Series Events
River City Brass Band
Twenty-eight years ago, something special happened – a musical renaissance took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Under the baton of conductor Robert Bernat, the River City Brass Band took to the Carnegie Music Hall stage for its inaugural concert on November 21, 1981. It was an evening of musical excellence and determination – determination to bring about the revival of the grass-roots tradition of the American brass band. At one point, there were more than 20,000 such performance groups throughout the United States. In 1981, it was a bleak picture: fewer than 1,000 bands were still in existence in America. Throughout the rest of the world, the genre was flourishing and the River City Brass Band was determined to foster a similar appreciation here in the United States.
That determination has paid off. Today, the River City Brass Band performs a 49-concert series in eight different venues in Western Pennsylvania. In addition, the 28-piece ensemble tours extensively throughout the United States with more than 60 performances each year as part of community concert series, major symphony pops series and arts festivals. From California to New York (as well as everywhere in between), River City Brass Band has delighted audiences with its signature style. Every
performance features the witty and insightful commentary of Music Director and Conductor Denis Colwell, superb soloists and guest artists, and powerful repertoire from classical to pops and from jazz to marches. A River City Brass Band performance, whether in Pittsburgh or Poughkeepsie or Pensacola, is a memorable event!
Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra began in 1958 when some amateur musicians formed an ensemble known as the Bethel Park Orchestra. When the orchestra settled into Carnegie for rehearsals and concerts, it adopted the name The Carnegie Symphony Orchestra. In 1983 the name was changed to The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra (PCO) to better reflect its membership and community involvement.
The orchestra has over 60 volunteer musicians who are dedicated to providing quality music at a reasonable cost to the families of Southwest Pennsylvania. Students may attend concerts free of charge.
The orchestra has a history of outstanding music directors, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers: Richard Strange, Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Emeritus at Arizona State University; David Stock, conductor laureate of The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and one of America’s premier composers; Donald Portnoy, Professor of Conducting at the University of South Carolina; Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops and Utah Symphony; and Bruce Lauffer, music director at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, the Beaver Valley Philharmonic and McKeesport Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is currently under the baton of Warren Davidson.
The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra sponsors a Young Artists Competition each year that features the winners in a concert with the orchestra.
The orchestra performs five concerts each season in the Upper St. Clair Theater. Concerts begin at 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. A pre-concert conversation for students takes place 15 minutes before the start of each concert. Refreshments, including home-baked cookies, are available at intermission.
The theme for this season will be "A Pittsburgh Orchestra". Each concert will feature music from one or more ethnic regions common to the Pittsburgh are.
The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra is supported by the Allegheny Regional Asset District, and by corporate sponsor Benchmark Financial Network.
Town Hall South
Town Hall South is a philanthropic organization dedicated to bringing nationally and internationally acclaimed lecturers to the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
Town Hall South is proud to present our 2010-2011 Premiere Lecture Series featuring Nick Clooney, T.R. Reid, Rick Steves, The Faith Club, and Steve Kroft.
Town Hall South was founded in 1969 as an outreach program of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, and continues to function as a self-sustaining entity under the gracious auspices of Westminster.
A portion of proceeds is returned to the community each year in the way of grants to a wide variety of local organizations.
