Dreamweaver Marketing Associates News and Views: 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Great Collaborations Series Announced

GREAT COLLABORATIONS PRESS RELEASE:

GREAT COLLABORATIONS SERIES SET
December 20, 2012

PITTSBURGH, PA -- The struggle for equality in American society for both Jews and Blacks has inspired a series of cultural programs sponsored by the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

"Great Collaborations: The Alliance of Blacks and Jews in the 20th Century" is a seven-month educational and cultural series encompassing three performances, a major art exhibition and a series of Town Hall Meetings.

"Throughout the 20th century, Blacks and Jews have shared in the struggle against violence, bigotry and the fight for civil and human rights," said Sala Udin, Interim President of the August Wilson Center. "These collaborations have forever changed the world’s political and cultural landscapes, and we're excited to be exploring the history and its implications through the arts."

"This amazing series showcasing our two communities won't just explore past collaborations, but will also highlight the potential for going forward as partners," said Skip Grinberg, chair of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation. "The prospect of engaging people in the arts to generate new ideas and an open dialogue is a very appealing one, and I hope it leads us to new collaborations in the future."

Among the programs that are part of the Greater Collaborations series are the following:

• The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 exhibit, now through February 28, 2013: On loan from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the exhibit focuses on the 1936 Olympic Games, which showed the triumphs of Black and Jewish athletes – despite Hitler’s theories of “Aryan Superiority.” A partnership of the Holocaust Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the August Wilson Center, where the exhibit is housed. For hours and fees, visitwww.AugustWilsonCenter.org or call 412.258.2700

• A Gershwinter Night, December 29, 8 pm, and December 30, 2 pm: A once-in-a-lifetime concert – a tribute to the music of George and Ira Gershwin, including selections from Porgy and Bess – featuring the Sean Jones International All-Star Quintet with special guest Eli Degibri, the famed Israeli saxophonist and Director of the Red Sea Jazz Festival. Rounding out the super-star quintet will be Roger Humphries on drums; Dwayne Dolphin on bass; Alton Merrell on piano; and Sean Jones on trumpet.

• The Sisters Grey, March 22 – March 24 & March 29 – 31 8pm: This theatrical presentation by Gab Cody and Lori Roper tells of two sisters in law – one Black and one Jewish – who both believe their family histories of racial oppression require retribution and sacrifice from others. A funeral, an heirloom ring which survived the Holocaust and a bevy of secrets set the stage for turmoil in this comedy that asks why we still question love outside our own tribe.

• Paving the Road of Survival, April 12 and 13, 8pm: The August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble journeys through two distinct times in history, representing our individual and collective strengths gained through our heart-wrenching pasts. Featuring "The List" choreographed by Christopher Huggins and "Dedication" choreographed by Kevin lega Jeff.

A series of Town Hall Meetings, free and open to the public, is also part of the Great Collaborations program. Meetings include:

• Tainted Games: The Politics of Race in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, December 27, 5:30pm, Jewish Community Center (5738 Forbes Ave.): Guest Speaker is Dr. David Clay Large, author of Nazi Games, The Olympics of 1936, and a reaction panel will feature Sala Udin; Joy Braunstein, Director of the Holocaust Center of the Jewish Federation; and Holocaust Educator Jason Russo.

 Early 20th Century Collaborations, 1900-1930 – The Birth of the NAACP and National Urban League, February 21, 2013, 5:30pm, August Wilson Center (980 Liberty Ave.): Guest Speakers will be Dr. Esther Bush, President, Pittsburgh Urban League, and Constance Parker, President, Pittsburgh NAACP.

 World War II and the Civil Rights Era, 1940-1970, March 14, 2013, 5:30pm, Center Avenue YMCA (2100 Center Ave.): Guest Speakers will be Dr. Barbara Burstin and Dr. Larry Glascoe – University of Pittsburgh Historians.

 Political Maturity – Yes We Can, 1970 – 2009, Thursday, April 4, 2013, 5:30pm, Homewood Carnegie Library Auditorium (7010 Hamilton Ave.): This session will take place on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination; guest speaker to be announced.

For ticket information about all events visit www.AugustWilsonCenter.org or call 412.456.6666. For more information visit:http://www.jfedpgh.org/greatcollaborations.aspx

Jennifer Wylie Faines
E: jennifer.faines@gmail.com
P: 412-559-2860
T: @jfaines
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfaines

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates. Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping. Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business. www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

SPANK! The Fifty Shades of Parody at the Byham

Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS
Mills Entertainment presents
SPANK!
The Fifty Shades Parody
January 10-12, 2013, 8:00 p.m.
Byham Theater

Pittsburgh, PA: Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody will perform at the Byham Theater, Thursday, January 10 through Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. This tour is presented by Mills Entertainment and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust as part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Written by Jim Millan, whose previous work includes: “Kids in the Hall”, “Larry King Standing Up”, and “Mythbusters Live.” Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody was born out of a suggestion from a friend, and after reading the spicy novel it was based on, Millan couldn’t resist writing a saucy reply. SPANK! is not associated with, nor authorized by, author E.L. James or Vintage Press. The tour has been leaving sold out audiences across the U.S. and Canada grinning from ear to ear with performances that include scandalous sketches, improvisation and musical comedy. Even though this is a parody, you do not need to have read the book in order to enjoy yourself. This comedy is relatable to audiences of either gender, loaded with pop culture references to keep readers and non-readers in stitches.

