REGISTER NOW!
We have exciting news to share about the PMN Winter Hybrid Convergence taking place in NYC and on Zoom from January 26-28, 2024 as well as a "Save the Date" for the next PMN Fall Gathering, October 4-6, 2024 in Groton, MA!
There's been great interest among PMN members making plans to come to NYC from out of town for the Winter Hybrid Convergence, taking place from January 26-28, 2024! Originally, we planned Friday and Sunday would be Zoom-only and we'd have in-person activities on Saturday, January 27 at The People's Forum on West 37th Street in Manhattan. In order to give a bigger and richer container for our musical community to grow, we've added in-person events in NYC at the Henry Winston Unity Hall on West 23rd Street on both Friday evening, January 26 and Sunday morning and afternoon, January 28.
Every year from 1982 to 2020, PMN held a major three-day Winter Gathering in the final weekend of January. Since the pandemic, PMN has been hosting multiple one-day in-person events in NYC. The added energy for in-person gatherings on Friday and Sunday at this upcoming Winter Convergence is another sign that PMN is rebuilding the pre-pandemic organizational momentum that once was regularly drawing over 200 musicians, activists and allies together for our Winter weekend events.
Meanwhile, PMN hasn't lost the momentum we built during the pandemic for our virtual events, which have been connecting PMN members all over the world. For this hybrid convergence, we're once again offering great Zoom-only workshops and song swaps as well as the option to tune into some of the workshops taking place in-person in NYC and various Zoom hang-out spaces where you can meet other PMN members around the country. Take a close look at this year's full schedule for the Winter Convergence.
On Friday, January 26, PMN Members anywhere in the world may register to perform in the Virtual Round Robin @WinterConvergence, which begins promptly at 6:30pm (ET). The additional new plan is that the PMN-NYC Local Chapter will host an in-person gathering space at Henry Winston Unity Hall (HWUH) during this same time, which includes a watch party. Doors open at 6:00pm.
Any PMN member signed up to perform in the Virtual Round Robin who comes to HWUH in person may perform from the space. Their audience will be people gathered together for the watch party as well as the larger audience watching from home on Zoom. Watch party attendees will see performances by PMN members from around the world.
Dinner will be provided at HWUH and an additional financial contribution on a sliding scale of $15-$50 from attendees is requested. We have access to a separate space for song sharing and socializing late into the night.
On Saturday, January 27, the Winter Convergence takes place all day at The People's Forum. Lunch and Dinner are provided as part of the registration fee. Following an opening ceremony, we have morning and afternoon workshops, followed by a Collaborative Performance space in the evening.
On Sunday, January 28, all Winter Convergence participants are invited back to HWUH. For the morning session, a big highlight will be Jane Sapp's Choral Workshop in which participants will be "Learning Gospel Songs of the Black Church & Freedom Songs with a Gospel Sound". There will be a simultaneous session called "Hard Hitting Song Swap." In the afternoon, we'll be holding a membership meeting that includes a presentation on how to build a local chapter of PMN, led by the PMN-NYC Chapter. There will also be a dance party. The event on Sunday is new, and we're going to create a separate registration form for it. We're still working out the details about how we will provide breakfast and lunch, and will be able to provide a suggested sliding scale for Sunday Registration, which will be a lower cost than Saturday's in-person event. Registration will also be available on site for Sunday, January 28.
If you aren't registered, just register for the in-person event on Saturday at The People's Forum, and know there will also be an opportunity to register for Sunday if you can make it. And do it today if you can. Registrations received by tonight Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 11:59 PM, receive a $5 discount.
Housing: If you live in NYC and you are able to offer housing on January 26 and 27, OR if you are coming to NYC from our of town for this event and you need a place to stay, please reach out to our housing coordinators: Erland Zygmuntowicz <erlandzyg3@gmail.com> and Dave Tarlo <davsong211@hotmail.com>. We are trying to support our community in participating in the convergence all weekend long.
