In this ballet a painter takes the stage alongside the dancers, using brushstrokes influenced by their movements to create a wholly unique painting. A true piece of moving art, each performance of Pentaptych is a one-of-a-kind experience for every member of the audience.

The pas de deux from Christopher Wheeldon’s moving After the Rain explores the connection between two dancers. Set to music by Arvo Pärt, this mesmerizing duet evokes a sense of longing, intimacy, and vulnerability through subtle and tender choreography. A recipient of numerous awards worldwide, including the Tony Award for Best Choreography for An American in Paris and MJ The Musical, Wheeldon is one of the most celebrated choreographers of today.

Val Caniparoli’s groundbreaking Lambarena fuses the structure of classical ballet with the grounded rhythms of African dance. Inspired by a score of the same name that blends traditional African music with extended passages from compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Caniparoli worked with West African dance consultants Dr. Zakarya Diouf and Naomi Johnson-Diouf to seamlessly combine two distinct styles of movement, often in unexpected ways. Filled with color and emotion, Lambarena is a joyous and exuberant celebration of life.

A celebration of classical music and its translation through dance, featuring two premiere choreographic works by Tom Mattingly with live music on stage: master pianist Douglas-Jayd Burn performing Goetz Oestlind’s Four Seasons and the Aizuri Quartet playing Philip Glass’s iconic Quartet No. 5. Plus, Company dancer Noah Klarck's professional choreographic debut. After being selected from 2024 Choreographic Workshop participants, Klarck's Orthodoxy portrays dancers as cogs in an Orwellian machine, exploring both structure and fluidity against a backdrop of piano works by Bach, Brahms, and Chopin. In partnership with Civic Music Association.

About PMEA District 1:

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) is an affiliate of the 65,000-plus member National Association for Music Education (NAfME). PMEA is a service organization to music education in the Commonwealth. The membership includes those engaged in music instruction at all levels, from preschool through college and university, retired educators, as well as those in the music industry.

In addition, college chapters and TRI-M Music Honor Society are comprised of students enrolled in music education. PMEA provides leadership in professional growth and offers special opportunities for musical development to school students.

District 1 includes over 550 school and private music teachers from Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. District 1 sponsors high school and junior high orchestra, band and chorus festivals for members' students who are selected either by tryouts or director recommendation and school size quotas. An honors string orchestra, honors band and honors chorus are offered to student-musicians by competitive audition. District 1 festival musicians may advance to Region, All State, Eastern Division and National NAfME groups.

In addition, District 1 annually hosts two Jazz Band fests, an Elementary Sing Fest East and West, several Elementary Band Fests and Professional Development Workshops for all music teachers.