February 2022 Volunteer Spotlight

Each month, our volunteer committee decides on volunteers to spotlight. For February 2022, we wanted to recognize someone who began volunteering with us right before Covid-19 hit the region and stuck with us! Anne Lukas has made a big impact in a short amount of time.

Q: What inspired you to begin volunteering?
A: Soon after I retired from a lengthy career in human services and realizing my love of music and helping people, it seemed like an obvious choice.

Q: You have a passion for gardening. How did you get started with that?
A: I’ve always been a lover of flowers and nature. It amazes me that so much beauty can evolve from a tiny seed. Growing flowers has been a way for me to express myself, like painting a picture. Visits to estate and botanical gardens provide inspiration for my gardens as do the ribbons won in competition each year. It gives me joy to be growing and arranging the flowers for my niece’s wedding in September.

Q: Do you volunteer anywhere else besides ArtsQuest?
A: I volunteer at the Allentown Symphony and Celtic Classic. I started at about the same time as I did at ArtsQuest.

Q:What has been a favorite memory you’ve made at an ArtsQuest event?
A: It’s a lot of memories. I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many people since I started at ArtsQuest and yet there are so many I don’t know. I’ve grown to value the time spent with the other volunteers, the staff and the patrons. I look forward to seeing those faces again at new events. It’s not just about the music.

Q: If you could pick any act to play at Musikfest, who would you pick and why?
A: Seriously, I could not narrow it down to one act. Mark Knopfler has always been a favorite but he lives overseas. I’d love to see Kathleeen Edwards come to Bethlehem. Same with Israel Nash, Lord Huron, Waxahatchie, Cassandra Jenkins, the War on Drugs and Kurt Vile. As I said, it’s impossible to narrow it down to one.

Q: What kept you coming back for volunteer shifts, even though Covid-19 hit shortly after you started?
A: It’s hard to believe that nearly two years later, we continue to exist in this pandemic way of life. Music and people have helped me to get through it. I can’t imagine a life without either.