Showing posts with label LawrenceLoh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LawrenceLoh. Show all posts

Thursday, July 31, 2014

PSO Closes Season with Classics

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014


PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CLOSES SUMMER SEASON WITH TWO CLASSICAL CONCERTS

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra closes its summer season with two one-night-only classical concerts on July 25, “Symphonic Celebration,” and August 2, “Triple Play.”

Lawrence Loh (Rob Davison)

Pittsburgh Symphony Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra throw a musical party during “Symphonic Celebration,” a concert featuring Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Brahm’s Symphony No. 3 and a breathtaking performance of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 with Russian pianist Olga Kern.
Olga Kern (Chris Lee)

On August 2, Chinese pianist Xiayin Wang and Italian guest conductor Christian Capocaccia present a concert with a unique format and a little musical something for everyone! This concert features several light classical favorites, virtuoso piano fireworks from Wang and music from the silver screen with two intermissions. “The Tales of Hoffmann,” suites from “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Batman: The Dark Knight Rises,” Ravel’s Concerto in G major for piano and orchestra, and much more will be performed.
For both concerts, tickets are $25 and $50 and can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or visitingpittsburghsymphony.org.

Guest Conductor Christian Capocaccia

Pianist Xiayin Wang





Resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Loh is one of the most exciting young talents on the classical music scene today.  He was brought to national attention in February 2004, when he substituted last-minute for an ailing Charles Dutoit with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Conducting Stravinsky’s “Petrouchka” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique,” Loh received enthusiastic acclaim from orchestra players, audience members and critics, alike. Since his appointment as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in 2005, the orchestra has flourished artistically, defining its reputation as one of the finest regional orchestras in the country. His leadership has attracted such artists as André Watts, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jon Nakamatsu, Zuill Bailey and Sharon Isbin.

Olga Kern was born into a family of musicians with direct links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff and began studying piano at the age of five. In 2001, she became the first woman in more than 30 years to receive the Gold Medal at the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Kern is a laureate of 11 international competitions including her first place win at the first Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition at the age of 17 and has toured throughout her native Russia, Europe and the United States, as well as in Japan, South Africa and South Korea. Kern was the recipient of an honorary scholarship from the president of Russia in 1996 and is a member of Russia's International Academy of Arts. She studied with Sergei Dorensky at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Boris Petrushansky at the acclaimed Accademia Pianistica Incontri col Maestro in Imola, Italy. Kern’s performance career has brought her to many of the world’s most important venues, including the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Symphony Hall in Osaka, Salzburger Festspielhaus, La Scala in Milan, Tonhalle in Zurich and the Châtelet in Paris. She has appeared as a soloist with the Kirov Orchestra, the Bolshoi Theater, the Moscow Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Symphony, Russian National, China Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic, La Scala Philharmonic, Torino Symphony and Cape Town Symphony Orchestras. Kern has collaborated with many prominent conductors in the world today, including Valery Gergiev, Leonard Slatkin, Manfred Honeck, Vladimir Spivakov, Yuri Termirkanov, Pinchas Zukerman and James Conlon.

Italian conductor Christian Capocaccia has distinguished himself as an artist of keen insight and musicianship. His ease on the podium and comfortable coaching style with singers has made him a favorite with orchestras, opera companies and vocalists. The 2013-2014 season continues a run of company debuts for Capocaccia, beginning with the Welsh National Opera. In his second season as music director of the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic, Capocaccia continues to expand the scope of the organization and realize his vision of a summer festival featuring symphonic and operatic performances. He made his company debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony, assisting on several performances in December and February, including a recording of Bruckner 4th Symphony, with Manfred Honeck, and covering Schumann 2nd Symphony with Gianandrea Noseda. In April, he makes his debut with the Manhattan School of Music conducting the rarely performed Haydn opera, “Orlando Paladino.” He concludes the season with another company debut, at the Cincinnati Opera, covering performances of “Madame Butterfly.” As a guest conductor he appears both in the United States and in Europe in venues such as the New Auditorium “Parco della Musica” and the Teatro Farnese in Rome and the Lyric Opera House of Baltimore at the head of the Orchestra di Roma e del Lazio, The Moscow Ballet Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto, Orchestra Città Aperta, International Chamber Ensemble, Orchestra da Camera delle Marche and Orchestra Sinfonica di Pesaro among others. Born in Rome, he began studying the violin at the age of 9. He attended the Santa Cecilia Music Conservatory. He earned his Diploma under Paolo Ciociola and completed his studies with world-renowned violinist Nina Beilina in New York. Subsequently he studied composition under Boris Porena and Luciano Pelosi, and conducting with Piero Bellugi and Donato Renzetti. A graduate of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington under David Effron he has participated in master classes with Herbert Blomstedt, Gustav Meier and Leonard Slatkin.

As recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral soloist in such venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Xiayin Wang has already achieved a high level of recognition for her commanding performances. In January 2014, Wang performed Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the National Gallery of Art Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Engaged as soloist in Gerard Schwarz’s acclaimed All-Star Orchestra, Wang was featured as part of a nationally broadcast series of performances on syndicated PBS stations throughout the United States in fall 2013. Wang was the focus of a five-part concert series at the Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, where she was heard with such ensembles as the Escher Quartet, Fine Arts Quartet and the Washington Soloists Chamber Orchestra under the baton of conductor Vladimir Lande. Wang’s latest recording, “American Piano Concertos,” featuring the Barber, Copland and Gershwin piano concertos, which she performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, was released on the Chandos label late last year. Wang has been heard as guest soloist with the Santa Barbara Symphony, CA, and toured South America with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. In 2011-2012, she made her London debut at Cadogan Hall in a program of Haydn, Liszt, Wild, Rachmaninoff and Ravel. Other concert and recital commitments have taken Wang throughout the United States to such venues and locations as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Jordan Hall in Boston, Tanglewood, the University of Miami, Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples Florida, the Caramoor Center in Katonah, NY, Saratoga Arts Festival, Coastal Carolina Arts Festival, the Meyer Concert Series at The Smithsonian in D.C. and the East Hawaii Cultural Center on the island of Hawaii. Xiayin Wang completed studies at the Shanghai Conservatory and garnered an enviable record of first prize awards and special honors for her performances throughout China, most notably in the Fu Zhou National Piano Competition, Hang Zhou Instrumental Competition, Zhe Jiang Competition and the National Piano Competition in Beijing. She began piano studies at the age of five, and subsequently came to New York in 1997 and, in 2000, was awarded the “Certificate of Achievement” by the Associated Music Teacher League of New York, winning an opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall. She also pursued studies at the Manhattan School of Music and won the school’s Eisenberg Concerto Competition in 2002, as well as the Roy M. Rubinstein Award. Xiayin Wang holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Professional Studies degrees from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Solomon Mikowsky and Nina Svetlanova.

For more than 116 years, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been known for its artistic excellence. The Pittsburgh Symphony has a rich history of the world’s finest conductors and musicians. This tradition was furthered in fall 2008, when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck became music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. With a long and distinguished history of touring both domestically and overseas since 1900, the Pittsburgh Symphony is critically acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest orchestras. They have made more than 35 international tours, and recently returned from their 2013 European Festivals Tour, where enthralled audiences filled the PSO’s concerts in Grafenegg, Berlin, Bucharest, Paris, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Lucerne and Bonn.

