PR: The Bridge Fundraiser, June 15, 2017

PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — A new Pittsburgh music venue is being developed! The Bridge Music Hall (The Bridge) is a non-profit, membership based music venue that will be located North Side of Pittsburgh and is expected to open in mid to late 2017.

A fundraiser will be held on June 15 from 6 – 9:30 at Wallace’s’ in Hotel Indigo, 123 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15206. Phone 412-665-0555. Famed Pittsburgh guitarist, Jack Turner will perform along with saxophonist, Calvin Stemley, & Roger Barbour, trumpet. There will be additional performances by Soulful Femme (Stevee Wellons & Cheryl Rinovato), RML Jazz, Jocie Ghaznavi, Martin Vincent, The People Upstairs, Desiree Soteres and Jay Hitt.

The Angels, a volunteer group, will be coordinating silent auctions and other chance games with proceeds going to The Bridge. A GoFundMe campaign in support of The Bridge’s start costs will be kicked-off, publicly.

According to Alexander “Nick” Nichols, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Bridge, Board of Directors, “The Bridge is dedicated to the presentation, preservation and promotion of music and related arts in a uniquely appealing and financially sustainable way, and will provide a welcoming atmosphere for everyone to listen to, learn about, perform, and share music”. Nichols also notes that The Bridge “will provide a high quality listening room environment where both audience and performers can intimately interact and share in the rich legacy of American music”.”

As a performance venue, The Bridge will be unique in Pittsburgh. It will be an intimate 250 seat “cabaret-style” listening room providing an eclectic variety of music not normally available in any other Western PA music venue. Classical, blues, jazz, folk, gospel, bluegrass, zydeco, klezmer, ethnic, Americana, indie, country and world genres will all be featured.

The Bridge will present shows by national and international touring artists as well as Pittsburgh area artists up to six days per week. In addition to music, comedy, poetry and lectures will also be featured. The diversity of entertainment programming will serve as a bridge to connect people and communities.

As an educational venue, the Bridge will provide a forum for local professional musicians to collaborate on new works and creative ensemble groupings.Young musicians aspiring to a professional career will be provided with both mentoring and performance opportunities.

As a community-based performing arts center, The Bridge will enhance and promote community development by involving residents in all aspects of its development and operation. The Bridge will also offer programs such as “DayTime NightClub” to provide music for those who are unable or unwilling to attend evening performances.

As a therapeutic venue,  The Bridge will provide Bridge Music Therapy, in partnership with area university programs. Bridge Music Therapy will provide services to youth and adults with developmental challenges including autism, individuals with vision and hearing impairments, people with brain injury, and individuals with Alzheimers and dementia. This program will partner with local university music therapy programs will be explored as well.  Bridges Music Therapy will serve as a clearinghouse for some of the finest, state-of-the-art music therapy programs in the region.

The Bridge has initiated a fund-raising campaign and is in the process of raising $400,000 to provide funds for infrastructure (sound system, equipment, etc.), furnishings, professional services, staff, and working capital.

The Bridge is the brainchild of Rich Dieter who has 40 years experience working with community-based nonprofit organizations in Chicago, New England, and Western PA. He is a life-long musician with a degree in music from Valparaiso University. He established a Chicago live music club featuring top folk, blues and jazz artists, and operated an artist management agency.