Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth Topic of eMagnify Symposium

"Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth"

A Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium

March 9, 2012

presented by

Seton Hill University's
E-Magnify Women's Business Center

Save the date for the 2012 E-Magnify women's entrepreneurial symposium, "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth," which will be held at the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center in downtown Greensburg, PA, on Friday, March 9. This year's symposium will focus on growth strategies for small businesses and will include workshops and a keynote address on a variety of ways to increase your organization's revenue stream.

The Symposium Keynote Speaker will be Mary Cantando, president of The Woman's Advantage. She will deliver a keynote address entitled "Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Business!". As a nationally recognized speaker, author, columnist, and consultant, Mary engages audiences throughout the country with her insight and understanding regarding the power and potential of women business owners. Her presentations deliver powerful, cutting-edge information that provide immediate results for her audiences.

An entrepreneurial executive since 1989, Mary is a recognized authority on women's business initiatives. Having personally closed sales of up to $50M, Mary is a respected sales and marketing expert who serves as a trusted mentor and advisor, and has helped countless women entrepreneurs develop new, successful revenue streams for their enterprises.

Mary is a member of the National Speakers' Association and presents at regional, national, and international events focused on the recognition and development of women business owners. She also serves as a facilitator for the Women Presidents' Organization, sits on the advisory board of Enterprising Women magazine, and serves on the National Forum of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. In addition, she is tapped as a resource by media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fast Company.

Mary will speak about building strategies for sustainable growth at this year's E-Magnify women's entrepreneurial symposium. Growing a business is challenging whether you are just starting or are a seasoned entrepreneur. Developing key strategies to sustain your business is essential to long-term growth.

Full symposium details and registration will be available soon. Please mark your calendar for Friday, March 9, and get ready to grow your business!

About E-Magnify

Seton Hill University's E-Magnify® women's business center provides business counseling, training, and mentoring to help women start and grow their businesses. For more information about E-Magnify please visit www.e-magnify.com.

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Tribute Show Brit Floyd Showcases Pink Floyd's Greatest Hits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Today's date:

January 26, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Presents BRIT FLOYD - The British Pink Floyd Greatest Hits World Tour 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center

BRIT FLOYD, the new PINK FLOYD tribute show, is coming to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. BRIT FLOYD was created by Chas Cole and Damian Darlington, the long-time producer and musical director of The Australian Pink Floyd Show. The British Pink Floyd Greatest Hits World Tour brings together all the best elements of a real Pink Floyd show: world-class musicians and world-class road crew, together with cutting-edge Floydian animation and new stage production. "Blindingly brilliant, jaw droppingly authentic...at last Pink Floyd have the tribute show they deserve!" (The News, Portsmouth) The tour will feature Damian Darlington, lead guitar and vocals; Ian Cattell, lead vocals and bass; Bobby Harrison, guitar; Carl Brunsdon, sax and percussion; Rob Stringer, keyboards; Arran Ahmun, drums; Ola Bienkowska, Emily Jollands and Jacquie Williams, vocals.

About the members of BRIT FLOYD:

In the beginning of 1994, Damian Darlington joined the Australian Pink Floyd Show and, during a period of almost 17 years, he went on to play close to 1,300 shows all over the world in theatres, hall and arenas. Ian Cattell spent six years with the Australian Pink Floyd show where he played bass and sung lead vocals in more than 500 performances in 32 countries around the world. Bobby Harrison has toured the USA and Canada extensively with the Australian Pink Floyd Show and has played guitar for the hit Queen show We Will Rock You in London’s West End, as well as in Zurich, Stuttgart, and Vienna, where he also performed with Brian May.

Carl Brunsdon began playing saxophone at age 11 and bass at age 23. For the Australian Pink Floyd Show, Brunsdon contributed his talents on sax, bass, percussion, guitar and keyboards.

At 6 years old, Rob Stringer began playing on a honkey-tonk piano in his parents’ utility room. That talent evolved into playing keyboards on two previous Australian Pink Floyd shows, and he has recently performed in a Beatles theatre show.

Arran Ahmun turned pro at 19 and shortly thereafter spent two years in London playing in West End shows. Throughout the 90s, he continued extensive touring and recording with artists such as Alison Moyet, Linda Lewis, The Proclaimers (including two No. 1 hits), Robbie Robertson, and the Jools Holland Big Band.

Ola Bienkowska's latest solo credits include two large-scale orchestral projects, one whose live recording went gold in April 2010, and her duet with Polish crooner Wojciech Gassowski for a rendition of “Dream A Little Dream Of Me.”

Emily Jolland's passion has been singing since she was a young girl, and she first toured as the lead in a National Opera production of Cinderella at age twelve. In 2003, she began working with the Australian Pink Floyd tribute band and has been a part of the project ever since.

Jacquie Williams has performed backing vocals for musicians such as Michael Buble, Martin Fry, Jason Donovan, Thelma Houston, and many others. In 2005, a song she wrote for U.S. Diva Kathy Brown called “Stronger on my Own” reached U.K. chart position number six.

Tickets are $32.25-$47.25 and may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Premiere of Distant Worlds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Today's date:
January 30, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org



The Pittsburgh premiere of Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY

Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center

Image from VII Concert

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY,” the international concert phenomenon featuring Nobuo Uematsu's stirring music from the award-winning role-playing video game FINAL FANTASY on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. at the Benedum Center. “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” will be conducted by Grammy Award winner Arnie Roth and will feature the Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra and the Benedum Center Orchestra, as well as guest vocalist Susan Calloway.

This concert is presented by Attila Glatz Concerts Productions in association with Columbia Artists Management, Inc. and appears as part of the Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Tickets ($38.25 - $78.25) for the February 25, 2012, performance of “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” at the Benedum Center may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

With more than 70 musicians on stage, “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” is a multi-media feast for the ears and the eyes. Composer Nobuo Uematsu's music, hailed by Time Magazine’s Christopher John Farley for “...imbuing FINAL FANTASY games with grandeur and depth, much the way John Williams’ score helped propel Star Wars into hyperspace,” is sweeping and richly atmospheric. Originally created to enhance the gaming experience of one of the best-selling video game franchises in history, the compositions have garnered legions of fans of their own.

