Past Fine Arts Fiesta Headliner Entertainment
(All presented on the main band shell stage unless otherwise noted)

Tuck & Patty

Allison Krause & the Union Station Band

John Hartford

The Seldom Scene

Mary Wilson of the Supremes

Herb Reed’s Platters

Red Clay Ramblers

Miles Davis (presented at the F.M. Kirby Center)

John Sebastian (presented at the F.M. Kirby Center)

Baltimore Consort

Leon Redbone

Taj Mahal

Stanley Jordan

Martha Reeves & the Original Vandellas (presented in Kirby Park)

Gary U.S. Bonds

Marshall Crenshaw

Melanie

Shirley Alston Reeves, original lead singer of the Shirells

The Uppity Blues Women

Maestro Giacomo Simonelli

The Original Tymes

Richie Havens

The Exciting Stevens Singers

Martha Reeves & the Sister Vandellas

Baltimore Consort (at Luzerne County Courthouse)

Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women

Dry Branch Fire Squad

Julius la Rosa

Phil Giordano Jazz Orchestra

Jay Proctor of Jay & the Techniques

The Original Box Tops

Ishangi Family African Dancers & Drummers

Sister Sadie & the Famous Biblettes

The Vogues

Nina Chen Chinese Dancers

Cabinet

Leslie Gore

Frank Shiner

Dixie Humming Birds

Phil Giordano Jazz Band

XCLUSIVE Soul

Dinezulu African Dancers Drummers and Singers

Jonathan Edwards

Nashville Blue Grass Band

We don’t like to blow our own horn, but we do get pretty excited when the press has something to say about us. Here are just a few links highlighting the Annual Fine Arts Fiesta…

Fine Arts Gala in Luzerne County (WBRE / pahomepage.com)

Gala celebrates 60th Fine Arts Fiesta, honors contributors to its success (Times Leader)

Frank Shiner to appear at Fine Arts Fiesta (Times Leader)

Planning committee meets for 60th Fiesta (Citizens Voice)

Artists submit works for Fine Arts Fiesta judging (Times Leader)

Feast for the Senses (Citizen’s Voice)

Fine Arts Fiesta welcomes new artists (Citizen’s Voice)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mary Anne Fedrick, President 1/1/2017
Susan Najaka, First Vice-President
Joel Zitofsky, Second Vice-President
Ron Woznock, Treasurer
Rob Bernadyn, Assistant Tresurer
Irene Muldoon, Recording Secretary
Gary Womelsdorf, Corresponding Secretary
Debbie Grossman, Immediate Past President
Brian Benedetti, Executive Director

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Kathy Bozinski
Eileen Carlin Halsey
David Kerr
Micky Nieman
Ted Reese
Matt Rogers
Darlene Smith
Ann Saxton
Mia Weaver
Kevin Womelsdorf
Donald Kronick, Advisor

FACEBOOK/SOCIAL MEDIA COMMITTEE

Kathy Bozinski, Chair
Micky Neiman
Kevin Womelsdorf

FINANCE / BUDGET COMMITTEE

Ron Woznock, Chairperson
Brian Benedetti
Matt Rogers
Mary Anne Fedrick

MARKETING COMMITTEE

Kathy Bozinski, Chairperson
Matt Rogers
Matt Smith, Webmaster and Site Manager
Brian Benedetti, advisor

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

David Kerr, Chairperson
Micky Nieman
Matt Rogers, Legal
Joel Zitofsky
Brian Benedetti, Advisor

VOLUNTEER SERVICE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE

Joel Zitofsky, Chairperson
Mary Anne Fedrick
Eileen Halsey
Ted Reese
Ann Saxton
Darlene Smith
Mia Weaver
Martha Calabrese, Community Representative

ADULT AND STUDENT JURIED EXHIBITIONS

Gary Womelsdorf, Co-Chairperson
Micky Nieman, Co-Chairperson
Irene Muldoon
Kevin Womelsdorf

ART WORK INSTALLATION AND RETURN

Gary Womelsdorf, Co-Chairperson
Micky Nieman, Co-Chairperson
Susan Najaka
Irene Muldoon
Darlene Smith
Ron Woznock

EXHIBITION SITTERS

Eileen Halsey, Chairperson

PERFORMING ARTS COMMITTEE

Matt Rogers- Co-Chairperson
Mary Anne Fedrick -Co-Chairperson
Brian Benedetti
Kathy Bozinski
Gina Malsky, Community Representative

ANNOUNCERS

Kathy Bozinski, Chairperson

MAJOR TALENT BOOKING

Brian Benedetti

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Brian Benedetti
Helen Grebski
Alice Rae Kutish
Irene Muldoon

STAGE DIRECTOR/SOUND

Brian Benedetti, Chairperson

Mike Pienta

ARTISTS’ MARKET AT FIESTA

Joel Zitofsky, Chairperson
Ted Reese
Mia Weaver

ARTISTS’ AMBASSADORS

Kevin Womelsdorf, Chairperson
Mary Anne Fedrick

OPENING CEREMONIES

Susan Najaka, Chairperson
Brian Benedetti
Joseph Persico, Esq., Master Of Ceremonies
Mary Lou Zearfoss

