Seagle Colony’s 104th season kicked off Saturday night showcasing the extraordinary class of 32 emerging artists at their “Old Friends and New Concert.”

The show spanned the gamut of opera standards and Broadway hits, with the finale featuring a guest appearance by Darren Wood, SMC’s Artistic Director and former General Director of Fort Worth Opera, as he led the company with a performance of “Old Friends” from Merrily We Roll Along, by Sondheim.

And a big shout to the four pianists: John Cockerill, Eric Frei, Jonathan Heaney and Ciyuan Zhu.

Darren was like a proud parent when he talked about this year’s artists, the upcoming shows and the success of the first “audition classes.”

These are mock auditions where the artists perform different arias, in costume, before a panel of industry experts, and receive immediate feedback on their performances: from vocal techniques, stage presence and attire.

“The first few auditions have been exhilarating. Today we watched Ashlee Lamar and her performance from Madam Butterfly was simply amazing”.

A champagne reception followed with the young artists mingling with guests, sharing their various journeys to Charley Hill Road, first impressions of Schroon and their excitement about the shows they are in.

Rehearsals have begun for Evita which is almost sold out and (click here for tickets) and this week “sing-throughs” for the remaining season begin.

It’s opening night for the 96^th season of Schroon Lake’s own Seagle Music Colony, with the premiere of the musical Brigadoon.

We'd like to offer a huge congrats to this year’s class of 32 emerging young artists -- hand picked from across the US -- who will perform in the Colony's six productions over the summer.

Since early June these young performers have made their summer home at the Seagle Music Colony campus on Charley Hill Road.

Brigadoon tells the story of a mysterious village in Scotland that appears for only one day every hundred years. But things get turned upside down when two lost American tourists stumble upon the village on the eve of a wedding.

Songs from the musical, which made its debut on Broadway in 1947, “Like Almost Like Being in Love” and “Once In The Highlands” are classics.

Click here for ticket information or call 518 532-7875. You can download a season program and map here.

Brigadoon @ Seagle Music Colony. Wednesday June 29 to Saturday July 2^nd. 8:00 pm. 999 Charley Hill Road (about 2.5 miles up the hill from the turn off on Route 9)