Auditions Open January 20th for Summer Sounds Concert Series

Starting on Monday, January 20th NRCA's Summer Sounds Concert Series Committee will begin accepting applications from bands interested in playing for the 28th annual series. The concerts take place every Wednesday and Friday evening from 7:30 to 9:15 pm at the historic band shell in New Rochelle’s beautiful Hudson Park, on the shores of Long Island Sound. The popular concerts draw hundreds of people to Hudson Park all summer long to hear a variety of bands perform live. All performers are paid, and a sound system, sound tech and lighting is provided; NRCA also arranges for a curated selection of food trucks to be on site each week.

The Summer Sounds Concert Series began in 1997 when Emil Paolucci (1915-2004), a member of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA), began working with the City of New Rochelle on a plan to refurbish the Hudson Park bandshell and introduce free concerts in the park. Today the Summer Sounds Concert Series is produced by the NRCA in partnership with the New Rochelle Department of Parks and Recreation. Vin Parise, Commissioner of New Rochelle’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation, says “The Summer Sounds Concert Series every summer at Hudson Park is one of the most highly attended public events on our calendar year after year. We are thrilled to once again partner with NRCA for this annual tradition along our waterfront.”

The Summer Sounds Concert Series is made possible, in part, by funding from local business sponsors. In 2016 an anonymous donor provided a $100,000 grant to NRCA that allowed the purchase of a state-of-the-art sound system, and in 2018 support from Watermark Pointe and an anonymous donor helped purchase much-needed stage lighting. NRCA’s Summer Sounds Concert committee issues an RFP for musicians each January and meets in March to review submissions and set the calendar. (Last year 164 bands applied for 19 available slots.) The committee also solicits sponsorships, organizes food trucks, staffs a welcome booth at each concert and sells raffle tickets to help raise money for the concert series.

How to Apply

Professional musicians performing all genres of music are invited to apply for Summer Sounds 2025. Successful applicants will have experience performing onstage for a live audience. Interested musicians must apply by 11:59 PM, February 28, 2025. NO LATE SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED. ALL submissions MUST be made through this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/...

No other submissions will be considered. All applications MUST include a link to at least one recent performance and MUST include a photo that can be used to promote the performance.

Deadlines:

Applications open January 20, 2025 and are due by 11:59 PM, February 28, 2025. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Notification: Bands will be notified of selection no later than April 11, 2024.

Performance dates are Wednesdays and Fridays from June 25 through August 27.

If you have any questions, please email hello@newrochellearts.org