The story follows the writer and main character, E.B. Janet, as she sends her husband and children away to partake in a weekend of writing. Setting her sites on a tale of erotica, she enlists a bottle of chardonnay as her coauthor for the weekend. Her fantasy builds around the relationship of a young innocent girl, Tasha Wood, and a handsome man that she finds herself involved with, Hugh Hansen. Producer Michael Mills promises “a laugh-filled evening that captures all of the escapist fun and absurdity of the novel, bringing the characters to light with creative and fun musical numbers.”

Tickets ($35.50, $45.50) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. For group sales, please call (412) 471-6930.

Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody features three lead cast members. Together these players create the fun flirtatious stage atmosphere for the show. Anne Scheffler plays the role of E.B. Janet. Anne has been acting professionally for 17 years, in which time she has put on 7 acclaimed one woman shows. These shows include: Situation, NORMA, Not Getting It, and Suddenly Mommy! Each performed with the Second City Tour Company. Anne also has a successful career as a voice artist and stand-up comedian. She writes too, for television, and is developing a new series. But Anne’s favorite roll to play is that of wife, mother and step-mother.

New Yorker, Danielle Trzcinski, performs as naive Tasha Woode. Recently Danielle played Wendy in the Fringe NYC production, which she wrote both book and lyrics, Non-Equity the Musical! She has also toured with Nickelodeon’s Storytime Live! and Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing. Danielle was one of the “Top 25” on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, not to mention one of the “Top 5” females in NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity. Her humor does not stand alone; she is also a talented writer. After being accepted to BMI Musical Theater Writing workshop as a lyricist she has been trying her hand in writing a variety of genres. Humbly she accredits her success to family and friends.

Patrick Whalen, plays Hugh, the heart throb and love interest of Tasha. After moving to Toronto, Canada Patrick fell in love with the stage and studied at the Randolph Academy of Performing Arts. He has held the roles of Roger in Fallen Rock’s RENT and Rocky in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. His background in burlesque qualifies him for this hunky role. Within a year in burlesque working under the pseudonym “Patastrophic Sexapeel” Patrick won Best Male Performer in Strip Search 2010. Off stage he spends time as a stunt man in films, writing for his band, and studying self-defense.

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MLK Essay Contest Announced

Martin Luther King, Jr.
ESSAY CONTEST

*Girls in grades 6 - 12

Inspired by the great legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Girls Coalition of Southwestern PA is excited to announce a new essay contest to help inspire and empower girls in grades 6-12 throughout our region to speak up and let their voices be heard!

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." It is because of the passion, struggle, and sacrifice of this great man and countless others who refused to be silenced, that our nation was able to move towards equality, freedom, and fairness for all people.

Reflecting on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., this essay contest considers the importance of standing up for equality and justice, and looking for both large and small ways to improve our local and global communities. Girls can use their creative voices to raise awareness, encourage positivity, and ignite solutions.

Entering the contest is simple. Here's how:
• Use the words, legacy, and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. to inspire you to answer the question, "How can I change the world?" and/or "What does it mean to be part of the 'Beloved Community?'" and/or "How am I a leader for justice, equality, and fairness for ALL people in my community and beyond?"

• Submit either a written essay (300 - 500 words) or video essay (2 - 3 min). Please note: If you choose to submit a video essay, please contact us via the email address below and we will send you the video upload instructions.

• All essays should include a title, first and last name, age, grade, and the name of your school, as well as contact information for a parent/teacher/or guardian that includes first and last name, phone number, and email (if applicable).

• Deadline for submissions is Friday, January 4, 2013 at 5:00pm (late entries will not be considered)

• Submit all entries to info@girlscoalitionswpa.org or by mail to:
Girls Coalition SWPA
c/o Union Project
801 N Negley Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Finalists and winners will be announced on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 and selected entries will be invited to present at the Union Project's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on the evening of Monday, January 21st. Winners will be announced in three categories: grades 6-8, grades 9 and 10, and grades 11 and 12.

Les Miz Casting Announcement

Cameron Mackintosh’s New 25th Anniversary Production of the World’s Longest-Running Musical

BOUBLIL AND SCHÖNBERG’S

LES MISÉRABLES

CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

Pittsburgh Premiere Engagement at Benedum Center
Tuesday, January 15 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

PITTSBURGH, PA: Casting for Cameron Mackintosh’s new 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables has been announced for the premiere Pittsburgh engagement at the Benedum Center, Tuesday, January 15 through Sunday, January 27, 2013. The all new production of Les Misérables features glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

The performance schedule is Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets ($26-$79) are on sale at www.TrustArts.org, in person at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue) and by calling 412-456-4800. Groups 10+ are available by calling 412-471-6930. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.

