TENOR DOUGLAS JIMERSON TO PERFORM "STEPHEN FOSTER'S AMERICA" AT PITT

PITTSBURGH, April 21 -- Tenor Douglas Jimerson will pay tribute to Pittsburgh's legendary songwriter in "Stephen Foster's America," a special performance to benefit the University of Pittsburgh's Center for American Music. The concert will take place on Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m. at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland.

This program of Stephen Foster's minstrel songs, love songs, spirituals, patriotic tunes, and popular songs is the same one performed last fall by Jimerson at The Kennedy Center and in 1996 at Carnegie Hall. As part of his preparation, the tenor actually contacted and interviewed descendants of Foster about their family history, their understanding of the songs, and the songwriter's legacy. He also worked with Foster's descendants on a documentary, "Remembering the Music of Stephen Foster," which aired recently on cable television in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

A featured soloist with The Annapolis Opera, The Summer Opera of Washington DC, and Paul Hill's Washington Singers, Jimerson is donating his performance and all proceeds will support the Center's programs. The Center for American Music is the first of its kind at an institution of higher learning, and is dedicated to the conservation, performance and study of American music as well as its influence on our country.

Tickets for this special benefit concert are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for students and children. For reservations or further information, call 412-624-4100.

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