PITTSBURGH -- Perhaps no other era can boast music as unabashedly upbeat as the 1950s! River City Brass Band will revisit this ever-popular time in American history May 1 through the 11 at Byham Theater, Downtown, at 7:30 p.m. and several other convenient locations throughout Western Pennsylvania.

“Rock Around the Clock,” “Only You,” and “Mister Sandman” are just a few of the songs that will be featured along with a visit from The Andrews Trio, made up of sopranos Eva Rainforth (mezzo soprano), Judith Jenkins (lyric soprano) and Katy Shackleton Williams (lyric coloratura soprano).

The trio, all professional members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Opera Chorus, travel extensively around the area singing various musical works that range from wedding services to major choral works with full orchestra.

Now that’s great for those enjoy the 50s tunes, but RCBB will also fast forward to 2008 with a special world premiere selection, “Snapshots of a Great City,” by composer Marilyn Taft Thomas.

This selection, a set of three pieces written for the River City Brass Band in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the city of Pittsburgh, with support from the Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections Committee. The three movements are entitled: Majestic View of the Skyline, Snowfall at Dawn and Jazz in the Park.

Thomas describes why this musical composition for Pittsburgh is so special.

“Everyone has their favorite snapshots of the city in which they live. Mine include that spectacular view of Pittsburgh, which magically appears as you emerge from the Fort Pitt tunnel at night; the soft beauty of the first snowfall blanketing the city as the sun comes up at dawn; and the joyful sound of jazz emanating from Point Park during the annual Three Rivers Arts Festival. Those are three views of the city I love.”

Thomas said she attempted to express her favorite “snapshots” in sound.

RCBB principal solo flugelhornist Drew Fennell will also join in the spotlight as a vocalist during tune “Mooning” from the hit Broadway play Grease. Although Grease premiered in the in the late 1970s, the music featured in that musical celebrates the 1950s with doo-wop, rock and roll and other contemporary styles.

So, if concerts goers want to share in the memories of the 1950s or just love 50s music, this is where they want to be!

Each performance with the River City Brass Band’s 28 virtuosos features the witty and insightful commentary of Music Director and Conductor Denis Colwell. The Band entertains thousands of concert attendees in seven different locations including its new home venue in the Cultural District at the Byham Theater. With one of the most active schedules among American touring ensembles, River City Brass Band tours across America to entertain audiences each year and has toured internationally as far as Australia. To date, RCBB has released 15 recordings and is responsible for nearly 200 compositions and arrangements by American and British composers, which have premiered at RCBB concerts.

Community Connections is a grassroots initiative of Pittsburgh 250 supporting projects that encourage civic engagement throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, commemorate the region’s 250th anniversary, and provide lasting value to communities and the region as a whole. More than 500 applications for funding were submitted by individuals, community groups, and organizations to celebrate the “Pride and Progress” of Southwestern Pennsylvania—the theme of Community Connections. A region-wide community decisionmaking process selected 100 projects to share $1 million in funding for events and activities occurring throughout the anniversary year of 2008.

The Sprout Fund is a nonprofit organization supporting innovative ideas and grassroots community projects that are catalyzing change in Pittsburgh. Founded in 2001, Sprout is designed to facilitate community-led solutions to regional challenges and supports efforts to create a thriving, progressive, and culturally diverse region. With strong working relationships to many community organizations and regional stakeholders, The Sprout Fund is one of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s leading agencies on issues related to civic engagement, talent attraction and retention, public art, and catalytic small-scale funding.

The Andrews Trio

Biography

The Andrews Trio consists of three fabulous sopranos. Eva Rainforth, mezzo soprano, native of Long Island, graduated from Fredonia State University, NY with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music Performance. You might have seen her singing with the Pittsburgh Symphony at the "Lord of the Rings" concert at Heinz Hall or with the Mendelssohn Choir in the Bach "Magnificat". She starred as 'Dinah' in Greensburg American Opera's production of Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti". Eva has sung in many different major music halls in NYC, and is a composer/songwriter. She was just featured at the Westmoreland Museum of Art singing her beautiful and insightful collection of songs. Eva is on the voice faculty at Point Park University.

Judith Jenkins, lyric soprano, native of Teaneck, NJ, graduated from Peabody conservatory with a Bachelors of Music and Carnegie Mellon University with her Masters of Fine Arts. You might have seen her singing the role of 'Queen Isabella' in the world premiere of Leonardo Balada's opera "The Death of Columbus" at Carnegie Music Hall, or as the featured soloist with the Renaissance City Wind Ensemble. She has sung musical engagements all over the world including a tour of the Philippines under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy benefiting major cultural institutions and universities. She is on the music faculty at Point Park University in vocal arts.

Katy Shackleton Williams, lyric coloratura soprano, native of Poughkeepsie, NY graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance. You might have seen her soloing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, or at the Fiddlesticks Children's concerts with the PSO, with the River City Brass Band, the Pittsburgh Philharmonic or Pittsburgh Concert Chorale. She is a music teacher at the JCC South Hills and is on the voice faculty at Washington and Jefferson College. She is a soloist for Rodef Shalom Congregation, Oakland and Third Presbyterian Church, Shadyside.

Marilyn Taft Thomas Biography

Marilyn Taft Thomas is Professor of Theory and Composition in the Carnegie Mellon School of Music. She is an active composer with works for orchestra, choir, piano, voice, and chamber ensembles. She has won prizes from the National Federation of Music and the "National Harvey Gaul Competition," and has received nine awards in composition from ASCAP, with commissions from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Mellon University, the American Music Center, and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.

Her diverse background includes 25 years as a pianist, church organist, and director of music. Dr. Thomas was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in composition from the University of Pittsburgh, and the only woman to serve as President of the Pittsburgh Alliance of Composers. Her computer music research and development of music theory software is internationally known. As a teacher, her innovative teaching methods have been cited by Associated Press and honored by the university with its prestigious Henry Hornbostel Teaching Award.

Since joining the Carnegie Mellon faculty in 1981, Dr. Thomas has served as Head of the School of Music, 1988-1996, Director of Graduate Studies, 1997-2000, and Executive Director of the River City Brass Band, 2000-2003. In addition to her work as a composer, she has published over 20 articles and papers on composition, technology, computer music, music education and women in music. She has also authored two books, several collections of essays, poetry, and travel journals. In 2004, Thomas

was granted the Stolarevsky Lifetime Achievement Award by the McKeesport Symphony Society for distinguished service in the arts, and for excellence in and contributions to the cultural life of our communities.

Dr. Thomas currently serves as President Elect of the Executive Board of the Andrew Carnegie Society at Carnegie Mellon University. She is the mother of three grown children and has six very active grandchildren.

MORE INFO: http://www.rcbb.com/