“While originally composed to set the tone for the FINAL FANTASY games, Uematsu’s music is as emotionally compelling and sophisticated as the work of any composer working today,” said Music Director and Executive Producer Arnie Roth, who has held the baton for all FINAL FANTASY concerts in North America and Europe, including those featuring the San Francisco Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Seattle Symphony, as well as the Tokyo Philharmonic. “The breadth of his work is astounding, encompassing traditional orchestral and operatic work to pop-inspired ballads. To witness the overwhelming reaction of audiences – and even veteran musicians – to this music is a genuine thrill.”


About the Concert and Tour

The “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” concert will include highlights from Uematsu's music for the FINAL FANTASY game franchise (produced by Square Enix and now in its 14th edition since the franchise’s debut in 1987, with more than 97 million units sold). Also being performed is new music from the recently released FINAL FANTASY XIII, by composer Masashi Hamauzu and new scores by Nobuo Uematsu from the newest release, FINAL FANTASY XIV. This live performance celebrates the music of Japanese video game composer Nobuo Uematsu and includes state-of -the-art HD video presentations filled with images direct from Square Enix and exclusive to the Distant Worlds concert production.

FINAL FANTASY VIII: “Eyes On Me” will receive its North American premiere performance in Pittsburgh featuring renowned vocalist Susan Calloway. It was released as a CD single in Japan and sold more than 400,000 copies, making it the highest-selling video game music disc ever released in that country at the time. “Eyes On Me” was the first song in video game history to win an award at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards, where it won “Song of the Year (Western Music)” in 1999.

Susan Calloway is a singer well known to the FINAL FANTASY community as a featured soloist on the Distant Worlds concerts and recordings. Nobuo Uematsu personally requested Susan to sing the vocal theme of FINAL FANTASY XIV: “Answers.” She will be featured in FINAL FANTASY XII: “Kiss Me Good-bye” and FINAL FANTASY VIII: “Eyes On Me.”

After the success of the first live concert of this music in 2002, Uematsu’s music has been featured on several tours, including the first Distant Worlds worldwide tour 2007, which began in Stockholm, Sweden. Coinciding with the beginning of this tour, Roth and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra released the album Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy, which contains most of the songs performed at the concert. The album was praised as “one of life and energy” by Square Enix music online, who found the performance to be of superb quality.

Since the FINAL FANTASY concert’s debut in 2002 in Japan, the concerts have grown to become some of the most popular orchestral events in the world, frequently selling out in a matter of days.


About Composer Nobuo Uematsu

Nobuo Uematsu is universally recognized as one of the most celebrated video game composers in the field, having achieved global recognition for his music from the FINAL FANTASY franchise that has been performed by world-class orchestras around the globe. Seen as a major proponent and contributor for the increasing popularity and performance of video game music, his song “Eyes on Me,” the theme song from FINAL FANTASY VIII, sold a record number of copies and was the first video game song to win “Song of the Year (Western Music)” at the Japanese Gold Disc Awards in 1999. The music from the game series has grown to such notoriety that Nobuo Uematsu was named as one of the “Innovators” in Time Magazine’s “Time 100: the Next Wave Music” feature.


About Music Director Arnie Roth

Music Director Arnie Roth is a Grammy-winning artist known for his work with performers including Il Divo, Diana Ross, Jewel, The Irish Tenors, Charlotte Church, Peter Cetera, and Dennis DeYoung. Roth has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Dallas Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the BBC Symphony, the Czech National Chamber Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, the Detroit Symphony, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Sydney Symphony.

Roth is well known in the world of video game music for his work with Nobuo Uematsu and Square Enix as Music Director and Conductor of the “Dear Friends: music from FINAL FANTASY,” “More Friends: music from FINAL FANTASY,” “VOICES: music from FINAL FANTASY,” as well as his role as Music Director and Conductor of “PLAY! A Video Game Symphony.” He was the winner of the Best Score Award at the 2003 DVD Premier Awards for his score for the film BarbieTM as Rapunzel and was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for his original song “Shine” from the movie BarbieTM in The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Roth has produced dozens of best-selling CDs. For more information, visit www.awrmusic.com.


About Presenter Attila Glatz Concert Productions

Attila Glatz Concert Productions arrived on the thriving North American concert scene in 1987 committed to maintaining both the quality and authenticity of popular musical presentations in Canada and the United States. The company’s signature event is the beloved New Year’s concert, “SALUTE TO VIENNATM,” patterned after Vienna’s original NEUJAHRSKONZERT and presented around New Year’s Day in many of North America’s major concert halls, from Lincoln Center in New York City to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. and from Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall to Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre and Montreal’s Place des Arts. For the past 17 years, this simultaneously-produced holiday series has delighted audiences wanting to usher in the New Year to the sounds of Johann Strauss, Jr. and his contemporaries. All concerts feature a 70-piece symphonic orchestra under the baton of renowned European conductors, stellar European singers and Viennese dancers. Each and every year, the producers introduce a fresh new program with different headline artists. For their continuous hard work, passion and dedication, the co-founders of Attila Glatz Concert Productions, Marion and Attila Glatz, were awarded one of Europe’s finest honors, the Austrian Government’s Decoration of Merit in Gold, for their authentic recreation of Vienna’s adored New Year’ s tradition. www.salutetovienna.com. Attila Glatz Concert Productions has also produced and presented numerous other sell-outs including: Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits (annual New Year’s Eve Concert in Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall); The Lord of the Rings Symphony; Daniel O’Donnell, the famous Irish crooner; Tango Buenos Aires, and more. http://www.glatzconcerts.com/.

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Nominate An Exceptional Woman for Tribute to Women Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT:
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

YWCA seeks nominations for 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Awards

Nomination deadline is February 8

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 19, 2012): Do you know an exceptional woman who has made a difference for other women in our community? It’s time to nominate her for a 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Award. The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is currently accepting nominations through Wednesday, February 8.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh launched the Tribute to Women Leadership Awards in 1983 to affirm its mission to empower women and girls to reach their personal and professional goals. Since then, the YWCA has honored the accomplishments of more than 200 exceptional women, saluting them for helping to shape the direction of our region and improve the lives of others.

