Chestnut Hill Community Association Prepares for Annual Summer Concert Series

Starting tonight, for seven consecutive Wednesdays, will play host to the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s 63rd annual Summer Concert Series.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. with a performance from Harrisburg-born singer-songwriter, Jeffrey Gaines and concluding the last Wednesday of July with an appearance from the West Philadelphia Orchestra, the concerts should feature quite the diverse lineup of musicians.

CHCA member and concert organizer, Janine Dwyer credits her predecessor for introducing an eclectic mix of performers to the staple Chestnut Hill event.

“[Tia Burke] took over the event for the four years prior to me,” she said.  “Before that, Fred Williams was the sole organizer for 30 years.”

Dwyer said that in Williams’ day the concerts were primarily of the Big Band variety.  When Burke took the reins, more contemporary acts started filling out the lineup card.

“We’re following her lead as far as the diverse lineups we’ve had,” said Dwyer.  “But we’re also including the Quakertown Band, a nod to the previous era and to Fred Williams.”

Dwyer said that, for an event that seems to magically fall together once the crowds start filing in and the first band takes the stage, there’s actually a great deal of work taking place behind the scenes.

“From January up until the first show, we’re constantly at work on this,” she said.  “The CHCS, all the volunteers – it’s a lot of work to do, but it’s also a lot of pleasure."

Saying the shows draw an average audience of 500 people, and occasionally 1,000 or more, Dwyer credits the beautiful park grounds for a lot of the event’s appeal.

“It’s such a great venue,” she said.  “Just a wonderful amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre. The ground forms four big seats and there’s a moat in the front with the stage raised up above it.  People can come and sit out there, look up at the clouds and the stars, and just listen to some fantastic music.”

As for the selection of that fantastic music, Dwyer passes all the credit to her co-chair, Neil Scheinin.

“Neil is just a music buff,” said Dwyer.  “He spends all winter going to concerts and picks the bands through that.  He also looks at a lot of stuff online and sometimes works through agencies.”  

His work to that end has produced a broad array of performers - from funk and rock to Latin jazz and big band music.

Dwyer, who has been a part of the Chestnut Hill Community Society for ten years, went on to say that the free concert series is their way of thanking the community that supports all their efforts throughout the year.

“It’s definitely a break-even kind of thing,” said Dwyer.  “Any donations we get go towards our expenses.  It's our gift to our supporters, to the neighborhood and surrounding communities.  The money we do raise always seems to be just about enough to cover our costs."

"It's really neat every Wednesday night to suddenly see all these people filing in," she went on to add.  "It's a great night - it really is.  Even though I'm really tired every Wednesday, I'm really happy as well." 

Dwyer is crossing her fingers and hoping for the best as far as weather goes - a big threat to any sort of outdoor music event.

"Hopefully we get no bugs and no rain," she said.

In the event of rain, however, the concerts will move from the park into the , a location Dwyer said is roughly the same distance from Germantown Avenue as the park.  

Summer Concert Series Lineup (all shows begin at 7:30 PM)

June 15th - Jeffrey Gaines

June 22nd - Deb Callahan Band

June 29th - Karen Rodriguez Latin Jazz Ensemble

July 6th - Quakertown Band

July 13th - Cheers Elephant

July 20th - Joanna Pascale

July 27th - West Philadelphia Orchestra