NEPA Philharmonic Celebrates Luzerne County’s 240th Anniversary at F.M. Kirby Center

A Milestone Celebration at the F.M. Kirby Center

The evening program served as a centerpiece for the county’s anniversary, coinciding with the 55th season of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the 40th anniversary of the F.M. Kirby Center. County Manager Romilda Crocamo described the event as an effort to bring the community together in one of the region’s most prominent landmarks. The performance included a mix of classical music and local history. According to the Philharmonic’s executive director, Chason Goldschmitz, the orchestra performed Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and “Appalachian Spring.” The latter featured multimedia projections co-created by Steve Husted of Knot Just Any Day, which integrated historical visuals with narration and dance.

Narrators and Musical Performers

The presentation was guided by narrators Chris Norton, a radio announcer and retired WVIA Senior Vice President, and Wilkes-Barre City Councilman Tony Brooks, who served as the narrator for “Appalachian Spring.” The musical lineup included several regional and professional performers:

• Broadway star and Luzerne County native Celia Hottenstein, who performed with her husband, actor Travis Taber, featuring songs from musicals such as “Oklahoma,” “Anastasia,” and “Company.”
• Singer-songwriter and guitarist Gracie Jane Sinclair, the winner of the Philharmonic’s inaugural Battle of the Bands, who performed original songs alongside the orchestra.
• The Dance Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, directed by founder Gina Prokop-Malsky, which provided choreography for the performance.

Historical Context and Community Support

Luzerne County was established by a resolution of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1786 and named for Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, a French diplomat who served as the French ambassador to the young United States. The county later served as the parent region for several others, including Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming, and Lackawanna counties. The anniversary event was supported by a coalition of regional partners. Financial and logistical backing was provided by The Community Impact Fund of The Luzerne Foundation, Luzerne County, Visit Luzerne County, and the Passan Foundation. Philharmonic board president Adam Thalenfeld noted that the variety of the program was intended to appeal to a broad audience, stating, “Just because you’re seeing an orchestra doesn’t mean you have to show up in a suit and know classical repertoire.”

The arts are the best way to celebrate anything, anytime. Art, song, dance, music, visual art, film, it all helps us come together. We feel that there is no better way to celebrate the rich history and the incredible contributions of people here across this county, and so much support and dedication to this region than by having this artistic celebration.

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director, NEPA Philharmonic

In addition to the public performance, the Philharmonic organized a Young People’s Concert for local students, extending the anniversary celebration to the county’s school districts.