The Pittsburgh Concert Chorale is an exciting group that’s celebrating its 26th season under the appropriate theme of "Celebrating the Creative Spirit!"  This is going to be a busy year for the group that’s comprised of 90 people who went through an intensive audition to make sure that they’ll bring wonderful music to you.  The group is looking forward to performing classical pieces on March 5 and 6.  That’s just one of the series that the group has in store for you.  Check out this interview to know where you can audition and how you can support the volunteer group.

-What is your organization's name?
Pittsburgh Concert Chorale  (PCC)
-What is your name and what is your affiliation with the organization?
Linda Schneider, Marketing Director
-Please tell us little bit about you.
I started singing with the PCC in 1994.  We sang the Mozart Requiem.  It's funny how I got 
involved. We went to the PCC Christmas Concert and loved what we heard.  My husband 
wanted to join the group and signed us both up for auditions.  And here we are, 16 years later 
still singing and loving what we are doing.  I serve on the board and part of what I do is to try 
and let everyone in the Pittsburgh area know what a great time they will have at our concerts.
-How / why did your organization start? (Background, History)
The Pittsburgh Concert Chorale was founded in 1985 by Dr. Clark Bedford as the North Hills
Chamber Singers with 28 members.  Chosen by audition, the group was challenged by a 
repertoire of exciting music and was renamed the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale in 1994.  After 
sharing the leadership during the 2005-2006 season with Katherine Mueller, Music Director 
Designee, Dr. Bedford was named "Founder and Music Director Emeritus" upon retirement from 
the Chorale in June 2006.
-What is your organization's objective? (What does it do?)
The mission of the PCC is to (1) enhance the quality of life in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area 
through community involvement in musical performances that encompass a wide spectrum of 
choral music and that will entertain, educate and expand the musical experiences of both the 
audience and the performers and (2) prepare and perform concerts at a level of excellence 
that is rewarding and satisfying to the performers and the audience.
Our ninety singers are all volunteers who enjoy singing and continually learning and growing 
musically so we can present wonderful concerts.
-How long has the organization been around?
26 years.
-What kind of events / activities does your organization do?
We give three different types of choral programs a year.  In December we perform a well 
rounded Christmas/Holiday program with traditional Christmas, sacred and holiday favorites, 
as well as few surprises.  This year we are including a little Renaissance, Appalachian, gospel 
and PDQ Bach in our program.
We also perform a major classical work in March.  We hire professional musicians and soloist 
to accompany us for these works.  We have sung music from many of the classical composers, 
Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart as well as Durufle, Honegger and modern composers such 
as Amy Beach and Rutter.  In keeping with this year's theme, "Celebrating the Creative Spirit!",  
we are performing Haydn's "The Creation" March 5th and 6th.
In May we give our pops concert which covers a wide variety of music.  In the past we have 
done Broadway, Hollywood, the Fabulous 50's and Swinging 60’s, Jazz, and Pittsburgh 
composers. April 30 and May 1 we will present "Words and Music: Broadway's Creative Duos".  
It will be a salute to the creative teams Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers 
and Hart and other greats.
-How can people get in touch with your organization (or you)? (website,email, telephone 
etc.)
www.PCCsing.org, office@PCCsing.org, 412-635-7654, Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
-Any messages to Greater Pittsburgh?
Those who come to our concerts return for more.  Those who haven't heard us just don't know 
what they are missing.