dagher in this full-throated, big fun IAHM evening of singing and learning about the genre!

Denver Based Musicians Vibe on a ‘Creative Pulse’ in Upstate New York

March 20, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

Late to the party, I just recently discovered this gem of performance space that opened up in early 2024 when I had the opportunity to see the amazing Buggy Jive open for the intellectual and well read storytellers, Nathan Meltz and the House of Tomorrow there. Transplants from Denver, Alana and Niek Velvis decided to land here in Upstate, Troy specifically, due to the creative pulse they felt on the street and the ‘unique mix of history, grit, and artistry, with a growing music and arts scene.’ Approachable and community minded, these creative entrepreneurs have made a space for local and regional indie artists to call home. Oh, and they have respectable baked goods, beer and coffee offerings!

Niek and Alana Velvis : Owners at Mojo’s Cafe and Gallery in Troy, New York | Photo: Provided

Please state your name and title. Also, can you share a bit of your backstory?

We’re Alana and Niek Velvis, the owners of MoJo’s Cafe & Gallery in Troy, NY. At our core, we’re musicians who love playing—that’s what brought us together, and it’s what drives most everything we do.

Alana: I am a classically trained percussionist, with years of experience as a session drummer, nationally touring musician, and recording engineer. I’ve played in a wide range of projects, but find myself especially drawn to the second line rhythms and deep funk traditions of New Orleans. I also handle accounting and keeping everything at MoJo’s running smoothly behind the scenes.

Niek: I am a bassist, recording engineer, and entrepreneur with a background in law and business development. Since 2012, I have focused on working with startups while staying active as a musician. My passion in building physical and virtual spaces that allow artists to create freely came to fruition in 2018, which was a start of what led to building MoJo’s here in Troy.

Music has always been at the center of our lives, and MoJo’s was built from that foundation.

Backyard Stage Vibes at Mojo’s in Troy, New York | Photo: Provided

What was behind your choice in locating in the capital region / Troy? Also, I believe I remember you saying originally you did not plan to open a venue like this…how did it all come about?

We moved to Troy because of a pull to the creative pulse we felt here. For us, the city has a unique mix of history, grit, and artistry, with a growing music and arts scene that felt like the right place to help contribute to something special while remaining authentic to our own journey.

Before moving to Troy, we owned and operated a recording studio in Denver. Recording, engineering, and producing music were a huge part of our lives, and when we made the move to New York, we brought most of the studio gear with us, thinking we’d continue focusing on recording and production. And then, we found the space!

When we walked into what is now MoJo’s, some lightbulbs turned on for us. The layout and the energy felt like the perfect place. Instead of just being a recording space, we saw the potential for a venue, an art gallery, and a gathering place for musicians and artists, so we dove in and MoJo’s became the live extension of what we had already been doing in the studio.

Interior Shot at Mojo’s Cafe and Gallery in Troy, New York | Photo: Provided

From the start, MoJo’s was envisioned as a music venue and art gallery first. The focus has always been on hosting live music and showcasing visual artists. The coffee side of things was the next logical step for us, inspired by the bones of the space and a desire to provide sober-friendly offerings for gallery and show attendees. Building out the coffee portion naturally led to opening the café during the daytime hours, and as the creative energy flowed, we started developing custom coffee offerings with Gipfel Coffee, who roasts all of MoJo’s coffee selections.

You’re right about the plan developing in real time, and we’re grateful for not keeping our feet as there’s never any telling where we’ll be swept off to next.

Buggy Jive – Live at Mojo’s Cafe and Gallery in Troy, New York | Photo: Corey Aldrich

Live music is a cornerstone of a vibrant city / community but is notoriously hard to make work economically…especially if you’re trying to compensate artist fairly. Can you share a bit about that side? How are you keeping the rent paid and making that all work?

This is a continuous challenge. Independent music spaces are fragile, especially when you’re committed to artist compensation. The reality is, ticket sales alone don’t cover costs, not in a room of our size. So for us, the key has been diversification. We treat MoJo’s as a multi-layered business with the cafe operating as a 3rd-Space during the day for food and beverage, Private Event Bookings, Art Sales, Custom Coffee Roasts, and Ticketed events.

Beyond that, it takes community commitment, which we are growing organically every day. We book shows for fans, so we work hard to curate a memorable sensory experience directed at an audience that values live music and understands that keeping a space like this alive requires active participation before, during, and after the show.

It’s also about efficiency for running a lean operation, keeping overhead low, and building relationships with artists and vendors where mutual support goes both ways.

Afternoon Music Break with groop.lab’s DJ Denada | Photo: Provided

Do you have any general comments that you would like to share regarding what we should be doing to ensure that this level of musical ecosystem is sustainable and thriving?

