It’s been an exciting time for Kennett Symphony Music Director Michael Hall. After two years of not being able to perform because of COVID, the orchestra got back on stage in January.
“It was great,” he said. “The feelings were positive, and the audience was receptive. People said it was great to have live music again.”
Now Hall and 25-30 of his orchestra members are gearing up for what can be termed “edutainment.” A performance that will entertain and educate at the same time, billed as a ‘Reimagined Symphony.’
The less formal and short one-hour-long concert will feature Pergolesi’s Olimpiade, and Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite with some educational commentary by Hall.
The reimagined concerts are “a different type of concert,” he said. “It’s a concert experience that we think is a little out of the norm.”
Hall said it would be more informal and relaxed. It’s a shorter concert than normal, only an hour-long, snacks and beverages are available, and the audience sits around the orchestra, similar to theater in the round. In this case, music in the round. And it will be in the ballroom at the Mendenhall Inn instead of a more typical venue.
“Everything is different. We want to make it a concert where people who may not know if they want to go to a concert or are not sure what to expect, that it’s something very easy to take,” he said.
The educational aspect of the concert is that Hall breaks down the masterwork and discusses it with the audience.
“I talk about the piece, talk about what to expect when you hear it. We’ll play musical examples. So, for an audience member who doesn’t know anything about the piece, I will point them in certain directions [so they’ll know why a certain part is so interesting.] … That opens up their ears a little bit … We’re opening up the door, letting them in to see how interesting and fascinating these pieces of music are.”
As Hall said in a previous interview, the reimagined concerts help people know how the music is put together and, he hopes, get them to understand it and love it.
The cost for the 1 p.m. Sunday, March 19 concert is $50, but Hall said that also includes your first drink. He jokingly referred to the event as “Stravinsky and Stoli.”
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
Information regarding the gas line installation on Heyburn Road has been updated. Instead of just alternating lane closures while the work is being done, now the whole street will be faced with periodic closing. This could last for another week, according to a release from the township.
Kennett Township residents have a choice in which coat of arms they'd like to see for the township.
Kennett Township residents can vote on a shield and coat of arms for the township between now and March 15.
Send an email to Kennett.twp@kennett.pa.us to vote for one of four options, which can be found on the township website and Facebook page and will be discussed at their March 16 meeting.
The township is asking residents to vote on two things: the shield design, and the two colors used in the shield.
“We have been given, free of charge, advice on a heraldic design by the president of the American Heraldry Society and the Windsor Herald at the Royal College of Arms in London,” according to a press release. “The latter is responsible for American heraldry when requested.”
Supervisor Geoff Gamble first raised the idea at the Jan. 19, supervisors’ meeting, saying at the time, “A new symbol would represent a new change for Kennett Township.”
Gamble said most counties have seals or coats of arms.
“The current logo of Kennett Township is more in the nature of a letterhead than a proper symbol,” according to Gamble. “I suggest that it is time for the adoption of coat of arms and seal for the township to mark our history, our progress, and our future.”
Sycamores are prominent in each of the four designs.
“This tree is found all over the township, and there is a large sycamore in front of the township building,” according to the press release. “In colonial times these trees were planted along streams and creeks as a sign of drinkable water. Their descendants are still to be seen today along the Red Clay.”
Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies.
She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field.
But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard.
Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.
There truly is an endless source of inspiration to be found in the gorgeous vistas of the Brandywine Valley. Beloved by artists for centuries for the soft rolling hills, hidden ponds, and enticing trails, the area continues to create beauty, both in person and reflected via art. Nowhere can that be found more this month than at the new exhibit at Gallery 222 in Malvern. The Rhoda Kahler & Bill Sweeney Show, which opens March 9th and runs through April 2nd, showcases the heritage of the Brandywine Tradition and how it continues to evolve.
Bill Sweeney is a popular name among local art lovers, and you don’t have to look far to find the inspiration for many of his works. “Almost all my paintings in the show are of Ring Farm in Chadds Ford,” Sweeney says. “These are among my favorites of the several dozen works I have painted there in recent years.” Ring Farm has been painted hundreds, if not thousands of times, by artists over the years, and Sweeney continues that legacy. “I find the sights, the smells, and the sounds of the farm very attractive. I enjoy the quiet, interrupted only by the sounds of birds or the winds through the high grasses or the occasional farm cat demanding a few seconds of attention.”
A drive down Ring Road is always a sight to behold—as long as there hasn’t been any heavy rain for a few days! But clear the low bridge and the sights unfold at every turn. As Sweeney eloquently puts it, “The shapes and values of the farm are just so interesting. The uncut and just-cut grasses, the hay bales, the wildflowers, or the stones in the wall in need of repair are disorganized, but there is an order within the randomness.” Sweeney notes that he sounds philosophical when talking about his inspiration. “The physicists call that chaos. That fascinates me.”
