Sunday, July 26, 2015

Home Grown Music-Tech-Radio Conference in Pittsburgh, Each One Teach One


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July, 2015
Please join us Saturday, August 1 from 10AM-5PM for Pittsburgh's one and only home grown music-tech- radio conference. Admission is free of charge and open to the public.
The Each One Teach One music and radio conference  brings together incredible array of musicians, arts advocates, policymakers, technologists, media representatives and industry figures to discuss issues at the intersection of music, technology, policy and law. Your participation in these conversations has been crucial. Our past conferences were held on the campus of Carnegie-Mellon University. This year’s location is the Bloomfield-Garfield Activity Center. The center serves as BGC’s primary meeting place for public events and is located in the Penn Avenue Arts District.  The site, located at 113 North Pacific Avenue, was built in 1898 and served the community for many years as Pacific Avenue United Methodist Church.
Past Each One, Teach One Conferences have included:
Visionary presentations from music industry leaders, innovators and thought-leaders.




  • Special conversations with leading musicians, producers and policymakers
  • How artists earn a living in today's music landscape
  • Musicians examining innovative digital music services
  • An up-close look at successful creative communities and music scenes across the country
  • The legal and technological environment
  • Creating Community media

Past presenters and panels:

Vince Eirene of Blast Furnace Radio was on hand to discuss how mountaintop removal became a worldwide environmental campaign.
The REAL Rock: Black Rock, Innovators and creators.
Jazz and Jazz programming: The changing media landscape.
AMERICANA SOUL: “The Blue Roots of Americana Music.
Blues Panel
Reggae and World Music Panel
Black Radio confidential: Creating a new inch with an old ruler?
New Media with the "Techno Granny" Joanne Quinn-Smith
Paradise Gray and Jasiri Xtra presented "How to Succeed In Hip-hop without Selling your Soul"
Andrew W. Thornhill our "Transmedia" expert. He is a nationally recognized authority on change in the media marketplace, digital media and the industry-wide, 2009 DTV transition.

Our community partners have been:

The Arts Greenhouse which is a hip-hop music education program that serves Pittsburgh teens through music technology classes, music recording projects, hip-hop performances, and workshops. The New Pittsburgh Courier which is one of the nation’s oldest Black newspapers. Positively Pittsburgh Live Magazine.Com. , Pittsburgh's FirstInternet Radio and TV Network.

"This event is important because it shares the value of participatory education. The Each One Teach One Conference, in its brief history, has established itself as an annual event which uses these techniques to further our knowledge of ourselves as culture carriers. Music and the influences upon it carry the soundtrack and imprint of our very lives. Whoever attends this conference leaves it better equipped to make a meaningful contribution to the culture".-David Jasaga Sawyer

Past participants have said...
"Each One Teach One is Vital, Not Only Because Knowledge Empowers, but because Shared Knowledge among Peers Encourages, Enriches and Establishes a Firm Base that Could Not be Acquired Alone...”

 Jere B, SounDoctrine.com  Originalternativefunkjazzfusion
“Kevin, I think we should be thanking you for your time and effort!
This was a great conference that has given me as a blues musician a lot of insight on music as a whole. This is a wonderful thing that you have put together. You have my 100% support for any future seminars/conferences. This is a great opportunity to network and keep music and all aspects about it alive in Pittsburgh!”
So, hats off to you and "Blues more than just a Faze"!  Ms. Freddye
“It's a good feeling that good people like you keep the pulse of music beating strong.”

Emmai Alaquiva
Founder of The Hip Hop on L.O.C.K. Project
The Black Music Education Project is a not-for-profit organization founded by Kevin Amos. In 1995
The BMEP produces, coordinates and manages events for the entire community. We also write articles on Black Music. In addition, Kevin Amos has been a panelist and speaker at many functions over the years including the Arts and Cultural Observatory at Carnegie Mellon University, various Hip-Hop symposiums, the Astron Music seminars, the Soul Patrol East Coast Convention, and the African American Jazz Preservation Society of Pittsburgh.

Kevin Amos, Radio Host, Producer, Founder and Organizer Each One Teach One

For more information contact:

BLACK MUSIC EDUCATION PROJECT
412-352-6749


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Say "I Do" to THE WEDDING SINGER July 24 - August 2










FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aja Jones
412-281-3973 ext. 224
ajones@pittsburghCLO.org
Images: Press Room
User: pressroom Pswd: pittstadium
 
Say "I Do" to THE WEDDING SINGER
July 24 - August 2
Relive the totally "Awesome" decade that was the '80s!



Pittsburgh, PA ∙ July 10, 2015  Party like it’s 1985 with Pittsburgh CLO’s production of THE WEDDING SINGER July 24-August 2 at the Benedum Center. This musical romantic comedy brings the cult hit film to life with iconic dance moves and infectious beats that will have you leaving the theater feeling “rad.”
Meet New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer/rock-star wannabe, Robbie Hart. He’s the life of the party, until his fiancée leaves him heartbroken at the altar. “Shot through the heart,” Robbie turns every wedding into a disaster. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection with her innocent charm. Robbie falls hard, only to learn that Julia is about to be married to a narcissistic Wall Street shark.  Can he can pull off the performance of a decade or will the girl of his dreams be gone forever? Nominated for five Tony Awards® THE WEDDING SINGER is packed with enough music and dancing to leave you longing once more for “the decade of excess!”





