VoiceGivers Choir to Perform at Holy Family Institute’s Chapel
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (Jan. 27, 2020) – On Sat., Feb. 29, 2020 at 7 p.m., Holy Family Institute will host a live choir concert in its chapel, produced and performed by VoiceGivers Choir, an organization founded in 2019 that aims to raise awareness of social issues in the Pittsburgh region through music.
Artistic Director Joe Stuligross chose music that reflects upon the needs and experiences of children who have been separated from their families. “We present music that evokes the horrific trauma of separation while highlighting the important work of Holy Family in finding reconciliation.” The choir employs singers who also perform with other prominent local singing groups including Pittsburgh Opera, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Camerata.
VoiceGivers Managing Director Deb Sadowski, a former Holy Family Institute staff member and long-time resident of nearby Ben Avon, co-founded the choir with the goal to inspire attendees to understand the social issue being addressed and find inspiration to be part of the solution. “We encourage audiences to arrive with a spirit of giving. We hope that they learn something about the problems faced by so many, and we want to inspire them to seek ways to help.”
The program will include music specifically written by and about children who have been separated from their families, including “Dancing in Buses,” describing a harrowing journey by unaccompanied minors traveling from El Salvador to the United States, and “Away and in Danger,” describing the fears and realities of childhood separation and the importance of community support in bringing reconciliation. The composers of these two pieces, Melissa Dunphy and Shawn Kirchner, are donating their scores for these performances.
“We are proud to host VoiceGivers as it puts on its first-ever season,” says Holy Family Institute’s CEO, Sister Linda Yankoski. “Holy Family Institute’s mission is to restore hope and transform lives in our community and we believe that the arts have an important place in that healing process.”
A full Catholic mass will precede the concert at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel, free for any members of the community who would like to attend.
Next up for VoiceGivers: On May 2, 2020 VoiceGivers will partner with Wilkinsburg Community Ministry to present a program focusing on food insecurity.
Holy Family Institute Chapel, 8235 Ohio River Blvd., Emsworth. Suggested donation: $20 at the door. No parking available on campus. Guests may park after 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 154 Orchard Avenue, lower parking lot only (directly adjacent to Ohio River Blvd.). Vans will shuttle guests between the parking lot and Holy Family Chapel. Neighborhood street parking is also available. Guests attending the 5:30 p.m. mass may park on campus or on the street. Info: 412/353-9363; VoiceGiversChoir.org/events; or 412-766-4030 ext. 1431 at Holy Family. Proceeds benefit Holy Family Institute’s social services programs.
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About Holy Family Institute: Holy Family Institute empowers children and families to lead responsible lives and develop healthy and meaningful relationships built on faith, hope and love; this mission drives the organization to help everyone who comes to its door. Founded in 1900 as an orphanage, Holy Family has evolved into a devoted social services provider for the Pittsburgh region, connecting individuals and families to services and resources that help them meet immediate and long-term needs for a sustainably improved future. The organization’s more than 25 programs include mental health, behavioral health, specialized learning, community-based family support services, substance abuse and addiction counseling, safe child visits, and energy assistance. The Institute serves individuals and families in homes, schools, and nine neighborhood centers in Allegheny, Indiana, Beaver, and Armstrong counties.
About VoiceGivers Choir: VoiceGivers is a professional chamber choir founded in Pittsburgh in 2019 with a mission to raise awareness of significant social and economic issues in our community, highlighting organizations that work to make a difference. In partnership with nonprofit organizations, VoiceGivers presents choral performances that are intended to engage and inspire.
