PSO Announces Auditions for African American Musicians

For Immediate Release
Jan. 11, 2013

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR
ORCHESTRA TRAINING PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSICIANS

Application deadline Jan. 18; auditions in March in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announced it will hold auditions in March at Heinz Hall to select one musician for its two-year pre-professional program for young African American musicians.

Applications for the PSO’s Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians (OTPAAM) must be postmarked on or before Friday, Jan. 18. Auditions will be held March 6 & 7 at Heinz Hall.
Created in 2007, the PSO’s Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians (OTPAAM) is dedicated to preparing young African American musicians for careers in a professional orchestra. Fellows’ time with the PSO will include practice time, education and community engagement opportunities, and audition training. The fellowship, awarded to one fellow every two years, includes an annual stipend, as well as additional payment toward health insurance, audition expenses and professional development.

The PSO’s most recent OTPAAM Fellow, cellist Ryan Murphy, won an audition with the San Antonio Symphony, starting in the 2012-2013 season.

To be eligible for OTPAAM, applicants must be African American musicians between the ages of 18-30 at the start date of the fellowship, and must also play a standard orchestral instrument (no keyboard). Applicants can get more information, as well download an application form, atwww.pittsburghsymphony.org/OTPAAM. Applications and a one-page resume can be sent by mail, email or fax to Assistant Personnel Manager, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The fax number is 412.392.4910; the email address is auditions@pittsburghsymphony.org.

OTPAAM is one of several programs in the PSO’s Diversity Plan, which outlines a multifaceted approach to promoting conversations about diversity in orchestra settings, recruiting leadership and advisors for diversity initiatives, and building opportunities for performance on and off the orchestral concert stage to better reflect the diverse communities and audiences that orchestras serve.

OTPAAM is made possible in part by Milton & Nancy Washington.

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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

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