ABOUT THE CASTJenna Ushkowitz (Juliais known for her role as Tina Cohen-Chang in the three-time Emmy nominated, FOX television series, “Glee.”  Most recently, Jenna served as Executive Producer of Twinsters, a film documentary that premiered at SXSW in Austin. Last summer, she starred in the Hollywood Bowl special production of Hair. Prior to becoming a Gleek, she was on Broadway in the Tony Award®-winning production of Spring Awakening where she performed the roles of Ilse, Martha, Anna and Thea. Jenna released her first memoir, “Choosing Glee” in May 2013, which is a heartfelt, practical guide for teens on how to be your true self. Baseball fans may know her as the first host of Yankees on Deck, which is a behind-the-scenes sports show geared towards young audiences on the YES! Network. Jenna made her Broadway debut at the age of nine in the 1996 revival of The King and I, and performed with the original cast in an appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that year. Her television credits include “Sesame Street,” “Reading Rainbow,”  “As the World Turns” and the pilot “The Imagination Movers” for Playhouse Disney.



Brandon Andrus (Glenlast appeared in Pittsburgh as Nick Massi in Jersey Boysat the Benedum Center. Other favorite roles: Terry & Buddy covers in Side Show(Broadway), Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (World Premiere), Curly inOklahoma! (1st National Tour), Sonny in Xanadu, Chad in All Shook Up and King Arthur in Camelot.
Jackie Burns (Lindareturns to Pittsburgh CLO after recently appearing as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Broadway: If/Then, Wicked, Hair; Off-Broadway: Rock of Ages(original cast), Hair (original revival cast), Unlock'd (NYMF), Ripper.  National Tour:Wicked (IRNE Award nomination).  Regional: A Grand Night for Singing(Connecticut Critics Circle Award), The Full Monty, Singin’ in the Rain, Joseph., Sweeney Todd, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Candide and Smokey Joe's Café.  TV: "All My Children.” Concept Albums: "Swept Away" (Disney), "Tears from Heaven” and "Excalibur" (Frank Wildhorn).
Greg Kamp (Georgereturns to Pittsburgh CLO after appearing as Willard inFootloose last season. Theater: Catch Me If You Can (National Tour), Barry Manilow’s Harmony (Ahmanson), Power Plays (Dramatist Guild), & Saturday Night(York Theatre). TV: “Wronged Man” (Lifetime), “Past Life” (Fox) and “Solving Charlie” (ABC). A CCM grad, Mr. Kamp also serves as an Artistic Associate with Hook & Eye Theater and on staff with the Broadway Dreams Foundation.
Susan Cella (Angiereturns to Pittsburgh CLO after appearing in Mary Poppins, Man of La Mancha and Gypsy this season. Broadway: The Graduate, Crazy He Calls Me, Me and My Girl, Evita, On the Twentieth Century, Allegro, Lady in the Dark. National tours: Fiddler, Hairspray, 42nd Street, La Cage Aux Folles, Me and My Girl, Can-Can. Off-Broadway: Hello Muddah…, Mayor, Jacques Brel. Regional: over 35 productions. Film/TV: “Person of Interest,” “Law and Order,” “The Sopranos,” “All my Children,” “Hi Honey I’m Home,” “The Tavern,” “The Astronaut’s Wife,” “Follies” and “A Sondheim Celebration.”
Brandon Espinoza (Sammyappeared in Pittsburgh CLO’s production of Footlooselast season. Broadway: Gypsy, Big, Les Misérables, Will Rogers Follies. Off-Broadway: Tea and Sympathy (Keen Company), Scarcity (Atlantic Theater Company), Substitution (Playwrights Realm), Not Waving (The Kirk at Theater Row). Regional: Grease (MUNY), West Side Story (Stratford Shakespeare Festival).TV: “I Love You...But I Lied” (LMN), “The Following” (Fox), “The Leftovers” (HBO), “It Could Be Worse” (HULU), “Elementary” (CBS) and “The Carrie Diaries” (CW).
Jeffrey Howell (Father of the Bride, Priestrecently performed with Virginia Musical Theatre in Gypsy and with the REP in Souvenir. Some favorite Pittsburgh CLO shows include 42nd Street, Singin’ in the RainSunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ SuperstarJekyll and Hyde, A Musical Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit) Beauty and the Beast, Bells are Ringing, Pajama Game, The Most Happy Fella.  Other credits include Candide, Tigers Be Still, Chicago, and Tribute to Lerner and Loewe with Marvin Hamlisch and the PSO.
Kirsten Scott (Hollywas last seen at Pittsburgh CLO as Bambi in Curtains. Broadway credits include originating the role of Jenny Hill in the musical Big Fish, originating the role of Young Phyllis in the 2012 revival of Follies, Lorraine in Jersey Boys and Amber von Tussle in Hairspray. Select Regional: Big Fish (Chicago Oriental Theater), Follies (Kennedy Center/Ahmanson), Marvelous Wonderettes(Westside Theater), Grease (Sacramento Music Circus), Chaplin (La Jolla Playhouse), Minsky’s (Ahmanson) TV: “All My Children,” “Steve Harvey Show.” She is a Carnegie Mellon University graduate.
Sandy Rosenberg (Rosieis making her Pittsburgh CLO debut. Most recently, she appeared as Jeanette in The Fully Monty at Maine State Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre. Broadway: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Mamma Mia!, NYC Opera’s Candide.National tours: Les Misérables, Jekyll And Hyde, Menopause The Musical. Off-Broadway and Regional: The Golden Land, Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, Nunsense, Mame, Phantom, Lend Me A Tenor and The Odd Couple-Female Version with JoAnne Worley and Cindy Williams.
J. Michael Zygo (Robbie) is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut. Most recently an original cast member/musician of Tony Award®-winning Once on Broadway (Emcee, u/s Guy/Billy, Dance Capt., Assoc. Cond.) featured on the Grammy Award winning Cast Album. Off-Broadway: Once (NYTW), Man of Rock (NYMF) Tours: Rock Of Ages -1st Nat. (Swing, u/s Drew/Stacee Jaxx/Franz/Dennis/Hertz), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart), Annie (Rooster), and Oklahoma! -1st Nat. (Will Parker). Film/TV: Unforgettable, Rock Of Ages (featured dancer), Tony Awards 2012, 2013 (opening line!) He is also a singer/songwriter.


ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAMBarry Ivan (Director & Choreographer) returns to Pittsburgh CLO with national and international credits that range from directing at the German State Opera to directing at Yale. Highlighted Pittsburgh CLO credits: Sunset Boulevard, Company, A Little Night Music, The Full Monty, Miss Saigon, West Side Story and Les Misérables. Mr. Ivan’s productions of The Full Monty and Hairspray received IRNE awards for Best Musical, and he received Best Director IRNE nominations for Nineand Les Misérables. Mr. Ivan directed the US Premiere of Dracula: A Chamber Musical, and will be directing the world premiere of playwright Jeff Stolzer’s new playScenes From the Life Of An American Male, a comedy-drama with music. Mr. Ivan is currently under contract developing and executive producing Web TV programming.
Tom Helm (Music Director) returns to Pittsburgh CLO for his 20th CLO season, having conducted more than 60 productions.  His other adventures include conducting the Broadway productions of the Brigadoon revival, Cats, Me and My Girl, Les Misérablesand Souvenir.  Tom was musical director of the first national tour of Cats, Radio City’s 5-6-7-8 Dance!, and television productions of Mornings at Seven and Crazy For You.  Mr. Helm supervised touring productions of Me and My Girl, Dora the Explorer, Diego Live, Rugrats, and Madagascar.  He has also been music director of some 50 Paper Mill Playhouse productions, among other regional and national theatres.
Andrew David Ostrowski (Lighting Designer) recently contributed to Pittsburgh CLO’s Man of La Mancha this season. National credits: The National High School Musical Theater Awards in NYC, The Asolo, NSMT, George Street Playhouse, TheatreWorks, Philadelphia Theatre Company, New York Theater Institute, The Blumenthal Center, Spoleto Festival USA, Madison Opera, DSM, TOTS.  Local credits include productions for PPT, City Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO, CLO Cabaret, Pittsburgh Opera, PSO, PBT, PICT, THE REP, Barebones Productions, as well as others.


HISTORY OF THE SHOWBased on the popular 1998 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, THE WEDDING SINGER, follows the unpredictable tale of young entertainers finding love in the colorful and lively era of the ‘80s. Following the film’s release, the original writer started a musical collaboration with Chad Beguelin, bringing the comedy to life on stage.
On April 27, 2006, THE WEDDING SINGER opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre starring Stephen Lynch as Robbie Hart and Laura Benanti as Julia Sullivan.
The production launced its first National Tour in September 2007, entertaining audiences in 31 cities. THE WEDDING SINGER went on to premiere internationally in cities such as Madrid, Tokyo, Australia and Germany.
ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CREATIVE TEAMChad Beguelin (Book and Lyrics) is a four-time Tony Award® nominee for his contributions to The Wedding Singer and Aladdin. Along with two Tony® nominations for The Wedding Singer, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, in which he shared with Tim Herlihy, Beguelin received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Lyrics. Beguelin also wrote the lyrics to the 2010 stage adaptation, Elf: The Musical. Beguelin’s writing credits also include screen writing for Disney’s live action film department in California. His other credits include:The Rhythm ClubWicked City and On the Record.
Tim Herlihy (Book) is an actor, producer and screenwriter who wrote the 1998 original film, “The Wedding Singer.” After the success of the movie, Herlihy made his Broadway debut by co-writing the book with Beguelin for the film’s 2006 stage adaptation. He wrote and produced for “Saturday Night Live” from 1993 until 2000 and is known to frequently collaborate with Adam Sandler. His screen writing credits include: “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Waterboy,” “Big Daddy,” “Mr. Deeds,” “Bedtime Stories” and “Grown Ups 2.”  His production credits include: “Anger Management,” The Longest Yard,” “Click” and “Grown Ups.”
Matthew Sklar (Music) composed the musical score for The Wedding Singer, in which he received a 2006 Tony Award® nomination for Best Original Score. Sklar started composing at the young age of 14, with his first song later recorded for the Mickey Mouse Club. Sklar composed for Elf: The Musical, which broke box office records during its run at the Al Hirschfield Theatre in 2010. He has written his own original musicals which include The Rhythm Club, Judas and Me and Wicked City. Sklar’s other contributions include: Shrek: The Musical, 42nd Street, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and Caroline, or Change.
Performance Schedule for THE WEDDING SINGER
Friday           July 248 p.m.
SaturdayJuly 252 p.m. & 8 p.m.
SundayJuly 262 p.m. & 7 p.m.
TuesdayJuly 288 p.m.
WednesdayJuly 298 p.m.
ThursdayJuly 308 p.m.
FridayJuly 318 p.m.
SaturdayAugust 12 p.m. & 8 p.m.
SundayAugust 22 p.m.

