Local stars shine
at holiday concert
Lots of local “stars” will be among those shining on the stage at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on Friday, when the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, under the baton of assistant conductor Michelle Merrill , presents the orchestra’s annual holiday concert and
celebration.
Guest artist Elisabeth von Trapp, granddaughter of the Maria and Georg von Trapp, is returning for the Philharmonic Pops Sounds of Christmas family concert. The Carolian Brass Quintet will also join in a program of traditional and special holiday favorites, a holiday sing-a-long “and much more,” Carol Dembert Nelson reports.
Among the “much more” is perennial favorite Ballet Theater of Scranton’s “March of the Wooden Soldiers.” Under the direction of artistic director Joanne Arduino, Ballet Theatre dancers will once again provide their version of the number made famous by the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Among those scheduled to dance this year are Bridget Barnic, Emma Byrne, Felicia Cicco, Elizabeth Conway, Devon D’Andrea, Kelley Dougherty, Ilona Du’Verge, Caitlyn Farrell, Haileigh Finnerty, Jamary Gil, Emily Goryeb, Riley Hesser, Brianna Lawless, Melissa Lees, Mairin McHale, Reilly Ruane, Gia Salerno, Leah Silverman, Isabella Snyder and Casey Welby.
Also scheduled to join in on the performance will be violin members of the Suzuki School for Strings, including violin: Brooke Bau, Havisha Bache, Vihisha Bache, Madison Pachucy, Vaughn Rudloff and Erik Thomas; cello: Alex Brandreth, Emma Guydish, Nathan Kile, Zachary Kile, Luke Pacchioli, Claire Sheen and Nathan Thomas.
And, from the Valenches Music Company, scheduled performers include violin: Anna Aubrey, Amelia Bell, Sydney Bell, Sarah Bjornstad, Brendan Bordick-Lesavage, Devon Clarke, Emma Eynon, Casey Healey, Rebecca Hricko, Chloe Kim, Alicia Laing, Diane Matteo, Aubrey Moase, Anne Victoria Nasevich, Sarah Osman, Bradley Piczon, Pia Ripley, Maria Salitsky, Katrina Salitsky, Cayd Sespico, Garrett Sespico, Emily Severance, Grace Stangline, Garrett Swartz, Alexandra Thoman, Cruz Valenches, Giada Valenches, Gisele Valenches, Juliet Valenches and Tyrel Wilson; viola: Catherine Clancy.
Building on the von Trapp family’s legacy and “The Sound of Music,” the Philharmonic is inviting the audience to dress as the von Trapps. Concerts at 7 p.m. are scheduled Friday at the Scranton Cultural Center and Saturday at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. The PNC Philharmonic Pops series is sponsored by PNC Bank. Additional sponsors for the holiday concert include The Times-Tribune, Citizens Voice, Community Bank, People’s Security and Benco Dental.
Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the Philharmonic at 570-270-4444 or visiting www.nepaphil.org.
Football twirling
Double “R” Twirlettes were well represented this football season with 17 members twirling with five different high school band fronts at games, pep rallies, and other events throughout the fall.
Samantha Rutkosky is Miss Spartan at Mid Valley Secondary Center. Stephanie Ornoski is featured twirler at Mid Valley. Natalie Buchinski, Klarissa Cwynar, Jesse Doyle, Gianna Manzo, Haylie Ray, Christina Szymczyk and Amanda Varaksa make up Mid Valley’s twirling squad. Gabrielle Gentile is Miss Trojan at North Pocono. Victoria Feola, Hanna Neiswander and Taylor Thomas are all members of the North Pocono twirling team. Angelica Plappert is featured twirler at Dunmore. Virgina Miller and Lindsay Griffiths are majorettes at West Scranton. Kiera Lucash is a member of the Abington Heights Drill Team.
Kathleen Y. Mercatili is director of the Double “R” Twirlettes.
High notes
Lackawanna County District Attorney Andrew Jarbola; Carlon Preate, chief financial officer of SEC Environmental Group; and Dan Santaniello, president and CEO of Fidelity Bank, are serving as community chairmen for the Women’s Resource Center’s Voices Against Violence campaign, designed to aid victims of domestic and sexual violence.
— TERRY BONIFANTI