This is a milestone year for the Uptown Music Collective, as they celebrate their 25th anniversary, on November 21st and 22nd at the Community Arts Center!
The nonprofit school of music will mark this milestone with more than 80 alumni joining today’s rising stars on stage for four iconic sets. The show, presented in partnership with UPMC North Central PA and UPMC Health Plan, is the first in the UMC’s four-show season, which includes major performances in January, March, and April.
Over the course of two nights, attendees will enjoy the greatest hits of The Rolling Stones, the rock anthems of Led Zeppelin, along with the timeless songs of Elton John and Billy Joel, and a massive tribute to Queen. The shows, each a complete, stand-alone concert, will feature a unique combination of alumni and current students.
On Friday night, musicians will cover The Rolling Stones’ favorites like “Gimme Shelter,” “Paint It Black,” and “Honky Tonk Women,” as well as Led Zeppelin classics “Black Dog,” “Ramble On,” “Kashmir,” and “Stairway to Heaven.” Saturday’s concert will feature hits from Elton John and Billy Joel, like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Piano Man,” and “Uptown Girl,” before closing out with Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and more.
“Some alumni performers will appear on both nights, while others will appear only on one, which means each lineup will be unique,” said Executive Director Dave Brumbaugh. “Both nights will also include a large choir of alumni and current performers. The choir will appear in each show but will be featured more prominently on Saturday, adding extra power to the biggest moments and the Queen finale. The bottom line is this: These are two unique, no-repeat shows. To experience the full 25th anniversary celebration, you’ll need tickets for both Friday and Saturday.”
UMC alumni have reunited for performances in the past, but nothing of this scale has ever been done in the history of the Collective, said Jared Mondell, assistant executive director/marketing director.
“Bringing back more than 80 alumni and having them play side-by-side with our students is a historical event,” Mondell said. “This is the first time ever that we have done two separate shows — four separate sets over two back-to-back nights — in the 25-year history of the Uptown Music Collective.”
The 25th Anniversary Celebration will highlight the talents of the school’s elite Special Performance Group 1, comprised of students aged 14 to 19, who audition to be a part of the group and then work together to plan, direct, design, rehearse, and perform the music that inspired many of them to pick up their instruments in the first place. Along with the music, a professional-grade light and sound show will be organized by the students, working alongside professionals at the Journey Bank 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 and spotlight operators.
“The Collective’s 25th anniversary show is going to be the biggest production in Collective history, and I am very excited and proud to be a part of it in my senior year,” said Mackenzie Hakes, UMC senior and member of SPG1.”
Dave Brumbaugh was asked about this upcoming spectacular concert by Webb Weekly.
What impact do you think that you have had on the success of the Collective?
“My experiences as a self-taught guitarist, then as a Berklee student, shaped everything about how the Collective came to be. The teachers who challenged and inspired me showed me what real music education could be. My years as a professional guitarist and part-time teacher gave me a clear sense of what students truly need — and that system is what we still teach today at the Collective, a combination of private lessons, classes, workshops, and a variety of performance experiences.
Beyond that, my most significant impact has been stubbornness — the willpower and commitment to make it work no matter what. There were plenty of times when it would’ve been easier to let it go, but I refused to.
Finally, I also think I’ve had a good eye for people — for bringing in the right teachers and administrative staff, many of whom are former students, who share the same vision and drive. The Collective’s success has always been built on surrounding it with people who care as deeply as I do.”
What has been the major appeal for students to be drawn to the Collective?
“The major appeal has always been the group experience. The Collective isn’t just about taking lessons — it’s about being part of something bigger. Students move from early workshops, classes, and tech teams into our performance program, starting with student showcases and building up to major concerts at the Community Arts Center.
That combination of private lessons and real group experience gives students purpose. They don’t just learn music — they live it, surrounded by others doing the same. That sense of community and shared pursuit of excellence is what keeps them coming back.”
Has your vision for the Collective been met and/or exceeded?
“A key to our longevity — and whatever success we’ve achieved — is that my vision for the Uptown Music Collective has become our vision. It now belongs to the staff, the students, and everyone who’s carried it forward. I founded the school, but it hasn’t been my vision alone for a long time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Has that vision been met? No, because every time we reach one goal, we see the next horizon. Each milestone opens new possibilities and new ways to serve our students and community. That drive to keep evolving is what keeps the Collective alive.
At the same time, we’re doing things I never dreamed were possible. Those first shows in hotel ballrooms felt incredible then — but just a few years later, we were performing on the stage of the Community Arts Center, a professional experience I never imagined our students would have. Ten years after that, we sold that same venue out. We once dreamed of having a proper educational space, and a few years later, we moved into a building designed specifically for us.
So again, has the vision been met? Alright, yes, but only briefly. Then it’s exceeded by something we never imagined, which raises the bar and creates a new vision of what we could be — and so it goes on. That’s the beauty of it.”
Why are these yearly concerts important for the Collective?
“The yearly concerts are the heart of what we do. They give our students a chance to take everything they’ve learned — in lessons, classes, and rehearsals — and put it into action on a professional stage. Performing at that level demands focus, teamwork, and emotional connection, and there’s no substitute for that kind of experience.
For many of our students, those shows are life-changing. They discover what it feels like to be part of something bigger than themselves — to stand under the lights, to hear the audience respond, and to realize that all the hard work was worth it. That feeling stays with them long after the music fades.
The concerts are also how the community connects with the Collective. They show people exactly what this school is about — excellence, commitment, and young musicians doing something real. They’re not recitals. They’re fully produced, professional shows organized by students that teach them how to work hard, be part of a team, prepare at a high level, and rise to the occasion.
It’s that experience that has driven 80 alumni to return to Williamsport from as far away as Oregon, California, and Colorado, among other places, to participate in our 25th anniversary performance. Experiences like these are life-shaping.”
What do you see as the future for the Collective?
“Honestly, I don’t know — and I think that’s part of what makes it exciting. We’re just finishing the first year of a five-year strategic plan, and a big piece of that is taking stock of where we are and imagining what comes next.
The truth is, the Collective has always grown in ways we couldn’t predict. Every new group of students brings fresh energy, and every generation of staff reshapes the vision in their own way. The future will come from that same process — from listening, adapting, and staying true to what we do best.
What I do know is that the heart of it won’t change. We’ll keep holding the same standard: real music, real community, real growth. If we keep that alive, the future will take care of itself — and it’ll probably surprise us, just like it always has.”
For more details about “The 25th Anniversary Celebration Concerts,” as well as tickets, visit uptownmusic.org/25thanniversary or caclive.com/umc25. 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.
