Endowed fund supports organ performance and music education

BRADFORD, Pa. — A new endowed fund will enhance the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s long commitment to supporting arts programming and musical performances that can be enjoyed by many. The Evans & Fiorentino Organ Recital Endowment will support the University’s annual Advent & Christmas Organ Concert, a signature community event that welcomes audiences from across the region to campus each holiday season.

Thanks to the generous donation of Dr. K. James Evans and Dr. Lisa Fiorentino, the concert will remain a permanent community tradition, bringing acclaimed artists to campus while celebrating the beauty and power of organ music. The 15^th anniversary edition of the recital will be held in Pitt-Bradford’s Harriett B. Wick Chapel, featuring its Sarah B. Dorn Pipe Organ, at Noon on Friday, December 4.

“I had the pleasure of assisting with the design of the chapel and with the specifications of its lovely Schantz pipe organ, which gave me added appreciation into how special this building and instrument really are,” notes Evans. “Lisa and I are pleased to be in a position to support the annual Advent and Christmas Organ Recital and ensure that it continues permanently into the future.”

Evans served as Pitt-Bradford’s Vice President of Student Affairs for 42 years before retiring in 2018. His wife, Lisa Fiorentino, Associate Professor Emeritus, joined the nursing faculty in 1985 and served for over 22 years as Pitt-Bradford’s Director of Nursing and Radiological Sciences. The couple has remained deeply committed to campus and the greater community, providing a wide range of support to a number of causes.

“Few people have done more to drive Pitt-Bradford’s continued growth than Jim Evans and Lisa Fiorentino, and we are honored to continue to be able to pass their love of music onto others through this generous contribution,” adds Rick Esch, President of Pitt-Bradford.

The Harriett B. Wick Chapel was designed by noted architect Albert B. Filoni and opened in 2010. The Sarah B. Dorn Organ was constructed specifically to fit into the space so that the acoustics, placement of the organ and the pipes would provide the best possible experience for listeners. Since the concert series began in 2010, it has brought a host of prominent organists to Bradford each year while also providing opportunities for Pitt-Bradford students and community members from across the region to appreciate this instrument and the music it is able to create.

The contribution is a component of the Campaign for Pitt-Bradford, the university’s $30 million fundraising effort. To learn more about how you can contribute to the campaign, please contact the university’s Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement at 814-362-5091 or visit the giving page.