Concerts, Exhibits and More Scheduled
This Fall at Cross Keys Village

CROSS KEYS/NEW OXFORD, PA – Fans of Maria von Trapp, Frank Sinatra, Christmas favorites, organ music, gospel melodies and all kinds of art will find offerings of interest this fall at Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community.

Nicarry Meetinghouse on the Cross Keys campus hosts the musical attractions, while exhibit areas in two buildings showcase area artists. The events are free and open to the public.

The first fall event in the Fine Arts Concert Series will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, when Bonnie Bachman presents her Maria von Trapp “living lecture” in vintage costume, story and song. Bachman has portrayed a variety of “Faithful Heroines” over the past 15 years, performing in 25 states, paying particular attention to the spiritual side of her subjects.

Her performance, as with all in the Fine Arts Concert Series, will be held in Nicarry Meetinghouse, beginning at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, October 21, Frank Curreri of Baltimore will present his “Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” a performance postponed from last year when Curreri was in an automobile accident days before he was scheduled to appear at Cross Keys. Curreri has performed his Sinatra tribute – focusing on music from the period 1957-77 – throughout the mid-Atlantic, and his rescheduled appearance is highly anticipated.

The third Fine Arts Series event of the fall brings vocalist Beatrice Gilbert back to campus on Nov. 18. She previously performed in 2005 with the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra and will have the spotlight alone for this encore.

Finally, Harrisburg’s The Carolers return for a concert of Christmas favorites on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Two concerts are scheduled for this fall in the Jardine Organ Series, which celebrates a rare, 137-year-old instrument that has been housed on both coasts of the United States – it once belonged to the University of Washington – and now resides in Nicarry Meetinghouse.

These events take place at 2 p.m. on Sundays, Sept. 24, and Dec. 17. Featured artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Performances of religious music take place regularly at Cross Keys, and of particular note during the fall is the Saturday, Oct. 7, concert by the Selinsgrove-based group, Gospel Bond. The title song of the group’s newest CD, “God’s Forever Family,” as well as two other selections, were written by Cross Keys Village staff member Fawn Jacobs.

Art exhibits change monthly in the display areas on the second floor of the Main Building and in the Harmony Ridge Community Center. Each area has a display case and an exhibit area for wall art. The schedule for fall is as follows:

September – China painting and woodcarving by Emily Nendza & Husband in both display cases; watercolor paintings by Sally Wooldridge in the Main Building, and oils, acrylics and watercolors by Maryann Schwartz in Harmony Ridge.

October – Snowmen and Santas by Carol Ann Weaver in the display cases; oil paintings by Cora Shifflett in both gallery wall art areas.

November – Dickens figurines collected by Jim Schuman in the display cases; Carroll County Art Guild exhibit on both gallery wall art areas.

December – “Christmas Village Exhibit” by Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community volunteers in the display cases; Christmas decorations in the Main Building gallery area, and artworks by William Fosnaught in the Harmony Ridge Community Center gallery.

The gallery areas are open during normal business and visiting times.

Most fine arts activities at Cross Keys are scheduled and sponsored by the Brethren Home Auxiliary, the Volunteer Services office and volunteer committees.

Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community is located at the intersection of U.S. 30 and PA 94 (Cross Keys), less than two miles east of New Oxford’s town circle.

Nicarry Meetinghouse and the Harmony Ridge Community Center are best accessed via the Village Drive entrances from U.S. 30 (at the western edge of campus) and PA 94 (at the southern edge, between PNC Bank and WellSpan Cross Keys Internal Medicine). The Main Building gallery is best accessed via the Main Entrance, which is the second entrance south of the routes 30/94 intersection on PA 94. Free parking is available.

For more information, call 717-624-5203 or 624-5416.

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