The Board of Directors of the Corporation includes:
Joseph Liotta - President, Director of Operations, Grant Coordination
Dr. Peter McCoy - Secretary
Jon Hunkins Dr. George Biffer Scott LaVine Jessica Newtown
The full and formal name is THE NORWOOD VILLAGE GREEN CONCERT SERIES. It is a program of the Norwood Village Green Concert Series, Inc., a non-profit organization founded to “impact our home communities via inspiring and spirit-uplifting out door performances”. There is no admission charged. There is a “pass the bucket”. It was conceived and co-founded by Joseph and Harriet Liotta in 1974. The series anticipates hosting its 750,000 audience member and presenting its 818th event in 2024.
The Series prides itself in its programming for children and youth and its long history of giving opportunity for student musician performances. It always tries to present its offerings in the spirit of community whether the performer is the beginning student or the internationally recognized super-star artist.
The Series networks and works in co sponsorship with many local civic organizations and groups. All outdoor programs are presented on the Liotta Band Shell on the Norwood Village Green. The facility was dedicated on September 25, 1975 as a major gift in recognition of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. Since 1991 several occasional indoor concerts and artist-in-residencies for Norwood-Norfolk students have been initiated. Unique to this series in Northern New York are the international performers it presents. In 2024 the countries to be represented include China, Korea, Chile, and Bangladesh. Over the years the series has presented groups from New Zealand, Russia, Albania, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Mali, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Colombia, Peru, Honduras, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Canada, the Mohawk Nation, Spain, Cuba, India, and beyond. Also unique to series it has presented many forms of dance, children’s programing, magic shows, puppetry, and many other arts genres. It is the most diverse outdoor concert series in Northern New York State. With the addition of its 2024 performers it has presented 31 Grammy recipients and 4 National Heritage Medalists and many other prestigious award recipients over the years.
As Co-founder, President, and Program Director of the Norwood Village Green Concert Series, Joe Liotta has received the following recognitions and honors for his work with, and for the values placed on this series:
2002 St. Lawrence County Arts Council Inaugural Annual Arts Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts. 2003 North Country Citation: St. Lawrence University - Commencement, May 2003 “The North Country’s own “sense of place” is created as much by shared community values as cherished landscape features. Our region has a musical heritage that both reflects and shapes our lives as friends and neighbors. Joseph Liotta, an adopted son of the North Country, embraced a full appreciation of place when, in 1974, he created with his wife Harriet the Norwood Village Green Concert Series. Twice a week from June through August, audiences gather on blankets and chairs on the expanse of lawn at the center of this village to hear local students, local and regional artists, and artists from around the world perform in a small band shell. There is no admission charge, only an opportunity to contribute a gift of one’s choice. On July 3, 2003, the series will present its 500th concert, appropriately a reunion concert of the internationally renowned Norwood Fire Department Band, of which Mr. Liotta has been a member since 1969. A graduate of the Crane School of Music and retired member of the Potsdam High School Music Department, Joe Liotta counts 35 of his former students as professional musicians, including members of the ensembles Rockapella, the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. For his contributions to the musical heritage of our region, St. Lawrence University offers Joseph Liotta its 2003 NORTH COUNTRY CITATION”. 2004 Leadership Through Service Award - SUNY, Potsdam On May 22, 2004 at the SUNY Potsdam’s President’s Dinner for the 170th Commencement of the institution, he received his alma mater’s Leadership Through Service Award for his work for the Series and for his contributions to the cultural life of the North Country. 2015 The Liotta Band Shell on the Norwood Village Green On July 30, 2015 by proclamation of the Board of Trustees of the Trustees of the Village of Norwood the band shell was designated “The Liotta Band Shell on the Norwood Village Green” in appreciation for 42 years of dedication and service to Norwood. 2021 Distinguished Citizen Award – College Council, SUNY, Canton June 2021- The SUNY, Canton College Council awarded Joseph M. Liotta its Distinguished Citizen Award in recognition of distinguished service to the community. Other Recognitions and Awards: 1988 The Dewitt Clinton Citizen of the Year Award 1988 Letter of Commendation from Governor Mario M. Cuomo 1989 Kiwanis Club of Norwood’s Citizen of the Year Award 1993 Recognizing the Twentieth Anniversary of the Series, the Norwood Village Board of Trustees awarded a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ Award for Outstanding Community Service
