In Tuesday’s (2/23) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Gary Rotstein writes, “Charles F. Hois carried the demeanor of one who took his trumpet playing lightly, as he did much of life, making others laugh with his barbs. But seriously, the man could play. You don’t spend more than three decades as principal trumpet of one of the nation’s foremost symphonies without talent. Those around him during his years with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra knew it, from conductors to colleagues. Even if Mr. Hois never—excuse the phrase—blew his own horn. Mr. Hois, 79, died of lung cancer Sunday at Family Hospice’s Center for Compassionate Care in Mt. Lebanon. He was diagnosed two years ago. … Those attending symphonies over several decades heard trumpet solos from Mr. Hois during performances of Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition,’ Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ Mahler’s Third Symphony and many other pieces. … Mr. Hois, who stepped down to second trumpet for several years before retirement, also participated for many years in the Gateway to Music program, in which trained musicians visited schools to educate children about instruments and classical music. In addition, he taught at Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon universities during his time with the symphony.”
Posted February 23, 2010
