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Celebration of Many Local Arts
Kicks Off Women's History Month
at Pennsylvania Academy of MusicLancaster, Pa. – A glorious celebration of local arts in various forms will kick off National Women’s History Month in a special First Friday program at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music on March 6. Original artwork, a rare local screening, and a live concert will provide a unique cultural experience when music, art, and film converge for this special salute to native talent.
One of Lancaster’s most esteemed women artists, the late Florence Starr Taylor, will be celebrated in a rare screening of a film documentary on her life and career, created by award-winning local filmmaker Mary Haverstick. Whatever She Saw is a half-hour documentary that will be shown twice during the evening. This is one of the few local screenings of the film since its completion in 2005.
The film experience will be enhanced by a gallery exhibit of the artist’s original works. Taylor, who died in 1991 at the age of 87, produced thousands of sketches of local people, places and events. She is particularly acclaimed for her works completed during the 1920’s-50’s, which depicted the lives of the Amish and rural Lancaster County. Several works with connections to the Academy and music itself will be on display at the March 6 exhibit, including portraits of founder Frances Veri and celebrated Metropolitan Opera baritone and Academy faculty member, John Darrenkamp. A portrait of the great Polish pianist, composer and diplomat, Ignacy Paderewski, also will be on display.
Following the art exhibit and film screenings will be a concert on the Academy’s “American Inspired Series.” The Academy Chamber Players, comprised of faculty members from the school, will present American musical works including Pennsylvania native Samuel Barber’s Cello Sonata and his poignant work for string quartet and baritone, “Dover Beach,” featuring John Darrenkamp.
The Florence Starr Taylor art exhibit and reception are scheduled for March 6 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and the documentary Whatever She Saw will be shown at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. The Academy Chamber Players concert begins at 8:00 p.m. The exhibit and documentary are free. Tickets for the concert are: adults $25, students $15, Academy students $5, 3 and under are free. All events take place at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, 42 North Prince Street, Lancaster. Call 717-399-9733 or click here.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Music is a nonprofit pre-collegiate institution dedicated to the musical advancement of its students. Founded in 1990, the Academy attracts students from an immediate nine-county area as well as from around the world, who study disciplines ranging from instrumental, chamber music, orchestra, opera and vocal performance to music composition and theory, improvisation, accompanying, jazz and recording. The Academy has a widely accomplished international faculty and is one of only 12 autonomous pre-collegiate music schools in the country accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
