Art & Music Schedule Of Events - Search By Time

This program contains all information available as of November 1, 2009 and pertain to First Night® 2010 State College. EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE without prior notice. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please call the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, producer of First Night®State College, at (814) 237-3682.  The Festival office is located at 403 South Allen Street, Suite 205A.  The mailing address is P.O. Box 1023, State College, PA 16804.

Schedule of Events, Thursday, December 31, 2009

*Button - indicates that a First Night® button is required for admission. You may click the Button link for purchase information.
View Google Map of the First Night Venues

Deb Callahan Band
Sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association
*Button - 9:00 p.m.  St. Paul's United Methodist Church | Map
• blues
Philadelphia's blues and soul drenched vocalist and songwriter, Deb Callahan has been a fixture on the mid-Atlantic music scene for some time. She writes creative blues, soul and roots-influenced original music and uses her powerful, emotionally expressive voice and engaging stage presence to deliver a unique, high energy live show. Since 2005, Deb Callahan and her band have become part of the national blues scene with performances at festivals on both coasts, including California's Monterey Bay Blues Festival and The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival in Annapolis. She's played more great clubs than we have space to list. Deb Callahan has been compared to singers such as Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, and Aretha Franklin. Come see her show and you'll hear and see why.
www.debcallahanband.com

Callanish
*Button - 8:00 p.m  State College Presbyterian Church | Map
Patty Lambert, (814) 692-8966
Celtic traditional
Callanish takes its name from the standing stone circle located on the Isle of Lewis, one of the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. They perform traditional Irish and Scottish music in addition to other traditional music of the British Isles. The five members of Callanish perform on the fiddle, flute, whistle, concertina, bodhran, guitar, and voice. The group has performed at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the Lemont Village Green Concert Series, Lewisburg's Celtic Day, and for the Empty Bowls and Ulster Projects. Callanish has released two CDs and is planning a third. www.callanishband.com

Carriage Rides
Sponsored by Downtown State College Improvement District, Centre Area Transportation Authority and The Atherton Hotel
*Button + $ 7 p.m.; State College Municipal Building Plaza | Map
Terry Woodring (814) 224-4999
David Hershey  (814) 684-3400       
Jim Swartz (717) 527-4782          
$3.00 per person plus a 2010 First Night Button
Three carriages drawn by Percheron draft horses will take you back in time as they take you through downtown State College. Dress warmly—it's difficult to turn up the heat in an open carriage.
Rides are on a first come, first served basis. Due to high demand, not all of those wishing to ride may be accommodated.

One Block Ice Sculpture Exhibit
10 a.m. – midnight; Downtown and Sidney Friedman Park | Map
The One-Block Ice Sculpture Exhibit runs through noon on January 1st.  Sponsored by State College area businesses, over one hundred one-block ice sculptures are displayed for your enjoyment. Please follow the Ice Sculpture Map in our program guide for a walking tour of visual enchantment. Be sure to bring your camera and allow plenty of time to see our spectacular display!

Jim Colbert & Friends
*Button - 5 p.m.; University Baptist & Brethren Church | Map
Folk
Bellefonte singer/songwriter Jim Colbert's songs offer a cross- section of Americana as seen through the eyes of a life-long Pennsylvanian. Colbert's subject matter ranges from Eugene O'Neill, Centralia and vintage Buicks to his home town of Johnstown, including floods and the demise of its steel industry.

Colbert has shared the stage with Red Molly, Pat Wictor, Jud Caswell, Deirdre Flint, Small Potatoes and Joe Crookston, among others. Tonight he's joined by a group of special guests from the central Pennsylvania folk music scene.

Kim Cook
*Button - 10:30 p.m.; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church | Map
Ms. Cook has performed as a soloist in the Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, and throughout the United States. At her Carnegie Hall debut, critics admired her "ravishing colors and textures". She has toured extensively as an International Artistic Ambassador for the U. S. State Department, presenting concerts and master classes throughout the world.

