HarmoNNY Performing Arts Community celebrates first year, looks to the future
WATERTOWN — What started as an idea after a show at a church-turned-performance-venue in Cortland County has grown into an organization focused on creating opportunities for performers.
HarmoNNY Performing Arts Community hosted a virtual kickoff last year, hoping to foster creative local talents to enrich the community. The organization’s launch party was held over Facebook Live on Jan. 23, 2021.
According to Joseph S. Foy, president of the HarmoNNY board, the launch went well and the past year has followed suit, even amid a global pandemic. He was inspired to create the organization after he attended an acoustic show at the Center for the Arts of Homer in Cortland County.
“Homer has a really cool venue that was made out of an old church. Instead of letting the church just sit there and deteriorate, they turned it into a venue,” Mr. Foy said. “It was just a very cool concept and very low key. They gave you a Post-it note upfront and said you can write your name on this, put it on your seat, and then you can go get some concessions.”
Mr. Foy, co-owner of Foy Benefits Inc., got together with like-minded people to brainstorm ideas of how to bring something like Homer to the north country. From there, HarmoNNY was born.