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, July 25, 7:00 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION
LAWRENCE J. LOH, conductor
OLGA KERN, piano

Antonin Dvorak                          Carnival Overture, Opus 92
Johannes Brahms                        Symphony No. 3 in F major, Opus 90
                                                            I. Allegro con brio
                                                            II. Andante
III. Poco allegretto
IV. Allegro

Sergei Rachmaninoff                   Concerto No. 2 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 18
                                                            I. Moderato
                                                            II. Adagio sostenuto
III. Allegro scherzando
Ms. Kern

Saturday, August 2, 7:35 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION
CHRISTIAN CAPOCACCIA, conductor
XIAYIN WANG, piano

Mikhail Glinka                           Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila
Franz von Suppé                        Overture to The Beautiful Galathea
(Ross Jungnickel)

Jacques Offenbach                      Intermezzo and Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann
Gioachino Rossini                       Overture to Guillaume Tell
Maurice Ravel                            Concerto in G major for Piano and Orchestra
I. Allegramente
II. Adagio assai
III. Presto
Ms. Wang
Klaus Badelt (Ted Ricketts)          Medley from Pirates of the Caribbean
Hans Zimmer (Ralph Ford)           Music from Batman: The Dark Knight Rises

John Williams                            Suite from Star Wars
                                                            Imperial March
                                                            Princess Leia's Theme
                                                            Main Title


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

Friday, June 20, 2014

Loh Named Music Director of Symphoria

For Immediate Release
May 27, 2014


LAWRENCE LOH NAMED MUSIC DIRECTOR OF SYMPHORIA

PITTSBURGH—Lawrence Loh, resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, was named music director of Symphoria, a not-for-profit professional symphony orchestra located in Syracuse, N.Y, the organization announced this month. He will join Symphoria at the start of the 2015-2016 season.

“I am truly thankful for the experiences I have had at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,” says Loh, who has served as resident conductor since 2008. “I am looking forward to the opportunities that await me in Syracuse as I continue to conduct and enjoy the next season with my colleagues and friends at the Pittsburgh Symphony.”

Founded by nearly 50 members of the former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Symphoria is one of only two co-op orchestras in the U.S. Loh will be the organization’s first full-time music director, serving as primary conductor and providing artistic leadership for the orchestra, including major roles in programming, artistic personnel and outreach.

“Larry has been an integral part of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for the last nine years and we are honored to have had him in Pittsburgh for so long,” says Manfred Honeck, music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony. “His talent and dedication are undeniable. Symphoria is quite fortunate to have him as their new music director. He will do great things in Syracuse.”

Along with his role as resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Loh is the music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, a position he will maintain, and music director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. He was brought to national attention in February 2004 when he substituted last minute for an ailing Charles Dutoit with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. His association with the Pittsburgh Symphony began as assistant conductor in 2005-2006. He was promoted to associate conductor in 2006-2007 and to resident conductor in 2007-2008. The 2014-2015 season will make his 10th year with the Pittsburgh Symphony.

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. 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. 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.

“It has been an honor to be part of Larry’s growth and success as a conductor, music director and leader,” says James Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “We appreciate the opportunity to spend the next year with him as he adjusts to his new role in Syracuse. I do not view this opportunity as his saying ‘goodbye to Pittsburgh’ and I hope he returns often. He will be missed and leaves some big shoes to fill.”

For more information about Symphoria, visit experiencesymphoria.org. For more information about the Pittsburgh Symphony, visit pittsburghsymphony.org.

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

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Carnival of the Animals

For Immediate Release
Feb. 18, 2014


FIDDLESTICKS FAMILY SERIES GOES WILD WITH “CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS”

PITTSBURGH – Go wild with Fiddlesticks, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s feline musical ambassador, during the “Carnival of the Animals” on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Heinz Hall for the season’s second concert of the Fiddlesticks Family Series Presented by Macys.

Lawrence Loh

“The Carnival of the Animals” is one of the most famous pieces by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Each of the movements in this spectacular orchestral work depicts a different animal, from the royal lion to the graceful swan. Joining conductor Lawrence Loh, vocalist Katy Williams and Fiddlesticks onstage is cartoon artist Joe Wos from the Toonseum, who will illustrate the animals as the symphony performs. Dancers from the Point Park University Ballet and the Pittsburgh Symphony’s assistant conductor, Fawzi Haimor, will also join in the fun. Let your imagination run wild in this musical journey through the animal kingdom.

