Apr 14, 2024 | Music, News, Regional Arts Events
The Susquehanna Valley Youth Chorale (SVYC), an educational outreach program of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale will present its spring performance on Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. at Sharon Lutheran Church, 120 S. Market Street in Selinsgrove.
Coleen Renshaw serves as Music Director and Conductor and Verlaine Shaw serves as Piano Accompanist.
Renshaw said of the program, “Every singer in the choir will be featured in a solo as a part of one of our selections. Styles of music will come from musical theater, songs from days gone by such as the 1950s and 1960s, rainbows, Spanish folk songs, and the jazz world.”
Featured songs will include: Over the Rainbow, All the Beautiful Colors, Blue Suede Shoes, True Colors and Yellow Submarine, along with many others.
The SVYC will also present The Colors of Nature, a commissioned piece of music which was written especially for this group of singers. The composer, Michaela Wagner, and lyricist Bethany Runkle, were both members of the SVYC organization in their younger days.
The Preparatory/Camerata chorus includes: Gabriel Dunkelberger of Middleburg, Rustam Shahram of Lewisburg, Audra Folk of Beaver Springs, Stella Foulds of Northumberland, Elyse Isaacs of Paxtonville, Bryce Leininger of Milton and Emma Straub of Selinsgrove.
Valley Singers includes: James Mabus of Millmont, Sarah Criswell of Mifflinburg, Madison Leininger of Milton, Sophia Strong of Hughesville, Mathieu Strong of Hughesville and Nikolai Strong of Hughesville.
Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students, 5 years and under free and are available at the door or by calling 570-547-0455.
For more information about the SVYC, please visit SVCMusic.org/sv-youth-chorale/
Apr 7, 2024 | Music, News, Regional Arts Events, Theater
The Weis Center for the Performing Arts will welcome Caña Dulce y Caña Brava from Veracruz, Mexico on Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Weis Center.
The performance is sponsored, in part, by Geisinger and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. This engagement of La Banda Morisca is made possible in part through the Iber Exchange program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Ibermúsicas.
Arrive early!
Patrons are encouraged to arrive early for a free pre-performance talk from 6:45-7:15 p.m. in the Weis Center Atrium.
Also available before the show – dinner! Real Taste 570’s food truck will be parked on the Weis Center Plaza from 6:30-7:20 p.m. offering their Mexican Street menu for purchase. The menu includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas and side orders. Special thanks to Bucknell’s Thrive Innovation Fund for helping to co-sponsor the food truck for Bucknell students and patrons.
ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE
Caña Dulce y Caña Brava offers a performance that shows off the music, poetry, dance and traditional attire of Veracruz, Mexico, interpreted by artists who are beneficiaries of the jarocho culture and noteworthy performers with years of experience on both national and international stages. The group stands out as an artistic project that highlights feminine poetry and voices.
Creating an experience that connects the spectator with distinct emotions, one is taken on a voyage through multiple rhythms, accompanied by traditional string instruments, such as the harp and the jarana, percussion and zapateado (percussive dance), poetic improvisation in rhyme and visual effects. Offering an assortment of colors, textures and images to diverse and multi-generational audiences, the ensemble is defined by an original aesthetic concept that unites the traditional with the vanguard in a contemporary stage proposal.
SPREADING AND RECREATING THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC OF VERACRUZ
Since its formation in 2007, the group has carried the seal of feminine strength and beauty within the traditionally masculine world of Mexican son.
The sounds of the strings interweave with the poetic messages written from a woman’s perspective, creating a facet not before seen within this musical genre.
The zapateado (percussive dance) on the tarima (wooden platform) accentuates the beat, while the band’s colorful wardrobe embellishes their musicality. Appealing instrumental landscapes include the captivating vibrations of the horse jaw, the profound and mystical harmonies of the harp, the percussive atmosphere created by the jarana, the robust rhythm of the guitarra grande, and the renaissance-sounding bowed instruments created ex profeso for the group, resurrecting extinct baroque instrumentation.
