May brings warmer weather, the opportunity to enjoy performances in the great outdoors, and the end of the school year. Opportunities abound to hear live music of all genres: classical, bluegrass, choral, or an entire ukelele orchestra. The choices are limitless!
Reminder: Our Adams County school music ensembles will be performing their final concerts of the 2022-23 academic year.
Friday May 5 at 7:00 pm – First Friday Poetry; Ragged Edge Coffee House
Featured poet this month is Allison Pitinii Davis, author of Line Study of a Motel Clerk and a finalist for both the National Jewish Book Award and the Ohiana Book Award. Her appearance will be via a Zoom link on the Ragged Edge Facebook page on May 5. Dr. Davis holds a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing and is a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Bethany College. This event begins with an open mic at 7:00 pm. and, if you would like to read during the open mic, put your name in the chat and have one poem ready. Coffee and goodies are available for purchase.
Friday – Sunday May 5-7 and 12-14 – Angels in America; Gettysburg Community Theatre
GCT presents an award-winning play written by Tony Kushner that is a complex examination of AIDS and homosexuality in America during the 1980s. Premiering in 1991, Angels in America won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. Please go to the GCT website for details concerning tickets and times. www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org
Tuesday May 9 at 7:30 pm – The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain; Majestic Theater
Do not miss the opportunity to see and hear this fabulous ukelele ensemble that has performed for 37 years all over the world, with fans ranging from David Bowie to the late Queen of England. Born of a rejection of convention and a penchant for reinterpretation, their catalog is a menagerie of rock, pop, jazz, blues, and classical music. Enjoy a show that is somewhere between sincerity and insanity; punk rock sensibilities and restrained British humor; the not-too-silly and the not-too-serious. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Sunday May 14 at 4:00 pm – Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra; United Lutheran Seminary Chapel
Under the baton of founding conductor and director Dr. Norman Nunamaker, Music Gettysburg presents a concert featuring the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra with soprano Tami Petty. Ms. Petty will perform the “Four Last Songs” by Richard Strauss plus a few other arias. The Reformation Symphony by Felix Mendelssohn will round out a delightful program. This concert is free and open to the public with freewill donations accepted. Ample free parking. www.majestictheater.org
Thursday May 18-Sunday May 21 – Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival; Granite Hill Campground
Founded in 1979 by Joe and Lil Cornett, this family-friendly festival is now operated by Rick and Cyndi Cornett Winkelmann and their dedicated staff. If you enjoy bluegrass music, it does not get any better than this! Check out the website for detailed information and tickets. www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/may-festival
Saturday May 20 at 1:00 pm – Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart; Majestic Theater
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD livestreams their production of Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni from the MetropolitanOpera in New York City. Based on the story of Don Juan, the operafollows an irresistible (yet irresponsible and amoral) youth who is loved by women almost as universally as he loves them. It does not take long before the audience sees that even Don Giovanni cannot escape the consequences of his flouting of conventional morality. Pre-opera lecture by nationally-recognized opera expert Kay Hoke begins at noon. www.majestictheater.org
Monday May 22 at 12 pm and 7 pm – Othello; Majestic Theater
Direct from London, National Theatre Live broadcasts world-class theatre to cinemas internationally, including our very own Majestic. Written in 1603 by William Shakespeare, the plot of Othello concerns a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. The play is a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. www.majestictheater.org
Friday May 26 at 8:00 pm – Gettysburg Choral Society; Trinity UCC Gettysburg
The Gettysburg Choral Society, conducted by John McKay, will present their spring concert entitled “Let Freedom Ring.” The patriotic theme will include a variety of beloved choral works. In addition, they will be joined by the Flute Flock during the program. The Flute Flock is comprised of local flute players who enjoy playing C, alto, and bass flutes, creating a beautiful ensemble sound. Tickets are sold at the door.
www.gettysburgchoralsociety.org
Featured image caption: The Seldom Scene will perform at this month’s Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival
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.