Retrospective

Pittsburgh School for the Choral Arts (formerly Oakland Girls Choir) presents its annual All Choir Holiday Concert, “Retrospective,” on Saturday, December 13 at 4 PM at Shadyside Presbyterian Church,5121 Westminster Place.  96 choristers grades 1 – 12 will be performing. 

             “Retrospective will be the debut performance of Vivo, our first Boychoir and Via, our third level girlchoir,” says Artistic and General Director Kathryn Barnard.  “Retrospective aims to give each audience member an opportunity to leave the stress of the holiday season for an afternoon of personal, peaceful reflection.   The concert is intentionally inclusive of many traditions with the goal of meeting the needs of each audience member,” she added.

            Retrospective can be experienced as one’s own personal journey back in time from mature adulthood to early childhood through songs and carols specific to each stage of life. The concurrent theme is the life of Jesus from death to birth.  The concert will be enhanced by an instrumental feast of violins, trumpets, percussion and flutes.

            You are invited to experience this musical journey in the way that is most meaningful to you. Join us on December 13 at 4 pm for a transformative celebration of the holidays!

Admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors and $5 children.  Tickets will be available on www.showclix.com.

A CD introduced last season is available, featuring Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, performed by the 35 voice Concentio Choir.  Written in the 1940s, Britten’s piece is based on English texts from the 15th and 16th centuries, composed for treble voices and harp. The disc also includes the Pittsburgh premiere of Frank La Rocca’s Magnificat, performed by the 14-voice Chamber Choir.    In addition, there are other traditional carols by the entire ensemble, including Sussex Carol arranged by David Willcocks.  CDs are $15.