The Pitt-Bradford vocal arts ensemble will perform a holiday concert on Dec. 6.
The performance will be at noon in the KOA Speer Electronics Lobby in Blaisdell Hall. This concert is free and open to the public.
Dr. Joshua Groffman, assistant professor of music, is directing the performance. He has been working with the students since the beginning of the semester to bring this concert to life.
Students in the ensemble are Sadie D’Angelo, a broadcast communications major from Ashville, N.Y.; Patricia Eck, a mathematics education major from Bradford; Erin Fagan, a mathematics education major from Waverly, N.Y.; Zina Fitzpatrick, an undecided student from Bradford; Manu Gajanan, an interdisciplinary arts major from Bradford; Brooke Imbriale, an interdisciplinary arts major from Beaver Falls; Tarin Loveless, a nursing major from Roulette; Adrian-Neah Lozada, an undeclared student from East Stroudsburg; Alex Miinte, a criminal justice major from Randolph, N.Y.; Scott Reed, an exercise science major from Philadelphia, and Michael Stefanick, a biology major from Hermitage.
“The theme of the concert is contemporary arrangements of older songs,” Groffman said. The performance will feature a set of songs from the shape note singing tradition, a unique musical practice that uses various shapes in place of notes on pages of music.
In addition to the shape note pieces, the concert will also feature arrangements of folk music, sacred music, and pop songs, solo performances by D’Angelo, Imbriale, Fagan and Gajanan and a guest appearance by clarinetist Collin Higgins, a pre-medicine student from Levittown.
All Pitt-Bradford students are welcome to join the vocal ensemble, whether or not they have prior singing experience. The ensemble practices twice a week during the semester and performs regularly on campus and in Bradford.
Groffman said that singing in an ensemble provides students with unique learning experiences.
“Making music with a group is a very collaborative experience. You have to learn to trust other people and the director,” said Groffman. “Everyone is sort of counting on everybody else to be in rehearsal and to be engaged. It’s a totally different kind of music making than playing the piano by yourself or singing by yourself.”
For disability needs related to the performance, contact the Pitt-Bradford Office of Disability Services at 814-362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.