It’s summer in Centre County. And there’s music in the air. That means the Penn’s Woods Music Festival is back in full force.
“Penn’s Woods has been an important part of our community since 1986,” says David Frego, director of the School of Music at Penn State. “It is a joy to showcase the talents of professional musicians from the community and from the ranks of the School of Music faculty and students, as well as others from across the country. Our vision—to inspire a passion for live music—continues to drive us.”
The festival features live music with a full symphony orchestra, along with performances of chamber music, conducted by Maestro Gerardo Edelstein. And for the past two years it has been topped off with a touch of jazz.
“We are excited to return to our normal June scheduling this year,” says Russell Bloom, assistant director of operations and outreach in the School of Music. “We will take advantage of three perfect Penn State settings—the AIA Award winning recital hall in the Music Building, the Olsan-Stone Terrace outside the Music Building, and the Penn State Arboretum. On Wednesday nights, we will continue with our more intimate chamber music concerts. Friday nights you can join your fellow jazz lovers on the terrace for two open-air performances—the first celebrating Juneteenth and the second taking us to Cuba. And Saturday nights, as always, will showcase the amazing festival orchestra.”
The series spotlights a combination of familiar and new music. Gerardo Edelstein, director of orchestral studies and conducting and music director of the festival, has scoured countless compositions to create a program that audiences are sure to love.
The festival kicks off with a performance of Music in the Gardens at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Penn State Arboretum. The full orchestra will perform a concert titled Light Classics, featuring well-known pieces by Rossini, Vivaldi, Mozart, Copland, Bartok and more.
“I am very excited to return to the School of Music Recital Hall with the full Penn’s Woods Festival orchestra to perform two fantastic concerts featuring great soloists and very diverse programs,” says Edelstein. “There will be something appealing to everyone, from the more familiar works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn to the premier of ‘Overture’ by Jesse Montgomery, one of today’s leading female composers and performers. Lee Hinkle will be the soloist for the riveting marimba concerto by Maurice Wright, and Melody Quah will perform Chopin’s lyrical and passionate Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op. 11.
“The two chamber music concerts will also be filled with varied repertoire, including a Cassation in F Major, a gem by F.J. Haydn, and the beautiful, recently re-discovered Piano Quintet by Florence Price.”
Bloom adds, “Our two soloists this season are newcomers to the festival and to State College. We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Melody Quah, professor of piano, and Dr. Lee Hinkle, professor of percussion, to our musical community.”
An important part of the festival mission is the fostering of up-and-coming generations of music lovers—and no one is ever too young to start. That’s the role of PW4Kids, coordinated this year by Festival Advisory Council member Rebecca Horwitt, childhood education assistant at the Penn State Arboretum. The festival will offer two free concerts for children and their families featuring Revamped, the violin duo of Sally and Mark Minnich. The Minniches are professional musicians and educators. And children love them. These fun-for-all concerts will be held Aug. 3 at Schlow Library and Aug. 14 at the Arboretum.
The festival also will feature several informal performances, known as Penn’s Woods Plus, at Café Lemont and 3 Dots Downtown. These unique salon-type concerts are designed for interaction and conversation and are perfect for the musically curious.
The success of the festival depends on the partnership of town and gown, and, as always, the festival is grateful to the community for their support.
“We could not have this annual summer festival without the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and, of course, our loyal ticket holders,” says Robyn Krause-Hale, director for arts advancement at Penn State. “Every contribution makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.”
Frego adds, “These contributing individuals and businesses allow us to enhance and expand the festival in coming years.”
If you wish to continue the richness and diversity of the festival and make a gift in its support, visit raise.psu.edu/MPW22. For complete details and ticketing information, visit pwmf.psu.edu.
“Please join us for this opportunity to listen to great live music performed by the best musicians from the area and around the country,” Edelstein says. T&G
Carol White is chair of the Penn’s Woods Music Festival Advisory Committee. This article appears in the June 2022 issue of Town&Gown
