Then Sings My Soul:
Pittsburgh Festival Opera is thrilled to work with First Church of God in Christ to celebrate Black History Month! Our 2-day celebration will include a Masterclass with renowned singer, producer and film director Cheryl Susheel Bibbs and an inspirational concert that will highlight African American voices and composers from Pittsburgh and beyond! A free will offering will be taken to support the development and implementation of a community forum designed to inspire and engage students in the transformative power of music, allowing students to have the opportunity to explore and deepen their appreciation for music in its many forms, including vocal performance, instrumental studies and musical theater.
Then Sings My Soul Concert
February 16, 2025 | 3 pm
First Church of God in Christ
2502 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Enjoy an afternoon of classical, jazz and gospel music highlighting African American voices and composers! We are excited to announce our powerhouse vocalists, including Sopranos Charlene Canty, Lauryn Davis, Chantal Braziel, Tenor Donovan Elliott Smith, Baritones Yonathan Astatke and Yazid Gray, and jazz musicians Kenneth Stockard and Anita Levels! Also participating will be several of the youth singers in the community and the choir of First Church of God in Christ. It will be a true celebration of the power and impact of African American music throughout history! A reception with light refreshments will follow the performance.
Masterclass with
Cheryl Susheel Bibbs
February 15, 2025 | 2 – 5 pm
First Church of God in Christ
2502 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
PFO welcomes Cheryl Susheel Bibbs to host a Masterclass about African American composers through classical arias and songs. It is open to the public and will consist of a short film called, An Unsung Muse-Classical Song of Black Composers created by Susheel Bibbs. The majority of the masterclass, Ms. Bibbs will work with six classically trained singers who will perform an aria or song of choice by an African American composer.
Soprano Cheryl Susheel Bibbs, a graduate of Boston University School for the Arts in Opera and The New England Conservatory of Music (Boston) in Vocal Performance, has served the Arts and Humanities for over 30 years. Honored worldwide as an opera singer, an innovative concert artist, and an award-winning filmmaker-producer, she began in Opera as winner of the coveted Laid Foundation full-year stipend, then sang in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa. Concurrently, in media she became the youngest Executive Producer of a national television series on PBS for which she won a national EMMY. Later, she won 26 television and film-festival awards. Two of her historical and musical documentaries are now on PBS.
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