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s e r v i n g m i d va l l e y & u p pe r l ac k awa n n a va l l e y thevalleyadvantage.com | sept. 30, 2016
A summer reading program ended with a pie in the face |PaGe 8
Society of Irish Women plans a fundraiser in Dickson City |PaGe 17
St. John Vianney Parish hosts a Harvest Festival turkey dinner |PaGe 19 PHOTO EMMA BLACK
ticket to wales Valley View choir receives invitation
by Christopher Cornell ADVAntAGe eDitor
CONTAGIOUS
SMILE HEALTHY TEETH TE NE
PATIEW WELC NTS OME M ost Insu Accepterances d.
Dr. Anthony
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TS_CNG/ADVANTAGE/PAGES [A01] | 09/29/16
From left, front row: Gia Mercatili, Mia Tomassoni, Julie Krupka, Ashley Fidler, Deanna Soulsby and Kaedy Masters. Second row: Kara Hirjak, Emily Williams, Teresa Dumas, Sarah Ferraro, Lorna Yushinsky, Samantha Humen, Cassandra Dumas and Ryleah Ruffler. Third row: Cammie Gillar, Brianna Pallo, Beatrice Chindemi, Justin Thomas, Kasidy Leggin, Carleigh Gillar and Janet Zhao. Back row: Noah Reed, Joe Morisco, Noah McKane, Eric Lee, Joshua Rudolph, Noah Benjamin, Paulie Vanvestraut and Christopher Benitez. Kevin Mellow also is a choir member.
PHOTO EMMA BLACK
It was just another performance, although it was a memorable one. Last year, the Swansea Valley Celebration Choir from Wales (Côr Dathlu Cwmtawe in Welsh) visited Northeast Pennsylvania, and the Valley View High School choir, directed by Gina Lupini Pascolini, had a chance to perform with it. Pascolini, who is beginning her 21st year as director at Valley View, thought that was just a pleasant memory until this month, when she received an invitation to bring the choir to Wales — if it could raise the funds to get there. The Welsh male choir came to the Lackawanna Valley to honor the Welsh immigrants who came to the area and formed choirs, as they did in their homeland. Welsh choirs from our area won national competitions. According to Conway Morgan, the
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Celebration Choir’s director, it was the upholding of that tradition of excellence by Valley View’s young singers that drew the attention of the group. The choir will represent the Lackawanna valley in combined events with Côr Dathlu Cwmtawe and its regional high school, Ysgol Bro Dynefwr, in June. The two-week tour will include performances across South Wales with other awardwinning Welsh choirs. Pascolini, who described herself as “shocked, surprised and most honored” by the invitation, said there is no secret to the professional sound she gets from her choirs. “I believe the key to any sort of success is the willingness and the desire to learn — no matter the challenge, no matter the situation,” she said. “Each of the students have that intense drive and desire. Those traits, coupled with their willingness to
express themselves through song, is a win-win. They appreciate the music — no matter what style, genre, voicing, instrumentation, etc. The magic takes place when they bring the music to life with their interpretations and emotions.” So, now, the fundraising begins. Fortunately, facilities in Wales have given significant discounts for the students and expenses will be much less than otherwise expected. (There will be fundraising in Wales as well.) There will be concerts, car washes and special events. Visit gvgb.co/voicesofthevalley or Please see WALES, Page 3