Concert

Concert

Allentown Symphony Orchestra says Goodbye to Ronald Demkee in July 2024

Ronald Demkee to retire as Associate/Pops Conductor and Principal Tuba of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in July 2024
The Allentown Symphony Association announces that beloved Associate/Pops Conductor and Principal Tuba Ronald Demkee will retire at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, which will be his 45th season as a member of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO). 

“Live music in the Lehigh Valley and Ron Demkee are synonymous,”

said ASO Music Director/Conductor Diane Wittry.
“We are honored at the Allentown Symphony to have had such a long association with Ron both as Principal Tuba and as Associate/Pops Conductor. He will leave behind a remarkable legacy at the Allentown Symphony which we will recognize and pay tribute to over the next two years.” Wittry added, “However, this will not be a goodbye to Ron at Miller Symphony Hall!”

Wittry was referring to Demkee’s long-time position as conductor of the Allentown Band which performs several concerts a year at the venerable 123-year-old theater in downtown Allentown.

Demkee’s tenure with the Allentown Symphony dates back to the 1979-1980 season when he became Principal Tuba and first performed in that role in January 1980.

He became the Orchestra’s Associate Conductor in 1983, which included assisting founding Music Director Donald Voorhees as well as occasionally leading classical rehearsals and concerts for Voorhees and his successor William Smith.
Demkee has also conducted Young Peoples Concerts, Holiday Concerts, numerous annual performances of “The Nutcracker” with the Repertory Dance Theatre, and most Pops concert programs.
As the ASO began presenting more Pops concerts about a decade ago, Demkee was promoted to Associate/Pops Conductor. He also served as Orchestra Personnel Manager for 30 years. 

“It has been a privilege to be associated with the ASO,”

Demkee commented.
“I will, of course, remember these years fondly for the incredible artistic growth of the Orchestra, the many marvelous moments of music making, and even more significantly for the many meaningful and lasting friendships cultivated during that time. It has been a very fulfilling, rewarding, and enriching 43-year journey and there are still two more to go.” Demkee concluded by saying, “I wish nothing but the best for continued success with what I am certain will be a bright future for the ASO.”

Looking ahead, Wittry shared that, “I will continue to conduct some pops concerts, but we are going to start bringing in guest conductors and see how both our audiences and musicians respond to them. There is no set timeline or determination for appointing a new Pops Conductor, but that will be continually evaluated as time goes on.” Wittry further explained that, “the Principal Tuba position will be auditioned at the appropriate time as is the case with any other open positions in our wonderful orchestra.”

The 2023-2024 season of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra will be announced in February 2023. Information about the upcoming 2022-2023 season can be found at: www.millersymphonyhall.org.

Sept 16 at Lehigh Valley’s Miller Symphony Ball for Carnevale a Verona

Ready to dance the night away?  Support the Lehigh Valley Miller Symphony Ball’s Carnevale a Verona Sept 16

It’s time for the Allentown Symphony’s 2022 Symphony Ball!

Be a part of our largest — and most important — fundraising event on September 9. 
Gather to celebrate the Allentown Symphony Association’s accomplishments and raise vital funds that increase our community footprint.
Your tickets to the Ball will support our education and community engagement programs, including:
✅ Schadt String Competition and Scholarships
✅ Young Musician String Festival
✅ El Sistema Lehigh Valley — which delivers high-quality music instruction and academic tutoring to underserved and special needs youth
Learn more about the event and buy your tickets today.
It promises to be a thrilling evening!

Penn’s Peak Annc’s Back to the 80’s Show with Jessie’s Girl, Saturday, December 9

Penn’s Peak is proud to announce Back to the 80’s Show with Jessie’s Girl, Saturday, December 9, 2022 at 8pm.  

Every Saturday night for the last 5 years, crowds of ecstatic fans and newcomers alike have thrown on their best spandex, leg warmers and metal gear, lined up, and come to downtown NYC for an all-out celebration at the Back to the Eighties Show.

Each week you can find hundreds of fans singing at the top of their lungs, dancing and having the time of their lives as the top-notch musicians and vocal performers of Jessie’s Girl blow them away. Jessie’s Girl has mastered stunning renditions of the world’s most vibrant songs, all while dressed up as the unforgettable characters of that decade!

