Band Together Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that provides music-related programming and opportunities for people on the autism spectrum, is expanding its open-mic karaoke events into Allegheny County on Feb. 21 at the Monroeville Mall.
“We have not just performers but also DJs who are on the autism spectrum,” said Lisa Hnath, a volunteer disability advocate with East Suburban Citizen Advocacy and event organizer with Band Together Pittsburgh. “Our lead DJ, Justin, will be providing music for karaoke singers.”
Band Together will partner with sweet shop SpectroDolce at the mall.
“We’ve also partnered with them, along with (nonprofit) Achieving True Self, for events at their business in Irwin,” Hnath said. “SpectroDolce’s mall location employs people with disabilities and helps them get a foot in the working world. They’ve hosted music before, and we decided to partner with them again.”
The Band Together events have seen success in Westmoreland County. A 2025 open mic night at Franklin Regional Senior High School in Murrysville drew more than 120 attendees and more than 25 performers. Hnath said that event will take place again this year, in April.
The mall open mic will bring back memories for Cathy Hughes, who worked in the mall as a teenager. Today she is the family support and community engagement director at Achieving True Self, which has a center in Irwin as well as two in Maryland.
“Helping promote this, and what SpectroDolce does, is very meaningful to me,” Hughes said. “Like Lisa, I’m a mom of a child on the autism spectrum, and it’s great to see people who are just like our boys and provide them with ways to bring people together and offer the community these types of opportunities.”
The open mic is open to the public.
“Anyone can get up there to sing and show their talent,” Hnath said. “It’s not just for people on the autism spectrum, it’s for anyone who wants to come join the fun.”
Hnath said the goal is to provide a location and an opportunity for people with and without disabilities to build confidence and community.
“What we really enjoy seeing is friendships start to form, and the overall safety net start to widen for people on the spectrum,” she said. “The more organizations they’re involved in, the more eyes are on them and the safer they are.”
Hughes said she hopes the event will also draw some attention to the stores that remain at Monroeville Mall in the wake of Walmart’s purchase of the property last year. A state grant application indicated the company plans to demolish the property.
“We did some events in December with SpectroDolce, the Pickle Parlor and others,” Hughes said. “It’s helpful to remind people that there are local businesses here that do still need support.”
Band Together Pittsburgh’s open-mic karaoke will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at SpectroDolce, 711 Mall Circle Drive in Monroeville. It is located just inside the mall’s main front entrance.