Past Performers Accolades Updated for 2024 and inclusive of 2024 performers
Grammy Award Recipients – 31 - Mamadou Diabate, Renée Fleming, Laurel Massé, James Cotton, Tim O’Brien, Joanne Shenandoah, Robert Ickes, Mike Auldridge, Casey Driessen, Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozan, Bill Harley, Suzie Bogguss, Steve Riley, Terrance Simien, Tom Chapin, Mark O’Connor, The O’Connor Family Band, Tom Paxton, Jon Vezner, Don Henry, Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet, Alex Cuba, Ranky Tanky, John Jorgensen, Mark Fain, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Jay Ashby, Michael Cleveland. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award – Tom Paxton Latin Grammy – Alex Cuba
Grammy Award Nominees – Rare Silk, Mark Murphy, Claire Lynch, Karrin Allyson, Andy Bey, Blue Highway, Peter Phippen, Grace Potter (with Kenny Chesney), Bill Morrissey, CJ Chenier, Della Mae, John Fedcock, Shemekia Copeland, Joey DeFrancesco, Renée Marie, Darmon Meader (NY Voices), Grace Potter, Maria Muldaur, Karl and Liesl Doty (A Far Cry), Kim Nazarian (NY Voices) MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Award Recipients– Paul Taylor, Michelle Dorrance
National Medal of Arts Recipients - Paul Taylor, Renée Fleming
National Heritage Foundation Fellows - Mike Auldridge, The Campbell Brothers, Michael Doucet, Michael Cleveland
National Fiddle Champions - Kimber Ludiker (twice), Mark O’Connor
National Dulcimer Champion - Dan Duggan
National Flatpick Guitar Champion – Joe Smart
Helen Hayes Performing Artist of the Year Award - David Gonzalez
Juno Award Recipients – The Carlton Showband, Family Brown, Sue Foley, David Francey, LeVent Du Nord, Jenny Whitely, Connie Kaldor, James Keelaghan, Oscar Lopez, Pat LaBarbera, The Downchild Blues Band, Ray Bonneville, Lynn Miles, Steve Marriner. Kennedy Center Honors Recipient - Renée Fleming
International Bluegrass Music Association Winners – Tim O’Brien, Robert Ickes, Claire Lynch, Jim Hurst, Mark Schatz, Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozan, Mike Auldridge, Blue Highway, Front Range, Tim Stafford, Casey Driessen, The Gibson Brothers, Della Mae, Mark O’Connor, Sierra Hull, Balsam Range, Buddy Melton, Tim Surret, Trey Hensley, Michael Cleveland Academy of Country Music Awards Mark O’Conner Instrumentalist of the Year 6 times, John Jorgensen Guitarist of the Year 3 times
Blues Foundation Awards Recipients - (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards) - Rory Block, James Cotton, Sue Foley Blues Music Award Guitar Player of the Year (1997, 1999, 2014, 2018) Ronnie Earl Maple Blues Awards - Sue Foley, The Downchild Blues Band, Chuck Jackson, Michael Jerome Browne, JW Jones, Suzie Vinnick, Harry Manx
CMA Best Music Video Award - 2011 - Grace Potter with Kenny Chesney "You and Tequila"
Emmy Award Winners – Marshall Izen, Paul Taylor, Tom Chapin
Guggenheim Fellowships – John Hegginbotham, Helen Sung
VARIOUS AWARDS RECIPIENTS
Sylvia Tyson - The Order of Canada
Maria Muldaur - American Music Association Lifetime Achievement Americana Trailblazers Award
The Tanglewood Marionettes – Union Internationale de la Marionette U.S.A. Citation of Excellence
Paul Taylor - The Emmy Award, 2 Guggenheim Fellowships The Legion d' Honneurs for his contribution to French culture and every other major arts award given in the United States
Michelle Dorrance – Bessie Award, Princess Grace Award, Jacob’s Pillow Award, Albert Award
John Heginbotham – Jacob’s Pillow Award, Jerome Robbins Foundation New Essential Works (NEW) Fellowship (2010, 2012)
Le Vent du Nord - Charles Cross Grand Prix (France), Artist of the Year both in the North American Folk Alliance Network and the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Félix, Transatlantic Pont Awards
Alex Torres – The New England Cultural Arts Preservation Award, The New York State Music Achievement Award, The Governor´s Excellence in Arts Award
Many past performers have performed on Grammy Award winning records for other performers such as Dirk Powell for Loretta Lynn and Ray Vega for Tito Puente.
Many have been called upon to use their musical talent to enhance films such as Dirk Powell and Tim O’Brien for Anthony Mingheller’s Cold Mountain, Steve Riley for Robert Duvall’s The Apostle, Ray Vega for Arne Glimcher’s The Mambo Kings and in 2010, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals for “White Rabbit” in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, and Mark O’Connor on countless recordings, Wayne Bergeron for many recordings and Oscar winning soundtracks (including La La Land), Beau Soleil for The Big Easy, Renée Fleming on a myriad of recordings and film soundtracks (including Lord of the Rings).