Andrea Strang, Exhibit Preparation
While Sweeney’s pastel landscapes are natural extensions of the classic Brandywine Tradition of art, Kahler finds inspiration in the same natural world but with very different results. Kahler is a ceramic sculptor and tile artist. In this show her pieces include stoneware and porcelain mounted on wood panels, then glazed in a painterly way. When asked about her inspiration, she notes, “Nature and the real world are always an inspiration for me. It could be either hiking on the trail, or walking in the city. There will always be a texture, or found object lying in front of me that will inspire me.”
Kahler’s approach to her work requires that inspired moment. “I create with a guttural instinct. I keep working in a series until I’ve ‘said’ what I needed to say, or expressed what I needed to feel.” Kahler has been sharing her process of inspiration and creation with fans and collectors beyond exhibitions using social media. For her favorite piece included in the show, “Juicy,” a large two-foot-square piece of porcelain-covered tile, she documented her step-by-step creation on Instagram @rhodakahlerstudio. “It was nice to share my process on social media and show both the physical and creative work that goes into each piece.” The work definitely paid off, as the vivid piece reminds viewers of both colorful sunsets and, as Kahler notes, something a bit more earthbound: “It has the delicious feeling of candy or, more specifically, sugary gum drops. You must see it in person to experience its sweet contemporary taste.”
Kahler and Sweeney both have collectors and appreciative audiences which go far and wide, but are excited to bring these pieces to local art lovers. As Kahler puts it, “There are so many wonderful artists [in Chester County] and its such a supportive group of both artists and collectors. We all tend to know each other and support each, either other on social media or attending shows or exhibitions, and I’m very grateful to be a part of this culture in Chester County.”
Juicy by Rhoda Kahler
“We travel the world to see great art,” Kahler says. “The arts tell the stories and create culture and give memories to those who visit. Whether you are traveling to a remote village or city, anywhere in the world, look to the artists as the history tellers.” In a region with such a celebrated and rich history, the artists have certainly taken up this mantle. “The artists of Chester County tell its story and its history. Great artists in the past are celebrated. We must remember to support our local arts and preserve our culture.”
Sweeney notes a specific piece in the show as his favorite, which ties in to Kahler’s statement of local support. “Clearing the Pond” is a view toward the farmhouse from the far side of the pond on Ring Farm, the early sunlight breaking to show the colors of wetland and freshly cleared high grasses. “Perhaps the message I would like visitors to consider is how much beauty there is in the very simple yet ever-changing shapes and colors of nature as seen on a farm.”
Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. A public Artist Reception for this show will be held on Thursday, March 10th, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.
Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.
Police said Brandon Vinson, 32, of Bensalem, was arrested for DUI on Jan. 9. Police didn’t release any other details other than the arrest was made at 2:08 a.m. on Route 1 at N. Walnut Road.
Kennett Square Police Department
Police said an arrest warrant for Andrew P. Booth, 56, of Mebane, N.C., was issued after he violated a protection from abuse order by contacting the victim via phone five different times within several minutes and has been an ongoing issue for approximately two years. The incident occurred on Feb. 28, at approximately 3:33 p.m., in the 200 block of West Cypress Street. Charges of criminal contempt of court were filed on March 1.
Rasheed Smith, 23, of New Castle, was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and other related charges after the vehicle he was the passenger in was stopped for the odor of marijuana and failing to maintain its lane of travel, a police report said. The incident occurred on Feb. 24, at approximately 9:01 p.m., in the 200 block of Center Street. Police said the vehicle operator, Justin Williams, gave officers consent to search the vehicle, which yielded a burnt marijuana cigarette in the driver’s side door and two firearms, one of which was reported as stolen by the Philadelphia Police Department. The firearms were not registered to either occupant of the vehicle. Once in custody, officers also located six bank cards in the names of other individuals in Smith’s wallet and marijuana “Raw” rolling papers inside of his jacket pocket. Rasheed Smith was transported to Central Booking at Chester County. Also arrested and charged was Justin Williams, 24, of Drexel Hill, police said.
Police said Abel Gabriel, 25, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses after the vehicle he was operating was stopped for failing to maintain its lane of travel and failing to come to a complete stop at two posted stop signs. The incident occurred on Feb. 26, at approximately 9:36 p.m., in the 300 block of West Mulberry Street. After officers approached Gabriel, they observed indicators suggesting intoxication, and field sobriety tests showed impairment, they said. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of his breath, resulting in a blood alcohol level of 0.179 percent. Gabriel was processed and later released at his residence pending the issuance of a summons.
Theo Ramirez-Tomas, 35, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with DUI and related charges after an officer saw that Ramirez-Tomas was stopped in the roadway, completely obstructing both lanes of travel. The incident occurred on Feb. 26, at approximately 2 a.m. in the 200 block of Ridge Avenue. Ramirez-Tomas was asleep in the vehicle, and officers said they detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from inside the vehicle and his person. Standardized field sobriety tests indicated impairment, the report said, and a chemical test of his breath showed a blood alcohol level of 0.195 percent.
