NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA PHILHARMONIC, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, at 7:30 PM, at the KIRBY CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS, WYOMING SEMINARY, KINGSTON…. PERFECT RESPITE FROM A COLD WINTER!

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, under the baton of Maestra Mélisse Brunet, will perform works by Purcell, Frank, Copland, Okpebholo, and Tchaikovsky on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 7:30, at the Kirby Center for Creative Arts, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston.

Featured soloist for Copland’s “Clarinet Concerto” will be Pascal Archer, Principal Clarinetist of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Hailed by the New York Times as an “outstanding clarinetist”, Archer leads an active career as a performer and teacher.  He is the founder and artistic director of the Exponential Ensemble, and is also Principal Clarinetist of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and the Glimmerglass Festival Orchestra. Pascal Archer is the founder of the NEPA Philharmonic’s Mentoring Program, which provides an opportunity for talented regional high school students to study with an orchestra member and perform on stage during the Philharmonic’s Young Peoples Concert.

Also, on the program is Henry Purcell’s “Abdelazer Suite”.  Purcell’s music has influenced countless artists, from Benjamin Britten to Pete Townsend of “The Who”, who cited Purcell as an influence on rock opera.  The audience may recognize the famous “Theme” used in Britten’s “Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra” as incidental music from “Abdelazer”.

Gabriela Lena Frank has been included in the Washington Post’s list of the 35 most significant women composers in history.  We will hear “Leyendas, An Andean Walkabout” featuring the Philharmonic string sections.  Shawn Okpebholo’s “Zoom”, a delightful 6-minute piece, will be performed for the first time by the NEPA Phil. 

The concert will end with an audience favorite, Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece “Serenade for Strings”.  Tchaikovsky was quoted as saying “I wrote from inner compulsion.  This is a piece from the heart…” and it is certain to close the evening with great emotion and fanfare.

Tickets may be purchased on www.nepaphil.org or by calling the Philharmonic office at 570.270.4444.  Prices range from $42 to $78 and students K-12 are free.  Tickets may also be purchased on concert night at the door.  There is free parking adjacent to the theater.

A pre-fix pre-concert dinner will be available at Kevin’s Restaurant, and those who wish to have dinner at Kevin’s are invited to leave their cars at the restaurant during the concert.  Reservations are required.  Kevin’s is located at 247 Wyoming Avenue, Kingston, and their phone is 570.285.3071.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic is a fully professional symphony orchestra, performing masterworks, pops, and holiday concerts plus a chamber series in venues throughout the region.  There are also two free Independence Day performances, on Courthouse Square in Scranton and Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre.  Education and community engagement programs are scheduled throughout the year.

For additional information or to become a sponsor, please contact the Philharmonic office at info@nepaphil.org or call 570.270.4444.

Photo captions: 

Pascal Archer:  Soloist Pascal Archer will be featured in Copland’s “Clarinet Concerto”.  Archer is principal clarinet for the NEPA Philharmonic

Melisse Brunet:  Maestra Mélisse Brunet will conduct the NEPA Philharmonic in a program of masterworks and new compositions on Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 PM at the Kirby Center for the Creative Arts at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston.