Discussion, lesson and concert to mark Horne’s 90th birthday

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Marilyn Horne Museum will hold a 90th birthday tribute for Marilyn Horn on Oct. 12.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum and exhibit center at 2 Marilyn Horne Way in downtown Bradford.

The day will begin with tour of the museum at 10 a.m. followed by a panel discussion and question and answer period moderated by opera journalist and Pitt-Bradford Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Jeffrey Johnson. Panelists will be Horne’s daughter, Dr. Angela Lewis Houle; artist manager and friend of Horne, Michael Benchetrit; inaugural director of the Marilyn Horne Museum, Matthew Hileman; and director of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, Barbara Hocher.

At 11:30 a.m., Marilyn Horne Foundation alumni soprano Sari Gruber and tenor Daniel Weeks will conduct an open-to-the-public master class for student singers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Pianist Donna Loewy will accompany.

The master class will be followed by performances by Gruber, Weeks, pianist Cameron Stowe and Loewy. The event will close with a reception.

Gruber is an internationally acclaimed soprano who has appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera and Opera Philadelphia, among others. She serves on the faculties of Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Weeks is a member of the voice faculty of the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music. While keeping an active performance career, he is in demand as a master class clinician and guest artist. He has performed with the symphonies of Houston, Cincinnati and Dallas and others.

Stowe is director of the collaborative piano program at the Aspen Music Festival and chair of the collaborative piano department at the New England Conservatory. Until last year, he was also a member of the faculty at The Juilliard School for 15 years.

Loewy is professor of collaborative piano and accompanist in residence at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She is the official accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the southern Ohio region and has worked as an opera coach and pianist.

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