Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Join us for this special screening of Otto Preminger's "Carmen Jones." Based on Oscar Hammerstein's 1943 stage musical, "Carmen Jones" was adapted from Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen." Leading lady Dorothy Dandridge was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in this ground-breaking film featuring an all-Black cast. This event is presented in honor of African American History Month. (Marilyn Horne did the singing for Dandridge.)  

The Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center announced today that the museum will be closed for extended maintenance following a water pipe break in the museum’s theater on Tuesday. Following the extreme dip in temperatures this week, a sprinkler line above the museum burst, causing minor and isolated water damage. Facilities staff from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford were on the scene within minutes and were able to contain the leak quickly. The museum is expected to reopen Feb. 4. The museum’s gift shop and café remain open during maintenance. Museum manager Matthew Hileman said the museum is taking advantage of the down time to complete annual maintenance and repairs, which include the addition of new material inside the museum. “The museum’s second anniversary is quickly approaching, and I had some special exhibits planned.” Hileman said. “We also had our annual cosmetic touch-ups scheduled for next month. These recent developments allow us the op...

Less than twelve weeks after opening to the public, the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center has reached its first 1,000 visitors. While the majority of museum patrons are from the local region, visitors have come from as far away as British Columbia. The museum has been tracking attendance and collecting visitor data since mid-May. A dedicated website, marilynhorne.org was launched in June to help promote the museum and its programming. Those searching online for things to do in the region are finding the museum and coming to Bradford’s historic downtown district to visit. “We are thrilled with the interest in the museum,” said Matthew Hileman, the museum’s manager. “The museum is already fulfilling its mission by providing a quality educational experience to those living in the region while bringing much-needed tourism and interest to Bradford.” In addition to attendance, the museum is building its presence online with followers on social media outlets such as Twitter and Fac...

World Emoji Day on Monday 17 July 2017 marks the first time that the Royal Opera House has teamed up with a digital platform like Twitter to tell the stories of some of the world’s best-loved operas and ballets, engaging new audiences at giant scale for the first time. Throughout World Emoji Day, the Royal Opera House will share a series of tweets via its Twitter handle @RoyalOperaHouse, each one telling the story of a famous opera or ballet using only emojis. Twitter will support the Royal Opera House’s content, encouraging the initiative to trend. The Royal Opera House will support with additional activity on Instagram and Facebook throughout the day. The public will have the chance to win a pair of tickets if they identify any one opera or ballet told as emojis in any one of the tweets. With a new tweet for a new ballet or opera every 30 minutes throughout the day, there will be many opportunities to enter. Jeremy Paul, Head of Marketing Communications, Audiences ...

As a tribute to the renowned opera star and Bradford native, Marilyn Horne, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford changed the name of its six-story downtown property from the Seneca Building to Marilyn Horne Hall. The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees approved the name change Friday in Pittsburgh. In May Pitt-Bradford will open a 3,400 square-foot museum in the hall dedicated to Horne, who donated her archives to the University of Pittsburgh. “Ms. Horne is beside herself with joy and excitement that a building in the place of her birth is being named in her honor,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “She is truly humbled by the honor and looks forward to joining us on May 6 for the dedication and opening of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center in Marilyn Horne Hall.” Horne, who is Bradford’s most famous native daughter, was born in 1934. Her father, Bentz Horne, encouraged her to pursue her musical dreams. She moved with her family to L...

Fresh from a performance at Carnegie Hall in honor of Marilyn Horne’s 81st birthday, American bass DeAndre Simmons will return to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Feb. 6 for a recital in Bromeley Family Theater. Tickets for the concert, which will begin at 8 p.m., are $12 and $16 for the public and $5 for all students. Included in the ticket price is a Valentine’s Day-themed pre-show reception that will begin at 6:30 p.m. and feature hors d’oeuvres and chocolates. Simmons last sang at Pitt-Bradford’s 50th anniversary gala in 2013, when he wowed the audience with his velvety voice and captivating stage presence. A frequent recitalist, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, with the Music Academy of the West orchestra and for opera “Cyrano” with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. New York Times critic Vivien Schweitzer said of his performance for Horne’s birthday, “Mr. Simmons used his elegant voice to fine effect.” Simmons will si...

