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 a well-known string quartet. The choices are almost limitless!
Reminder: Our Adams County school music ensembles will be performing their final concerts of the 2023-24 academic year.
May 1- 18 – Senior Capstone 2024 Schmucker Art Gallery Exhibition of artwork from Gettysburg Collegeart majors who are graduating. Admission is free and hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm. www.gettysburg.edu/gallery
Friday May 3 from 5 –7 pm – ACAC First Friday Opening Reception ACAC Building Art exhibitions are opening for artist Judith McClean in the Reception Hall, Gettysburg Elementary Art Show and Upper Adams Intermediate School Adaptive Class Art show in the Gallery, and Andy Muenzfeld in the Studio. Admission is free and the public is welcome. www.adamsarts.org
Friday May 3 at 7 pm – Poetry First Friday Ragged Edge Coffeehouse Award-winning poet Esperanza Hope Snyder will be reading her work upstairs at the Ragged Edge. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, she has also lived in Tuscany, Madrid, and West Virginia. Her poems and translations have appeared in many literary journals and she has written plays and novels in addition to poetry. The First Friday reading begins with an open mic so bring a poem to share, if you wish. Grab a coffee and delicious bakery treat downstairs and then join the action upstairs. Free. Details on the Ragged Edge Facebook page.
Friday May 3 at 7:30 pm – Trailblazing Women of Country Majestic Theater If you like traditional country music, you will not want to miss this show! Paying tribute to three trailblazers who each earned a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame, rising country stars Miko Marks and Kristina Train perform songs made famous by Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. They are supported by a 5-member all-female band from Nashville. Tickets are $40-65. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Sunday May 5 at 4 pm – Gettysburg Children’s Choir United Lutheran Seminary Chapel Music Gettysburg hosts the final concert of the season for the Children’s Choir and Chorale, directed by conductor Matt Carlson. Enjoy both the beautiful artistry of these young people as they sing for our enjoyment as well as the artistic direction of Mr. Carlson in his final concert with the ensembles. Admission and parking are free with freewill donations gratefully accepted. www.musicgettysburg.org
Monday May 6 at Noon and 7 pm – National Theatre Live: The Motive and the Cue Majestic Theater Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play. Tickets are $21. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Tuesday May 7 at 7:30 pm – Ulysses String Quartet St. James Lutheran Church Sponsored by the Gettysburg Community Concert Association, this immensely talented string quartet will perform Armenian Folk Songs for String Quartet by Komitas; Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor; Beethoven’s Quartet No. 9 in C Major and his Op. 59, “Razumovsky” No. 3. www.gettysburggcca.org
Thursday May 9 and Friday May 10 at 8 pm – Tommy Emmanuel, CGP Majestic Theater Back by popular demand, Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and special guest songwriter Cris Jacobs will bring their virtuosic talent to the Majestic. Tommy brings real-time exuberance to every note of every song he plays, delighting his fans and filling the space with joy. Tickets are $35-60. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Sunday May 12 at 4 pm – Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra Concert United Lutheran Seminary Chapel Music Gettysburg presents the GCO with guest artist Thomas Pandolfi performing Camille Saint-Saens’ “Egyptian” Piano Concerto and new Music Director Ryan Kozak on the podium. With a nod to the mothers in the audience, the concert will open with a performance of Louise Farrenc’s Second Overture and will conclude with Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony. Admission and parking are free with freewill donations gratefully accepted. www.musicgettysburg.org
May 16-19 – Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival Granite Hill Campground Founded in 1979 by Joe and Lil Cornett, this local bluegrass festival is nationally recognized and has hosted over 40 years of outstanding bluegrass entertainment in a family friendly atmosphere. This year’s headliners include Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, the Gibson Brothers, The Grascals, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, the Seldom Scene, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Woody Platt, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, and Volume Five. Check out their website for tickets and information. www.gettysburgbluegrassfestival.com
Friday May 17 at 7 pm/Saturday May 18 at 2 pm – The Sound of Music Majestic Theater Gettysburg Community Theatre’s “Penguin Project” makes its Majestic debut with the Youth Edition of the beloved musical, The Sound of Music. This one-act version of the classic musical features youth with special needs and their peer mentors. Tickets are $15. www.gettysburgmajestic.org
Sunday May 19 at 4 pm – Eric Fennell, Tenor and James Day, Guitar United Lutheran Seminary Chapel Music Gettysburg presents Gettysburg College alumnus and international opera sensation Eric Fennell accompanied by Sunderman Conservatory Director Dr. James Day on classical guitar. Come enjoy an afternoon of exquisite music! Admission and parking are free with freewill donations 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.