Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn, continues its Jazz on the Avenue concert series on Friday at 7 p.m. with The Music of Sinatra, Bennett, Darin & More featuring Pennsylvania native Erich Cawalla and his All-Star Quartet. Tickets are $25.
Erich Cawalla and his All-Star Quartet will perform at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education. (File photo)
Cawalla brings a distinctive sound to the stage, blending what he describes as “Old Vegas with Contemporary R&B” in a dynamic tribute to some of his greatest musical idols. The evening will celebrate the timeless music of legendary performers including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, and more, while giving Cawalla the opportunity to put his own soulful spin on these beloved classics.
Joining Cawalla for the performance are three accomplished musicians: Steve Rudolph on piano, Bennie Sims on bass, and Marko Marcinko on drums. Together, the quartet combines exceptional musicianship with Cawalla’s charismatic performance style to create a fresh and engaging take on some of the most enduring songs in American popular music.
Audiences can expect an evening filled with timeless favorites, soulful interpretations, and the unmistakable spirit of classic jazz and popular music. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Sinatra, Bennett, and Darin or simply enjoy great live music, The Music of Sinatra, Bennett, Darin & More offers an opportunity to experience these iconic songs in a new way.
The November performance is the second concert in Yocum Institute’s 2026-27 Jazz on the Avenue series, which brings a diverse lineup of jazz artists to Yocum’s Schumo Theater throughout the season. The series continues in December with A Swinging Holiday featuring the Hot Club of Reading, followed by performances in January, March, and April.
Tickets for all concerts are available for purchase online at www.yocuminstitute.org/jota or at the Yocum Institute front desk. Prices range from $25-$30, making the series an accessible way for audiences to experience outstanding live jazz close to home.
Free parking is available.
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Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks has announced that the 46th Annual Leo Camp Memorial Lecture will be held on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St., Reading.
The Afro Semitic Experience will perform on Nov. 18 at the WCR Center for the Arts in Reading. (Maurice Robertson)
This year’s lecture will be a concert featuring The Afro-Semitic Experience. The Leo Camp Memorial Lecture is free. Due to limited seating, registration is required. Register at www.ReadingJewishCommunity.org or call 610-921-0624.
Co-founded by African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd, and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan in 1998, The Afro-Semitic Experience is a band that combines an eclectic array of styles, sophisticated musicianship, good songwriting, deep grooves, and years of friendship with a simple message: Unity in the Community.
Their music has been heard around the United States, at festivals, in churches, synagogues, colleges, and wherever people come together to share their love and respect for community. Their performances are celebrations of community and culture that invariably get audiences up and dancing.
Their recording projects have garnered critical acclaim and made numerous best-of lists. Their newest work, “My Feet Began to Pray,” is a collection of original compositions inspired by the social and racial justice movements, along with a few classic songs from the back in the day.
After The Afro-Semitic Experience join the band for a coffee and dessert reception.
Free parking is available in the M & T Bank parking lot located at 50 N. Fifth St. and in the rear of the Fulton Bank located at 210 N. Fifth St. between Walnut and Elm streets. WCR Center for the Arts is assessable by elevator located in the rear of the WCR. Contact Jewish Federation at 610-921-0624 or info@jfreading.org to arrange to use the WCR elevator.
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Reading Symphony Orchestra League and The Highlands at Wyomissing will be offering an informative lecture on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Highlands, 2000 Cambridge Ave,, Wyomissing. This lecture, held in advance of the Nov. 21 RSO concert, will highlight background information and the presenter will be David Himes, education director of RSO. The event is free and held in the cultural center of the Highlands.
Education
Yocum Institute for Arts Education in West Lawn has announced the appointment of Alec Reinert as its new director of development. With a strong background in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement, Reinert brings a wealth of experience and a passion for expanding opportunities for young people through education and the arts.
Alec Reinert
A graduate of Schuylkill Valley High School and Kutztown University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in political science, Reinert has built a career spanning education, youth mentorship, and nonprofit leadership.