A thriving music scene starts with a dedicated and engaged audience. Show up often, even when you don’t know the performer. Live music and art aren’t nostalgic occasions, they should be part of your daily and weekly routines. The strength of a local music scene depends on people who are curious, open, and willing to experience something new. And when you do? Talk about it. Share what moved you, what surprised you, what made you think. Word of mouth builds culture, and the way we speak about music shapes the way our community values it.
Musicians and artists need to talk about one another as if we are each other’s heroes. Build up your fellow artists, speak about them as if you’re their biggest fan. The love and beauty you speak of is palpable and contagious. When people feel how much love you have for your fellow artists and musicians, they’ll become fans themselves, start going to shows, and spread that energy further. We can actively choose how we frame our community through our language. Your mindset is yours alone, yet when out in public, you are actively shaping the culture you are a part of. Don’t talk down about each other, lift each other up like the heroes we all are.
Respect process over product. Art and music are all part of a larger ecosystem where artists are manifesting their creative process in real time. Don’t judge a single performance as a finished statement. Artists are evolving, growing, and experimenting live, and the audience, you(!) are a real part of it! One experience at a show should never dictate whether you go to another, so keep showing up.
City and State Governments need to recognize the value of music and art spaces as cultural institutions through direct policy support. A municipality that boasts being a music and arts hub just because artists have chosen to live there while lacking direct policy to support music and art is just all smoke and mirrors.

Preshow Vibes at Mojo’s Cafe and Gallery in Troy, New York | Photo: Provided

EXTRA CREDIT: Anything you have coming up or are excited about that you would like to share?

This weekend show is not to be missed, if you haven’t heard Joseph Biss play guitar and sing yet, make it a priority for your Saturday, the musicianship is incredible.

Saturday, March 22nd – Joseph Biss w/s/g Alicia Macier VanScoy
$10 adv / $12 at the door | Doors: 6PM | Show: 7PM

Both nights will bring something special to the room—come through and be part of it.

WEB: mojoscafegallery.com | IG: @mojoscafegallery

Jessica Lubin’s Good Karma Studio : Balancing Mindful Practice with Performance Arts

February 20, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

I met Jessica Lubin (Good Karma Studio) last year as part of my interim leadership gig at the CCIAC (Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center) for the 2024 season. She took down the big top tent for a student showcase and ended up with an overflow crowd and sold out show. This woman owned, for profit business sits at the crossroads of holistic health and the performance arts. Jessica’s programming rides the forefront of new understandings regarding the value of integrating creative arts as a tool in physical wellness and mental health.

Jessica Lubin (*Center*) with the Good Karma Entertainment Team | Image: Provided

Please state your name, company and title. Feel free to elaborate a bit about your story, the how you got here…its a good one.

My name is Jessica Lubin and I am the Owner / Founder of Good Karma Studio, Good Karma Entertainment and Good Karma Hypnotherapy.

I graduated from University of Rhode Island with an early childhood education degree and moved to NYC in 2001. After 1 year, I realized that in-classroom education was in fact not inspiring to me. I took my creative passion and landed a job in the jewelry industry / diamond district for the next 8 years. It was glamorous, exciting, and fulfilling…yet too corporate for me.

A lover and devoted practitioner, yoga was a huge savior for me during some really challenging times in my life. It helped keep me grounded amongst the hustle and busyness of the city and a demanding corporate job. One of my greatest teachers during my 10 years living in NYC admired my serenity and slight obsession with inversions. (You could always find me in a headstand at the back of the room after class!)

“Have you been to this new, ‘floating yoga‘ from a swing?” he asked. In one visit… I was hooked!

Jessica Lubin on a Lyra at Good Karma Studio | Image: Provided

When I decided to leave the city, there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to become a yoga teacher. Like most, I thought I had to follow the ‘plan‘ of life. Graduate, get a job, get married, have kids…but that just wasn’t me. I wanted to travel & explore. I was scared but I took the leap spending time internationally specifically in Guatemala and India. You don’t know your own strength until you’re backpacking through India and the train breaks down in a small village where no one speaks a word of English…HA! When I moved back to my hometown of Albany, I wanted to give others the chance to heal through yoga. Many people are afraid to try aerial yoga specifically, but find that it’s actually extremely accessible. I have worked with students who are blind, deaf, and amputees. I love instilling confidence & bravery while giving people the opportunity to overcome their fears.

In 2011 I opened Good Karma Studio. In 2013, Good Karma expanded to two studios within one building. Then in 2018, another expansion creative the Capital Regions only aerial, circus arts, and yoga school. With three studio spaces in one building, we began to offer OMazing classes seven days a week for everyBODY, age, and ability.

Jessica Lubin Teaches a Yoga Class at Good Karma Studio | Image: Provided

Your business is at a cross section of wellness-based practice (Yoga) and entertainment (Circus Arts). What made you decide to combine the two and how do they synergize each other?

Combining the wellness-based practices of yoga with circus arts is a creative and powerful fusion! Both disciplines are deeply rooted in movement, mindfulness, and body awareness. They each offer different dimensions of experience and expression. Yoga, with its focus on breath, balance, and flexibility, helps individuals cultivate mental clarity, physical strength, and emotional well-being. It’s about grounding, alignment, and finding inner peace. Circus arts, on the other hand, are thrilling, dynamic, and often push physical limits, requiring agility, coordination, and creativity. They have an inherent element of performance and playfulness.

