On the freezing morning of Monday, December 15 – the day after the sold-out Wurlitzer Christmas concert – ARCA welcomed 400 hardy Allegheny-Clarion Valley classroom teachers and students in K to 6 and the junior and senior high school band and chorus to Lincoln Hall for 4 Wurlitzer “Informances” performed by world-renowned theatre organist, Dave Wickerham.
The response of the students – and especially the kindergarteners – to both the demonstration of the percussion shelf “toy counter” at the back of the hall and the performances from “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars” music was priceless. The students laughed at the stunts of Lauren and Hardy in the “Liberty” and lots of hands went up for the Q and A sessions.
A-C Valley chorus director and general music teacher Jennifer Lowrey who attended two sessions with students said, “The students of A-C Valley got to experience the wonder and joy of the Wurlitzer organ at Lincoln Hall on December 15th. The wonder on these faces says it all!
ARCA has graciously brought our students many wonderful programs over the years and this one was no exception. David Wickerham is a master on the theatre organ and gave the students a wonderful demonstration of all it could do. They were then taken back in time with a silent Laurel and Hardy film to demonstrate what movies used to be like with live music as a key part of telling the story. We are so grateful for our partnership with ARCA that allows our students to experience these engaging and enriching musical performances.”
Because organs are NOT HAPPY in dry, extremely cold weather, the Hero of the Day award goes to ARCA’s theatre organ technician Jason Wiles, who climbed up a ladder between sessions to “mist” the blower to humidify the pipes so they would “speak”. In Dave Wickerham’s delightful improvisatory way, he accompanied Jason’s ‘rescue’ by playing the American standard, “Misty”.
Great thanks to Elementary Principal Lori Sherman and the entire A-C Valley administration as well as music teachers/conductors Jennifer Lowrey and Logan Green for coordinating and scheduling this field trip during the busy Christmas season.
Lori Sherman said, “Our students were absolutely delighted by the Wurlitzer organ performance—it was an exciting, engaging opportunity for them to learn about this remarkable instrument while experiencing the joy of live music. We are incredibly grateful to John and Kathy Soroka in association with the Allegheny Riverstone Center for the Arts for making this wonderful experience available to our students at no cost. Their generosity made a meaningful impact on the students’ appreciation of the arts and helped create a truly unforgettable day of learning and inspiration.”
ARCA’s education coordinator Kathy Soroka said, “Introduce a child to the wonder of music and a door opens for them to a world of imagination and possibility.
ARCA is grateful for our partnership with A-C Valley Schools as we fulfill our mission to bring meaningful experiences of music and art to empower and enrich the lives of students in our community. Sincere thanks to ARCA’s members and donors and to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts whose generous support make possible this important program.
May this experience inspire students to take up a band instrument and/or join the choir in the excellent music programs and instruction provided by A-C Valley Schools. ”