TICKETSTickets start at $20 and are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Tickets start at $35. Groups of 10 or more enjoy exclusive discounts and specialty packages. Call our Group SalesHotline at 412-325-1582 for more information. Visit pittsburghCLO.org for further information.
Pittsburgh CLO gratefully acknowledges the generosity of PNC for its sponsorship of the PNC Spotlight Series and our Season Sponsors: the Pittsburgh Post-Gazetteand WTAE-TV.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Dreamweaver Marketing News, ARCADE COMEDY THEATER VISITS BACKSTAGE BAR



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Randall Kirk, Cabaret Manager, 412- 325-6766/ Kirk@TrustArts.org

ARCADE COMEDY THEATER ANNOUNCES
SHANNON MCARTHUR
VISITS BACKSTAGE BAR
WEDNESDAY| AUGUST 5TH | 5:00 PM
NO COVER CHARGE 
Pittsburgh, PA – Arcade Comedy Theater announces that the artist whose songs “serve as a scrapbook of his experiences,” (Blue & White Magazine) Shannon McArthur, brings his music to Pittsburgh. This show takes place on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at Backstage Bar, 655 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh. This performance has no cover charge. The event is presented by Arcade Comedy Theater.

McArthur is gaining national exposure with the songs he has written for shows such as MTV's The Challenge16 and PregnantTen on Top, and A&E's The Glades. Outside of the United States, his song "Anywhere You Want" won song of the month on Haerlem Radio in the Netherlands. McArthur's songs continue to spread as he writes for other artists (such as Tiffany Alvord and Ray Gibson) while continuing to play college and university events all over the states.

About Shannon McArthurCurrently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, Shannon's collaborated with and learned from artists such as: One Tree Hill
star Kate Voegele, YouTube singer Tiffany Alvord, singer/ songwriter Andy Grammer, and Augustana's Dan Layus. He has also seen the songs he’s written and produced played on major networks such as ABC, MTV, VH1, and shows including General Hospital. For eight years, Shannon has toured university campuses and local music venues as an acoustic opener and headline act, but now he finds conviction in cutting the straps and free falling towards his target with a full band. His newest project includes an upcoming EP.

About Arcade Comedy TheaterArcade Comedy Theater provides an interactive setting for actors,
comedians and other players with a wide range of experience, both onstage and off. Arcade allows audiences to experience various forms of theatrical comedy, from proven standards to offbeat styles. Voted Best Comedy Venue by the readers of Pittsburgh Magazine in the 2014 Best of the Burgh Awards, Arcade Comedy Theater is downtown Pittsburgh’s spot for all things comedy. The nonprofit theater, which opened in February 2013, is a small 75-seat space which hosts stand-up, improv, sketch comedy, variety acts, and more. With BYOB and a pinball machine in the lobby, the Arcade provides a fun and affordable addition to the Pittsburgh Cultural District. The Arcade Academy offers classes, workshops, internships and other educational opportunities. Our goal is simple: to elevate and advance the art of comedy in Pittsburgh.
For more information, visit our website. You can also follow us on Twitter @ArcadeComedy and like us on Facebook.
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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Dreamweaver Marketing Associates News, Carla Bianco​ Musician, Broadway Actress, Philanthropist



 
For Immediate Release
July 15, 2015
Carla Bianco​
Musician, Broadway Actress, Philanthropist

  
Carla Bianco first performed when she was just 4 years old at a
party where guests filled a Styrofoam cup with money upon hearing her sing.  From this early beginning, music has always been her passion. 

Carla has secured numerous recording and composing deals and has appeared on West Coast, Broadway and off Broadway stages, all of which has won her chart placements, recognitions and awards.  She is most known for her starring role in the Broadway show RENT and for composing the #1 Billboard song, “The Lover That You Are”, which won her an ASCAP award.  Devoted to giving back to the community where her own dreams were born, Carla returned to her hometown of Pittsburgh to help found the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center and Charter School and she donates to many children’s charities. Continuing her recording work with the release of her first record, ‘All This Time’,  and starting her own label, Ivory Note Records distributed by BFD/Sony RED, she has earned respect in the indie music scene and has been interviewed and reviewed by numerous international entertainment blogs
Carla is currently recording her 2nd record, ‘Give Voice’ and running an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds where all proceeds will be donated to charity.She is also set to tour the East Coast in August 2015.
Carla recorded "Imagine" on a John Lennon Steinway Piano for The Imagine Series. There are only 25 in the world.

