Year: 2026-2027
DanceForce Member: Missy Pfohl Smith
Artists: Alaina Olivieri; Mark Olivieri
Community Partners: Society for New Music; University of Rochester Program of Dance & Movement
Audience: 530
Counties: Broome; Clinton; Monroe; Onondaga; Tompkins

Vision of Sound is a dynamic concert series that fuses contemporary music, dance, and digital media. This project will pair New York State choreographers with composers to create new work. An acclaimed program by the Syracuse, NY-based Society for New Music, which has become a cornerstone of artistic innovation in Western and Central New York State, Vision of Sound will celebrate its 21st anniversary in 2027. New music composers curated by Mark Olivieri, an acclaimed composer himself and officer of the Society for New Music, will include renowned Rochester-based trumpeter Herb Smith. Choreographers from across the state are curated by independent dance artist Alaina Olivieri. In addition to the exceptional artistic merit of the artists, this live music and dance concert series has catalyzed numerous independent collaborations between participating artists and institutions, creating ongoing professional relationships that extend well beyond the initial performances.

Taking place over two weekends in February 2027, the series will host performances in 4-5 venues across Western and Central New York. Confirmed hosts include University of Rochester and Hamilton College. Additional tentative hosts include Ithaca College, University of Binghamton, and Onondaga Community College.