NEPA Philharmonic and Luzerne County to celebrate county’s 240th anniversary

Luzerne County and the NEPA Philharmonic will celebrate both the county’s 240th and America’s 250th anniversaries with a performance featuring a local Broadway star, a local singer-songwriter, and multimedia of local history, along with music, dance, and narration inspired by Pennsylvania’s rich heritage and cultures. Both entities will present the Luzerne County 240th Celebration on Friday, September 25 at 7 PM at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre.

In the program, the NEPA PHIL will perform two major compositions by renowned American composer Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait, a moving work for narrator and orchestra highlighting the inspirational words of the 16th United States President Abraham Lincoln, along with Appalachian Spring, famous for its musical depiction of 19th-century Pennsylvanian heritage and the use of the Shaker melody “Simple Gifts”.  Appalachian Spring will be presented alongside brand-new artistic multimedia, narration, and dance highlighting 240 years of Luzerne County history across its 76 municipalities. Wilkes-Barre City Councilman and local historian Tony Brooks will provide narration for Appalachian Spring; the narrator for Lincoln Portrait is to be announced.

“The NEPA Philharmonic is thrilled to collaborate with Luzerne County and so many amazing partners on this once-in-a-generation celebratory musical event,” said Chason Goldschmitz, NEPA PHIL Executive Director. “We are immensely thankful for continued support from the broader Luzerne County and NEPA community, and we are proud to showcase the incredible artistry of our orchestral musicians and hometown stars on this special occasion.”

Broadway star and Luzerne County native Celia Hottenstein also joins the orchestra for the concert, presenting a selection of Broadway songs from Oklahoma, Anastasia, Company, and more alongside her husband and fellow Broadway star Travis Taber. Luzerne County singer-songwriter-guitarist Gracie Jane Sinclair, winner of the inaugural NEPA PHIL Battle of the Bands, will perform two of her original songs alongside the orchestra, orchestrated by NEPA PHIL trumpeter Darin Kelly. The program will also feature the National Anthem, sung by Hottenstein with an orchestration by NEPA PHIL Music Director Mélisse Brunet, and the premiere of Keystone Jubilee, a new orchestral fanfare composed for the occasion by NEPA PHIL Executive Director Chason Goldschmitz. The program will be approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes in length, including a 20-minute intermission.

Luzerne County & NEPA PHIL will also present a special Young People’s Concert for Luzerne County schools on Friday, September 25th at 10:30 AM at the F.M. Kirby Center. Copland’s Appalachian Spring and the new historical multimedia, narration, and dance will be presented for students in grades 3-12 from across Luzerne County, highlighting 240 years of Luzerne County history in an accessible and exciting setting. Interested schools and homeschool families can call the NEPA PHIL for more information, at (570) 270-4444.

Sponsorships, including Pennsylvania EITC-eligible support, are still available and welcome for the concert from individuals and businesses; benefits at various levels include program book advertisements, recognition on screen and announced from the stage, complimentary tickets, and limited Title Sponsorship options. Support can be directed towards the entire event, the evening concert, the Young People’s Concert, a broadcast recording, or towards free Angel Tickets to be distributed to veterans and low-income Luzerne County residents through local nonprofit partners. Interested sponsors can reach out to the NEPA Philharmonic at (570) 270-4444.

Tickets for the program start at $16 for students (with ID) and $24 for adults; tickets are available at NEPAPHIL.org, by calling the Philharmonic Box Office at 570-270-4444, or by visiting the F.M. Kirby Center Box Office on Public Square.