https://youtu.be/3sKKdprxhKE

http://www.steinway.com/pianos/steinway/limited-edition/john-lennon/
'Give Voice' is Carla's 2nd record and a very special project for charity.  She wants to provide support and inspiration for those struggling with a major life challenge. The songs she's written are
inspired by different people that have something to voice but can't for one reason or another; a mute and deaf boy in a wheel chair, an Afghanistan girl who committed suicide as a protest for her freedom and a 9-year old boy with Autism. Her mission is to create music to make a positive difference in the world.  
With this project, Carla plans on connecting each song with a respective charity such as Autism Speaks, The American Foundation for Disabled Children and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education and donate all the record sales proceeds to them. She looks to be involved with and create benefit performances and events for these charities and have these songs represent their cause. She will reach out as far as she can so this record can have the impact it is intended to have. If you give to this project, you will be involved from the ground level with something very special. You will help others feel a connection through the power of music where they can hear their struggle and emotional life resonating in a song. Together, everyone can make a difference and give back with give voice.
http://www.carlabianco.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/give-voice-music-ep-charity-project#/story
https://soundcloud.com/carla-bianco-1/through-the-spectrum/s-fXGEJ#t=0:00 
​Media Contact:
Jennifer Allison/EXE Media Group

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Positively Pittsburgh Classic Rock Night at PSO


For Immediate Release
June 29, 2015
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMS CLASSIC ROCK HITS IN A NIGHT OF SYMPHONIC ROCK
Featuring a full rock band fronted by John Elefante of Kansas
PITTSBURGH – Heinz Hall will “rock ‘n’ roll” when the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents “A Night of Symphonic Rock” on July 25 at 8 p.m. 
Pittsburgh Symphony Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh leads the orchestra and a full rock band in some of classic rock’s biggest hits like “Hotel California,” “More Than a Feeling” and “Barracuda” from
legendary bands. Special guest vocalist John Elefante, former lead singer of supergroup Kansas, joins the orchestra performing songs like “Dust in the Wind” and “Carry on Wayward Son.”
The house band from the School of Rock will perform in the Grand Lobby beginning at 7 p.m.
Tickets for A Night of Symphonic Rock with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra range in price from $35 to $99, and can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or by visiting pittsburghsymphony.org/summer.
Those interested in attending more than one summer concert can craft their own series of concerts at a discounted rate. Buy tickets to two concerts and receive 10% off the ticket price; three concerts receive 20% off the ticket price; and four or more concerts receive 30% off the ticket price. These discounts are only available via phone or in person at the Heinz Hall box office. Pittsburgh Symphony subscribers can receive a 15% subscriber discount by calling their patron services representative (PSR).
Resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and music director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Loh is an engaging conductor of impressive range and talent. Beginning in the 2015-16 season, Loh will become the first music director of Symphoria, based in Syracuse N.Y., founded by former members of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. As resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Loh works closely with Music Director Manfred Honeck and conducts a wide range of concerts including classical, educational and pops. He is active in the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Community Engagement and Partnership Concerts, extending the symphony’s reach into other communities. He made his debut on the main classical series conducting Handel’s Messiah in December 2008. Loh led the enormously popular Fiddlesticks Family Concert Series where he played the part of host and conductor. In addition to his duties on the podium, he is an audience favorite in the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Concert Preludes lecture series, edits radio broadcasts and makes many public appearances. His association with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra began as assistant conductor in 2005. He was promoted to associate conductor in 2006 and to resident conductor in 2007.
 Since his appointment as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in 2005, the orchestra has made its mark as an ensemble of superb musicianship, performing electrifying performances year-round. Off the podium, Loh is very active in the region as an arts leader and music advocate, and is constantly in demand as a guest speaker and clinician. Loh’s recent guest conducting engagements include the National Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC), Greater Bridgeport Symphony and return engagements with the Dallas and El Paso Symphonies. Other recent guest conducting appearances include the Malaysian Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony and the San Angelo Symphony. He has conducted the symphony orchestras of Portland, Cedar Rapids, Colorado Springs, East Texas, Fort Collins, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Plano, Shreveport, Sioux City, Spokane and Tallahassee among others. He has led Korea’s Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra, the Binghamton Philharmonic, the Yale Philharmonia, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. 
His summer appearances include the festivals of Bravo Vail Valley, Breckenridge, Las Vegas and Hot Springs, the Kinhaven Music School (Vt.), the Performing Arts Institute (Pa.) and the Carnegie Mellon Summer Strings Camp. Loh held the positions of assistant and associate conductor of the Dallas Symphony from 2001 to 2005. He led the Dallas Symphony in a variety of classical subscription and educational programs throughout each season. He was brought to national attention in February 2004 when he stepped in to conduct on short notice for an ailing Charles Dutoit, conducting Stravinsky's Petrouchka and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Prior to his Dallas appointment, Loh was appointed by Music Director Marin Alsop to be associate conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. From 1998 to 2001, he conducted more than 50 concerts annually, including classical subscription, pops, education, family and outreach programs. 
While in Denver, he was also music director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, the premiere youth orchestra in the Colorado Rocky Mountain Region. Additionally, Loh served as the interim director of Orchestras and Head of the Orchestral Conducting Program at Denver University’s Lamont School of Music in 2000-2001. In May 1998, Loh received his artist diploma in orchestral conducting from Yale University, also earning the Eleazar de Carvalho Prize, given to the most outstanding conductor in the Yale graduating class. During his years at Yale, he was selected to be the assistant conductor of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and apprentice conductor of the Hot Springs Music Festival. He received further training at the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival and School and has additional degrees from Indiana University and the University of Rochester. A dedicated teacher, Loh held the position of associate instructor in music theory at Indiana University and teaching assistant at Yale University in advanced hearing, conducting and orchestration. He was also the guest curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for “What Makes Music?” an interactive exhibit, offering the opportunity to explore the science of music and sound, as well as the role of music in culture. Loh was born in southern California of Korean parentage and raised in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jennifer have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Hilary. 
Producer Stephen Cook, president and CEO of TCG Entertainment, has 20 years of entertainment marketing
experience. TCG works in the entertainment, performing arts, and symphony industry by providing top quality programming, booking, producing, marketing and publicity services. TCG Productions include Cirque Musica, Rewind — Celebrating the Music of the 80s, The Legends of Classic Rock, The King — The Music of Elvis and more. TCG clients include Kenny G, Le Ombre, the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Saint Louis Symphony, among others. Prior to starting TCG, Cook held leadership positions at top entertainment companies including Universal Studios, Six Flags Over Texas, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Tussauds Group in Las Vegas and Feld Entertainment, Inc. Cook, a native of Lakeland, Florida, holds an undergraduate degree from Florida State University and an MBA from The University of Florida. 
John Elefante is a Grammy Award-winning multi-faceted performer, writer and producer for more than 30 years. Elefante was the lead singer for the supergroup Kansas in the early 80s.  Elefante co-wrote hits like “Right Away,” “Fight Fire with Fire” and more. Elefante has produced more than 30 albums for multiple groups including Petra. His solo career has spanned for decades in both the Christian and rock music genre.