Thanks to their dedication, innovation and consistency, the group has positioned itself as a reference point for current son jarocho music. They have collaborated with well-known artists such as Lila Downs, Geo Meneses, María Inés Ochoa and La Santa Cecilia (recording “Volver a los 17” by Violeta Parra, in the Grammy nominated album “Amar y Vivir”, 2017). Furthermore, Caña Dulce y Caña Brava has represented Mexico in forums and festivales worldwide in Latin America, the United States, Canada, Africa, Asia and Europe.
TICKETS
Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors 62+ and subscribers, $10 for youth 18 and under, $10 for Bucknell employees and retirees (limit 2), free for Bucknell students (limit 1) and $10 for non-Bucknell students (limit 2).
Tickets can be reserved by calling 570-577-1000 or online at Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice.
Tickets are also available in person from several locations including the Weis Center lobby (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and the CAP Center Box Office, located on the ground floor of the Elaine Langone Center (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
For more information about this event, contact Lisa Leighton, marketing and outreach director, at 570-577-3727 or by e-mail at [email protected].
For more information about the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, go to Bucknell.edu/WeisCenter or search for the Weis Center on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
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Apr 7, 2024 | News, Regional Arts Events, Theater
Steel Magnolias
April 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 7:30PM
April 14 & 21 at 2:00PM
TICKET COST:
Adult: $27, Senior: $25, Student/Youth: $20
TICKET CONTACT:
Box Office Phone: 570-327-1777
Online: ctlshows.com/season-47/#SteelMagnolias
[Williamsport, PA] — Community Theatre League is proud to announce its upcoming production of “Steel Magnolias,” a heartwarming and poignant play that will captivate audiences with its touching story and unforgettable characters.
Made famous by its 1989 film version starring Dolly Parton, Sally Field, and Julia Roberts “Steel Magnolias” is set in a small Louisiana town, “Steel Magnolias” follows the lives and friendships of six women who gather regularly at Truvy’s Beauty Salon. Through laughter and tears, they support each other through life’s challenges, finding strength in their enduring bond.
Directed by Tara Deljanovan, this timeless tale of love, friendship, and resilience features a talented cast of local performers who bring the characters to life with authenticity and charm.
“We are thrilled to bring ‘Steel Magnolias’ to the stage,” said Seth Sponhouse, CTL’s Executive Artistic Director. “This production is a celebration of the power of female friendship and the resilience of the human spirit. Audiences will laugh, cry, and ultimately be inspired by the bonds formed between these remarkable women.”
“Steel Magnolias” will run from April 12th to April 14th, and then resume performances from April 18th to April 24th at the Community Theatre League. Tickets are now available for purchase online at CTLSHOWS.COM.
Don’t miss your chance to experience this beloved classic live on stage. Join us for an unforgettable evening of theatre that will touch your heart and uplift you.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit CTLSHOWS.COM, call 570.327.1777, or visit our box office.
Event Details:
• What: Community Theatre League presents “Steel Magnolias”
• When: April 12-14 & 18-24
• Where: Community Theatre League, 100 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA
• Tickets: Available at CTLSHOWS.COM
Legal Attribution:
STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling
STEELMAGNOLIAS is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)
About Community Theatre League: Community Theatre League is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality theatrical experiences for the community. With a commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement, CTL strives to enrich the cultural landscape of Central Pennsylvania through the performing arts.
Mar 31, 2024 | Music, News, Regional Arts Events
The Weis Center for the Performing Arts will welcome Cellist Jonathan Swensen and Pianist Adam Golka on Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. at the Weis Center.
They will perform:
- J. S. Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G minor, BWV 1029
- Witold Lutoslawski: Grave for cello and piano
- Felix Mendelssohn: Sonata for cello and piano No.2 in D Major, Op.58
- Ernest Chausson: Pièce for cello and piano, Op.39
- César Franck: Sonata in A Major for cello and piano
ABOUT JONATHAN SWENSEN, CELLO
Rising star of the cello Jonathan Swensen is the recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant and was recently featured as both Musical America’s ‘New Artist of the Month’ and ‘One to Watch’ in Gramophone Magazine. Jonathan first fell in love with the cello upon hearing the Elgar Concerto at the age of six, and ultimately made his concerto debut performing that very piece with Portugal’s Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música.
