Did you know that if you mistakenly put your coffee grounds in your recycling bin it could result in a whole truckload of recyclables being diverted to the landfill? Cross contamination of recyclables by non-recyclable items is one of the biggest reasons recycling rates are so poor. Cross contamination is particularly high at Chautauqua, perhaps owing to our many visitors who may not be familiar with what is and is not recyclable in our community. For the 2025 season, thanks to a new partnership with Chautauqua’s main waste management company, Casella, we’re taking action to reduce cross contamination and improve...
This May, hallways in Chautauqua County echoed with something unexpected: the soaring sounds of Mozart, the laughter of children, and yes — even a few theatrical howls. In a spirited collaboration between Chautauqua Arts Education and the Chautauqua Opera Company, the Opera in the Schools program returned for its fifth year, bringing live opera to more than 3,000 elementary school students across the region. Eleven schools participated in this year’s tour, which featured Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf — a clever adaptation of Mozart’s Don Giovanni by librettist Joshua Borths. In this version, Mozart’s music becomes the backdrop...
SOS for Chautauqua Lake Reflecting on Chautauqua Lake as we prepare for our fifth annual Chautauqua Lake Conference, June 21 at Chautauqua Golf Club. There are many amazing facts about Chautauqua Lake. For example, did you know that, at 1,308 feet above sea level, Chautauqua Lake is one of the highest navigable waters in North America? That it’s 17.5 miles long, has a surface area of 13,156 acres, and a maximum depth of 75 feet in the north basin but only 19 feet in the south basin? Or that while the lake is only a handful of miles from the...
The Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees today announced that Kyle Keogh has been appointed Interim Chief Executive of Chautauqua Institution. The appointment is effective June 1, 2025, following Michael E. Hill’s previously announced plans to depart from Chautauqua on May 31 to become President of Randolph-Macon College. Keogh is a proven executive with significant experience in strategy, finance, and technology and an established track record of successfully overseeing transformations, driving growth, and enhancing the sustainability of companies’ operations. Since 2023, Keogh has served as Chief Business Officer at Cover Genius, a venture-backed tech company, where he significantly grew revenue,...
Dear Property Owners: Please be aware of a procedural change we are implementing for brush pick up starting this 2025 season. We request your cooperation with our existing guidelines by limiting the size of the brush pickup, putting brush in leaf bags or containers for pick up, and working with your landscapers to take away large brush and branches. Summary of Issue Chautauqua Institution has written guidelines on collecting yard waste. Refer to the “Yard Trimmings and Brush Waste” section on the Waste Management web page at https://www.chq.org/sustainability/waste-management/). Historically, it was possible for one Buildings and Grounds staff member to...
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), has announced the commission of a new play by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Zora Howard. This commission is part of CTC’s ongoing commitment to support bold, resonant storytelling and to elevate some of today’s most compelling voices in American theater. Zora Howard, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her acclaimed play STEW, is known for her lyrical writing and deeply human characters. Her work, including Hang Time and the recently premiered Bust, often explores the interior lives of Black women, the complexities of familial bonds, and the enduring impact of memory and place. Through this commission, CTC...
As we approach the Summer Assembly, we will provide this running list of things that will be new, changed, or updated for the 2025 season. This list includes changes in services, program schedules, procedures and facilities. A Smarter Way to Park: Introducing CI Access at Chautauqua This season, Chautauqua Institution is launching a new parking system designed to provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience. CI Access is powered by SKIDATA, a leading provider of digital parking technology. With this upgrade, all parking areas are now fully secured and operational 24 hours a day, requiring all users to scan...
Faculty Spotlight Series As we look ahead to another season of inspiration and music, we’re excited to share a new chapter in our Saturday afternoon chamber music series. Beginning this season, what was formerly the Resident Artist Series will become the Faculty Spotlight Series — a celebration of the incredible talent within the Chautauqua School of Music. Curated by Artistic Director Timothy Muffitt, the series will feature faculty performances designed to inspire students and Chautauquans alike. The performances will continue to take place on Saturdays, June 28 to Aug. 2 at 4:15 p.m. in Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall. Supported by...
150 for 150: Chautauqua’s “Teach-In” for the Earth In December 1969, building on the UNESCO conference “Man and His Environment: A View Towards Survival” held the previous month in San Francisco, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. In a crucial move, Nelson, a Democrat, recruited Republican Senator Paul McCloskey to serve as co-chair of what became the first Earth Day. As we celebrated the 55th Earth Day in April, the idea has evolved far beyond a teach-in. Today one billion people around the globe engage in thousands of actions,...
April 9, 1943 – April 13, 2025 Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux: dancer, choreographer, teacher, visionary — has passed away at the age of 82. For those who were lucky enough to witness his grace on stage or study under his passionate eye, his passing marks the end of an era. However, here at Chautauqua Institution, where he spent nearly four decades as director of the School of Dance, his spirit will always remain. Born in Bourg-en-Bresse, France in 1943, Jean-Pierre’s journey in ballet began early when he joined the Paris Opera Ballet at age 14. His artistic path eventually took him to...