Les Misérables is part of the PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

One Day More (Photo Credit: Deen Van Meer)

Peter Lockyer portrays the fugitive Jean Valjean. He is joined by Andrew Varela as Javert, Timothy Gulan as Thénardier, Shawna M. Hamic as Madame Thénardier, Genevieve Leclerc as Fantine,Jason Forbach as Enjolras, Briana Carlson-Goodman as Éponine, Devin Ilaw as Marius and Lauren Wiley as Cosette. Erin Cearlock and Ava Della Pietra alternate in the role of Little Cosette/Young Éponine. Joshua Colley and Hayden Wall alternate in the role of Gavroche.

The ensemble includes Richard Todd Adams, Richard Barth, Natalie Beck, John Brink, Erin Clemons, Ian Patrick Gibb, Ben Gunderson, Nathaniel Hackmann, Siri Howard, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Brittney Johnson, Beth Kirkpatrick, Cornelia Luna, Alexandra Melrose, Jordan Nichols, Weston Wells Olson, Jason Ostrowski, Rachel Rincione, Alan Shaw, Joseph Spieldenner, Eric Van Tielen, Natalie Weiss, Jessica Keenan Wynn, James Zannelli and Lee Zarrett.

The New York Times calls Les Misérables “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful and as good as the original.” The Star-Ledger says "a dynamically re-imagined hit. This Les Misérables has improved with age” and NY1-TV proclaims “this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. Musical theatre fans can rejoice: Les Miz is born again.”

The Barricade (Photo Credit: Deen Van Meer)

“I’m delighted that 25 years after Les Miz originally opened in London the audience for this marvelous show is bigger and younger than ever before,” said producer Cameron Mackintosh. “Over the years I have seen many successful but visually different productions, so it has been exciting to draw inspiration from the brilliant drawings and paintings of Victor Hugo himself, integrated with spectacular projections. The new Les Miz is a magnificent mix of dazzling images and epic staging, driving one of the greatest musical stories ever told.”

Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master Of The House” and many more.

Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer from the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and original adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The original Les Misérables orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and additional orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker. The production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and additional costumes by Christine Rowlands, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael Ashcroft and projections by Fifty-Nine Productions.

Les Misérables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on October 8, 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on December 4, 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on April 3, 2004 where it continues to play to packed houses. When Les Misérables celebrated its 21stLondon birthday on October 8, 2006, it became the World’s Longest-Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by Cats in London’s West End.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the legendary musical Les Misérables made theatrical history with an international first - three different productions in London at the same time. The Original Production (still playing to packed houses at the Queen’s Theatre), the acclaimed New 25th Anniversary Production at the Barbican (where the show originally premiered) and a celebratory concert at The O2 Arena. The O2 Concert was presented in over 500 cinemas throughout the United States on November 17, 2010 and is now available on Blu-ray DVD through Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The Broadway production of Les Misérables originally opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987 and transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 17, 1990 running for 6,680 performances. The US National Tour began in November 1987 and visited over 150 cities before closing in St. Louis, MO in 2006. Broadway audiences welcomed Les Miz back to New York on November 9, 2006 where the show played the Broadhurst Theatre until its final performance on January 6, 2008. To date, Les Misérables remains the 3rd longest-running Broadway production of all time.

Seen by nearly 60 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages, Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals ever written, with new productions continually opening around the globe, with seven more currently scheduled. There have been 36 cast recordings of Les Misérables, including the multi-platinum London cast recording, the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums and the soon to be released live recording of the New 25th Anniversary Production. The video of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold millions of copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos ever in the UK. There are over 2,500 productions of the Les Misérables School’s Edition scheduled or being performed by over 125,000 school children in the UK, US and Australia, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools.

For more information on the production, engagement dates, and locations please visitwww.LesMis.com.

For a video sneak peek of the New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, please visitwww.LesMis.com/watch.

Cameron Mackintosh film of Les Misérables with Working Title and Universal will be released Christmas 2012 nationwide.

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Dindo, Noseda Perform with the PSO

For Immediate Release
Dec. 21, 2012

ITALIAN CELLIST ENRICO DINDO MAKES PSO DEBUT,
NOSEDA RETURNS TO CONDUCT DVOØÁK, SHOSTAKOVICH

PITTSBURGH – Italian cellist Enrico Dindo makes his Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra debut next month in a weekend of BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts led by the PSO’s Victor de Sabata Guest Conductor Gianandrea Noseda.

The concerts will begin at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 11 and at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 13, at Heinz Hall. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $35, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or by visiting the PSO online at www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

Enrico Dindo

Dindo, of whom the Cincinnati Enquirer wrote, “His face was as expressive as his sound, projecting pure, unmitigated joy,” will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2, originally composed for famed cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Noseda, who was named the PSO’s Victor de Sabata Guest Conductor beginning in the 2010-11 season, will also lead the orchestra in performances of Dvoøák’s Seventh Symphony, a glorious hymn to the Czech nationalism that sings dramatically of the composer’s love for the Bohemian homeland.

Gianandrea Noseda (Photo Credit: Chris Christodoulou)

Noseda also will participate in a Music 101 session at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 11, in the Dorothy Porter Simmons Regency Rooms at Heinz Hall. Presented by the Pittsburgh Symphony Association, Music 101 is a lunchtime series of informal lecture/performances by musicians, conductors, composers and staff of the PSO. Discussions usually include short performances, as well as Q&A sessions. Admission is $2. Patrons can also call 412.392.3303 to pre-order a $12 gourmet picnic lunch from The Common Plea.

