Distinguished Piano Artist to Perform April 14

The Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills will present Patricia Prattis Jennings, former principal keyboard of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, at 7:30 p.m. April 14. 

Jennings became the first African-American woman to be awarded a full contract by a major American symphony orchestra, breaking centuries of discrimination in the world of classical music.

In 1966 she became the principal keyboardist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, playing piano, harpsichord, organ and celesta. She gained critical acclaim for her performance of the Gershwin Concerto in F on the Pittsburgh Symphony's 1987 international tour appearing at festivals in Hong Kong; Osaka, Japan; Tokyo; and Edinburgh, Scotland.  

She is a Steinway piano artist and was honored as a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.

Jennings will present and talk about the world's most popular piano pieces. Her performance will include George Gershwin, one of her special favorites.  

The concert is free. Whole families are encouraged to take advantage of this rare appearance in the North Hills of one of Pittsburgh's most admired artists. There will be a reception after the concert.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. UUCNH is at 2359 W. Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. See the church website, www.uucnh.org, for more information.

- Submitted by Susan Cox, on behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to at amyjo.brown@patch.com.

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