Established 2006

Free concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduates

Free concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduatesFree concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduatesFree concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduates

Free concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduates

Free concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduatesFree concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduatesFree concerts featuring NYC's music students and recent graduates

The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts

The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts

2026 SEASON DATES COMING SOON

The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts

The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts The Verdi Square Festival of the Arts

2026 SEASON DATES COMING SOON

DEAR FRIENDS; ONGOING MTA CAPITAL REPAIRS IN THE PARK ALONG WITH LIMITED FUNDS HAVE NECESSITATED THE CANCELLATION OF THIS YEAR'S SEASON.  WE ARE ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING FOR 2026 AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN SOON.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUPPORT OUR FESTIVAL, PLEASE REFER TO OUR 'FRIENDS/AMICI' SECTION BELOW.

THE VERDI SQUARE FESTIVAL WILL RETURN!

No upcoming events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdi Square Festival of the Arts is a non-profit music festival featuring high calibre young students and recent graduates from NYC's music conservatories.


Our concerts are held on Sunday afternoons at 5pm in September, with occasional forays into October.


Our concerts take place outdoors in beautiful and historic Verdi Square Park, located between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway between 72nd and 73rd streets.


Nope.  Concerts are free to the public.  Please note that seating is limited and first-come, first-served.  Nonetheless, there are always plenty of standees and the VSF is family and pet-friendly.  All are welcome.  Always.


In the case of rain, we will reschedule the cancelled concert to the following Sunday (or next scheduled concert day) as a 3pm matinee.  Please check this website for weather updates.


About Us

In the spring of 2006, a small group of Upper West Side music lovers

How we came to be...

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.


And where we're going...

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...

Become a Friend of the Verdi Square Festival

Verdi Square Festival Amici

The Verdi Square Festival Corp. is an IRS 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation funded entirely by the Friends of the Verdi Square Festival.  We are a registered New York Charity.  Your tax-deductible contribution may be made by:


1) Zelle:  using this email address:  igive@verdisquarefestival.org


2) GoFundMe:  visit our page:  https://gofund.me/1e7d983e


3) Check mailed to:


         The Verdi Square Festival Corp.

         700 Fort Washington Avenue Suite 5G

         NY NY 10040



Join Us

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.

CORPORATE AND FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT

NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

Sue Donoghue, Commissioner

MAJOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

Manhattan Percussion LLC

Who we are

George Litton (1934-2022) Founder and Chairman Emeritus

George Litton (1934-2022) Founder and Chairman Emeritus

George Litton (1934-2022) Founder and Chairman Emeritus

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.



Glen Wilkofsky, General Director

George Litton (1934-2022) Founder and Chairman Emeritus

George Litton (1934-2022) Founder and Chairman Emeritus

 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.

Join Our Mailing List

Contact Us

Better yet, see us in person!

Stop by at one of our concerts and say hi.

Verdi Square Festival of the Arts

glen@verdisquarefestival.org The Verdi Square Festival Corp. 700 Fort Washington Avenue Suite 5G NY NY 10040

Copyright © 2025 Verdi Square Festival of the Arts - All Rights Reserved.

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