Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Music performances highlight December holiday party
Inclement weather merely delayed what was a magical afternoon and evening of music and art at Darlington Arts Center in Garnet Valley Dec. 16. Originally scheduled for Dec. 9 and interrupted by the first snowfall of the season, the Art Gallery opening and student recitals attracted a large crowd. Colorful decorations helped to create a festive holiday mood that punctuated this free and open to the public gathering. The afternoon was further uplifted by the musical talents displayed by the Darlington students.
The afternoon began with an art gallery opening featuring the work of Philadelphia artist Lois Schlachter. Her painting will continue on display at Darlington through January.
Schlachter studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and received her BFA at The Philadelphia College of Art. She has exhibited extensively throughout the Northeast. Attendees had the opportunity to chat with the artist while enjoying wine and cheese at the reception.
A student music recital followed the gallery opening as Darlington students performed on guitar, violin, and piano to enthusiastic support from everyone gathered in the venue. “Darlington sets the stage to celebrate and participate in the arts,” said Darlington Arts Center Executive Director Eric Carter-Thompson. “The Center comes alive when family, friends and other members of the community share in these events and partake the wondrous talents of their children, our students, performing and demonstrating the value of the arts in our lives.”
Kicking the festivities into high gear, immediately following the recital, was a holiday jam. It featured the art center staff together with audience participation in a medley of holiday tunes with a variety of instruments. “We like everyone to participate with voice or instrument and keep the spirits up and just short of a cacophony,” said Eric Carter-Thompson. “This was our third annual holiday jam following the success of previous year events.”
With participants of all ages, this eclectic display of musical talents and community camaraderie proved to be the perfect time and place to celebrate the holiday season.
“Now we move on to our new winter-spring season of course and workshop offerings with a week between Christmas and New Year to relax and recharge,” said Carter-Thompson. He also related that Darlington Arts Center just published their Winter/Spring catalog.
Darlington Arts Center is also set to offer a new expanded early learning program for prekindergarten and kindergarten students with a second language infusion component to complement the four arts learning focus of the curriculum. “We are never stagnant. Our mission is to provide optimal learning experiences for our students infused with the belief that engagement with the four arts of music, arts, dance, drama serve as catalyst for creativity, confidence, and greater potential throughout life,” said Carter-Thompson.
Next on the Darlington performance stage is the Jan. 13 Coffee House concert featuring the lush vocals of Kat Lemon, a Philadelphia area favorite and icon of smooth jazz, pop, and rock. The November Coffee House Concert featured the blues and pop rock group Run Come See from Washington, D.C. and they played to a packed house. “Our Coffee House Concerts have become a popular hotspot of great entertainment in an intimate setting,” said CarterThompson.
Darlington Arts Center is a non-profit community arts center with classes, lessons and workshops in music, art, dance, and drama for all ages located at 977 Shavertown Road, Garnet Valley, PA, less than a mile east of Route 202, just south of Route 1, and 1¼ miles from the Delaware state line. For more information, please visit www. darlingtonarts.org or call 610-358-3632.