A graduate of Yale University and the University of Illinois, Ms. Cook was principal cellist of the Sao Paulo Symphony and taught at New Mexico State before assuming her current position as Professor of Cello at Penn State. At Penn State, Ms. Cook's cello studio has attracted talented cellists from Europe, Asia, and the United States.  The Penn State Cello Choir currently has 25 cellists, and has become recognized for its performances and for hosting cello festivals.  Ms. Cook's students have won many prestigious awards and former students currently occupy positions in orchestras and music schools in the United States, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, Croatia, and Taiwan.

Ms. Cook's recording of the Concerto No. 1 by Shostakovich and the Rococo Variations by Tchaikovsky with conductor Edward Serov and the Volgograd Symphony was released in March of 2009 to critical acclaim.  Her recordings also include the Concerto in B minor by Dvorak with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, the two Haydn concertos with the Dvorak Collegium in the Czech Republic, and the solo sonatas of Kodaly, Crumb, and Hindemith. 

Deacons of Dixieland
*Button - 4 p.m.; Faith United Church of Christ | Map
The Deacons were formed in State College by John Kepler in 1988 in State College, Pennsylvania to play Dixieland music as a Christian ministry. Through the years, they've found that their joyous Dixieland style also works for hymns, blues, waltzes, polkas, and the occasional country tune. In 2001, the band opened they opened in New Orleans' Preservation Hall for the internationally renowned Preservation Hall Jazz band. The Deacons frequently include special vocalists and instrumentalists, including Penn State President Graham Spanier playing his self-customized turbo washboard.
www.deaconsofdixieland.org

First Night®State College Ice Sculptors in Action
10 a.m.- 9 p.m.; South Allen Street
Celebrating their 15th year, The First Night State College Ice Sculptors will carve over 100  blocks—that's more than 10 tons!--of crystal clear Pennsylvania ice for this year's First Night. Under the direction of captain Ernie DiMartino, the Ice Sculptors are expected to include Ernie DiMartino, Richard Alfred, John Goehler, Gary Glenn, Jared McAlister, Mark Mastrangelo, Mike Musial, Joe DiMartino, Mitch Schrader, James Kowalczuk, and Elliott Fejes.  The large walls and sculptures are created from blocks that are produced in a special Clinebel freezing process that makes beautifully clear ice. FNSC uses ice blocks manufactured by Strickler Ice Company of Huntingdon.

First Night State College Reindeer LIVE!
Sponsored by The Atherton Hotel
2 - 10 p.m.; Sidney Friedman Park | Map
Visit with and learn about the live reindeer which were the inspiration for the First Night State College logo.  The reindeer are provided by JB Tree Farm in Alexandria, PA.

The Folkjazz Project
*Button - 10:15 p.m.; University Baptist & Brethren Church | Map
Playing Jazz for the People, the FolkJazz Project is a duo collaboration of pianist Arthur Goldstein and saxophonist Rick Hirsch. The FJP focuses its performances on accessible, traditional folk-like musical themes composed by the under-sung musician Jimmy Giuffre. Pianist Arthur Goldstein has been lauded for both his recitals and recent recordings of 20th century piano music. Rick Hirsch is known internationally for his unique compositions for saxophone quartet and large jazz ensemble. Don't miss the Folkjazz Project—it will be a night of great music.
Rick Hirsch (814) 867-9935
www.hirschmusic.biz

Giant Ice Sculptures - View map of ice sculptures
Sponsored by the Borough of State College
10 a.m. - midnight; South Allen Street and Sidney Friedman Park | Map

Giant Puppet Display
6:00 p.m.; Canterbury Hall, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 208 West Foster Avenue | Map
Discover the well-populated menagerie of giant papier-mâché creatures made to be worn or carried in the First Night Procession. Dragons, lions, fish, carousel animals and everything in between will be primping before their big moment in the First Night® procession. We have something for everyone—men, women, short, tall, big, little, young, old. When it comes to puppets, one size does not fit all. The procession starts promptly at 6:30 p.m.   