A limited number of seats remain for the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s 50th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Oct. 4. Proceeds from the evening, which will feature dinner, entertainment and a silent auction, will benefit the Marilyn Horne Archive Collection Project. The gala, which is expected to sell out, will be hosted by the Office of the President and co-hosted by the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board and the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association Board at the university. Seats are $125 and may be purchased by calling the Office of Institutional Advancement at Pitt-Bradford at 814-362-5091. “Undertaking a project of this magnitude is quite a challenge for our campus and our relatively sparsely populated region,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford president. “However, what has seemingly occurred throughout our campus’s history has occurred once again: Bradford and surrounding communities have rallied to support the effort to establish a Mari...

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Stephanie Welge does not want the words “opera” or “Wagner” to scare anyone. “Opera is all about feeling,” she says, and more familiar than most people think. Welge will share her love of both opera and Wagner in a recital at 7:30 p.m. May 17 in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The concert is free, and programs will provide synopses and translations of each piece she plans to perform. There will be a short reception afterward. Before George Lucas brought the world of “Star Wars” to the screen, before JRR Tolkien created Middle Earth in “The Lord of the Rings,” Richard Wagner created his own world on so grand a scale that the adjective for such epics became “Wagnerian.” The 19th century German composer’s scores are still heard today in movies and television commercials. Bugs Bunny’s “Kill the W...

Marilyn Horne Archive Part of Plans The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford launched a fundraising campaign Friday to raise $17.5 million by the end of its 50th anniversary year in 2014. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, announced that 60 percent of the goal, which will benefit scholarships, academics, technology, capital projects and athletics, has already been raised. The event included a brief program to introduce the campaign’s goals, which includes $6.5 million for scholarships and $1.25 million for the emerging American Refining Group/Harry R. Halloran Jr. Energy Institute. “There is a great deal at stake,” Alexander said in his remarks to those gathered for the launch celebration in Blaisdell Hall. “We have come a long way and achieved a position of prominence in the northeast. We envision that Pitt-Bradford will become a top-of-mind institution among high school students. … Students will benefit from these … gifts for the next 50 years a...

The Rev. Leo Gallina, a Bradford native and former pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church, will receive the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s highest honor at this year’s commencement ceremony. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford, will present the Presidential Medal of Distinction to Gallina at the 2012 Commencement Ceremony scheduled on April 29 at 2 p.m. in the KOA Arena of the Sport and Fitness Center. In commenting on campus sentiment about Gallina, Alexander said, “The university community is thrilled to be able to honor Father Gallina. Many of us, faculty, staff and students alike, have found inspiration in his generosity, commitment and enthusiasm. Through his direct and indirect gifts, he has left a lasting legacy at Pitt-Bradford.” Gallina responded with his trademark humility. “I am most humbled by this award and truly enjoy helping out in a small way so that others may have an education for the future,” he ...

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing For a moment Sunday afternoon, opera legend Marilyn Horne presented an alternate scenario for not only the city of Bradford, but also for herself. Speaking to the media before addressing the largest graduating class in University of Pittsburgh at Bradford history, she wondered if perhaps her family might have stayed in Bradford had Pitt-Bradford existed in 1945. She later touched on the same idea during her speech to the graduates. “Who would have thought when I left in 1945, that I’d be back speaking to the graduating class at Pitt-Bradford, which didn’t even exist at the time,” she said, explaining that her family left Bradford when she was 11 in part to seek an affordable higher education for her and her sister, Gloria. She also spoke about her personal history with her hometown. Although she has graced the world’s most important stages, her first performan...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Marilyn Horne has won Grammy Awards, has been honored by The Kennedy Center and has sung at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. But one of the greatest thrills of her life came about a month ago. During a visit to her daughter’s home her 8-year-old grandson Henry was playing the piano so she sat down next to him and he played while she sang. “That’s really good for the grandmother’s heart, I can tell you that.,” she said prior to Sunday’s commencement exercises at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Horne was the keynote speaker, addressing Pitt-Bradford’s largest graduating class ever. She said Henry, along with his 7-year-old brother Alex and 12-year-old sister Daisy are musically inclined, and she is excited about that. Horne also talked about her own grandmother, when discussing the state of personal communication. That part of the conversation started when she was discussing keeping in touch with her daughter Angela while she trave...

