Before the pandemic, Michael Arenella was traveling to New York City three to five days a week, performing jazz at various clubs, venues and events. These days, the trombonist, singer and band leader, who moved to Tinicum Township in 2015, is more likely to be found playing in Bucks County than in the Big Apple. “Even before the pandemic, I had been planting the seeds to p… »
To hear Daniel Boring describe it, classical guitar could be the ultimate gateway instrument: It’s affordable; it’s versatile; it’s relatively easy to learn; and learning its technique paves the way to picking up other plucked, fretted instruments. An acoustic guitar with nylon strings, the classical guitar “has a much softer tone and more tonal possibilities” than a steel… »
The arts serve a spiritual need for the community,” says Randall Forte, Lehigh Valley Arts Council’s executive director. What began in 1989 as a grassroots organizational effort by the heads of a number of arts organizations and individuals with a strong belief in the importance of art in the community now boasts more than 100 arts and cultural organization members, along … »
Photos Provided By Artsquest Crayola Gallery in Bethlehem: what is it, you ask? Well, it’s not where crayons are made—the Crayola factory makes 12 million crayons daily in Easton. But the Crayola Gallery is a bucket list attraction because it’s part of the umbrella of ArtsQuest goodies housed at the Banana Factory Arts Center. And the flagship gallery is a cool, multipurpo… »
When history and alcohol collide, really interesting things happen,” says Mark Will-Weber. “Alcohol is part of the whole fabric of the colonial and American story.” The Bethlehem author learned just how deeply the two are entwined when researching his books “Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt,” which examines the drinking habits of America’s presidents, and “Muskets and App… »
The world always has been and always will be full of discoveries to make and problems to be solved. Learning about those discoveries remains an important part of science in the classroom, but these days, the focus is increasingly about teaching students how to make those discoveries and approach and solve those problems. “As the demand in the working world has become more … »
For Bruce Gaston, music is a labor of love. Manual labor. Gaston, also known as Mr. Handman, is among the best known of a handful of manualists—musicians who make music by squeezing air through their hands—having been featured on CNN, NPR, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “America’s Got Talent,” Germany’s “Das Supertalent,” and numerous radio shows. The son of a music tea… »
MOSAIC STAINED GLASS ARTIST It’s a Monday afternoon at the Banana Factory, and Kim Hogan’s students are gathering up their projects at the end of their stained glass mosaic class. Hogan compliments a girl who comes up to show her the progress she’s made and reminds another to be careful as she hurries out the door. “I love teaching, both adults and kids,” says Hogan, who t… »
Like many Lehigh Valley residents, Zeke Zelker remembers the three men camped on a Whitehall Township billboard in the early 1980s for a radio contest. “I remember going by there with my mom and wondering what they were doing and wondering what was going on at the radio station,” he says. “I have always thought that what goes on behind the scenes of something is a lot more… »
“You are Colombian dancers,” Dominic Fiore tells the young string players. He counts out loud then points animatedly from one section to another as he sings its line, smiling and laughing. A few rooms away, high-school-age musicians have settled back into rehearsal after the stress of seating auditions. “Play the accents,” Kenneth Bean tells them simply as he conduct… »