Attendees are invited to participate in Discovery Time Adventures prior to every Fiddlesticks concerts. These educational activities allow young audiences and their parents to meet symphony musicians, learn songs and take part in various musical activities. Discovery Time Adventures for the “Carnival of the Animals” program will include many activities, such as sing-along time with Larry and Katy, animal-themed arts and crafts, music and movement dancing, a symphony quartet, and even a special visit from a few Pittsburgh Zoo animals!

Discovery Time Adventures will begin at 10 a.m. and the concert will begin at 11:15 a.m. Tickets, ranging in price from $12 to $22.25, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or by visiting pittsburghsymphony.org.

The Pittsburgh Symphony would like to recognize and thank the Macy’s Foundation for its presenting sponsorship of Fiddlesticks Family Concerts.  PPG Industries Foundation and Clearview Federal Credit Union are presenting partners of Fiddlesticks Family Concerts.  This series is endowed by Gerald and Audrey McGinnis, honoring the Center for Young Musicians.  Pittsburgh Symphony Education & Community Engagement programs are also supported by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

Resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Loh is one of the most exciting young talents on the classical music scene today.  He was brought to national attention in February 2004, when he substituted last-minute for an ailing Charles Dutoit with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Conducting Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, Loh received enthusiastic acclaim from orchestra players, audience members and critics, alike. Since his appointment as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in 2005, the orchestra has flourished artistically, defining its reputation as one of the finest regional orchestras in the country. His leadership has attracted such artists as André Watts, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jon Nakamatsu, Zuill Bailey and Sharon Isbin.

Katy Williams has performed extensively in the Pittsburgh area with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Mendelssohn Choir, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, River City Brass Band and Pittsburgh Concert Chorale. She was a featured soloist for several Pittsburgh Symphony Holiday Pops concert series and made her BNY Mellon Grand Classics debut in September 2005 with Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She was a soloist in the Heinz Hall performance of The Lord of the Rings and has been the special guest vocalist for many of the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Fiddlesticks and Tiny Tots children’s concerts.


Editors Please Note:

Saturday, March 1 at 11:15 a.m.
Discovery Time Adventures at 10 a.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
LAWRENCE LOH, conductor
KATY WILLIAMS, vocalist
FAWZI HAIMOR, assistant conductor and narrator
FIDDLESTICKS FAMILY SERIES
RODRIGO OJEDA, piano
SUZANNE POLAK, piano
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY BALLET, dancers
JOE WOS, cartoonist

Lucas Richman                           Music Can Make Your Life Complete

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov            "Flight of the Bumblebee" from The Tale of Tsar Saltan

Camille Saint-Saëns                    Carnival of the Animals
                                                I. Introduction and Royal March of the Lion
II. Hens and Roosters
                                                III. Horses of the Tartary (Fleet Animals)
                                                IV. Tortoises
V. The Elephant
VI. Kangaroos
VII. Aquarium
X. Aviary
XI. Pianists
XII. Fossils
XIII. The Swan
XIV. Finale
 Lucas Richman                          Music Can Make Your Life Complete

Discovery Time Adventures
•         Sing-Along with Lawrence Loh and Katy Williams
•         Pittsburgh Zoo station
•         WYEP “ZooBeats” kiosks
•         Animal-themed arts and crafts
•         Music and Movement “Eurhythmics” with Jayne McDonald from the City Music Center
•         Music Makers Room with a Pittsburgh Symphony Quartet
•         Musical Ambassadors in various locations of Heinz Hall to meet musicians up close

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

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

PSO Scores with The Magical Movie Music of John Williams at Heinz Hall

For Immediate Release
Jan. 9, 2014


“THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS” WITH THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TAKES AUDIENCE ON A TOUR OF MAGICAL MOVIE MUSIC

PITTSBURGH – Darth Vader stalking through the Death Star…Harry Potter and Indiana Jones dodging danger at every turn…E.T. finally going home. Composer John Williams has orchestrated some of Hollywood’s most iconic and indelible movie scores and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates his musical accomplishments with the fourth PNC Pops concert, “The Music of John Williams,” on Jan. 23-26, 2014.