A luncheon was held in honor of legendary mezzo-soprano and Bradford native Marilyn Horne today at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Ms. Horne will be speaking at Pitt-Bradford’s commencement Sunday afternoon. She is shown here gesturing toward Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford president. Courtesy of Pitt-Bradford

George B. Duke, owner of Zippo Manufacturing Co. and a generous benefactor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will receive the university’s highest honor at this year’s commencement ceremony. Duke will receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction from Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, at the commencement exercises, which will be held at 2 p.m. May 1, in the KOA Arena of the Sport and Fitness Center. “Presenting the medal to George Duke is an honor I look forward to with much anticipation,” Alexander said. “His generosity is legendary, and we at Pitt-Bradford are fortunate to have been the beneficiary of his philanthropy on numerous occasions. This is yet another opportunity to both say ‘thank you’ and place the spotlight on his generosity.” Duke said, “I am very honored to receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. To follow in the footsteps of the past recipients of this eno...

Internationally renowned opera legend and Bradford native Marilyn Horne will address the graduating class of 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford at the May commencement ceremony. Horne, whose foundation sponsored a series of recitals by rising opera singers at Pitt-Bradford and who served as honorary chairwoman of the campaign to build Blaisdell Hall, will deliver the keynote address during commencement exercises at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, in the KOA Arena of the Sport and Fitness Center. “Marilyn Horne’s legendary journey from rural Pennsylvania to international renown in the world of opera makes her the perfect choice to give the commencement address this year, especially as our graduates prepare to face a much more competitive and economically challenging environment,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford president. “Throughout her magnificent career, Ms. Horne has inspired young men and women to discover their talents in the...

The YWCA Bradford will honor opera legend Marilyn Horne at a reception at noon Oct. 7 at the agency home at 24 W. Corydon St. Horne will be guest of honor at an open house and luncheon being held to recognize her role as the YWCA’s honorary membership chairman. We are so pleased to have Ms. Horne visit our agency,” said executive director Amy Pierce. “There is probably not a more well- known woman from Bradford in the entire country and Ms. Horne’s life, in particular, reflects our values as an agency.” When she was selected to head the membership campaign, Horne had praised the YW as an agency which embraced the ideals which have guided her life — “eliminating racism and empowering women.” Among other programs, the YWCA Bradford offers the county’s only safe house for victims of domestic violence, provides comprehensive care for victims of sexual assault, and operates a homeless shelter for women and children. Horne had been on the opera stage for many years until her retirement in 19...

Bradford native and opera star Marilyn Horne will visit the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford from Oct. 6-8 to discuss the donation of her archives to the university. The discussion will center on the second phase of her donation, which would include her personal archives. Earlier this year, her foundation, the Marilyn Horne Foundation, donated its archives to Pitt-Bradford. Those are currently in storage at University of Pittsburgh Archives Services Center in Pittsburgh, which is also home to the archives of former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh. The center will also help with the processing, digitizing and managing of the collection. Although several other institutions, including the Library of Congress, had sought the archives, Horne is now in discussions with only Pitt-Bradford. “As a native of Bradford, Marilyn has a soft spot in her heart for her hometown and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, ...

A portrait of Marilyn Horne is now on display in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The portrait by John Foote was installed in the gallery's "New Arrivals" exhibition on Thursday. Foote created the portrait of Horne in 1971 to honor her debut at the Metropolitan Opera the previous year. The painting was originally displayed in “Portraits of the American Stage, 1771–1971,” an exhibition the National Portrait Gallery organized in recognition of the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971. You can see the portrait at the National Portrait Gallery's Blog .

At 12:40 p.m. on 1490 WESB we'll be whetting your appetite with the music of baritone Eugene Chan. Keep reading for more about Saturday's concert and this year's Marilyn Horne Foundation recitalist. Baritone Eugene Chan will sing romantic songs from the worlds of opera and Broadway during a Valentine’s Day concert at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The Marilyn Horne Foundation Residency/Recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Bromeley Family Theater at Blaisdell Hall. The concert is part of the University’s Spectrum Series. Chan will also be in residency with local students throughout the week. Tickets are $6 for public, $5 for faculty and staff and free for any student with an ID. “Eugene Chan has embraced the Valentine’s Day concept and has agreed to include Robert Schumann's masterpiece cycle ‘Dichterliebe,’ which describes the poet’s journey through life and love, in addition to other more modern romantic songs from popular Broadway musicals,” said ...

Happy Birthday to Marilyn Horne!