Editors please note:

Saturday, July 25 at 8:00 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
A NIGHT OF SYMPHONIC ROCK WITH THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
LAWRENCE LOH, conductor
JOHN ELEFANTE, vocalist
CHRISTINE LA FOND, vocalist
JOEY FINGER, drums & vocalist
KEITH HUBACHER, bass & vocalist
MICHAEL JOHNSON, guitar & vocalist
TOM LIPPS, keyboard & vocalist

Selections to be announced from stage.



Monday, July 13, 2015

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Next Step in Equal Pay Campaign Focuses on Building Negotiation Skills



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           
July 9, 2015                                                                       
                                                                                         
CONTACT: 
Laura Harwin
412-255-1279        
lharwin@ywcapgh.org                                                                   

George Hazimanolis
412-662-136
                                                           
Next Step in Equal Pay Campaign Focuses on Building Negotiation Skills
‘Negotiation Know-How’ Webcast set for Thursday, August 13

PITTSBURGH, PA—Learning to negotiate is one step women can take to counteract the gender wage gap, and they can get started on Thursday, August 13. The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh and WQED Multimedia invite women to learn how to build their negotiation skills during a free live-streaming webcast,Negotiation Know-How: Clearing the Hurdles to Making the Ask.

Negotiation Know-How is the second of five webcasts offered this year as part of Closing the Gap: 50 Years Seeking Equal Pay, a two-year multimedia campaign produced by WQED Multimedia in partnership with YWCA Greater Pittsburgh. The campaign kicked off in October 2014 with a live talk show special on why the wage gap exists and how to improve it.  Last month, Closing the Gap received the YWCA USA Association Excellence Award for Advocacy at the YWCA 2015 Annual Conference.

“The national recognition speaks volumes to the importance of the gender wage gap issue,” said Magdeline E. Jensen, CEO, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.

Closing the Gap is now focused on the five webcasts, each of which addresses a topic that
contributes to the wage gap. The webcasts are intended to equip audiences with information and skills that will help them achieve fair pay throughout their careers and work toward a secure retirement.

“We are pleased to bring these valuable skill-building webcasts to women in Pittsburgh and nationwide,” Jensen said. “These webcasts empower women with the knowledge to speak out for themselves and for future generations of women, especially when it comes to the gender wage gap.”

Fifty years after President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, women are still only making, on average, 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. In that time span the current wage gap has improved at a rate of less than half a cent per year...and if it continues at that pace, the wage gap won’t close completely until the year 2053.

Negotiation Know-How: Clearing the Hurdles to Making the Ask live streams August 13, at 4 p.m. For more information and to register, go toWomenWageGap.org. Watch parties are also encouraged. This webcast will arm women with information and skills to assist them in earning fair pay throughout their own careers and toward a secure retirement. Participants have the opportunity to:
  • Learn to recognize and clear their negotiation hurdles.
  • Discover the power structures and stereotypes that affect their negotiations.
  • Prepare themselves to negotiate effectively. 

Future Closing the Gap webcasts include Financial Freedom: Standing on Your Own Financial Feet after Graduation (Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.); Wage Gap Legal Issues: Know Your Rights (Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.); Your Personal Board of Directors: Cultivating Mentors & Sponsors in the Workplace (Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.). The first webcast from May 2015, Step Out With a Plan: Balancing Work, Life & Financial Security, is also archived for viewing at WomenWageGap.org.