His professional experience includes serving as a probation officer, youth mentor, executive director, director of development, director of stewardship, and director of annual giving. Throughout his career, he has focused on strengthening organizations, building community relationships, and supporting initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alec to the Yocum Institute,” said Vicki Haller Graff, executive director of Yocum Institute. ” He brings a passion for our mission, a deep commitment to this community, and a thoughtful and detailed approach to his work.”
Reinert is passionate about creating opportunities for young people, particularly those who might not otherwise have access to enriching educational experiences. In his new role, he will help advance Yocum Institute’s fundraising and development efforts, cultivating relationships with donors and community partners to support the organization’s mission of enriching lives through the arts.
“I’m grateful and excited to be part of the Yocum Institute,” Reinert said. “I look forward to helping give our students and community the power to turn imagination into possibility.”
Beyond his professional work, Reinert is involved in the Schuylkill Valley School District and local youth sports, where he enjoys coaching and supporting young athletes. He has served on the boards of the Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance, Schuylkill Valley Education Foundation, and Schuykill Valley Youth Baseball, and volunteers with several local nonprofits and community events.
He and his wife, Megan, enjoy spending time with their two children, Jordis and Declan, and participating in their activities and the broader community.
For more information about Yocum Institute for Arts Education and its programs, visit www.yocuminstitute.org, call 610-376-1576 or visit 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn.
Art
Studio B Art Gallery, 39 E. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown, has announced the opening of an exhibit titled “Grasshoppers & the Sensei” on Friday from 5-7 p.m. featuring artwork from Boyertown High students and staff.
(Courtesy of Studio B)
The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run through Nov. 29. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon-4 p.m. and Friday from 5-7 p.m. Other days/times, by chance or appointment.
Bob Hakun, Studio B’s gallery director; Deb Zaharchuk, art activities instructor and owner of the upcoming Paint & Palette shop adjacent to Studio B; and Thomas Dareneau, Boyertown High School’s art department chair, collaborated in an effort to showcase the creativity, talents, and skills of the area’s emerging artists and the art teachers who have influenced and supported them in their artistic journeys.
“We’re excited to share the work of our young people,” Hakun said. “We look forward to introducing the work of the high school community of artists into the larger community of the Boyertown area artists and general population.”
“The students are so incredibly talented; we want to encourage them and allow our community to know them and appreciate what they offer,” Zaharachuk said.
“When we were presented with this opportunity, we wanted to do something different,” Dareneau said. “I had heard of a university doing a ‘Master and Grasshopper’ exhibition and thought it was a great idea to give students the experience of being juried into an exhibit as well as put pressure on the teachers to exhibit our own work.”
The Advanced Placement students will choose the work from their fellow students to be exhibited. The artwork may or may not be work that has been assigned and completed as part of their art classes.
“When we participate in other shows, students have little input on what is selected and what is hung,” Dareneau said. “With this exhibition, students are in complete control of selecting the work submitted. We are actively encouraging students to submit work that came from outside of their classes. We would like them to display work that came from their own inspiration.
“As much as the public is welcome to the exhibit, I see this show as a unique experience for students. In my very short-lived experience playing soccer, I fondly remember the practices where we had to play against our coaches. This opportunity showed us that our coaches were also players who just loved to play. Every once in a while, we got the better of them or at least made them sweat.
“And although this show is not a competition, it does put a little added pressure on both Grasshoppers and Senseis.”
A sensei is a Japanese honorific title that literally means one who comes before and is used to address a teacher, mentor, or professional expert.
“The mission of this show is to bring us all together to celebrate the community of the art department,” Dareneau said. “Since I have been teaching at the high school, both staff and students have donated hundreds of hours before and after school to build a strong and inclusive program. We celebrate the first-time art student, our students with special needs, our students who use our department as a refuge, and also our students who have gone off and continued to make art as adults–many professionally.”