The Trumpets Resound – Joy To The Valley

Allegheny River- Stone Center for the Arts has established a wonderful holiday tradition in the Allegheny Valley with the return performance of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble in Foxburg. The concert held in the beautiful and historic Episcopal Memorial Church of Our Father is scheduled for Saturday December 15th at 2:00 PM. The sound of trumpets and horns will reverberate over Foxburg, filling the air with a warm holiday spirit.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass players will provide a marvelous mix of sacred and festive music in the wonderful vaulted wood and stone structure now nearly one hundred and thirty years old. The church was built and dedicated in 1882. It was given to the Foxburg community by the Fox family, in loving memory of deceased members of their family including Sarah Lindley Fox who was only twenty-six.
The church building has gained national recognition as one of the finest examples of architectural design in the region, with its incorporation of native ash wood and sandstone from Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is reported that Mrs. Samuel M. Fox sketched the lines of the church from memory of a church she saw in England. The wooden ceiling is shaped like a nave of a ship with curved rafters descending down to the stone walls. The beautiful stained glass windows created in this country were replicated from the windows in the church in England.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass was organized in 1994 by George Vosburgh to feature some of the world’s finest orchestral brass musicians playing in a chamber ensemble. With all the players, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony, the result has been, according to the American Record Guide in reference to their first CD as, “Magnificent, an extended example of first rate playing, with beautiful tone qualities, impeccable intonation, and polished execution.”
The ensembles second release, A Christmas Concert, was described by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as “Holiday cheer delivered with virtuoso flair”. After a concert for the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society the Pittsburgh Tribune- Review reported, “Full of brilliance and power, but also stunning in subtle artistic qualities made possible only by masterful control. Three of their recent CD’s are created around Christmas themes. Both The Spirit of Christmas and A Song of Christmas again received great reviews and all their recordings can be found on i-Tunes. The ensemble includes George Vosburgh and Neal Berntsen on trumpet, William Caballero, horn, Peter Sullivan, trombone, Murray Crewe, bass trombone, Craig Knox on tuba. They have performed in Italy, Canada, the United States and now in Foxburg.
The church is located on Route 58 just up the hill from the Foxburg Bridge and downtown Foxburg. Over-flow parking will be at the Allegheny Clarion Valley Medical Center with a shuttle service back to the church. ARCA wishes to thank the congregation for their support of this beautiful musical event”. This will be the final performance of the 2012 season and it is a special way to amplify the joy and warmth of the holidays. Reserve tickets for the concert by calling 412-867-1816. Adults are $25.00 and Students $10.00. For more information visit: www.alleghenyriverstone.org.