Bon Jovi, Cindi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, and many more

come to life right before the dazzled eyes of the crowd.

It is theatre, meets live music, smothered in 80’s glitz. A performance like no other and a party you have to experience to believe.

Penn’s Peak is proud to announce Back to the 80’s Show with Jessie’s Girl, Saturday, December 9, 2022 at 8pm.  

Penn’s Peak is proud to announce Back to the 80’s Show with Jessie’s Girl, Saturday, December 9, 2022 at 8pm.

 

Tickets on sale Friday, July 29th at 10:00AM at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn’s Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant and Bar.  Penn’s Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant ticket sales are walk-up only, no phone orders.

General Admission

Advance: $25.00

Day of Show: $30.00

About Penn’s Peak

Penn’s Peak, a beautiful mountaintop entertainment venue located in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, can comfortably host 1,800 concertgoers.  Enjoy a spacious dance floor, lofty ceilings, concert bar/concession area and a full service restaurant and bar aptly named Roadie’s. Complete with a broad open-air deck for summertime revelry, Penn’s Peak patrons enjoy a breathtaking overlook of nearby Beltzville Lake, plus a commanding, picturesque 50-mile panoramic view of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains. Choose Penn’s Peak for your next wedding, banquet or special event and treat your guests to an event truly “Above the Rest”.

Geographically convenient to residents of major population zones in Hazleton, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Stroudsburg, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and New York City, Penn’s Peak is an ideal location for any event.  It is located only four miles from Exit 74 of the northeast extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  For more information on Penn’s Peak, go to www.pennspeak.com or call 866-605-7325.  

Penn’s Peak Annc’s Ryan Pelton – An Elvis Christmas Show, Saturday, December 3

Penn’s Peak is proud to announce Ryan Pelton – An Elvis Christmas Show, Saturday, December 3, 2022 

Ryan Pelton is an international, award winning, Elvis tribute artist, actor, and singer/songwriter.

He often refers to himself as the “Forrest Gump” of the ETA world, and claims to have been blessed with an extraordinary amount of dumb luck.

Ryan Pelton – An Elvis Christmas Show

Ryan Pelton – An Elvis Christmas Show

 

In September of 1998, Ryan Pelton was dared by his mother to enter a local Elvis contest in Columbus, OH.

At the time, Ryan was building websites for a living.  Ryan didn’t grow up in an “Elvis” household.  He knew little about the King of rock-n-roll, except for the fact that adults in public often said he looked like a “young Elvis” growing up.  Despite only having one week to prepare, Ryan entered the contest and against all odds, he won.

“I remember having to write the lyrics on my hand because I wasn’t familiar with any of the songs.

And keep in mind, I had never sang before in my life before that first contest.”

Pelton’s days as a website designer were soon over, as he wanted to pursue the entertainment world, saying, “I don’t want to be ninety years old one day and look back saying, ‘what if?’”

Over the next decade, Pelton honed his craft becoming an international, award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist.  In 2001 Pelton was declared the “World Champion” when he won the Worldwide Images of the King Contest in Memphis, TN.

He has performed all over the world, from casinos to fairs, theaters to festivals, production shows to professional sports arenas.

Entertaining audiences in the tens-of-thousands, there can be no doubt that Ryan Pelton is the rarest kind of performer – living up to his billing time and time again.

Throughout his career, Pelton has been involved in a number or unique opportunities that have led him to call himself the “Forest Gump” of the ETA world.  Ryan performed with the world’s largest impersonator production show, Legends in Concert, for nearly a decade, including a six year stint in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Early in his career, Ryan appeared in an all-Elvis version of The Weakest Link, where he walked away the winner of the second largest total ever won on the show in the United States.  He has appeared in an international commercial for Volvo, was the featured ETA in a special collector’s “Elvis Edition” of TV Guide, and was the body double for Elvis as he performed a duet of “If I Can Dream” on American Idol with Celine Dion.

During this time he also made his first movie appearance as he played the role of Elvis in the Dakota Fanning move, Hounddog.

