Monroeville Arts Council prepares for tribute concert

The Monroeville Arts Council is preparing for its first summer concert, scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Community College of Allegheny County Boyce Campus Auditorium, 595 Beatty Road.

The concert is being held in tribute to three of its deceased members. Sheila Cartiff, Margaret Caine and Mary Lou Span will be honored and remembered with music from the East Winds Symphonic Band.

“Well, I said, ‘Let’s do the East Wind Symphony’ because all three loved the symphony,” said Vera Perry, president of MAC. “They had played for us before and always brought a nice crowd in. The music was so special. When you go to their concerts, you just feel so uplifted.”

Perry requested that a special song dedicated to the three members be performed along with the predetermined setlist.

MAC concerts were previously postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic. While being a memorial for the lost members, the Aug. 14 event will also be MAC’s “Comeback Concert.”

“A welcome-back concert is really what I had in mind, but I realized that I hadn’t heard of anything like services after church to remember our three members,” said Perry. “I had worked with them a long time and had become close with them. We need to pay tribute to the three women who I knew and loved. They did so much for the arts council, and we weren’t able to celebrate their lives.”

Family members and friends of the deceased have been invited to attend the event and say a few words about their loved ones during the concert’s intermission.

Before covid restrictions, the Boyce Auditorium was a recurring host for MAC concerts and has welcomed the council back.

“I figured Boyce would be the best choice because it’s inside and accessible,” said Perry. “We wanted people going somewhere comfortable. There is an elevator and nobody has to sit outside in the humidity.”

The concert is sponsored by a donation from UPMC.

“With the help of the arts council and UPMC, we’re able to make this happen,” said Perry.

There will be applications set out during the concert for anyone interested in joining the council. Members are able to decide what activities and events in which they would like to participate in.

Everyone in attendance at the concert will be required to wear a face mask due to Community College of Allegheny County directive.

Any help or volunteers are greatly appreciated. The arts council will be hosting a craft booth at Library Fest in Monroeville later this month. For more information regarding the tribute concert and other upcoming events, visit monroevilleartscouncil.org or e-mail trw.695@gmail.com.