Many performing arts organizations in Mercer County provide opportunities for local musicians and performers, and A Tempo this week looks at two - one relatively new, and one that's been serving the community for over five decades.
Violist Dennis Krasnokutsky last year launched Chamber Music Works, which hosts concerts featuring a diverse range of chamber ensembles. Last year’s season included a violin-piano duo performing music for Valentine’s Day, a holiday concert, and a program of vocal music ranging from Baroque to Gospel. This year’s season kicks off Sunday Oct. 11 with a nod to Hispanic Heritage month - a concert entitled Flamenco Fire featuring guitarist David Galvez and dancer Liliana Ruiz. A Tempo host Rachel Katz chats with Krasnokutsky about the concert and his overall plans for the organization.
Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre has been serving the region for more than five decades, including community theatre, student productions and a variety of other concerts and performances. In addition to its own productions, the theater is home to about 10 regional theater companies, and its Tomato Patch summer camp other other youth programs have launched many young artists’ careers - some of whom return in later years as cast members in various shows.
A new play opening next week, called Midnight at the New Dawn, is an example of that. The playwright and director is Dan Mauer, who studied at MCCC and also helped found Mauer Productions, one of Kelsey’s regular theatre companies. One of the actors is Liz Rzasa, who has worked in various roles at the college, including currently as assistant to the Dean of the Business, Technology and Professional Studies Division and has been a regular instructor at Tomato Patch. In an interview, they talk about the upcoming play and the role Kelsey has played both in their lives and the broader community.
(By way of full disclosure, WWFM’s license is held by the MCCC Foundation and its staff are employees of the college.)
