Artscene With Erika Funke

Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductorof the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking aboutthe Gala Concert & Fundraiser on March 8, 2025,featuring the historic Thomanerchor of Leipzig,at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church Streetin Bethlehem, at 4:00 pm. It will be an a cappellaperformance of music by Bach, Martin, Poulencand others.A Special Gala Fundraising Dinner/Receptionwill be held at 6:00 pm at the Historic HotelBethlehem. For more information: www.bach.org/

Brian McGurl, Theater Educator, SCF Venue Liaison & Director of"The Shadow of a Gunman," and Joe McGurl, Actor & Director whohas the role of Donal, speaking about the Scranton ShakespeareFestival production of Sean O'Casey's play February 28 & March 1at 7:00 pm and March 2, 2025 at 2:00 pm, at TheShakes Space @ The Marketplace at Steamtown in downtownScranton. www.scrantonshakes.com/

Dane Bower, NEPTA Board Member & Co-Host of"NEP-TAC-TOE," a celebrity game show presentedby the Northeastern PA Theatrical Alliance on Saturday,March 1, 2025 at The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre,537 North Main Street at 7:00 pm. The event will benefitthe William Zdancewicz Scholarship Fund, awardedannually to a graduating senior going on to major in thearts or arts education. Purchasing a ticket enters theaudience member into the running to become acontestant. www.neptatheaters.org/neptactoe

JooWan Kim, Composer, Musician & Artistic Director of theHip Hop Orchestra Experience, and Abigail Manss, Directorof Performing Arts & Arts in Bloom, speaking about theupcoming performance by THHOE at Commonwealth University--Bloomsburg, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 7:30 pm in Haas Centerfor the Arts. The event features scores by JooWan Kim with rhymes byMC Unity Lewis & turf dance by Yung Phil, supported by a25-piece chamber orchestra. For more information:www.bloomu.edu/arts-in-bloom https://bloomu.universitytickets.com/

Alissa Swarts, Director of Education at WVIA Public Media,speaking about the Student Showcase and invitingyoung people from grades 4 through 12, and college anduniversity students, to submit short films by Monday,March 3, 2025. Films will be screened at the2025 NEPA Film Festival in April at the WaverlyCommunity House in Waverly, PA. All theinformation is online along with a "how-to" videoon making films with smartphones.www.wvia.org/studentshowcase

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager & Film Bookerat the Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga Street in Tunkhannock,speaking about Winter Fest 2025 featuring 21 films in21 days. The series opens on Friday, February 21stand continues through March 13th. There will be aspecial presentation on Saturday, March 1st at 10:30 am,"Exploring Nearly 100 Years of Cinema and the AcademyAwards" with Professor John Tindell. Admission is free.www.dietrichtheater. com/ 570-836-1022

Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the annual Greg Funfgeld Family Concert takingplace on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 3:00 atthe Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University inBethlehem. The program this year is dedicatedto a Youth Choirs Festival with special guests,The Westminster Choir under Donald Nally.www.bach.org

Jamie Smith, photographer & founder of The Social Fabric Collective, Olivia Deluca, participant in a SFC photography workshop; Valeria Sartor, chef and Olivia's mother, speaking in anticipation of the opening of Olivia's solo photo exhibition "AVP to MVD," February 21, 2025 & running through March 14th at the Circle Center for the Arts , Rear 130 S. Franklin St. in downtown Wilkes-Barre. There will be an artist's reception on Thursday, February 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. www.socialfabriccollective.org/events The Spring Photography Class offered by The Social Fabric Collective will begin on March 25th and run on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 6:30 through June 3rd. Formore information: www.socialfabriccollective.org/

Dave Reynolds, Professor & Chair of the Department of Theater at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, and John Toussaint, student/actor; speaking about the current production of the musical "Something Rotten!" at the Maffei Theatre on the King's campus, running from February 20 through March 1, 2025, with shows Thursdays, Fridays &Saturdays at 7:30 and a Sunday matinee on February 23rd at 2:00.For information: www.kings.edu

Mark Riccetti, Jr, Executive Director of the Luzerne County Historical Society, and Board Member Jenn Ochman, speaking about a special two-part program on Thursday, February 27, 2025, to mark Black History Month. There will be a ceremony in the City Cemetery of Wilkes-Barre at the gravesites of local USCT members. At 7:00 that evening, Tim Hodge of the Confederation of Union Generals will portray Captain Robert Smalls, an enslaved African-American who became a hero for the Union during the Civil War. The Soulful Springs Gospel Choir will perform, and there will be art works by C. Edgar Patience on display. The event will be held at The Grand Hall on River Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.Admission is free. www.luzernehistory.org/

Steven Sametz, award-winning composer, conductor, Ronald J. Ulrich Professor at Lehigh University, & artisticdirector of The Princeton Singers, speaking about a concertprogram titled, "When Morning Comes" on Sunday, February16, 2025, at 4:00 pm in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Centeron the Lehigh campus in Bethlehem. There will be apre-concert talk at 3:00. www.zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/or www.stevensametz.com/. The program will also be presentedon February 15th at 6:00 pm at Trinity Church Princeton.

