When Eric Hening recently returned to his elementary school, it was not just a trip down memory lane, but a homecoming decades in the making. When Hening walked into The Meadowbrook School’s double doors during the summer of 2025, he described being “flooded with emotions,” noting how much the school shaped his confidence, creativity, and sense of purpose. In addition to his family setting a strong foundation for him, Hening credited faculty members, notably Head of School Harold Parachini (1962-1972), as pivotal influences who recognized his individual strengths and encouraged a young Eric to stretch beyond his comfort zone. Parachini was someone whom Hening looked up to, and described him as a “special man.” He helped Hening dig deeper into his passions and saw something in Hening that he did not see in himself.
During his time at The Meadowbrook School, Hening was involved in the school’s radio broadcast station as the team leader and engineer, curating playlists for the lunchroom. Eric notes playing “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan over the speaker system and wondering what books Bob Dylan was reading so that he could read them, too. These formative experiences grew into a decades-long career in music, from booking musical events at the George School, to interning at radio stations including WIP and WMMR. He studied theater and communications at Temple University, then served as a concert chairperson and spent summers working for an amphitheater in Ambler, PA, where he gained exposure to major artists of the era like Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. His career eventually landed him in Los Angeles, where he participated in an agent trainee program with International Creative Management, and later worked in Washington, D.C. with Cellar Door concerts, helping to develop their college booking division. Hening went on to found his own concert promotion company, EHP/Convergevents Over the course of 40+ years they booked musical events from The Allman Brothers to Willie Nelson, across the country at Colleges and Universities, as well as Corporate and non-profit entities.
As Hening reflected on his career, it brought him back to the steps that led him there, the first of which was The Meadowbrook School. Hening describes his Meadowbrook education as foundational, not only for his career, but for his values: creativity, reliability, patience, collaboration, and moral clarity. He emphasizes that The Meadowbrook School encourages students to appreciate different perspectives, embrace failure, and take responsibility and accountability for their work. These lessons are still important to Meadowbrook, and are highlighted in what the school refers to as The Meadowbrook Way, an example of the values that the typical Meadowbrook student embodies outside of the classroom.
Hening worked closely with the Meadowbrook staff to determine a donation to the school that would allow students to have access to the same kind of hands-on, expressive opportunities that shaped his own path. This is why Eric chose to gift the school a brand new stage for performances, as well as instruments for the music program. “The stage is a total, upgraded transformation for our students and the music and performing arts program at Meadowbrook,” notes music teacher Jen Eyre. “Mr. Hening’s gift is deeply appreciated and helps Meadowbrook continue its mission to bring life to learning. I am so grateful.”
The stage had its big debut at The Meadowbrook School’s Lower School Musical, Pajama Party, in April, and Eric Hening was there to see it. He noted that while watching the students perform, he saw a spark in their eyes – one similar to what he felt when he was a student. He hopes these gifts will continue to nurture that spark and allow students to see that they can accomplish anything.
The stage was gifted in honor of the Head of School, who helped nurture that spark for Eric Hening – Harold Parachini.
At the time Hening attended Meadowbrook, the school went up to 8th grade, and now it goes up to 6th.
Top Photo – Henings in front of the stage.
B&W Photo – Henings is in the plaid sports coat on the right.