In an email announcement made earlier today, Renaissance & Baroque and Chatham Baroque have stated that the two organizations are officially merging under the umbrella and leadership of Chatham Baroque, Inc.
As you may know, the staff of Chatham Baroque has been managing R&B’s current season since December, and Chatham Baroque’s Artistic Directors joined the R&B Program Committee to start planning for next year’s 50th season. These experiences naturally led to discussions between the two organizations about forming a permanent alliance.
By combining resources, we can more efficiently preserve the mission of each organization, including their respective concert series, which will continue to present complementary programs of music ranging from the medieval times through the early classical period. With increased administrative capacity and generous support from the funding community, we also intend to restore and expand R&B’s historical commitment to community outreach and education, building on Chatham Baroque’s extensive experience in this area.
This endeavor is a reflection of the collaborative and cooperative nature of Pittsburgh’s nonprofit arts community that has been known to band together in the best interest of the people we serve. The Board and staff of Chatham Baroque, Inc. have enthusiastically embraced the mission of R&B and will strive, with your continuing support, to preserve and grow the legacy of R&B for years to come.
We are very excited by the artistic and programmatic opportunities that will come with this merger. Both the 2018/2019 Chatham Baroque Pittsburgh Concert Series and Renaissance & Baroque’s 50th Season will be announced in June. You’ll be able to subscribe to one, the other – or preferably both! Our shared goal remains: to present the very best in early music to the people of the region and beyond and to further Pittsburgh’s standing in the international early music scene that began nearly 50 years ago with Renaissance & Baroque.
We thank you for your commitment to the missions of our organizations. We will do our best to keep you up to date with developments. For now, we hope you will join us tomorrow for the final concert of R&B’s 2017/2018 Season, Breathtaking, featuring cornetto master Bruce Dickey & Czech soprano Hana Blažíková and an all-star cast of musicians that includes Monica Huggett & Tekla Cunningham (violins), Joanna Blendulf (viola da gamba), Michael Sponseller (organ & harpsichord), and Stephen Stubbs (theorbo & baroque guitar).