In 2011, Ryan Pelton decided it was time to take his career to the next level when he released his first original album, Wash Over Me.  Within a week after the release of the album, Pelton was signed as a song writer by a well-known Nashville publishing company.

Shortly thereafter, Ryan Pelton was offered the lead role in a Hollywood film called The Identical.  Ryan Pelton took on the screen name of “Blake Rayne” for the film, which also starred Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, and Seth Green.

The film, which won the audience choice award for best film at the Nashville Film Festival, opened in theaters on September 5, 2014, and is currently a top ten rental on Netflix.

The Elvolution

While he was unable to perform as Elvis during the production of The Identical, Ryan Pelton has returned in 2015, touring again as the King of rock-n-roll.  His entertainment company is launching a new show called The Elvolution, and he has dedicated himself to competing in Elvis Presley Enterprises’ 2015 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, TN on August 11 & 13, 2015.

Ryan still continues to write and record his original music under the name of Blake Rayne, and is currently working on his first original album under that name.   “Blake” also continues to audition for acting roles, saying that, “Acting is one of the hardest things I have ever done… I guess that’s why I like it so much.  It kind of calls to my soul”.

But have no doubt – Ryan Pelton got his first break in entertainment by singing Elvis Presley music, and he has no plans to stop what got him where he is any time soon.

Says Pelton, “Life is like a box of chocolates… and I got the one that looks like Elvis!  I consider myself lucky… and I owe so much to Elvis.  Without the King and his music, I’d still be building websites.”

Tickets on sale Friday, July 29th at 10:00AM at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn’s Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant and Bar.  Penn’s Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant ticket sales are walk-up only, no phone orders.

Reserved Seating

Premium Reserved: $30.00

Regular Reserved: $25.00

About Penn’s Peak

Penn’s Peak, a beautiful mountaintop entertainment venue located in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, can comfortably host 1,800 concertgoers.  Enjoy a spacious dance floor, lofty ceilings, concert bar/concession area and a full service restaurant and bar aptly named Roadie’s. Complete with a broad open-air deck for summertime revelry, Penn’s Peak patrons enjoy a breathtaking overlook of nearby Beltzville Lake, plus a commanding, picturesque 50-mile panoramic view of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains. Choose Penn’s Peak for your next wedding, banquet or special event and treat your guests to an event truly “Above the Rest”.

Geographically convenient to residents of major population zones in Hazleton, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Stroudsburg, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and New York City, Penn’s Peak is an ideal location for any event.  It is located only four miles from Exit 74 of the northeast extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  For more information on Penn’s Peak, go to www.pennspeak.com or call 866-605-7325.  

Penn’s Peak Annc’s In The Air Tonight – Celebrating the Music of Phil Collins, Sat Sept 17

Penn’s Peak announces In The Air Tonight – Celebrating the Music of Phil Collins and Genesis, Saturday, September 17, 2022

The name says it all. 

“IN THE AIR TONIGHT” is a concert re-creation of the Grammy award solo artist Phil Collins.

Playing all the famous “Phil Collins” Colossal solo hits

The show is amazing, playing all the famous “Phil Collins” Colossal solo hits as well as the famous Genesis songs. Everyone sings and dances at a “ITAT” concert. The visual of the lead singer and “dead on” vocals, really makes you think you’re watching the real deal. 

Come and celebrate the music of Phil Collins and Genesis because there’s 

Something “In The Air Tonight”

Tickets on sale Friday, August 5th at 12:00PM at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn’s Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant and Bar.  Penn’s Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant ticket sales are walk-up only, no phone orders.

General Admission

Advance: $22.00

Day of Show: $27.00

About Penn’s Peak

Penn’s Peak, a beautiful mountaintop entertainment venue located in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, can comfortably host 1,800 concertgoers.  Enjoy a spacious dance floor, lofty ceilings, concert bar/concession area and a full service restaurant and bar aptly named Roadie’s. Complete with a broad open-air deck for summertime revelry, Penn’s Peak patrons enjoy a breathtaking overlook of nearby Beltzville Lake, plus a commanding, picturesque 50-mile panoramic view of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains. Choose Penn’s Peak for your next wedding, banquet or special event and treat your guests to an event truly “Above the Rest”.

