Clara O’Bannon
PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) – Celebrating Black History Month, memorabilia acknowledging the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC) are on display during the month of February in the City-County Building’s Grand Lobby.
Established in Pittsburgh in 1941, the NNOC is the nation’s first African American opera company responsible for uplifting African American opera voices in a predominantly white field. The founder, Mary Cardwell Dawson, created the company after watching racism obstruct African American musicians from opportunities they rightfully deserved.
Also exhibited is the National Opera House (NOH), a nonprofit whose mission is restoring the NNOC’s original rehearsal and office space located at 7101 Apple St. Known today as the “Opera House,” the historic structure is an ode to Cardwell’s trailblazing pursuits by preserving culture, arts, and music. Efforts to restore the home are led by Jonnet Solomon, the nonprofit’s executive director, who has put more than 20 years of work into the restorations.
The City-County Building showcase and online content is open to the public between Feb. 1-28. For more information regarding the exhibit, check the City-County Building website.
The best Clara!