Photo Credit:  Rob Davidson

Led by Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh, the Pittsburgh Symphony will take the audience on a whirlwind tour through Williams’s movie magic, from “Star Wars” to “E.T.” to “Jaws” (and everything in between). The concert kicks off with the stirring “Olympic Fanfare,” spreading the Olympic spirit through Heinz Hall. This concert, featuring solos from the Pittsburgh Symphony principal harp Gretchen Van Hoesen and principal contrabassoon James Rodgers, promises to be a thrilling ride through the unmistakable melodies of Williams’ masterful movie music. Audiences can also expect some hijinks and fun from Loh, a self-admitted “fanboy” of Williams’ movies and music.


“As a major fan, The Music of John Williams concert is a perfect opportunity for me to interact with the audience and have even more fun with my conducting,” says Loh. “You may even see a well-known character leading a piece or two during the weekend!”

Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets, ranging in price from $21-99, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or visiting pittsburghsymphony.org.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra would like to recognize and thank PNC for its 2013-2014 title sponsorship of PNC Pops. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Loh is one of the most exciting young talents on the classical music scene today.  He was brought to national attention in February 2004, when he substituted last-minute for an ailing Charles Dutoit with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Conducting Stravinsky’s “Petrouchka” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique,” Loh received enthusiastic acclaim from orchestra players, audience members and critics, alike. Since his appointment as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in 2005, the orchestra has flourished artistically, defining its reputation as one of the finest regional orchestras in the country. His leadership has attracted such artists as André Watts, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jon Nakamatsu, Zuill Bailey and Sharon Isbin.


John Williams is the winner of five Academy Awards, 17 Grammys, three Golden Globes, two Emmys and five BAFTA Awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Best known for his film scores and ceremonial music, Williams is also a noted composer of concert works and a renowned conductor.

Williams’ scores for such films as “Jaws,” “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” and “Schindler's List,” as well as the Indiana Jones series, have won him multiple awards and produced best-selling recordings, and his scores for the original Star Wars trilogy transformed the landscape of Hollywood film music and became icons of American culture. Williams has composed the music and served as music director for nearly 80 films, including “Saving Private Ryan,” “Amistad,” “Seven Years in Tibet,” “The Lost World,””Sleepers,” “Nixon,” “Sabrina,” “Jurassic Park,” “Home Alone,” “Far and Away,” “JFK,” “Hook,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “The Accidental Tourist,” “Empire of the Sun,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” “Superman,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Jaws” and “Goodbye Mr. Chips.” Williams has been awarded several gold and platinum records, and his score for “Schindler's List” earned him both an Oscar and a Grammy.

Williams was born in New York and moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1948. There he attended UCLA and studied composition privately with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. After service in the Air Force, Williams returned to New York to attend the Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Madame Rosina Lhevinne. While in New York, he also worked as a jazz pianist, both in clubs and on recordings. He then returned to Los Angeles, where he began his career in the film industry, working with such composers as Bernard Herrmann, Alfred Newman and Franz Waxman.

In January 1980, Williams was named the 19th conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since its founding in 1885. He assumed the title of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor, following his retirement in December 1993, and currently holds the title of Artist-in-Residence at Tanglewood. Williams has written many concert pieces, including a symphony, a sinfonietta for wind ensemble, a cello concerto premiered by Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in 1994, concertos for the flute and violin recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, concertos for the clarinet and tuba, and a trumpet concerto, which was premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra and their principal trumpet Michael Sachs in September 1996. His bassoon concerto, “The Five Sacred Trees,” which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic and principal bassoon player Judith LeClair in 1995, was recorded for Sony Classical by Williams with LeClair and the London Symphony. His most recent concert work “Seven for Luck” – for soprano and orchestra – is a seven-piece song cycle based on the texts of former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove.

