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1. EMMF Releases Seventh Free Music Video Today, Wednesday, Feb. 24
2. Hamilton-Gibson Staged Reading Performances of “Postcards from a Dead Dog” are This Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27 & 28 on Zoom
3. TU Chapter #688 Zoom Meeting is Tuesday, March 2
4. Sign Up for a Free EMMF Junior Composers Program Help Session Offered on Wednesdays March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 in Wellsboro
5. Register for the Free Friday, March 5 Backyard Sugaring Virtual Program
6. Stephen Worthington Memorial Theatre Technology Seven-Day Fundraising Campaign to Begin Friday, March 5

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800

EMMF RELEASES SEVENTH FREE MUSIC VIDEO TODAY, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24

Today, Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Endless Mountain Music Festival is releasing the seventh in its free music video series. Featured is Hua “Jenny” Jin, an audience favorite.

Once released, this concert and six others in the EMMF series can be viewed for free anytime at www.endlessmountain.net.

At the 2019 summer festival, Jin joined EMMF as the Festival Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster and lead violinist, performed in the seven orchestra concerts and two of the chamber concerts and provided instruction on violin to festival music interns attending the Endless Mountain Music Chamber Academy.

During this summer’s festival, Jin will return as concertmaster and lead violinist and perform with the orchestra on Fridays, July 16, 23 and 30 in Mansfield, on Saturdays, July 17, 24 and 31 in Corning, N.Y. and on Sunday, Aug. 1 in Wellsboro. On Monday, July 19 at the Rockwell Museum, she will perform with the EMMF Mendelssohn String Octet and on July 23 will be the violin soloist for the July 23 orchestra concert.

On the music video, Jin plays two selections. “Sonata No. 2” is a duet she performs with second violinist Phil Palermo. “Ashokan Farewell” is performed by a string quartet with Jin, violinist Amy Kniffen, cellist Stephen Hawkey and second violinist Sydney Hartwick. All performers, including Jin, are members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

In 1982, American folk musician and composer Jay Ungar wrote “Ashokan Farewell.” It was inspired by and served as a goodnight or farewell waltz for the annual Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camps that Ungar, his wife Molly Mason and others conducted in New York’s Catskill Mountains.

The Fiddle Fever band of which Ungar was a founding member, released “Ashokan Farewell” in 1983 on their second album “Waltz of the Wind.” Filmmaker Ken Burns heard the album in 1984 and asked to use the song in his PBS series “The Civil War”, which aired in 1990. The original Fiddle Fever recording and other versions are performed 25 times during the eleven-hour series, which resulted in “Ashokan Farewell” becoming extremely popular.

German composer and multi-instrumentalist Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) composed “Sonata No. 2.” This piece features a dialogue between the two violinists who imitate each other, exchange musical ideas and take turns leading.

Telemann began writing music as a child and produced an opera by age 12. This self-taught musician wrote both sacred and secular music but was most admired for his church compositions. Telemann wrote more than 3000 works and holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as history’s most prolific composer.

A native of China, Jin was born into a musical family. She began violin lessons when she was four. At 12, she entered the Central National Conservatory of Music in Beijing and at 15 won a prize at the Chinese National Violin Competition and a Gold Prize at the Harbin Music Festival Competition.

She studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under Professor Ding Zhinuo and performed as a soloist throughout northern China.

After being invited to the U.S. in 1992 as a visiting scholar, she studied privately under I-Fu Wang Blair Melton, Jeffrey Applegate and Philip Palermo.

Jin has performed with orchestras in the United States as the featured violinist on works such as film composer Franz Waxman’s “Carmen Fantasy” and composer Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ “The Lark Ascending.”

She has also performed with the Ronen Chamber Ensemble in Indianapolis and taught chamber music and served as a coach at music festivals in South Korea.

In 2009, Jin became a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra by winning the nationwide audition. Prior to that, she served as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic assistant concertmaster and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra associate concertmaster.

For tickets to this summer’s concerts, call the Endless Mountain Music Festival Box Office at (570) 787-7800 or visit www.endlessmountain.net. All 2020 pre-purchased season passes will be honored this year.

HAMILTON-GIBSON STAGED READING PERFORMANCES OF “POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD DOG” ARE THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FEB. 27 & 28 ON ZOOM

“Postcards from a Dead Dog”, written by award-winning playwright F. J. Hartland, is a humorous look at the dysfunctional yet devoted relationship between a mother and son. It is sweet, sad and funny – all at the same time.

Hamilton-Gibson Productions is giving two performances of this half hour, one act, two-person comedy-drama on Zoom. Both are free. The first will be at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 27 and the second at 2:30 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 28.

“Of course, everyone has a mother, but Clay’s mom, Nell, is unlike any other mother you’ve ever known,” said Director Thomas Putnam. After the loss of the family pet, Nell (Jen Painter of Wellsboro) discovers an unusual way to communicate with her son Clay (Josh Magnotta of Elkland) and Clay returns the favor.

