The Crackalackin’ Concert of Classical Music 

The Crackalackin' Concert is FREE. The after-party ball on stage runs from 7pm to 9pm. Tickets are $25 before September 13 and $30 after and include refreshments. Space is limited for the ball. 

One of the United Palace of Cultural Arts’ (UPCA) programming goals is to find innovative ways to make classical music accessible to new and old audiences, particularly by combining the genre with other art forms. “The Crackalackin’ Concert of Classical Music” serves as a dynamic platform designed to break down barriers and make the beauty of classical music accessible to everyone, including underrepresented communities, ensuring it resonates with a diverse and inclusive audience. (NOTE: “Crackalackin’” is old-time (as far back as the 1990s!) urban slang for what’s new, relevant, and happening. We think it is a great description of how people should feel about classical music.

This year’s theme is Music Brings Us Together and features performances and mash-ups by: 

• Association of Dominican Classical Artists (ADCA) 
• DJ Boo 
• New York Baroque Dance Company
• Leadlights Ensemble 
• Opera on Tap
• Washington Heights Community Choir (WHCC) 

The event will feature the world-premiere of a collage of videos taken of the Hudson River by Northern Manhattan residents while students from several local community programs, overseen by ADCA, perform the musical score live. The music, Bedrich Smetana’s symphonic poem “The Moldau,” celebrates another river, the Vltava which runs through Prague where Smetana became known as the Father of Czech music. 

Another unforgettable moment will be created by the New York Baroque Dance Company, which will simultaneously bring the Crackalackin’ Concert to a close while kicking off the first Crackalackin’ afterparty costume ball, where guests will have the opportunity to dance to live music on stage with professional dancers recreating the dance styles of the 1820s. 

“An Uptown Ball - Dancing the Revolution” features dances from the early days of the United States and revolutionary era, including choreography created in honor of George Washington and music by African-American composer Francis Johnson (1792-1844), who was so popular in his time that he was commissioned to create music for Marquis de Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of America in 1824. Dances will be taught to ticket holders at the ball – guests are encouraged to dress in period costume. Stage access to the ball requires a separate admission ticket and includes refreshments.   

(The ball is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by the funding agencies DCLA in partnership with the City Council and NYSCA with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.) 

Got Crackalackin’ video of the Hudson River? 

UPCA seeks video – professional or amateur (cell phone is fine) – of the Hudson River for a collaborative performance with the Association of Dominican Classical Artists (ADCA).  

We want to see our local river in all its glory: from sweeping panoramas to close-up details, from still waters to tempestuous whitecaps, from tugboat traffic to lazy leaves, from morning, noon, to night.  

The community-sourced videos will be edited into a single 5-minute collage and shown on the United Palace’s big screen while young musicians led by ADCA perform a live score. 

The video specs are: 

• Minimum 1080p resolution (4k is great) 
• Horizontal only, NO VERTICAL VIDEO 
• There are no sound requirements – the score will be played live 
• Use your name for the video file, for example: FirstName.LastName-01.MOV

Videos can be old or new but must be the original creation of the content maker. During the editing process videos may be trimmed, sped up/slowed down, colorized, or otherwise altered to help the visuals evoke the mood of the music. 

All contributors will be thanked in the video credits.

Videos should be uploaded here before 5pm Monday, August 25. 

Thank you to long-time UPCA’s friend and collaborator Jonathan Ullman for editing the video.  

For questions email .