This year’s awards will highlight women in the following categories: Arts & Culture, Business & Industry, Civic & Community Service, Education, Entrepreneur, Health & Human Services, Professional Services, and Science & Technology. Besides these eight award categories, the YWCA has added a Young Leader award category this year to honor a young woman between 25 and 40 years of age who has demonstrated exceptional leadership early in her career. The addition of the Young Leader Award is consistent with the YWCA Board of Directors’ decision to create a Young Leaders Board last year. The nomination form for all categories is available online at www.ywcapgh.org.

The YWCA invites nominations from individuals, businesses, professional groups and community organizations. Selecting the winners is the responsibility of the YWCA’s 2012 Tribute to Women Event Committee, comprised of a diverse group of professionals representing the award categories.

Awards will be presented at the 30th annual Tribute to Women Leadership Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 16, at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, downtown.

Proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s programs and services. For more information about Tribute to Women, call 412-255-1261 or email ttw@ywcapgh.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is a women’s membership movement committed to the elimination of racism and the economic empowerment of women and girls. To learn more about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Uncommon at the August Wilson Center

UNCOMMON, February 3-12, 2012 at the August Wilson Center

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Uncommon, on stage February 3-12 at the August Wilson Center, presents a new, world premiere work by Dwight Rhoden, Chromatic, as well as Brahm’s Quintet by Dennis Nahat and Maelstrom by Mark Morris. Audiences will be treated to an experience that will challenge any predetermined ideas regarding the relationship between classical composition and ballet. This is the first time Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre brings a part of its season to the August Wilson Center. Tickets to Uncommon can be purchased online at www.pbt.org, or by phone at (412) 456-6666.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre plans to announce it’s 2012-2013 Season at the performances of Uncommon.


QUOTE:

This world premiere ballet [Chromatic] set to Bach is an exciting venture. The new work will look at the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of the music and movement from the Baroque period, and hopefully bring a 21st century spin to a visual presentation.—Dwight Rhoden


About Choreographer Dwight Rhoden

Mr. Rhoden is a founding Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, based in New York City. A former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, he has established a remarkably wide-ranging career. “One of the most sought-after choreographers of the day“ (New York Times), he has created more than 80 ballets for his own company, and his work has been featured in television productions from PBS’s Great Performances specials to the popular series, So You Think You Can Dance. Dance Magazine has praised his “new aesthetic in movement, stage, picture, and performance concepts reflecting a post-modern, techno-savvy worldview.”


Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and The August Wilson Center

In 2011, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) and the August Wilson Center (AWC) will began a multiyear partnership that includes the Ballet’s premiere performances of Uncommon, in the Center’s 486-seat theatre, February 3-12, 2012. This partnership seeks to develop and provide world-class artistic content that will enrich the artistic substance of both institutions to the benefit of the Greater Pittsburgh community and beyond. The collaboration will include performances, education & cultivation and workshops & master classes.

Moving from the Byham Theater to the August Wilson Center will provide PBT patrons with a more intimate experience at the ballet.


Info from August Wilson Center:

About the August Wilson Center for African American Culture

Named for Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Hill District native August Wilson, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture engages regional and national audiences in its mission of preserving, presenting, interpreting, celebrating and shaping the art, culture and history of African Americans in Western Pennsylvania and people of African descent throughout the world.

Located in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, the multidisciplinary August Wilson Center is reflective of all aspects of African American culture. The Center’s striking, two-story, green building houses seven exhibition galleries, a 486-seat theater for performances in all disciplines, a cultivation center, a café and gift shop, and multipurpose spaces for community programs and events. The Center is among a select few African American cultural institutions presenting visual and performing arts, the humanities and educational programs in a state-of-the-art venue.

The August Wilson Center – At The Center Of It All!

More information is available on The Center’s website at AugustWilsonCenter.org and by calling 412.258.2700.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Ocean Soul with National Geographic Photographer Brian Skerry at The Byham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Today's date: January 19, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

National Geographic Live: “Ocean Soul” with Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry

Sunday, February 12, 2012, at 4:00 p.m, Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street

Voyage across the earth’s oceans with Brian Skerry, one of National Geographic’s most seasoned underwater photographers, and discover a vast, hidden world beneath the waves. Brian Skerry will present his photographic journey and lecture, Ocean Soul, at the Byham Theater on Sunday, February 12, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. followed by a Q&A session and book signing. This lecture is a part of the National Geographic Live! speakers series*, a part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series, and is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Tickets ($20-$40) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call group sales at (412) 471-6930.

Using his camera to communicate, Brian Skerry has spent three decades—and more than 10,000 hours underwater—telling the oceans’ stories. His images celebrate the mystery and beauty of the depths and offer portraits of creatures so detailed and intimate they sometimes appear to have been shot in a studio. Skerry dives eight months of the year, often in extreme conditions beneath Arctic ice or in predator-infested waters, and has even lived at the bottom of the sea to be close to his subjects.

Skerry’s National Geographic book, Ocean Soul, offers a powerful retrospective of Skerry’s photographs and showcases his ability to create images that blend strong aesthetic beauty with journalistic relevance. Skerry explains, “I fell in love with the sea as a child and I wanted to tell stories about all I saw underwater. I never cease to be amazed at the extraordinary encounters I have when I’m at sea.” Ocean Soul takes readers from the glacial waters of the North Atlantic, where harp seals face pressure from commercial hunting, to the balmy central Pacific, where Skerry’s camera caught evidence of damaged coral ecosystems actually rebuilding themselves.

When not in the field, Skerry is a passionate advocate for the oceans he loves to photograph. His riveting talks before audiences at TED, Harvard, The National Press Club, and London’s Royal Geographic Society reinforce his lifelong mission to build reverence for these exquisite landscapes and encourage protection of them for future generations of ocean lovers.

*National Geographic Live! speakers series, at the Byham Theater, also will feature Annie Griffiths: A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel, on Sunday, April 22, 2012, at 4:00 p.m.

