Concerts in Motion
Open Streets
Music Across New York City
Concerts in Motion is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music to those who need it most. Our roster of professional musicians speaks 19 languages and plays 16 genres of music — and is ready to provide the music you love most! We reach older adults, hospitalized patients, and the homebound, relieving social isolation through the power of music. Throughout the summer season, we’ll be around New York City providing beautiful music in outdoor spaces, free of charge.
Check out the musicians who are participating in Make Music New York Day June 21st from 2-7pm, and find musicians in your borough!
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Sax, Flute, Clarinet
Chris Bacas began touring as a musician in 1983. He worked with Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw, Gunther Schuller, David Baker, The National Symphony, Marian McPartland, Tony Bennett and many others. His discography contains more than 60 titles.
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Double Bass
Joshua Levine is the director of Cuarteto Guataca, a Cuban son and salsa group that performs regularly in NYC and in the Northeastern US. Levine has performed his original compositions at Merkin Hall and Weill Recital Hall. Home base is the double bass, but Levine also plays guitars, accordions and sings.
New Lots Plaza
Intersection of Ashford St and New Lots Ave
Brooklyn, NY
Performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.
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Double bass and electric bass
Andrea Veneziani: Bassist and composer Andrea Veneziani performs extensively within the improvised music scene, across a broad spectrum of genres. His instrumental tone, sensitivity and imagination, and melodic approach to a supposedly clumsy instrument brought him to perform and record with many established musicians such as Ralph Alessi, Kenny Werner, Houston Person, Jean-Michel Pilc, Brian Lynch, Jacob Sacks, Kenny Wessel, Tony Moreno, John Stowell, Roberto Gatto, Tom Guarna, Mark Ferber, Ralph Lalama, George Schuller, Jon Davis, Rogerio Boccato, Steve Slagle, John Betsch, Jim Ridl and Ben Monder, to name a few. Based in New York City, his work as an instrumentalist and composer can be regularly heard at the top jazz clubs including Blue Note Jazz Club, Cornelia Street Café, The Jazz Gallery, Bar Next Door, The Kitano, Caffè Vivaldi, Fat Cat, Cleopatra’s Needle, Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, Smalls Jazz Club, ShapeShifter Lab, Seeds, Ibeam, Minton’s Playhouse and 55 Bar. He also frequently tours around the globe, particularly throughout Europe and America.
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Guitar
Nick Demopoulos is a guitar player who has worked as a Cultural Diplomat for the U.S Department of State, traveling to Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, U.A.E and Kuwait to perform and talk about American Culture. Notable artists he has worked with include NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton, NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens, choreographer Camille Brown and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He has performed at Lincoln Center, The Whitney Museum and has been featured on the Discovery Science Network, Guitar World, Create Digital Music and BOMB magazine, among other media outlets.
Beach 21st Street Plaza
Intersection of Beach 21st and Mott Ave
Queens, NY
Performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.
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Voice
Amanda Scalici has been performing since the age of 4, starting off in musical theater. She was introduced to jazz in her teens, and she has drawn inspiration from artists such as Doris Day, Betty Hutton, and June Christy. She has toured in London, Canada, and across the U.S.
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Guitar
Robert Scalici has been playing the guitar for over 30 years. He has played with countless bands, and he taught guitar for several years. He is inspired by artists such as Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, and Joe Pass.
Minthorne Street
Intersection of Bay St and Minthorne Street
Staten Island, NY
Performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.
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Cello
Nelly Rocha has performed solo, chamber and orchestra concerts in Europe, Asia, the United States and Mexico. She has appeared in the Late Night Show with David Letterman and can be heard in the SONY recording Mi Alma Mexicana with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas.
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Trumpet
Christopher Scanlon, D.M.A., is Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Brass Area Coordinator at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Scanlon is a member of the award-winning Axiom Brass since 2021 and has performed with orchestras such as the Boston Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony. Dr. Scanlon has performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, on Broadway and at the festivals of Verbier, Spoleto and Tanglewood where he received the Roger Voisin Award. Dr. Scanlon can be heard on Deutsche Grammophone, Naxos, Mark records and Mode records and international streaming platforms such as medici.tv. An active soloist and clinician, Dr. Scanlon has performed or presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, International Women’s Brass Conference, Indiana Music Educators Conference and the International Trumpet Guild Conference, where Dr. Scanlon currently serves as Chair of the Chamber Music Division of the ITG competitions. Dr. Scanlon is on the Fulbright Specialist roster for 2022-25 where he is invited for international clinics and residencies. Dr. Scanlon is a Bach performing artist and plays Stradivarius trumpets. www.chrisscanlonmusic.com
Plaza de Las Americas
Intersection of Broadway and W175th St
Manhattan, NY
Performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.
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Voice, mbira, kalimba, shekere
Kevin Nathaniel is a visionary musician who, with voice and ancient African instruments, channels sound as a joyous healing force for today's world. Songs of Africa, songs of the African diaspora, contemporary songs, are all part of his creative reach rooted of Motown and Africa.
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Hasan Bakr is a multi percussionist, singer, and composer. He is a career musician, who has been immersed in many forms of the tonal arts of African and American percussion spanning 5 decades.
He has studied and performed most of his adult life with such notables as Chief Bey (shekere and bell), Babafeami(Conga), Nana Vasconcelos (berimbau and caxixi), Little Ray Romero (timbales), and Mbemba Bangoura (Djembe).
While actively pursuing a career in drumming, Hasan molded a unique vocal ability with in the legendary Spirit Ensemble (1986-2001) and Heritage OP (1997-present) Hasan is a 1998 Ethnic Dance Award Recipient, recording and/or performing with Amina Figarova Sextet, Jeff Coffin, The Winard Harper Sextet, Snow, Hassan Hakmoum, Mbira Master Ephat Mujuru, Salieu Suso, Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya, The Meditations, Veiux Diop and many more.
Morrison Plaza
Intersection of Morrison Ave and Harrod Pl
Bronx, NY
Performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.
Get Behind Open Streets
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Virtual Concerts
You and your loved ones can enjoy free, virtual concerts every weekday — from anywhere in the world.
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Corporate Sponsorship
With your support of Open Streets, you can bring the healing powers of music and showcase your brand across New York City.
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Donate to Concerts in Motion
Your generosity brings the healing powers of music to those experiencing isolation, who need it most.
Thank You to Our Partners
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NYC Department of Transporation
Concerts in Motion's is proud to partner with the NYC Department of Transportation whose generous support made our participation in Make Music New York Day possible.
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Open Streets
New York City’s Open Streets program transforms streets into public space open to all. You’ll be seeing Concerts in Motion around the citythroughout the summer!