By Bryn E. Keeney, Public Relations Coordinator 

As the steel industry began collapsing in 1982, unemployment in Bethlehem was 13% and residents were leaving town. Jeffrey Parks’ idea for Musikfest debuted in 1984 and has since helped to make Bethlehem a magnet for a community of diverse arts and cultural experiences. Brenda and John McGlade have attended almost every Musikfest and, like Parks, aspire to provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the arts, cultural and educational experiences.  

A native of the Lehigh Valley and raised in Fountain Hill, (Brenda grew up in Bangor, PA), John worked on the SouthSide, where Bethlehem Steel, one of the world’s largest steel-producing and shipbuilding companies, was headquartered. John witnessed firsthand the impact of ‘the Steel’s’ last years on the city and local economy. In 2003, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation officially shut down and the city of Bethlehem seemingly lost its identity. Not only was Bethlehem Steel a significant job provider for the local community, but it also sat on nearly 20% of the city’s land that now needed to be revitalized.   

“Hearing and seeing Jeff Parks’ vision and accomplishments with Musikfest, then SteelStacks and ArtsQuest is very inspiring,” explained John. “Having had the privilege of traveling the world for both professional and personal reasons, I don’t believe there is anything like what we have here in the Lehigh Valley with the SteelStacks Campus and the success of an idea spawned by a local hero. Jeff’s vision, leadership, enthusiasm and unwavering energy to drive this forward is a true lesson in leadership. Fast forward to today and the current team at ArtsQuest has done an incredible job carrying out Jeff’s mission and vision. Jeff got us off the ground, but the team, volunteers and community have kept it growing and evolving ever since.”  

Brenda’s background as a pipe organ major, as well as vocals in the Westminster Choir College, has led her to channel her passion for music and the arts in many ways. From church choir director to public school music teacher, Brenda’s passion for music and education has become a lifelong commitment to enriching lives through the power of the arts. 

“Some of my most enjoyable moments were when I volunteered at the Allentown Turner St. Girls Club,” recalled Brenda. “I taught music, piano and improv most afternoons for more than 10 years.”  

This commitment continues today through her and her husband’s support of ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign through the ArtsQuest Foundation’s Education and Scholarship Endowment Fund, driven by a belief that access to the arts is essential for every student’s development and success. 

The McGlades also became inaugural donors of the ArtsQuest Foundation’s new legacy program for their endowment gift in 2024. The Jeff Parks Founders Society provides supporters with the opportunity to permanently tie their legacy with that of ArtsQuest and the ArtsQuest Foundation while honoring Jeff and providing a permanent home for the annual Musikfest Poster on the exterior of the ArtsQuest Center.  

“Knowledge is the foundation of change,” explained the couple. “Providing the opportunity and exposure to knowledge creates the ability to provide reason and thought to make positive and sustainable change for and in the individual. We hope that students who benefit from these scholarships have their eyes – and ears – open to other aspects of life and the world. Whatever your profession, we believe exposure to art, music, dance and all other forms of cultural experiences provide enrichment and fulfillment to our daily lives.” 

The new ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL and the Lehigh Valley Health Network Turn & Grind Shop that the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign will provide ArtsQuest with the opportunity to enhance accessibility to the arts and provide additional ways for the local community to engage. What started as an idea to save a town that had lost its identity has grown into so much more, further serving and unifying the community by providing arts-based programming for all ages in a way that fosters deep connections, sparks pride and creates lasting change for generations to come.