named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Dances and Jams
Regular community events including dances, open mics, African drumming, and jam sessions to foster engagement in traditional music practices.
Group Instrument Classes
Six-week group classes in acoustic instruments such as ukulele, guitar, and piano accordion, offered at the Old Songs Community Arts Center for adult learners.
Old Songs Concert Series
Live concert series featuring local, national, and international traditional and folk musicians, held in person and live-streamed from the Old Songs building in Voorheesville.
Old Songs Festival
Annual multi-day festival held at the Altamont Fairgrounds featuring traditional music, dance, family activities, crafting, and youth participation through the Great Groove Band and Chorus.
Spring into Uke
All-day ukulele intensive workshop for all skill levels, including sessions on chord progressions, fingerpicking, rhythm, and music theory, taught by experienced folk musicians.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Conducts full-day music workshops and intensivesHosts all-day instructional workshops such as ukulele and hammered dulcimer intensives, culminating in concerts by instructors, open to participants of all skill levels.
- Offers recurring music instruction and skill-building classesProvides ongoing group music classes at its Voorheesville location, including beginner to advanced levels in guitar, ukulele, piano accordion, band, and sea chanteys, with structured curricula covering technique, theory, and performance.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 2 activities
- Facilitates regular community music and dance gatheringsHosts monthly events including bluegrass jams, old-time jams, Irish slow sessions, African drumming circles, open mics, and family-friendly sing-arounds such as The Pick’n’ & Sing’n’ Gather’n’, fostering participatory traditional music culture for all ages and skill levels.
- Hosts concerts and live-streamed musical performancesPresents in-person and live-streamed concerts at its venue in Voorheesville, NY, featuring traditional music performers, with events broadcast via the Old Songs YouTube Channel.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Engages in field-wide capacity building and networkingParticipates in regional and national folk alliance events including NERFA and FAI, exhibiting, mentoring artists, and networking with other presenters to strengthen organizational and sector capacity.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Hosts community barn dances with inclusive programmingOrganizes community barn dances featuring taught folk dances such as circles, contras, and squares for participants of all ages and abilities, including a dessert potluck during intermission.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Maintains and improves Community Arts Center facilitiesSupports upkeep of the Old Songs Community Arts Center at 37 South Main Street, including repairs and remodeling projects such as kitchen upgrades with new flooring, insulation, sink, island, and paint.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Organizes festivals and educational programs to preserve traditional music and dancePresents annual festivals, community dances, and educational programming—including instrument classes, intensives, and workshops—to keep traditional music and dance alive; supported by funding for artist fees and operating costs.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Produces archival internet radio programProduces "Old Songs: From the Vault," an internet radio program featuring archival recordings from 39 years of past festivals and events, preserving and sharing historical performances.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Provides accessibility accommodations for eventsEnsures accessible parking is available at its venue for concerts, located in the lot behind the building in Voorheesville, NY.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocates on policy issues affecting performing artistsParticipated in a panel discussion at Folk Alliance International in Montreal addressing the financial impact of delayed performer visas on touring musicians and presenters.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$479K
Contributions & grants$191K40%
Program service revenue$272K57%
Investment income$16K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$403K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$99K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$561K
Cash$178K
Investments$159K
Liabilities$75K
Net assets$487K
Liquid reserves10.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +16.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 13
- BARBARA BRUNDAGE — PRESIDENT
- DEBRA BURGER — VICE PRESIDE
- GEORGE WARD — BOARD MEMBER
- HOWARD JACK — BOARD MEMBER
- IAN HAMELIN — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN OZARD — TREASURER
- JUDITH SHEA — BOARD MEMBER
- KATE BLAIN — BOARD MEMBER
- MARYANN MORRISON — BOARD MEMBER
- PHIL TEUMIM — BOARD MEMBER
- THERESA SALO — BOARD MEMBER
- TOM GLEASON — SECRETARY
- WANDA FISCHER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Fund Government — Awarded a $5,000 grant through its Michele L. Vennard Hospitality Grant Program to subsidize performer lodging costs.
- American Legion Partner — Coordinates parking logistics near American Legion property to avoid conflicts.