September 2022 saw the release of Jonathan’s debut recording ‘Fantasia’, on Champs Hill Records, an album of works for solo cello which received rave reviews on its release, including from Gramophone, BBC Music, and The Strad which printed “An exciting young talent emerges. I would gladly buy a ticket to see Swensen on the strength of this appealing calling card.”
Jonathan has performed with orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony, and the Greenville Symphony. He made his critically acclaimed recital debuts at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, with additional performances in Boston’s Jordan Hall, the Morgan Library and Museum, and the Krannert Center’s Foellinger Great Hall.
In addition to his many solo appearances, Jonathan is a frequent performer of chamber music in the U.S. and Europe, appearing at the Tivoli Festival, Copenhagen Summer Festival, Chamberfest Cleveland, Krzyżowa-Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Vancouver Recital Society, San Francisco Performances, and the Usedomer Musikfestival, among others.
Jonathan will join the Bowers Program of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 2024.He captured First Prizes at the 2019 Windsor International String Competition, 2018 Khachaturian International Cello Competition, and the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. A graduate of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Jonathan continued his studies with Torleif Thedéen at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, and Laurence Lesser at the New England Conservatory, where he received his Artist Diploma in May 2023.
ABOUT ADAM GOLKA, PIANO
Polish-American pianist Adam Golka first performed all of Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas when he was 18 years-old, and he returned to the complete cycle in 2020-2021 for performances in NYC, Orlando, and Houston. He also presented all-Beethoven live streams for presenters in Ventura (CA), El Paso (TX), Sitka (AL), Spokane (WA), and the Library of Congress during the Covid shutdowns. Adam’s performances and presentations were complemented by 32 short films he created, known as ’32@32″ (available on YouTube), featuring not only conversations with musical legends such as Alfred Brendel and Leon Fleisher, but also extra-musical discussions such as those with an astrophysicist, philosopher, magician, painter, and a child, to name only a few.
As a concerto soloist, Adam has appeared as soloist with dozens of orchestras, including the BBC Scottish Symphony, NACO (Ottawa), Warsaw Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, Shanghai Philharmonic, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, as well as the San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, New Jersey, San Diego, Phoenix, and Jacksonville symphonies in the US. In 2014-2015, Adam performed recitals as part of the “Sir András Schiff Selects” project at Klavier-Festival Ruhr (Essen), Tonhalle Zürich, Maison de France (Berlin), and 92Y Subculture (NYC). Adam has also performed solo recitals at Alice Tully Hall (NYC), Concertgebouw Kleine Zall (Amsterdam), Musashino Hall (Tokyo), Nakanoshima Hall (Osaka), Ravinia Festival, Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concerts, and The Cliburn. Chamber music is also an integral part of Adam Golka’s musical life. He has participated in festivals such as Marlboro and Krzyżowa-Music, and he is a member of the Manhattan Chamber Players. He has been a winner of the Classical Fellowship of the American Pianists Association, the Gilmore Young Artist Award, and also the first prize and audience prize winner of the China Shanghai International Piano Competition.
Adam’s discography includes works of Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms for First Hand Records (UK), which have been regularly included in Apple’s “Piano Essentials” and Spotify’s “Beethoven Piano” playlists. Adam has studied with José Feghali and Leon Fleisher, and has enjoyed mentorship from Alfred Brendel, Richard Goode, András Schiff, Murray Perahia, Mitsuko Uchida, Ferenc Rados, and Evelyne Crochet. Adam resides in New York City and serves as an Artist-Teacher of Piano at the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
TICKETS
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62+ and subscribers, $15 for youth 18 and under, $15 for Bucknell employees and retirees (limit 2), free for Bucknell students (limit 1) and $15 for non-Bucknell students (limit 2).
