To Benefit the Library: An Evening with the Ortner-Roberts Duo

On Saturday, March 27, 2010, the Ortner-Roberts Duo will perform at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library.

The Duo is German clarinetist Susanne Ortner and the American pianist Tom Roberts. Susanne is an internationally acclaimed soloist and a member of the German Quartet Sing Your Soul. Tom is one of the leading exponents of a style of early jazz piano known as Harlem Stride.

Both Sing My Soul and the Ortner-Roberts Duo played at the Library to packed houses in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a fabulous concert while supporting the Mt. Lebanon Public Library.

Admission is $15, with all proceeds to benefit the Library’s book and audio collections. (No advance sales.) The performance will held on the Main Floor, 1st Level. For more information, contact Judy Sutton at 412-531-1912 or events@mtlebanonlibrary.org.

Updated 2010-02-26 00:01 to correct the date of the performance. Thanks to Bill Lewis for spotting my mistake. —Tom

Music Series Strives To Serve Varied Tastes

One of Charlotte Simmons' favorite memories as a committee member for the long-running and popular Music for Mt. Lebanon is helping 86 high-spirited, Russian performers, none of whom spoke English.

"Trying to communicate was funnier than any 'I Love Lucy' script," she said of her attempts at international communication through mime and hand signals. During that same show, Stuart Fox, then the group's president and a retired Air Force reservist, went backstage to welcome the general -- in full military dress --who escorted the group.

"I never thought I'd shake a Russian general's hand in the United States,'' Mr. Fox said. Mr. Fox, 73, and Mrs. Simmons, 80, both of Mt. Lebanon, are board members of Music for Mt. Lebanon, a nonprofit community music series that has been bringing musical acts to Mt. Lebanon for the past 62 years.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07270/820800-55.stm

MTLSD Music Program A Big Hit

In tune to the importance of music education, the Mt. Lebanon and Quaker Valley school districts were named among the Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America for 2007 in a national survey.

Thousands of teachers, school and district administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders representing communities in all 50 states participated in an Internet-based survey sponsored by the NAMM Foundation, its American Music Conference and a partnership of national associations working to promote the benefits of active participation in music and music education.

The Mt. Lebanon community strongly supports arts in the schools and that was a key factor in its recognition in the Best 100 said Mariann Fox, the district's supervisor of fine arts.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_497520.html