LANCASTER, Ohio — In response to devastating floods that forced the cancellation of this week’s Wendel Stage concerts, the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, led by new Music Director Maestro John Devlin, will perform a special community concert themed “Resilience” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025. The event will take place at Fairfield Christian Church, located at 1965 N. Columbus Street in Lancaster, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served, and admission is free, though donations are encouraged to help repair festival assets damaged by recent storms.
The floods ravaged the Lancaster Festival’s concert grounds, prompting Devlin and the orchestra to organize this heartfelt performance in just days. “So much about the last 72 hours has been unexpected,” Devlin said. “What hasn’t been surprising is the awe-inspiring resilience that I’ve witnessed from the Lancaster community. Festival artists, volunteers, staff, board members, and local business owners have all rallied around a shared purpose: to create a meaningful, community-focused event. In challenging times, people turn to music for comfort and inspiration. This is a powerful opportunity for us to come together, reflect, and find hope in each other—and in the music—for what we can rebuild.”
The concert will feature orchestral music curated around the theme of resilience, with final details still being finalized. Lancaster Festival Board President Jeff Spangler praised the effort, stating, “The community deserves the very best orchestral music, especially after this week’s challenges. That Maestro Devlin and the orchestra are creating this event from the ground up in days is a testament to their character and our community’s spirit.”
Innerphase Video Productions (IVP) will enhance the experience with inspiring video footage and will pipe the concert audio into the church parking lot, ensuring those unable to enter due to capacity limits can still enjoy the live music. Donations, accepted via cash, check, or online through QR codes and links provided at the event, will support recovery efforts for festival equipment damaged in the storms.
For updates, visit the Lancaster Festival’s Facebook page or www.lancasterfestival.org. The community is invited to join this uplifting evening of music and unity.