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Calling All Kids for PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest

WQED PITTSBURGH IS CALLING ALL KIDS FOR ANNUAL WRITERS CONTEST


PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest encourages children to create original stories and illustrations



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 18, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED PITTSBURGH IS CALLING ALL KIDS FOR ANNUAL WRITERS CONTEST

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest encourages children to create original stories and illustrations

PITTSBURGH – WQED Pittsburgh is kicking off the new year with the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest for students in grades kindergarten through third, a national initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. 2012 marks the eighteenth year that WQED has offered the Contest to the region and the third year that EQT Corporation is sponsoring WQED’s contest in partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WV PBS.) Also partnering with WQED this year is Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU) which serves central Pennsylvania. A central website, writeonkids.org, provides information about the Contest and the local enrichment opportunities offered in each station area.

“By offering the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest to our region, we are encouraging early learners to explore their creativity while developing essential literacy skills,” said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED. “WQED’s commitment to literacy and to nurturing children’s creative expression is unwavering, and we are delighted to offer this Contest again locally in partnership with our sister stations, WV PBS and WPSU. Research shows that creative writing can enhance and improve a child’s literacy development, and through this Contest, we are helping prepare children for learning and success, in school and beyond.”

Beginning January 14, 2012, WQED, WV PBS, WPSU and other PBS stations throughout the country will work with schools, public libraries and other education organizations to implement the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest in their communities. To celebrate the beginning of the Contest and distribute related materials, WQED will host the openings of two new PBS KIDS Library Corners, the first in the region, at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie on January 26 and at the Homestead Library on February 2. These events, primarily for school groups, will also feature appearances by characters from the popular PBS KIDS programs, SUPER WHY! and The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! The Saturday Light Brigade, a key local partner in the 2012 Contest, will also install and debut two new Story Boxes that highlight winning stories from the 2011 Contest, read by the student authors themselves. A Story Box is a wall-mounted or tabletop box, the face of which contains pictures with “hot spots” that are pressed to hear audio tracks.

For more information on the PBS KIDS Writers Contest in West Virginia, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Central Pennsylvania, including entry forms, rules, contest resources, and local event listings, go to www.writeonkids.org

In order to equip parents and teachers to best support their students’ contest entries, WQED will conduct three one-hour webinars on issues related to writing and illustration.

To register for:

• “Writing and Editing” January 25 at 3:30 p.m. with elementary school teacher Caley Svensson;

• “Ideation to Storyboarding” February 8 at 3:30 p.m. with local children’s author Michael Scotto;

• “Illustration” March 7 at 3:30 p.m. with Joe Wos, Executive Director of the Toonseum

go to www.writeonkids.org or click on the webinar titles above.

WQED, WV PBS and WPSU will select local winners and award prizes. Local winners will be entered into the national level of the Contest where a panel of judges will select the winners. National winners will be announced and prizes – including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players – will be awarded during summer 2012.

For the second year in a row, WQED has partnered with The Saturday Light Brigade to invite winners and honorable mentions from the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest to record their stories live in the Saturday Light Brigade radio studios at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh; these recordings will be made on April 28. Winning stories will be aired by The Saturday Light Brigade as part of their Youth Expression Showcase, archived on SLB's website, matched with individual author’s stories in the “Previous Winners” section of the Contest website, and included in new versions of The Saturday Light Brigade’s contest storyboxes.

This year’s winners’ celebration will be held in the historic Fred Rogers’ Studio at WQED in Oakland on May 12 and will feature performances of the winners’ stories that have been transformed into puppet plays.


About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.


About Penn State Public Broadcasting

Penn State Public Broadcasting serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.


About West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting nurtures personal growth, promotes civic responsibility and inspires lifelong discovery through high-quality programming and services. West Virginia Public Radio, West Virginia PBS, wvpubcast.org and Ready To Learn® are all services of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a 501(c)3 organization responsible for receiving donated funds from individuals for annual membership to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Friends serve as ambassadors in their communities on behalf of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

All of the licenses for West Virginia Public Broadcasting are held by the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Kay Goodwin, Secretary.


About Saturday Light Brigade

SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB) uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. SLB believes in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy, engagement and self-directed imagination that is often lacking in other media, while also promoting opportunities for privacy (given that children need not be photographed), equal access (audio has fewer barriers for participation than other media), and sharpening of important life skills (i.e., speaking and listening, imagination, creative expression, and critical thinking, respect for others, confidence and cooperation, and technical curiosity).


About PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, join our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit pbskidsgo.org.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Carnegie Music Hall Hosts Pittsburgh Native Christopher O'Riley on NPR

POPULAR NPR SHOW "FROM THE TOP" WITH PITTSBURGH'S OWN CHRISTOPHER O'RILEY TAPES BROADCAST AT CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 AT 8 P.M.


For Immediate Release - January 17, 2012


Program Contact:

Eleanor Dowling
617-437-0707 x103
edowling@fromthetop.org



Christopher O'Riley


Popular NPR Show “From the Top” with Pittsburgh’s Own Christopher O’Riley tapes broadcast at Carnegie Music Hall on Tuesday, February 14 at 8 pm


From the Top, the preeminent showcase for young musicians heard weekly on Classical WQED-FM 89.3 comes to the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to tape a radio broadcast on Tuesday, February 14 at 8:00 pm. The popular NPR program, hosted by Pittsburgh’s own acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley, will feature the amazing performances and captivating personal stories of extraordinary young classical musicians from across the country. This episode is presented by the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University with local media sponsor Classical WQED-FM 89.3. To purchase tickets, visit www.showclix.com/event/FromtheTop or call 1-888-71-TICKETS. From the Top’s 2011-12 National Tour is sponsored by U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

The broadcast taping features local 17-year-old violist Daniel Orsen from Pittsburgh, performing the fourth movement from Sonata in F-minor by Johannes Brahms, accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley on the piano; and 14-year-old pianist and composer Aleksandr Voinov from Sewickley, Pennsylvania performing Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 by Frédéric Chopin.

Also on the broadcast: 17-year-old euphonium player Grant Jameson from Dublin, Ohio performing “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms” by Simone Mantia, accompanied by Christopher O’Riley; 16-year-old violinist Kelly Talim from Buffalo Grove, Illinois performing Caprice No.6, "D'après l'Étude en forme de Valse", Op.52 by Camille Saint Saëns, accompanied by Christopher O’Riley. A final performer will be chosen in the coming weeks.

This episode will air nationally the week of March 5, 2012 and on Classical WQED-FM 89.3 Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 5 pm. From the Top is heard weekly on Classical WQED-FM 89.3, Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7 in Johnstown, and at wqed.org worldwide Saturdays at 5 pm.

About From the Top

What began as a radio experiment in 2000 quickly became one of the fastest growing and most popular weekly classical music programs on public radio. Broadcast on nearly 250 stations nationwide to an audience of more than 700,000 listeners each week, From the Top has been described by the Boston Globe as, "an entertaining, accessible and inspirational mix of outstanding musical performances, informal interviews, skits and games, the show is a celebration of extraordinary musicians who happen to be teenagers leading fairly normal lives."

Annually, From the Top's live tapings reach more than 20,000 live audience members of all ages across the United States. In conjunction with its national tour, through From the Top’s Center for the Development of Arts Leaders, the Boston-based non-profit offers leadership training to young artists and conducts classroom and community programs leveraging the power of its performers as role models for younger students. In addition, From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation award $10,000 scholarships to high achieving musicians with limited financial means. The program has invested more than $1.4 million in support for pre-college students since 2005. From the Top launched its Emmy Award winning PBS television series From the Top at Carnegie Hall in 2007.

From the Top's radio program is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and support from U.S. Trust. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and institutions as well as public radio stations. From the Top is an independent non-profit organization headquartered in Boston. From the Top’s founding partners are New England Conservatory and WGBH. Learn more at www.fromthetop.org.


About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.


About Carnegie Mellon University School of Music

Founded in 1912 as one of the five schools of the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon’s School of Music educates outstanding, intellectually gifted musicians through excellence in performance, creativity, scholarship and pedagogy. The School of Music offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in instrumental and vocal performance, composition and keyboard performance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology. A Master of Music degree is offered in performance, composition, conducting, collaborative piano and music education and a Master of Science in Music and Technology. Additionally, the School of Music offers a variety of highly acclaimed non-degree programs, such as the Artist Diploma (Performance, Composition, Conducting), Advanced Music Studies Certificate (Performance, Composition, Piano Pedagogy, Audio Recording and Production, and Piano Maintenance), Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certification, Orff Schulwerk Teacher Training and Music Education Certification. The School of Music presents more than 250 events annually, many of which are free and open to the public. More information can be found at music.cmu.edu. To learn more about Carnegie Mellon University, go to http://www.cmu.edu/about/cmufactsheet.pdf.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Bat Population Near Extinction

STATE BAT POPULATION NEAR EXTINCTION DUE TO FUNGUS SPREADING NATIONWIDE


Experience: The Race to Save Pennsylvania's Bats Premieres Monday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 18, 2012



CONTACT:

George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org



STATE BAT POPULATION NEAR EXTINCTION DUE TO FUNGUS SPREADING NATIONWIDE

Experience: The Race to Save Pennsylvania’s Bats

Premieres Monday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

PITTSBURGH—More than a million bats in the northeastern United States have died from a fungus called White Nose Syndrome (WNS.) While bats might conjure fear, they provide an essential service to all humans by helping to control pests that pose threats to our agriculture, forestry and health. On Monday, January 23 WQED’s local documentary series Experience presents The Race to Save Pennsylvania’s Bats at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV.

With more than 98% of Pennsylvania’s cave bats gone, biologists are calling WNS the worst wildlife crisis in history. Emmy® Award winning producer Gina Catanzarite takes viewers inside local caves, mines and research labs to reveal how Pennsylvania has emerged as a national leader in the fight against WNS. Featured in the documentary are endangered mammal specialist Greg Turner and biologist Cal Butchkoski of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, along with renowned bat researcher Dr. DeeAnn Reeder of Bucknell University. The program also shows how Pennsylvania residents can help slow the spread of this disease in their own neighborhoods.

Experience programs may be viewed the day after their premiere broadcast online at wqed.org along with other local WQED productions including Horizons, It’s Pittsburgh...& A Lot Of Other Stuff, Pittsburgh 360° and 4802. Experience airs Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV and showcases locally produced half-hour documentaries. For more information regarding Experience go to: wqed.org/experience and “Like” on Facebook® at facebook.com/ExperienceOnWQED.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Experience Dutch Culture with Three Month Distinctively Dutch Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:

January 18, 2012

Contact:

Veronica Corpuz

(412) 471-6082

corpuz@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust launches

The Distinctively Dutch Festival

The Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

February 18 - May 20, 2012

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, a nonprofit arts and economic development organization at the center of Downtown Pittsburgh’s revival, will host an array of U.S. and world premieres as part of an interdisciplinary arts festival: The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Distinctively Dutch Festival. Celebrating the culture and contemporary performing and visual arts from the Netherlands, the three-month festival will feature dance, theater, music, visual art, film, literature and architecture. Events will be held February 18-May 20, 2012, throughout Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, as well as at select venues, including MCG Jazz, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Carnegie Mellon University.

Presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Distinctively Dutch Festival is supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Performing Arts Fund NL, Music Center the Netherlands and Theater Instituut Nederland. In addition, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust gratefully acknowledges the Carol R. Brown Performance Fund for support of the Festival, as well as media partners Pittsburgh City Paper and 90.5 Essential Public Media.


Drawing on a long-standing history of presenting Dutch contemporary artists in Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust identified 2012 as the year to launch another punctuating, culturally-focused festival—in line with its preceding Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts (2008 and 2004), Australia Festival (2007) and Québec Festival (2004). J. Kevin McMahon, Cultural Trust President and CEO said, “Dutch artists are renowned for their innovation and creativity, and one of our objectives at the Trust is to share their extraordinary performing and visual arts and Dutch culture with Pittsburgh audiences. The artists whom The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has invited showcase the outstanding caliber of craft, technique, expression, collaboration and bold spirit of exploration we identify as ‘distinctively Dutch’.”

