The 12-day Rochester Fringe Festival begins today, with the first 27 of 715 performances. Rochester Overture begins reporting on shows tonight, including Cirque du Fringe: Anchors Away and Just to Be Close to You. There are several opportunities to catch both shows, so keep an eye out for our reports to learn more.
But this has been a heavy week in Rochester arts news, from lawsuits to venue closures. Here are some news items that we are tracking:
A lawsuit has been filed against the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of Rochester by former RPO Assistant Conductor and RPYO Music Director Jherrard Hardeman. The orchestra removed him from his duties in August 2025, citing performance concerns. According to court filings, which include a performance improvement plan detailing concerns about punctuality, rehearsal preparation, and communication, Hardeman did not sign a proposed resignation agreement. Instead, then-CEO Curt Long and Board President Diana Clarkson emailed RPO personnel saying Hardeman was “no longer associated with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.” It’s unclear whether Hardeman was officially fired or how he was removed. Hardeman is claiming a breach of contract.
But the University of Rochester’s involvement includes more serious allegations: On September 10, 2025, the University issued Hardeman an emergency ban from campus (which includes the Eastman School of Music). Court filings show that the University says it received information alleging that Hardeman engaged in sexual misconduct involving minors, leading to the ban. Hardeman denies wrongdoing and claims the university participated in spreading false allegations, leading to defamation that has cost him professional opportunities. He also claims the RPO contributed to the defamation through comments made by members of the organization. It’s still unclear from the court filings what information led to the ban, how it was investigated, or what conclusions the investigation reached.
A WROC/Rochester First story interviewed Hardeman, who also says his diverse repertoire choices came under fire during his tenure. The story is even more heightened because Hardeman is one of the few Black conductors in a field that is known for its lack of diversity. Rochester Overture will continue to monitor the story and any further legal proceedings.
Additionally, the Hungerford Building, a historical hub for local visual artists, has been facing foreclosure. The owner, Peter Hungerford, failed to make payments on his $8.25 million loan for the building, which has fallen into deep disrepair. A judge recently cleared the way for the foreclosure, according to a WXXI story.
Lastly, the beloved Abilene Bar & Lounge may be shuttering. Owner Danny Deutch says he’s ending the venue’s run in mid-November. It opened 18 years ago. In an online statement, Deutch said, “While my love of the business hasn’t changed, it personally feels time to ease up a bit, maybe shift a bit of focus, and maybe, just, maybe get to bed a little earlier!” Seeking a buyer for the business and/or building, the venue may still have a future if the right buyer comes along. Former Democrat and Chronicle reporter Gary Craig published a personal note about the venue on his Substack, and WXXI’s Patrick Hosken also reported on the story. While the shows presented at Abilene lean more popular, it has often presented jazz-adjacent artists and was, at one point, a Rochester International Jazz Festival venue. I’m sad to see this cozy bar with a large local following close.
And one more news item, but this one is more positive: The Eastman School of Music presents a concert featuring little-known vocal works by Black American composers tonight, Tuesday, September 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall: Joshua Conyers, Kiera Duffy, Nicole Cabell & Friends: In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology. The music is chosen from a two-disc recording by the Eastman School of Music, In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology, released on Lexicon Records. The recording and concert feature three vocal professors at Eastman—Joshua Conyers, Nicole Cabell, and Kiera Duffy—along with several other faculty and students. Voice is such an intimate medium, and these songs span its full, expressive range, from enormous evocations of emotion to intimate appeals. The anthology offers plenty of lyricism, with both traditional and more searching harmonies, including jazz and musical-theater touches in works like Noel Da Costa’s “Two Songs for Julie-Ju” and Thomas H. Herr, Jr.’s “Riding to Town.” But the anthology doesn’t shy away from modernisms, either, which is welcome to my ears: Works like George Walker’s “A Red, Red Rose,” Dorothy Rudd Moore’s “Weary Blues,” Adolphus Hailstork’s “A Charm at Parting,” and Hale Smith’s “Velvet Shoes” all take a freer approach. All songs mentioned will be performed at the concert, and all were composed between 1932 and 1977, placing them squarely in mid-century America. Eastman entered the recording in the first round of Grammy Award voting, so we will see if it picks up momentum in this Grammy cycle.
You can read a feature on the concert by David Raymond for The Beacon here, and a CD review by WXXI’s Mona Seghatoleslami here. The Eastman School of Music is also offering a 25% discount for tonight’s concert with code LDS25. You can purchase tickets here.
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