Keystone State Boychoir and Pennsylvania Girlchoir to Perform Innovative Program at Philadelphia Art Museum

Philadelphia, PA, April 4, 2011—Commonwealth Youthchoirs has announced that it’s two member choirs, Keystone State Boychoir and Pennsylvania Girlchoir are scheduled to perform on April 9^th and 10^th as part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA).  This weekend’s performance is the result of a collaboration between the two choirs, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and composer Thomas Pasatieri. The project entitled CONVERGENCE: "A Charm of Moonlight", evokes the convergence of visual art, music and literature of the decade 1910-1920 in Paris.  The composer has set texts from this period in Paris to original music to be sung by the singers of Keystone State Boychoir and Pennsylvania Girlchoir accompanied by four instruments in a "wandering performance" through the museum. Pennsylvania Girlchoir's music director, Mark Anderson conducts, assisted by Keystone State Boychoir's musical assistant, Larry Hoenig.

In making the announcement about the project last spring, Commonwealth Youthchoirs Executive Director Susan S. Ashbaker said, “I’m so excited about this innovative project.  It’s a wonderful opportunity not only for the community to experience this work and the glorious sound of our choirs, but also for the young singers to work with a living composer such as Mr. Pasatieri and experience the process of bringing a new work of art to life.”  Mr. Pasatieri echoed these sentiments saying, “It’s a great treat for me to work with young people and I’m very much looking forward to making music with such fine young musicians.”

Now in its tenth year, the choirs of the Commonwealth Youthchoirs – Keystone State Boychoir and Pennsylvania Girlchoir  – has grown to include over 300 singers in five counties in the greater Philadelphia region.  The choirs have performed at hundreds of concerts, enchanting audiences with their joyful music-making and polished sound.  They continue to serve as musical ambassadors for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, both at home and internationally.

Performances take place at 1:00pm, 1:45pm, 2:30pm and 3:15pm on April 9^th and 10^th and are free with general admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For tickets please visit http://www.philamuseum.org/ticketing/. Museum passes are also available with the purchase of any PIFA event ticket at a 25% discount.