“The staged reading of this play highlights this jewel of community theatre that audiences all miss so much,” said Putnam.

The way Clay and Nell have overcome their difficulty in communicating is to write postcards to each other. The postcards are ostensibly coming from Rusty, Clay’s dog that had died when he was a child. Nell insisted Rusty had merely gone on a long vacation. A postcard from the dog arrived soon afterwards.

“Hartland’s play is sweet and touching, and while it deals with issues that have been covered time and time again – coming out, a child moving from his parent’s influence, a parent’s mortality – it never feels clichéd,” wrote a reviewer.

“Jen, who plays the mother, gave a memorable performance as the outrageously conning Miss Hannigan in HG’s production of the musical ‘Annie.’ She also played the eldest sister in our production of ‘Dancing at ‘Lughnasa’ and was in ‘Calendar Girls,'” said Putnam. “”This is the first appearance on the HG stage for Josh,” he said.

Hamilton-Gibson first encountered “Postcards from a Dead Dog” when the community theatre group hosted the Eastern States Theatre Association Festival in Wellsboro. “It was the first production in the Deane Center’s newly built Coolidge Theatre. Hartland was a friend of the late Steven Helsel from Altoona who was very active in the Pennsylvania Association of Community Theatres. He introduced us to this play and to Hartland,” said Putnam.

“I remember the play being a wonderful blend of humor and sadness. It offered an opportunity for two actors to do so much while never moving from their one position. It lends itself to our staged reading on Zoom and I’m delighted with what Jen and Josh have been able to do with the script.”

Called “Pittsburgh’s most eminent playwright”, Hartland has made a record-setting sixteen appearances in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, winning for “Best Play” four times, including for “Postcards from a Dead Dog.”

At the end of the 30-minute performance, the audience will be invited to stay on Zoom to talk with the “Postcards” cast and Putnam about what they saw and heard.

Audience members will find the Zoom information on the HG website at https://www.hamiltongibson.org and Facebook page or can call the HG office at 570-724-2079.

Those familiar with Zoom can go to the website at https://zoom.us, click on “joint meeting” and enter 839 2536 6867 – the access code for the Saturday, Feb. 27 performance and then enter the passcode 902173. For the Sunday, Feb. 28 performance, enter the access code 873 9936 8164 and then the passcode 420146.

This is the second in a series of eight 30-minute staged readings of short plays via Zoom. FMI: call (570) 724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com.

HG’s free staged reading series will continue with a different 30-minute short play or grouping of short plays each Saturday and Sunday through April 10 & 11.

Donations are appreciated. To donate, go to the HG website at www.hamiltongibson.org or send a contribution to Hamilton-Gibson, 29 Water Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901. Please include “Staged Readings” in the check memo line.

TU CHAPTER #688 ZOOM MEETING IS TUESDAY, MARCH 2

At 6:30 p.m., this coming Tuesday, March 2, Trout Unlimited Tiadaghton Chapter #688 based in Wellsboro is meeting via Zoom. Officers, members and the public are invited to attend.

This Zoom meeting will open with Vice President Art Antal demonstrating how to tie a Split Wing Caddis Fly.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officer Chad Lauer will then share information about Tioga and Potter County trout stocking schedules, which are already underway, and how to become a pre-approved volunteer. He will also provide information about upcoming community fishing events and localized Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulatory changes and proposals. There will also be a question and answer session.

The trout season is currently closed in Pennsylvania. All special regulation trout waters are open to fishing on a catch and release basis during the closed season. The mentored youth fishing season will open on Saturday, March 27 and the statewide trout opener will be on Saturday, April 3.

Discussion will follow about a project in the Long Run Watershed. The local TU chapter, in cooperation with the Tioga County Conservation District, recently applied for a Coldwater Heritage Partnership grant for a chop and drop habitat project on a 1.6-mile section of Blue Run, a tributary of Long Run. The Conservation District had successfully applied for a grant to do a habitat project on Long Run. That work has been completed. The chapter’s goal is to get the watershed classified as Class A Wild Trout Waters. Those are waters that support a population of naturally produced trout of sufficient size and abundance for a long-term and rewarding sport fishery.

TU Chapter #688 will be participating in Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase 3 WIP), according to President Jere White. “Our exact role is yet to be determined,” he said. The Phase 3 WIP was created to reduce three types of pollutants, including soil from excessive erosion and nitrogen and phosphorus from too much fertilizer use along more than 12,000 miles of streams in Pennsylvania through 43 counties, including Tioga.

For information on how to join the March 2 Zoom meeting, contact President Jere White by calling (570) 662-2167 or emailing him at whitesgordonsetters@gmail.com.

