Monroeville concert marks finale for Masterworks chorale director

May 6 marks Snezana Lazich’s last performance with the Masterworks Concert Chorale, taking place at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville.

She has served as the director of the chorale since 2013, succeeding her father, Milutin Lazich, who founded Masterworks in 2003.

Music was always present in the Lazich household. Snezana’s father worked as a vocal pedagogist and choral director at Clarion University for 35 years. She credits their musical upbringing as what led her and brother Dimitrie to pursue careers in music.

Snezana has been working as a music educator since graduating from college. She attended Duquesne University and earned a degree in music education with an emphasis on the choral track.

She studied choral conducting with Andre Thomas and Anton Armstrong at Florida State University before moving on to complete a master’s degree at Duquesne University.

Both of her parents hail from Belgrade, Serbia, and Snezana is proud of her heritage as a first-generation Serbian-American. She founded the female choir Carica Milica in February 2014 to represent the female population of Serbian singers in the Pittsburgh area and to sustain Serbian music and culture.

Snezana reflects on how much directing has meant to her and speaks to the need to create an escape for herself and her audience.

“It’s where I can take a piece of music and create art. Instead of painting, I use the notes and the dynamics, the expression and the passion to create something enjoyable for the audience to listen to,” she said.

“When I get in front of a choral group, especially Masterworks, everything else disappears, all the worries and the stress. I’m there making music with people who volunteer every Monday night to come there and sing. It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s my happy place.”

As for her favorite piece to direct, Snezana laughed and said that the upcoming concert, “Choir on Fire,” is a great representation of all the amazing pieces the choir has done. She’s pleased with her selection, and the wide variety ensures that there is something for everyone.

The evening will feature hits from well-known musicals such as “Master of the House” from “Les Misérables” and classics such as “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” from Brahms’ “Requiem.”

The audience can sing along with John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” plus songs by Carly Simon, Paul Simon and Adele.

Rehearsals for this performance have been running since the beginning of February. The choir meets Mondays to practice from 7 to 9 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Murrysville. There are currently 38 members of the choir, which is open to anyone 18 or older who loves singing. The ability to read music is not a requirement for joining the choir.

Snezana’s excitement is high going into this final performance. She’s excited to see the whole program run from beginning to end.

The choir will be accompanied by a rhythm section on certain songs, which Snezana is sure will bring something special to the performance.

Snezana’s favorite aspect of directing is “just getting in front of singers, taking the music off of the page. It doesn’t mean anything unless the music is expressive and evokes passion and emotion from the audience. That’s what makes me excited,” she said.

The decision to retire from Masterworks was not an easy one for Snezana, but she feels it’s the right time to move on.

“This time now is for my beautiful daughter, Kaya. She is growing up very fast, and I need and want this time with her,” she said.

Snezana is grateful to her parents and brother, who have inspired and supported her throughout this whole journey. She’s also so thankful for the singers she’s worked with over the years, without whom none of this would be possible.

“I’d love to give a shout out to all of my singers. They have continuously committed themselves and shared their talents with me and my father for all of these years together. They keep coming back and we’ve become a family. Whenever we start up in the fall and the spring, it’s always nice to see everyone after a long break. It’s just so lovely and welcoming. I’m going to miss that,” she said.

The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. May 6 at Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 2310 Haymaker Road, Monroeville. For tickets or more information, call 412-874-7514.