When combined, they create a unique synergy that offers the best of both worlds. Yoga can enhance circus performers’ flexibility, balance, and focus, allowing them to execute complex routines with precision. Circus arts, meanwhile, bring a sense of joy, creativity, and exhilaration, reminding individuals that wellness doesn’t always have to be serious or quiet — it can also be fun and filled with wonder.

Together, they provide a holistic approach to fitness, mental clarity, and creative expression.

Aerial Silks Class at Good Karma Studio | Image: Provided

Classes / education are a big part of what you do, can you share a bit about your approach to that across all your offerings?

Education and classes are at the heart of what we do, and our approach is designed to be inclusive, transformative, and adaptable to all levels. Whether someone is new to yoga or circus arts, or looking to deepen their practice, we strive to create an environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Our program does this in a variety of ways:

Holistic Learning: Integrating mindfulness, mental focus, and creative expression into each class.

Personalized Experience: Recognizing that every student is different, so we tailor our classes to meet varying needs.

Community-Focused: Learning is more enriching when it’s shared. We cultivate a community atmosphere where students support one another.

Emphasis on Playfulness & Creativity: Especially in circus arts, play is an essential part of the learning process. We encourage students to explore, experiment, and embrace their creativity.

Mind-Body Integration: Emphasizing the mind-body connection in all classes, helping students find rhythm, release tension, and build both physical and mental resilience.

Progressive and Adaptive: Both yoga and circus arts can be challenging, so we ensure our curriculum is progressive.

Inspiring Personal Growth: The ultimate goal is to help students grow, both as performers and as individuals. We foster an environment that celebrates progress, however big or small.

In essence, our approach is about creating a nurturing space for learning where students feel challenged, supported, and empowered to be their best selves.

Guest Instructor Brenna Bradbury Performs on the Lyra | Image: Provided

Can you discuss more about your circus arts related classes, what are your goals in this area?

My goal with the circus arts side of the business is Making Circus Accessible. Traditionally, circus arts can feel very intimidating, often requiring a level of strength, flexibility, or skill that may seem out of reach for beginners. Starting with the basics we provide step-by-step guidance, so students don’t feel overwhelmed. Circus arts are about much more than just physical skill—they’re about fostering creativity, building community, and encouraging students to push their own limits. Whether you’re trying a aerial apparatus for the first time, or preparing for your first big gig, the goal is always the same: to have fun, explore, and grow. It’s a place where performance and play intersect, and where students can feel like part of something larger than themselves—whether they’re on the mat or up in the air!

In our studio, students are constantly cheering each other on and celebrating one another’s victories, it so heart warming and definitely what inspires and drives me forward. In such a chaotic world right now, watching adults bond with their peers and work together, brings a sense of community and shared growth, which is really special.

Performance Run at Good Karma Studio | Image: Provided

Running a dynamic business can be challenging, what’s a typical day look like for you? Any recommendations to others who are thinking about opening a studio?

Here’s a snapshot of what a typical day might look like: I start with private sessions every morning, followed by morning group classes, This part of the day is energizing and keeps me grounded in the experience of what we offer. Ruben, our studio therapy dog, and I then go for a nice long walk before heading home for my ‘not so favorite‘ administrative work. This might involve updating the website, handling finances, collaborating with my studio manager, planning marketing strategies, and scheduling classes or organizing upcoming events (such as workshops or performances). Depending on the day, I may also be teaching an evening class or hosting a special event. The evenings tend to bring in students who are working professionals – together, we unwind and find balance after a busy day.

As for opening a studio, prioritize self-care: running a business can be overwhelming and burnout is real. Make sure you take time for your own well-being. For me it’s practicing yoga, doing something creative, or simply taking a break. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and your health and energy are vital to the success of your studio and personal well being.

It takes time to build momentum and grow. Be patient with yourself, and don’t get discouraged if things don’t take off immediately. Consistency, dedication, and passion will pay off over time. At the end of the day, running a studio is a labor of love. It’s about creating a space for people to grow, have fun, and experience something truly transformative. When you keep your focus on your mission and the people you serve, the rest will naturally fall into place.

Good Karma Studio Team | Image: Provided

Extra Credit: Anything we should know about that you have coming up or in the pipeline?

Good Karma Studio & Peak Music will be closing out the Albany EGG’s last weekend before renovations on Saturday, June 28th🎉🎉 It will be a GKS student showcase. My performance students have worked so hard, giving them this opportunity, on this type of a stage, feels so rewarding! I can’t wait to share their hard work and dedication with the Capital Region. Come to enjoy the show, let it inspire you to runaway with the circus… or at least to Good Karma Studio for a class!

WEB: www.thegoodkarmastudio.com | IG: @goodkarmastudio