Skidmore brings Carnegie Hall’s Well-Being Concerts to Saratoga Springs 

A new concert series at Skidmore College begins with a simple premise: People who spend their days caring for others or carrying significant emotional demands deserve spaces for their own restoration and connection.

Grammy-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning vocalist, composer, writer, and performer Somi will open Skidmore’s Well-Being Concert series at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. 

Skidmore is one of more than 25 organizations around the world partnering with Carnegie Hall to bring Well-Being Concerts to their local communities during the 2026-27 season. Carnegie Hall provides partners with training, resources, and guidance to adapt the model for their own audiences and communities.

Locally, the initiative has grown into a partnership spanning health care, survivor services, the justice system, and wellness. Saratoga Hospital, Wellspring, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and Yoga Mandali are helping the College reach people who may particularly benefit from intentional space for rest, reflection and connection. 

“At Skidmore, we have long believed that the arts can do more than inspire us — they can bring us together and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of our communities. This series reflects that belief and the spirit of Creative Thought Matters: using creativity to respond thoughtfully to the world around us. We are proud to work with Carnegie Hall and our community partners to bring this experience to our campus and Saratoga Springs and, especially, to create space for people who spend so much of their lives caring for others,” said Marc C. Conner, President of Skidmore College. 

The Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office works with victims of crime and connects people experiencing addiction and mental health challenges with treatment and rehabilitative programs.

“I commend Skidmore College for recognizing the powerful role that music and community can play in supporting well-being and healing,” said Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby. “Programs like these are a great concept because they can give survivors a safe and meaningful way to find comfort and cope with the trauma they have experienced. The power of music to promote healing and support mental health should not be underestimated.”

The series is informed by a growing body of research showing that musical engagement can have significant effects on psychological and physiological measures of stress. A 2025 peer-reviewed study of Carnegie Hall’s inaugural Well-Being Concerts, which included healthcare workers and people affected by the justice system, found increases in participants’ perceived well-being and identified relaxation, introspection, and interpersonal connection as important elements of the experience.

For Somi’s performance, about 120 audience members will join the artists onstage in Zankel’s Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall. The audience will sit in the round at the same level as the performers, placing listeners inside the performance rather than at a distance from it.

Instead of traditional rows of seats, audience members may choose from chairs, cushions, and mats, to settle into the experience in the way that feels most comfortable to them.

Somi’s musical world draws from jazz, soul, African musical traditions, and story-based songwriting. Skidmore theater artist and educator Teisha Duncan will host the concert and weave simple restorative practices into the performance, including breathing, mindfulness, reflection, and deep listening.

No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is needed, and there is no prescribed way to participate.

After the performance, the experience will continue with a reception featuring light refreshments and opportunities to connect with other audience members, community partners, and local resources. The informal gathering offers space to linger, continue the conversation, and learn more about organizations serving the community.

A portion of the intimate onstage capacity is reserved for invited community members through Skidmore’s partner organizations, helping remove cost as a barrier for those reached through the series’ community outreach. The remaining tickets are open to the public, and anyone interested in the experience is encouraged to attend.

General admission tickets are $15. A $30 Community Support ticket helps support another person’s free access to the experience. Skidmore students, faculty, and staff may attend free of cost.

Tickets are available online at skidmore.edu/zankel-music-center, or by visiting the box office Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m.