PCMS strives to foster an appreciation for chamber music in the Pittsburgh community by offering several educational programs.
Poco a Poco
In collaboration with the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School, PCMS administers Poco a Poco, an educational strings program that provides the Charter School students with stringed instruments, CDs, instruction in playing their instruments, and exposure to chamber music. Select students in the fourth and fifth grades receive coachings as chamber music ensembles, and the fifth grade quartet is sponsored by Volkwein's Music.
New in 2012, City Music Center of Duquesne University has donated scholarships for three of the Poco a Poco students to receive private instrument instruction and music classes. We are very excited for these selected students and thank City Music Center for their generosity!
Thank you to our Poco a Poco supporters:
Stanley Asrael
City Music Center of Duquesne University
Frances DeBroff
Catherine Hebert
Burl J. F. Moone III
Mr. & Mrs. J. Leroy Myers
The Grable Foundation
Laura Pedersen
Susan & Timothy Vismor
Volkwein's Music
Leon & Sena C. Zinn
Robert C. Smith Fund and the Betsy R. Clark Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation
Edison & Ruth M. Montgomery Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation
Virginia McKee for Poor Fund through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee
Montgomery Fellowship Quartet
Each season PCMS sponsors the Montgomery Fellowship Quartet, a string quartet of high school age students selected through an audition process administered and judged by the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. The quartet receives a year’s coaching in chamber music with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violinist Jeremy Black, and complimentary tickets to all of our concerts.
The Montgomery Fellowship Quartet receives a chamber music coaching from the Pacifica Quartet in December 2012.
Lobby Recitals
Prior to each concert, PCMS features youth, student, and local ensembles performing in the Grand Foyer of Carnegie Music Hall. These free recitals give the performers valuable performance experience and the opportunity to gain exposure to PCMS's audience.
