Leadlights
  • Home
  • Group Bio
    • Individual Bios
  • Listen
  • Events
  • Gallery
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Program Notes
    • May 2
  • Educational Outreach
​Rising in the Heights
with hip hop artist Randy Mason

Picture
Saturday, August 9, 2025 6:30-7:30PM
Featuring Guest Artists 
Randy & Marina Mason, Jamell Ogbanna
Dongan Lawn, Fort Tryon Park
(Broadway & Dongan Pl.)


Hip hop artist Randy Mason and keyboardist Jamell Ogbanna join Leadlights Ensemble for a performance of hip hop, rhyme, and string music, featuring “My Block Looks Like” by Janelle Harper. 

Randy Mason is a husband, dad Hip Hop artist and teaching artist from the Bronx NYC. Randy is the founder of R.H.Y.M.E (Rhymes help young minds excel) which is part of Thrive Collective, a NYC arts non profit. R.H.Y.M.E is an educational Hip Hop music and mentoring program for NYC youth. “I’m passionate about music and mentoring because when I was growing up I had a hard time academically in school. I was full of dreams and ideas and energy that didn't seem to fit in the classroom. I grew bored very quickly with quietly staring at chalkboards. I was searching for identity and purpose, music and mentoring helped me with that. Music, specifically rhyming or emceeing became my super power. It brought me so much joy, hope and opportunity even amid the hardships that I was facing. I know that music and mentoring can change and enrich lives- I’m proof. I want to help youth in my city discover their super power and experience hope and opportunity like I have.” 


Rising in the Heights is a festival of free outdoor public arts performances curated by Leadlights Ensemble. The festival celebrates the rich artistic contributions of Latinx and Black cultures and promotes children’s literacy through music and bilingual storytelling.

Private support is provided by City Parks Foundation and Partnerships for Parks through the NYC Green Fund.”

​


Morris Jumel Mansion Family & Community Day
Saturday, September 13, 3:15PM, with Family Day activities from 1-3PM
Roger Morris Park
65 Jumel Terrace, New York, NY 10032







​




​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


​Upcoming Events
​

Leadlights Ensemble Composition Call 2025
Picture
Picture
Join our mailing list

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Past Events...

Little Red Lighthouse Festival
Saturday, September 28 2PM
Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park
​
Family Literacy Celebration hosted by Uptown Community Church and Emmanuel Presbyterian with storyteller Rachael Harrington. 
Sunday, September 15, 2024 1PM

Hebrew Tabernacle, 551 Fort Washington Ave
​

Rising in the Heights with Randy Mason & Jamell Ogbanna
​Word Up Community Bookshop
2113 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY

Uptown Kid Lit Festival with Word Up Community Bookshop at Inwood Hill Park
Sunday, September 8, 2024 2PM
Inwood Hill Park


Rising in the Heights with Carmen Cancél & Jainardo Batista
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 5PM
​Word Up Community Bookshop
2113 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
​

Rising in the Heights with Rachael Harrington
Friday, May 3, 2024 5PM
Word Up Community Bookshop
2113 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
​

Rising in the Heights with Reza Salazar & Josefina Hernandez
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 5PM 
at Word Up RECIRCULATION (876 Riverside Dr.)

Rising in the Heights is a festival of free monthly outdoor public arts performances curated by Leadlights Ensemble in partnership with Word Up Community Bookshop. The festival celebrates the rich artistic contributions of Latinx and Black cultures and promotes children’s literacy through music and storytelling. 
Location: Word Up Recirculation 876 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 

​
New York Composers Family Concert - Cabrini Shrine
Saturday, March 16, 2024 6PM
Featuring 6 world premieres by NYC students as well as an eclectic combination of favorite composers who have called our beloved NYC home. Free & open to the public. This is a family-friendly, one-hour event appropriate for children age 5 and older. 
Location: Cabrini Shrine, 701 Fort Washington Ave., New York 10040
​​
T
he Little Red Lighthouse Festival
​Saturday, November 4, 2023
The Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park
2:15 Leadlights Ensemble  
(Full Event 12-4PM)

Rising In the Heights with Carmen Cancél and Jainardo Batista
​Saturday, June 10, 2023 @ 12PM
WordUp Community Bookshop 
​2113 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10032
Free Admission


Rising In the Heights with Luz Maria Mack
​Wednesday, May 10, 2023
WordUp Community Bookshop 
​2113 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10032
Free Admission


Rising In the Heights with Randy Mason
​Wednesday, May 24, 2023
WordUp Community Bookshop 
​2113 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10032
Free Admission
Picture
Music on Wednesdays at The Interchurch Center
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 12:05PM
Picture
​Monday, June 21, 2021, 7:30PM 
Leadlights Livestream Concert
​Hosted by YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood
Picture
Friday May 14, 2021 at 7:30PM
Virtual Livestream Concert
​@ Alchemical Studios
Picture
Picture

Music on Wednesdays at The Interchurch Center
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 12:05PM

Music at Metropolitan Playhouse

Monday, November 15, 2021, 7:30PM

Faculty Composers' Concert
@ Manhattan School of Music 

Monday, November 8, 2021, 7:30PM

Picture
Leadlights at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at New York Presbyterian
​
Monday, March 2, 2020 2pm
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Group Bio
    • Individual Bios
  • Listen
  • Events
  • Gallery
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Program Notes
    • May 2
  • Educational Outreach