SIGN UP FOR A FREE EMMF JUNIOR COMPOSERS PROGRAM HELP SESSION OFFERED ON WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 IN WELLSBORO

Students in elementary school through college are asked to sign up now for one or more of the free Junior Composers Program Help Sessions by calling the EMMF Box Office at (570) 787-7800.

The Help Sessions will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 for students of all ages who want to participate in the free music composing program and competition. They are being offered by The Endless Mountain Music Festival and will be held on the second floor at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.

Before attending a help session, students must go on the EMMF website at www.endlessmountain.net and go through the Junior Composer Program PowerPoint presentation. Especially important is the section by the student who won this contest in Hollywood, California in 2019. She explains how the composing program works and what she did.

For the help sessions, students need to download the app from the PowerPoint presentation onto their computer and bring their computer and earbuds with them. Masks and social distancing are required.

At the Deane Center, Cindy Long, EMMF executive director, will be checking the students in who have signed up for a help session. Mark Warner, a board member, will assist students one-on-one in using scoring software to create a musical composition.

For more information about the Junior Composers Program and Help Sessions, call (570) 439-1051.

REGISTER FOR THE FREE FRIDAY, MARCH 5 BACKYARD SUGARING VIRTUAL PROGRAM

If temperatures are in the mid 20s overnight and in the 40s during the day, maple tree sap could begin running soon.

Individuals and families with little to no experience in making maple syrup can learn how to do sugaring in their own backyards by attending the free Backyard Sugaring virtual program on Friday, March 5 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

This program will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. It will NOT take place face-to-face in any state park.

To participate, register at events.dcnr.pa.gov under Hills Creek State Park. Those who do will be given a Microsoft Teams link to the program.

For more information, call Tim Morey at (570) 724-8561 or email tmorey@pa.gov.

STEPHEN WORTHINGTON MEMORIAL THEATRE TECHNOLOGY SEVEN-DAY FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN FRIDAY, MARCH 5

The Stephen Worthington Memorial Theatre Technology Fund campaign will be going public on Friday, March 5.

The “silent phase” of the campaign began in November 2020. Campaign committee co-leaders Larry Biddison and Carol Cacchione contacted individuals and corporate donors asking them to give beyond their annual contributions to HG to help jump-start the effort to raise $50,000 in Steve’s honor. The money will allow Hamilton-Gibson to purchase needed high tech equipment to upgrade the sound and lighting systems at the Warehouse Theatre.

Kacy Hagan is chairing the HG Fundraising Committee responsible for the public phase, which will begin on Steve’s birthday, March 5 and end the following Thursday, March 11. “Our goal is to raise $10,000 in the public phase through our seven-day social media campaign to reach and possibly exceed the overall $50,000 goal,” Hagan said. “Donations in any amount are welcome and appreciated.”

Each of the seven days, a different short video will be posted on the HG Facebook page and other media to highlight Steve’s involvement with the community theatre arts group along with daily notices of the campaign’s progress.

“On March 5 of this year, Steve would have celebrated his 60th birthday. He was 55 when he died on Nov. 26, 2016.

With his death, the Hamilton-Gibson family not only lost a friend but also a theatre wizard both on stage and back stage. To honor this thoughtful, multi-talented man, the Hamilton-Gibson Board of Directors created the Stephen Worthington Memorial Theatre Technology Fund.

“Steve loved tech stuff,” said Thomas Putnam, Hamilton-Gibson’s artistic director. “For decades, beginning when he was in high school, he worked with various regional radio stations. He loved sound and balance and everything just right.

“When he began working with HG he naturally gravitated toward all things tech, though it was through a role in a short play – encouraged by his late father Tucker Worthington – that he made the HG connection,” said Putnam. “He was a natural when working with sound systems, comfortably setting up microphones and cables and mixers and all the other components necessary to make sure the actors on stage were heard by the audience.”

Although he was regularly on stage as an actor, more often Steve was behind the scenes setting up lights and sound and then running them for performances. He also traveled with HG to theatre festivals to handle sound and lighting for productions HG entered in competition. “He knew the tech language and it was a huge relief to know that all things tech were in his good hands,” Putnam said.

“Steve took great satisfaction when all the tech systems and the performance went off without a hitch. Success meant no attention was drawn to what he did. But, it was Steve’s work that created the magic and believability necessary for us to tell a good story on stage,” said Putnam.

At the time of his death, Steve was involved in a major project for HG. He was upgrading the entire sound and lighting systems at the Warehouse Theatre. “He had done extensive research on what we needed, what we could use and what we could afford,” said Putnam. “On the Friday he died, Steve had texted that he had the whole plan laid out and itemized and would go through it with us on Monday. It was not to be. The memorial fund was set up to honor Steve by accomplishing what he had devoted his attention and energies to do for us.”

For more information, visit the HG Facebook page or website (www.hamiltongibson.org) or call (570) 724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com.