Neighbors Andie Springer, Katie Cox & Conrad Winslow On Music From Alaska To Ditmas Park
Andie Springer and Katie Cox grew up together in Fairbanks, Alaska, moving to New York in the 2000s to pursue musical studies and other artistic opportunities. In 2008, Andie met Conrad Winslow, a Homer, AK native, and the two have lived in Ditmas Park for the past year and a half. As it turns out, Katie already had an attachment to Homer from days spent fishing with her father during her youth–so when the idea came up of creating a music festival in the town so close to two of her good friends, Andie says she jumped at the chance.
“We all three had independently been dreaming of finding a way to give back to Alaska musically,” Andie says. “I had never been to Homer myself but had heard nothing but wonderful things about the people and the landscape and believed Conrad and Katie when they said it would be the perfect place.”
So Andie, a violinist who’s studied at Carnegie Mellon University and NYU, Katie, a flautist who studied at Concordia College and California State University, and Conrad, who studied composition and film scoring at Rollins College, NYU and Juilliard, began planning the first Wild Shore Festival for New Music in 2011 and held it for the first time this past June.
Ahead of a fundraising event for the festival this weekend at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, we asked Andie to tell us more about the festival she, Katie, and Conrad began nearly 5,000 miles away, how our area compares to Homer, and what the trio love about life in Ditmas Park.
“Ditmas Park compares to Homer in that it is a very artistic community,” Andie says. “Homer is a town of fishermen and artists; alongside the docks where the fishing boats pull in are galleries full of local art such as paintings, ceramics, photography and jewelry. Homer also has a vibrant local music scene; singer-songwriters, rock and folk bands perform regularly at local venues.”
Andie notes that the things she, Conrad, and Katie (who has lived in the neighborhood since April) love about Homer can also be found in Ditmas Park, including the broad range of genres covered by local musicians, and the crafts other and artisanal goods to be found at places like the Cortelyou Greenmarket and Brooklyn ARTery. And as for the trio’s favorite venues and musicians in the neighborhood and borough?
“Bar Chord is certainly a great place to hear music,” Andie says. They’re also big fans of Barbes, Roulette and The Firehouse Space, and the Beverley Concert Series.
“There are so many musical acts here in DP to choose from,” she says. “Bombay Rickey, The National and any of their branches…”
Photo via Wild Shore Festival for New Music
While the three appreciate the local amenities here, they realized that Homer could use more music brought right to its doorstep–and that Wild Shore would be an ideal way to do that. The festival, which is roughly a week long, features a concert program of contemporary classical musicians at one local venue and one “outreach” venue, a day of educational workshops, and a collaborative finale concert with a local band.
“It was an incredible experience, and the reception from the community was amazing,” Andie says. “While they had never been exposed to that type of music before, they approached each event with open ears and minds, and they really enjoyed it!”
Part of Wild Shore’s mission is to bring musicians from outside of Alaska, as well as collaborate with local artists in Homer. Last year, they featured NYC’s Transit, and this year will include performances from Bed Stuy’s Concert Black and LA’s Vicki Ray.
“We love all of the performers we had last year and the ones we are bringing this year,” Andie says. “Transit, Concert Black and Vicki Ray are all not only exceptional musicians but wonderful people.
“It’s important to us that the artists we bring to Homer are people who can engage, connect, educate and communicate with the community, who don’t mind performing outside or riding in the back of a pickup truck, and how know how to have a good time,” she says.
Photo via Wild Shore Festival for New Music
“It’s also important to present these musicians in Homer because NYC is one of the cultural centers of the world, and we want to share that great culture. What is the point of keeping all the music in one place? We believe in bringing it to the people,” Andie says, “and in our case, the people of Homer.”
But as much as Andie, Katie, and Conrad want to bring the musical resources of New York to Homer, they also encourage Ditmas Parkers to check Homer out if they can.
“We believe in sharing Homer,” Andie says. “Homer is a stunningly beautiful place and an artistically fertile community, and we want to show that to our friends and colleagues.
“Homer inspires us,” she says, “and we strive to inspire Homer.”
Photo via Wild Shore Festival for New Music
If you believe in Homer, too, and want to help bring NYC artists across the country to Homer’s residents, stop by the Wild Shore Festival for New Music’s fundraiser this Saturday, December 7 at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (430 w 37th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues) from 7-9pm.