Construction workers and classical musicians may seem an odd match. But they made beautiful music together at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music Saturday.
The academy presented "A Hard-Hat Concert" — its first performance in the new $25 million facility at 42 N. Prince St. — for those who labored to build it during the past two years.
The academy will hold its first public performance June 11, featuring classical actress Claire Bloom and broadcaster Jamie Bernstein.
Saturday marked the first time that most of the 300 or so people in attendance entered the building since its completion.
"I made that reception desk," Manor Township resident Eric Snyder said to his 9-year-old daughter Amanda.
The gently curving, cherry desk was surrounded by raw construction the last time he was in the building to install some locks.
"You don't always get to see a project finished. You just see it in front of your bench," Snyder said.
Saturday, the desk was crowned with smooth marble and rested on teal carpet instead of an unfinished floor. Walls draped in the same sleek cherry veneer seemed to reach for the sky.
Built by Benchmark Construction Co. Inc., the facility is the last performing arts venue designed by the late architect Philip Johnson.
Acoustics designer for the project, Cyril Harris, is the acoustician for the Metropolitan Opera House and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Steve Spade, of West Hempfield Township, was the foreman in charge of the 364-seat recital hall. He said it was no small task tending to every detail required to suit the acoustics.
Project manager Robert Brandt III said, "We have carpenters that have been doing this 25 years that had to forget everything they know."
The academy's founders, husband-and-wife team Michael Jamanis and Frances Veri, said they view the construction workers' skill as a fine art to rival that which will be pursued within the finished building.
"They've really put their heart and soul in the process, just as we do," Veri said.
Jamanis told the audience, "This is the crème de la crème, as they would say. Thank you very much."
The performance opened with the Philharmonia sporting formal black attire and spotless white hard hats as they entered the stage.
Entering the building, and the recital hall, was a first for them, too.
Musicians ranged in age from 11 to the mid-20s.
The Philharmonia opened with a joyful melody, "Paladio," by Karl Jenkins, featuring violinists Melody Brubaker and Gina DiCarlo, followed by a moving performance of Adagio for Strings, Op. 11, by Samuel Barber.
Under their hard hats, they painted delicate strokes with their bows at times. Sometimes they sawed and chiseled at their strings.
Eleven-year-old Kathryn Westerlund impressed the audience with a mature performance of Ernst Bloch's "Meditation Hebraique" on a cello nearly as tall as she. The young musician appeared confident but shy, except for the big smile that broke through to give away her favorite parts.
Violinist Nicole Sauder, 17, and Pianist Xiaopei Xu, 18, also earned intense applause from their solo performances.
After the concert, several of the young musicians ran in and out of third-floor studios, clapping, snapping, shouting and giggling, delighted to find impressive acoustics beyond the Recital Hall.
"They're amazing!" said Solanco High School sophomore Katie O'Brien, of Quarryville.
John Darrenkamp closed the concert singing "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha."
Said Spade, "It was amazing. It felt really good to walk in there and sit down and enjoy it for what it is and be proud of what we've done. I've been doing this for 18 years and never felt so proud."
"I must say," Jamanis said, "it's a masterpiece."
Jeannette Scott is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact her at jscott@lnpnews.com or at 291-8689. 