Geographically convenient to residents of major population zones in Hazleton, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Stroudsburg, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and New York City, Penn’s Peak is an ideal location for any event.  It is located only four miles from Exit 74 of the northeast extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

For more information on Penn’s Peak, go to www.pennspeak.com or call 866-605-7325.  

Miller Symphony Hall Offers ‘ Christmas In July’ Sale – Save Big on Year-long Entertainment

Miller Symphony Hall, home of the Allentown Symphony, offers you to save big on year-long entertainment with their ‘Christmas In July’ Sale.

Save 15% off ticket prices when you order before July 31 using discount code: July.

Holiday Pops!
Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 PM
Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Save 15% off the Holiday Pops! concert when purchasing this month – July only! Use code JULY at checkout.

Join Allentown’s newest holiday musical tradition. Your family and friends will be thrilled with the season’s spectacle – a sparkling celebration of carols, classics, sing-alongs, and more! (And yes, Virginia, there will be a Santa Claus.)

“A Salute to the Eagles”
Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 PM
Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Spend an evening livin’ it up at the Hotel California! Join the Allentown Symphony and Pops Conductor Ronald Demkee as they salute one of the biggest bands in music: the Eagles. Featuring all the hits from their bestselling catalog, this concert will be full of chill West Coast vibes — a musical journey from rock and roll to country, folk, and back again.

Tickets are selling fast for this one!
Be sure to grab your seats today.

Watch four iconic productions from the Met Opera Live in HD series, projected on a 4-story GIANT screen at Miller Symphony Hall.

Lehar’s THE MERRY WIDOW
Wednesday, July 13 at 6:30 PM

Puccini’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Wednesday, July 27 at 6:30 PM

Puccini’s LA BOHÈME
Wednesday, August 3 at 6:30 PM

Donizetti’s LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT
Wednesday, August 10 at 6:30 PM

 

Allentown Symphony’s 22/23 Season
Featuring Three Premieres, a Spotlight on Underrepresented Composers, Hallmarks of the Classical Canon, Plus a Celebration of John Williams’ 90th Birthday, and Disney Classics

 

Enjoy all 10 concerts for the price of just 8!

The Piano Guys Return To Easton’s The State Theatre Sept 15

The Piano Guys Return To Easton’s The State Theatre on September 15, 2022.

Since their serendipitous start in a Southern Utah piano shop, THE PIANO GUYS have proven to be a powerhouse group without limits.

Arriving as a musical phenomenon seemingly overnight, the quartet of Jon Schmidt [pianist, songwriter], Steven Sharp Nelson [cellist, songwriter], Paul Anderson [producer, videographer], and Al van der Beek [music producer, songwriter] have delivered bold compositions that transcend boundaries of style and genre, a boundlessness that has since translated into a massively-successful career.


Related:

Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” Sat July 23 at  Allentown Symphony Orchestra


Their 2020 album release “10” was a celebration of The Piano Guys’ 10-year anniversary. The album included their most popular hits from the past 10 years as well as brand-new arrangements. Steven and Jon are gearing up to hit the road to perform their new music and share their great humor.

For more info and tickets to The Piano Guys at Easton’s State Theatre.

The Piano Guys explain further:

So many people inspire us, our music and our videos.

When we began as The Piano Guys, we drew our inspiration from sources we’ve known all our lives – family, God, nature, classical composers and others we’ve looked up to.

We could never have imagined all the stories we’ve received from people who have listened to our music and watched our videos since we began – stories that have made us laugh and that have made us cry; stories that have motivated us to reach even higher; stories that have kept us going when we’ve wondered how we can.

These people and their stories are the reason we are The Piano Guys and the reason we never want to stop making music videos. If you are one of these people, thank you from all of us for being our inspiration.

VIP Meet & Greet Package:

  • One (1) Premium Reserved Seat in the first 2 Rows.
  • Meet Jon and Steve! Say Hello and snap a photo with them after the show!
  • Commemorative VIP Laminate
  • Exclusive Merchandise

VIP Limited Edition Merchandise Package:

  • One (1) Premium Reserved Seat
  • Commemorative VIP Laminate
  • Exclusive Merchandise

Exclusive Sneak Preview: Cardi B at Wind Creek Event Center

Cardi B Sneak Previews at Wind Creek Event Center to prep her European tour

International sassy sensation Cardi B is heading out on her new European tour.  But before she does, she’s giving the Lehigh Valley a sneak peek of her show.

