CITY OF PITTSBURGH KICKS OFF BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL NEGRO OPERA COMPANY

Established by opera singer and music educator Mary Cardwell Dawson, the NNOC aimed to promote African American talent within the classical music world. Dawson's visionary leadership paved the way for Black opera singers to showcase their artistry and gain recognition on a national scale. 

“It is an honor for the City of Pittsburgh and I to celebrate the National Negro Opera Company and Mary Cardwell Dawson, as well as her amazing legacy in the opera world, African American, and Pittsburgh communities,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Not only am I proud that NNOC was the first African American opera company in the country, and widely successful in bringing African American voices to the front of the stage, I’m also proud to know that this company’s building is in my backyard.” 

The celebration included an opening reception on Monday, February 3, 2025, from 6–8 p.m. in the City-County Building’s Grand Lobby, which will also house a special Black History Month exhibit. The display will showcase the life and work of Mary Cardwell Dawson, the legacy of the NNOC, the National Opera House (NOH), and the cultural impact of both the NNOC and the Cardwell Dawson School of Music. Contributors to the exhibit include the Library of Congress, Carnegie Library, NOH, and Carnegie Museum of Art. 

For those unable to visit the Grand Lobby, the exhibit will be available online through the @PghEventsOffice on Facebook, Instagram, and X from February 3–28. 

This year’s Black History Month celebration is presented by CitiParks Office of Special Events and sponsored by AARP Pennsylvania, 100.1 & AM 1020 KDKA NewsRadio, and WAMO 107.3. 

For additional information on the City of Pittsburgh’s Black History Month events, please visit www.pittsburghpa.gov/Recreation-Events/Special-Events/Black-History-Month and follow @PghEventsOffice.