The PSO would like to recognize and thank BNY Mellon for its 2012-2013 season sponsorship of BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the PSO. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the PSO.

Since becoming music director of the Teatro Regio Torino in 2007, Gianandrea Noseda has propelled it into the ranks of leading opera houses. He regularly conducts many of the leading international orchestras and is also Chief Guest Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic, Victor De Sabata Guest Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and Laureate Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic. He served as the first foreign principal guest conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre from 1997–2007. The 2011–2012 season was a seminal one for him and included celebrated performances of Britten’s War Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in London and New York. The New York Timesselected the performance at Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival as one of the top ten performances of 2011, while Alex Ross of The New Yorker wrote, “Noseda marshalled the finest War Requiem I have heard.” LSO Live subsequently released a recording in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of the War Requiem’s premiere.

The first Italian to be awarded the First Prize at the International Cello Competition, “Mstislav Rostropovich,” Paris in 1997, Enrico Dindo has received international recognition for his exceptional and early talent. The great Russian maestro said about him: “He is a cellist of exceptional qualities, who has the gift of an incredible sound, which flows as a splendid Italian voice.” Born in Turin into a family of musicians, Dindo began studying cello at 6 at the Conservatorio “G. Verdi” in his native town. He attended post-graduate courses with Egidio Roveda and Antonio Janigro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. In 1987, Dindo was invited by Riccardo Muti as first cello soloist to the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where he held the post for eleven years, until 1998. Dindo has performed alongside great orchestras such as Orchestre National de France, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai, Kirov Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, NHK Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Goethemburg Symphoniker, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic and Kirov Orchestra of St. Petersburg.

Editors Please Note:
Friday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 13 at 2:30 p.m.

First Night Pittsburgh 2013

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces:
HIGHMARK® FIRST NIGHT® PITTSBURGH 2013
Region’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration

Dirty Dozen Brass Band headlines Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013
Monday, December 31, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. midnight
In the heart of the Cultural District

www.FirstNightPgh.org

PITTSBURGH, PA: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013! This family-friendly community event is produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust with generous support from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the event’s long time supporter and returning presenting sponsor. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh provides the city with a chance to ring in the new year while celebrating the arts: dance, music, theater, comedy, magic, visual art and film, plus hands-on activities for children and adults.

“On behalf of Highmark, it’s our pleasure to provide key support for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, a family-friendly event that offers fun activities for all to enjoy,” said Highmark executive vice president Dan Onorato.

Adds Darcy Kucenic, Director of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: “We’re grateful to Highmark for their continued support of the region’s largest New Year’s celebration that draws tens of thousands of visitors and spotlights the success and growth of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to produce Highmark First Night Pittsburgh and to deliver high-quality performing and visual art for the city to embrace this New Year’s Eve.”

Highmark First Night Pittsburgh begins at 6:00 p.m. with the Dollar Bank Children’s Fireworks Display and a performance by Adam Brock & The Soul Band on the Dollar Bank Stage at Seventh Street and Penn Avenue. The First Night Parade begins at 8:00 p.m and features Grand Marshals Curt Woottan and Chris Preksta of “Pittsburgh Dad,” giant First Night Puppets, art cars, marching bands, a bicycle parade, and members of the community- all lit for the occasion of this year’s ‘light’-themed parade. The evening concludes with a performance by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on the Highmark Stage and The Countdown to Midnight and Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale atop Penn Avenue Place and Fifth Avenue Place. The Highmark Stage, where all the First Night revelry concludes, is located on Penn Avenue next to Fifth Avenue Place. The Penn Avenue big screen, an extra large jumbotron in the middle of the street, will broadcast live surprises throughout the night, and enhance the ball-raising experience by broadcasting the culminating events for all attendees to see.

Among 100+ events and activities held in 45 venues throughout the Cultural District, attractions include the First National Bank Family Tent featuring hands-on activities for all ages; Equitable Gas Marquee Performances with House of Soul at the Benedum Center, Equitable Gas Sing Off winner to open for House of Soul, and River City Brass at the Byham Theater; and brand new projects for the 2013 celebration including the expanded Fire & Ice Plaza featuring Ice Creations & Steel Town Fire, the annual Resolution Sculpture created this year by Dave Bernabo & Lindsey Clark and entitled Chance Resolution, WYEP Music Station Local Band of the Year “Broken Fences, and First Night Comedy Club at the Trust’s Cabaret Theater.

The Highmark First Night Pittsburgh website provides even more event details and allows users to sort through the schedule of events and customize plans. The FirstNightPgh.org is also mobile-friendly and will allow smartphone users to plan on-the-go during New Year’s Eve.

HIGHMARK FIRST NIGHT PITTSBURGH® ADMISSION BUTTONS
To join the celebration, simply purchase an all-access Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 button. A button costs only $8 in advance or $10 at the door; children age 5 and under are admitted for free.
First Night buttons are available at participating Giant Eagle stores, The Box Office at Theater Square, online atwww.FirstNightPgh.org or by calling (412) 456-6666.

