NEW ROCHELLE, NY (January 17, 2026) — The New Rochelle Council on the Arts Summer Sounds Concert Series Committee will begin accepting applications on January 19 from bands interested in performing during the 29th annual season.
The free concerts take place every Wednesday and Friday evening from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the historic band shell in Hudson Park, on the shores of Long Island Sound. The series draws hundreds of people to the park each summer to hear a variety of live bands.
All performers are paid, and the NRCA provides a sound system, sound technician and lighting. The organization also arranges for a curated selection of food trucks on site each week.
Professional musicians from all genres are invited to apply for the 2026 season. The process is highly competitive: Last year, 190 bands submitted audition links for 19 performance slots. Successful applicants must have experience performing onstage for a live audience.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on February 24, 2026. No late submissions will be considered. All submissions must be made through the official Google Form.
No other submissions will be accepted. Each application must include a link to at least one recent performance and a professional-quality photo suitable for promotional use.
The Summer Sounds Concert Series began in 1997 when Emil Paolucci (1915-2004), a member of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, worked with the City of New Rochelle to refurbish the Hudson Park bandshell and introduce free concerts. The series is now produced by the NRCA in partnership with the New Rochelle Department of Parks and Recreation.
Vin Parise, Commissioner of New Rochelle’s Department of Parks and Recreation, said, “The Summer Sounds Concert Series every summer at Hudson Park is one of the most highly attended public events on our calendar year after year. We are thrilled to once again partner with NRCA for this annual tradition along our waterfront.”
The series is supported in part by local business sponsors. In 2016, an anonymous donor provided a $100,000 grant to NRCA for a state-of-the-art sound system, and in 2018, support from Watermark Pointe and another anonymous donor funded stage lighting.
The NRCA’s Summer Sounds Concert committee issues an RFP for musicians each January, reviews submissions in March and sets the calendar. The committee also solicits sponsorships, organizes food trucks, staffs a welcome booth and sells raffle tickets to raise funds.
Bands will be notified of selections in April 2026. Performances are scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays from the end of June through August.
Questions can be directed to hello@newrochellearts.org.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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