Wanna see?

On Monday night, July 3 the Wind Creek Event Center will host the rapper at their venue for a dress rehearsal performance ahead of her European tour dates.


Related:

Post Malone announces Twelve Carat Tour 33-city including Philly’s Wells Fargo Center with special guest Roddy Ricch.


Cardi B will take the Wind Creek stage at 9:30 p.m. on July 3.

Best known for songs like “I Like It,” “Money” and “WAP,” Cardi B burst onto the scene in 2018 with her first commercial single, “Bodak Yellow,” after a couple of successful mixtapes landed her some recognition from the BET Awards.

Since then, she’s become one of the most prominent new figures in recent rap history, making her sudden Wind Creek show a can’t-miss.

The concert will be a phone-free experience, a tactic more and more performers are experimenting with.

At Cardi B’s show, your phone will be secured and released at the end of the show.


Related:

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and can be found at windcreekeventcenter.com. Standing room only general admission tickets are listed for $74.50 and seats in the wing sections are $104.50, according to the website.

Latin Fusion Fest in Downtown Stroudsburg debuts Saturday, July 9

Latin Fusion Fest debuts in Downtown Stroudsburg on Saturday, July 9.

The first Latin Fusion Fest in downtown Stroudsburg will be held in Courthouse Square at 7th and Main Streets on Saturday, July 9 from 2:00 to 6:30 PM.

Latin Fusion Fest is a Free community festival

Presented by the Sherman Theater and the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, this free community festival celebrates the sights, sounds and flavors of Latin and Caribbean cultures and features live music all day with food, vendors and fun for all ages.

Entertainment throughout the day will be provided by Héctor Rosado and his 12-Piece Salsa Band, Gustavo Sensacion and his Bachata 9-Piece Band


Related:

An Evening with Keller Williams Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of his album “Laugh” at the Sherman Theater.


Michele Galvis’ Tribute to Selena, and El Chaviviri, DJ Queue, DJ Jolave, DJ Daddy and DJ Ruby, and Zumba Dance with Dora and Fernanda.

A Variety of Delicious Flavors at Latin Fusion Fest

A variety of food vendors will add their delicious flavors to Courthouse Square: Malvo’s Chill Spot, Boceto, Pina Colada PeruMex, Tandoor Palace, Atomic Hogs, Snooks Wings & Things, Savory Eats, Sharif Express and more.

Sherman Theater President and CEO Rich Berkowitz commented:

“We are excited to bring the Latin Fusion Fest to downtown Stroudsburg.

Prior to Covid, we had a Latin Quarter as part of Stroudfest and there was so much interest in that, we dedicated an entire event to the Latin and Caribbean cultures.

We appreciate the support of DJ Ruby and the sponsors and we are happy to be able to make it happen for everyone.”

Admission to the Latin Fusion Fest  is free to the public.  For more information, visit www.shermantheater.com or call 570-420-2808.

Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” Sat July 23 at Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” Sat July 23 at  Allentown Symphony Orchestra

Spend an evening livin’ it up at the Hotel California!

Join the Allentown Symphony and Pops Conductor Ronald Demkee as they salute one of the biggest bands in music: the Eagles.

Featuring all the hits – Hotel California

This concert will be full of chill West Coast vibes — a musical journey from rock and roll to country, folk, and back again.

A spirited blend of originality

Taking Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” to a level of recognition normally reserved for Gold and Platinum recording artists.


Related:

Latin Fusion Fest Downtown Stroudsburg – Saturday, July 9


By respectfully and accurately reproducing the Grammy award winning sounds of our generation’s Greatest American Songbook, this legendary Southern California group, has touched the hearts of fans all over the world,

The most successful and longest running show of it’s kind, Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles”, is the ONLY show to have ever received “Official Authorization” to perform the Eagles catalog of music.

So join us on a trip down a dark desert highway… Feel the cool wind in your hair … It’s time to check into …The Hotel California

Allentown Symphony Tickets and more info here.

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