For Immediate Release
April 11, 2012
PSO CONCERTO COMPETITION SEMI-FINALISTS NAMED; WORLDWIDE INTERNET VOTING FOR FINALISTS BEGINS FRIDAY
8 semi-finalists vying for chance to perform as guest soloist at PSO concert
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday picked eight musicians living in the United States to vie for an opportunity to perform next season with the orchestra in a concert led by Music Director Manfred Honeck.
The eight semi-finalists for the PSO’s national Concerto Competition are:
Francesco Camuglia, 21, of Las Vegas, flute
William Hagen, 19, of Salt Lake City, violin
Benjamin Hopkins, 21, of Los Angeles (hometown, Rochester, NY), piano
Manon Hutton-DeWys, 26, of Bronx, NY (hometown, Red Hook, NY), piano
Tae Kim, 29, of Boston, piano
Xiomara Mass, 23, of Chicago (hometown, Puerto Rico), oboe
Angela Park, 24, of Philadelphia (hometown, Los Angeles), cello
Kristan Toczko, 23, of New Haven, Conn. (hometown, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada), harp
The semi-finalists’ performance videos will be posted on the PSO’s You Tube Channel. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 13, people around the world will be able to visit www.pittsburghsymphony.org/competition to view the videos and vote for their favorite semi-finalists. Voting will end at 8 p.m., EDT, Monday, April 30.
Up to four finalists will receive round-trip tickets for a final audition with Honeck on June 11. The winner will be announced June 12, receive $10,000 and perform alongside the PSO at Heinz Hall in BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.
The semi-finalists were chosen by PSO musicians and a team of conductors, including Honeck. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition received 104 eligible videos from Feb. 9 to March 22. The PSO Concerto Competition allowed instrumental soloists in the United States, unrepresented by management, to upload videos of a performance of selected repertoire on selected instruments to the PSO’s YouTube Channel.
The competition is supported by a $50,000 grant from the PPG Industries Foundation. The PSO would like to thank the PPG Industries Foundation for its support of this concerto competition. Established in 1951, the PPG Industries Foundation demonstrates the values of PPG Industries by enhancing the quality of life in communities where the company has a presence. PPG also supports charitable causes by encouraging employees' volunteerism and board service with nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.ppgfoundation.com.
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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
Contact: Wendy McAfoose, PPG Corporate Communications
Phone: 412.434.3099 | email: mcafoose@ppg.com
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