THE NEPA PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS UPCOMING KLEZMER EVENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE NEPA PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS UPCOMING KLEZMER EVENTS
The Robert H. Spitz Foundation awards a $12,000 Grant from the Spring 2025 Grant Cycle to the NEPA Philharmonic to promote Jewish music and culture in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON - The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic presents two upcoming programs highlighting the rich history and expression of Klezmer music and Jewish culture: a lecture-discussion on “Klezmer & Kabbalah” on Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00pm at Temple Hesed in Scranton, and an intimate chamber music program of “Dreams & Klezmer” on Sunday, February 22nd at 3:00pm at the WVIA Sordoni Theatre in Pittston. A generous $12,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation’s Spring 2025 Grant Cycle, provided through the Scranton Area Community Foundation, underwrites both events, as well as a distribution of free Angel Tickets for upcoming Philharmonic concerts to local Jewish non-profit organizations serving community members in need. The February 4th lecture is free admission; tickets for the February 22nd concert are $29 in advance or $35 at the door, with limited seating available. For tickets or more information, visit NEPAPHIL.org, or call the Philharmonic Box Office at (570) 270-4444.
The “Dreams & Klezmer” chamber concert on February 22nd weaves together the expressive fire of klezmer music with mystical and dreamlike modern works, exploring themes of memory, spirituality, and cultural tradition through a soundscape of Jewish mysticism, folk tradition, and dance. This evocative program for clarinet and string quartet features Osvaldo Golijov’s mesmerizing and powerful Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, music by Dmitri Shostakovich, and traditional klezmer melodies arranged by NEPA Philharmonic violinist and Chamber Series coordinator Sasha Margolis. The concert features an ensemble including Margolis on violin, NEPA Philharmonic Principal Clarinetist Pascal Archer, Principal Cellist Lucas Button, violinist Robyn Quinnett, and guest violist Mialtin Zhezha. Tickets are limited for this event and are available at NEPAPHIL.org or at (570) 270-4444.
The free “Klezmer & Kabbalah” lecture-discussion on February 4th will be jointly led by NEPA Philharmonic violinist and Chamber Series coordinator Sasha Margolis and Rabbi Daniel Swartz of Temple Hesed, exploring interwoven threads of Jewish music and mysticism. Margolis will discuss the colorful history of klezmer music, touching upon the influence of elaborate weddings, Russian plays, Yiddish proverbs, Polish nobility, medieval anti-Jewish regulations, French fashion trends, and spicy secret languages. Meanwhile, Rabbi Swartz will explore Jewish mysticism, kabbalah, and the mysteries of the sefirot, emanations of the Divine. He’ll highlight not only the role it has played historically, but also what it could mean today on topics ranging from a search for meaning and purpose to the changing definition of humanity and creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. A moderated Q&A will follow.
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, and the Dreams & Klezmer program is presented by the Robert H. Spitz Foundation.
For tickets or more information, visit NEPAPHIL.org, or call the Philharmonic Box Office at (570) 270-4444.
About the Scranton Area Community Foundation:
The Scranton Area Community Foundation responsibly stewards resources and inspires transformative
philanthropy to build a strong and vibrant community. With over $100 million in assets under
management and more than 415 charitable funds, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served
as a steward, grantmaker, charitable resource, and catalyst for change since 1954. The Foundation leads
various initiatives, including Women in Philanthropy, the Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit
Excellence, NEPA Moves, and the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. Additionally, the Foundation hosts
and facilitates NEPA Gives and the NEPA Learning Conference. The Scranton Area Community
Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization confirmed in compliance with National
Standards of U.S. Community Foundations. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.
philanthropy to build a strong and vibrant community. With over $100 million in assets under
management and more than 415 charitable funds, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served
as a steward, grantmaker, charitable resource, and catalyst for change since 1954. The Foundation leads
various initiatives, including Women in Philanthropy, the Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit
Excellence, NEPA Moves, and the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. Additionally, the Foundation hosts
and facilitates NEPA Gives and the NEPA Learning Conference. The Scranton Area Community
Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization confirmed in compliance with National
Standards of U.S. Community Foundations. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.
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Scranton Area Community Foundation presents a grant on behalf of the Robert H. Spitz Foundation to NEPA Philharmonic Executive Director Chason Goldschmitz (second from left)
NEPA Philharmonic Principal Clarinetist Pascal Archer; photo by Darren Elias Photography
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