BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center will hold a 90^th birthday tribute for Marilyn Horne on Oct. 12.

            The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum and exhibit center at 2 Marilyn Horne Way in downtown Bradford. It is co-sponsored by the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau and is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at marilynhorne.org due to limited seating.

            “My memories of Bradford are among the dearest of my life,” said Horne, a world-famous mezzo-soprano who is one of the most lauded opera stars of all time. Born in Bradford, Horne lived in town until she was 11 years old.

            “I remember so many things about Bradford,” she said, “especially singing with my sister at the weekly band concerts. My life of singing started in Bradford. It’s amazing and humbling to me that there is going to be a celebration of my 90^th year at an institution that was created in my hometown to honor my achievements and promote a love of music to which I have devoted my life.”

            While she is not able to make the trip to Bradford herself for the celebration, Horne will be represented at the event by her daughter, Dr. Angela Lewis Houle.

            “I’m so happy to be able to come to Bradford to represent my mother and the whole Horne family at the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center as they honor her 90^th year,” Houle said. “The museum staff are doing an incredible job of preserving my mother’s legacy as a performer and teacher, and perhaps more importantly, the museum is promoting awareness and appreciation of classical music and wonderful singing, two things that are immeasurably dear to my mother’s heart.”

            The day will begin with a tour of the museum at 10 a.m. followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer period moderated by musician, conductor and Pitt-Bradford Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Jeffrey Johnson. Panelists will include Houle; artist manager and friend of Horne Michael Benchetrit; inaugural Director of the Marilyn Horne Museum, Matthew Hileman; and Director of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, Barbara Hocher.

            Hocher said, “I have had the great pleasure of working with Marilyn Horne since 1991. Her voice and artistry have thrilled hundreds of thousands of people (including me!) over the years and being part of this incredible celebration to honor her in her 90^th year is an enormous joy. She is a national treasure – our national treasure.”

            At 11:30 a.m., Marilyn Horne Foundation alumni soprano Sari Gruber and tenor Daniel Weeks will conduct an open-to-the-public master class for student singers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Pianist Donna Loewy will accompany.

            The master class will be followed by performances by Gruber, Weeks, pianist Cameron Stowe and Loewy. The event will close with a reception.

            Gruber is an internationally acclaimed soprano who has appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera and Opera Philadelphia, among others. She serves on the faculties of Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park Conservatory of Performing Arts. Gruber is a longtime member of the Marilyn Horne Foundation team who has sung solo recitals with longtime collaborator Stowe at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and other noted recital venues in the United States.

            “From the outset of my career 30 years ago, Marilyn Horne and her foundation have encouraged and furthered not only my work as a recitalist, but my development as an artist-educator,” Gruber said. “I am eternally grateful for Ms. Horne’s support and mentorship throughout the years, and deeply honored to be asked to contribute to this celebration of her unparalleled artistry and decades-long stewardship of art song.”

            Weeks is a member of the voice faculty of the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music. While keeping an active performance career, he is in demand as a master class clinician and guest artist. He has performed as a tenor with the symphonies of Houston, Cincinnati, Dallas and others. He was the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s On Wings of Song recitalist with Loewy in a radio broadcast recital at the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York.

            “I can hardly express how honored I am to be asked to sing on this wonderful tribute,” Weeks said. “Ms. Horne holds a very special place in my heart, and I am incredibly appreciative of her support, interest and encouragement through the years.”

            Stowe is director of the collaborative piano program at the Aspen Music Festival and chair of the collaborative piano department at the New England Conservatory. Until last year, he was also a member of the faculty at The Juilliard School for 15 years.

            Loewy is professor of collaborative piano and accompanist in residence at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She is the official accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the southern Ohio region and has worked as an opera coach and pianist. Under the auspices of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, she and tenor Weeks gave recitals at the Kosciuszko Foundation, the Cleveland Art Song Festival, the Mozart Society of Carmel (Calif.) and in residencies throughout the United States