The classical music calendar highlights include an organ and piano recital for the benefit of the Old Allentown Preservation Association and a spring concert by the Reading Mandolin Orchestra presented by the Hellertown Historical Society.

Johnny Walsh, area pianist and vice president of the Old Allentown Preservation Association (OAPA), and Drew Lutz-Long, organist and associate music director of Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown, will present classical and contemporary selections to celebrate OAPA’s diverse community.

The OAPA Benefit Spring Recital is at 2 p.m. April 18 in Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown.

“OAPA was founded in 1976 when the neighborhood was under the threat of being demolished for public housing,” says Walsh.

“Over the course of the last 50 years, faithful volunteers of OAPA have worked tirelessly to continually make Allentown cleaner, greener and safer,” Walsh continues.

“Similarly, Christ Lutheran Church has made significant strides to support our community development offering dynamic and engaging community events,” says Walsh.

Walsh moved to the OAPA neighborhood several years ago and with Lutz-Long in October 2025 planned a fundraiser concert for OAPA.

“Now, in a sincere effort to keep the momentum going, we have decided to team up again and present a concert which features classical selections from Bach to Rachmaninov, timeless and traditional hymns, as well as contemporary highlights from Toto to Nirvana,” Walsh says.

“Proceeds from the concert support the ongoing mission of OAPA to make neighborhoods safe and beautiful and to support the concert series at Christ Lutheran Church,” says Walsh.

Old Allentown Preservation Association Benefit Spring Recital, 2 p.m. April 18, Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 Hamilton St., Allentown. Tickets: $20 suggested donation; https://www.oldallentownpa.org/events

“Playing mandolin … it’s magic, and then you realize how it expands your palette of color and sound,” says Joe Todaro, conductor and founder of the Reading Mandolin Orchestra.

The Hellertown Historical Society presents the Reading Mandolin Orchestra “Spring Concert,” 7 p.m. April 15, Tavern Room, Heller-Wagner Grist Mill, Hellertown.

Says Todero, “We’ll be playing traditional mandolin orchestra works for this concert with a focus on a sound where classical and folkloric music meet.”

Jan Macintosh, concert organizer and a member of the Hellertown Historical Society, says, “Mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, Spanish guitar, double bass, accordion and percussion create a sound that is both romantic and dynamic.”

Macintosh, who plays mandolin, is a member of Lehigh Valley Mandolins.

The concert’s repertoire of rhythms includes rhumba, tango, mazurka, polka, waltzes, tarantella and marches.

“The library of the ensemble includes hundreds of pieces dating back to 1890 as well as modern compositions,” Macintosh says.

“One of my favorite pieces is a Spanish-themed work by Italian composer and virtuoso mandolinist Eduardo Mezzacapo (1832-1898),” says Todero, adding, “He performed in a quartet in France and founded The French Mandolin School.”

The concert includes an Italian polka from the 20th century and Todero’s arrangement of “Thula Baba,” based on a beautiful African melody.

Says Todero, “Join us as we perform the music we love on instruments to which we are dedicated.”

The Reading Mandolin Orchestra, founded in 2017 by six musicians, has 11 members who perform regularly with Lehigh Valley Mandolins, Philadelphia Mandolin Ensemble and the Munier Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra.

Lehigh Valley Mandolins specializes in traditional and classical mandolin repertoire and promotes preservation of mandolin music in the local community.

The Hellertown Historical Society, founded in 1981, is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Hellertown and its people. In 1984, the Society was granted a 99-year lease from the Borough of Hellertown to occupy, restore and maintain the 35-acre Heller-Wagner Grist Mill tract and buildings.

The Hellertown Historical Society presents the Reading Mandolin Orchestra “Spring Concert,” 7 p.m. April 15, Tavern Room, Heller-Wagner Grist Mill, 150 West Walnut St., Hellertown. Tickets: at the door; https://hellertownhistoricalsociety.org/event-list/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com