ARTISTS’ AWARD CEREMONIES

Micky Nieman, Chairperson

Ann Saxton
Gary Womelsdorf

POSTER CONTEST

Susan Najaka, Chairperson
Ann Saxton

PROGRAM BOOK

David Kerr, Chairperson
Brian Benedetti
Mary Anne Fedrick

PUBLICITY/PROMOTION

Brian Benedetti, Co-Chairperson
Kathy Bozinski, Co-Chairperson

WEB SITE

Matthew Smith, Webmaster And Site Manager
Brian Benedetti
Kathy Bozinski

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Brian Benedetti, Co-Chairperson
Darlene Smith, Co-Chairperson
Mary Anne Fedrick
Irene Muldoon
Susan Najaka
Micky Neiman
Ted Reese
Gary Womelsdorf
Kevin Womelsdorf
Joel Zitofsky

“ARTS AROUND THE TOWN” EXHIBITIONS/DOWNTOWN

Gary Womelsdorf, Chairperson
Brian Benedetti

INFORMATION/GAZEBO

Susan Najaka, Chairperson
Eileen Halsey

SOUVENIR TENT

Darlene Smith, Co-Chairperson
Ann Saxton, Co-Chairperson
David Kerr
Micky Nieman
Ted Reese
Mia Weaver
Kevin Womelsdorf
Jennifer Fry, Community Representative

SOUVENIR T-SHIRT

Mary Anne Fedrick, Chairperson
Brian Benedetti
Debbie Grossman, Advisor

FOOD VENDORS AND COLLECTIONS

Ron Woznock, Chairperson
Rob Bernadyn
Brian Benedetti, Advisor

RENTALS, SQUARE LAYOUT, AND DESIGN

Bill Hogan, Jr., Fiesta Grounds Director
Joel Zitofsky
Mark Farrell, Big Top Rental
Brian Benedetti

It’s the community that makes Fiesta so special.

Every year the board of Fiesta takes the time to honor an individual or organization for their continued, generous support, as well as their contributions to the cultural and artistic life of the local community.

Initiated in 1997 by the Fine Arts Fiesta Board as suggested by then board member Howard B. Fedrick, the “Friend of the Arts Award” was designed to honor an individual or organization for their longstanding commitment and generous support of Fiesta in addition to their general contributions to the cultural and artistic life of the local and regional community. With Howard’s untimely passing in February 2011, the board of directors has, in his honor and memory, renamed the award the “Howard B. Fedrick Friend of the Arts Award”.

It is the pleasure for The Board of Directors to announce the 2015 hororee; MickyNieman.

Micky has been on the board of directors for well over 30 years serving in many various officer and committee capacities creating and making banners, visual and performing arts, archives and awards presentations.  She was brought on the board by her late and dear friend, past president Murray Popky, upon returning from living in Germany.

The Fine Arts Fiesta Board of Directors will honoredMicky by presenting her the “Howard B. Fedrick Friend of the Arts Awards” for 2015 on May 8 at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Upon her untimely passing the board also agreed to honor Jane Lampe Groh, widow of Alfred Groh, as a 2016 recipient for her years of service, support and gracious bequest.

Past winners include:

• 1997 – Mr. Ken Marquis
• 1998 – Kevin and Helen McDonald
• 1998 – Alfred S. Groh*
• 1999 – Ruth B. Schooley
• 2000 – Dr. Robert S. Anderson*
• 2001 – Roger A. Lacy
• 2002 – William Hogan Sr. and Sons
• 2003 – Murray Popky*
• 2004 – Lee Vincent
• 2005 – Wyoming Valley Art League
• 2006 – The City of Wilkes-Barre / The Times Leader
• 2007 – Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre
• 2008 – Dorothy and Tom Womelsdorf and Family
• 2009 – Allan Finlay* and Robert Finlay, Humford Equities
• 2010 – The Osterhout Public Library and The Friends of the Osterhout Public Library
• 2011 – Mary Ellen Fowler, aka. Flossie The Fiesta Clown
• 2012 – Charles Barber, The Luzerne Foundation
• 2013, Irem Shrine Stewards & Dorothy M. Carr*
• 2014, David, Natalia, and Julia Kerr
• 2015, MickyNieman
• 2016, Jane Lampe Groh

* denotes deceased honoree

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE 2005

In honor of Miss Annette Evans and Alfred S. Groh, a bronze Commemorative Plaque has been installed on the marble wall near the Bandshell as a permanent record of their vision and the continuation of the Fiesta traditions through the years. The Plaque, a signed bronze artwork, is a gift of the Fine Arts Fiesta Inc. and numerous individual and business sponsors in the community.

COMMEMORATIVE PUBLIC SQUARE BRICKS 2005

In memory of Miss Annette Evans, in honor of Alfred S. Groh, and as A Celebration of “FIESTA AT FIFTY”, three Commemorative Brick Pavers have been installed on the Public Square near the Center Fountain. In conjunction with the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Class of 2005 these bricks were purchased as a permanent record of the Fiesta founders and traditions through the first fifty years. They are a gift of the Fine Arts Fiesta Board of Directors.