ArtScene with Erika Funke

Brenda Grunza, Co-President, & Ann Manganiello,Music Director & Conductor, speaking about theCatholic Choral Society of Scranton and its77th Spring Concert titled, "An AmericanCelebration." There will be performances onFriday, May 15, 2026, at 7 pm at Mary, Mother of God Parish:Holy Rosary Church, 316 William Street, in Scranton.On Sunday, May 17, at 7 pm at the Church ofSt. Ignatius Loyola, 339 Maple Avenue in Kingston, PA,the Society will be joined by the MMI Prep Select Chorus.For more information: www.catholicchoralsociety.org/

Matthew Rupcich, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale,and Bassist Doug Smith, speaking abouta Pops Concert titled, "Legends of Stage and Screen:Broadway, Hollywood, and the Golden Era of Song fromthe 1930s to the 1970s!" The performance is acollaboration between the Arcadia Chorale & theDoug Smith Jazz Trio at Covenant PresbyterianChurch, 550 Madison Avenue in Scranton, onFriday, May 15, 2026, at 8:00 pm.For information: www.arcadiachorale.org/

John Vaida, violin, and Amy Iwazumi, viola, co-founders of the Northeastern PAChamber Music Society, joined by Hollywood actor Keisuke Hoashi, narrator,speaking about the 10th anniversary celebration of NEPACMS on Friday,May 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm with a full performance of "The Soldier's Tale" by IgorStravinsky, featuring 7 chamber musicians from around the country, dancers,performers and puppetry.The production will take place at the Kirby Center for Creative Arts at WyomingSeminary, 260 N. Sprague Avenue in Kingston, PA. Admission is free, and forreservations and more information: www.nepacms.org/

Pianist John Wilson from northeastern PA, who is the pianist with the San Francisco Symphony and the San Diego Symphony. He is a winner of the Belin Scholarship administered by the Waverly Community House, which made possible his recording, "Upon Further Reflection," on the Avie label,featuring the world premiere of a work with that title by Michael Tilson Thomas. Wilson will return to the region to present a recital on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 7:30 at the Houlihan-McLean Center at the University of Scranton, as part of the Performance Music series. The program will includethe solo piano version of "Rhapsody in Blue," the Dante Sonata by Liszt and more.There is no admission charge. www.scranton.edu/musicwww.johnwilsonpiano.com/The interview was first broadcast in January of 2023.

Gina Malsky and Carl Achhammer, Jr, Board Members of theFine Arts Fiesta, and Co-chairs of the Performance Committee,speaking about the 70th anniversary of the Fine Arts Fiestato be celebrated on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barrefrom May 14 through May 17, 2026.There will be a range of performing artists; a dance gala,visual artists in residence, art exhibitions, and a host ofactivities for children and young people.There is no admission charge. For more information anda complete schedule: www.fineartsfiesta.org/

Dr. Joshua Harper, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Choral Society of Northeast Pennsylvania, speaking about a concert titled, "Brothers in Song"to be presented by the tenors and basses of the Society on Friday, May 8, 2026at 7:00 pm, at the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, 97 SouthFranklin Street. On the program, music by Grieg, Schubert and more.Admission is free, but donations will gladly be accepted at the door.For more information: www.choralsociety.net/

David Parmelee, General Manager of the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre,and Roderick Markham, director of "PIllow Talk", speaking about the stageadaptation. The show will run from May 8 through May 17, 2026, withperformances Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm.Little Theatre is located at 537 North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.For more information and tickets: www.ltwb.org/ or call the boxoffice at 570-823-1875

Bass Christopher Gallo, Artistic Director of the Lyric Consort,speaking about the ensemble's Spring concert titled,"Part and Palestrina" to be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026,at 7:30 pm, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 WyomingAvenue in Scranton. The program will feature theMissa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina and 5 worksby Arvo Part. Free will admission.For more information: www.lyricconsort.org/

Joanne Arduino, Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Scranton, speaking about theconclusion of the 2025-2026 season that celebrates the company's 50th anniversaryof presenting Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet as a gift to the community.The spring production is an original reimagining of the holiday classic that isset in 1940s New York City, "The Cracked Nut." There are musical adaptationsof Tchaikovsky's score by Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn, the Brian Setzer Orchestra &Pentatonix. The performance will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 pm, at theTheater at North, 1539 N. Main in Scranton. For more information:www.thetheateratnorth.com/ www.balletscranton.org/

Angelica Nowak and Jenna Wright, students at Bucknell University in Lewisburg,speaking about a course titled, "Film Exhibition and Programming," taught byRebecca Meyers, lecturer in film/media studies. The resulting 2026 BucknellIntercollegiate Film Festival will be held on Friday, May 1st at 7:00 pm atthe Campus Theatre, 413 Market Street in Lewisburg. BIFF will featurea program of curated short films by collegiate filmmakers from across Pennsylvania.The event is free and open to the public. www.bucknell.edu/