Andrea Blough opens the concert series in July in Johnstown
The Shanksville-Stonycreek High School choir sings ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”
Singing, from left to right: Florence Hufford, Mia Fairman, Will Brant, Lennon Bobby, Jack Keiser, Jackson Westerfield, K Saylor, Arabella Hauger and Teegan Pugh.
JOHNSTOWN – Andrea Blough will sing a popular aria from a Puccini opera when she returns to the First Lutheran Church, 415 Vine St., Johnstown, for the Tuesday Noon Recital Series on July 9.
“O mio babbino caro” (O my dear papa) is an often-performed aria from the lesser-known opera “Gianni Schiccho.” Blough’s program covers 300 years of music, from early Italian art songs to pieces by Franz Schubert and Fernando Obradors. She says she is happy to support the concert series.
“I enjoy connecting with a receptive audience in such a beautiful space,” she said.
Her accompanist is Caleb Bean, a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh in Johnstown who teaches and plays piano in a jazz ensemble and plays trumpet in the brass band.
Following each of the four concerts in July there will be a light lunch (admission free), as the series was funded in advance by donations.
“Thanks to our donors, we are able to offer these programs free of charge, although we always appreciate donations for both the concerts and the food,” said Kim Rauch, vice president of the concert series, in an email. “We at First Lutheran feel blessed to be able to offer these concerts to our community.”
Other upcoming concerts:
July 16: Johnstown Brassworks. The quintet consists of local educators who love making music. They have performed together at concerts, weddings and church services since 2014.
Members include Eric Pfeil, trumpet, teacher at Greater Johnstown High School; Rebekah Stombaugh, trumpet, band director at Penn Cambria Schools; Jerrod Cannistraci, French horn, band director at Richland Schools; Joshua Brumbaugh, trombone, instrumental music teacher at Westmont Hilltop Schools; and Jason June, tuba, faculty member at Penn Highlands Community College.
July 23: Aaron Sproul, organ. The assistant music director of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Pittsburgh has performed throughout the city, including at Heinz Chapel. He is co-director of the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh, which presents concerts throughout the Pittsburgh region.
July 30: Take Two, Russ and Donna Miller. The Maryland couple have been performing since their teens. At 14, he was the trumpet soloist with the Johnstown Youth Symphony. She once played drums for country artist Joe Maphis. The Millers sing and play a variety of instruments, involving the audience in their performance.
“Since the inception of this series over 30 years ago, two goals have been important to us,” Rauch said. “First, we want to give musicians the opportunity to showcase their art to downtown residents and workers. Second, and more importantly, the series provides quality music to audiences who may not otherwise have the opportunity to hear live music. With the light lunch following the program, we also work to build community and network.”
Andrea Blough Appearances
Andrea Blough holds a Master’s degree in voice and pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in New Jersey. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, as well as at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic and the Westminster Symphonic Choir. She has performed as a soloist in various opera productions. She has served as chorus master of the Asheville (NC) Lyric Opera.
For several years she taught singing at the Taipei American School. With the school choirs she performed as a soprano soloist in Mozart’s “Requiem” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria”.
Two years ago, she and her family returned to Somerset County.
“An active committee suggests musicians and styles of music that we think our audience would enjoy. From these suggestions, we invite the artists and try to put together a varied program for the month,” Rauch said of the series’ talented artists. “We are always blessed with impressive musicians and also with a wide variety of musical styles, from classical to folk, from sacred to secular styles, and from traditional to experimental. Our audience is very receptive to our program. An organ program with the century-old Skinner pipe organ is always included.”
Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards, city councils, sports and breaking news. She was Home and Family editor for 20 years and managing editor and reporter for a number of special projects, features and tabs.
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