Six new musicians have been named to the roster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, effective with the start of the 2014-15 season. Joining the first violin section is KELSEY BLUMENTHAL, a graduate of the Colburn School who recently received her master’s degree from New England Conservatory. Filling vacancies in the second violin section are MARTA KRECHKOVSKY, who holds degrees from The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, and ZHAN SHU, who had been a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s first violin section since 2007. MARK HOUGHTON, appointed third horn, goes to Pittsburgh following ten years as principal horn in the Fort Worth (Tex.) Symphony Orchestra; he had previously served as principal in the Phoenix and Harrisburg symphony orchestras. MICHAEL DeBRUYN and CHARLIE POWERS joined the Pittsburgh Symphony earlier this year, filling vacancies in the cello section. DeBruyn was formerly principal cello in the Louisville Orchestra and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Powers served as assistant principal cello in the U.S. Marine Corps Chamber Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He graduated with honors from New England Conservatory, where he was the recipient of a Piatigorsky Scholarship.
Posted September 9, 2014
