In the Spring of 2006, a small group of Upper West side music lovers wanted to bring live music of high quality to their beloved Verdi Square Park. The obstacles were impossibly high: A small space unlikely for concerts, considerable ambient city noise, plus the usual bureaucratic snafus. What's more, our Upper West Siders wanted to provide these concerts for free. In fact, they demanded it. They reached out to a mutual friend, George Litton. George was a peripatetic man of high calibre with connections in both the business and classical music world. They figured if George couldn't pull it off, nobody could.
In just a few short months, George pulled it off.
We proudly held our first concerts in September 2006, and have been presenting three concerts every September since, with interruption only by the pandemic and its ensuing shutdown. In September 2023, we are glad to be making our return to Verdi Square Park after a three-year hiatus.
These events will be our first since 2019, and sadly, they will be our first without our dear George, who passed away even as he was actively planning for this return.
GEORGE LITTON (1934-2022)
The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts Founder and Chairman Emeritus
These concerts and all those that may follow are dedicated to his memory.
From our inception, The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts has been focused on providing performance opportunities for NYC's fine music conservatory students and newly minted graduates. In this way, we're able to provide the artistic quality our founders demanded while also fulfilling our commitment to free live performance for our fellow New Yorkers. We seek to continue and enhance our warm relationship with our local conservatories (particularly the Manhattan School of Music) and the NYC Parks Department. At the same time we'll keep an open mind (and performance space) for eclecticism. Over the years, our programs have featured bluegrass, pop/rock, and even spoken-word plays. We are and will remain privately funded and we'll continue to provide our concerts free to the public.
And with your kind support, we aim to continue for years to come...
The Verdi Square Festival Corp. is an IRS 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation funded entirely by the Friends of the Verdi Square Festival. Your tax-deductible contribution may be made by check payable to the Verdi Square Festival Corp. and mailed to:
The Verdi Square Festival Corp.
700 Fort Washington Avenue Suite 5G
NY NY 10040
Whether you're a Verdi Square veteran or a new "Friend-To-Be", your kind support will help keep high-caliber live music performance in Verdi Square free for our fellow New Yorkers. In these challenging times, contributions of any amount are sincerely appreciated.
The Founder and CEO of the Festival since its inception in 2006, George Litton brought his unique talents and skill set to Verdi Square for the betterment of NYC and its musical heritage. Under George's leadership the VSF has presented 3 concerts a year with interruption only by the pandemic and shutdown. As the Festival returns for its first concerts since 2019, we honor George in gratitude for his vision, guidance and most saliently, friendship.
His was a kindly and generous presence and he will truly be missed by all.
Professional Timpanist/Percussionist and the founding owner of ManhattanPercussion, Glen Wilkofsky combines decades of real world experience in both the performing arts and business realms. A NYC native and long-time Verdi Square supporter, he takes the reins of VSF leadership from his friend George Litton, knowing all too well the large shoes he has to fill.
Bill Crumlic of CrumlicMedia is a videographer and video editor in New York City. CrumlicMedia is a video company focused on artists and arts of all types and proud to be a long-time part of the Verdi Square team.