Manhattanville University Debuts Jazz at Reid Castle Series

BCW Member Manhattanville University recently kicked off its 2026 cultural season with the debut of the Jazz at Reid Castle concert series. The opening performance, titled Celebrating Brazil!, successfully transformed the university’s iconic Great Hall into a sophisticated, candlelight-filled jazz club for a sold-out crowd of 120.

Led by acclaimed trumpeter and flugelhornist Mark Morganelli, the evening featured the Jazz Forum All-Stars, who delivered a vibrant program of Brazilian jazz and Bossa Nova. The cabaret-style arrangements encouraged an intimate connection between the musicians and the audience, a hallmark of the new series. The concert was held February 12.

“Playing jazz in a venue like Reid Castle is something truly special,” said Morganelli, founder of Jazz Forum in Tarrytown. “You can feel the history, the energy, and the closeness of the audience. It’s exactly the kind of environment where jazz thrives.”

Jazz at Reid Castle is part of Manhattanville’s broader strategy to increase community engagement and provide accessible, high-quality arts programming. Manhattanville President Frank Sánchez emphasized the importance of the arts in campus life, noting that hosting these performances in the 19th-century Gilded Age landmark allows the university to share its extraordinary spaces with the public.

“Hosting these performances in Reid Castle allows us to celebrate culture, creativity, and togetherness in one of the most iconic venues in Westchester,” said Sánchez.

The schedule for three additional Thursday jazz performances is:

May 21: Miles Davis @ 100!

September 24: The American Popular Song Book

December 10: Holiday Jazz Celebration

Tickets and event details are available at the university’s website.