Schenectady County Connects supports a youth development program that offers summer jobs for Schenectady County youth. For the third year in a row, New York Folklore has been fortunate in being supported by this Schenectady County agency as a employment site for...
Dr. Liu was born in China and has lived in the Albany area for over 30 years. He holds a Ph.D. in economics and formerly served as a principal economist for the State of New York. Alongside his professional career, he has maintained a lifelong interest in art,...
On Friday, November 7, 2025, the Schenectady/West African Youth Orchestra (a youth ensemble created by celebrated Ghanaian musician, Zorkie Nelson) will debut a new piece by banjo musician and music educator, Scott Hopkins. The collaboration is the...
The Caribbean-themed mural was one of several culminating activities, which were developed and implemented through a NEA “Our Town” placemaking grant for 2023–2024. Conceived by Veena Chandra and Devesh Chandra, as a partnership with New York Folklore (NYF), the intent of the project was to recognize the connections of North Indian classical traditions with the Guyanese community in Schenectady.
I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. At a young age, my parents were my inspiration. My father is an artist and a musician. He loves to sing, play the piano, and paint things that remind him of Puerto Rico. My mother is also a talented musician who likes to sing music...
Jianling (Ling) Yue teaches Chinese language and culture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. Her teaching and academic pursuits have earned her numerous awards and commendations. Jianling is also an expert in Chinese paper-cutting (or paper-cut)...
On September 27, 2024, New York Folklore and the Linda (WAMC's performance venue) were honored at the annual awards ceremony by the New York State Broadcaster's Association (NYSBA). New York Folklore was nominated for the award in recognition of our ongoing...
Meet Ahmad Shah Wali Flying a kite is one of the most exhilarating experiences a child or an adult can have. A sense of pride, joy, and accomplishment washes over them as their eyes watch this object that they built fly into the sky. Flying kites helps family...
Pamela Badila is a folkteller artist and co-founder, along with her late husband Elombe Badila, of the Diata Diata International Folkloric Theatre. Pamela Badila is a visual and performing artist with a background in education. As part of of Diata Diata...
Lalita Ramnauth was born and raised in Guyana where, at a young age, she and her family discovered her natural talent for singing. Having moved to the United States from Guyana in 1992, she eventually relocated to Schenectady. Lalita possesses a large repertoire of...
FELIX NELSON was born in 1988 and grew up in the Jamestown area of Accra. He followed in the footsteps of his talented parents to become a highly skilled musician, singer, dancer and dance educator. Felix came to the US in 2006 to join his father Zorkie in upstate NY...
Today, I exited off the Michigan Avenue Exit ramp of Schenectady's I-890, and smiled. Looming in front of me was the mural that was created at the end of June 2024 by Raè Frasier of Art Money, three students enrolled in the Schenectady Job Training Agency's after...
A new musical venture for the Capital District has begun, with support from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Schenectady County Initiative Program (CIP). This innovative musical project is the creation of a Pan-African Orchestra, modeled after a...
DEVESH CHANDRA has been learning the Tabla since the age of 3. He learned Indian Classical Music by accompanying his mother, renowned Sitar exponent Veena Chandra and he continues to perform with her. Their mother and son duo has received national and international...
ZORKIE NELSON is a master percussionist, traditional flute player and vocalist specializing in the Ga cultural tradition. Born into a family of musicians in the West African city of Accra, Ghana, Zorkie has studied music since the age of...