Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Wilkinsburg Borough's 125th Birthday

For Immediate Release
Feb. 24, 2012

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT IN WILKINSBURG KICKS OFF BOROUGH’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Wilkinsburg High School, March 6 at 7 p.m.


PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Community Engagement Concert at Wilkinsburg High School next month will kick off the borough’s 125th birthday celebrations.

The concert, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, at Wilkinsburg High School, will be led by PSO Assistant Conductor Thomas Hong, and will feature PSO trombone James Nova as soloist. The program includes works of Mozart, George Bassman, Henri Tomasi and Edward Elgar.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Ten adult tickets are available for a discounted price of $75. Tickets may be purchased by calling Wilkinsburg High School’s Music Department at 412-871-2282 or 412.371.9504 ext. 2717. Tickets also will be available at the door on the night of the concert.

The PSO’s Community Engagement Concerts in Wilkinsburg have raised more than $55,000 since their inception. All ticket proceeds from the concert in Wilkinsburg will continue to benefit the Wilkinsburg School District's music programs.

The March 6 concert is one element of the PSO’s larger Community Engagement relationship with the Wilkinsburg area. The PSO’s interaction with Wilkinsburg includes the presence of PSO musicians at neighborhood schools and regular meetings with a Community Engagement Committee, which includes Wilkinsburg students, business leaders, faith-based representatives, music teachers, and other community representatives from the area.

Through Community Engagement Programs, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra builds connections between the PSO and Pittsburgh communities via ongoing and multi-leveled relationships. These successful programs help to educate the PSO about its audiences and their home communities. PSO Community Engagement Programs are specifically designed to build relevance between community residents and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas Hong

Thomas Hong is presently the assistant conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he was assistant conductor of the Seattle Symphony, the Orchestre National de France and also associate conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. As an educator, he was on the faculty of The Shepherd School Pre-College at Rice University, teaching piano to young students. He was also a part of the Just for U Music Program (JUMP!) at the university, dialoging and interacting with children as well as performing for them.

James Nova

James Nova joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as its Second/Utility Trombone in fall 2009. Before joining the PSO, Nova served eight seasons as the Assistant Principal/Second Trombonist of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. After graduating high school in 1992, he attended the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Jim received his Bachelor's Degree there studying with the Philadelphia Orchestra's then Principal Trombonist Glenn Dodson. In 1996, Jim moved to Boston to pursue a Master's Degree on a full scholarship at the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with the Boston Symphony Orchestra trombonist Norman Bolter. In addition to his college education, James attended the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan in 1994 and was also a member of the Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship Orchestra for three summers, from 1996-1998. After finishing his Masters degree in 1998, he freelanced in Boston for several years, substituting on a regular basis with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, often making recordings and television broadcasts with both groups. In 2001, Jim moved to Salt Lake City to join the Utah Symphony Orchestra.

Editors Please Note: Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Wilkinsburg High School Auditorium



PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA THOMAS HONG, conductor

JAMES NOVA, trombone

Wolfgang Amade Mozart Overture to Die Zauberflöte, K. 620 [The Magic Flute] George Bassman (arr. James Nova) I’m Getting Sentimental Over You

Henri Tomasi Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra

Andante et Scherzo

Nocturne

Final- Tambourin

Edward Elgar Variations on an Original Theme, Opus 36 “Enigma Variations”

Enigma: Andante

Variations:

i. “C.A.E.” L’istesso tempo

ii. “H.D.S.-P.” Allegro

iii. “R.B.T.” Allegretto

iv. “W.M.B.” Allegro di molto v. “R.P.A.” Moderato

vi. “Ysobel” Andantino

vii. “Troyte” Presto

viii. “W.N.” Allegretto

ix. “Nimrod” Moderato

x. “Dorabella – Intermezzo” Allegretto

xi. “G.R.S.” Allegro di molto

xii. “B.G.N.” Andante

xiii. “***-Romanza” Moderato

xiv. “E.D.U.” – Final e

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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

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