Emma is a multi-sport athlete at Saratoga Springs High School who has competed in soccer, Nordic skiing, triathlon, and cycling.
In Nordic skiing, Murray is a five-time Team MVP and three-time captain. She helped make history with Saratoga’s first-ever Section 2 title, then played a role in securing the 2025 New York State Relay and Team Championship—the first in school history. In the championship race, she delivered the fastest relay split of the day by 12 seconds and was the only skier to go sub 8:00 (7:59.59). A four-time New York State Championships qualifier (2022-2025), she earned First Team All-Section honors three times and has medaled multiple times at the Empire State Games. She also qualified for the 2025 Junior National Championships.
As a triathlete, Murray finished the 2022 season ranked 22nd in the USA, 2nd in the Northeast, and 1st in New York State in the 0-15 Female Age Group. Now competing in a higher age group, she continues to rank among the top 50 U17 triathletes in the nation.
In cycling, she claimed the 2024 New York State U18 Time Trial Championship and previously placed third in the 2021 New York State Mountain Biking Championships.
As a four-year varsity player for the Saratoga girls soccer team, she served as co-captain her senior year, helping lead the squad to its first Sectional Championship in 35 years and its first-ever State Semifinal appearance. She was also awarded her team MVP as a sophomore and was named First-Team Suburban Council in 2024.
Murray was recognized with the Sportsmanship Award at both the New York State Soccer Championships and the New York State Nordic Championships, a testament to her leadership and character. Her peers also honored her by voting her the Most Athletic Female in her senior class.
Emma was recruited by colleges for soccer, triathlon, and Nordic skiing but will continue her athletic and academic journey at Haverford College, where she will play soccer and major in Neuroscience with the goal of becoming a surgeon.
“I have found that hard work and success go hand-in-hand,” Murray said in her recruiting profile. “There are people more talented on the pitch and more intelligent than me in the classroom, but nobody will outwork me in the classroom or the soccer field.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced the stakes schedule for the 2025 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which will open Thursday, Jul. 10 and continue through Monday, Sept. 1. The 40-day summer meet will offer 18 Grade 1 races as part of 64 stakes worth more than $20 million in total purses.
Following the four-day opening week, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2025 meet will conclude on Labor Day.
Some highlights of the schedule include:
For the complete Saratoga stakes schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.
ALBANY — The Egg will present an immersive evening of Indian dance and music that bridges tradition and innovation.
Titled “Ragas in Motion” and part of the Resonance Series at the Egg, the free (suggested donation $15) special event showcases a dynamic journey through Indian dance forms, from the elegance of classical traditions like Bharatanatyam and Kathak to contemporary, modern interpretations.
The night features the innovative artistry of Barkha Patel, a visionary Kathak dancer and choreographer; Ishita Mili, a choreographer seamlessly integrating hip-hop, contemporary, and Indian dance forms to tell powerful stories: and Ravish Momin, a pioneering percussionist blending South Asian traditions with cutting-edge global rhythms.
Opening the night will be performances by local Bharatanatyam dance schools Alapana Arts (Lavanya Raghuraman) & Mudra School of Dance (Mathangi Srinivasan).
Food by Spice Malabar at 6 p.m.; Performance 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Arun Ramamurthy. For more information, and to RSVP, go to: www.theegg.org/events/event/ragas-in-motion/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Def Leppard will perform at Saratoga Performing Arts Center July 22. Special guest is Bret Michaels.
The tour kicks off June 23, in Rogers, AR., and wraps up in Virginia Beach, VA., Aug. 31.
For tickets, go to: livenation.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The electrifying sounds of Moonlight Benjamin will grace Universal Preservation Hall on Saturday, March 29.
The powerhouse Haitian singer-songwriter – hailed by The Guardian (UK) as the “Caribbean Patti Smith,” and with a favorable nod from Iggy Pop – delivers a unique fusion of voodoo rhythms and blues-infused rock.
Born and raised in Haiti, Benjamin’s musical roots run deep in the sacred traditions of Haitian voodoo, which she integrates with the driving force of blues and rock.
The performance, presented as part of the Music Haven Passport Series, will take place 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29.
Tickets are on sale online by visiting atuph.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Universal Preservation Hall hosts the seventh class of inductees into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 24.
This year’s inductees celebrate diverse musical genres and contributions to the Capital Region’s music scene. The class of 2025 includes Brian Melick, Charlene Shortsleeve, Dan Berggren, Emerald City, SIRSY, Stony Creek Band, The Clay People and The Sharks.
Since its inception in 2019, the Eddies Hall of Fame has honored 48 individuals. The 2025 ceremony will be in the Great Hall at UPH. The ceremony is open to the public and includes musical performances, a social hour, videos on the musical career of each inductee, and acceptance speeches.
The inductees
Brian Melick: internationally acclaimed percussionist who has been featured recording artist on over 450 commercially released recordings.