Closing the Gap is made possible by the Eden Hall Foundation; Chatham University; and the Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation; as well as support from Cathy Raphael; Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC; MSA; Georgia Berner; and the Women & Girls Foundation.
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About YWCA Greater PittsburghSince its proud beginnings in 1867, the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh has worked to empower women and their families, advocate for fair and equitable conditions, and challenge social and racial injustice. As society has changed, so have the challenges we face. But women’s underlying need for support and encouragement that empowers them to take command of their lives and their families remains. For more information, visit www.ywcapgh.org

About WQED
WQED changes lives by creating and sharing outstanding public media that educates, entertains, and inspires. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED Create; WQED WORLD; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and www.wqedfm.org
; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).
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Laura Harwin
Director of Development & PR
412-255-1279| lharwin@ywcapgh.org
305 Wood St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | www.ywcapgh.org

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Johnny Matthis at Pittsburgh Symphony




For Immediate Release
June 19, 2015

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S THURSDAY NIGHT ICONS SERIES BRINGS POP LEGEND JOHNNY MATHIS TO THE HEINZ HALL STAGE


PITTSBURGH – Johnny Mathis, one of the most versatile and multi-dimensional pop artists of modern time, takes the Heinz Hall stage with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for its Summer with the Symphony: Thursday Night Icons series on July 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Iconic hits like “Wonderful! Wonderful!,” ”Chances Are” and “Misty” immediately come to mind at the sound of Johnny Mathis’ name, who celebrates his 59th year in the music industry in 2015, making him Columbia Records’ longest-running artist. Mathis has performed songs in an incredible variety of styles and categories, transcending passing fads. He has recorded more than 80 albums in his career, including six Christmas albums, had three songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and achieved 50 Hits on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart. Mathis’ sublime vocals mixed with the musical excellence of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh and Guest Conductor Scott Lavender, set the mood for an evening of incredible music making.

Tickets for Thursday Night Icons: Johnny Mathis with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra range in price from $39 to $139 and can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or by visiting pittsburghsymphony.org.

Those interested in attending more than one summer concert can craft their own series of concerts at a discounted rate. Buy tickets to two concerts and receive 10% off the ticket price; three concerts receive 20% off
the ticket price; and four or more concerts receive 30% off the ticket price. These discounts are only available via phone or in person at the Heinz Hall box office. Pittsburgh Symphony subscribers can receive a 15% subscriber discount by calling their patron services representative (PSR).


The fourth of seven children, John Royce Mathis was born on September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, Texas, to Clem and Mildred Mathis. As a small boy, the family moved to Post Street in San Francisco. It was there that he learned an appreciation of music from his father who taught him his first song, “My Blue Heaven.” At age eight, his father purchased an old upright piano for $25. When he brought it home, it wouldn't fit through the front door. So that evening, Mathis stayed up all night to watch his father dismantle the piano, get it into the small living room of their basement apartment and then reassemble it. Clem Mathis, who worked briefly as a musician back in Texas playing the piano and singing on stage, would continue to teach his son many songs and routines. Mathis had proven to be the most eager of the children to learn all about music. He sang in the church choir, school functions, community events and for visitors in their home, as well as amateur shows in the San Francisco area. He was also a successful track & field athlete, and was offered a chance to compete in the Olympic Trials. In the same week, Columbia Records called, so he chose to go to New York to record his first album in March 1956. Best-known for his supremely popular hits like “Chances Are," "It's Not for Me to Say" and "Misty,” Mathis has recorded more than 80 albums, six Christmas albums, and has sold millions of records worldwide.


 During his extensive career he has had three songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, achieved 50 Hits on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart, received five Grammy Nominations and, in 2003, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In spite of a very busy tour schedule and many charity events, Mathis still finds time to enjoy a little free time. He was an avid tennis player until the late 1960s, when a good friend turned him on to his now life-long love of golf. He plays golf almost every day when he's not traveling and has sung at many golf banquets such as the Ryder Cup. After almost 60 years as a recording artist, what’s next for Mathis? “I don’t think about retiring. I think about how I can keep singing for the rest of my life. I just have to pace myself.”


Resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and music director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Loh is an engaging conductor of impressive range and talent. Beginning in the 2015-16 season, Loh will become the first music director of Symphoria, based in Syracuse N.Y., founded by former members of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. As resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Loh works closely with Music Director Manfred Honeck and conducts a wide range of concerts including classical, educational and pops. He is active in the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Community Engagement and Partnership Concerts, extending the symphony’s reach into other communities. He made his debut on the main classical series conducting Handel’s Messiah in December 2008. Loh led the enormously popular Fiddlesticks Family Concert Series where he played the part of host and conductor. In addition to his duties on the podium, he is an audience favorite in the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Concert Preludes lecture series, edits radio broadcasts and makes many public appearances. His association with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra began as assistant conductor in 2005. He was promoted to associate conductor in 2006 and to resident conductor in 2007. Since his appointment as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in 2005, the orchestra has made its mark as an ensemble of superb musicianship, performing electrifying performances year-round. Off the podium, Loh is very active in the region as an arts leader and music advocate, and is constantly in demand as a guest speaker and clinician. Loh’s recent guest conducting engagements include the National Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC), Greater Bridgeport Symphony and return engagements with the Dallas and El Paso Symphonies. Other recent guest conducting appearances include the Malaysian Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony and the San Angelo Symphony. 