- Board of Directors Partner — Governing board overseeing organizational leadership and direction.
- Folk Alliance International (FAI) Network — Participated in a panel discussion at FAI on visa issues affecting performers and venues.
- Folk Music Notebook Partner — Collaborates with Old Songs to produce and host the "From the Vault" internet radio program.
- Folk Music Notebook Partner — Collaborates with Old Songs to produce the internet radio program "Old Songs: From the Vault."
- Glenn Weiser Partner — Workshop instructor teaching ukulele, harmonica, and music theory at Old Songs' event.
- Homespun Occasions Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Old Songs on community dance events.
- Lil Rev Partner — Workshop instructor and performer for Old Songs' Spring Into Uke event.
- Mystic Seaport Museum Partner — Collaborates through instructor affiliation; Chris Koldewey served as Chanteyman with the museum's demonstration squad for 20 years.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary funder supporting programming at Old Songs through state arts funding.
- New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Government — Awarded a General Operating Support grant for 2026.
- Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Network — Exhibited at NERFA, led mentoring sessions, and networked with other New York State presenters.
- Pretty Alright Breakfast Club Partner — Includes parking availability at Pretty Alright Breakfast Club as part of event parking options.
- Ron Gordon Partner — Workshop instructor and organizer of the Spring Into Uke event in the Capital District.
- Skye Consort Partner — Performing ensemble collaborating with Old Songs for concerts
- Village Hall Partner — Uses Village Hall lot for event parking.
- Voorheesville Public Library Partner — Collaborated on a dance education program for teens at the Old Songs Community Arts Center.
- YouTube Network — Hosts live-streamed concerts on the Old Songs YouTube Channel.
- YouTube Partner — Uses YouTube as a platform to live-stream concerts.
- pickingandsinging.org Partner — Collaborates on hosting The Pick'n' & Sing'n' Gather'n' (PSG), a family sing-around event.
strategies · 8
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Adaptable Music Instruction Using Numbered Notationmethodology: numbered musical notation systemBy using the Nashville Number System, the organization teaches chord progression and transposition skills that support collaborative music-making because a theory-based, flexible notation system enables musicians to play together across styles and keys more easily.
- Cultural Heritage-Based Music Educationmethodology: cultural-heritage-based music educationBy teaching music through historical context and repertoire from foundational American folk artists, the organization builds technical and cultural understanding because grounding instruction in tradition fosters deeper artistic appreciation and continuity of practice.
- Cultural Preservation Through Public Programmingmethodology: cultural-preservation-through-public-programmingBy presenting festivals, concerts, dances, and educational programs, the organization sustains and promotes traditional music and dance within the community because public participation in live cultural events reinforces intergenerational transmission and collective identity.
- Digital Archiving and Broadcast for Cultural Accessmethodology: cultural preservation through digital archiving and broadcastBy broadcasting archival festival recordings through an internet radio partnership, the organization preserves and extends access to folk music heritage because digital dissemination ensures long-term availability and broader reach beyond physical event attendance.
- Hybrid Event Access Modelmethodology: hybrid_accessBy combining in-person events with live-streaming, the organization expands access to performances because virtual participation removes geographic and mobility barriers while maintaining the authenticity of live experience.
- Participatory Music Engagement for Community Buildingmethodology: participatory_music_gatheringBy using taught folk dances, community jams, and family-inclusive music gatherings, the organization fosters cross-generational engagement and social cohesion because inclusive, participatory formats lower barriers to entry and strengthen communal bonds through shared musical experience.
- Thematic Programming to Enhance Musical Experiencemethodology: thematic programmingBy framing musical experiences around the thematic concept of 'cantrip'—a charm or spell—the organization creates memorable, imaginative engagements because unexpected arrangements and narrative themes deepen audience immersion and emotional connection.
- Trans-Atlantic Cultural Collaborationmethodology: trans-Atlantic collaborationBy presenting music through trans-Atlantic collaborations, the organization enriches traditional forms with diverse folk influences because blending Old World and New World traditions stimulates innovation while deepening cultural resonance.