Resonance Works

Resonance Works Inspiring audiences with intimate, genre-defying productions from opera to orchestral & chamber music

A Pittsburgh-based performing arts non-profit that empowers musicians and inspires audiences with intimate, genre-defying productions from opera and musical theatre to orchestral, choral, and chamber music. Performed in the intimacy of small theatres, churches, art galleries, and even cemeteries, our productions heighten the soul-stirring experience of live music by bringing audiences and artists

into close proximity. Grounded by our exceptional Resonance Chamber Orchestra, each season incorporates multiple genres and performance styles, ranging from fully-staged opera to orchestral and chamber music. Our work is shaped by collaborations with nationally and internationally recognized artists, whose creative vision and immense talents generate the foundation for each Resonance Works production. Through these dynamic partnerships, we create musical experiences that highlight the artists’ voices and speak to urgent contemporary issues. We also partner with a variety of performing arts organizations to create cross-genre productions that bring classical music into conversation with dance, contemporary music, theatre, and more. We harness the transformational power of music to engage audiences, spark conversations, and connect people across generations. We are committed to programming at least half of the works in a season by women and a third by creators who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, with the goal of normalizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work and in the industry as a whole. Resonance Works was founded in 2013 by Pittsburgh native Maria Sensi Sellner, a versatile and innovative classical conductor praised for bringing a “welcome infusion of sophistication and diversity” to Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape. Since our inception, we have been instrumental in maintaining a rich and vibrant community of professional musicians in the region. Our cross-genre programming has led to numerous artistic partnerships in dance, theatre, photography, and visual art, as well as collaborations with community organizations. We have produced beloved operas, rare and new concert works, and performances, including 12 world premieres and dozens of regional premieres, living out its mission to bring inspiring musical experiences by globally renowned performers to Pittsburgh stages.

What happens when Shakespeare meets opera? Come find out! May 28, We invite you to a fun, fascinating, and FREE preview ...
05/13/2026

What happens when Shakespeare meets opera? Come find out!

May 28, We invite you to a fun, fascinating, and FREE preview of our June production of Charles Gounod’s opera Roméo et Juliette at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall

Hosted by Artistic & General Director Maria Sensi Sellner, Conductor, the evening features a reader’s theater exploration of Shakespeare’s iconic play, a deep dive into Gounod’s operatic masterpiece, and a live performance of the breathtaking balcony aria “Ah, lève-toi, soleil” by our Roméo: Benjamin Werley, Tenor!

Join us, and fall in love with this timeless story all over again.

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Visit https://carnegiecarnegie.org/event/romeo-et-juliette-an-operatic-preview-with-resonance-works for more information.

We're looking for our Little Prince! 👑Resonance Works seeks enthusiastic and accomplished young treble singers for the l...
05/12/2026

We're looking for our Little Prince! 👑

Resonance Works seeks enthusiastic and accomplished young treble singers for the lead role of The Little Prince and an understudy for its November 2026 production of Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince - November 20, 21, and 22nd 2026 at Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, PA. Casting will not be limited by age or by gender.

Auditions will be scheduled June 3, 4, and 5 by appointment ONLY. Those wishing to be considered should fill out the application form at https://www.resonanceworks.org/auditions-tlp-26

We can't wait to hear from you!

05/07/2026

✨The day is finally here!✨ We are thrilled to announce our thrilling 2026/27 season!

We open the season on Sunday, September 27, with a one-day-only performance of Gilda Lyons' An Anchor in Time, presented alongside Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite and a choral time capsule spanning centuries. Originally commissioned for our 10th anniversary season, we are reprising An Anchor in Time as part of our multi-year recording project, which began earlier this season with Nancy Galbraith's Flute Concerto.

Back by popular demand, Rachel Portman's The Little Prince returns to the Resonance Works stage! We will return to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, PA, this November 20, 21, and 22 for this charming opera, featuring a cast of Resonance Works favorites in a magical production that will delight and move children and adults alike.

January 22-24, the Reson8 Vocal Octet brings David Lang's little match girl passion to life in three stunning sacred spaces. Based on the touching story by Hans Christian Andersen, and reframed through the structure of Bach's Saint Matthew Passion, the little match girl passion calls us to remember the humanity of those society often overlooks. These impactful performances will also feature contemporary works by Errolyn Wallen, Gilda Lyons, Kristin Kuster, and others.

March's program celebrates the beauty and power of the human voice with one of the most transcendent works in the choral repertoire, Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil. The historic Heinz Memorial Chapel is the perfect space for this rich and glorious a ca****la choral work, which we dedicate to the memory of Pittsburgh musical legend, conductor and educator Robert Page, in honor of his 100th birthday.

We close our season June 18 & 20 with Verdi's grand operatic psychodrama, Don Carlo. Set amid the turmoil of the Spanish Inquisition, Don Carlo explores the conflict between love, duty, and political freedom as a prince struggles when his betrothed is forced to marry his father, King Philip II. Featuring an exceptional cast of Resonance Works favorites, this is opera at its best: dramatic, passionate, and deeply affecting.

We cannot wait for you to join us for this incredible season! Which are YOU most excited for?