Dutch Ambassador to the U.S. Renée Jones-Bos said, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on this exciting project to showcase many Dutch artists in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, one of the most creative cities in the United States. It reflects the forward-looking mentality, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative nature that the Netherlands shares with the US and with Pittsburgh in particular.” The festival was made possible through a generous grant from the Performing Arts Fund NL, Music Center the Netherlands and Theater Instituut Nederland and is actively supported by the Dutch Embassy network, specifically the Consulate-General of The Netherlands in New York. The festival is an example of how cultural diplomacy can create lasting economic, political, academic and artistic ties between the Netherlands and Pittsburgh.

Creativity and innovation stands at the core of Pittsburgh’s strategic transformation. Pittsburgh’s rich cultural heritage includes the likes of Andy Warhol, Art Blakey, Rachel Carson and Martha Graham. That heritage provides fertile grounds for the innovative and creative performances of Dance Works Rotterdam/André Gingras, Jiří Kylián and Michael Schumacher, PIPS:lab, Wunderbaum, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, JacobTV, Drums United and many others. Distinctely Dutch marks the cultural tradition of innovation that Pittsburgh shares with the Dutch.

Additional programs may be added to the festival calendar. For a listing of events and to receive updates, please visit TrustArts.org/dutchfestival or call 412-456-6666. Groups may purchase discounted tickets by calling 412-471-6930. Visit www.dutchartevents.com for more information on Dutch arts in the U.S. and follow Dutch Art Events on Facebook and Twitter.

DISTINCTIVELY DUTCH FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES & EXHIBITIONS


Dance Works Rotterdam/ André Gingras
ANATOMICA
U.S. Premiere
Presented by Pittsburgh Dance Council
Sponsored by First Commonwealth
Saturday, February 18, 8pm
Byham Theater
101 Sixth Street, Cultural District
$14-$45

“It’s a terrific splurge of vibrant physicality and joie de vivre that sets out to showcase what an amazing miracle the body represents.” —The Times of London

Choreographed by the daring André Gingras, ANATOMICA is an unyielding exploration of the physical extremes of sexual competition and attraction. Inspired by the danger, beauty and consequences of the body on display, Gingras delves and soars into the body’s extraordinary abilities and profound fragility. Dance Works Rotterdam/André Gingras puts contemporary dance in a social context, bringing relevant moral dilemmas into the theater with energetic raw dance. Described by theater and visual artist Robert Wilson as “rigorous, intellectual and free in spirit,” the company emphasizes collaboration and dialogue with other organizations and artists beyond the boundaries of contemporary dance.


Wunderbaum
Detroit Dealers
World Premiere
Thursday-Saturday, February 23–25, 8pm
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
$30

Set against the rise and fall of the American car industry, theater maker Walter Bart tells the story of his granddad, car dealer Arie Bart. In a cross-over of dramatized documentary, theater and music, Arie’s remarkable life is juxtaposed with the romance of the American Dream and the transience of the car as a sex symbol. Based in Rotterdam, Wunderbaum is a group of actors who work collectively, together with a designer and a dramaturge, as well as musicians, writers, photographers and film producers. Chameleonic, collaborative and often site specific, the performances of Wunderbaum take on many shapes resulting in newly discovered theater forms combined with a fresh look at humankind and society.


PIPS:lab
Diespace
U.S. Premiere
Friday–Sunday, March 23–25, 8pm Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
$30

Born in the underground party scene of Amsterdam, PIPS:lab is known throughout the Netherlands for producing raw, expressive, visually stunning, interactive multimedia performances. The six members of this tech-theater collective have emerged as do-it-yourself masters of the unexpected. Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn. Now PIPS:lab has created Diespace: “the first active internet community for the deceased.” Interactive video technology, music, and sardonic wit: Diespace is an innovative look at life, death and the Internet. Co-produced by Melkweg Paradiso Productiehuis. DieSpace is supported by the Fonds voor Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunsten, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds and VSB Fonds.


Jiří Kylián and Michael Schumacher
Last Touch First
U.S. Premiere
Presented by Pittsburgh Dance Council
Sponsored by First Commonwealth
Friday and Saturday, April 6–7, 8pm August Wilson Center
980 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
$35

“It’s that rare occurrence: a performance that really grabs you and leaves you affected In mind and body for days...Last Touch First is such a performance; a joining of the best forces of dance.” -Trouw

Choreographer-in-residence and former artistic director of the acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater, Jiří Kylián has joined forces with master of dance improvisation Michael Schumacher to create Last Touch First. Set within an imagined 18th-century manor house, the performance touches the depths of desperation, madness and loneliness within six characters. Through incredibly slow stop-motion movement these gripping and magical vignettes resonate like a Chekhovian drama. A Holland Dance Festival production in cooperation with Nederlands Dans Theater and Steps Festval, Zwisterland.


Rachel Nieborg & Ine Mulder
Girls’N’Guns
April 27–June 10
707 Penn Gallery
707 Penn Avenue, Cultural District

The famed “still life” of old masters is reinterpreted by two young Dutch artists: photographer Rachel Nieborg and designer Ine Mulder. The duo began working together on Girls’N’Guns in 2008 when Ine Mulder asked Nieborg to join her for shooting practice. The project evolved into a carefully crafted set recasting the still life paintings of the 17th century. Working with a metronome to fine tune the precision timing, one would literally shoot a gun while the other shot photographs. The images have not been edited with photo software, but capture the raw tension of stillness and movement, violence and beauty.


Global Navigators
April 27–June 10
Wood Street Galleries / SPACE
601 Wood Street / 812 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

“Global Navigators explores and embodies our fascination with unknown cultures through various media, forms and processes.” -Murray Horne, Curator, Wood Street Galleries

For the Distinctively Dutch Festival, more than a dozen visual artists— including Peter Bogers, Gerard Holthuis, Marnix de Nijs, Folkert de Jong, Guido van der Werve and Karen Sargsyan—will be featured in this exhibition that examines the very nature of global exploration. This contemporary Dutch expedition traverses the terrains of the Internet and new media as well as mines the historical context of Dutch exploration.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has a long history of presenting visual artists from the Netherlands, including most recently Edwin van der Heide, telcosystems and Informationlab, which created Pittsburgh’s first art+technology public art installation entitled Cell Phone Disco.


