Summer Events 2025
Stewart’s Signature Series is a line-up of premiere summer events offered at no charge to the local community and made possible through a generous grant from Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family. We recognize and celebrate our partners who work together with us to create community connections and student opportunities.
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars
Sunday, June 29, 11:30 am at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Presented by the Skidmore Jazz Institute in partnership with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center as part of the Saratoga Jazz Festival. This performance is part of a festival and is not free; tickets available here.
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars featuring Clay Jenkins (trumpet), Jimmy Greene (saxophone), Steve Davis (trombone), Dave Stryker (guitar), Bill Cunliffe (piano), Todd Coolman (bass) and Dennis Mackrel (drums).
Garth Greenwell and Binnie Kirshenbaum
Tuesday, June 24, 8 PM, Davis Auditorium
A New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College Fiction Reading
Garth Greenwell’s most recent novel, Small Rain, winner of the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, tells the story of how a medical crisis brings one man close to death―and to love, art, and beauty. It is a work that The Washington Post described as “profound . . . a paean to some of life’s most meaningful pleasures.” Greenwell is an alumnus of the NY State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore. Binnie Kirschenbaum is the author of seven novels and one short story collection. Her latest novel, Counting Backwards, is a look at a middle-aged couple’s struggle with the husband’s descent into early onset dementia and is described by The New York Times as “gutsy, funny, and heart-wrenching.”
Tuesday, July 1, 7:30 PM, 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).
A Skidmore Jazz Institute concert.
Ben Wendel Group
Tuesday, July 8, 7:30 PM, Arthur Zankel Music Center
Grammy-nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel leads this quartet.
A Skidmore Jazz Institute concert.
Poetry & Jazz: An Evening with Robert Pinsky, Todd Coolman, Bill Cunliffe, and Dennis Mackrel
Wednesday, July 9, 8 PM at Caffe Lena
An evening with former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, and Grammy Award-winning musician Todd Coolman (bass), Bill Cunliffe (piano), and Dennis Mackrel (drums). Tickets are required and available here. Co-sponsored by the Skidmore Jazz Institute and the New York State Summer Writers Institute.
Francine Prose & Ishion Hutchinson
Thursday, July 10, 8 PM, Davis Auditorium
A New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College Fiction and Poetry Reading
Francine Prose is the author of many acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction; recent titles include the novels Goldengrove and Lovers at the Chameleon Club. She is a contributing editor for Harper’s and also writes The New Yorker, Gentleman’s Quarterly, and Atlantic Monthly. Ishion Hutchinson was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica, and is author of the poetry collections School of Instructions: a Poem, House of Lords and Commons and Far District and the book of essays, Fugitive Tilts. Among his recognitions are the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature.
Jamaica Kincaid and Susan Minot
Wednesday, July 16, 8 PM, Davis Auditorium
A New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College Fiction Reading
Jamaica Kincaid has written many books and is one of the most decorated writers of her generation, most recently a recipient of the St. Louis Literary Award. “She has the gift of endowing common experience with a mythic ferocity…She is one of our most scouringly vivid writers.” (The New York Times) Susan Minot is the author of nine books (novels, short stories and poetry) as well as screenplays (Stealing Beauty) and plays (On Island). Her most recent novel is Don’t Be A Stranger (2024).
For information on other events offered this summer, consult the College’s Latest News and Calendar or these program websites: