Symphony to replace acoustic shell, rigging

March 22, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Recent gifts will allow for the replacement of the acoustic shell and rigging system that is hung over the stage at Powers Auditorium during Youngstown Symphony Orchestra performances.

The Youngstown Symphony Society received the gifts from the Ruth Beecher Charitable Trust, William and Kathryn Pollock Foundation and the Youngstown Foundation.

The Symphony Society hopes to place the order for the shell and rigging this month, said Patricia Syak, president of the society. Plans call for installing it August when the theater is traditionally dark. The installation will take four to six weeks, which should be in time for the YSO’s opening concert on Sept. 12.

The sound enhancement project is actually a continuation of work began in 1968, when the society acquired the Warner Theater (now known as Powers) and began adapting if for symphonic performance as it become the YSO’s concert home. The acoustic shell was replaced at the time, but over the past 40 years has become ineffective, labor-intensive and unsafe. The rigging system dates to 1931, when the theater was constructed.

The cost of the project is $466,640. The symphony society has reserve capital funds, pledges and gifts totaling $357,000, and will work to raise the final $109,640.

Pantelas’ Cedars gigs end after 26 years

YOUNGSTOWN — A jazz tradition in Youngstown has ended. After 26 years, Teddy Pantelas’ weekly Tuesday night gigs at Cedars Lounge have come to an end.

While the club has ended the run, Pantelas will move on to regular scheduled performances at two other local venues. He’ll be at Mastropietro Winery, 14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center, Friday with shows at 7 and 10 p.m., accompanied by pianist Dan Murphy; and at Five Points Wine and Bar, 9065 Springfield Road, Poland, at 8 and 11 p.m. Saturday, accompanied by Cliff Barnes and Nathan Douds.

Vicki Lawrence coming to Westminster College

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Comedian Vicki Lawrence will come to Westminster College’s Orr Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. April 4.

The performance, titled “Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show,” is part of the college’s celebrity series.

A pre-show buffet dinner in the Witherspoon Rooms of McKelvey Campus Center is available. Tickets for the meal are $25 for a single, $48 for a couple and do not include the price of the show ticket. Dinner reservations will be taken through March 30.

Contact Connie McGinnis, assistant director of the Celebrity Series, at (724) 946-7354 (e-mail mcginncl@westminster.edu) for reservations to the show, dinner or both.

For more information, go to westminster.edu/Celebrity.

Dana ensembles plan free recitals

YOUNGSTOWN — Ensembles at Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music are planning two free recitals.

The Dana Guitar Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Bliss Recital Hall on the YSU campus. Francois Fowler will be the featured performer. The YSU Percussion Ensemble, directed by Glenn Schaft and Tetsuya Takeno, will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Butler-North building on Wick Avenue. The repertoire will include traditional Irish melodies by Turlough O’Carolan, and YSU students will perform a group improvisation.

Also featured will be a Group Improvisation featuring YSU Students.