East Branch Friends of the Arts is a member-supported, volunteer-led arts organization with a rich history and record of success that has been an integral part of the high peaks community for almost three decades.
Our Mission
East Branch Friends of the Arts is dedicated to supporting and promoting the performing and visual arts with the intent to enrich the lives of residents and visitors in the Adirondack High Peaks region of upstate NY. To carry out that mission, EBFA presents a variety of concerts, art shows, and educational events. EBFA’s programming continues to be stylistically diverse while maintaining high artistic standards. We regularly present artists that would otherwise not be available in our area, as well as support regional arts organizations through collaborative projects and concerts in Keene and Keene Valley. We present world-class performers in classical, jazz, bluegrass, and folk music styles. Our concerts are highly accessible to all residents and visitors with very low suggested donations, and students are always welcomed for free.
Our History
East Branch Friends of the Arts (EBFA) was founded in 1996 in Keene Valley, NY. Keene Valley resident Barbara Strowger was a principle founder and the first Board president. Throughout the early years, EBFA focused on community arts activities such as play readings, salad suppers, music and art educational events, and presented regional artists and musical ensembles. Membership grew as programming for EBFA became more diverse and ambitious, with the first EBFA Arts Festival in 2003, and the first Kite Fest in Marcy Field in 2008. In 2013 EBFA began a long collaboration with the “Book and Blanket Players”, an innovative week-long musical theater workshop for children that culminates in a performance.
Since the pandemic, EBFA has continued to expand and diversify programming, presenting internationally acclaimed artists in concert, collaborating with other arts organizations, and increasing membership. We serve full time and seasonal residents, as well as an increasing number of visitors to the high peaks region. We continue to support local and regional artists and musicians, and continue to foster arts education in the region, while bringing spectacular performances to our town.
Our Supporters
East Branch Friends of the Arts is fortunate to have the support of several granting organizations, including the New York State Council of the Arts Statewide Community Regrant Program, the Essex County Arts Council Community Arts Program grant, the Stewarts Foundation, the Cloudsplitter foundation, Pumpkin Hill foundation, and others.
However, the majority of our funding is by donations from our members in the community. The enthusiastic and generous support we receive from many people in our community tells us that we are highly valued, and that our programming is contributing to the quality of life that full time residents, summer residents, and visitors to the high peaks region enjoy. We are almost entirely volunteer run and we depend heavily on these donations.
EBFA also enjoys media and hospitality support from a variety of organizations, including North Country Public Radio, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise/Lake Placid News, the Adirondack Arts and Entertainment online newsletter, the Rooster Comb Inn and Keene Valley Lodge. This support is crucial to reaching a larger audience, and to welcoming our visiting artists.
EBFA has always had a special relationship with the Keene Valley Congregational Church. We have presented concerts in their acoustically excellent sanctuary for decades, and have collaborated with them on musical projects such as the restoration of a Steinway grand piano. The Congregational Church is an integral partner with EBFA and without their generosity and support we simply could not present many of our events.
EBFA collaborates regularly with the Keene Valley Library and Keene Arts, and we are appreciative of their collaboration and shared passion for the arts in our community.
Last but certainly not least, EBFA is extremely fortunate to have a talented and dedicated group of volunteers that do everything from providing top quality food and beverages to opening their homes for special events. Life in our town is all about community, and these volunteers contribute greatly to the enjoyment of presenting our season.
Meet the Board
MATT DUNNE
JOE BOGARDUS
TOM DUBOIS
JAMES GORMAN
NICK GULLI
ELLEN DUBOIS
AMY NELSON
CAROL KOBAK
KATHLEEN WILEY
TAY ASPINWALL
NOREEN MCARTHY
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President & Artistic Director
Matthew Dunne is a guitarist, composer, bassist, and was a professor of music at the University of Texas at San Antonio for many years, where he directed a thriving guitar program and organized festivals, concerts series, and community projects in music. He fell in love with the Adirondack High Peaks in the 1980s as a student at the Crane School of Music. He and his wife Liz Coccia moved full time to Keene in 2020 after spending several summers in Keene Valley. He joined the EBFA board in 2021 has served as EBFA President since 2022.
