RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No MAHLER: Symphony No. 1, “Titan”

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO AND CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

To our beloved community,

Welcome to Heinz Hall and the Symphony of Bridges Gala with your world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra!

At the time of the printing of this program book, Music Director Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony were travelling across Europe to standing ovations from music lovers from Ljubljana to Cologne, and to critical acclaim in these cities as well as at home (“Thousands of music lovers in the most music-mad cities in the world…will have “world-class” imprinted in their minds alongside the Steel City’s name.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board). It was an honor to represent our exceptional city as its international cultural ambassador.

Music has always been—and will always be—the great connector. No matter what is happening around us, music has the power to lift spirits, to awaken joy and to bring healing and hope. The shared enjoyment of music creates indelible connections that bridge the most diverse communities and cultures.

This Gala evening is our annual event to support our Learning & Community Engagement programs that promote curiosity, skill-building and knowledge about music for students from preschool to 12th grade, and that leverage the power of live music to cross geographical boundaries with meaningful artistic experiences. New Schooltime programs this season include exploring a young boy’s eyeopening bus ride with his Nana; Pittsburgh’s artistic past, present and future; and a rich dive into the multi-faceted world of jazz with Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling.

Tonight, we welcome back to the stage our great friend Joshua Bell, one of the most celebrated violinists of our time, to perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in what is sure to be an unforgettable evening. Your support is instrumental in creating and presenting the Learning & Community Engagement programs that impact more than 30,000 children and adults every year. It is an exciting time to be part of outstanding music with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Over the past season, we were thrilled to welcome nine new musicians to the orchestra, including Concertmaster David McCarroll, and 10 new members of the board. We reached deeply into the community through Beethoven In Your Neighborhood – and are committed to continuing to deepen the love of music to our neighborhoods, America and the world.

This vision cannot be realized on our own. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors and donors for their love of music and continued commitment to the Pittsburgh Symphony. To our Music Director Manfred Honeck, Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling, the PSO Musicians, our board, and the entire team at the PSO and Heinz Hall: thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence and deep passion for sharing music.

From everyone at the Pittsburgh Symphony, thank you for your ongoing support and faith in this great orchestra. We hope you enjoy this special celebration.

Warmest best wishes,