JacobTV
The News
World Premiere
Sponsored by Joan Humphrey
Friday, April 27, 9pm Byham Theater
101 Sixth Street, Cultural District $20–$30

“JacobTV is preoccupied with American media and world events and draws raw materials from those sources. His work possesses an explosive strength and raw energy combined with extraordinarily intricate architectural design.” -Limor Tomer, General Manager, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A tragicomical story of our times ... never finished, constantly updated! Classical music outlaw and avant-pop composer, Jacob Ter Veldhuis a.k.a. JacobTV has created his newest opus, The News. In an orchestrated video-opera of talking heads and political pundits, JacobTV has sampled speeches and sound bites from news media to create everything from a militant staccato for the angry evangelist to a lyrical adagio for elegant presidential rhetoric. This unique synthesis of speech, music and video is performed by JacobTV and the intrepid Chicago-based chamber ensemble, Fulcrum Point. Featured soloists are Josefien Stoppelenburg, soprano, and Lori Cotler, alto.


MCG Jazz presents
Dutch Women of Jazz
Friday–Saturday, May 18–19, 8pm Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild
1815 Metropolitan Street, North Side
Adults: $30 or buy both shows for $50; Students: $20 or buy both shows for $30

MCG Jazz is proud to present Holland’s finest female jazz musicians. Specially recommended by the Muziek Centrum Netherland, a distinguished center for the promotion of music both in the Netherlands and abroad, these three diverse bands represent the best in Dutch jazz.

On Friday, May 18, MCG Jazz features a double-bill with Amina Figarova Sextet and the saxophone-led Tineke Postma Quartet. The immensely talented and critically-acclaimed Saskia Laroo Band performs on Saturday, May 19. Discounted packages are available if you purchase both performances.

With her penchant for thoughtful, enthralling melodies and bright, clear alto sax sound, Tineke Postma’s bright voice has been making a mark on the U.S. scene over the last couple years.

Called “one of the most important composers to come into jazz in the new millennium” by Jazztimes, Amina Figarova’s graceful and erudite piano style and showstopping band will challenge and inspire you.

Saskia Laroo, hailed by American public and press at large as “Lady Miles of Europe,” is one of the few women trumpet stylists, and headlines her own show for this once-in-a-lifetime Pittsburgh concert.


Beumer and Drost
Dudes
North American Premiere
Presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival
Sponsored by Giant Eagle
Wednesday–Sunday, May 16–20
Charity Randall Theater
4301 Forbes Avenue, Oakland
$8

Dudes is a hybrid performance of song, dance, puppetry, slap-stick and mime that takes place in the confines of a small locker room where the limitless possibilities of the imagination unfold. Founded by Loek Beumer and Peter Drost, B&D is a self-made theater company that has built a strong reputation and loyal audiences in the Netherlands and Belgium for their innovative theatrical works for children, youth and adults.


Drums United
World of Rhythm
Presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival
Sponsored by Giant Eagle
Friday–Sunday, May 18–20
Bellefield Hall
315 S. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland
$8

Drums United is an explosive and exciting world-percussion group interweaving the rhythms of African drums, Indian tablas, Cuban rumbas and more, with percussionists from nations such as Bangladesh, Senegal, Spain, Germany, Surinam and Venezuela. Led by award-winning Dutch percussionist and bandleader, Lucas van Merwijk, Drums United celebrates the unifying power of music that transcends culture, language and difference.


DUTCH ARTS IN PITTSBURGH

Wednesday Wine Flight: Dutch Diaspora
Wednesday, February 1, 6:15pm Cabaret at Theater Square
655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District, $35.75

Explore the Dutch influence on the global wine industry as part of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Wednesday Wine Flights. Call 412-456-6666 to reserve tickets to this popular wine series.

A Creative Conversation with Wunderbaum
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Thursday, February 16
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Join director Walter Bart and members of Wunderbaum in a creative conversation about the collaborative and interdisciplinary process of theater making and performance. Call 412-394-3353 to register for this free event.

Choreography Workshop with André Gingras
Friday, February 17 Dance Alloy Studio
5530 Penn Ave, East Liberty

Professional dancers and choreographers are invited to study with renowned choreographer André Gingras for this intimate examination of choreography and creative process. Space is limited. To register, call 412-471-6079 or email education@trustarts.org.

Craft Beer School: Let’s Go Dutch
Tuesday, February 21, 6:15pm Cabaret at Theater Square
655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District, $25.75

Experience Dutch culinary arts paired with craft beers that will delight the beer lover’s palette. Call 412-456-6666 to reserve tickets to this popular beer series.

Ben Van Berkel: “The New Understanding”
Wednesday, February 29, 6pm Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
4400 Forbes Avenue, Oakland

Join architect Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio in Amsterdam for a lecture presented by the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture and the Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art. This free lecture is supported, in part, by public funds from the Netherlands Cultural Services. For more information visit www.cmu.edu/architecture/lecture.

Spring Flower Show
March 17–April 15 Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
One Schenley Park, Oakland

$12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $11 for students, $9 for children, members and children under 2 are free. Open daily: 9:30am–5pm; Fridays until 10pm. 412-622-6914 www.phipps.conservatory.org

Take a trip around the world at the Spring Flower Show, a colorful celebration of vibrant locales and cultures. A Dutch display in the historic and spacious South Conservatory will showcase the beauty of tulips with swaths of blooms; intricately-painted wooden shoes and an iconic windmill. Nearly 15,000 bulbs planted in the front of the glasshouse will also flower to represent the spectacular fields of Holland right here in Pittsburgh.

2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival
March 22–April 15
Carnegie Mellon University

Faces of Others is a series of international film festivals featuring selections from Poland, Netherlands, South Africa, Israel, Palestine, Argentina, France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Norway, Iran, Korea, Romania, Russia and Pittsburgh. The “Distinctively Dutch” program highlights the recent cinematography of Holland and encompasses a wide range of the latest, award-winning films, documentaries and video installations by Dutch artists. For a full description of films, venues, and ticket info, visit www.cmu.edu/faces or call 412-445-6292.

