Hannah Beaudry, Director of Institutional Partnerships at theNEPA Philharmonic, speaking about the orchestra's inauguralBattle of the Bands taking place on Saturday, January 31, 2026,at 7:00 pm at Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino's Keystone GrandBallroom in Wilkes-Barre. The event is a live-judged music competitionshowcasing 8 local bands of different genres. There will cash prizes,and the winner of the competition will perform with the NEPAPhilharmonic in the 2026-27 season.For tickets and information: www.nepaphil.org/570-270-4444

Internationally-known Artist Helen Zughaib and Heather Sincavage, Director of the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University and Exhibition Curator, speaking about, "Migrations: Helen Zughaib," running now through February 27, 2026. There will be an Art in Context Lecture on Tuesday, January 27th at noon titled, "When Home Is No Longer Yours" and many more events. The artist will return for two programs on Thursday, February 26th. For more www.wilkes.edu/sordoni The Sordoni Gallery is located at 141 S. Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.The interview was first broadcast on October 27, 2025.

Brink Powell & David Hunisch, Diva Theater board members and directors in thenext productions there. They spoke with us about the 12th Annual One Act PlayFestival presented by Diva Theater, featuring 7 original works.The performances run January 29, 30, & 31 at 7:30 pm with a Sunday matineeat 2:00 on February 1, 2026, at The Olde Brick Theatre, 126 W. Market Streetin Scranton. Reservations are strongly encouraged: 570-209-7766

Phil Haynes, drummer, composer, & band leader, speaking about his recent double album titled, "Liberty Now!" with the ensemble Free Country. Haynes settled in central Pennsylvania in 2003, and he has had strong ties to Bucknell University in Lewisburg. The recording was released on Corner Store Jazz. For more information: www.philhaynes.com/www.cornerstorejazz.com/

Jack Swersie, co-founder & steering committee member of the Gallery at 530 Main in Stroudsburg, and artist Liz Tilley, committee member & Corporate Sponsorship Representative at WVIA, speaking about the Gallery's First Anniversary exhibition running to February 14, 2026 and the shows they will host through the rest of the year. For more information: www.shermantheater.com/Tilley also spoke about The Stars & Stitches Forever Quilt Challenge hosted by the Monroe County Historical Association in Stroudsburg. Quilts are due by February 27th.For more information: www.monroehistorical.org/

Bob Eckstein, award-winning illustrator, writer and cartoonist, speaking about his recent book, "Inspired by Cats: Writers and Their Mewes(es), with NavaAtlas and issued by Countryman Press, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company.For information: www.BobEckstein.com/His Substack newsletter is titled, The Bob

Marjorie Maddox & Jerry Wemple, co-editors of the collection,Keystone Poetry: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania,issued by Penn State University Press. There will bereadings by poets from the volume presented virtually byword hive: a space for poets--January 17, 2026 from 7:00to 8:30; February 21st & March 21st. www.wordhive.org/There will be other readings at sites throughout the stateincluding on April 9th in Bloomsburg.www.psupress.org/www.marjoriemaddox.com/www.jwemple.com/

Dr. Robert Wolensky, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, co-founder andlongtime coordinator of Anthracite Mining Heritage Monthin the region, speaking about the history of the commemorationand the events planned for January 2026. For moreinformation: www.anthracitemuseum.org/WVIA takes part each year with a series of web pagesfeaturing anthracite-related ArtScene interviews,Short Takes videos, the WVIA Knox Mine Disasterdocumentary, stories from WVIA News and more:www.wvia.org — search on "AnthraciteMining Heritage"

John Vaida, violin, and Amy Iwazumi, viola, co-founders ofthe Northeastern PA Chamber Music Society, speaking aboutthe next pair of concerts titled, "Symphonic Overtones," to bepresented Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm at HayfieldHouse at Penn State Wilkes-Barre in Dallas. Also Saturday,January 17 at 3:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church ofBloomsburg. The program will feature an arrangement forstrings of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, K.364, and BrahmsSextet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op 18.Tickets are available online only.wwwnepacms.org/

Noelle Casella Grand, Assistant Principal Cellist with the NEPA Philharmonic,speaking about her life in music and the upcoming chamber concert titled,"Cello Starry Night," presented by the Philharmonic at 7 pm on Friday, January 16, 2026at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. The featured guest pianist will be Sebastian Grand, and the program will include pieces by Bach, Beethoven,Debussy and more. www.nepaphil.org/ 570-270-4444