The Heinz Chapel Choir is an internationally known mixed ''

a cappella Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

'' choir from the

University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...

founded in 1938 which draws its members from the university's student body. Performances are given in the Heinz Memorial Chapel. The group was first founded as the school's A Capella Choir; it became the official chapel choir when Heinz Chapel was opened in 1938, thus changing its name accordingly. The choir has been performing for over 80 years, becoming a signature part the Heinz Memorial Chapel. It is currently under the direction of Dr. Susan Rice after the retirement of John Goldsmith in 2014 following 25 years of conducting. In addition to regular performances in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, the Heinz Chapel Choir regularly undertakes domestic and international tours. In spring of 2017, the choir embarked on a tour throughout the United Kingdom. Previous international tours have included: The Balkans (2014); China and Hong Kong; Peru and Bolivia in 2012; Brazil (2006); Italy and Croatia (2001); Spain and France (1998); Greece and Italy (1995); Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Switzerland (1992); Belgium, Ireland, and a 14 city tour of France (1984), France (1982, 1980 and 1978); and England, France, and Italy (1974). The choir has also toured domestically throughout the United States, airing on a national radio broadcast from

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, and appearing at the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

. Other notable past performances range from singing for world leaders

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...

and

Helmut Schmidt Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt (; 23 December 1918 – 10 November 2015) was a German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), who served as the chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. He was the longest ...

, to accompanying performances of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and appearing in a concert with

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

. In the 1950s, the choir had its own Sunday television show air for five years on

KDKA-TV KDKA-TV (channel 2), branded CBS Pittsburgh, is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned and operated by the CBS television network through its CBS News and Stations division alongside WPKD-TV (channel 19), a ...

, and its predecessor WDTV, in Pittsburgh.

Recordings

The Heinz Chapel Choir has recorded several CDs:Heinz Chapel Choir
- Music * Heinz Chapel Choir Christmas, 1999 * A Cappella Music of the Americas * 2001 Adriatic Odyssey, 2001 * Viking Adventure, 2003 * "Blame it on Rio" Tour, 2006 * Christmas in Heinz Chapel, 2007 * Great Wall Tour, 2009

References

External links

Heinz Chapel Choir
- official homepage {{authority control Choirs in Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University choirs in the United States Musical groups established in 1938