Category: Adult Programs

West African Kora / Fri Oct 9 / 6:30PM / Steele Room

Traditional Music of the West African Kora

with Sean Gaskell

Friday, October 9th at 6:30 PM in the Community Steele Room.

Sean performs traditional music and shares the history of this ancient 21-stringed harp from West Africa.

He learned to play over the course of multiple visits to Gambia and Senegal, where he studied with Malamini Jobarteh, Moriba Kuyateh, Youssoupha Cissokho and Mamadou Cissokho.
Sean says, “It is due to the continued support and encouragement of my teachers that I am able to present this music to audiences in the United States. My ongoing relationship with each of them inspires me to grow as a musician and human. The hospitality that I experienced with their extended families during my visits was truly remarkable.”

Sponsored by the Friends of the Waterbury Public Library, the program serves up a delightful fare of catchy instrumentals along with traditional Mandinka style playing and singing. The kora, a 21-stringed West African harp has a gourd bottom and is rich in tone and vibration. Along with his excellent playing, Gaskell delivers the history of the instrument and his personal journey of working and living with families in Gambia and Senegal, which he calls “life changing”. The Friends will be serving up authentic African goodies at the event.  For all ages. 

Listen to some of his music here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmM9Qysng_v9jqOV88rbL-A
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2122289608689714

From Roderic Knight- Retired Professor of Ethnomusicology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH:

“Sean’s playing and singing are right-on when it comes to traditional Mandinka style. Very nice indeed!”

Boreal Wilderland / Wed Oct 14 / 6:30PM

Boreal Wilderland

With Author ROB MULLEN

Wednesday, October 14 from 6:30-8 PM in the SAL Room

Photos, paintings, and stories from wilderness art expeditions from Labrador to Alaska, illustrating the book’s inspiration, what the boreal forest is, and why it matters.

From the Wilderness River Expedition Art Fellowship (WREAF) partnered with the Smithsonian’s Artic Studies Center at the NMNH comes this visually spectacular celebration of the world’s largest – and most overlooked – terrestrial ecosystem.

Boreal Wilderland is more than just a travelogue or an art book. It is an in-depth look at the forest’s natural and human history.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

About the author:
Rob Mullen is a wildlife and wilderness artist, naturalist, and expedition canoeist whose work combines art, adventure, and conservation. Holding a degree in biology from the University of Vermont, he spent 16 years as a freelancing advertising artist in New York City before returning to Vermont in 1994 to pursue wildlife art full time. A nationally recognized and award-winning artist, Mullen is the founder of the Wilderness River Expedition Art Fellowship (WREAF) which has run more than 20 wilderness art expeditions across North America.
You can find out more about Rob here:

Artist: Paint-N-Paddle Studio:  www.robmullen.com

Director for WREAF at The Center for Circumpolar Studies: www.circumpolarstudies.org/wreaf/

Vermont Reads Queer Reads / Wed Oct 28 / 6-7pm

Charity And Sylvia

Vermont Reads Queer Reads

Wednesday, October 28th from 6:00 -7:00 pm in the SAL room.

ALL AGES Book Discussion

The 2026 Vermont Reads graphic novel by Tillie Walden is available at the library for you to pick up.

This groundbreaking story is also the story of 19th century America.

Our discussion will be led by Teen Queer Reads leader and Outreach Coordinator Anathe Parkes.

 

Charity & Sylvia Listening Party / Thu Oct 29 / 6PM

Fall Festival 2026: Our Woven History

Summerland: Charity and Sylvia Listening Party

Thursday, October 29th from 6:00 – 7:30PM.