The Gizmo Guys
Sponsored by Aquarius Spring Water
*Button - 2:30; 8 & 10 p.m.  Citizens Bank Downtown Theatre | Map
Comedy theater
The New York Times called The Gizmo Guys “master jugglers with ebullient energy and exquisite skill. . . . human virtuosity with a touch of lunacy.”   The Gizmo Guys, otherwise known as Allan Jacobs and Barrett Felker, have amazed and amused audiences around the world. They've played in more venues than you can shake a stick at--you name it, they've done it. And in their spare time, they've made television appearances, won international juggling competitions, and taught at top circus schools. Their act is filled with a frothy combination of infectious humor and dazzling technique. Their rapid-fire act will insure that you laugh your way into the New Year.
www.thegizmoguys.com 

 
Homecoming Rikshaw Brass Band
9 p.m.  Allen Street and Sidney Friedman Park | Map
The Homecoming Rikshaw Brass Band is a New Orleans style 2nd line band with a twist: in stead of just a field drum they march with a full drum set pulled in a pedal-powered rikshaw. HRBB began in 2005 as the Penn State Jazz Club's entry in the PSU Homecoming Parade, and continue this tradition every year. Eager to play more than once a year the band began playing First Night and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and plays outdoor parties, filling a niche demand for acoustic funk/dance music. The band features Dr. Chris Byrne and Greg Drane on saxes, Ronnie Burrage and Patrick Coyle on drums & percussion, Chris Gamble and Duane Bullock on trombones, Phil Jensen on tuba, David Smith on trumpet, Grace Byrne as hip-hop umbrella dancer and Jessica Hayes-Conroy powering the rikshaw.
Contact the band by email to drchrisbryne@gmail.com

Hirsch Jazz Quartet
Sponsored by Hold-It Self Storage
*Button - 8:00 p.m.; University Baptist & Brethren
Church | Map
 “The language is rich and daring…and sometimes quite abrasive to my [Rock & Roll] ears – but it's entirely stimulating!”  - Queen guitarist Brian May
Led by saxophonist Rick Hirsch, this foursome plays a compelling mix of Hirsch's evocative original compositions and contemporary interpretations of pop and Rock music, including classics by Nirvana, the Beatles, Billy Joel, and Radiohead.  This is contemporary jazz at its finest that appeals to die-hard jazz fans as well as listeners with no jazz background whatsoever.  State College's leading jazz musicians round out the band: bassist Jeff Beck, guitarist Mac Himes, and drummer Kevin Lowe.
www.hirschmusic.biz

Ice Skating – Accompanied by the sounds of Larry Moore Productions
*Button - 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10 p.m.; Penn State Ice Pavilion | Map
Ice Pavilion, (814) 865-4102; Larry Moore Prod. (814) 466-7643
CATA Shuttle bus service runs to the rink from College Avenue.
One of FNSC's most popular events, skating at the Ice Pavilion is a fun way to slide into 2010.  Skaters glide and dance to music provided by LMP.  Ice will be resurfaced at 45 minutes past the hour. Ice skates may be rented for $1.75.

Middle-earth Studios presents Legend of the Unicorn
*Button - 2 p.m., 4 p.m., & 7:30 p.m., Westminster Hall, State College Presbyterian Church | Map
Carl Odhner, (610) 756-4234  dress-up story theatre
You'll enjoy this tale about a beautiful lake which is poisoned by a serpent, and the quest of those who dwell around the lake to make its waters pure once more. The show is filled with lessons for all ages.
www.middlearthstudios.com

Midnight Festivities

As 2009 draws to a close, the First Bells Resolution Sculpture will ring more frequently as young and old “ring out” the old year. In Sidney Friedman Park (Map) our Fire Sculptures will be stoked to burn their brightest.

Shortly before midnight, people will pay more attention to their wristwatches and cell phones than they have all year. Photos will be snapped and special calls to absent loved ones will be made. People will scurry along to reach their friends before the stroke of midnight. Lovers will snuggle, friends hug, and perfect strangers will rate a smile.

