Scott Tady: Ukraine benefit concert brings PSO members to Beaver; Rochester gets symphonic, too

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Seven members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will perform Dec. 10 at Park Presbyterian Church as part of a Benefit Concert for Ukraine.

The 5 p.m. concert features solo and chamber performances by the Grammy Award-nominated PSO's David McCarroll, Victoria Luperi, Carolyn Semes, Marta Krechkovsky, Sean Juhl, Regi Papa and Michael DeBruyn, along with Katia Manukyan, a soprano and Slavic languages teaching associate at The University of Pittsburgh, Eric Kochanowski, Park Presbyterian's director of music and Solomiya Ivakhiv, head of strings, University of Connecticut School of Music.

The concert will highlight music by Ukrainian composers.

Todd Allen, pastor of Park Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Michael Kochis of the St. Vladimir Ukrainian Church in Ambridge will offer readings and reflections.

“While this is not a worship service,” Allen said in the event's flier, “I hope we will remember that our charity shines the light of God’s love into places of pain and suffering."

After the concert comes a reception with savory appetizers and sweets donated by Beaver and Sewickley businesses.

To reserve seats and make a donation, visit parkpres.org, Park Presbyterian's Facebook page or dtcare.org/ukraine-benefit.

Proceeds go to DTCare, which has sent 30 air shipments of supplies, and more by ocean freighters, to support war-torn Ukraine's families, veterans and civilians.

Allen asked a few of the PSO's musical participants to reflect on the significance of the concert.

"This is very personal for me and my family," McCarroll, concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, said. "We know many Ukrainian musicians with family living in Ukraine and saw firsthand the influx of refugees, mostly women and children, pouring into Germany and other European countries when we were living in Berlin before moving to Pittsburgh. Even if I did not know a single Ukrainian person, this would be a cause I would full-heartedly support."

When hired in June 2022 by the PSO, McCarroll earned lofty praise from the symphony's maestro, Manfred Honeck.

“David is an exceptional leader, a brilliant technician, an accomplished chamber musician who plays with great musicality and a generous and character-filled tone," Honeck said. "He is respected throughout our industry as a world-class violinist who makes a deep impact wherever he plays."

Witness that impact in Beaver.

Symphonic sounds in Rochester

The Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble holds its annual free holiday concert "Sounds of the Season" at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Rochester High School auditorium.

The Ensemble will perform a mix of sacred and secular favorites. Selections will include pieces such as "Celtic Carol," "Mary's Boy Child" and "Patapan;" movie scores such as "Overture to Miracle On 34th Street" and selections from "Home Alone;" and traditional favorites like "The Christmas Song," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "A Hanukkah Festival" and "Sleigh Ride".

Guests can partake in 50-50 raffles and what has now become a holiday tradition at the concert − the largest Christmas cookie table in Beaver County − sponsored by the ensemble's musicians and the Little Free Pantry in Aliquippa. Last year's table displayed 300 dozen cookies and organizers predict this year's will be even bigger.

Community bakers interested in donating cookies for the event should contact Denise Drabeck at ddrabeck@comcast.net or message the Little Free Pantry Aliquippa HOP Lutheran or Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble Facebook pages.

Concert admission is free, but non-perishable or cash donations to benefit Little Free Pantry Aliquippa are encouraged.

Ours to sing at Jergel's

KDKA-TV meteorologist Mary Ours, a Beaver Falls native, will perform as an opening act for Pittsburgh pop-country singer Justin Fabus on Dec. 8 at Jergel's Rhythm Grill.

A 2008 graduate of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, Ours will be accompanied on stage by Beaver County guitar ace Bobby Thompson.

Pittsburgh rockers Borstal Boys will be part of the 8 p.m. all-ages show, too. Tickets are $10-$20 at eventbrite.com.

More: Fire and Ice brings skating, sleigh rides, fire dancing & more outdoor fun in New Brighton

New on WQED-TV

WQED-TV debuts a new show this weekend, "Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme: Memories of My Mom and Dad."

Produced by TJL Productions in Pittsburgh, the documentary looks at the acclaimed half-century career of the married couple that brought youthful pop hits in the 1950s and 1960s ("Go Away Little Girl," "Blame It On The Bossa Nova") followed by Grammy- and Emmy-winning triumphs focusing on the Great American Songbook. Their musician son David Lawrence ("High School Musical") hosts, joined by guest Carol Burnett.

Premiering 8 p.m. Dec. 2, WQED will schedule repeat airings.

Several times this upcoming week, WQED also will air a 2007 European concert by art-rock legends Genesis. Count on pledge breaks.

Killer Mike slays with new beers

Next week, just in time for your holiday shopping needs, I present a list of my favorite 2023 albums.

Still not sure if it'll be a Top-10, Top-12, Top-20 list or an even more random number.

One of the acts hovering around No. 15 is Killer Mike, whose June release "Michael" earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album.

Half of the hip-hop duo Run The Jewels, Killer Mike's excellently paced, pulverizing but perfectly clear voice is one of rap's best.

He'd also make my 2023 list of best new beers, as his Run The Jewels collab with Midnight Brewing of Atlanta produced three noteworthy new brews, Drafty Kilt and Bourbon Barrel Drafty Kilt, two roasty and potent Scotch ales, and RTJX, a Southern India Pale Ale flavored with corn grits and adding a bouquet of tropical fruit, including candied pineapple.

The acclaimed Run The Jewels took one of its first big steps in brewing in 2021, collaborating with Brew Gentleman of Braddock on Blockbuster Night Pt. 1, a beer that debuted in 2021 at Barrel and Flow fest, the USA Today-winning Best Beer Festival in America, founded by Day Bracey of Beaver. That beer's ingredients included terpenes; the aromatic compound found in cannabis.

If you like bold, flavorful beers that finish smooth, grab a Run The Jewels beer.

Ashley delighted

Spoiler alert: You'll see the name "Ashley McBryde" in my top albums list.

McBryde delivered an excellent live performance, too, this past Thursday at Stage AE.

The Arkansas country singer was classy, cool and very much connected with her audience, making sure to toss guitar picks to kids, and utilizing her newly learned sign language skills to communicate with a hearing-impaired audience member, as McBryde first did at a September show in a video that went viral.

McBryde sung her real-deal country in a solid and sincere voice, telling relatable stories of perseverance and acceptance. She's maybe the least-pandering country star out there, with no hoaky speeches or dumbed-down choruses. When this 40-year-old artist sings about trucks, it's from the perspective of someone who lived out of one while on her first tour, slowly reaching the levels of RV and tour bus with the same musicians on stage with her now.

Together, they rocked out and twanged enjoyably, on songs like "Cool Little Bars" celebrating true hole-in-the-wall saloons, and "Single at The Same Time" and "Tired of Being Happy," presenting fresh takes on complicated romantic relationships with unwavering honesty and an edginess lacking from mainstream country.

If she's not there already, put McBryde on your playlist.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Symphonic sounds in Beaver & Rochester, including PSO members