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 hosts many 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:
Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24, 8:00 p.m.
Jan. 25, 8:00 p.m.
Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PNC POPS
LAWRENCE LOH, conductor
GRETCHEN VAN HOESEN, harp
JAMES RODGERS, contrabassoon

Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Theme from Jurassic Park
Suite from Jaws: The Shark Theme
Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
“A Prayer for Peace” (Avner's Theme) from Munich
“Dartmoor, 1912” from War Horse
“Finale” from E. T. (The Extra-Terrestrial)
Suite from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Hedwig's Theme
Suite from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Fluffy and His Harp
Mr. Rodgers and Ms. Van Hoesen
Suite from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Chamber of Secrets
“The Imperial March” (Darth Vader's Theme) from The Empire
Strikes Back
“Across the Stars” (Love Theme from Star Wars Episode II)
Music from The Star Wars Saga
Here They Come
Luke and Leia
The Forest Battle/Main Title
 “Raiders March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark


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

Sunday, June 9, 2013

PSO Perform Pixar in Concert


For Immediate  Release
June 7, 2013


PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY  ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM PIXAR IN CONCERT


PSO plays classic Pixar music along with visual movie clips; presented by First Niagara


PITTSBURGH – From Toy Story to their latest release, Brave, Pixar’s famous music will be performed  by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,  while movie clips play on an overhead  screen.


Resident Conductor  Lawrence Loh will lead the PSO in playing the music of Pixar favorites such as Finding Nemo, Cars, Up, WALL-E, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., and much more.  All 13 of Pixar’s feature films will be showcased in the performance, celebrating  all the characters  that audiences of all ages know and love.

Lawrence Loh

The show will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 21 and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 at Heinz Hall. Tickets, ranging in price from $19 to $75, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at
412-392-4900, or at  www.pittsburghsymphony.org.


The PSO would like to recognize  and thank First Niagara for its presenting  sponsorship  of these performances.


Pixar Animation Studios is located in Emeryville, California and has created  acclaimed  animated  feature and short films for over 25 years.  Pixar is also home to the RenderMan  line of software products.   In 1979,  George Lucas recruited  Ed Catmull from the New York Institute of Technology to head Lucasfilm’s Computer  Division,  a group charged with developing state-of- the-art digital computer technology  for the film industry.  And, in 1984,  the company  released  their first short film with groundbreaking technology,  The Adventures of André & Wally B.  Steve Jobs purchased the company  from Lucas in 1986 and renamed it “Pixar” and in the same year Pixar’s first short film and John Lasseter’s directorial debut,  Luxo Jr. was unveiled.  Luxo Jr. is the classic Pixar image of the “hopping lamp.”  Disney and Pixar announced an agreement  in 1991 to collaborate and by 1995 the first Toy Story was released.   The rest is history.


Resident  Conductor  of the  PSO and  music  director  of both  the Northeastern Pennsylvania  Philharmonic and  the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony  Orchestra,  Lawrence Loh is one of the most exciting young talents on the classical music scene  today.   He was brought  to national  attention  in February  2004,  when  he  substituted  last-minute  for an  ailing Charles  Dutoit  with  the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  Conducting  Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, Loh received enthusiastic  acclaim  from orchestra  players, audience members  and critics, alike. Since his appointment as music director  of the Northeastern Pennsylvania  Philharmonic in 2005,  the orchestra  has flourished  artistically, defining its reputation  as one of the finest regional  orchestras  in the country.  His leadership  has attracted  such artists as André Watts, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jon Nakamatsu,  Zuill Bailey and Sharon Isbin.

Editors Please Note: Friday, June 21 at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at 2:30 p.m.
Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LAWRENCE LOH, conductor
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Contact: James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email:  jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org


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

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

Sunday, February 17, 2013

PSO to Perform Williams' Music at WVU


For Immediate Release
Feb. 14, 2013

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM OSCAR-WINNER JOHN WILLIAMS’ MUSIC AT WVU

March 4 concert showcases music from ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Schindler’s List,’ ‘Star Wars,’ ‘E.T.,’ ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ ‘Hook,’ Harry Potter movies

Academy Award Winning Composer John Williams

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will showcase the very popular music of Academy Award-winning composer John Williams at a concert at West Virginia University next month.

The concert, led by PSO Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh, will be at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 4, at WVU’s Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre. Tickets, priced at $26.50 and $43, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office toll free at 1.800.743.8560, or by visiting the PSO online at www.pittsburghsymphony.org/wvu. Tickets also will be available at the theater on the evening of the concert. Students can purchase their tickets online in advance or at the door for $12 at www.pittsburghsymphony.org/wvustudent. Discounted student tickets are made possible through the generosity of William and Loulie Canady in memory of their daughter Valerie. Due to the popularity of this concert, the demand for tickets has been high. Limited tickets are available for the concert.

Quite possibly the most famous composer of movie music, Williams has won five Academy Awards. His legendary film work includes the music for Jaws, Schindler’s List, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Lincoln, Superman, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Saving Private Ryan, The Accidental Tourist, War Horse, The Adventures of Tintin, JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, the first three Harry Potter movies and, of course, the unforgettable music for Star Warsand all four Indiana Jones films. In 1971, he adapted the score for the film version of Fiddler on the Roof, for which he composed original violin cadenzas for renowned virtuoso Isaac Stern.

Jim Cunningham, artistic director of WQED-FM, Pittsburgh, will conduct a pre-concert lecture on stage at 6:30 p.m., discussing the music to be performed during the concert. The lecture is free to ticket holders.

The concert is part of the Canady Symphony Series at West Virginia University. The 2012-2013 title sponsors of the Canady Symphony Series at WVU are William and Loulie Canady in memory of their daughter Valerie. The PSO would like to recognize and thank Chesapeake Energy Corporation for its sponsorship of this performance.
Lawrence Loh

Resident Conductor of the PSO and music director of both the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Loh is one of the most exciting young talents on the classical music scene today.  He was brought to national attention in February 2004, when he substituted last-minute for an ailing Charles Dutoit with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Conducting Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Berlioz’sSymphonie Fantastique, Loh received enthusiastic acclaim from orchestra players, audience members and critics, alike. Since his appointment as music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in 2005, the orchestra has flourished artistically, defining its reputation as one of the finest regional orchestras in the country. His leadership has attracted such artists as André Watts, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jon Nakamatsu, Zuill Bailey and Sharon Isbin.

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

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


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

Monday, February 11, 2013

PSO Feline Ambassador Fiddlesticks Returns


For immediate release
Feb. 1, 2013

PSO MUSICAL AMBASSADOR FIDDLESTICKS RETURNS FOR ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON OF FAMILY CONCERTS AT HEINZ HALL

Macy’s to become presenting sponsor of Fiddlesticks

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) popular feline musical ambassador to children, Fiddlesticks, returns in 2013-2014 for yet another season of entertaining Saturday morning concerts to introduce children to music.

Three-concert subscriptions, ranging from $28.80 to $58.50, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or by visiting www.pittsburghsymphony.org.


From infancy on, children are exposed to the music of lullabies, sing-a-longs, folk tunes, and pop music, and the Fiddlesticks Family Concerts, presented by Macy’s, continue to explore various genres of music. Each performance is preceded by a pre-concert event called Discovery Time Adventures, which is free to all ticket holders. These educational activities begin at 10 a.m. and allow young audiences and their parents to meet the PSO musicians, learn songs, and take part in various musical activities. The 45-minute concert begins at 11:15 a.m. and is filled with engaging music and interaction with everyone’s favorite friendly feline!
Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh

The 2013-2014 season begins in hauntingly fun fashion with “Halloween Spooktacular” at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, when Fiddlesticks joins the PSO and Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh for a concert of kid-friendly, spooky music from hit movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and the Harry Potter movies. Adults and children alike also can delight in Grieg’s rousing In the Hall of the Mountain King.

The season’s second concert will be “The Carnival of Animals” at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014. The Carnival of the Animals is one of the most famous pieces by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Each movement in this spectacular orchestral work depicts a different animal, from the royal lion to the graceful swan. Cartoon artist Joe Wos from the Toonseum will illustrate the animals as the PSO performs.

The season ends with “A Salute to America” at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, May 17, 2014. Fiddlesticks, the PSO and Loh take part in a concert of music inspired by America, from the heart-pounding drum line to the moving “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The audience can join vocalist Katy Williams in a sing-along of “You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag!”

The PSO would like to recognize and thank the Macy’s Foundation for its presenting sponsorship of Fiddlesticks Family Concerts.  Additional support is provided by the PPG Industries Foundation. This series is endowed by Gerald and Audrey McGinnis, honoring the Center for Young Musicians.

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

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


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

Friday, March 16, 2012

En Vogue Headlines PSO Community Partners Concert


For Immediate Release
March 12, 2012



BEST-SELLING FEMALE R&B GROUP EN VOGUE HEADLINES PSO COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONCERT AT HEINZ HALL

Tickets go on sale Monday, March 19


PITTSBURGH – En Vogue, one of the most successful and popular female R&B groups of all time, will headline the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) Ninth Annual Community Partners Concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 29 at Heinz Hall.

En Vogue will perform with the PSO in the second half of the concert, which will be led by PSO Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh. The first half will feature cellist Gabriel Cabezas, winner of the senior division of the 2012 Sphinx Competition, which aims to encourage, develop and recognize classical music talent in the African American and Latino communities.

En Vogue is responsible for a long line of R&B and pop smashes in the 1990s. Songs, such as Hold On, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It), Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Free Your Mind, and Whatta Man, featuring Salt-N-Pepa, are just a sampling of the mega hits made famous by the Pop/R&B super group.

Fusing style, sophistication, sass, and sex appeal, the En Vogue formula was magical, and the group went on to sell more than 8 million albums. In total, En Vogue recorded five albums: 1990’s Born To Sing, 1992’s Funky Divas, 1997’s EV3, 2000’s Masterpiece Theatre, and 2002’s The Gift of Christmas. There also have been several compilations released, including Best of En Vogue in 1999 and The Very Best of En Vogue in 2001.

This year, the trio – Maxine Jones, Cindy Herron-Braggs and Terry Ellis – are touring worldwide, as well as embarking on film and television projects.

Tickets range from $25.75 to $85.75 and will go on sale to the public at 9 a.m., Monday, March 19. In the PSO’s Community Partners Program, 25 Pittsburgh area nonprofits sign on as "Partners" for the concert. Each Partner is asked to sell at least 50 tickets to the performance. Patrons may also go to www.pittsburghsymphony.org or call the PSO box office at 412.392.4900 or 800.743.8560 to buy tickets and earmark the cost of their ticket purchase to benefit a participating Partner nonprofit of choice.

The Community Partners Program is an annual collaboration between the PSO and Pittsburgh area nonprofit organizations. All proceeds from designated ticket sales to this concert are donated to partner organizations, allowing them to raise a significant amount of funding. The PSO’s Community Partners Concerts have raised more than $631,000 for partnering nonprofit groups since they began in 2004. The PSO donates the orchestra services, and secures corporate sponsors to underwrite out-of-pocket costs associated with guest artist services and concert production.

The PSO would like to recognize and thank Giant Eagle for their lead sponsorship of the Ninth Annual Community Partners Program.

This year, the partner organizations are: Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders (ABOARD), Afro-American Music Institute, Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club, Bethlehem Haven, Cancer Caring Center, Children's Sickle Cell Foundation, Inc., East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM), Focus On Renewal, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Homeless Children's Education Fund, Kuntu Repertory Theatre, Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading & Cultural Center, Mission Vision, Naomi's Place Transitional Housing, Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc., Pittsburgh Community Television, PLEA, Small Seeds Development, Inc., Tickets for Kids Charities, Urban Impact Foundation, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, Ursuline Senior Services, Ward Home, Inc., Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, and YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.
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Contact:
James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835
email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org

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

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