The musical candles of ARCA’s 20th Birthday concert burned brightly for the full Lincoln Hall house that gave a standing ovation to mezzo soprano Kathy Soroka, pianist Nathan Carterette, violinist Maureen Conlon Gutierrez and tenor Robert Frankenberry for their eclectic gala program on Sunday, October 12, 2025 – twenty years after the first concert was presented in the newly refurbished Lincoln Hall in Foxburg.
Executive Director John Soroka acknowledged and gave thanks to ARCA’s founders, funders, friends – Board members, volunteers and Red Brick Gallery cooperative artists – and the musicians and artists who have graced its stages and gallery for the past two decades.
The celebratory anniversary program included Franz Liszt’s tour de force Spanish Rhapsody and J.S Bach’s Fugue in D major performed by ARCA favorite Nathan Carterette, who also collaborated with the artists in the rest of the program.
Kathy Soroka, who sang ARCA’s first concert in Lincoln Hall in 2006 with pianist Raymond Blackwell, violinist Jennifer Orchard and cellist Mikhail Istomin, performed art songs by Medtner, Poulenc, Ravel and Mahler and spirituals with long time recital partner Nathan Carterette. Violinist Maureen Conlon Gutiérrez joined them on musical gems by Dvorak and Gounod.
Maureen delighted the audience with Tchaikovsky and two dazzling arrangements of Piazzolla tangos, “Oblivion” and “Libertango”.
Tenor Robert Frankenberry performed art songs by Donaudy, Quilter and Mata and thrilled the audience with the Puccini aria from Turandot, Nessun dorma.
Robert joined Kathy in Leonard Bernstein’s “I am Easily Assimilated” and in a Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim mashup medley.
Reprising their singing together with Chatham Concert Opera and Aria412 in Pittsburgh and in recitals at Mercyhurst University and in ARCA’s 15’th Anniversary concert, Rob and Kathy added some joyous choreography to the Bernstein and Sondheim’s “Getting Married” from Company.
At intermission, the audience drank a champagne toast to celebrate ARCA’s first 20 years and all who gave so much to the organization and its audiences – following Robert and Kathy singing “Drink with Me” from Les Miserables.
The gathering was blessed by the presence of founder Andor Paposi-Jobb who had preserved the original screen painting (found rolled up under the stage during the hall renovation) that is now installed as the stage backdrop.
After intermission, Andor presented John Soroka with a book of early ARCA records and memorabilia that he and his late wife Jae Ann Brown had preserved.
Kathy Soroka dedicated the full ensemble finale – “Nella fantasia” based on the instrumental “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone – to ARCA’s founder and president of 19 years – the late Arthur Steffee whose generosity and love of music and art had inspired its growth and many contributions to the community.
After the concert, the audience moved to the wine and cheese reception for the opening of the exhibit of award winning artists, Rafi And Klee – INTERWOVEN: The Art of Growth and Connection.
Returning to the gallery where his retrospective exhibit in 2023 presented his extensive body of work as a fine artist – and judo master, Andor Paposi-Jobb was surrounded by long-time ARCA friends.
Sincere thanks to Gayle Martin, favorite pianist and long time ARCA friend, for her photos and videos of the concert.
ARCA continues its 20th Anniversary celebration with the legendary Jonas Nordwall performing a concert on the newly refurbished McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer on Sunday, November 9 at 2 PM in Lincoln Hall. Join us we honor the two decades of ARCA’s presentation of the finest theatre organists in the United States and internationally for its Wurlitzer loving audiences in Lincoln Hall.
Awesome! Outstanding! Bravo! Felicitations! Love y’all!