ROCHESTER, N.Y. — March is Women’s History Month and an opportunity to celebrate the creative contributions of women.

In keeping with the Harbor House of Rochester's mission of providing support for patients and their families during a medical crisis, they have embraced improvisation as a theme.

What You Need To Know

  • The Finger Lakes region’s first Festival of Women Improvisers is showcasing the creative voices of local and regional women performing artists who use improvisation as a key component of their work but also one’s health and wellness

  • Headlining this first festival is jazz pianist Laura Dubin, who performs with her husband-percussionist Antonio Guerrero. Laura and Antonio will also be presenting an improvisation workshop as part of the festival. Also performing is Eastman muscian Lane Hansen, saxophonist, with pianist Kate Molloy

  • While improvisation is most commonly associated with jazz, it plays an important role in many other performance media, including theatre, poetry, and dance, among others. Improv has proven to be a valuable tool not only for exercising the brain but also in promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness through collaboration and teamwork

It's music to one’s ears.

“The reaction, the acoustics, even in the moment or everything,” drummer Antonio Guerrero said. “All these changes make the story unique.”

From layering to looping, to subdividing the beats, working collaboratively or even solo — that is improvisation.

“There’s a freedom in improvisation,” jazz pianist Laura Dubin said. “Being a jazz musician and improviser kind of makes you open to meeting different people from different walks of life, cultures, different backgrounds.” 

Taking their talents from the studio to the Harbor House of Rochester for its first Festival of Women Improvisers. The festival showcases the creative voices of local and regional female artists who use improvisation as a key component of their work.

Improvisation is a theme the Harbor House of Rochester lives by, providing a supportive and caring environment for its patients and their families during a medical crisis. It's a way of embracing any challenges and opportunities life may give you. 

“It's really important to be able to have a vision and not give up until you execute it,” jazz saxophonist Lane Hansen said. “And then also improvisation is really applicable, like being able to be flexible and, you know, do something creative, creative solutions when things don't always go your way.”

Inspired by female change makers who have been fearlessly focused throughout history have been the hallmark of the event. 

They're using every beat, rhythm and musician to make a positive change.

“Music can be such a powerful tool,” Hansen said. “And I am trying to convey not just the notes and the rhythms, but, like an experience that they'll remember and, just something that gets them excited about listening to more music.”