Tenor sax player, Lou Stellute is known for his big sound, animated playing, versatility, and mastery of the post-bop and modal genres. In recent years, he has been the preferred saxophonist for jazz groups such as Roger Humphries and RH Factor and the Dwayne Dolphin Quintet. In 2005, Lou was the recipient of the Pittsburgh Players’ Choice Award, given by his peers. In 2011, he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame.

Well known to local jazz enthusiasts, guitarist and composer Eric Susoeff has been part of the Pittsburgh music scene since his debut with Harold Betters at the Encore in 1976.  Offering a warm, bluesy, full-bodied sound, he has played with a long list of local and international luminaries including: Dizzy Gillespie, David Amram, Roger Williams, Airto, Ivan Lins, Romero Lubambo, Charo, Frankie Avalon, Marty Allen, Eric Kloss, Frank Cunimondo, Gene Ludwig, Pete Henderson, Dave & Maureen Budway, Sandy Staley, Kenia, Roger Humphreys, H.B. Bennett, Kenny Blake, Walt Harper, Nathan Davis, Don Aliquo, John Wilson and many others. 

Jenny Wilson, a graduate of WVU’s Master of Music Jazz Pedagogy program has toured in Switzerland, Austria and Germany with jazz greats Art Lande and Chris Neville. While completing her undergraduate music degree in New England she played regularly with bassist John Lockwood and guitarist Tony Gaboury. She has composed music for two of her three CD recordings and recently had one of her compositions played during the candlelight vigil held at WVU for the Upper Big Branch mining disaster. She continues to compose, perform and record with her current trio here in Morgantown and is active with the West Virginia Jazz Society as a performer and clinician. Her husband and bassist for the trio, Nathan Wilson recently appeared on national television with Pittsburgh’s Squonk Opera. Jenny’s son Evan (currently a freshman at WVU) plays drums regularly with the trio.

The ARt of the TRio will be held in MAC's Tanner Theatre Sunday, February 26 at 4 pm. Admission is $15. Seating is limited, so reserve your tickets early by calling (304)292-3325, or visit our online MACstore at www.monartscenter.com/shop. Reserved tickets can be picked up at the lobby desk the afternoon of the performance. The ARt of the TRio is made possible through generous sponsorships from Freedom KIA, WV Jazz Society, The Golden Finch, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Fusco, and Perna Health Physics, Inc.

Saturday Night with Sondheim will be directed by Kevin Dean with music direction by Ken Godwin, Jr. and musical staging by Jimmy Corrothers. An orchestra of ten and a cast of fifteen to twenty are expected. Auditions for singers will be held at MAC, 107 High Street, Morgantown, on Saturday, February 25 from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Those interested in auditioning are requested to prepare one or two Sondheim songs (for which he wrote both music and lyrics) demonstrating range and vocal ability, and should make an audition appointment by calling MAC at (304)292-3325, or emailing info@monartscenter.com. Information on obtaining tickets for the concert will be made available soon.

Antique and collectible appraisals will be available Saturday, March 3 from 1 – 4 pm at a cost of $15 for written appraisals and $7 for verbal appraisals. On Sunday, March 4, jewelry appraisals will be available from 1 – 3 pm at the same costs. Each year, valuable items such as rare rifles and unique quilts turn up for appraisal.

For more information, contact: Ro Brooks at: (304)292-3325, or Ro@monartscenter.com; John Kroeck at (412)741-1631; or John Mickinak at(724) 832-7388.

Happy Valentine's Day! We love our members, artists, students, educators, volunteers, visitors, & supporters!

The Monongalia Arts Center is thrilled to announce that it is producing a one-night-only gala benefit concert, Saturday Night with Sondheim, to be held at the Metropolitan Theatre, 369 High Street, Morgantown at 8 pm Saturday, April 7, 2012. The concert will feature a live orchestra and many local performers who will present musical selections from Broadway shows by Stephen Sondheim starting with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, culminating with Assassins, and including everything in between.

According to Ro Brooks, MAC's Executive Director, “This has been a challenging funding environment for MAC. Not only has the economy been difficult for arts organizations, but MAC has also faced cuts in longstanding grant income. With our recent successful production of Closer Than Ever, we hope to begin a regular schedule of theatrical productions at MAC, and this benefit concert will not only assist us in that effort, but more importantly, raise much needed income to support the cost of maintaining the community’s arts and culture center. 

Stephen Sondheim is the greatest Broadway composer of our time, and we could think of nothing more appropriate than saluting his unprecedented body of work. We look forward to an extremely exciting and unique performance on April 7, and ask all citizens of Morgantown and the surrounding area who support community arts programs to make it a point to attend this thrilling and unprecedented theatrical event. You will not want to miss it, and we hope the Metropolitan Theatre completely sells out,” she concluded.

Saturday Night with Sondheim will be directed by Kevin Dean with music direction by Ken Godwin, Jr. and musical staging by Jimmy Corrothers. An orchestra of ten and a cast of fifteen to twenty are expected. Auditions for singers will be held at MAC, 107 High Street, Morgantown, on Saturday, February 25 from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Those interested in auditioning are requested to prepare one or two Sondheim songs (for which he wrote both music and lyrics) demonstrating range and vocal ability, and should make an audition appointment by calling MAC at (304) 292-3325 or emailing info@monartscenter.com. Information on obtaining tickets for the concert will be made available soon.

$6.00 Admission ~ Good All three days

Antique & Collectible Appraisals Saturday, March 3, 1 – 4 pm ~ $15 written, $7 verbal

Jewelry Appraisals Sunday, March 4, 1 – 3 pm ~ $15 written, $7 verbal

Artworks by Helen Panzironi

The Market, oil painting by Helen Panzironi

Benedum Gallery

Friday, March 9 – Saturday, March 31

Opening Public Reception:

Friday, March 9, 6 – 8 pm