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL

5 Stowe Street, Waterbury

How does MUSIC, LOVE, ART, and BUSINESS fit together?
Join the Vermont Humanities Council and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Special Project Conductor and Artistic Director Matt LaRocca for a very special LISTENING PARTY.
You’ll have a chance to hear a commissioned piece built around a unique story such as the Vermont Reads couple.
The composer Clarice Assad based her work upon the historic story of Weybridge couple Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, taking inspiration from their story and weaving their letters to one another into the music. The piece was premiered by the Brazilian American at the opening concert of the VSO for the 2026-27 season.
We’ll listen to the recording from our September concert, dive into the score, discuss how real-life events can inspire new art, and take an inside look into the commission and composition process.
  • How is music created around a unique story?
  • What does a commission look like?
The free tickets can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summerland-charity-and-sylvia-listening-party-tickets-1994021829971?aff=oddtdtcreator

About the Speaker

black and white headshot of Matt LaRocca with a lake in the background

Matt LaRocca is a cross-genre composer, performer, and educator who likes making beautiful sounds – you’re just as likely to see him playing with a rock band as conducting an orchestra. He is the Artistic Advisor and Special Project Conductor for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra where he works with all things non-traditional, a professor of composition/theory at the University of Vermont, and the Music Director of the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra.

LaRocca holds degrees in chemistry and music from Middlebury College and a doctorate in music composition from Boston University. He lives in Waterbury Center with his wife Heather and their three children.
Learn more about Matt here: https://www.mattlarocca.com/

Silent Reading Party / Mon November 2 / 5:30pm

Silent Reading Parties

Dates / Times / Locations:

Monday, November 2nd at 5:30 
The Bidwell
29 Stowe Street, Suite 1

Read with friends.

At Silent Reading Parties there’s no assigned reading. We gather in bars, cafés, and many other community spaces to read together in quiet camaraderie.

All readers are welcome—ebooks or audiobooks, poetry or prose, fiction or non-fiction… it’s BYOBook.

Welcome to introvert happy hour!

     

Watercolor with Pauline / Tuesdays / 10:30-12:30 / Steele

Watercolor with Pauline Nolte

Tuesdays from 10:30 to 12:30 in the Steele room

Runs through November 17th.

Register with judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com

Pauline provides instruction and demonstration, with opportunity for independent work.

Whether you are new to watercolor or have been painting for a while, this class suits both beginners and artists alike!

Classes are free and supplies are provided for beginners.

Board Game Night / 2nd Tuesdays / 6PM

Board Game Night!

2nd Tuesday of the month.

6:00 – 8:00 PM.

Games are Euro-styled or designer games that are a mix of chance and skill and emphasize strategy, indirect competition and resource management.

You are welcome to bring your own. No Monopoly please.

Bring snacks if you like.

No registration needed.

 Email Judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com to sign up.

Duplicate Bridge / Thursdays / 12:30-4:30

Duplicate Bridge is Back!

Thursdays from 12:30 to 4:30 in the SAL Room.

Are you an experienced Bridge Player?

The Waterbury Bridge Group is always looking for new members.

You are welcome even if you haven’t played Duplicate Bridge.

Duplicate Bridge plays each hand twice, but with different players.

Want to learn more? Call Grace Sweet at 802-917-5316 or Millie Merrill at 802-522-3523.

Chair Yoga / Wednesdays / 10:30AM / Zoom

Chair Yoga with Instructor Diana Whitney.

Wednesdays at 10:30 AM.

No experience needed. All levels welcome to this low-stress, energetic class.
The chair provides stability and balance, and allows movement without fear.
All are welcome, experienced practitioners and newbies alike!

Click on the link below to join the session (will put you in zoom waiting room until session starts).

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsf-6prj4jHd1jfaZQAM1jQXgcP6WzcBXU

Click here (links out to Youtube) for a variety of recordings to practice between classes.

Tai Chi Classes / Thursdays / 9:15am & 10:30am

Two separate Tai Chi classes

Beginner Fall Prevention Tai Chi

A beginner class

Thursdays through May 27th from 9:15am – 10:15 a.m.

AND

Sun 73 Tai Chi

A longer Sun form for intermediate students. Completion of Tai Chi for Fall Prevention recommended but not required. Classes build on each other each week.

Thursdays through May 27th from 10:30am – 11:30 a.m.

From the Central Vermont Council on Aging.

Preregistration is required:

https://tiny.cc/cvcoawellness

or contact

volunteer@cvcoa.org or 802-479-0531

Sign-up is at the beginning of the series, not ongoing.

Benefits:

  • Improved balance and mobility
  • Improved strength and flexibility
  • Improved relaxation
  • Decreased pain and falls

Classes are free of charge for adults 60+.

Classes build on each other each week.

 

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