New Music on the Bluff Series Celebrates Faculty Favorites

But this year, rather than looking externally, he looked internally, and so was born, The Dean’s List.

“I wanted to give my wonderful Mary Pappert School of Music colleagues a chance to tell me what they wanted to play; there were some no-brainers and some surprises, for sure!” Wehr said. 

For more than 20 years, the Bluff Series has joined music faculty with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and internationally acclaimed guest artists. This year’s series kicks off Sunday, Sept. 15, with a concert titled Strings Attached. 

Once Wehr had the input from his colleagues, he then built coherent programs around evolving thematic common threads, and threw in some favorites of his own. 

When asked if there are any pieces he’s particularly excited about, Wehr responded positively. “Yes! Dr. James Gourlay, our director of bands (and artistic director of the River City Brass Band) is making a special arrangement of George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ for me to play with the entire brass and woodwind faculty on the October 21 concert, ‘Strike Up the Band.’”

Each concert in the series will be preceded by a 30-minute facilitated discussion. Wehr anticipates that the personal connections these offerings have to the musicians will result in a very special series. 

“Our fantastically loyal Bluff Series audience has followed us onstage as we have explored in depth the music of different composers and national styles over the years, and I wanted them to get a greater personal sense of the music that is particularly meaningful to the performers,” Wehr said. 

Admission opens Monday, Aug. 19, at 9 a.m. Visit the Bluff Series website for a complete list of concert offerings and to purchase tickets.