Charlene Shortsleeve – an artist in her own right, legendary nightlife curator of the notorious 288 Lark, and founder of the QE2 nightclub on Central Avenue in Albany, which featured artists such as Sonic Youth, 10,000 Maniacs, Marilyn Manson, the Wallflowers, Allen Ginsberg and Jim Carroll.
Dan Berggren – a celebrated career as a folk artist is deeply rooted in the storytelling traditions of the Adirondacks.
Emerald City – dynamic pop-rock band, became a staple of local stages and earned a reputation for performances that captivated audiences across the East Coast through 1981.
SIRSY – the powerhouse duo of Melanie Krahmer and Rich Libutti, started making music in 2000 and have toured ever since, playing 200 shows annually across the U.S. and Canada.
Stony Creek Band – a timeless country and folk sound that has fostered a deep connection with its audience through decades of dedication and artistry.
The Clay People – known for their electrifying fusion of metal and punk and live shows that continue to produce an ever-evolving sound canon.
The Sharks – a seven-piece group featuring a three-piece horn section and a pop-rock favorite of the Capital Region, that have remained a beloved part of the community’s musical history.
More information about the Eddies Music Hall of Fame is available at theeddiesawards.com. The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards and Hall of Fame, as well as UPH, are part of Proctors Collaborative.
The celebratory event will bring together fans, fellow musicians and community members to honor the remarkable artists and contributors. Tickets available by visiting atuph.org, through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Tuesday-Saturday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Groups of 10 or more can get tickets by calling 518-382-3884 x 139.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Skidmore College invites the community to experience “Voices of Ukraine,” a moving celebration of Ukrainian culture through its rich musical and dance traditions, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at the Arthur Zankel Music Center, at Skidmore College.
Co-presented by Skidmore’s Department of Music and the Ukrainian Classical Voice Project, the concert will highlight rarely heard works from Ukrainian opera, art song, and folk traditions, offering a poignant tribute to Ukraine’s resilience and artistic legacy. The event is free and open to the public.
Under the musical direction of the Metropolitan Opera’s Yelena Kurdina, “Voices of Ukraine” will showcase an extraordinary lineup of artists, including many Skidmore community members.
The Zorepad Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, led by Skidmore student and Artistic Director Lucas Lewyckyj ’26, will join the concert’s vocal and instrumental performances, bringing the beauty of Ukrainian folk traditions to life with traditional Ukrainian dance.
The afternoon will open with remarks by Dr. Andrij Baran, president of the local branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Baran is known not only for his brilliance as a cardiologist but also as a passionate historian, tireless researcher, and honorary Cossack-in-disguise. His deep knowledge and unwavering dedication to Ukraine’s cultural and historical legacy will set the stage for the program.
For more information, visit the Zankel Music Center website.
LAKE GEORGE — Bands N’ Beans: the biggest party in the North Country.
The Lake George Arts Project is hosting the 31st annual Bands N’ Beans on Sunday, March 30. The event takes place 2 – 7 p.m. at the Fort William Henry Conference Center.
Twenty-five local restaurants will be battling it out for the coveted People’s Choice Award with their best chili creations. The heat doesn’t stop there: nine live bands will be performing on two stages throughout the day.
The musical lineup:
Ballroom Stage – The Switch, The Stony Creek Band, The Lustre Kings, Vinyl Vault, and the ILL Funk Ensemble.
Acoustic Room – Tim Wechgelear & Friends, Mark & Jill, Shine On, and Dirt Cheap.
Bands and Beans is a fundraiser for the Lake George Arts Project’s free and open-to-all art programs. Proceeds from the event support programs like the year-round Courthouse Gallery exhibitions, the Summer Concert Series, and the popular Jazz at the Lake festival.
Doors open at 1:30. Ballroom opens at 1:45 pm. Early-bird tickets are available for $25 until March 29th. Tickets are $30 at the door. For tickets and more information, visit the Lake George Arts Project website: www. lakegeorgearts.org or call 518-668-2616.
HUDSON FALLS — Original Beatles drummer Pete Best and The Pete Best Band are coming to the Strand Theatre for a 3 p.m. matinee concert on Sunday, March 23.
The band offers the audience a rare opportunity to get up close and personal to the early days with Pete on drums, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Stu Sutcliffe.
Best formed The Pete Best Band in the late 80’s.
The show includes anecdotes from the drummer about those early days of the Beatles, and a set list that delivers the sound of Liverpool, the sound of Hamburg and the sound that started a revolution.
Tickets are $50/orchestra section, $40/floor seating, $30/balcony and are available at the Strand Box Office, cash or check only or online @ Brown Paper Tickets. For the ticketing link, visit www.mystrandtheatre.org. Doors open into the coffee shop, box office and lobby at 1:30 p.m.
The Strand Theatre is located at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls.
