On April 25th and 26th, the Uptown Music Collective will close out its 2024-25 season at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport with ‘80s Arena Rock: Power Ballads & Rock Anthems, a tribute to some of the most iconic arena rock bands of the 1980s. Presented by UPMC North Central Pa and UPMC Health Plan, this two-night event will feature the music of rock heavyweights AC/DC, Heart, and Aerosmith, alongside ’80s icons Bon Jovi, Journey, and Def Leppard. This show will be an unforgettable night of anthem-driven hits and power ballads. This performance is sponsored, in part, through a partnership with Hudock Capital Group and Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
The rock of the early 1980s was all about big hair, big guitars, and even bigger emotions. The sound filled stadiums and shook arenas, blending electrifying solos, soaring vocals, and larger-than-life choruses that defined a generation. The songs weren’t just music—they were moments that still live large in our collective rock and roll memories.
This performance by the Collective’s students will hone in on each band’s live output during the 1980s, with a focus on the young performers recreating the challenging big vocal sound, driving guitars, airy keyboards, and pounding drums and bass of that decade.
“With three major performances already under their belt since November, you would think that the students would be dragging a bit as they enter into this last set of rehearsals, working on their fourth set of songs,” said Dave Brumbaugh, the Collective’s Founder and Executive Director. “However, they seem more excited for this music than I’ve seen them all season, and, at this point, I feel that this might end up being our best performance of a great season of performances!”
‘80s Arena Rock: Power Ballads & Rock Anthems will highlight the talents of the school’s elite performance group, Special Performance Group 1, comprised of students aged 14 to 18, who audition to be a part of the group and then work together to plan, direct, design, rehearse, and ultimately bringing to life the music that has and continues to inspire generations. Along with the music, a professional-grade light and sound show will be organized by the students who work alongside the professionals at the Community Arts Center. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers but also the directors of the show. A group of younger students, or “Tech Monkeys,” will serve as stage technicians.
This show is directed by Uptown Music Collective Gianna Waldman (Montoursville Area High School) and Grace Godin (Williamsport Area High School). The show’s leadership committee consists of UMC students Matthew Bellino and Nick Willoughby (Danville Area High School); Izzy Butter, Lila Butters and Ella Hertwig (Loyalsock Township High School); Tixo Bower (home school); Abby Jamison, Owen Miller and Caiden Scarfo (Williamsport Area High School); Mackenzie Hakes (South Williamsport Area High School); Elle Donlin (Loyalsock Township Middle School); Rowan Alamy (Lewisburg Area High School); and Rian Gephart (Montoursville Area High School).
With these performances being the last of the UMC’s official performance season at the Community Arts Center, the end of the Saturday night performance will feature the Collective’s “senior night” ceremony, which honors and recognizes those graduating seniors who will move on to college and away from the UMC in the fall. This year’s seniors include Tixo Bower, Izzy Butters, Abby Jamison, Owen Miller, and Gianna Waldman.
“I’ve been listening to ’80s music for my whole life,” Waldman said. “When I was 3 years old, I was already banging my head to Bon Jovi! That’s why I was so excited to find out that I got to be the director of my senior show, and, honestly, my dream show. This music has its challenges. Each musician has a unique style, but learning these new techniques is helping me grow as a drummer. I am so excited to watch my dream show become a reality, and even though it’s my last show, it’ll be the best one I’ve ever played in!”
Additional partners and sponsors for this performance include Chartwell Hotels, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, The Kiessling Group of Janney Montgomery Scott, KFC of Williamsport, The Brickyard Restaurant and Ale House, The Stonehouse Wood Fired Pizza and Pasteria, The Crooked Goose, Woodlands Bank, FASTSIGNS of Williamsport, Lycoming College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, The Hartman Group, Beiter’s Furniture, Mattress and Appliance, and Roche Financial. Media sponsors include Backyard Broadcasting, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Lamar Advertising, 92.1 WSQV, NorthCentralPa.com, and The Graphic Hive.
Tickets for the performance are only available through the Community Arts Center box office and website (www.caclive.com). For more details about ‘80s Arena Rock: Power Ballads & Rock Anthems, visit uptownmusic.org/80sarena or call 570-329-0888. Check out the Collective’s official Facebook page, as well as other Collective social media outlets, for teasers, previews, behind-the-scenes info and more from the performance.