Pittsburgh Technology Council Night and Artist Talk with PIPS:lab
Saturday, March 24
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Join the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Creative Technology Network for a post-performance artist talk with members of PIPS:lab focused on the do-it-yourself programming and technology behind Diespace. Special rates available for Pittsburgh Technology Council members.

Improvisation Workshop with Michael Schumacher
Saturday, April 7
Dance Alloy Studio
5530 Penn Ave, East Liberty

Professional dancers and choreographers are invited to study with master of improvisation Michael Schumacher. Space is limited. To register, call 412-471-6079 or email education@trustarts.org.

Dutch Poetry
Tuesday, April 17
City of Asylum/Pittsburgh
330 Sampsonia Way, North Side

Join City of Asylum/Pittsburgh for an evening with Dutch poets Joost Zwagerman, Erik Jan Harmens, Helene Gelens, John Schoorl, Pieter Boskma and Lucas Hirsch. For more information visit www.cityofasylumpittsburgh.org or call 412-321-2190.

Dutch Dining in the Cultural District
Monday–Friday, April 23–27
various venues

Visit our website trustarts.org/dutchfestival to see a list of participating restaurants, including Meat & Potatoes among many others that will feature a Dutch-inspired dishes and other special offerings during this week.

Rethinking Cities in the 21st Century
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
Thursday, April 26
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Join creative thinkers from Pittsburgh and Holland to discuss the transformation of urban cities in the 21st century. For more information, call 412-456-6666.

Dutch Art At Carnegie Museum of Art: Self-Guided Tour
Carnegie Museum of Art
4400 Forbes Avenue, Oakland

The Carnegie Museum of Art’s world class collection includes great works from the Netherlands. Enjoy masterpieces as diverse as Droog Design’s cabinet You Can’t Lay Down Your Memories to elegant 17th century inlaid Cabinet on Stand. Paintings range from Van Gogh’s important landscape The Plain of Auvers to innovations in early 20th century abstraction by Mondrian and Bart Antony van der Leck. For more info visit http://www.cmoa.org/.


Ticket Information & Advanced Reservations

For Tickets & Updates

ONLINE: www.TrustArts.org/dutchfestival

Follow us on Facebook.com/CulturalTrust and Twitter@CulturalTrust

PHONE: 412-456-6666

GROUPS: 412-471-6930

IN PERSON: Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District


Programming is subject to change. Please call or visit website for additional information.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Kingsley Jazz Explosion Honors Local Jazz Legends

Kingsley Association Presents

The Kingsley Awards:

JAZZ EXPLOSION

at The Hillman Center for The Performing Arts

Shady Side Academy Senior School

423 Fox Chapel Road

15238

25 February 2012

Doors open at 6:00pm / Show starts at 7:00pm

Visit www.kingsleyassociation.org

Kingsley Jazz Explosion

Join the Kingsley Association on February 25th for the Kingsley Awards: Jazz Explosion.

Roger Humphries



Dr. Nelson Harrison



Tony Mowod

The evening’s tribute will pay homage to our local jazz legends, Roger Humphries, Dr. Nelson Harrison and Tony Mowod, as they are honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contribution to the art of Jazz.

Doors open at 6:00pm with the show starting at 7:00pm.

at The Hillman Center for The Performing Arts

Shady Side Academy Senior School
423 Fox Chapel Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238


Featuring Music By Kenny Blake, Jay Willis, Lou Stellute, Tony Campbell and 4th and Ten, with Mark Strickland & DC Chandler

Reception

Meet and greet with the artists at the post-concert reception in The Black Box Theater at The Hillman Center. Delicious finger foods and light alcoholic beverages catered by Savoy Restaurant.

Tickets

$25 General Admission

$50 Reserved Seating

$75 VIP (Reception)

For tickets visit http://www.proarts.org/ or call 412.631.8939

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane. Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping. Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business. www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Nominate Pittsburgh Fashionistas for the Fashion Hall of Fame 2012

Pittsburgh Fashion Week

Nominations Sought For

Pittsburgh Fashion Hall of Fame 2012

Immediate Release
January 6, 2012

Pittsburgh Fashion Week - Fashion Hall of Fame Nominations

Pittsburgh Fashion Week is looking for the next six Fashion Hall of Fame Inductees

(PITTSBURGH) -- Nominations are being accepted for the third line of inductees into the Pittsburgh Fashion Hall of Fame at Pittsburgh Fashion Week this fall.

Are you considered a fashion icon or know someone who is? Pittsburgh Fashion Week (PFW) is looking for individuals who have impacted Pittsburgh through fashion, style and beauty.

The public is invited to nominate anyone with roots in Pittsburgh for the award. Nominations must include the name of the nominee, explanation of why the person is deserving, and contact information of the nominee. Nominations are due February 15 and may be submitted via email to halloffame@pittsburghfashionweek.com or by snail mail to Pittsburgh Fashion Week, P.O. Box 17947, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235-7947. Please keep submissions brief. Bullet points are preferred.

Nominees will be evaluated based on longevity and significance of contribution in the general areas of fashion or beauty and must have at least 10 years in the industry. They can be persons living in Pittsburgh, or persons born or raised in Pittsburgh and currently living elsewhere. Five to eight honorees may be culled from what are expected to be scores of nominees.

The purpose is to shine a spotlight on fashion icons from the city of Pittsburgh. We want to bring them to the forefront to honor them and continue to inform Pittsburghers that there are people here and from here who have done prominent things in the world of fashion. That is why we are honoring these iconic figures. Honorees will be announced in March and will be inducted at a luncheon at the Omni William Penn hotel, Downtown, on the last day of fashion week, September 30.

Aside from fashion weeks in major American cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, a number of smaller cities have debuted their own fashion weeks in recent years: Portland, Ore., Charlotte, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Phoenix to name a few. But none began as ambitiously as Pittsburgh Fashion Week in terms of length, and none have a hall of fame concept to honor local fashion luminaries.

The public can keep up with the latest developments of Pittsburgh Fashion Week at www.pittsburghfashionweek.com and through social media on the Friends of Pittsburgh Fashion Week page on Facebook and Twitter.


Thank You,


Miyoshi Anderson
Executive Director and Founder

Visit us at our home on the web: http://www.pittsburghfashionweek.com/
 

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh