Get To Know Your PSO

A warm welcome to new PSO Concertmaster David McCarroll

What’s your go-to Pittsburgh spot?

We're rather new here, but my wife, one-year-old son and I have already been enjoying the outdoors and parks. We've especially loved walking in Schenley Park, and look forward to getting to know many more outdoor spaces as we settle in.

Default drink/cocktail of choice?

Usually a nice glass of wine, except after a concert when a beer always hits the spot!

Your favorite sound?

Hearing our babbling toddler starting to put words together.

What’s your #1 guilty pleasure?

Chocolate.

The strangest place you’ve ever been? Glow worm caves on New Zealand's north island.

Book(s) that you read that made an impact on you?

Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet."

Your favorite films?

"Life is Beautiful "and any Charlie Chaplin film.

What was the luckiest moment in your life?

Marrying my wife, Angela, and starting a family together. (I guess that's several moments.)

Favorite hobbies?

Walking, hiking, soccer, tennis.

What is the best part of your job?

Connecting with other musicians and audiences in rehearsing and performing some of the most beautiful and profound music ever written.

Name your favorite concert hall/venue.

Wigmore Hall in London and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

What musical work is on your wish list to play?

Strauss' "Four Last Songs" - I grew up listening to the incredible Jessye Norman recording with the Gewandhausorchester and Kurt Masur.

What musical instrument do you secretly long to play?

Cello, although I always long and strive to play as a voice.

What is your favorite piece to play? To listen to?

Playing the Bach solo sonatas and partitas. Listening to great works for piano, as they are something I will never play, especially Beethoven Opus 109, 110, and 111 piano sonatas and the last Schubert sonata (B-flat.)

Favorite PSO memory or moment?

Being on tour with the PSO in Europe was the best start I could have asked for!