I believe that commissioning and performing new music is an important obligation for us at the River City Brass Band. Encouraging the creation of new music adds to our American musical legacy, which will then be enjoyed by generations to come (remember, even Gershwin was new once!). But it can be expensive to commission a composer to create a new work, and money is always in short supply in the performing arts.

So I’m thrilled to report that Community Connections, an initiative of Pittsburgh 250, has made it possible for the RCBB to commission seven new Pittsburgh-themed musical works to help celebrate the 250th birthday of the City of Pittsburgh. Each piece will receive its premiere on a RCBB concert in 2008, starting with the March series.

In the words of the good people at the Pittsburgh 250 organization, the RCBB commissioning project would “…affect large audiences, leave a lasting impact on communities, and contribute to the Pride & Progress of southwestern Pennsylvania” (the theme of Community Connections). Funding decisions were made by a 33-member panel of regional leaders that included representatives from 14 Southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

I can’t wait to get my hands and ears on these seven new works, and that they’ll be about our city makes it even better.