The classical music "off-season" continues to grow with events. This summer sees the annual return of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble with compositions by Rzewski, Messaien, Crumb, Schwitters and more and a premiere of a major multimedia work by Kevin Noe and Kieren MacMillan, "Just out of Reach."

The Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival celebrates the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel with folk, rock and classical music. Bach, Beethoven & Brunch is back with a stout lineup. The Pittsburgh Symphony fare also is stretching out again well into June and July. Don't tell us there's no classical music in the summer in Pittsburgh!

-- Andrew Druckenbrod, Post-Gazette classical music critic (adruckenbrod@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1750)

• ALIA MUSICA OF PITTSBURGH: Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Oakland. New music concert (June 12). www.alia-musica.org.

• BACH, BEETHOVEN & BRUNCH: Mellon Park, Point Breeze (10:30 a.m. Sundays). Edgewood Symphony Orchestra (June 15); Three Rivers Saxophone Quartet (June 22); Pittsburgh Philharmonic (June 29); Allegheny Brass Band (July 6); Bach, Budway, Bolling and All That Jazz (July 13); Pittsburgh Brass Project (July 20); Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh (July 27); Cellofourte (Aug. 3); River City Brass Band (Aug. 10). Free. 412-255-8975.

• FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE FRICK: Frick Art & Historical Center, Point Breeze. Pittsburgh Opera Center Young Artists (June 6); Pittsburgh Symphony Brass (Aug. 1); David Budway (Sept. 5). 412-371-0600.

• MCKEESPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: McKeesport Area High School. "Memories" with Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners (May 17). 412-664-2854.

• MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE: Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Shadyside Chancel Choir and Choral Society. Rossini's "Stabat Mater" (May 18). 412-682-4300.

• PATRICIA PRATTIS JENNINGS: Carnegie Hall, Carnegie. Pianist in benefit concert (June 1). 412-276-3456.

• PITTSBURGH CONCERT SOCIETY: Kresge Recital Hall, Carnegie Mellon University, Oakland. Alumni concert with Charles Abramovic, piano, and Daniel Phillips, violin (June 1). 412-279-2970.

• PITTSBURGH JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL: "ESTA in Concert," 7:30 p.m. May 21 at the Byham Theater, Downtown; "Jerusalem of Gold"" Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival Orchestra, Children's Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh, Gila Goldstein, piano, Nurit Pacht, violin, Re'ut Ben-Ze'ev, soprano, Lucas Richman, conductor, 7:30 p.m. May 28 at the Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill; "Israeli Songs and Dances" featuring Pacht, Gilad Harel, clarinet, 7:30 p.m. June 1 at Rodef Shalom Congregation, Shadyside. 412-394-3353.

• PITTSBURGH NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE: City Theatre, South Side. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 27-July 25. 412-431-2489. PNME also will screen movies at City Theatre as part of its earSHOT Film Festival, Tuesdays 7 p.m. July 10-31.

• PITTSBURGH PHILHARMONIC: North Hills Jr. High School. "An Evening with the Stars" (May 17). 412-818-7262.

• PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Heinz Hall, Downtown. Pinchas Zukerman, conductor and violin, and Benjamin Hochman, piano (May 30-June 1); Louis Langree, conductor, and Garrick Ohlsson, piano (June 6, 8); Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor, Nicole Cabell, soprano, Lucas Meachem, baritone, Mendelssohn Choir (June 13-15). 412-392-4900.

• PSO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONCERTS: Wilkinsburg High School (May 22); Kaufmann Auditorium, Hill District (May 23).

• PSO COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONCERT: Heinz Hall. With singer Isaac Hayes (June 26).

• PSO COMMUNITY SIDE-BY-SIDE CONCERT: Heinz Hall. Daniel Meyer, conductor (June 27).

• PSO CONCERTS IN THE PARK: South Park (July 5); Hartwood Acres (July 6).

• PSO POPS: Heinz Hall, Downtown. "Viva Las Vegas" with Jack Everly, conductor (May 16-18); "Smooth as Silk" with Chris Botti, trumpet, and Marvin Hamlisch, conductor (June 19-22). 412-392-4900.

• HEINZ HALL PRESENTS: Heinz Hall. Johnny Mathis with the PSO (July 11-12). 412-392-4900.

• RENAISSANCE CITY CHOIRS: Ellis School, Shadyside. "Rainbow Broadway." (May 16-17). 412-362-9484.

• RIVER CITY BRASS BAND: Hartwood Acres. Picnic and concert (June 21). 412-434-7222.

• UNDERCROFT OPERA: Puccini's "La Boheme." Aug. 1-3 at Bethel Park High School, Aug. 8-10 at Synod Hall, Oakland. 412-422-7919.