LEWISTOWN — An evening of lively music and local talent will take center stage on Saturday as the Perry-Juniata Jazz Band and Level Best Barbershop Quartet make their debuts at the Ellen Chapel Live Music Series.

The Perry-Juniata Jazz Band program begins at 6:30 p.m. at Ellen Chapel Church, located at 11798 Ferguson Valley Road in Lewistown, and will feature 17 musicians from Mifflin, Juniata and Perry counties. The jazz band is led by alto saxophonist Andrea Rygel, who brought the ensemble together through a network of regional musicians and community contacts.

Refreshments will be served at 7:30 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. performance from the Level Best Barbershop Quartet, of State College. There is no admission fee, though a freewill offering will be collected to support the musicians.

Jazz band grows from holiday project

The Perry-Juniata Jazz Band began as a short-term holiday project but quickly evolved into an ongoing ensemble.

“We started together as a group in October 2024 just to play music at Christmas time,” Rygel recalled. “It went so well that we just kept going.”

Since then, the group has expanded in both size and musical range. Musicians connected through organizations such as the Greenwood Community Band and through contacts in neighboring school districts, forming a collaborative ensemble rooted in shared enthusiasm for performance.

The band’s repertoire has broadened as well. What began as a holiday-focused program now includes big band selections, swing-era standards, rock tunes and familiar pop favorites.

“We started out playing Christmas jazz,” Rygel said. “Now we play big band, swing era, rock — we play a little bit of everything. We even put in some pop, familiar favorites with the crowd.”

The group performed at Lewistown’s Festival of Ice in December 2025, drawing a larger and more attentive audience than expected.

“We had a nice crowd at the Festival of Ice,” Rygel said. “I expected the crowd to kind of go in and out, but a lot of people watched our entire performance from start to finish.”

Saturday’s concert offers another chance for the ensemble to connect with local listeners in an intimate setting designed to highlight the warmth and energy of live jazz.

Quartet brings pure vocal harmony

The Level Best Barbershop Quartet will close the evening with four-part vocal harmony rooted in the long tradition of barbershop music. The group is made up of tenor Rick Crider, of Lewistown; lead singer Jim Kerhin, of State College; baritone John Bittekofer, of Huntingdon and bass Rodger Smith, of Bellefonte. All four at one time were members of the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus, now in its 64th year.

The quartet formed through the chorus, which encourages quartet development as part of its mission. Level Best has performed at community events across the region, from birthday gatherings to club programs and small-venue concerts. The singers emphasize the precision required in quartet work, where each voice must lock into pitch without the cushion of a larger ensemble.

Kerhin, who also performs in the banjo and guitar duo, Picker & Papa, and notes that barbershop arrangements rely on pure vocal blend without instrumental backing. The quartet performs traditional barbershop standards and arrangements specifically arranged in the barbershop style.

The Nittany Knights will hold their annual show on Saturday, May 16, in the Recital Hall in the Music Building at the Penn State School of Music. More information is available at www.nittanyknights.org.

A full evening of local music

Organizers hope the event will draw a wide audience, from dedicated jazz fans to families looking for a relaxed night out. For Rygel and the members of the Perry-Juniata Jazz Band, the concert reflects the success of a group built on collaboration and a shared love of music.

From jazz standards and popular favorites to four-part vocal harmony, the evening promises a varied and welcoming program for listeners of all backgrounds.