Erika Funke
Morning host of Classical Music, Art Scene, Early Birds, and other WVIA programs, Erika Funke is a Senior Producer and Classical Music Host at WVIA Radio.
“ArtScene”, her award-winning daily arts program, features interviews with creative individuals from the region, the United States and abroad. She has produced many programs about the history of northeastern Pennsylvania and its residents. Her radio play “Who Pretender Is, Or Who Is King” centers on the lives of the residents of Laurel Run, a borough outside Wilkes-Barre, plagued by a chronic mine fire. The piece was recently produced by The Northeast Theatre and broadcast on WVIA Radio.
Erika also has television documentaries to her credit. She wrote and narrated a documentary on the Knox Mine Disaster that happened in the Wyoming Valley in 1959. And an Emmy-nominated documentary on Mozart that looks at the composer and his music in the context of the cities that were important in his life.
She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of University of Chicago and received a master’s degree in Humanities (Interrelationships in the Arts) from Penn State University. She served on the PA Humanities Council for two terms and often speaks in the community about the arts and our lives.
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Mark Riccetti, Jr, Executive Director of the Luzerne County Historical Society, and Board Member Jenn Ochman, speaking about a special two-part program on Thursday, February 27, 2025, to mark Black History Month. There will be a ceremony in the City Cemetery of Wilkes-Barre at the gravesites of local USCT members. At 7:00 that evening, Tim Hodge of the Confederation of Union Generals will portray Captain Robert Smalls, an enslaved African-American who became a hero for the Union during the Civil War. The Soulful Springs Gospel Choir will perform, and there will be art works by C. Edgar Patience on display. The event will be held at The Grand Hall on River Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.Admission is free. www.luzernehistory.org/ -
Steven Sametz, award-winning composer, conductor, Ronald J. Ulrich Professor at Lehigh University, & artisticdirector of The Princeton Singers, speaking about a concertprogram titled, "When Morning Comes" on Sunday, February16, 2025, at 4:00 pm in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Centeron the Lehigh campus in Bethlehem. There will be apre-concert talk at 3:00. www.zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/or www.stevensametz.com/. The program will also be presentedon February 15th at 6:00 pm at Trinity Church Princeton.
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Gabe Hakvaag, Director, and Actors Nikki York & Sarah Elswick, speaking about "Miss Holmes Returns" by Christopher M. Walsh, to be presented by Hamilton-Gibson Productions February 14, 15, 21 & 22 at 7:30 pm & February 23, 2025, at 2:30 pm, at the Warehouse Theatre, 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro. There will be an opening reception following the performance on February 14th. www.hamiltongibson.org 570-724-2079
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Members of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus speaking about their organization and singing here at the WVIA Benco studio: Marian Holehan, tenor; Jason Kuzmak, lead; Tom Roberts, bass & Lou Volpetti, baritone. They have activities year-round--their main concert is on June 29, 2025, at the Kirby Center for Creative Arts on the campus of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston; also their December Holiday Concert; and their February Singing Valentines. New members are welcome. For more information: https://www.singwb.com/ or 570- 285-4810
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Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking about a concert titled, "Marvels of Majesty," on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm, at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street in Williamsport. Featured works: Piano Concerto in G by Ravel & Symphony No. 7 by Bruckner. For information: https://www.williamsportsymphony.org/ or https://www.CACLive.com/
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Mark Biedlingmaier, art collector & graduate of the University of Scranton, Darlene Miller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery at the University, and Carol Maculloch, Director of Planned Giving, speaking about the second of a two-part exhibition series: "Hudson River & Delaware Valley: Selections from the Mark Biedlingmaier Collection," running from February 3 through March 14, 2025. There will be a Collectors' Lecture on February 7th at 5:00 in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall, 243 Jefferson Avenue. That will be followed by a Gallery Reception at 6:00 on the Fourth Floor of Hyland Hall, 301 Jefferson Avenue. https://www.scranton.edu/
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Paul Salerni. award-winning composer & NEH Distinguished Chair in the Humanities at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, speaking about the Inaugural Salerni Bi-annual Art Song Recital presented by the LU Music Department on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 3:00 in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center on the Lehigh campus. Also at Lehigh on March 27th, there will be a screening of a new, award-winning documentary film titled, "Earl" centering on the life and work of distinguished 20th century composer Earl Kim. The event will be held in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh at 7:00 pm, and admission is free. https://www.zoellnerartscenter.org/ https://www.paulsalerni.com/ https://www.earlkimcomposer.com/
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Jacqueline Engel, Executive Director of the Walk In Art Center in Schuylkill Haven, PA, giving an overview of the organization's history and activities from an interview in November 2023. The tradition of Souper Bowl Friday continues on February 7, 2025, with a lunch option between 11:30 am & 1:30 pm; and a dinner option from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. There will be an opening reception for the exhibit, "A Walk on Water: Watercolors of Donna Berk Barlup" on Feb 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Center's Main Gallery. https://www.walkinartgallery.org/Haley O'Brien, Multimedia Reporter & Host with WVIA News, with a story on Groundhog's Day in Pine Grove in Schuylkill County. https://www.wvia.org/news
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Derek Jolley, Musician, Medical & Climate Researcher, native of NEPA, continuing his audio journal series on his journey around the world. This time from the South Island of New Zealand, where he is a Glacier Kayaking Guide & Instructor. He has completed a new album titled, "From the Flipside" by cuddle-drug set to be released 2/15/25. https://www.cuddledrug.com/ On Instagram@cuddledrug and https://www.derekjolley.com/
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J. Michael Lennon, Emeritus Professor of English at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre and authorized biographer of Norman Mailer: "Norman Mailer: A Double Life" issued by Simon & Schuster, speaking about the recently released work by Mailer titled, "Lipton's: Mailer's Marijuana Journal: 1954-55" co-edited with G.R. Lucas and Susan Mailer. Also about a recent documentary, "How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer" by Jeff Zimbalist and released by Zeitgeist Films. For more information: https://www.jmichaellennon.com/ https://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/