At midnight, church bells will ring in downtown State College as First Night® State College wishes you the happiest of new years. The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, The Borough of State College, Centre County Commissioners & Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, our other sponsors and friends of First Night® everywhere extend their best wishes to you for a safe, healthy, and joyous New Year.

Murphy's Junction
*Button - 3:00 p.m.; University Baptist & Brethren
Church | Map
bluegrass
Ring in the new year with the close harmonies and toe-tapping music of Murphy's Junction. This pickin' and grinnin' quintet plays traditional and some not-so-traditional bluegrass, including original tunes. They won this year's Acoustic Brew local showcase competition, and have played at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival, and many community events in the Central Pennsylvania region.
www.myspace.com/murphysjunction

Nittany Highland Pipe Band
Sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association
*Button - 7 p.m.; St. Paul's United Methodist Church | Map
Jan Hill, (814) 359-2920
Bagpipe band
The Nittany Highland Pipe Band was founded in 1973. Based in State College, it draws its members from across Central Pennsylvania. They recently performed at the SpyGlass Winery Celtic Festival and the Ligonier Highland Games.

The Puppet Factory
Sponsored by Geisinger
*Button - 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., & 5:00 p.m. Days Inn Penn State | Map
Puppet show
Since 1970, master puppeteer Carolyn Koerber has presented puppet theater that excites the imagination. An outstanding artist, she has performed for the Smithsonian Institution's Discovery Theater, The National Theater, and thousands of schools, theaters, and community groups throughout the mid-Atlantic area.

Carolyn returns to First Night® State College with her storytelling, puppetry, and acting skills to retell three Native American stories: The Talking Stone, an Iroquois legend about a lonely old rock spirit that has many stories to tell; The North Star, a Paiute legend about a brave and adventurous mountain sheep; and a Hopi legend called The Wind Spirit, about a farmer who calls on Spider Woman to help him tame the wind. In a humorous and imaginative way, these stories teach children about the Earth and Native American cultures.

Pure Cane Sugar
*Button - 6:00 p.m.; State College Presbyterian Church | Map
Combine the stunning harmonies of the Pure Cane Sugar girls with the electrifying guitar stylings of Ted McCloskey, and you have a recipe for unparalleled entertainment. Performing a mix of originals and Americana covers, this State College based group is sure to memorize your with its sweet, sweet sound.

Resolution Exhibits
Noon - Midnight; Sidney Friedman Park | Map, South Allen Street and State College Municipal Building | Map

Michael Rosman
Sponsored by Aquarius Spring Water (4:30 p.m. show)
*Button - 4:30 p.m. Citizens Bank Downtown Theatre | Map
*Button - 7:00, 8:30 & 10:00 p.m. at the Community Room, State College Municipal Building | Map
From a high school start with juggling and unicycling, through a University Of Delaware Finance degree, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College, street performing in Europe and a year in the circus, Michael Rosman has become one of the most respected and sought after performers from the east coast. His humor and juggling will amuse and amaze you. Michael is a two-time winner of the prestigious Maryland State Individual Artist Grant Award for excellence in the arts.
www.michaelrosman.com

RockFest
*Button - or $ - 8:00 p.m., Fairmount School Auditorium
Put on your tie dyed t-shirt. Dust off your love beads. Time to look in the backseat of the Volkswagen bus for your Nehru jacket—it's gotta be in there someplace! RockFest helps to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with RockStock: almost three hours of Peace, Love, and Happiness. Local high school bands will rock in the New Year while competing for cash prizes. How can you just say no to that?! Cover charge of $5 or a First Night® button.

Phil Spangler & Joel Blunk
Sponsored by Fulton Bank
*Button - 10:00 p.m.; State College Presbyterian Church | Map
Contemporary folk
Phil and Joel perform original songs that help us understand that our everyday hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows are anything but pedestrian. Phil and Joel pursued musical careers in Los Angeles and Nashville before succumbing to the delights of Happy Valley and alternate careers as a contractor and a minister. Their thoughtful original songs and soft folk sound has garnered them a large and loyal following.