He has conducted the symphony orchestras of Portland, Cedar Rapids, Colorado Springs, East Texas, Fort Collins, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Plano, Shreveport, Sioux City, Spokane and Tallahassee among others. He has led Korea’s Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra, the Binghamton Philharmonic, the Yale Philharmonia, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. His summer appearances include the festivals of Bravo Vail Valley, Breckenridge, Las Vegas and Hot Springs, the Kinhaven Music School (Vt.), the Performing Arts Institute (Pa.) and the Carnegie Mellon Summer Strings Camp. Loh held the positions of assistant and associate conductor of the Dallas Symphony from 2001 to 2005. He led the Dallas Symphony in a variety of classical subscription and educational programs throughout each season. He was brought to national attention in February 2004 when he stepped in to conduct on short notice for an ailing Charles Dutoit, conducting Stravinsky's Petrouchka and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Prior to his Dallas appointment, Loh was appointed by Music Director Marin Alsop to be associate conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. From 1998 to 2001, he conducted more than 50 concerts annually, including classical subscription, pops, education, family and outreach programs. While in Denver, he was also music director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, the premiere youth orchestra in the Colorado Rocky Mountain Region. 

Additionally, Loh served as the interim director of Orchestras and Head of the Orchestral Conducting Program at Denver University’s Lamont School of Music in 2000-2001. In May 1998, Loh received his artist diploma in orchestral conducting from Yale University, also earning the Eleazar de Carvalho Prize, given to the most outstanding conductor in the Yale graduating class. During his years at Yale, he was selected to be the assistant conductor of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and apprentice conductor of the Hot Springs Music Festival. He received further training at the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival and School and has additional degrees from Indiana University and the University of Rochester. A dedicated teacher, Loh held the position of associate instructor in music theory at Indiana University and teaching assistant at Yale University in advanced hearing, conducting and orchestration. He was also the guest curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for “What Makes Music?” an interactive exhibit, offering the opportunity to explore the science of music and sound, as well as the role of music in culture. Loh was born in southern California of Korean parentage and raised in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jennifer have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Hilary. 


John Scott Lavender’s 40-year professional music career might best be described as “eclectic.” As music director for Glenn Yarbrough, Toni Tennille and, for the last 24 years, the legendary Johnny Mathis, he has performed with and conducted orchestras throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britain including the National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and, most recently, the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Lavender holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, pursued graduate studies in jazz at North Texas State and earned a master’s degree in instrumental conducting from California State University, Northridge, where he also performed the piano solo piano part in Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements with the CSUN orchestra. His recent guest-conducting appearances include performances of Borodin, Shostakovich and Gershwin with the Pacific (Orange County, California) Symphony, as well as leading the Chautauqua Institution Orchestra in an evening of music, both light and classical, from film. He recently conducted the San Francisco Symphony in a program featuring the debut of his original composition, “Overture to Tomorrow,” as well as his own arrangements of movie classics. A published composer of works for symphony and school orchestra as well as jazz band, his own big band CD, Prime Time, features many of LA’s most accomplished studio musicians. Lavender collaborated with composer Michael Isaacson on the orchestral score for the Museum of Jewish History in lower Manhattan.  Recently he arranged and conducted a series of three television commercials for The Gap clothing stores based on music from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.”  With cellist Roger Shell, his most recent recording is the CD, ‘Round Midnight, featuring original and unique treatments of songs from jazz and the American songbook. In addition to his work with Mathis, Lavender is an adjunct assistant professor and teaches conducting and jazz-related classes at his alma mater. His interests outside music include bicycling, baseball, tennis, ping pong and cigars. He lives in Ohio with his wife and two children.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, known for its artistic excellence for more than 119 years, is credited with a rich history of the world’s finest conductors and musicians, and a strong commitment to the Pittsburgh region and its citizens. Past music directors have included Fritz Reiner (1938-1948), William Steinberg (1952-1976), Andre Previn (1976-1984), Lorin Maazel (1984-1996) and Mariss Jansons (1995-2004).  This tradition of outstanding international music directors was furthered in fall 2008, when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck became music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony. The orchestra has been at the forefront of championing new American works, and gave the first performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah” in 1944 and John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine in 1986. The Pittsburgh Symphony has a long and illustrious history in the areas of recordings and radio concerts. As early as 1936, the Pittsburgh Symphony broadcast on the airwaves coast-to-coast and in the late 1970s it made the ground breaking PBS series “Previn and the Pittsburgh.” The orchestra has received increased national attention since 1982 through network radio broadcasts on Public Radio International, produced by Classical WQED-FM 89.3, made possible by the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. With a long and distinguished history of touring both domestically and overseas since 1900—including 36 international tours to Europe, the Far East and South America—the Pittsburgh Symphony continues to be critically acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest orchestras.


Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts is owned and operated by Pittsburgh Symphony, Inc., a non-profit organization, and is the year-round home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, Heinz Hall also hosts many other events that do not feature its world-renowned orchestra, including Broadway shows, comedians, speakers and much more. For a full calendar of upcoming non-symphony events at the hall, visit heinzhall.org.

Editors please note:

Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
THURSDAY NIGHT ICONS: JOHNNY MATHIS WITH THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
JOHNNY MATHIS, vocals
LAWRENCE LOH, conductor
JOHN SCOTT LAVENDER, conductor
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Contact: Louise Sciannameo, Vice President of Communications and External Relations
Phone: 412.392.4866 | email: 
lsciannameo@pittsburghsymphony.org
Contact: Joyce DeFrancesco, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: 
jdefrancesco@pittsburghsymphony.org
Twitter: @pghsymphony |Facebook: facebook.com/PittsburghSymphonyOrchestra