Seat vouchers may be reserved starting on Monday, December 10th and are available through to the night of the event or until capacity is reached in advance. For the first time ever they will be available online at FirstNightPgh.org and may be printed at home for convenience. Seat voucher reservations may also be made by calling 412-456-6666 or by visiting The Box Office at Theater Square. With one admission button, attendees can reserve one voucher for one performance of each attraction. The Box Office at Theater Square is located at 655 Penn Avenue between the O’Reilly Theater and Katz Plaza.

Want your vouchers sooner? Our VIP package, entitled “First Night Friends,” allows members to purchase vouchers from December 4th-9thfor priority seating, access, parking, and more! For more information on becoming a part of this special sponsorship opportunity, please call 412-471-6086 or visit FirstNightPittsburgh.org.

There will be general admission waiting lines for performances at all venues requiring vouchers. Patrons will be seated on a space-available and first-come, first-served basis once voucher holders have been accommodated. Box Office hours are Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. noon to 6:00 p.m.

VOLUNTEERS
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh needs volunteers for numerous jobs--from button checkers to activity helpers to parade assistants. Families, co-workers, school groups and individuals of all ages are needed to help us ring in 2013 in a fun, alcohol-free, family-friendly way. To volunteer with Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, sign up at FirstNightPgh.org.

SPONSORS & MEDIA PARTNERS
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 sponsors as of release date include: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as the presenting sponsor, Equitable Gas Co., Dollar Bank, First National Bank, Giant Eagle, PNC, Ideal Integrations, and Bobby Rahal Motor Company.

Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 community supporters include The Buhl Foundation, The Fine Foundation, The Grable Foundation, and McCune Foundation.

Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 media partners include Trib Total Media, KDKA-TV, and WYEP-FM

ABOUT HIGHMARK FIRST NIGHT PITTSBURGH
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is the largest one-day outreach event of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has led the way for the creation and ongoing development of Pittsburgh’s award-winning Cultural District. Utilizing the arts as a means for transforming a formerly blighted downtown, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust today welcomes over a million visitors annually to thousands of performances, gallery exhibitions and community events.
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John Pinette Still Hungry Tour

John Pinette

Byham Theater

Friday, February 8, 2013 ● 8:00pm

On Sale Friday, December 21, 2012, 10am

Pittsburgh, PA : John Pinette will present a hilarious evening of stand-up comedy at the Byham Theater on Friday, February 8, 2013 at 8:00pm. Tickets go on-sale Friday, December 21, 2012 at 10am and can be purchased at TrustArts.org, 412.456.6666, or at the Box Office Theater Square. Tickets are $40.25. This is an all ages show.

When describing his own stand-up, Pinette says “I talk about my life; it is the funniest thing I can think of.” His comedy special “Still Hungry” debuted on Comedy Central in 2011. The food-obsessed, storytelling Pinette, delivers smart, original, Bill Cosby-influenced observations on everyday life. “Still Hungry” is a follow-up to his successful “I’m Starvin’!” and “Show Me the Buffet” CD’s and DVD’s.

John Pinette is no rookie to the stage. For the past sixteen years, Pinette has been in entertainment one way or another. Once he realized he could use his knack to make people laugh and turn it into a career, he left his job as an accountant and began touring comedy clubs around the country.

He caught his big break when he was asked to tour with Frank Sinatra and he’s since become a regular guest on The Tonight Show and The View. Most recently, Pinette came off the theatrical stage and to the stand-up stage after wrapping up his starring role as ‘Edna Turnblad’ in the winning Broadway musical Hairspray.

His note-worthy accomplishments include being named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year by the American Comedy Awards in 1999 and he was also nominated for a Gemini Award for his television performance at The Montreal Comedy Festival in 2000. Pinette’s acting career includes roles alongside Gwenyth Paltrow, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and John Travolta. He is experienced in both film and television and has been featured in programs such as Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and starred as a car-jack victim in the final episode of Seinfeld. For more information, visit John’s official website www.johnpinette.com.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! GET THE SILLIES OUT! TOUR

will visit Benedum Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Friday, January 11, 2013

Tickets and Gabba Party Packages go on sale Monday, December 3

Pittsburgh, PA: The sillies are crazy little creatures that live inside of us and need to be shaken out! DJ Lance Rock and everyone’s favorite cast of colorful characters are calling all fans in Pittsburgh, PA to get ready to jump, shake and shimmy them out at the new live tour Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! will perform two shows at the Benedum Center, on Friday, January 11, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $25. For tickets and information, visit www.Trustarts.org, in person at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, or call (412) 456-6666. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. This show is presented by Opus One Productions, s2bn and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Yo Gabba Gabba! is an award-winning, live-action television series and live stage show whose unconventional formula has created a triple stacked fan base, making it one of the most popular entertainment properties among preschoolers, parents and indie music lovers alike. The television show, now in its fourth season, airs several times a day on Nick Jr.

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! marks the third tour for the successful Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! concert series. The first tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: There’s a Party in My City!, launched with a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a performance at the White House in 2010. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! 2010 tour played to sold out venues in 60 cities. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! enjoyed repeat success in 2011, energizing audiences across North America at over 120 shows.

