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 Superintendent David McDeavitt, 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 wonders of music and art, and a door opens for them to a world of imagination and possibility – as well as to the learning benefits of the arts.”
Arts education and skill building have been demonstrated to powerfully improve student focus and cognitive skills by strengthening neural connections, boosting memory and enhancing problem-solving that lead to greater engagement and academic success, especially for students who struggle in traditional settings.
ARCA is grateful for its partnership program with A-C Valley Schools fulfilling its mission to impact the lives of young people in the community. Since 2009, ARCA has provided arts education resources to students in grades K to 12 to enrich their knowledge and experiences of the arts as well as to inspire and empower them to participate in school-based programs in band, chorus, visual art and drama.
Over the years, professional performer/teaching artists in music, dance, language arts and drama have conducted classroom sessions, workshops and masterclasses as well as performing assemblies in the high school auditorium. In afterschool sessions with professional musicians, band students have been coached on phrasing and musicality and given tips on instrumental technique.
This is the second visit of A-C Valley students and classroom teachers to Lincoln Hall for Wurlitzer “Informances” – ideal in 2025 given the unavailability of the A-C Valley High School auditorium due to its renovation.
ARCA expresses its sincere thanks to its generous members and donors as well as to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts whose support makes possible this important program.
