PITT'S HEINZ CHAPEL CHOIR PREPARES FOR EUROPEAN TOUR

PITTSBURGH, April 10 -- The Heinz Chapel Choir will perform "A Cappella Music From The Americas" in nine European cities this spring. The 49 singers -- all Pitt undergraduate and graduate students -- will embark on a 3-week tour of France and Spain on April 28 that will include stops in a total of 12 cities. The group returns May 19. A free concert previewing the tour will be performed on Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. in Heinz Chapel.

The choir sings a cappella and even though its name says Heinz Chapel, the repertoire includes folk songs from around the world, Stephen Foster tunes, spirituals, as well as 20th-century sacred music, a popular song and a country-western song.

Established 59 years ago, the choir is one of only a handful of a cappella choirs in the country. "As the old master a cappella conductors pass away and new conductors take over their choirs, the rich tradition of a cappella choirs has been abandoned as an exclusive art form," said choir director and Pitt professor of music John Goldsmith.

The students raised more than $21,000 for the European tour, which will include spending seven nights in the homes of French and Spanish families to get a taste of European culture and home life. "The students will come home changed," added Goldsmith. "Experiencing other cultures for the first time is an enormously enlightening experience for young Americans."

PLEASE NOTE: Professor Goldsmith and choir members will be available for

interviews at the April 19th concert.

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