The Heinz Chapel Choir is an internationally known mixed '' a cappella'' choir from the

University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a public state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university is composed of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the univers ...

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 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

, 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. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

and appearing at the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

. Other notable past performances range from singing for world leaders

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo 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 to his death in Augus ...

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. Before becoming Ch ...

, to accompanying performances of the

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) is an American professional ballet company based in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). History 1969 - Founding The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre was founded in 1969 by a Yugoslavian choreog ...

, and appearing in a concert with Duke Ellington. In the 1950s, the choir had its own Sunday television show air for five years on

KDKA-TV KDKA-TV (channel 2) is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, airing programming from the CBS network. It is owned-and-operated station, owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division 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 Musical groups established in 1938