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! is a state-of-the-art production and an interactive experience that offers audiences of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life when DJ Lance Rock and fans say the magic words, “Yo Gabba Gabba!”. Hip-hop legend Biz Markie will join the cast on stage for Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! with Biz’s Beat of the Day. The show will also feature Super Music Friends and Dancey Dance guest performances. Past Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! guest performances have included Devenda Banhart, Cold War Kids, Matt Costa, Kid Koala, Moby, DMC (Run DMC), Shaggy, Snoop Dogg, Dave Grohl, Jon Heder, Talib Kweli, Mix Master Mike, Nicole Richie, Kid Sister, Keri Russell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jason Reitman, Zac Brown and the Drive By Truckers and more, while Christina Aguilera, Jessica Alba, Jason Bateman, Travis Barker, Brendan Fraser, Heidi Klum, Chris Noth, Gwen Stefani, Brooke Shields, Dennis Quaid and others attended with their families.

About Yo Gabba Gabba!
Yo Gabba Gabba! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. The award-winning series is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz. The live tour is produced with DHX Media by S2BN Entertainment. Yo Gabba Gabba! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons. The series and the live show stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno, the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue cat-dragon and Plex, the yellow robot. Today’s most popular names in movies, television, music and sports flock to the groundbreaking series, including series regulars Biz Markie and Mark Mothersbaugh, and guest stars such as Fred Armisen, Erykah Badu, Jack Black, Anthony Bourdain, Devo, Flaming Lips, Meta World Peace (Ron Artest), Tony Hawk, The Killers, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mos Def, The Roots, Andy Samberg, The Shins, Sarah Silverman, Amare Stoudemire, The Ting Tings, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Elijah Wood and Weird Al Yankovic, among others. Yo Gabba Gabba! apparel, CDs, DVDs, books and other merchandise are sold online and in mass and specialty retail stores nationwide in the U.S. The series, now in its fourth season, airs several times a day on Nick Jr. and in several major international territories, including Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Latin America, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.K. Visit www.yogabbagabba.com.

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get The Sillies Out! tour begins in Los Angeles at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Friday, November 23 and will visit more than 50 cities across the U.S. in 2013. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! is touring in support of their first national beverage launch, a new line of toys, a new line of kids sportswear and a DVD/ CD collector’s edition. For a complete list of tour dates, cities and show times, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-8717 / roth@trustarts.org

Silver Days Charcoal Nights CD Release Party

Silver Days Charcoal Nights CD Release Party
What: Silver Days Charcoal Nights CD Release Party
When: 8:30 PM, Saturday, Jan.19, 2013
Where: Little E's Jazz Club

Featuring: Music & Visual Art
Jessica & Mark will be joined by artists Sara Beck Sweeney, Martin Thomas, Susan Wagner, Duane Rieder and Vince the Artist. The artists will be displaying and selling work related to the Silver Days Charcoal Nights theme.

The party begins at 8:30.
Little E's Jazz Club
949 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
2nd Floor above Mahoney's Restaurant
412.392.2217
Reservations suggested

About Silver Days Charcoal Nights

Virginia-born (Carolina-honed) vocalist JESSICA LEE possesses the essential quality that makes jazz and blues lyrics utterly compelling: a soulful voice with a soulful personality dedicated to a soulful approach to her craft. The first time I listened to Jessica, in Pittsburgh at one of her many weekly gigs, I discovered how honest her lyrical energy truly is. Each time, from that moment on, Jessica's radiance seems more and more beguiling. She is that "real" thing . . . a jazz singer whose blues-saturated feeling creates immediate happiness and friends for life.

Guitarist extraordinaire MARK STRICKLAND is a bulwark of taste, chops and sensitivity throughout this duo album's delicate and cheerful musical exchanges. Recently I was pleased to learn, from several of the legendary Tom Harrell's New York musicians, how highly they hold Mark's exquisite work.

Ten Reasons to Shop at the Mall

For Immediate Release:
December 12, 2012

For More Information Contact:
Saul Markowitz
Markowitz Communications
412.577.5140
Saul@markowitzcommunications.com

Top 10 Reasons to Finish Holiday Shopping at Your Local Simon Mall!

(Pittsburgh, Pa)- It’s hard to feel the magic of the holidays sitting in front of a computer screen. Sure, online shopping is convenient and fast—but Ross Park Mall and South Hills Village usher in a full and exciting experience full of holiday cheer!

Here are the top 10 reasons to finish the rest of your holiday shopping at the mall.

1. Shopping with no limitations or guess work. Shopping with no guess work. Don’t guess at what an item looks and feels like, or how it fits on you. Go to the mall. Touch the fabric. See colors and patterns live. Mix and match items. Try on clothing to ensure fit and satisfaction.

2. Social shopping. Shopping, to a large extent, is a social experience to be shared with friends and family. There’s no better place to do that than at your local mall. You also have access to knowledgeable salespeople who can explain merchandise to you and make recommendations that best fit your needs.

