Morris & RiversRotterdam Junction, N.Y. --  The Mabee Farm Historic Site hosts the debut of a new song cycle by Schenectady songwriters Morris & Rivers 6 p.m. Thursday, October 20. Voices of the Valley features vocalist Alice Sorensen performing 12 original tunes, commissioned by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Lecco Morris and Justin K. Rivers, nominated in 2022 for “Songwriters of the Year” by the Capital Region Music Hall of Fame, composed a cycle of songs portraying life in the Mohawk Valley. Partnering with Schenectady County Historical Society, they found inspiration from local history and personal experiences.

“These songs exemplify the history and the deeply human stories of our region,” said Schenectady County Historical Society Executive Director, Mary Zawacki. “We are excited to host their debut at the Mabee Farm.”

Amsterdam native Alice Sorensen is the featured vocalist. A classical musician turned singer/songwriter, she returns to the area after a decade in Brooklyn.

“I've played a lot of different gigs in a lot of different places, but this project is special because it feels like coming home,” said Sorensen.

Morris & Rivers previously collaborated on two albums with vocalist Kimberly Hawkey and seven-time Grammy-winning producer, Saratoga-based Joel Moss: We the Nighthawks and A New Noel. Their work includes collaboration with Broadway star Adam Pascal, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Jessica Fishenfeld (America’s Got Talent). 

The concert at the Mabee Farm is free with a suggested donation of $15. Performers include Alice Sorensen on vocals and guitar, Lecco Morris on piano and vocals, and acclaimed jazz musician Dylan Perrillo on bass. A free talkback immediately follows the performance. Voices of the Valley was funded by the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

For more information visit Voices of the Valley: A song cycle celebrating the Mohawk River Valley – Schenectady County Historical Society (schenectadyhistorical.org)

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