University Times

Winter Jazz 2003, featuring Dianne Reeves, raised $37,000 for the Blackington Endowment for the Performing Arts at Pitt’s Johnstown campus. To date, Winter Jazz performances for the Blackington Endowment at UPJ have raised $232,000.

Now in its 10th year, Winter Jazz was established to expand the Blackington Endowment, which furnishes permanent operating support for the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.

The center is a multi-purpose facility operated by UPJ. It presents a variety of events, including musicals, adult and children’s theater, dance and music productions to more than 12,000 patrons annually.

Winter Jazz is supported by Mark E. Pasquerilla, who has spearheaded this annual concert since 1993 . He has underwritten artists’ fees, and provided personal and corporate support.

Pasquerilla said, “Winter Jazz brings much to the Johnstown area in terms of cultural enrichment, both monetarily and the fact that world class artists have performed at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.”