Gabe Hakvaag, Director, and Actors Nikki York & Sarah Elswick, speaking about "Miss Holmes Returns" by Christopher M. Walsh, to be presented by Hamilton-Gibson Productions February 14, 15, 21 & 22 at 7:30 pm & February 23, 2025, at 2:30 pm, at the Warehouse Theatre, 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro. There will be an opening reception following the performance on February 14th. www.hamiltongibson.org 570-724-2079

Members of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus speaking about their organization and singing here at the WVIA Benco studio: Marian Holehan, tenor; Jason Kuzmak, lead; Tom Roberts, bass & Lou Volpetti, baritone. They have activities year-round--their main concert is on June 29, 2025, at the Kirby Center for Creative Arts on the campus of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston; also their December Holiday Concert; and their February Singing Valentines. New members are welcome. For more information: https://www.singwb.com/ or 570- 285-4810

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking about a concert titled, "Marvels of Majesty," on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm, at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street in Williamsport. Featured works: Piano Concerto in G by Ravel & Symphony No. 7 by Bruckner. For information: https://www.williamsportsymphony.org/ or https://www.CACLive.com/

Mark Biedlingmaier, art collector & graduate of the University of Scranton, Darlene Miller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery at the University, and Carol Maculloch, Director of Planned Giving, speaking about the second of a two-part exhibition series: "Hudson River & Delaware Valley: Selections from the Mark Biedlingmaier Collection," running from February 3 through March 14, 2025. There will be a Collectors' Lecture on February 7th at 5:00 in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall, 243 Jefferson Avenue. That will be followed by a Gallery Reception at 6:00 on the Fourth Floor of Hyland Hall, 301 Jefferson Avenue. https://www.scranton.edu/

Paul Salerni. award-winning composer & NEH Distinguished Chair in the Humanities at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, speaking about the Inaugural Salerni Bi-annual Art Song Recital presented by the LU Music Department on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 3:00 in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center on the Lehigh campus. Also at Lehigh on March 27th, there will be a screening of a new, award-winning documentary film titled, "Earl" centering on the life and work of distinguished 20th century composer Earl Kim. The event will be held in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh at 7:00 pm, and admission is free. https://www.zoellnerartscenter.org/ https://www.paulsalerni.com/ https://www.earlkimcomposer.com/

Jacqueline Engel, Executive Director of the Walk In Art Center in Schuylkill Haven, PA, giving an overview of the organization's history and activities from an interview in November 2023. The tradition of Souper Bowl Friday continues on February 7, 2025, with a lunch option between 11:30 am & 1:30 pm; and a dinner option from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. There will be an opening reception for the exhibit, "A Walk on Water: Watercolors of Donna Berk Barlup" on Feb 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Center's Main Gallery. https://www.walkinartgallery.org/Haley O'Brien, Multimedia Reporter & Host with WVIA News, with a story on Groundhog's Day in Pine Grove in Schuylkill County. https://www.wvia.org/news

Derek Jolley, Musician, Medical & Climate Researcher, native of NEPA, continuing his audio journal series on his journey around the world. This time from the South Island of New Zealand, where he is a Glacier Kayaking Guide & Instructor. He has completed a new album titled, "From the Flipside" by cuddle-drug set to be released 2/15/25. https://www.cuddledrug.com/ On Instagram@cuddledrug and https://www.derekjolley.com/

J. Michael Lennon, Emeritus Professor of English at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre and authorized biographer of Norman Mailer: "Norman Mailer: A Double Life" issued by Simon & Schuster, speaking about the recently released work by Mailer titled, "Lipton's: Mailer's Marijuana Journal: 1954-55" co-edited with G.R. Lucas and Susan Mailer. Also about a recent documentary, "How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer" by Jeff Zimbalist and released by Zeitgeist Films. For more information: https://www.jmichaellennon.com/ https://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/

Marybeth Evans, Project Director for the WVIA O'Hara Project, speaking about award-winning author John O'Hara to mark the 120th anniversary of the writer's birth--January 31, 1905--in Pottsville, PA, and remembering WVIA Radio's yearlong examination of O'Hara's life and work in 1995. For more information check the article by Peter Tourette in the 2016 Summer edition of "Humanities" from the National Endowment for the Humanities: https://www.neh/gov/humanities