RiverQuestion of the Month

December 2009

Question:

Holidays in Pittsburgh bring a grand assortment of musical and cultural events, from the Pittsburgh Symphony to the Civic Light Opera, from Light Up Night to First Night Pittsburgh.

One special Pittsburgh institution with a unique sound all its own was founded in 1981 and named in part for Pittsburgh's most influential geograpic feature. What group is it?

Answer:

The River City Brass Band, considered one of the country’s finest brass bands, entertains as many as 100,000 people annually, performing 56 concerts in eight locations throughout Western Pennsylvania and a national touring schedule of approximately 30 concerts. Building upon the long-standing tradition of brass bands popularized in Great Britain and the United States, the River City Brass Band features 25 brass players and 3 percussionists. The band plays a wide range of music: American tunes, Big Band swing and jazz, music from Broadway and Hollywood, classical and contemporary masterworks, and traditional marches.

Check out the Band's calendar online, and plan to catch them downtown on First Night Pittsburgh 2010.  (It's one of the popular events at First Night Pittsburgh where you need a voucher to attend, in addition to a First Night button.  Get your vouchers early -- the performances fill up fast! 

Have a safe and happy new year!

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Send your comments or questions to info@riverquest.org.  Thanks!

Source:

• The River City Brass Band, www.rcbb.com. Online: available December 2009.  Image used by permission.

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