3. Instant gratification. Find what you want and take it home with you right away. No wait. No shipping charges.

4. Surprise and delight. Shopping at the mall is like a box of chocolate—you never know what you’re going to get. Many shoppers go to the mall not knowing what they are going to get. And that’s the point. It’s exciting—finding that special gift, discovering your favorite designer is on sale, seeing the latest fashion.

5. Escape to the mall. Get away, if only for a couple of hours, from daily obligations and responsibilities. Enjoy some “me time” at the mall.

6. Unparalleled selection. With an average of more than 120 retailers in a mall, there are literally thousands of brands from which to choose—all under one roof.

7. Great deals all in one place. The sheer number of sales and special offers by mall retailers is unmatched in any other sales environment.

8. Free entertainment. Malls offer free year round entertainment for all ages, including musical/choral groups, dancers and a wide range of other events designed to engage and entertain. No other retail venue can provide the level of entertainment a mall can.

9. Great food. Malls offer a variety of dining options for shoppers. Shop at the mall with friends and then relive the experience over a meal at one of the fine restaurants or eateries located at the mall.

10. Personal/Community connection. Malls are part of the fabric of their local community. Many shoppers’ first job or first date was at their local mall. Most shoppers can recall positive personal experiences from their youth that occurred at the mall. Additionally, malls actively support a number of local charities helping raise funds to support the broader community.

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Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 331 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 241 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Enjoy PSO Themed Tree, Menorah for Holidays

For Immediate Release

Dec. 4, 2012

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INVITES PUBLIC TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS TREE, MENORAH AT HEINZ HALL

PITTSURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) invites the public to enjoy this holiday season by visiting Heinz Hall to view a majestic Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah.

The tree and menorah are displayed in the Grand Lobby and will be open to be viewed by the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting Wednesday, Dec. 12. People of all faiths are invited to visit Heinz Hall and take photos of the tree and menorah, which will be lit during Hanukkah.

The 25-foot grand fir tree comes from the Rossman Farm in Ebensburg, Pa. It has been decorated with hundreds of ornaments and will be illuminated with more than 10,000 lights. This year, the tree is decorated in a musical theme with red, gold and green accents.

The tree was cut Sunday and brought to Heinz Hall by Eichenlaub, Inc. The tree was trimmed and decorated by Plantscape.

The public can view the tree and menorah from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 12-14, 17-21, and 26-28.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is the Holiday Sponsor of the PSO.

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Contact: James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org

Contact: Louise Sciannameo, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4866 | email: lsciannameo@pittsburghsymphony.org

Contact: Ramesh Santanam, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: rsantanam@pittsburghsymphony.org

Book of Mormon Tickets on Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TICKETS ON-SALE

PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh

WINNER! TONY AWARD – BEST MUSICAL

WINNER! NEW YORK DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD – BEST MUSICAL

WINNER! DRAMA DESK AWARD – BEST MUSICAL

WINNER! OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD – BEST MUSICAL

WINNER! DRAMA LEAGUE AWARD – BEST MUSICAL

WINNER! GRAMMY AWARD – BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM

“THE BEST MUSICAL OF THIS CENTURY.

Heaven on Broadway! A celebration of the privilege

of living inside that improbable paradise called a musical comedy.”

Ben Brantley, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Performances begin
March 26 and run through April 7, 2013
at the Benedum Center

Individual Tickets Go On Sale December 14, 2012 at 9 AM

The Book of Mormon (Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)

PITTSBURGH, PA: The producers of the national tour of the new musical THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, and PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh announce that single tickets will go on sale December 14, 2012 at 9 AM for the Pittsburgh engagement. Tickets begin at $36 and will be available at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, by visitingwww.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-4800.

THE BOOK OF MORMON will run March 26-April 7, 2013 at the Benedum Center, Pittsburgh, PA. The performance schedule is Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. THE BOOK OF MORMON is part of the PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.

Award Winning The Book of Mormon (Photo Credit: Michael O'Neill)

THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

THE BOOK OF MORMON features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus. Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

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For more information, visit www.BookofMormonTheMusical.com
Follow THE BOOK OF MORMON on Twitter and on Facebook.

Media Contacts:

Diana Roth / roth@trustarts.org / (412) 471-8717
PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series

National Tour Press Contact: John Gilmour / jgilmour@alliedlive.com / (312) 428-2400
Broadway Press Contact: Chris Boneau, Jim Byk, Christine Olver
cboneau@bbbway.com/jbyk@bbbway.com/colver@bbbway.com (212) 575-3030

Remmereit, Shaham Return to Heinz Hall with Walker Work

For Immediate Release

Dec. 5, 2012

GUEST CONDUCTOR ARILD REMMEREIT, GRAMMY-WINNING VIOLINIST GIL SHAHAM RETURN TO HEINZ HALL; PSO PERFORMS COMMISSIONED WORK BY PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING COMPOSER GEORGE WALKER

Violinist Gil Shaham

PITTSBURGH – Multiple Grammy Award-winner Gil Shaham returns to Heinz Hall to perform Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto in a weekend of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts led by guest conductor Arild Remmereit.