Simple Gifts
*Button - 8:30 p.m.; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church | Map
Combining tradition with innovation, Simple Gifts creates some of the finest arrangements in folk music today: swing fiddle creeps into a Romanian dance, spoons show up in an Irish reel, and the concertina ventures far beyond styles considered traditional for that instrument. Based in State College, Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon switch with ease a wide variety of instruments.
The duo is frequently complimented on their stage presence, which is warm, personal, and accented with humor. These women deliver their music with rare intensity and contagious enthusiasm.
www.simplegiftsmusic.com

Summit Hill Bluegrass
*Button - 10:00 p.m.; Faith United Church of Christ | Map
Strasburg, Pennsylvania's Summit Hill Bluegrass is comprised of four members, Roger Eberlin on bass fiddle, mandolin and lead vocals, Ron McVey on fiddle, Elvin Burkhart on the banjo and Tim Kilby on guitar. The group has been playing together for fifteen years and has been a fixture at First Night®  Wilmington, Delaware. Their shows typically include bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, country, and old time fiddle tunes.
Ron McVey (717) 687-0265

Toot-in-Common
*Button - 3:30 p.m.; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church | Map
Judy Moore (814) 235-6125 flute choir
After returning from a tour of the Baltic States with the International Flute Orchestra, Judy Moore was inspired to form State College's flute choir, Toot-in-Common. The group's repertoire consists of popular and classical favorites arranged for flute choir and works written especially for flute choir. Instrumentation includes one piccolo, six to eight C flutes, two alto flutes, one bass flute, and one cello. In addition to performing at First Night® State College, the group has performed at other festivals and events in Central Pennsylvania.

Tr-HANDS-formation
Sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association
*Button - 4:30 p.m.; St. Paul's United Methodist Church | Map
Carol Lindsay
percussion
Tr-HANDS-formation is a local improvisational percussion plus group that utilizes world percussion, world flutes and soprano saxophone.  The group members are Chris Bittner, Jennifer Bittner, Marty Gillespie, Cathy Herrera and Carol Lindsay.  They play with a healing intention and create music in the moment that is delightful, provocative, inspirational and visually engaging. 

Trombone Chowder
*Button - 6:00 p.m.; Faith United Church of Christ | Map
Mike Loewen (814) 238-7409
Trombone Quartet
Trombone Chowder is a group of four trombonists from Central Pennsylvania performing a mix of jazz, marches, ballads, chamber music, and vocal transcriptions. Their past performances include The People's Choice Festival, and the Fisher Plaza Concert Series at Penn State.

Tussey Mountain Moonshiners
*Button - 6:30 p.m.; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church | Map
Fronted by talented multi-instrumentalist Stephen Buckalew, the Tussey Mountain Moonshiners is a quartet that plays traditional bluegrass, old-time, and folk music as well as original tunes. Winners of The Acoustic Brew's local showcase competition, they've played at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival, and last June, they played as a showcase band at Delfest in Cumberland, MD. With tight harmonies and great picking, they're quickly becoming a favorite at Central PA events. To hear some music samples, click their myspace page:
www.myspace.com/tusseymountainmoonshiners

Will Mills & Friends
*Button - 2:00 p.m.; Faith United Church of Christ | Map
Will Mills & Friends will play Celtic and other traditional tunes. Will has previously performed at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

Worship Services:
Two downtown churches will offer New Year's Eve services.  The public is invited to attend.
- Faith United Church of Christ will hold a Worship Service at 8:00 p.m. | Map
- Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church will offer Holy Eucharist at 5:00 p.m. | Map

Friday, January 1, 2010

Borough of State College Giant Ice Sculpture Exhibit & One-Block Ice Sculpture Exhibit
10 a.m.- Noon.; South Allen Street and Sidney Friedman Park | Map
Sponsored by the Borough of State College and Downtown and State College area businesses, ice sculptures are displayed for your enjoyment.