Artscene With Erika Funke

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic, speaking about theSensory-Friendly performance by the Philharmonic Wind Quartet at the Pittston MemorialLibrary, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10 am and again at 1 pm. There will be arts activities and many resources for families about autism. For reservations call (570)654-9565 and for more information; www.nepaphil.org/The library is located at 47 Broad Street in Pittston.

John Weiss, Co-Chair of the series, and Rev Bill Carter, Pastor of the FP Church CS &jazz pianist, composer & band leader, speaking about the 2025-2026 Arts atFirst Presbyterian season. The opening performance will featurethe Bloom/Funkhouser Duo in a Salute to Duke Ellington on Sunday, September 14that 4:00 at the church, 300 School Street in Clarks Summit. The Duo will also performon Friday, September 12th at 7 pm in Carver Hall at the Commonwealth University atBloomsburg. The concerts are free and open to the public. For the completeseason: www.fpccs.org/

Vaughn Faison and JE McKissic, 2 members of Kings Return, speaking about their a cappella singing and their music and mission, in anticipation of the group's performance at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, on Thursday, September 11th at 7:30 pm to open the 2025-26 season. www.bucknell.edu/weiscenter

Musician James Barrett, singer-songwriter & event producer, speaking about the 2025Good Things Are Happening Fest, taking place on Saturday, September 6th at theScranton Iron Furnaces. Doors open at Noon & the music begins at 12:30.This year's headlining band is The Menzingers. For information: goodthingsfestpa.com and all social media platforms.

Jaclyn Maria Fowler, English Department Chair at American Public University,speaking about her recent novel/memoir, "Jack: The Almost True Story of theMolly Maguires." For more information: www.jaclynmariafowler.com/www.europebooks.co.uk/

Craig Czury, award-winning poet, teacher and workshop leader, speaking abouthis collection, "And If You Saw Me: New & Selected Prose Poems & Poems"just released by Moonstone Press. In anticipation of Labor Day, Czury read"Imagine there are people." For information: www.craigczury.com/www.moonstoneartscenter.org/ This is the first part of a two-partseries.

Dr. Paul Salerni, award-winning composer and NEH Distinguished Chair in the Humanities& Professor of Music at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, speaking about the upcomingconcert by the Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet on Sunday, September 14, 2025,at 3:00 at the Zoellner Arts Center on the Lehigh campus, in a program titled, "La Grande Bellezza". The performance is co-sponsored by Chamber Music Lehigh Valley.On September 19th, Navona Records will release the new recording "Haunted & Other Works by Paul Salerni & Dana Gioia." For tickets & information: www.lehigh.edu/www.paulsalerni.com/ or www.navonarecords.com/

Carol McManus and Brian Carso, Co-Chairs of the 2025 Milford Readers & Writers Festival, speaking about the event taking place in Milford, PA, from September 12 throughthe 14th. There will be workshops, author conversations, signings & more, with ticketedevents at the Milford Theater and others throughout the town. Also on the schedule arethree programs for young people. For tickets and information:www.milfordreadersandwriters.com/

Michele Bannon, Mayor of Carbondale, PA, Gus Fahey, President of Valley in Motion, &Todd Pousley, Director of Community Development at NeighborWorks Northeastern PA,speaking about PA Heart & Soul, a community development initiative, its impact on thecity & its relationship with PA Humanities, in anticipation of a mural unveiling and touron September 4, 2025, starting at the former Rite Aid site on North Main Street, at 5:30 pm. There will be a short program, refreshments, meet-and-greet with artists, a mural tour and music by John Stevens Doubleshot Trio. There will be an excursion train from Steamtown NHS in Scranton at 3:30 to transport people to the event in Carbondale.www.carbondalepa.org Facebook.com/carbondaleheartandsoul/ www.pahumanities.org/

Cheryl Boga, Conductor & Artistic Director, and Janelle Decker, Conductor & ExecutiveDirector, speaking about Performance Music at the University of Scranton and theopening concert of the Fall 2025 season. Relic Ensemble, an 11-piece period instrumentchamber orchestra, will present a program titled, Spheres, on Friday, September 12,at 7:30 pm, in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street at Jefferson Avenue.Admission is free, and for more information: www.scranton.edu/music

