On Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 7:30pm, Scranton Community Concerts and WVIA will host a celebration of the music of Mozart featuring some of the area’s best and brightest musicians at the Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College. Featured in the concert are local soloists and groups including the Robert Dale Chorale, Mostly Opera, violinist Sophie Till and pianist Ron Stabinsky, the Lyric Consort, the Williamsport Symphony Players and Soprano Heather Petruzelli. This concert will highlight various works of Mozart, and will be narrated by members of the staff of WVIA. Tickets are $20 for front orchestra and mezzanine seats, $15 for rear orchestra seats, and $10 for balcony seats and can be obtained by calling (570)342-4137, or in person at Scranton Community Concerts’ offices also conveniently located in Lackawanna College’s main building. This performance is cosponsored in part by PNC Bank and Pagnotti Enterprises.

Larry Vojtko, Program Manager for WVIA/WVYA-FM, who serves as Program Coordinator for the performance and will perform with Mostly Opera says, “The event provides a marvelous showcase for the impressive talent that exists right here in our region. The pieces chosen by the individual artists combine to create a program of delightful variety that presents an exceptional overview of the genius of Mozart. It’s fitting tribute to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the great composer’s birth.”

This year marks the Robert Dale Chorale’s 29th season, its third under Music Director Dr. Steven Thomas. The Chorale has become the premier professional chamber choir in northeastern Pennsylvania. By virtue of its vocal excellence and versatility, the Chorale has received critical acclaim for performances of works from the Renaissance to the present. The Robert Dale Chorale will perform three movements from Vesperae solennes de Confessore, KV 339 and Ave verum corpus, KV 618.

Mostly Opera’s seasoned performers will lend their voices to several of Mozart’s best known pieces from Don Giovanni and the Marriage of Figaro. Mostly Opera’s featured performers include Larry Vojtko, Helene Tinsley, Clark Luis, Janet Thatcher, Ellen Rutkowski, Joyce Lysiak, Dennis Fanucci and Jack Bernesky. Violinist Sophie Till and pianist Ron Stabinsky will perform Sonata for Violin and Piano in C Major, KV 296. Composed in Mannheim in 1778, the movements are Allegro Vivace, Andante Sostenuto, Rondeau (Allegro).

The Lyric Consort will sing two very early works entitled Quaerite primum regnum Dei and Adoramus Te respectively, and will also perform three short secular nocturnes. Formed in 1993 to explore the myriad riches of the a cappella tradition, The Lyric Consort’s performances and wide-ranging repertoire have garnered consistent critical acclaim. Proclaimed a “rare treat” by the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the eight-voice ensemble maintains annual concert series at both Wilkes-Barre and Scranton venues, and has performed by invitation throughout the Wyoming Valley, eastern and central Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York.

The Williamsport Symphony Players include Linda Fountain, oboe; Judith Burke, clarinet; Richard Campbell, bassoon; William Kenny, horn; Gary Boerckel, piano. They will be treating the audience to Quintet in E-flat Major for Piano and Winds, K. 452 in three movements: Largo: Allegro moderato, Larghetto, Allegretto. Gary Boerckel is chairman of the Department of Music at Lycoming College and a radio announcer for WVIA. He has been piano soloist with the Northeastern PA Philharmonic, the Jupiter Symphony, and the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.

Soprano, Heather Petruzelli, with roots firmly planted in Scranton, is a native of New Jersey and currently resides in Astoria, NY. She received a Bachelor’s degree in music from Wilkes University followed by a Master’s degree in music from Boston University. Some of her roles include Mimi in La Boheme, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Ann Putnam in The Crucible, and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus. She will be performing Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Ginner, K 383 two pieces: and Mi tradi quell’alma ingrate - Donna Elvira’s aria from Don Giovanni.

Substantial group discounts, senior citizen and student rate tickets are also available. For more information, please call (570) 342-4137 or email.