Music Plus Concert Series Begins Sunday at St. James Church

Music Plus, the concert series at St. James Church in Sewickley, begins its third season Sunday with a reprise of one of last year's biggest hits featuring the local powerhouse trio of Anna Singer and Lou Valenzi, vocalists, and Donna Amato, concert pianist. 

The first concert of the season, "Not Your Usual Stuffy Concert--The Sequel," begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, in the sanctuary of the church. A pre-concert at 2:30 p.m. will feature piano students from both Amato's Piano Studio and Sharron Schaefer's Music Studios. 

"The concerts are very intimate in the sense that they are not as formal as in Heinz Hall or the Benedum, the audience is relatively close to the performers, and you get to meet them afterward," said Sharron Schaefer, director of the Music Series. "It's a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the concert setting in a more relaxed way, and to enjoy all the benefits that the 'universal language' brings to you. Plus, it's a great community-building event each time."

The 50-minute main concert is free and designed for families. While the concert doesn't include an intermission, the music is followed by a time of fellowship, dessert and a chance to meet the artists.

Concert organizers also will be accepting dry goods and toiletry items for the Sewickley Community Center's Food Pantry at the opening concert so bring what you can. Free-will offerings are also welcome. 

About the Musicians:

Anna Singer, who serves a WQED 89.3 FM music programmer and mid-day host, has sung the leads in many operas and also is popular on the concert stage at various venues throughout the United States and Europe. 

She also has won awards and grants throughout her career and most recently performed with Microscopic Opera in "Lizbeth." 

Lou Valenzi teaches choral and general music at Quaker Valley Middle School and serves as the director of music ministries at St. James. He brings more than 30 years of experience in stage, film and television. His stage acting credits include leading roles in various musicals for the Los Angeles and Pittsburgh Civic Light Operas, and Pittsburgh Public Theater. 

In film and television, Valenzi made guest appearances on various series and soap operas, and has appeared in several commercials. 

Donna Amato, who has had an extensive concert, recording and radio broadcast career, was born in Pittsburgh and received her earliest musical training in the city. Since her debut with orchestra at the age of 14 and her early studies with the great American virtuoso Ozan Marsh, she has received many honors and awards. 

She has performed and studied in Mexico, Canada and throughout Europe, and worked closely with many contemporary composers, and has given world premiere performances of a wide range of music. 

Amato currently teaches piano at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon University, and works at CMU as an assisting artist. 

For questions or underwriting opportunities, contact either St. James at 412-741-6650, or email Sharron Schaefer at s.schaefer@comcast.net. 

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