About the Norwood Village Green Concert Series (Revised September, 2012)

The full and formal name is THE NORWOOD VILLAGE GREEN CONCERT SERIES. It is a program of the Norwood Village Green Concert Series, Inc., a not for profit organization whose primary purpose is to provide a free outdoor concert series for the region. There is no admission charged. There is a “pass the bucket”. It was conceived and co-founded by Joseph and Harriet Liotta in 1974.

Joseph Liotta, Jon Hunkins, Dr. Peter McCoy, Andrew Van Duyne, Ben Todd and Scott Lavine serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. 

Over the years the Norwood Village Green Concert Series has presented 680 performances for an audience in excess of 541,531 (revised to date August 31, 2012). The Series has been able to present Grammy, Juno, and Emmy award winners and a National Medal of Arts recipient, along with a host of international, national, regional and local performers.

The Series prides itself in its programming for children and youth and its long history of giving opportunity for student musician performances. It always tries to present its offerings in the spirit of community whether the performer is the beginning student or the internationally recognized artist. 

The Series networks and works in co sponsorship with many local civic organizations and groups. All outdoor programs are presented on the Norwood Village Green Band Shell. The facility was dedicated on September 25, 1975 as a major gift in recognition of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. Since 1991 several occasional indoor concerts and artist-in-residencies for Norwood-Norfolk students have been initiated.

As Co-founder, President, and Program Director of the Norwood Village Green Concert Series, Joe Liotta has received the following recognitions and honors for his work with, and for the values placed on this series:

North Country Citation

 St. Lawrence University - Commencement, May 2003

The North Country’s own “sense of place” is created as much by shared community values as cherished landscape features. Our region has a musical heritage that both reflects and shapes our lives as friends and neighbors. Joseph Liotta, an adopted son of the North Country, embraced a full appreciation of place when, in 1974, he created with his wife Harriet the Norwood Village Green Concert Series. Twice a week from June through August, audiences gather on blankets and chairs on the expanse of lawn at the center of this village to hear local students, local and regional artists, and artists from around the world perform in a small band shell. There is no admission charge, only an opportunity to contribute a gift of one’s choice. On July 3, 2003, the series will present its 500th concert, appropriately a reunion concert of the internationally renowned Norwood Fire Department Band, of which Mr. Liotta has been a member since 1969. A graduate of the Crane School of Music and retired member of the Potsdam High School Music Department, Joe Liotta counts 35 of his former students as professional musicians, including members of the ensembles Rockapella, the Klezmer Conservatory Band and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. For his contributions to the musical heritage of our region, St. Lawrence University offers Joseph Liotta its 2003 North Country Citation.

Leadership Through Service Award - SUNY, Potsdam

On May 22, 2004 at the SUNY Potsdam’s President’s Dinner for the 170th Commencement of the institution, he received his alma mater’s Leadership Through Service Award for his work for the Series and for his contributions to the cultural life of the North Country.

Other Recognitions and Awards

1988 - THE DEWITT CLINTON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE.

1988 - LETTER OF COMMENDATION from Governor Mario M. Cuomo

1989 - Kiwanis Club of Norwood’s CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD

1993 - Recognizing the Twentieth Anniversary of the Series, the Norwood Village Board of Trustees awarded a ‘CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION’

2002 - St. Lawrence County Arts Council Inaugural annual ARTS AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE