Dreamweaver Marketing News, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Warns Against Nutcracker Ticket Scalpe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 19, 2015Contact: Meghan Swartz Associate Director of Communications mswartz@pittsburghballet.org 412-454-9117 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Warns Against Nutcracker Ticket Scalpers Third Party Vendors Overcharging Patrons by Hundreds PITTSBURGH, PA – Ticket scalping isn’t confined to sports teams.  As Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre approaches its peak sales period for “The Nutcracker,” the company is urging patrons to avoid third-party vendors, who are charging sky-high ticket prices for seats to the holiday classic. “The Nutcracker” – which runs Dec. 4-27, at the Benedum Center – welcomes more than 30,000 patrons per year. Demand for the holiday blockbuster has attracted the notice of scalpers who purchase tickets and resell them at inflated prices. Depending on the site, scalpers are jacking up ticket prices as much as $200 to $830 over face value. Third-party tickets can also cause snares at the theater with dysfunctional barcodes or tickets that were never delivered to will call. “Patrons often come across the sites through a quick Google search and don’t necessarily realize they’re purchasing through a third-party vendor,” said Aimee DiAndrea, PBT’s director of marketing and communications.  “We make a big effort to maintain affordable ticket prices, so we want to ensure that our patrons aren’t getting taken advantage of with inflated prices.” Although PBT has safeguards in place, it’s difficult to identify and discontinue sales to all scalpers, who often purchase online under multiple names. Last season, PBT began distributing courtesy messages to patrons who entered the theater with third-party tickets. The ballet also keeps an updated database of known scalpers and limits online orders to seven tickets. Group orders must be placed by phone in order to screen scalpers more effectively. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre urges patrons to reserve seats through a verified PBT sales channel – online at www.pbt.org, by phone at 412-456-6666 or in-person at the Box Office at Theater Square in the Cultural District. PBT also offers group rates, which are reserved to phone or email orders at 412-454-9101 or groupsales@pittsburghballet.org. Tickets run from $28 to $120. Groups of eight or more can save up to 50 percent. About The Nutcracker Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre stages its sweeping production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 4-27,at the Benedum Center. PBT’s classic “The Nutcracker” has been a Pittsburgh tradition for 13 years. Set to Tchaikovsky's sublime score, a dreamlike journey unfolds through a moonlit snow scape to a whimsical Land of Enchantment. More than 100 dancers bring to life iconic choreography from the wondrous waltz of the snowflakes to the pristine Sugarplum Fairy pas de deux. PBT’s “The Nutcracker” brings the story home for a holiday tradition inspired by Pittsburgh landmarks and traditions. “The Nutcracker” is one of the most popular ballets of all time, based on a classic tale written by German Author, E.T.A Hoffman. Performance Dates & Times Fri., Dec. 4 – 11 a.m. (student matinee) & 7 p.m. (opening night) Sat., Dec. 5 – 2 & 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 6 – 12 & 4:30 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 10 – 7 p.m. Fri., Dec. 11 – 7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 12 – 2 & 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 13 – 12 & 4:30 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 17 – 7 p.m. Fri., Dec. 18 – 7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 19 – 2 & 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 20 – 12 & 4:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 22 – 7 p.m. Wed., Dec. 23 – 7 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 24 – 2 p.m. Sat., Dec. 26 – 2 & 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 27 – 12 p.m. About PBT’s 2015-2016Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s season continues with audience favorite “Peter Pan,” Feb. 12-21, at the Benedum; Mixed Repertory #2, March 10-13, at the Byham Theater; and “Le Corsaire” (The Pirate), April 15-17, at the Benedum. Single tickets start at $28 and are available online at www.pbt.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or visiting the Box Office at Theater Square.     About Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre  One of the most exciting ballet companies in the United States, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has built a legacy of excellence and innovation since its founding in 1969. Its eclectic style and irrepressible energy have been shaped by four distinguished artistic directors over four decades. In the 1980s, former New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Patricia Wilde led the Company to new heights and national acclaim with an emphasis on virtuosic technique and works by the modern masters, including her mentor, George Balanchine. Since 1997, the Company has flourished under the direction of Terrence S. Orr, former American Ballet Theatre ballet master and principal dancer. Mr. Orr has created a powerful repertoire, including fresh versions of traditional ballets, original works commissioned to contemporary American music and dramatic works that push the boundaries of ballet as an art form. Through more than 50 performances each year at home and on tour, PBT audiences discover the passion and joy of ballet.                                                                                           ###

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Pittsburgh CLO Teams Up with Catholic Charities & The Salvation Army to Help Those in Need this Winter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aja Jones
412-281-3973 ext. 224
ajones@pittsburghCLO.org
Images: Press Room
User: pressroom Pswd: pittstadium
 

Pittsburgh CLO Teams Up
with Catholic Charities & The Salvation Army
to Help Those in Need this Winter

Pittsburgh, PA • November 16, 2015 – Pittsburgh CLO has teamed up withCatholic Charities and The Salvation Army to make this winter a little warmer for those in need by conducting a Toiletry Drive throughout all performances of ALTAR BOYZ now through January 10 and a Food Drive during all performances of A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL December 4-23. Patrons attending either show may donate during any performance at donation barrels stationed at the theater.
For 105 years, Catholic Charities has served individuals and families in their time of great need, regardless of religious affiliation. Toiletry donations will be distributed through outreach offices in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties; and through Catholic Charities’ homeless outreach programs and services. This outreach includes: St. Joseph House of Hospitality, a transitional residence in Pittsburgh's Hill District for former homeless men over the age of 50; Roselia Apartments in downtown Pittsburgh for single, homeless women who are pregnant; Butler County homeless outreach to individuals and families that serves as the first point of contact for homeless needs in the county; and a daytime winter warming station in downtown Pittsburgh that provides relief from the cold weather.
Food Drive donations will go directly to The Salvation Army in Allegheny County to provide meals for those who are less fortunate this holiday season. This year alone over 4,800 individuals and 10,000 families have received financial assistance at a local Salvation Army.  In addition, 14,000 hot meals have been served and 8,300 area residents have received food from The Salvation Army’s emergency food banks.
Pittsburgh CLO graciously acknowledges the generosity of The Charity Randall Foundation for its sponsorship of the 2015-2016 CLO Cabaret Series, our production sponsor for A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL, First Niagara and Macy’s for sponsoring Half-priced Tickets for Kids.

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Dreamweaver Marketing News, Emmy Award-winning iQ: smartparent Presents “The Maker Movement in Schools”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                          CONTACT:      George Hazimanolis
November 16, 2015                                                                                         412-622-1366
                                                                                                                                 ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Emmy Award-winning iQ: smartparent Presents

“The Maker Movement in Schools” November 19 at 8p.m. on WQED-TV

New episode followed by rebroadcast of “A Nation of Makers”

PITTSBURGH— Just as the Maker Movement is transforming our culture, it’s having a major impact in our schools.   This new episode of WQED’s Emmy Award-winning iQ: smartparent  “The Maker Movement in Schools” premieres Thursday, November 19 at 8pm on WQED, followed by a rebroadcast of iQ: smartparent  “A Nation of Makers” at 8:30pm.

Hosted by Darieth Chisolm, “The Make Movement in Schools” examines the movement’s impact in the classroom. This episode features three innovative faculty members from Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh who do innovative work with their PreK-12 students that combines a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with collaborative, creative practices of the Maker Movement.

In-studio guests for iQ: smartparent “The Maker Movement in Schools” includes:

Adam Nye.  As the Director of City as our Campus, Adam Nye helps to integrate community resources into the learning experiences of students at Winchester Thurston School. He assists teachers in partnering and collaborating with various community resources throughout Pittsburgh, including museums, artists, and maker spaces.

Adam's work has focused on embedding informal learning experiences in formal schooling. As the Associate Director of Education at the Thinkery (Austin Children’s Museum), he created a new educator empowerment program that equipped educators with skills to incorporate modern technology into their daily practice. Adam also served as the MAKESHOP Manager at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. In this role, he helped to implement the MAKESHOP program and supported the growth of an initiative to prepare educators with maker skills.

Graig Marx is a science teacher at Winchester Thurston School and is the chair of the Science Department. He also serves as STEM Coordinator. In his six years at the school, he has worked to increase the use of project-based learning and engineering projects. The Maker Movement has influenced his teaching of a high-level, product-based, engineering course and the creation of Maker spaces throughout the campus. Graig specializes in the use of 3D printers to create unique, original, student-designed work. These progressive changes recently were validated when Graig was announced as the recipient of the 2015 Carnegie Science Award in the High School Educator category. 

David Nassar is a mathematics and computer science teacher at Winchester Thurston School and is the chair of the Computer Science Department.  In his seven years at the school, he has developed the computer science curriculum to include integrated computer science in Lower School, required computer science courses and electives in the Middle School and nine separate Computer Science courses in the Upper School.  In all of the courses he teaches at Winchester Thurston, he strives to get students to understand how computer science can help them solve problems through application of knowledge in a wide array of other disciplines.  Upper School level one courses of Computer Science for Math and Science, Computer Science for Art and Music, and Computer Science for the Humanities highlight Nassar's integrated approach to computer science education.

Lisa Regalla: As Deputy Director, Lisa Regalla directs Maker Ed’s mission to scale and disseminate making as a change-agent for learning. By developing partnerships with educators, organizations, researchers and the broader community, Lisa helps build and support a growing network committed to broadening participation in making. Prior to Maker Ed, Lisa worked at Twin Cities Public Television developing educational content that was presented on television, in person, in print, and on the web as part of the Emmy-Award winning series, SciGirls and DragonflyTV: Nano. Lisa also spent several years working at the Museum of Science, Boston and the Da Vinci Science Center in PA. As the manager of several national outreach programs throughout her career, she has conducted extensive professional development workshops in gender equity and inquiry-based approaches to STEM.

Following this new episode, WQED will re-broadcast iQ: smartparent “A Nation of Makers” at 8:30pm.  A companion episode about the maker culture across the country, it features Jane Werner of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Mark Hatch of TechShop, and Tara Tiger Brown of LA Makerspace,

WQED launched iQ: smartparent in response to a research study of regional parents (conducted by WQED in spring 2012) who expressed their desire to build their confidence with educational, 21^st century media and expand their capacity for co-learning with their digitally savvy children. Through a series of television broadcasts and a robust online community, iQ: smartparent equips parents and caregivers with tools and resources to aid their understanding and use of digital media and technologies for learning. To sign up for more information go to iqsmartparent.org. 

About Host Darieth Chisolm

Chisolm has worked in the television industry for over 20 years, as news anchor for WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, an NBC-affiliate station, and Channel 11 News on Fox 53. She also owns her own fitness studio, Fullbody Fitness Club, and is passionate about personal health and wellness. She is a seasoned speaker and leader in the Pittsburgh community providing individuals and organizations with strategies

and solutions to bring out their best performance and affect positive change. She sits on the board of several community and charitable organizations and has received numerous awards for her news coverage, community service, and professional affiliations. She is also the proud mother of a college freshman.

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 online at 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).

iQ: smartparent benefits from the expertise of Common Sense Media, the leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping parents find age-appropriate, quality media. Parents can join the conversation online with WQED EDU and #iqsmartparent on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. iQ: smartparent is brought to you by WQED Multimedia with generous support from an anonymous donor and The Grable Foundation.

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Pittsburgh CLO Celebrates 70 Years in 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aja Jones
412-281-3973 ext. 224
ajones@pittsburghCLO.org
Images: Press Room
User: pressroom Pswd: pittstadium
 

Pittsburgh CLO Celebrates 70 Years in 2016 with a 
Tony Award-Winning, Devilishly Heroic Season 
Complete with All That Jazz and More!

Pittsburgh, PA • October 25, 2015 – Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce the2016

Summer Season, featuring the Pittsburgh premiere of MATILDA THE MUSICAL, direct from Broadway!  TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the winner of 50 international awards including four Tony Awards® and a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Dodgers, the first national tour of MATILDA THE MUSICAL will open Pittsburgh CLO’s 2016 Summer Season. Pittsburgh CLO served as one of the Broadway co-producers of this incredible production, guaranteeing Pittsburgh audiences the chance to be among the first to enjoyMATILDA THE MUSICAL.


Each show selected for the 2016 Summer Season was among the top ten vote-getters in Pittsburgh CLO’s Annual Audience Survey.  The #1 choice wasCHICAGO, which Pittsburgh CHICAGO now has the distinction of being the longest-running American musical in Broadway history with no signs of ever slowing down! With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGOis the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award® for Best Musical Cast Recording. This is Pittsburgh CLO’s first time bringing this Broadway hit to the Benedum Center stage.

CLO will welcome to the Benedum Center June 17-26.
Speaking of “hits,” home-run sensation DAMN YANKEES will slide into Pittsburgh CLO’s Summer Season for the first time in 40 years July 5-10.  Based on the novelThe Year The Yankees Lost The Pennant by Douglass Wallop, this Broadway mega-hit is the winner of seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical!  The iconic score by Adler and Ross and a devilish book by George Abbot have made this sporty musical comedy a true American classic.

Pittsburgh CLO welcomes the big, bright, beautiful world of SHREK THE MUSICALto the CLO stage for the first time July 15-24.  Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, SHREK THE MUSICAL is a Tony Award®-winning fairy tale adventure featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. SHREK brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears.

The Summer Season premieres keep coming with the epic four-time Tony Award®-winner Elton John's AIDA July 26-31.  An unscheduled detour along the Nile leads to a dangerous meeting and a secret romance, changing the course of history. Inspired by the same tale of forbidden love which inspired Verdi’s opera, this sleek, modern musical was the first Disney production especially created for adult Broadway audiences, rather than being based on a pre-existing family film.

Closing our 70^th season is the beloved American musical treasure, SOUTH PACIFIC.  This 10-time Tony Award®-winning masterpiece took Broadway by storm in 1949, running for nearly 2,000 performances. Not only is the show based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Tales of the South Pacific, but it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in its own right in 1950.  Subsequent revivals of SOUTH PACIFIC have garnered an additional seven Tony Awards® including Best Revival in 2008.  Pittsburgh CLO will produce SOUTH PACIFIC for the first time in fifteen years August 5-14.

“Pittsburgh CLO commemorates 70 years next year, and we look forward to celebrating our mission of bringing Broadway’s hottest new productions home to Pittsburgh as well as producing dynamic and exciting productions of musical theater classics for our valued audience. From MATILDA THE MUSICAL, currently running on Broadway, to our #1 choice in this year’s audience survey, CHICAGO, and four incredible productions in between, this season is a shining example of our commitment to musical theater’s past, present and future,” reports Executive Producer Van Kaplan. “As always, Pittsburgh CLO Season Ticket Holders will save substantially over single ticket prices and receive exclusive benefits that come with every Season Ticket purchase.

2016 Summer Season

The 2016 Summer Season opens June 7 at the Benedum Center and will include the following:
MATILDA THE MUSICALJune 7-12Benedum Center
 “WELCOME TO THE DELIRIOUSLY AMUSING, HEARTWARMING, HEAD-SPINNING WORLD OF MATILDA THE MUSICAL. YOU WON’T WANT TO LEAVE.” – Bloomberg News
Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards®, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London’s West End. The Wall Street Journal says, “The makers of MATILDA have done the impossible – triumphantly! It is smart, sweet, zany and stupendous fun.”
CHICAGOJune 17-26Benedum Center
“CHICAGO STILL GLITTERS HYPNOTICALLY."A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you've ever seen. No wonderCHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations. It's also no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences all around the world, from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa. Whether you're looking for your first Broadway musical, whether you've seen the Academy Award®-winning film and want to experience the show live on stage or whether you've seen it before and want to recapture the magic, CHICAGOalways delivers.

DAMN YANKEES
July 5-10

A DEVILISHLY CLEVER COMEDY SURE TO HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK!
Batter up! Just in time for the thick of baseball season comes the muscular musical about baseball super-fan Joe Boyd.  Joe is transformed into a star slugger after he makes a deal with the devil and his sexy associate, Lola, for a chance to lead his home team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees. This eleven-time Tony Award®-winner, including Best Musical, puts America’s favorite pastime center stage as Joe swings for the fences before realizing the true worth of the life he’s left behind.  Will he succeed in his race for glory, return home to the life he loves or be lost for all eternity?   The winning score by Adler and Ross and a devilish book by George Abbot feature songs “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets,” “(You Gotta Have) Heart” and many more home-run hits!

SHREK THE MUSICAL
July 15-24

A FAIRY TALE ADVENTURE THAT PROVES BEAUTY IS TRULY
IN THE EYE OF THE OGRE!"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…" And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand...and his name is Shrek.
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, SHREK THE MUSICAL is the Tony Award®-winner which brings all the beloved characters you know to life on stage, and shows there's more to the story than meets the ears. Featuring instant classics: “Big, Bright, Beautiful World,” “I’m a Believer” and more, it’s sure to delight audiences of all ages!
“A TRIUMPH” – USA Today
Elton John’s AIDA
July 26-31
A STAR-CROSSED LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES Two strangers peruse a museum exhibit and are suddenly transported to Ancient Egypt where they meet as Aida, an enslaved Nubian princess, and Radames, an Egyptian soldier betrothed to the Pharaoh's daughter. Radames and Aida’s forbidden love becomes a shining example of true devotion that ultimately transcends the cultural differences between their warring nations, heralding a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. As their epic story draws to a close, our pair of strangers resume their visit to the museum where they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. The unforgettable Grammy Award-winning score by Elton John and Tim Rice features soaring ballads including Billboard hit “Written in the Stars.”
SOUTH PACIFICAugust 5-14

10-TIME TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL THEATER MASTERPIECE!Love transcends the harsh realities of war and prejudice in this sweeping Pulitzer Prize-winning tale centered around two unlikely love affairs. Set on a tropical island during World War II, this timeless Rodgers and Hammerstein classic features some of the most beautiful music ever composed woven into an inspiring story cherished the world over.  The beloved score’s songs include "Some Enchanted Evening,” "I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” and "There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” amidst big, Broadway performances and a chorus of American sailors and Navy nurses ready to take you to Bali Ha'i.
"Gorgeous! SOUTH PACIFIC doesn’t just float; it soars!” -USA Today

Season Tickets Are On Sale Now

Pittsburgh CLO offers affordable and flexible 6-Show and 3-Show Season Ticket Packages to fit even the busiest schedules. Season Ticket packages start at just$45, a significant savings over single ticket prices.

• Pittsburgh CLO’s 6-Show Premium Series allows Season Ticket Buyers to see all six sensational musicals with prices ranging from $92-$378.
• The Smart Seats Series offers Season Ticket Buyers the opportunity to see three or six shows at a drastically discounted rate in Price Scale D.  

Renewing Season Ticket Buyers can renew their packages online atpittsburghCLO.org. Renewals can also be placed by mail, by fax at 412-281-1150or by calling the Pittsburgh CLO Hotline at 412-281-2822. 

The Pittsburgh CLO Hotline is also open for anyone who would like to become a new Season Ticket Buyer. New orders are filled on a date-received basis. New Season Ticket Buyers should place their orders early to secure the best seats.
Pittsburgh CLO’s 2016 Season is also the perfect outing for any social group.Groups of 10 or more should call the Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 to learn more about special discounts, exciting events and priority seating.
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.
For more information please visit pittsburghCLO.org.  

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Dreamweaver Marketing News, PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OFFERS FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 20 AT HEINZ HALL

For Immediate Release

November 5, 2015

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OFFERS FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 20 AT HEINZ HALL

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is offering a free community concert at Heinz Hall on Friday, November 20 at 7 p.m. during the annual Light Up Night celebration in downtown Pittsburgh.

Nathan Meltzer

Take a break from the chilly weather and warm up your ears with a concert brimming with musical energy. Conducted by one of the Pittsburgh Symphony’s new assistant conductors, Andrés Franco, this 45-minute concert includes selections by Dvořák, Saint-Saëns, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and more, and features 15-year-old Duquesne University Young Artist National Concerto Competition winner, violinist Nathan Meltzer, along with vocalists Brian Vu and Claudia Rosenthal, both resident artists this season with the Pittsburgh Opera. The performance includes pieces from the farcical operetta “Die Fledermaus” and “The Nutcracker” suite. Enjoy the rest of Light Up Night with a skip in your step (and start your holiday celebrations off right) following this lively community concert!

Reserve your free tickets in advance at the Heinz Hall box office, online at pittsburghsymphony.org or by calling 412-392-4900. Tickets also will be available on the night of the performance. This event is general admission with seating on a first come, first served basis.

This concert is made possible by annual funding from the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

About the Artistsath

Recently named music director of Tulsa’s Signature Symphony at TCC and assistant conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Andrés Franco has established himself as a conductor to watch. He is in his fifth season as principal conductor of the multimedia project Caminos del Inka and his third season as artistic director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Festival, “Concerts in the Garden.”

Franco’s 2014-2015 highlights included subscription debuts with the Columbus and Fort Worth symphony orchestras, as well as return engagements with the Houston and Saint Louis symphonies. In 2015-2016, he will

Andres Franco

make subscription debuts with the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, and will return to conduct the Corpus Christi and Fort Worth symphony orchestras. 

A frequent guest conductor in the U.S., Europe and South America, Franco has appeared with the Elgin, El Paso, Eugene, Lake Forest, Mississippi, Springfield and Stockton symphony orchestras, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León/Spain and the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru, as well as with the National Symphony, Bogota Philharmonic, Medellin Philharmonic and EAFIT Symphony Orchestra in Colombia. 

Festival appearances include the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Wintergreen Music Festival in Virginia. Franco formerly served as music director of the Philharmonia of Kansas City (2004-2010), associate and resident conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony (2009-2014), and Leonard Slatkin’s assistant conductor during the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (2013).

A native of Colombia, Franco is dedicated to preserving and performing the music of the Americas. As principal conductor of Caminos del Inka, he has led many performances of Latin American music by composers of our time, such as Jimmy López, Diego Luzuriaga and the popular Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla.

Born into a musical family, Franco began piano studies with his father, Jorge Franco. An accomplished pianist, he studied with Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Jose Feghali and attended piano workshops with Rudolph Buchbinder in Switzerland and Lev Naumov in France.  He studied conducting with Marin Alsop, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Kurt Masur, Gustav Meier, Helmut Rilling, Gerard Schwarz and Leonard Slatkin.

Franco holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, as well as Master of Music degrees in piano performance and conducting from Texas Christian University. Franco is married to Victoria Luperi, principal clarinetist in the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Fifteen-year-old Nathan Meltzer attends the Professional Performing Arts School in New York and studies on a Starling scholarship at Juilliard with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin. He began his music education in a second-grade orchestra class in Austria, joined the "Violin Virtuosi" at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2011, and entered the Perlman Music Program in 2013. Meltzer has played on NPR’s From the Top; appeared with The Piano Guys at Carnegie Hall; performed alongside Gilles Apap, David Chan and Augustine Hadelich; and had lessons and master classes with Joshua Bell, Pamela Frank and Jaime Laredo, among others. He has performed in Buenos Aires, Quebec, São Paulo, Tel Aviv, Vienna and across the United States, including solo engagements with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Bloomington Symphony, the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, the Evansville Philharmonic and the Muncie Symphony. Meltzer plays an 1844 Italian violin by Johannes Pressenda on generous loan from Juilliard.

Brian Vu

Brian Vu is a first-year resident artist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2015-2016, and is slated to perform as John Brooke/”Little Women,” Leo Stein/”27,” Fiorello/”The Barber of Seville” and Figaro/”The Barber of Seville” (student matinee). A former Young American Artist with Glimmerglass Festival, he has sung the Jazz Trio baritone in “Trouble in Tahiti.” Vu has also performed Moralès/”Carmen” with Music Academy of the West, and Marquis d’Obigny/”La traviata” with Wolf Trap Opera Studio. A graduate of Yale Opera, his roles there included Count Almaviva/”Le nozze di Figaro,” Dandini/”La cenerentola,” Marcello/”La bohème” and Duke Robert/”Iolanta.” Previously with OperaUCLA, Vu performed Ottone/”L’incoronazione di Poppea,” Narciso/”Agrippina” and Minskman/”Flight.” Vu made his Carnegie Hall debut singing Mitch Leigh’s "The Impossible Dream" from “Man of La Mancha” with the composer in attendance, and returned to Carnegie Hall in December 2014, performing songs from the Frederich R. Koch Collection of Yale's Beinecke Library. A New England regional winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, he has also received awards from the George London Foundation, Gerda Lissner Competition, Licia Albanese-Puccini Competition, Kurt Weill Foundation and Opera Buffs of Los Angeles. A native of Los Angeles, Vu is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and University of California, Los Angeles.

Claudia Rosenthal is a first-year resident artist in 2015-2016 at the Pittsburgh Opera, and is scheduled to perform as Amy/”Little Women” and Berta/”The Barber of Seville” (including the student matinee). In summer 2015, as a young artist with Opera on the Avalon, she appeared as the Governess/”The Turn of the Screw.” She

Claudia Rosenthal

has been a vocal fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, and performed Cobweb/”A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Stella/”Les contes d’Hoffmannas” as a studio artist with Wolf Trap Opera Company. At Yale Opera, Rosenthal’s roles included Giulietta/”I Capuleti e i Montecchi,” Musetta/”La bohème,” Clorinda/”La Cenerentola” and Brigitta/”Iolanta.” While with Mannes Opera, she appeared as Nannetta/”Falstaff” and Norina/”Don Pasquale.” She also made her Carnegie Hall debut performing Hindemith’s cantata “Die Serenaden” with Yale in New York City, and made her professional debut as soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. An Eastern regional finalist and recipient of the Rohatyn Great Promise Award at the 2015 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, she also recently received First Prize in the Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition. Other honors include the Richard F. Gold Career Grant, the Career Bridges Grant and the Yale School of Music Alumni Prize. A native of Scarsdale, New York, Rosenthal double-majored in music and art history at Yale College, and has further degrees from The Hartt School, Mannes College the New School for Music, and The Yale School of Music.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, known for its artistic excellence for more than 120 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:

Friday, November 20 at 7 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

ANDRÉS FRANCO, conductor

BRIAN VU, baritone

CLAUDIA ROSENTHAL, soprano

NATHAN MELTZER, violin

Antonin Dvorak                         Carnival Overture, Opus 92

Camille Saint-Saëns                   Introduction and Rondo capriccioso in A minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 28

                                                    Mr. Meltzer

Johann Strauss, Jr.                      Overture to Die Fledermaus (The Bat), Opus 362

Johann Strauss, Jr.                      “Mein Herr Marquis” (Laughing Song) from Die Fledermaus

                                                     Ms. Rosenthal

Franz Lehar                               “Lippen schweigen” from The Merry Widow

                                                    Mr. Vu

                                                    Ms. Rosenthal

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky             Suite from The Nutcracker, Opus 71a

                                                    March

                                                    Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

                                                      Chinese Dance

                                                        III. Waltz of the Flowers

Johann Strauss, Sr.                     Radetzky March, Opus 228

Dreamweaver Marketing News, WQED’s "Portrayal Perception" Television Series Accepted for National Distribution

WQED’s Portrayal & Perception Television Series Accepted

for National Distribution

PITTSBURGH – Since 2012 WQED has produced more than a dozen documentaries and specials that offer alternative portrayals of African American men and boys than are commonly found in commercial media. From entrepreneurs to teachers, from artists to doctors, the Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys initiative has shared stories of the most successful and influential black males. This series aims to educate the public and provide a positive perspective on the contributions of these men and boys to a national audience.

The most nationally relevant episodes of the series have been accepted for national distribution by American Public Television (APT) and will be offered to public television stations for airing nationwide beginning in early 2016.

“WQED continues to be successful in producing and distributing programming that started with a local focus to a nationwide audience,” said Deborah L. Acklin, President and CEO of WQED Multimedia.

“Portrayal & Perception is WQED’s second series to be accepted for national distribution,” said Darryl Ford Williams, Vice President of Content at WQED.  “In 2014, WQED’s iQ: smartparent series went national and we are now in production for season four. Both series are in demand because there is nothing else like them available anywhere else.”

Portrayal & Perception includes the following episodes that will be available to public stations across the country:

Owning It
This episode shows how local African American entrepreneurs, often overlooked by commercial media, are not only experiencing financial success, they are inspiring future business leaders.

Teaching Success
This episode looks at teaching African American boys to become leaders and examines three different on-ramps to the road to success: a program for young entrepreneurs and one of its star pupils; the commitment of African American educators at a K-8 school; and the Black Male Leadership Development Institute, a seven-day leadership training collaboration between Robert Morris University and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.

Media Men
This episode focuses on communications careers. Featured profiles include Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman; WQED/PCNC/KDKA Radio Host Chris Moore; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Photographer Sidney Davis; and social media networker Alex Simmons.

Journey to Medicine
This episode follows middle school students, medical school students and seasoned professional physicians as they pursue careers in medicine.

Fine Arts and Artists
This episode looks at men who have made a career in the fine arts. The program profiles a classical musician, painter, playwright, ballet dancer, poet and arts educator -- and explores some of the obstacles and accomplishments of each in his chosen field.

Already Doing It
Young African American men - as a whole - score below their counterparts in other racial and ethnic groups when it comes to graduation rates, literacy rates and college preparedness. Yet sometimes it is the success story that inspires other young people, and encourages community leaders to keep working for change. This episode showcases teenagers excelling in school, volunteering as mentors and working hard to make a difference among their peers.

The Next Generation

This episode examines how highly-charged incidents in Baltimore, Ferguson, and New York still indicate a racial divide in America.  WQED reporters speak with community and law enforcement leaders and with young men whose lives are impacted daily by these events to examine the progress made and challenges that remain in healing tensions nationwide.

The entire series is available for online viewing on WQED Interactive at wqed.org/watch. Educational resources and additional information about this initiative are available at wqed.org/portrayal.

Funding for Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys was provided by a grant from The Heinz Endowments, which supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work; a center for learning and educational excellence; and region that embraces diversity and inclusion.

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 online at 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).