ArtScene with Erika Funke

Derek Jolley, native of Northeastern PA, Musician,Glacier Sea-Kayaking, Helicopter Hiking & Trekking GuideSouthern Alps Guiding & Aoraki Mt Cook Guiding Co. Ltd, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand.Jolley offered the final installment of his audio diaries from his two year sojourn in New Zealandbefore his return to Pennsylvania to rejoin family andfriends. For more information about Jolley and hismusic: www.cuddledrug.com/

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director and Conductor of theArcadia Chorale, speaking about the 39th annual NEPABach Festival which the ensemble will host March 21 & 22, 2026.There will be a free organ recital on March 21st at 4:00 pmfeaturing guest organist James Wetzel, at Elm Park UnitedMethodist Church, 712 Linden Street in Scranton.That evening (3/21) at 7:30, there will be a Chamber Music Concert withmembers of the Arcadia Festival Orchestra at CovenantPresbyterian Church, 550 Madison Avenue in Scranton.The Arcadia Chorale concert will take place on Sunday, March 22nd,at 3:00 pm, also at Covenant Presbyterian Church.For more information: www.arcadiachorale.org/

Mary Ellen Bernard, writer and performer who is a native of Scranton, speakingabout the original full-scale musical, "Raising Cain," that she has been developingwith Paul Guzzone, her husband and creative partner. The story is set in theAnthracite Coal region leading up to the 1902 Strike, and centers on a family and thetrials and tribulations of the mining life. The show is ready to have a completeproduction before the general public, and for more information and to view the trailer:www.maryellenbernard.com/

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the Northeastern PAPhilharmonic, speaking about the upcoming concert on Thursday,March 12, 2026 at 7:00 pm, titled, "Celtic and Bluegrass Sky."The concert will take place at the Kirby Center for the CreativeArts on the campus of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston.There will be two guest fiddlers and music by Michael Torke,John Williams and more. Music Director Melisse Brunet will conduct.There will be a Post-Concert After Party in the lobby with the FiddleTamers and food and beverages will be available.For tickets and information: www.nepaphil.org/ or570-270-4444

Guitarist Matthew Slotkin, Associate Professor of Music atCommonwealth University-Bloomsburg and director of theguitar program there, speaking about his recent album,"Recovered Gems: Music from the Andres Segovia Archive,"released on the Summit Records label.The recording includes works by Lennox Berkeley,Cyril Scott and lesser known composers.For more information: www.matthewslotkin.com/

Ali Basalyga of NAC Entertainment speaking about themusical CHICAGO that will be presented by Broadwayin Scranton from March 5 through 8, 2026, at theScranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple,420 N. Washington Avenue in Scranton. Shows:Friday, March 6th at 7:30 pm; Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 &7:30 pm; and Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 pm. The musicalis recommended for ages 13 and up. For moreinformation & tickets: www.broadwayinscranton.com/0r 570-342-7784.

Rev. Bill Carter; jazz pianist, bandleader & director of the Presbybop Jazz Ensemble; speaking about his new band, The Blue Note Jazztet, that will perform in concert onSunday, March 15, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, where Rev. Carter is the pastor. The start time is 4:00 pm, and admission is free, with a free-will offering to defray expenses. A Meet the Artists reception will be held after theperformance. For more information: www.fpccs.org/ or www.presbybop.com/The event is part of the 2025-2026 Arts at First Presbyterian series, and thechurch is located at 300 School Street in Clarks Summit.

Cheryl Boga, Founder and Artistic Director of Performance Music at theUniversity of Scranton, & Janelle Decker, Executive Director, speaking aboutan In Recital concert featuring baritone Sidney Outlaw & organist ChristopherJohnson, in a program with music of Bach, Handel & Mendelssohn,on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 7:30 pm in the Houlihan-McLeanCenter at the corner of Mulberry Street & Jefferson Avenue in downtownScranton. Admission is free. www.scranton.edu/music

Fiona Powell, storyteller & folklorist, speaking with us about her art in anticipation of the 147th Annual Banquet hosted by the St. David's Society of the Wyoming Valley on Sunday,March 1, 2026, at the Westmoreland Club, 59 S. Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.There will be a social hour at 4:00 pm & dinner will begin at 5:00.Ms. Powell will tell stories and share her deep passion for Welsh culture.For information and reservations: 570-262-3025.

Award-winning composer Paul Salerni, the NEH Distinguished Chairin the Humanities and Professor Emeritus of Music at LehighUniversity in Bethlehem, speaking about the recent release ofa recording of his one-act opera, "The Life and Love of JoeCoogan, " based on an episode of the Dick Van Dyke TV show,with screenplay by Carl Reiner and libretto by Kate Light.For more information: www.paulsalerni.com/