Friday April 5 from 5-7 pm – ACAC First Friday Adams County Arts Council The Land Conservancy kicks off their 27th annual Art Auction with a wine and cheese reception at the Arts Council. All art for bid will hang in the Arts Council’s gallery through the auction’s close on Monday, April 22. Come out, enjoy, and bid on some beautiful works of art, all donated for a great cause. www.adamsarts.org
Friday April 5 at 7:00 pm – Poetry First Friday Ragged Edge Coffeehouse Arlene Weiner, a multi-talented writer is the featured poet this month, preceded by an open mic if you would like to share a poem of your own. Her poems have been published in such journals as The Louisville Review, Pleiades, One Art, and Poet Lore in addition to her own three volumes of poetry: Escape Velocity (2006), City Bird (2016), and More (2022). Make sure to sample some of the delicious coffee and baked goods on your way upstairs. Details on the Ragged Edge Facebook page.
Friday April 5 at 8:00 pm – Gettysburg College Orchestra Concert Majestic Theater
Under the baton of Conductor Cesar Leal, the Sunderman Conservatory Symphony Orchestra will be “Celebrating a Century of Rhapsody in Blue” featuring Dr. Jocelyn Swigger as piano soloist on Gershwin’s iconic, jazzy piece. Copland’s Outdoor Overture, Bernstein’s Dances from West Side Story, and Still’s The Far West from The American Scene round out the program of beloved American symphonic music. Tickets are free for those under 18 and with a Gettysburg College ID, and $5 for everyone else. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Fri. April 5 and Sat. April 6 – The Art of Ken Burns GettysburgFilmFestival.org Internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns will return to Gettysburg for a festival celebrating his nearly five-decade-long career. Joined by friends and collaborators, Burns will present excerpts and full-length films that examine fundamental themes of freedom and democracy, consequential elections through history, and our shared identity as Americans. Tickets are sold out for April 6 events at the Majestic Theater. Check the website for up-to-date information and tickets for other events.
Saturday April 6 at 4:00 pm – Boston Shawm and Sackbut Ensemble United Lutheran Seminary Come and experience the premier Renaissance Band in the United States! Music Gettysburg presents the BSSE, featuring Gettysburg’s own Marilyn Boneau, with Schola Cantorum of Gettysburg as they perform music from the Renaissance period together. Shawms are double-reed instruments and sackbuts are trombones from the Renaissance period. Admission is free with donations gratefully accepted and there is plenty of free parking. www.musicgettysburg.org
Tuesday April 9 at 7:30 pm – ensemble 132 St. James Lutheran Church Gettysburg Community Concert Association presents a chamber music collective with innovative programming including fresh arrangements of the Haydn Piano Trio in A Major, Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” for piano quartet, and Dvorak Piano Quartet in Eb Major. Featured artists include Abi Fayette, violin; Zhanbo Zheng, viola; Zachary Mowita, cello; and Sahun Hong, piano. The artists of ensemble 132 have performed at music festivals and competitions around the world and now we are able to hear and enjoy their virtuosity in the beautiful sanctuary of St. James. Tickets are $20 at the door and parking is free in the St. James parking lot. www.gettysburggcca.org
Friday April 12 at 8:00 pm – Wind Symphony Concert Majestic Theater Conducted by Director of Bands Dr. Russell McCutcheon, this concert features 45 band students from the Sunderman Conservatory performing the best new band literature and traditional masterworks. Tickets are $5 for adults over 18 and admission is free for those under 18 or with a Gettysburg College ID. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Saturday April 13 at 8:00 pm – Sunderman Conservatory Choral Concert Christ Chapel Gettysburg College choral ensembles – including the College Choir, Audeamus, and Camerata – perform a variety of music for their spring performance. Tickets are $5 at the door, cash only. Children under 18 and those with a Gettysburg College ID are free. www.gettysburg.edu/sundermanconservatory
Sunday April 14 at 3:00 pm – Symphony Band Majestic Theater Join students from Gettysburg College and musicians from our community as they join to perform together under the baton of Dr. Steven Marx. They will present a delightful afternoon of band music for your listening pleasure including traditional marches by Karl King and Percy Grainger; the Firebird Suite by Stravinsky; Irving Berlin: A Symphonic Portrait, in addition to some wonderful contemporary compositions. Tickets are $5 for adults and admission is free for children under 18 and those with a Gettysburg College ID. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
April 18, 19 and 20 at 7:30 pm and April 21 at 2 pm – Eurydice Kline Theatre The theater students of Gettysburg College bring to life the Greek myth of Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus, under the direction of Guest Artist Weston Jackson. This 2003 play by Sarah Ruhl retells the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of his wife, Eurydice. Admission is free. www.gettysburg.edu/klinetheatre
April 19 & 26 at 7, April 20, 21, 27, 28 at 2pm – Emma! A Pop Musical Gettysburg Community Theatre Thematically based on Jane Austen’s novel, this sparkling new musical features the hit songs of legendary girl groups and iconic female singers from The Supremes to Katy Perry. Girl power has never sounded so good! Tickets range from $22-25 and can be purchased online. www.gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org
Saturday April 20 at 8:00 pm – Sunderman Conservatory Jazz Ensemble Majestic Theater Under the direction of Dr. Amanda Heim, the Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble presents their spring concert featuring traditional selections as well as some new ones. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children under 18 or those with a Gettysburg College ID. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Monday April 22 at 7 pm – Sunderman Wind Quintet with Scott Crowne, Piano Paul Recital Hall Enjoy the sounds of the faculty woodwind quintet from Gettysburg College as they collaborate with pianist Scott Crowne in performing new works and standards of the repertoire. Free admission. www.gettysburg.edu/sunderman
April 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm – Opera Performance Majestic Theater Under the direction of Dr. Susan Hochmiller, voice students from the Sunderman Conservatory will perform scenes from various operas for a delightful and entertaining evening. Tickets are $5 for adults, children under 18 and those with a Gettysburg College ID are free. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Sunday April 28 at 4:00 pm – Hershey Handbell Ensemble United Lutheran Seminary A stellar group with an astonishing repertoire, this 15-member handbell choir will make the chapel ring! Formed in 2004, this auditioned community handbell ensemble performs throughout south-central Pennsylvania and has even performed in the White House. They are under the artistic direction of Dr. Shawn Gingrich. Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music unlike anything you may have heard before. Admission is free and donations are gratefully accepted. www.musicgettysburg.org
Gail Jones has enjoyed a twenty-five-year career as a music educator in Pennsylvania and Maryland public schools as well as teaching music education methods at Gettysburg College for over a decade. She has also served as a guest conductor, French horn player, and private music instructor.
Gail has a deep appreciation for live music performances of all genres and encourages Adams County residents to attend the many concerts offered in our community.