The Caroga Arts Collective is gearing up for another year of serving local children through the S.P.A.C.E. program, which teaches elementary through high schoolers in the Johnstown, Gloversville, Wheelerville and Edinburg school districts how to play string instruments.

As the summer season wraps up, the Caroga Arts Collective is gearing up for another year of serving local children through the S.P.A.C.E. program.

S.P.A.C.E. stands for String Project and Arts Collaborative; the program works with students in the Johnstown, Gloversville, Wheelerville and Edinburg school districts. Professional musicians teach elementary through high schoolers how to play different string instruments, invigorating the schools’ music education programs.

Stephanie Price-Wong, associate executive director of Caroga Arts, heads the S.P.A.C.E. program.

“We provide the guitars and the violins and the cellos to students at no additional cost. And of course, we have scholarships available for students as well, and that’s all within one registration form. So we try to make it as accessible and easy to sign up for students and families,” said Price-Wong.

The idea for in-school programming came from the success of several one-off events about 10 years ago. Working with SUNY Fulton-Montgomery and the Paul Nigra Center, they held musician workshops for kids. After receiving positive feedback from the community they decided to dive into growing the program. Grant funding and local donors have helped the initiative blossom.

Most recently, Caroga Arts received a $30,000 grant from 100 Women Who Care Albany, a group that meets several times a year to organize large donations to local nonprofits.

“I’m extremely thankful that through them, we were able to buy eight new violins to help reduce some of our rental costs and provide additional scholarships to all of our students this upcoming school year,” said Price-Wong.

“My approach to bringing strings to the schools and to the students is that I’m not looking to make the next Yo-Yo Ma. I’m just trying to provide them an opportunity to use these tools for their future and kind of their social-emotional growth,” she said.

The 12-week program culminates in a showcase that features all of the students from the four partner districts. Middle and high schoolers help the younger kids tune their instruments and find their way during their first big performance. In return, the littlest players provide inspiration and spry energy ahead of the show.

“Seeing that community building and how the students are growing, it’s just my favorite part,” said Price-Wong.

Caroga Arts Collective was founded by Kyle Barrett Price, cellist and brother to Stephanie. It began in 2012 with just eight musicians in their grandmother’s basement — just minutes away from the collective’s current home at the former Sherman’s Park, which they retained ownership of in 2019. They’ve been a registered nonprofit since 2016.

“It’s really an honor. It’s a challenge, but also an honor to be able to run Sherman’s now with this community arts and education purpose because we’re able to create new memories,” said Price. “There’s people riding the carousel for the first time in decades and they’re so excited to see what’s happening and that we’re caretaking for the space.”

The mission of the Caroga Arts Collective is to “reimagine the Adirondack experience through the power of the arts,” according to its website.

To Price, this means looking at the Caroga, Fulton County and lower Adirondack region history and seeing how tourism and arts and culture was key to making the area a tourist destination in the early- to mid-twentieth century.

“So when we’re thinking about what does that experience look like now, we think that we have an ability with our constituents and with the community around us to reimagine what that experience looks like in the 2020s, 2030s and 2040s and how we can use the power of the arts to help bring that experience to reality for our generation.”

Reach Digital Content Producer Ameara Ditsche at aditsche@dailygazette.net.

A can and bottle collector transports his collection to the redemption center on Miller Avenue in Johnstown.

Making cents

Local race car driver Jordan Modiano stands next to his Autism Awareness street stock race car, on display during the Ballston Spa Sunshine Kids 5th annual fundraiser on Propect Street in Ballston Spa, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 hosted by Ribbon Cafe.

Daily Gazette staffer Stan Hudy sits inside the podcast studio in Schenectady preparing for another installment of his newest podcast 'Tell Me Your Story.'

Niskayuna resident Jordan Modiano has had a passion for speed since childhood. It is surpassed only by his love for his daughter, Rachel.

The business owner, race car driver and parent of a daughter on the autism spectrum merged those passions to create the annual Upstate Chevy Dealers Autism Acceptance Race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway returning Friday, Sept. 5.

The Daily Gazette interviewed Modiano at one of his two Express Employment Professionals locations to talk about the upcoming race, his daughter and autism awareness.

Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Question: How has your life changed as a race car driver and a parent since your daughter Rachel has entered your life?

Answer: Since Rachel........

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