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Hot Summer, HUH?
Last week's concert on the new River Common's Amphitheater by members of Wyoming Seminary's Performing Arts institute was a smashing success! If you missed it, check out this brief (8 pictures) slide show. For me, the high point was during the second run-through of "Take the 'A' Train," when a train whistle sounded in the background from down on the Black Diamond Bridge. I'm happy to report that this event is a portent of MUCH more to come, as you'll read in the article below In the meantime, jazz lovers will be flocking to Scranton this weekend for the annual Scranton Jazz Festival. For more info on that, go to scrantonjazzfestival.org.
Mike Burnside
Executive Director
Cultural Council of Luzerne County
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New Group to Organize Annual Concert Series
 On February 23rd, 1951, the first jazz festival in the United States was held in the Redington and Hart Hotels here in Wilkes-Barre.
A plaque in Public Square commemorates the "Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz," and for the 60th Anniversary of this seminal event in the region's music history, the Cultural Council is partnering with Downtown Arts and the Pa Jazz Alliance to hold a Gala Jazz Concert at Downtown Arts, on Saturday, February 26th, 2011. Also included in the organizing group are Charles Havira, noted regional musician; representatives of the Riverfront Parks Committee, John Maday and Vinnie Cotrone; The Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Janet Hall; Downtown Arts, Gina Malsky; and Arts YOUniverse, Kathleen Godwin, as well as Rivercommon.org. The event will benefit the Cultural Council and Downtown Arts.
The organizing group foresees that this event will be the first in a series of musical performances that will range well beyond the jazz genre and will extend throughout the summer of 2011 at multiple venues, concluding with a major concert on the River Common in September. If well received, it is our plan that the project will continue as an annual series of performances.
Typically, music festivals consist of a few days of performances at multiple venues, but we believe that an extended season of programming will be well received by the region, particularly with the use of the River Common. The recent event held by Wyoming Seminary's Performing Arts Institute inaugurating the amphitheater, which drew an audience of over 400 people (and about a dozen dogs), demonstrates that such events will be well received. (Click here to see a brief slide show of the concert.)
Programming is in process, a media partner has been identified and sponsorships are being developed. We hope the Wyoming Valley community will embrace this concept and it is our intent to be inclusive. If you have an idea about what to name an annual, season long, series of performances in multiple genres, let us know! Individuals or organizations interested in participating in this endeavor may contact the Cultural Council at cclcarts@gmail.com.
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The Cultural Council
