Presentations about music from the past, an educational success story and thoughts about the Marcellus Shale boom highlight the two upcoming Schemel Forum Collaborative Programs: one with Pages&Places and the other with The University of Scranton’s Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

According to Sondra Myers, director of the Schemel Forum, by staging these programs, free of charge, at the local Pages&Places@Anthology in downtown Scranton and the Weinberg Memorial Library on campus, The University of Scranton is acting on its commitment to expand opportunities for cultural experiences for our community.

Titled “Light in August,” the first three programs, which will take place at Pages&Places@Anthology, are designed to shed light on diverse subjects in a friendly informal setting: Alley Café, 515 Center Street in Scranton (formerly Anthology). Preceded by a happy hour from 6 to 7 p.m., the presentations will run from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by refreshments and guided conversation until closing.

On Thursday, Aug. 11, Bill Tersteeg, professor emeritus at Keystone College and past president of the South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition, and Gretchen Ludders, a member of the coalition, will present “Marcellus Shale: Two Citizens Speak Out."

Mark Woodyatt, one of the region’s most gifted and versatile violinists, will offer “What Makes Classical Music Classical: Themes and Variations” on Thursday, Aug. 18.

On Thursday, Aug. 25, learn the “Profile of a School that Works” from Jennifer Niles, founding principal of the E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., one of the most successful charter schools in the country.

In collaboration with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, the Schemel Forum will present “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, 1910 – 1965,” two free, public programs slated for the fall related to an exhibition in the Heritage Room, on the fifth floor of the library.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m., an opening reception will feature the music of some of the songwriters of the era, performed by The Swing Set. Members of The Swing Set are vocalist Ellen Sallusti, Christian Nourijanian on piano, Dustin Kaufman on drums and Jeff Koch on bass.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., Ricky Ritzel, raconteur and cabaret artist, will blend story and song in his presentation, “The Genre and its Place in the History of American Music.”

“Our collaborative programs are value added for the Schemel Forum,” said Myers. “These programs are free and open to the public, adding to our ‘repertoire’ and to our audience.”

To register, contact Kym Fetsko, events coordinator, at (570) 941-7816 or fetskok2@scranton.edu. For more information on Schemel Forum programs and memberships, contact Sondra Myers at (570) 941-4089 or myerss2@scranton.edu.

The Schemel Forum is a program of participatory learning experiences aimed at cultivating the intellect and the imagination through study and discussion of classical texts and current policies, from the arts, history and philosophy to technology and theology. Founded in 2006 through generous gifts to the Rev. George Schemel, S.J., Fund, the forum has grown quickly from a handful of informal lectures to a comprehensive enrichment program of study, dialogue, performances and special events. Session fees vary by program.