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Aria412 - Happy New Year!

 


As we come to the close of the year, we want to pause and say thank you. Aria412 exists because of people who believe in Pittsburgh singers, accessible art, and the power of gathering together around music—people like you.


2025 was a year of real momentum.



Our concerts at Hop Farm Brewing Company continued to do what we love most: bring people together. These nights aren’t just about performance they are about community. Returning audiences mixed with first-timers as singers connected with listeners up close, resulting in an energy that only live music can create. 


In June, we presented performances of The Blue Fairy by composer Robert Frankenberry at the Richard Rauh Studio Theater. This fully staged production offered Pittsburgh singers the chance to collaborate on new work, while audiences experienced opera that was intimate and contemporary. The success of these performances underscored the strong appetite for this kind of storytelling. 


Our Forge concerts are becoming a vital part of who we are. The Forge is rooted in Pittsburgh—its artists, stories, and voices. These concerts celebrate singers, musicians, composers, and creators who call this city home, offering space to explore music that reflects where we live and who we are. The Forge strengthens our local artist community while giving audiences a deeper sense of connection to the people creating the work right here.


We are also proud to see I Hear America Singing by composer Daron Hagen take its next steps. The filmed version of our staged production is now circulating, and we are excited to plan a Pittsburgh screening, along with a cast recording that will preserve this work and the voices behind it for years to come.


Looking ahead to 2026, we officially begin the build toward Aria412’s 10th year.


  • Our first concert of the season is Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Hop Farm Brewing.
  • We will present two Forge concerts next year. The first focusing on the Speakeasies of Pittsburgh. 
  • And we hope you’ll save the date for our annual fundraiser on April 21, 2026, as we celebrate what we’ve built and invest in what’s ahead.
    

At its core, Aria412 is By Pittsburgh, for Pittsburgh. We are committed to building meaningful opportunities for singers, musicians, composers, and creators; commissioning and developing new work; and welcoming audiences into spaces that feel open, human, and connected. Your support makes that future possible.


As the year comes to a close, if you are considering a year-end gift, we invite you to invest in what comes next: more opportunities for local artists, deeper roots in our community, and ambitious projects that carry Pittsburgh voices forward.



Thank you for believing in this work and for being part of the Aria412 community. We can’t wait to see you in March and throughout the year ahead


Wishing you all the best in 2026,

Desirée Soteres and the Aria412 Team


About us

Aria412 is "By Pittsburgh, for Pittsburgh." Aria412 is radically committed to accessibility for regional audiences and for the local Pittsburgh community of singers. musicians, and creators. We achieve this with fun, accessible, free or highly affordable programming in casual, public spaces, with a range of music that highlights the incredible talents of Pittsburgh classical singers and supporting artists.


DONATE HERE

Highlights from 2025

Credit: Julie Goetz

Credit: Julie Goetz

Credit: Julie Goetz

Credit: Dennis Keyes

 
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