Tickets can be reserved by calling 570-577-1000 or online at Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice.
Tickets are also available in person from several locations including the Weis Center lobby (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and the CAP Center Box Office, located on the ground floor of the Elaine Langone Center (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
For more information about this event, contact Lisa Leighton, marketing and outreach director, at 570-577-3727 or by e-mail at [email protected].
For more information about the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, go to Bucknell.edu/WeisCenter or search for the Weis Center on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Mar 31, 2024 | Music, News, Regional Arts Events
The internationally acclaimed Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band will continue its long tradition of presenting free public performances when they appear on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Weis Center.
The performance is sponsored, in part, by The Daily Item and the Standard Journal.
The concert is free; but tickets are required (see ticketing info at the end).
The Bucknell Jazz Band will perform at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Jazz Ambassadors at 7:50 p.m. Members of Bucknell’s ROTC program will offer the Presentation of Colors.
Known as America’s Big Band, the Jazz Ambassadors are the premier touring jazz orchestra of the U.S. Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-piece ensemble has received critical acclaim throughout the U.S. and abroad performing America’s original art form, jazz.
Performances by the Jazz Ambassadors offer some of the most versatile programming of any big band. Concerts include classic big band standards, instrumental and vocal solo features, patriotic favorites, contemporary jazz works and original arrangements and compositions by past and present members of the Jazz Ambassadors. Many of these original works are available for free download through Perspectives, a jazz education initiative by the Jazz Ambassadors.
The Jazz Ambassadors have performed in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India and Europe, and in joint concerts with the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and Seattle Symphony and at Carnegie Hall with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops.
Appearances at international jazz festivals in Montreux, Switzerland; Newport, R.I.; Toronto; Brussels, and the Netherlands have been met with enthusiastic acclaim, as well as concerts in England, Wales, Luxembourg, Germany, the Czech Republic and Norway.
TICKETS
Tickets are free, but required.
Tickets can be reserved by calling 570-577-1000 or online at Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice.
Tickets are also available in person from several locations including the Weis Center lobby (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and the CAP Center Box Office, located on the ground floor of the Elaine Langone Center (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
For more information about this event, contact Lisa Leighton, marketing and outreach director, at 570-577-3727 or by e-mail at [email protected].
For more information about the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, go to Bucknell.edu/WeisCenter or search for the Weis Center on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Mar 24, 2024 | Bloomsburg, News, Regional Arts Events
RENAISSANCE JAMBOREE USHERS IN SPRING
April 27th, 2024
10 am – 5 pm
Main Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
BLOOMSBURG — March 23rd, 2024 — The Renaissance Jamboree festival is back and bigger than ever!
For over 43 years, residents from all over Northeast PA have gathered and celebrated Spring’s return at the annual Renaissance Jamboree in Bloomsburg. “Last year saw the festival return to the downtown after COVID-19 and the East Street paving project but the number of crafters and non-profits was not at pre-2020 numbers. This year, the Renaissance committee is happy to announce that the number of crafters has exceeded that of 2019 and non-profit organizations are at 2019 numbers” said Cindy Schultz, Renaissance Jamboree committee co-chair.
Festival highlights include the return of the popular band, Joyous, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s Theater in the Classroom performance of “ZOMBIE THOUGHTS”, children’s entertainers, a belly dance exhibition and a baby goat petting zoo brought by St. Columba School.
Parking will be at the West end parking lot of the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds (enter Gate 2 and look for the Renaissance Jamboree signs) & the front parking lot of the Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital.
A free shuttle bus will run from those lots to the downtown for the festival. Visit www.renaissancejamboree.org for more information and a complete schedule of entertainment and vendors.
The annual Renaissance Jamboree is the largest event co-sponsored by Downtown Bloomsburg Inc., the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, Bloomsburg University, Program Board of Bloomsburg University, the Town of Bloomsburg, and the Renaissance Jamboree Committee.
