We first met in October when I introduced myself as the new music hall director at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall.
At that time, I told you about my daily journey through two tunnels and a bridge while commuting from Swissvale to Carnegie. I promised that our audiences here at the Carnegie Carnegie would never be subjected to the sound of my accordion or theremin. (My husband and our two rescue pups aren’t as lucky.)
But yes, that’s right – it’s Heidi. It’s nice to run into you again!
The year has flown by since I first joined the family at the ACFL&MH in August 2021. I was thrilled to welcome audiences back into our acoustically superb music hall for the first time since covid-19 with an exhilarating performance by Cello Fury.
And a big thank you to those who took me up on my suggestion to give the gift of music to your loved ones the past holiday season.
I hope the lucky gift recipient had as much fun listening to The BGVs’ evening of Motown and bluesman Billy Price as I did!
I had the pleasure of getting to know one patron in particular who received a gifted ticket to the Billy Price concert. When I asked him how he’d enjoyed the show, he recounted his experience watching and listening to Billy Price.
A broad smile came across his face, and his eyes lit up as he described the music he heard during the show. He continued to tell me about some of his favorite performances he’d seen in the Pittsburgh area and Harlem and across the nation at different points in his life.
In addition to talking about music and the fantastic performance we’d just seen by Billy, we engaged in small talk about the snow and the roads, and each enjoyed a bottle of Yuengling – you know, Pittsburgh stuff.
He mentioned that he waited for two buses and walked about a mile from his house to the first bus stop to come and see the performance that evening. And that wasn’t the first or the only time he’d come to visit us for a program or concert.
What an absolute honor to have this gentleman join us that evening! Especially after returning from a brief era when we couldn’t readily gather to enjoy live music, it helped me remember how wonderful it is to hear live music and share it with other people.
ACFL&MH executive director, Maggie Forbes tells me that I have all-embracing interests. (Well, actually, she said “catholic interests.” Lower-case “c” catholic. I was pretty confused at first and had to look it up: including a wide variety of things; all-embracing.)
So, in the spirit of gathering together to experience live music plus a smidgen of all-embracing interests, I share news about upcoming concerts in Carnegie Carnegie Hall and the more intimate Studio.
As this goes to print, we will have just hosted Jessica Lee and Mark Strickland in the Studio on July 21 for “The Great Women of Jazz!” to celebrate the early legends such as Bessie Smith, through the Jazz Era of Billie Holiday, and then enter the crossover genre of rhythm, jazz and blues with songs of Etta James. Did you miss it? Make sure to sign up for our monthly program updates CarnegieCarnegie.org to stay in the know!
But for another helping of jazz in the Studio this summer, Carnegie Carnegie favorite RML Jazz serves up a little of something for everyone in the Studio at 7 p.m. Aug. 25: smooth, classic and pop styles of Jazz from artists such as Miles Davis, Chuck Mangione, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock and even Mister Rogers!
On Sept. 16 and Dec. 1, ACFL&MH continues our year-long partnership of quarterly cabaret concerts with LA TI DO Productions in the Studio. With branches in D.C., New York and Los Angeles, in addition to the Pittsburgh area, LA TI DO strives to be a premier community of cultural and artistic diversity and inclusion through music and spoken-word collaboration.
The Carnegie Carnegie is pleased to welcome Brother Rick & The Throwbacks to the Music Hall this fall. Rick Mansfield, also known as Brother Rick, is the former music director, arranger and conductor of “American Soundtrack Series,” a mainstay of WQED/PBS. Mark the date to join Rick and his band on Sept. 30, and then throw back the pages on that calendar starting in the 50s through the 70s for an evening of vintage rock ’n’ roll and great doo-wop tunes!
From deeply emotional selections to fast, fiery traditional tunes, the Gypsy Stringz will take you on a whirlwind tour of Eastern European culture in the Studio at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Whether soothing or rousing, this ensemble plays a mix of enchanting music enhanced by beautiful harmonies of foreign lands.
And with more eclectic performance offerings throughout the fall and holiday season of 2022 — courtesy of our friends from Stage 62, Resonance Works and Carnegie Performing Arts Center, to name a few — keep an eye out for something a little different as 2023 creeps up on our calendars.
Do I see any Dolly Parton fans out there? How about someone with a fantastic Dolly Parton impersonation out there? Do you think you could win a Dolly Parton impersonation contest hands-down? If so, give me a holler at matthewsh@carengiecarnegie.org for more information about how to enter a Carnegie Carnegie first-of-its-kind interactive competitive performance centered around the modern era’s Queen of Country.
We look forward to seeing soon and frequently at the Carnegie Carnegie!
Heidi Matthews is the music hall director for the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.