The Branson Briefings – Alan Abel
Jeremy Branson, associate principal percussionist, leads a discussion on the life and impact of the revered Alan Abel, reminiscing with colleagues Chris Allen, Andrew Reamer, and John Soroka
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Penny Anderson Brill – Healing Others through Musical Performance
by Karissa Shivone
Penny Brill, violist with the Pittsburgh Symphony for 40 wonderful years, is energized and ready to immerse herself into her latest musical calling as she retires next year (March 2021). She has discovered first-hand the power our music has towards healing people in the community. While she has devoted herself for the past two decades to performing for people all around Pittsburgh (and beyond) with a wide spectrum of needs, retirement will allow her time to pass on her knowledge to the next generation. Penny has a great passion to share her discoveries on repertoire, programs, educational material, and so much more.
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Retirement Tribute: Scott Bell – A New Chapter in China
by Lorien Benet Hart
My first weeks with the PSO were as an extra violinist on the 2001 South American tour; I knew very few people in the orchestra and relied mostly on people adopting me into their “tour family” for any socializing. Little did I know that a hole-in-the-wall tango performance in Montevideo, Uruguay would come to define my touring for the next two decades.
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Retirement Tribute: Carolyn Edwards
by Alison Fujito
Violinist Carolyn Edwards and I first met in April, 1987, when we were both called to sub with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra just before joining as full-time members.
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Retirement Tribute: Randolph Kelly
By Paul Silver
Randy was born and raised in Portland, Oregon.When he was 6 years old, he began to play the violin following in the footsteps of his three older sisters. But as he jokes, “when I found out how hard it was, I really didn’t want to do it anymore!”
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The Bouquet Goes to: Jodi Weisfield
After joining the Pittsburgh Symphony in the early 2000s as Manager of Corporate Support, Jodi Weisfield quickly endeared herself with musicians, staff, and donors with her approachable leadership, attention to detail, and infectious passion for the music. Her talents led to her appointment as Director of Corporate Support, to helping lead a Major Campaign, being appointed VP of Donor Relations, and most recently leading as Senior VP and Chief Development Officer.
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The Branson Briefings – Jim Nova
Jeremy Branson, associate principal percussionist, interviews Jim Nova, the Pittsburgh Symphony’s second trombone player and one of the most colorful musicians among us. Take a break and listen to his unique approach to daily work, big projects, and his personal relationship to composer John Williams. If you’re a fan of Superman, Star Wars, or just cool conversation about…
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If Music be the Food
by Lorien Hart
The Musicians’ Body & Soul partnership with 412 Food Rescue is, at its heart, a face-to-face experience. So how do we continue this vital work in the Covid-19 landscape? The third installment in our “If Music Be The Food” recital series to benefit 412 Food Rescue was scheduled to happen at Waverly Presbyterian Church on April 1. With an in-person gathering no longer possible, we moved to an online format.
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An Unusual and Challenging Situation: Teaching in Isolation
by Craig Knox
Most PSO musicians teach. Many of us are on the faculty of universities and conservatories in Pittsburgh and elsewhere, teaching the performers and music educators of tomorrow. Others teach their students in private home studios. Some of us work with the members of the area youth orchestras. I think many of us feel a sense of duty to mentor young music students and pass along what we learned from the previous generation of professional musicians. So how can we continue to be there for these young musicians during this time?
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The Bouquet Goes To: Healthcare Workers
by Jack Howell
The way out is through.
– Robert Frost
Yesterday I went for a walk. As a woman walking her dog approached, I moved to my right, to the edge of the sidewalk up against a picket fence. When she drew to about ten paces away, she left the sidewalk and passed me walking down the middle of the street. The thought was clear, why take a chance? It seems like forever ago when we all sat together for concerts, when musicians greeted concertgoers in the lobby and shook hands without a second thought.
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