Mark Ciocca, artist & educator from NEPA, speaking about his work titled, "Engine #6039"that will be on exhibit at Steamtown National Historic Site in downtown Scranton as part of Arts in the Parks weekend—August 23 & 24, 2025. On Sunday, August 24th, at 3:00,Ciocca will present the program, "Creating Engine #6039," a conversation with the artist.There will programs by other speakers each day as well. Admission is free.For more information: www.nps.gov/steamtown; www.markciocca.com/

Rev. Bill Carter, Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, jazz pianist, composer, arranger & band leader, and Derrick Bang, biographer of Vince Guaraldi,speaking about the Jazz Mass Guaraldi composed for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.To mark the 60th anniversary of the premiere, First Presbyterian Church of CS will presenta full performance of the work that was transcribed from the key recording by Carter.Featured will be a talk by Bang at 9:30 am on Sunday, August 31, 2025, followed bythe Mass, presented by the Presbybop Quartet, the combined choirs of the 1stPresbyterian Church & Our Lady of the Snows, at the FP Church, 300 School Streetin Clarks Summit. The public is invited, and for more information: www.fpccs.org/

Maegan Zielinski, board member of the Street Art Society of NEPA, speaking aboutthe organization and its End of Summer Mural Trolley Tour on August 19, 20 & 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm, leaving from the Old Train Station in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Attendees areasked to arrive at 5:45 for the hour and 15 minute tour that will take in over 30 murals.The excursion will conclude in Forty Fort at Amy Bezek Photography for a meet-&-greetwith mural artists and refreshments. The trolley will return to the Old Train Station at oraround 8:15. Tuesday's trip is sold out, but there are openings for the Wednesday & Thursday tours. For more information: www.streetartsocietynepa.org/

Carl Achhammer, Jr, founding member, & James Gavern, president of the NEPA Bonsai Society, speaking about the art and the group's 2025 Open House on August 23rdfrom 10 am to 2 pm at Keller's Garden Center, 7 KernStreet in Exeter, PA. For more information:www.nepabonsai.com/

Katherine Ann Wynne, award-winning author and screenwriter,speaking about her recent essay collection titled, "The Animalsof Fernwood Cottage," highlighting many of the animals she &her husband Peter Wynne, have welcomed over the decades inWayne County, PA. www.katherineannwynne.com/

Ty Kim, Emmy Award-Winning filmmaker and director of therecent documentary titled, "Earl." The film tells the story ofthe life and music of the distinguished 20th composer andeducator who retired from Harvard University in 1990and died in 1998. Earl studied with Arnold Schoenbergand Ernest Bloch and taught Paul Salerni and JohnHarbison, award-winning composers in their ownright. Earl Kim's association with writer SamuelBeckett is explored in the film as well as Earl'sservice during World War II. We hear in this featureDr. Salerni's memories of Earl Kim as his teacher & mentor, as well.The documentary has been screened internationallyand has won a number of prizes.For more information: www.earlkimcomposer.com/

Tim Novotney, award-winning producer, director & editor at WVIA, speaking about his Emmy-nominated short documentary,"The Secret Beneath Hazleton," that can be viewed onlineat wvia.org/ under Short Takes. There is a Kickstarter campaign underway toraise funds to produce a full documentary on the city beneath Hazleton, and for more information:Kickstarter.com and search for "The Secret BeneathHazleton."

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic;Leah Valenches , violin with the NEPA Philharmonic String Quartet;and Chris Norton, Sr. Vice-President at WVIA Public Media, speaking about the benefit concert for WVIA on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Harmonyin the Woods at 5:30. with a reception at 5:00.Singer-Songwriter Regina Sayles will perform with the PhilharmonicString Quartet featuring folk, rock, and pop arrangements withoriginals by Sayles, too.For tickets: www.wvia.org/events; For more information:www.nepaphil.org/ and www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Bill Amos, playwright, Cole Hrusovsky; directorAnd Matt Bubul, actor, speaking about thePA Theatre of Performing Arts production of"Sherlock Holmes & the Scarlet Avenger" adapted byAmos from the story, "A Study in Scarlet."There will shows from August 14 through the17, 2025--Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7 pm,Sunday at 3:00, at the Ferrara Center on BroadStreet in Hazleton. www.ptpashows.org/