A Thursday (2/9) Associated Press report by Joe Mandak published by a variety of news outlets states, “Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra officials insist it’s not ‘American Idol’ meets Mozart. But its new video contest on YouTube does have at least one similarity: voting by the public. Videos submitted by instrumental soloists will be up for anyone to watch. The top four vote-getters will get a chance to audition for musical director and conductor Manfred Honeck. The winner—if Honeck picks one at all—gets $10,000 and a paid trip to perform with the orchestra at Heinz Hall this fall. … Starting Thursday, people who play any one of 10 instruments—piano, violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet or harp—can upload clips up to 10 minutes long on YouTube through March 22. The musicians must play certain concertos without accompaniment, and orchestra musicians and other officials will judge the clips and post 20 semifinalist videos on April 13. The public will vote on the finalists until April 30, with the top four winning paid trips to Pittsburgh to audition for Honeck in June. … Jesse Rosen, president and chief executive officer of the League of American Orchestras, said technology is changing the way orchestras interact with their patrons.” (To read Jesse Rosen’s comments on the Pittsburgh Symphony’s new concerto contest on SymphonyNOW, click here.)
In Thursday’s (2/9) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Andrew Druckenbrod highlights the Pittsburgh Symphony’s 2012-13 season, which balances well-known works with four commissioned works by Mason Bates, Osvaldo Golijov, George Walker, and Christopher Theofanidis. The orchestra has added an additional week to next season’s subscription season.
Photo of Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony by Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette
Posted February 10, 2012