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Vice President & Membership Coordinator
Carol Kobak joined the EBFA board the summer of 2023 as the membership chair. She and her husband Jim have owned a home in Keene Valley for over 40 years and for many many years have enjoyed attending EBFA performances. She is delighted to now be part of the work involved to bring EBFA events to our community. -
Treasurer
Joe Bogardus has been the treasurer of EBFA since 2014. Prior to moving to Keene in 2005, he was a pharmaceutical chemist in drug development. Joe is an avid hiker and volunteer for the Adirondack 46ers, and has completed many rounds of the 46 peaks in all seasons.
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Secretary
An accomplished soprano, Amy Nelson has participated in both the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and the Bel Canto Competition, and was a soloist with the Festival Choir of Madison at the prestigious Ost-West Musikfest in Austria. Since moving from the Midwest in 2015, Amy has performed regularly in the Adirondacks as a soloist and as a member of the Trillium Chamber Players. Amy teaches music at Keene Central School, performs various circus arts in festivals and fairs, and is an accomplished woodswoman. When not busy with other pursuits, Amy can frequently be found in her inholding deep in the High Peaks. Amy has been secretary of EBFA since 2022.
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Board Member
Tom DuBois is retired from a career in Quality Management, and continues to do some part time consulting in the field. He first became involved in East Branch Friends of the Arts while managing the Kite Fest event. In addition to EBFA, Tom is on the Board for the Keene Valley Library and for the Adirondack Climbers Coalition. Tom and his wife Ellen fell in love with Adirondacks in the early 1980s. They love outdoor recreation in the form of hiking, climbing, biking, skiing of all kinds, and ice climbing.
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Board Member
Ellen DuBois worked in Computer Science and later in Physical Therapy, and continues her career as a Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor and Yoga Instructor. She has co-coordinated the Four Winds Nature Program and was involved in the Mentoring program at Keene Central School. She is a general lover of music and plays guitar for fun. Ellen and her husband Tom love all sorts of outdoor activities and relocated from Glens Falls to be full time Keene residents in 2013. -
Board Member
James Gorman, who lives in Keene, was an editor and writer at the New York Times for nearly thirty years. He loves all music and the arts, but has particular soft spots for opera and bluegrass. James joined the EBFA board in 2023. -
Board Member
A lifelong Music and Art lover and a membranophonist for over forty years, Nick Gulli has been fortunate enough to have spent, thus far, over half of his life living, playing, and recreating amongst the High Peaks of the Adirondacks in Keene with his loving wife and their daughter. Nick joined the EBFA board in 2021. -
Board member
Noreen McCarthy, a recent member of the board, lives and works in Keene Valley, NY. She moved to the area approximately 11 years ago, from the DC area, where she had worked as an attorney for 26 years. She currently still practices law, but enjoys hiking the mountains, cross county skiing, ice skating, paddle tennis, and of course music. She splits her time between Keene Valley and Boston.
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Board Member
Kathleen Wiley works part-time at Essex Farm and Gristmill Distillers. She can often be found outside hiking, paddling, and skiing as much as possible. Kathleen is interested in supporting the EBFA mission of bringing the arts to the Adk High Peaks region.
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Tay Aspinwall retired in 2018 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia after 27 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting criminal cases. Since retirement, she and her husband, Bob Reinstein, spend months in Keene Valley and are committed to supporting its wonderful community. As a dedicated music lover, Tay is delighted to be a part of the East Branch Friends of the Arts, which brings such fabulous and varied musicians to perform for us.
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Raised in Saranac Lake, Erin Doolittle returned to the Adirondacks in 2022 after many years. She has a BFA in sculpture and textiles, an associate's degree in textile design, and three years of studying architecture. Erin worked as a journalist for almost 20 years, spent three years at an architectural firm and 12 as a professional ornamental gardener. She's currently employed at East Branch Organics in Keene. She loves her community in Keene Valley, and loves being surrounded by the beauty of the mountains again. To be able to contribute to the arts community here is a privilege!
ERIN DOOLITTLE
Membership
Becoming a member in EBFA is easy; just make an annual donation of any amount you feel comfortable with.
Members have the opportunity to come to our spectacular house concert/annual gathering, which is an afternoon filled with amazing music, delicious food and drink, great conversation, all in a beautiful home where we can celebrate life, community, and nature in the high peaks. Space is limited at this event, make your reservation early!
