Have you ever heard three bassoons in one place? Have you ever heard one bassoon?

Now’s your chance. Stop by the bookstore during mid-afternoon shopping hours on December 8 and enjoy the camaraderie and talent of three Hudson Valley bassoonists (two from Ossining)! You might even recognise one of them :) They’ll play mostly familiar holiday favorites and will, at one point, be joined by a piano accompanist.

Charlie Scatamacchia has worked in the theatre in various capacities for most of his life. As a young actor he appeared as Motel the Tailer in the National Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF starring Herschel Bernardi. He also appeared in the National Tour of ZORBA starring Anthony Quinn, and in regional productions of GUYS AND DOLLS starring Jerry Stiller and MAME starring Dixie Carter. He later worked as Vice President of RH Theatricals, the live-stage licensing division of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, where his appreciation of those men increased immeasurably. Today he is a teaching artist with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) for which, among other projects, he directed TWELVE ANGRY MEN at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 2023 and CYRANO DEBERGERAC at Fishkill Correctional Facility in 2018. Charlie has played bassoon since he was 14 years old.

Jonathan Stark has over twenty years of professional experience working in higher education. He currently serves as the inaugural Executive Director for the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, a corporate-academic Center of Excellence in partnership with Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jonathan holds degrees from WCSU, Fairfield University, Teachers College of Columbia University, and a doctorate of education (Ed.D.) in higher education management from UPenn. In his spare time, he performs regularly as a bassoonist and clarinetist with a number of local community ensembles. 

Amy Hall (your bookstore owner) has over 30 years with clothing designer EILEEN FISHER, where she pioneered and led the Social Consciousness work (human rights, environmental sustainability, philanthropy, public policy) of the brand. She remains with the company as the Social Consciousness Strategic Advisor. She opened Hudson Valley Books for Humanity in 2021 and has enjoyed every second of the experience. In her “spare” time, she enjoys playing the bassoon with various Hudson Valley orchestras and one symphonic band.