CONCERT | Spoken Word & Music
As part of the 2026 Arthur Patchett Memorial Music Series, Curated by vocalist, composer, and WRCA Board member Judi Silvano, Wallkill River Center for the Arts (WRCA) is pleased to present …
SPOKEN WORD AND MUSIC
Saturday, October 24, 2026
7 to 9 pm
at Wallkill River Center for the Arts (WRCA)
Three seasoned storytellers are joined by two experienced musical poets.
Their stories are the stories they will share.
PLEASE NOTE, the concert series is free and open to the public with a suggested donation of $20/person. Due to the intimate nature of concert locations and limited seating, advance registration is recommended but not required. To reserve your seat, register by purchasing a FREE ticket – at bottom of event page.
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About the SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS:
SUZANNE HAYES
Bitten by the acting bug after years of ballet training, Suzanne attended Circle in the Square Professional Acting School in New York City, where she trod the boards with the Judith Shakespeare Company, and landed a few national TV commercials, as well as wrote and performed her own stand-up routine. A lifetime book lover and avid reader, Suzanne is a member of the Chrysalis Writers Series, which performs original works onstage for fun and profit; was a regular reader of the poetry of Jack Kerouac along with the music of David Amram at the Cornelia Street Cafe theatre; and participates in the Woodstock Bookfest’s Story Slam. She has also written a verbatim play, My Own Tongue, drawn from the blog of a young woman dealing with terminal cancer, and which was used as a tool for advocating for Aid in Dying laws in New York State. She has recently completed her memoir, Curlytop, for which she is seeking representation.
MICHAEL PATRICK KELLY
Michael is a writer / filmmaker and founder of Aquapio Films Ltd. His most recent documentary film: Motian in Motion, is a film that documents the extraordinary career of iconic jazz drummer Paul Motian.
Isn’t It Delicious Michael’s narrative feature film starring Kathleen Chalfant, Keir Dullea, and Alice Ripley, was released worldwide winning the Best Actor award for Kathleen Chalfant at the San Antonio Film Festival; Best Film at the Mt. Rainier Film Festival; and Best Comedy at the Manhattan Film Festival.
In 2017 Michael and his wife Suzanne relocated to Woodstock NY.
DEBRA K. EVERY
Debra is an author of horror, thrillers, and stories with twisted perspectives. Her 2024 psychological horror debut, Deena Undone, has won multiple awards, most notably an American Fiction Award, a Storytrade Book Award, and a Page Turner Award. It was also nominated for a Pushcart Prize and is available in paperback, Kindle and on Audible. Deena Undone has garnered stellar reviews in major publications including Kirkus Reviews (“Absolutely Stomach-Churning”), Booklife for Publishers Weekly (“Powerful Debut”), and the Bram Stoker winner, S.T. Joshi (“A remarkable piece of writing”). A Spanish edition, Deena Desatada has been released by Dilatando Mentes. Before writing, Debra spent years as a professional opera singer with a European debut at the Royal Opera in Stockholm and a New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall. She lives amongst the rolling hills and pastures of Upstate New York with her husband and quirky cattle dog, Bad Dog Bob, where she endlessly strives to write one perfectly balanced sentence.
About the MUSICIANS:
BILL WARE, vibes
A quiet giant of the vibraphone, BILL WARE defines the word groove with masterful technique and stunning musicality. He has performed, recorded and toured internationally with many notable artists. He is a founding member of the internationally renowned Jazz Passengers, who have appeared and recorded with Deborah Harry, Mavis Staples, Jimmy Scott, Jeff Buckley and Elvis Costello. In the 1990s, Ware broke open the New York City “acid jazz” scene with Groove Collective and toured with Steely Dan for three years. More about his compositions for jazz, classical, film can be found on his website at www.billwarevibes.com
JOHN MENEGON, acoustic bass
JOHN MENEGON is a Jazz Bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and educator. He began his career in Montreal, and after relocating to New York, he played bass for 10+ years with two legendary tenor saxophonists, Dewey Redman and David “Fathead” Newman. Menegon has released eight CDs as a bandleader featuring Dewey Redman, Frank Kimbrough, Jean-Michel Pilc, Joel Frahm, Matt Wilson, Kenny Burrell, Jack DeJohnette, Teri Roiger, John Di Martino, John Gunther, Tineke Postma, Leo Genovese, Harvey Sorgen, and others. He currently plays Bass with jazz legend Joe Lovano’s “Joyous Encounters” Quartet. Menegon will be releasing his ninth recording in June 2026 entitled BELONGINGS. For more visit www.johnmenegon.com
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WRCA’s 2026 concert series has been made possible thanks to:
Wallkill River Center for the Arts programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
