(click logo to return)
History
The Pennsylvania
Consort is a music presenting organization based in Bedford County,
Pennsylvania. Its core activity, the six-concert Guest Artist
Series, was founded as a follow-on to the Bedford Springs Festival for
the Performing Arts, which took place every summer from 1982 to 1989 on
the grounds of the Bedford Springs Hotel and occasionally in nearby
venues. When it ended because the hotel closed, Ken Carper, an
Eastman School graduate and founder of the Pennsylvania Consort
Society, expanded the Society’s scope to keep musical interest alive in
Bedford County. The Pennsylvania Consort Society was initially a
community chorus and orchestral chamber group whose ambitious
repertoire had over the years included choral works such as Haydn’s
Lord Nelson Mass. It now performs only the annual community
chorus Messiah, a Christmas tradition that saw its 16th performance in
December 2003 and that has grown steadily in professional quality over
the years. Mr. Carper created the Guest Artist Series in
1990. Our organization is now called simply The Pennsylvania
Consort.
Guest Artist Series Bookings, Past and Present
Since
the first
season in 1992-93, the Pennsylvania Consort has sponsored a wide
variety of groups, from as close as Altoona to as far away as
Connecticut. Pittsburgh has proven to be a rich resource for
soloists and ensembles. A selection of the Pittsburgh-based
groups we have presented in concert are below; some of them have
appeared more than once.
· The Sartory Trio
· The Bellefield Singers
· Bach Choir of Pittsburgh
· David Allen Wehr, piano
· The Duquesne University Chamber Singers
· Glorious Rebirth
· Richard Syracuse, piano
· The Pittsburgh Camerata
· The Pittsburgh Boy Choir
· The Carnegie Brass
· The Renaissance City Winds
We have also drawn groups from the Baltimore-Washington area, Altoona, State College, Philadelphia, New York, and other locales.
· The Borealis Wind Quintet
· Makoto Nakura, marimbist, and David Fedele, flutist
· The Bay Street Brassworks
· The Sartory Trio
· The Bellefield Singers
· Bach Choir of Pittsburgh
· David Allen Wehr, piano
· The Duquesne University Chamber Singers
· Glorious Rebirth
· Richard Syracuse, piano
· The Pittsburgh Camerata
· The Pittsburgh Boy Choir
· The Carnegie Brass
· The Renaissance City Winds
We have also drawn groups from the Baltimore-Washington area, Altoona, State College, Philadelphia, New York, and other locales.
· The Borealis Wind Quintet
· Makoto Nakura, marimbist, and David Fedele, flutist
· The Bay Street Brassworks
P.O. Box 535
Bedford, PA 15522-0535
814-733-2301
E-mail: paconsort@artsinbedfordpa.org
· Joe Negri, jazz artist
· Pierce Getz, organist
· The Altoona Symphony
· Tom Chapin, folk singer
· Louise Wohlafka, soprano and Mark Pakman, piano
· Appalachian Wind Quintet
· Gray and Pearl, guitar duo
· Le Trio Gershwin
· Joe Utterback, jazz pianist
· The Audubon Quartet
· The Mendelssohn Piano Trio
· Michael Avagliano, violin, and Marja Kaisla, piano
· Liesl Odenweller, soprano
· The Lyric Consort, a capella ensemble
· Will Taylor Jazz Group
· The Fred Shannon Smith Orchestra
· Terry Smith, Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone
· Emi Ohi Resnick, violinist
· Pierce Getz, organist
· The Altoona Symphony
· Tom Chapin, folk singer
· Louise Wohlafka, soprano and Mark Pakman, piano
· Appalachian Wind Quintet
· Gray and Pearl, guitar duo
· Le Trio Gershwin
· Joe Utterback, jazz pianist
· The Audubon Quartet
· The Mendelssohn Piano Trio
· Michael Avagliano, violin, and Marja Kaisla, piano
· Liesl Odenweller, soprano
· The Lyric Consort, a capella ensemble
· Will Taylor Jazz Group
· The Fred Shannon Smith Orchestra
· Terry Smith, Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone
· Emi Ohi Resnick, violinist
Other Activities
We have also been proud to
present each year several concerts and workshops in the public schools
of Bedford County.
In order to broaden its community appeal, the Pennsylvania Consort has also expanded its activities to include free concerts and workshops in the schools and outdoor summer concerts in the Square downtown. We have to date sponsored young people’s concerts and workshops by The Borealis Wind Quintet, the Lyric Consort, the Air Force Band’s Contemporary Clarinet Quartet, the Dave Leonhardt Jazz Group, folksong group Simple Gifts, the Renaissance City Winds, The Hildebrands, a colonial music duo, and the Eaken Piano Trio. A conducting workshop for area school music and choir directors was held May 1, 2004. For our 2005-2006 season, we will have two guitar workshop in May 2006, one by Simple Gifts and the other by the Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo. Our popular outdoor Summer Music on the Square series in its seventh season and, thanks to generous audience donations, has expanded to six concerts.
Sustained by a strong and active Board of Directors and a Guild, the Pennsylvania Consort continues to contribute to the cultural life of Bedford County and the surrounding region.
Vice President – Dale Weyant
Secretary – Pat Greenland
Treasurer – Richard Jones
Other Board Members – Bob Allen, Beth Bittner, Marlene Claycomb, Irma Garlick, Doug McLaughlin, Nancy Mickey (on leave), Jerry Miller (on leave), and Cynthia Yothers. Messiah Coordinator: Gretchen Fleischer.
Guild Members: The Baer Family, Alyson Dehmcke, Chuck and Gretchen Fleischer, Lee Frear, Evelyn Kent, Micki McCahan, Sue and Steve Myers, Peggy Roadman, Sarah Seitz and kids, and Linda and Jay Williams.
In order to broaden its community appeal, the Pennsylvania Consort has also expanded its activities to include free concerts and workshops in the schools and outdoor summer concerts in the Square downtown. We have to date sponsored young people’s concerts and workshops by The Borealis Wind Quintet, the Lyric Consort, the Air Force Band’s Contemporary Clarinet Quartet, the Dave Leonhardt Jazz Group, folksong group Simple Gifts, the Renaissance City Winds, The Hildebrands, a colonial music duo, and the Eaken Piano Trio. A conducting workshop for area school music and choir directors was held May 1, 2004. For our 2005-2006 season, we will have two guitar workshop in May 2006, one by Simple Gifts and the other by the Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo. Our popular outdoor Summer Music on the Square series in its seventh season and, thanks to generous audience donations, has expanded to six concerts.
Sustained by a strong and active Board of Directors and a Guild, the Pennsylvania Consort continues to contribute to the cultural life of Bedford County and the surrounding region.
The Pennsylvania Consort Board
President - Nancy MacRaeVice President – Dale Weyant
Secretary – Pat Greenland
Treasurer – Richard Jones
Other Board Members – Bob Allen, Beth Bittner, Marlene Claycomb, Irma Garlick, Doug McLaughlin, Nancy Mickey (on leave), Jerry Miller (on leave), and Cynthia Yothers. Messiah Coordinator: Gretchen Fleischer.
Guild Members: The Baer Family, Alyson Dehmcke, Chuck and Gretchen Fleischer, Lee Frear, Evelyn Kent, Micki McCahan, Sue and Steve Myers, Peggy Roadman, Sarah Seitz and kids, and Linda and Jay Williams.