When you're this close, you don't just watch Roméo & Juliette, you experience it. You'll feel every desperate plea. Ever...
05/06/2026

When you're this close, you don't just watch Roméo & Juliette, you experience it.

You'll feel every desperate plea. Every stolen glance. Every moment the music swells and reminds you exactly why this story has broken hearts for centuries.

Join us June 19 and 21 at the New Hazlett Theater to experience grand opera on a human scale, featuring an intimate and immersive production by Justin Lucero and Maria Sensi Sellner, Conductor. Tickets and information are available at https://www.resonanceworks.org/romeo-juliette

We are so excited to welcome baritone Ricardo Herrera to Resonance Works, singing the role of Lord Capulet, Juliette's f...
05/04/2026

We are so excited to welcome baritone Ricardo Herrera to Resonance Works, singing the role of Lord Capulet, Juliette's father!

Ricardo has sung more than 50 operatic roles around the USA, Mexico, and Europe. He has sung with San Francisco Opera, Gotham Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, El Paso Opera, Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, Cincinnati Opera, Caramoor Festival, Atlanta Opera, among others. Among his signature roles, he has sung Diego Rivera in the opera Frida around the country, including Detroit, Cincinnati, Miami, Atlanta, and El Paso; and the title role in Don Giovanni in a USA national tour with Western Opera Theater.

Don't miss Ricardo and the rest of this incredible cast in Gounod's Roméo & Juliette, June 19 and 21 at the ! Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/romeo-juliette for tickets and information.

What happens when a piece of text becomes a piece of music?  Page to Stage is about just that! First up: "Ah, léve-toi, ...
05/01/2026

What happens when a piece of text becomes a piece of music? Page to Stage is about just that!

First up: "Ah, léve-toi, soleil!", Roméo's aria at the foot of Juliette's balcony. Swipe ⬅️ to see how it compares with Shakespeare's text!

Experience Benjamin Werley, Tenor 's stirring rendition of this beloved aria, this June 19 & 21 at the New Hazlett Theater in Northside. 🎭 Tickets to Roméo & Juliette are available here: https://www.resonanceworks.org/romeo-juliette

Consider this your last hint. 🔥 We're dropping clues leading up to our 26/27 season reveal, and this photo is where it a...
04/30/2026

Consider this your last hint. 🔥 We're dropping clues leading up to our 26/27 season reveal, and this photo is where it all begins. Think you know what we're planning?

Drop your guesses in the comments! May 5th, we find out who called it.

Patrick McNally  is a familiar face to Resonance Works audiences, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Pittsburgh...
04/29/2026

Patrick McNally is a familiar face to Resonance Works audiences, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Pittsburgh as Mercutio in Gounod's Roméo & Juliette!

He has been seen on our stage in Cinderella, Rigoletto, On the Town, and L’elisir d’amore. Later this season, Patrick will be joining the FIO Italia festival as a director and teacher. Recent engagements include Roméo et Juliette with El Paso Opera, Gianni Schicchi, La traviata, and Don Giovanni with La Musica Lirica di Novafeltria, L’Italiana in Algeri and Pinocchio with St. Petersburg Opera, and Two Remain with the Quad Cities Symphony. Recently, he recorded Tangling with the Epic, a CD of newly created English and Australian art songs, released on the Cedille Records label.

Experience Shakespeare's classic tale like never before, this June 19 & 21. Tickets and information are available at https://www.resonanceworks.org/romeo-juliette

Our 26/27 season announcement is coming May 5th, and we're leaving a little trail of breadcrumbs to get you there. Can y...
04/25/2026

Our 26/27 season announcement is coming May 5th, and we're leaving a little trail of breadcrumbs to get you there.

Can you guess what we have in store? Leave your guesses in the comments!

William Shakespeare celebrates his birthday today, and we're in the mood to celebrate! 🥳 In honor of the bard's 462nd ye...
04/23/2026

William Shakespeare celebrates his birthday today, and we're in the mood to celebrate! 🥳 In honor of the bard's 462nd year, we're offering 10% off tickets to Roméo & Juliette with code HBDS (good April 23-26)!

Experience Gounod's operatic take on the star cross'd lovers like never before in a fresh, intimate staging, featuring a cast of incredible artists. Join us June 19 and 21 at the ! Tickets and information are available at https://www.resonanceworks.org/romeo-juliette

Join us in welcoming Philip Cokorinos to the Resonance Works stage for the first time! Philip was winner of the Metropol...
04/21/2026

Join us in welcoming Philip Cokorinos to the Resonance Works stage for the first time!

Philip was winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1985 and went on to sing his debut during the Metropolitan Opera’s 1987–88 season. Since then, he has appeared in more than 400 performances of 40 operas at the Metropolitan Opera, including “Live from The Met” telecasts of Don Giovanni; the world premiere of The Ghosts of Versailles; and The Met’s premieres of Sly, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Gambler, and Shostakovich’s opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. He has also appeared in their productions of Tosca, La bohème, La fanciulla del West, La traviata, Adriana Lecouvreur, La rondine, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Macbeth, Manon, Don Carlo, Tosca, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Manon Lescaut, and Le nozze di Figaro.

Don't miss Philip and the rest of this incredible cast in Gounod's Roméo & Juliette. Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/romeo-juliette for tickets and information!

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Pittsburgh, PA

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