The Erie Philharmonic will bring “a celebration of the sounds of America” to Corry City Park on Thursday, as the featured act in this week’s “Thursday in the Park” series, in a program that will also pause to remember two people who spent decades building up the arts in Corry.
The Corry Arts Council will honor the memories of Margaret Zaphiris and Ron Rairie during the evening, recognizing their long-standing support of music and the arts in the community. Zaphiris passed away in January, and Rairie passed away in March. Family members of both will speak at 7 p.m., ahead of the Philharmonic’s performance.
The evening’s schedule is as follows:
• 6-7 p.m. — Three Way Street
• 7-7:15 p.m. — Remarks from the families of Margaret Zaphiris and Ron Rairie
• 7:15-7:30 p.m. — Erie Philharmonic warms up
• 7:30 p.m. — Erie Philharmonic program begins
Three Way Street, a multi-generational jazz group with an emphasis on young talent, will open the evening with a full hour of jazz standards and contemporary works. The group features premium musicianship, smooth rhythms and tight jazz sensibilities, and includes recent Corry graduate Joseph Johnston on alto sax.
The Erie Philharmonic will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Daniel Meyer for an evening billed as “Patriotic Pops,” featuring soaring music and familiar favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.
Remembering Ron Rairie
Rairie was raised and educated in DuBois and graduated from DuBois High School in 1949. He went on to Penn State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1954. He moved to Corry to teach music for the Corry Area School District and, in 1955, was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving until 1956. He returned to Corry as a music teacher and spent the majority of his career as the high school band director. Rairie later earned a master’s degree in music and retired in 1993. On April 6, 2019, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Music Educators Hall of Fame.
Remembering Margaret Zaphiris
Zaphiris devoted more than 40 years to music and service at St. Thomas Church in Corry, where she served as adult choir director, organist and soloist, and for several years led the children’s choir. A gifted, self-taught pianist and organist, she played and sang at countless local weddings and funerals and served as a guest organist at several regional churches. Deeply committed to the arts, she served for many years as secretary of the Corry Area Fine Arts Council and was instrumental in bringing the Missoula Children’s Theatre to Corry for its summer youth program. She also played saxophone in the Corry Summer Band, sang in musical productions in the Erie area, gave voice lessons to numerous local students, and continued to study music through weekly voice and violin lessons and saxophone practice.
The July 9 concert is free and open to all.