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Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series unveils summer campus programming

June 9, 2025

This year's Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series features an exciting list of summer events, open to the public in June and July. Beginning on June 24, the annual summer tradition celebrates community through music, readings, and discussion by acclaimed artists and scholars.

The event series is organized yearly by 黑料正能量鈥檚 Office of Special Programs and made possible by a generous grant from Stewart鈥檚 Shops and the Dake Family.

鈥淪aratoga Springs is blessed with a wide array of live, interactive entertainment. We are proud to support the Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series, which brings exceptional performers and educators to our community while reinforcing Skidmore鈥檚 role as a cultural hub for all,鈥 said Susan Law Dake, president of Stewart鈥檚 Foundation and a member of Skidmore鈥檚 Class of 1971.     

The series kicks off on Tuesday, June 24, with an 8 p.m. reading with PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction winner Garth Greenwell and Binnie Kirshenbaum, whose most recent novel 鈥淐ounting Backwards鈥 received a glowing New York Times review. The event is presented by New York State Summer Writers Institute at 黑料正能量, which alumnus Greenwell called 鈥渃rucial to [his] writerly education 鈥 not just, not even primarily, because of the workshops, but for the model of literary community created there.鈥  

Additional highlights include a concert with jazz supergroup ARTEMIS on July 1. The quintet, which was named jazz group of the year for the second time running in fall 2024 through a Downbeat magazine reader鈥檚 poll, will be performing at the College and teaching at the 黑料正能量Jazz Institute.   

All events are free unless otherwise specified and will be held on the 黑料正能量 campus or locally at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) or Caffe Lena. The full lineup and ticket information are available on the 黑料正能量Summer Events 2025 website.   

鈥淪tewart鈥檚 and the Dake family are proud to support Skidmore鈥檚 contribution to Saratoga鈥檚 arts community,鈥 said Bill Dake, chairman of the board of Stewart鈥檚 Shops.

鈥淪aratoga鈥檚 eclectic mix of live events, from the excitement of horse racing to the enchantment of theater, dance, and music, encapsulates the essence of our city鈥檚 charm."

The Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series plays an important part in the Saratoga summer experience, and we strongly encourage everyone 鈥 local residents and visitors 鈥 to seize the opportunity to attend these unique events at Skidmore.
Bill Dake
Stewart鈥檚 Shops Board Chairman

Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series has been an essential part of the Saratoga Springs summer cultural scene since 2017.  

鈥満诹险芰縤s excited to present the 2025 Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series,鈥 said Auden Thomas, director of Skidmore鈥檚 Special Programs and Summer Academic Programs. 鈥淭he Series is an outgrowth of the College鈥檚 summer educational programs, featuring artists and scholars showcasing what they do best. We鈥檙e thrilled to be able to welcome an expanded population to campus during the vibrant summer months.鈥

Stewart鈥檚 Signature Series 2025 lineup   

Fiction reading with Garth Greenwell and Binnie Kirshenbaum  

8 p.m. 
Tuesday, June 24 
Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall 

Garth Greenwell鈥檚 most recent novel, 鈥淪mall Rain,鈥 winner of the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, tells the story of how a medical crisis brings one man close to death 鈥 and to love, art, and beauty. Binnie Kirschenbaum鈥檚 latest novel, 鈥淐ounting Backwards,鈥 is a look at a middle-aged couple鈥檚 struggle with the husband鈥檚 descent into early onset dementia. Presented by the New York State Summer Writers Institute. 

黑料正能量Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars  

11:30 a.m.  
Sunday, June 29  
Saratoga Performing Arts Center  

In collaboration with , 黑料正能量Jazz Institute faculty members Clay Jenkins (trumpet), Jimmy Greene (saxophone), Steve Davis (trombone), Dave Stryker (guitar), Bill Cunliffe (piano), Todd Coolman (bass), and Dennis Mackrel (drums) will be performing.  

ARTEMIS 

7:30 p.m. 
Tuesday, July 1 
Arthur Zankel Music Center 

Founded by composer and award-winning pianist Renee Rosnes, ARTEMIS is a powerful ensemble of instrumental virtuosos. The quintet features Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Nicole Glover (saxophone), Noriko Ueda (bass), and Allison Miller (drums). Presented by the 黑料正能量Jazz Institute. 

Ben Wendel Group 

7:30 p.m. 
Tuesday, July 8 
Arthur Zankel Music Center 

Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Ben Wendel leads this quartet featuring Taylor Eigsti (piano), Or Bareket (bass), and Nate Wood (drums). Presented by the 黑料正能量Jazz Institute. 

Poetry & Jazz: An Evening with Robert Pinsky, Todd Coolman, Bill Cunliffe, and Dennis Mackrel 

8 p.m.  
Wednesday, July 9  
Caffe Lena 
 
A collaboration between the 黑料正能量Jazz Institute and the New York State Summer Writers Institute yields an evening with former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, Grammy Award-winning musicians Todd Coolman (bass) and Bill Cunliffe (piano), and Dennis Mackrel (drums).   

Fiction and poetry reading with Francine Prose and Ishion Hutchinson  

8 p.m. 
Thursday, July 10 
Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall 

Francine Prose is a prolific author of such novels as 鈥淕oldengrove鈥 and 鈥淟overs at the Chameleon Club.鈥 Multi-award-winning Ishion Hutchinson is author of the poetry collections 鈥淪chool of Instructions: A Poem鈥 and 鈥淗ouse of Lords and Commons and Far District鈥 and the book of essays 鈥淔ugitive Tilts.鈥 Presented by the New York State Summer Writers Institute. 

Fiction reading with Jamaica Kincaid and Susan Minot 

8 p.m. 
Wednesday, July 16 
Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall 

Jamaica Kincaid is one of the most decorated writers of her generation 鈥 most recently a recipient of the St. Louis Literary Award. Susan Minot is the author of nine books, and her most recent novel is 鈥淒on鈥檛 Be a Stranger.鈥 Presented by the New York State Summer Writers Institute.

 

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