WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON - The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic is proud to celebrate its longstanding relationship with and deep appreciation for the Scranton Area Community Foundation, whose continued support has played a vital role in expanding the Philharmonic’s educational, cultural, and community-focused initiatives throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Through the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the NEPA Philharmonic received multiple generous grants in 2025 that help to advance access to music and the arts for all ages across the community.

In early 2025, the Philharmonic was awarded a $4,000 Community Needs grant through the Fall 2024 grant cycle to support its mentoring program for talented high school students, providing young musicians with professional guidance from NEPA Philharmonic Musicians. In Spring 2025, the Community Needs program also provided a $10,000 grant in support of the launch of RxArts NEPA, an innovative new initiative in development that will prescribe arts experiences to older adults across the region at risk of social isolation and loneliness. RxArts NEPA received additional support of $4,450 through a Women in Philanthropy grant from the Foundation, further strengthening the program’s future community impact.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation has also facilitated important grants for the NEPA Philharmonic’s programs from additional community partners, including the Robert H. Spitz Foundation and the Community Foundation of Monroe County. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation awarded the Philharmonic a $12,000 grant through its Spring 2025 grant cycle to promote Jewish music and culture across the region. This grant provides underwriting support for Dreams & Klezmer, an upcoming chamber music performance on Sunday, February 22nd at 3pm at WVIA’s Sordoni Theatre in Pittston that will explore rich Jewish musical and cultural traditions with clarinet and string quartet. Limited tickets are available for this concert at NEPAPHIL.org or by calling the NEPA Philharmonic Box Office at (570) 270-4444; tickets are $29 in advance or $35 at the door. The Spitz Foundation grant also provides support toward free Angel Tickets for Philharmonic concerts for individuals in need, distributed through local Jewish community organizations, as well as a free public lecture on “Klezmer & Kabbalah” on Wednesday, February 4th at 7pm at Temple Hesed in Scranton, led by Philharmonic musician Sasha Margolis and Temple Hesed’s Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz. The February 4th lecture is general admission and free for the public; no tickets are required.

An additional grant of $4,800 administered through the Scranton Area Community Foundation from the Community Foundation of Monroe County’s Myra Kyle Fund for the Arts will enable the Philharmonic to expand its music education programs to libraries and schools across Monroe County later this spring. These programs include Once Upon an Orchestra, pairing live music with story-time for children ages 2–6, as well as Music in Our Schools, introducing K-12 students to musical instruments and professional musicians. These Philharmonic programs aim to foster early musical engagement, imagination, and a lifelong connection to the arts.

The NEPA Philharmonic extends its sincere gratitude to multiple private funds at the Scranton Area Community Foundation that have provided longstanding support for Philharmonic concerts and community programming. These funds include, but are not limited to, the Carol M. Breig Memorial Fund for the NEPA Philharmonic, the Irving and Edythe Grossman Fund, the William R. and Natalie Henkelman Fund, and the Sondra G. and Morey M. Myers Charitable Gift Fund.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic looks forward to continuing this meaningful partnership with the Scranton Area Community Foundation and expanding its mission to serve the region through music, education, and inclusive cultural experiences.

The NEPA Philharmonic 25-26 Season is presented by PNC; Philharmonic season media sponsors include WVIA, Lamar Advertising, Halibut Blue, Happenings Magazine, and Darren Elias Photography. The Philharmonic Chamber Series is presented by the Stoppini Family Foundation. The Dreams & Klezmer program and the “Klezmer & Kabbalah” lecture are both presented by the Robert H. Spitz Foundation.

For tickets or more information on concerts and community programs, visit NEPAPHIL.org, or call the NEPA Philharmonic Box Office at (570) 270-4444.