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the voice of the abingtons abingtonsuburban.com | october 5, 2017
A local author gave a talk about his recently released book |PAGE 3
An Abington Heights senior is slated to speak about makeup |PAGE 4
A Lackawanna Trail student gets advice from a noted uncle |PAGE 9
A NEw SEASoN BEGiNS
Arts at First Presbyterian plans concerts by Linda Scott
States, in Europe and Israel. These include St. Petersburg Grand PhilharSpecial to the abington Suburban monic Hall and Moscow Cathedral, St. Petersburg Imperial Cappella ConThe First Presbyterian Church, cert Hall all in Russia, Notre Dame 300 School St. in Clarks Summit, is Cathedral Paris, Westminster Catheopening its doors to the community so that the beautiful sounds of music dral London, Washington National Cathedral Washington, D.C. and St. can be heard and enjoyed by more Patrick’s Cathedral New York City. than just regular parishioners. “I began playing the organ when I The first concert of the 2017-2018 Arts at First Presbyterian season will was 8 years old,” said Leach. “My family is very musical and was supportive feature two members of the music as I grew up. As a high school stufaculty at Marywood University. dent, I continued studying organ and Brenda Leach and Katie Morell will perform on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. also studied piano, violin, viola and clarinet. I also had my first experifor an afternoon of classical music. ence conducting in high school when The concert series first got its I was given the opportunity to work start in 2001 as an opportunity with ensembles in my school. Music for church members to invite their is to share and it truly comes alive friends and community members to when shared with others.” quality artistic events. The second half features Katie Brenda Leach is a nationally known organist and director of Mary- Morell who is an artist and teacher wood University’s Symphony Orches- in the area and plays the clarinet. tra. She will perform an organ recital She will perform Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A and Mackey’s Breakdown during the first half of the program. Tango. She is on the faculty of MaryHer first professional experience wood University teaching applied was in Boston where she worked as an organist, conductor and professor. clarinet and select music courses. She also teaches music history at the UniShe studied orchestral conducting versity of Scranton and has a private at the St. Petersburg Conservatory studio. of Music in Russia. Dr. Leach has “I started playing clarinet in performed throughout the United fourth grade when I was 9 years old,” said Morell. “I also play saxophone. I think and I’d hope people enjoy listening to my music because I put everything I have into a performance. I assert all my energy, TS_CNG/SUBURBAN/PAGES [S01] | 10/04/17
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Katie Morell
all my emotions, lots of study and lots of practice. I hope for others to feel what I try and express with the clarinet and my voice.” “I think the concerts are popular because we offer a variety of music each season,” said John Weiss, chair of the Arts at the First Presbyterian committee. “By virtue of offering the concerts free of charge, we think we attract some audience members who are unable to attend concerts at larger or more expensive venues. We find that a number of our audience members come from rural areas where exposure to arts events such as ours is very limited. There are also a limited number of opportunities to hear professional soloists and chamber ensembles in the area and we help to fill that niche in the area’s cultural scene.” The concert series program schedule looks like this: • Sunday, Nov. 19, 4 p.m.: AllChurch Recital featuring First Presbyterian Church musical ensembles;
Brenda Leach
• Sunday, April 8, 2018, 4 p.m. “My Spanish Heart: Jazz of Chick Corea,” featuring Bill Carter and Mark Woodyatt; • Sunday, April 29, 2018, 4 p.m.: bluegrass band Hickory Project. The concerts are open to the public and free of charge. A free-will offering will be taken.