Barber Celebration in West Chester, PA

1st November 2009

Samuel Barber's Pennsylvania hometown, West Chester, will celebrate his centennial year with the 2010 Samuel Barber Festival in Chester County: a Barber concert every month through 2010. His 100th birthday is in March.

Concerts will be at the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester University, and the First Presbyterian Church of West Chester. The opening chamber music concert by West Chester University Music Department faculty is January 24 at the Chester County Historical Society.

The Barber family home is on Church Street. His father was a local doctor. Barber played the organ at First Presbyterian Church. His maternal aunt, Louise Homer, an acclaimed operatic contralto, sang Barber's songs in recitals while he was still a teen.

Look over Barber's list of works from
G. Schirmer for your 2010 celebration.