Arts leaders from around the United States had the opportunity to see first-hand the contributions Carnegie Mellon is making to the world of fine arts when they converged in Pittsburgh for the National Performing Arts Convention in June. This gathering of thousands, which for the first time brought together national leaders from a wide range of performing arts disciplines, demonstrated the cultural, educational and economic value of the nonprofit performing arts sector.


Carnegie Mellon played a vital role in supporting and enhancing the convention.

“Carnegie Mellon was a fantastic partner. The user-friendly Web site and technological support that the Master of Arts Management [program] provided was outstanding, and it helped us connect throughout the country with the other arts organizations,” said Mark Weinstein, executive director of the Pittsburgh Opera Center and chairman of the convention’s local planning committee.

“Alan Fletcher’s (head of the School of Music) growing relationship over the last few years with the Opera Center enabled us to execute one of the newest operas (Dead Man Walking) and one of the oldest (Il Ritorno di Ulisse),” Weinstein said. “The Pittsburgh Opera Center’s ability to use the Kresge Recital Hall and the Carnegie Mellon artists that sang alongside our professionals made the productions so amazing. It only could have happened through a collaboration with Carnegie Mellon.”

Carnegie Mellon highlights from the 14th National Performing Arts Convention:

School of Drama faculty Cindy Limauro and Gregory Lehane were team members in the opening session in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The team, led by internationally celebrated designer John Conklin, created a “performance collage” titled Variations on America: A Work in Progress.

Robert Page, the Paul Mellon Professor of Music, conducted the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh during the plenary session and Carnegie Mellon’s Starling String Quartet played a part of Shostakovich’s 8th String Quartet.

School of Music students played with the Wheeling Symphony and performed in the Opera Theater’s production of Just Above My Head.

The Starling String Quartet played at a reception for the American Symphony Orchestra League, co-hosted by the School of Music.

Music faculty Andrea Hanson and Mimi Lerner had roles in the Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Dead Man Walking.

The Pittsburgh Opera Center presented Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno di Ulisse in the College of Fine Arts’ Kresge Recital Hall for general managers and trustees from American Opera companies.


Related Links:
National Performing Arts Convention
Master of Arts Management
School of Music
Dead Man Walking
School of Drama