The growing grassroots Millvale Music Festival seeks to represent as many local genres of music as possible. To whit the natural classical music setting of St. Nicholas Church/Maxo Vanka Murals waited for persons who could book local artists because amplified instruments would be damaging here.
Enter Jordan Berlin Speranzo, the conductor-composer and son of legendary Mr. Smalls’ Liz Berlin, and Rick Robinson, the retired Detroit Symphony bassist-composer and producer of the OMG Classical brewery series. Millvale city manager Paul Bossung brought them all together in 2024 to produce a fine but limited series during the festival. This year we’re trying something new for better turnout…
Two performers BEFORE the main festival begins each day will allow for easier parking around the church, so we might see more music lovers who don’t want to miss the great bands down the hill.

Friday begins at 4:30p-5:15 with a very special treat, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra lead violist Tatjana Mead Chamis performs all six sarabandes from JS Bach’s meditative cello suites in order. This should be especially resonant given the powerful acoustics of this sanctuary and the many characters of Croatian artist Maxo Vanka’s murals. Be prepared for a spiritual or epiphanal experience!

Tatjana is followed by our largest ensemble, the 11-piece Millvale Festival Orchestra led by Jordan Berlin Speranzo in a full program 5:30p-6:35.
The large program is:
Mendelssohn – String Symphony no. 10
Shostakovich – Chamber Symphony, op. 110a (Arr. Barshai)
Fletcher – Their Dreams but Mear Echoes (World Premiere)
Dvořák – Serenade for Strings

The entire festival is FREE and open to the public.
Day 2 features Aria412 vocalists mixing opera and Broadway plus the Beo String Quartet fresh from tour. Look for this listing and spread the word!