The concerts will begin at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $93, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or by visiting www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

The program also features Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dreams” Symphony, and Pulitzer Prize-winner George Walker’s “Strands,” co-commissioned by the PSO and three other orchestras. In 1996, Walker became the first black composer to receive the coveted Pulitzer Prize in music for his work, Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra. His works have been performed by virtually every major orchestra in the U.S. and many in England and other countries. He has won numerous awards, including two Guggenheim Fellowships and two Rockefeller Fellowships.

Shaham last performed at Heinz Hall in January 2010. Nicknamed “the Turkish March,” Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto begins with a sweet melody and ends with hints of military-Turkish music. Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dreams” is one of the Russian composer’s earliest and masterful works.

The PSO would like to recognize and thank BNY Mellon for their 2012-2013 title sponsorship of BNY Mellon Grand Classics. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the PSO. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the PSO.

Arild Remmereit, Courtesy of RPO

Over a five-month period in 2005, conductor Arild Remmereit made five dramatic debuts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Milan’s Filarmonica della Scala, Munich Philharmonic, and Vienna Symphony, quickly establishing himself as a major talent on the international scene. The New York Times called his Pittsburgh debut “a breathtakingly dynamic reading of the Schumann [Symphony No. 4]… The only thing listeners seemed to want to talk about afterward was Mr. Remmereit. ‘Sensational’ was the word heard most frequently.” Remmereit was immediately re-engaged in Pittsburgh, Vienna, Milan and Baltimore and has since conducted many other prominent orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony, where he appears frequently, England’s Hallé Orchestra, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale in Florence, National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, Dallas Symphony, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, and Seoul Philharmonic. The 2012-13 season includes return engagements with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and NACO, which he conducts in subscription and on tour, and debuts with the Naples Philharmonic and Orchestre Symphonique de Québec.

One of the foremost violinists of our time, Gil Shaham’s combination of flawless technique with inimitable warmth and a generosity of spirit has solidified his legacy as an American master. In the 2012-13 season, Shaham continues his long-term exploration of “Violin Concertos of the 1930s,” a project beginning in 2010 and comprising performances at some of the most well-established concert venues with the world’s greatest orchestras. “Violin Concertos of the 1930s,” including the Barber, Berg, Stravinsky and Britten Violin Concertos, as well as the Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, will be performed with the Orchestras of Baltimore, Boston, New York, Chicago, Montreal, San Francisco and Kansas City and abroad with the Orchestre de Paris and the NHK Symphony.

George Walker

Born in June 1922 in Washington, D.C., of West Indian-American heritage, George Theophilus Walker’s first piano lessons began at age 5 under the supervision of his mother, Rosa King. Before graduating from Dunbar High School at age 14, Walker was presented in his first public recital at 14 at Howard University's Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. In 1937, he was admitted as a scholarship student to Oberlin College, where he studied piano with David Moyer and organ with Arthur Poister. Graduating at 18 from Oberlin College with the highest honors in his Conservatory class, he was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music to study piano with Rudolf Serkin, chamber music with William Primrose and Gregor Piatigorsky, and composition with Rosario Scalero, teacher of Samuel Barber. He graduated from the Curtis Institute with Artist Diplomas in piano and composition in 1945, becoming the first black graduate of this renowned music school. Walker has published more than 90 works for orchestra, chamber orchestra, piano, strings, voice, organ, clarinet, guitar, brass, woodwinds, and chorus. His awards include the Harvey Gaul Prize, MacDowell Colony, Yaddo and Bennington Composer Conference Fellowships, two Guggenheim Fellowships, two Rockefeller Fellowships, a Fromm Foundation commission, two Koussevitsky Awards, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, a Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust Award, the Mason Gross Memorial Award, numerous grants from the Research Councils of Smith College, The University of Colorado, Rutgers University, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New Jersey Council on the Arts. Walker has received important commissions from many ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic (Cello Concerto), Cleveland Orchestra (Dialogus for Cello and Orchestra), Boston Symphony (Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra), Eastman School of Music (An Eastman Overture) , Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Violin and Piano Sonata No. 2), David Ensemble (Five Fancies for Clarinet and Piano Four Hands), Affiliate Artists and Xerox (Guido's Hand), Pew Charitable Trust (Piano Sonata No. 4), The Boys Choir of Harlem (Cantata), The Cleveland Chamber Symphony (Orpheus), New Jersey Symphony (Pageant and Proclamation), Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust (Modus), New Jersey Chamber Music Society (Wind Set), Maryland International Piano Competition (Bauble), Columbus Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra (Tangents), New Jersey Youth Symphony (Icarus In Orbit), and Network for New Music (Abu).

Editors Please Note:
Friday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ARILD REMMEREIT, conductor
GIL SHAHAM, violin

George Walker Sinfonia No. 4, “Strands”
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart Concerto No. 5 in A major for Violin and Orchestra, K. 219
I. Allegro aperto
II. Adagio
III. Rondo: Tempo di menuetto
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Opus 13, “Winter Dreams”
I. Allegro tranquillo
II. Adagio cantabile man non tanto
III. Scherzo: Allegro scherzando giocoso
IV. Finale: Andante lugubre – Allegro moderato – Allegro maestoso

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Contact: James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org
Contact: Ramesh Santanam, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: rsantanam@pittsburghsymphony.org