“On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra decamps for the Hillman Auditorium in the Hill District with internationally renowned bassoonist Monica Ellis, a Hill District native” and member of the quintet Imani Winds, writes Jeremy Reynolds in Sunday’s (7/29) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The program celebrates the rich artistic history of the Hill with a concert and is part of a series of performances and other efforts to build a more substantial relationship between the symphony and the community…. Tuesday’s repertoire ranges from Mozart to Florence Price…. Local singer Anqwenique Wingfield will perform, and poets from the neighborhood will read original work. Q: What are your thoughts on the symphony’s efforts in your old neighborhood? Ellis: A big chunk of my Imani Winds career is outreach efforts…. At the end of the day, classical music needs new audiences, and this is a great place to find them. Q: Can you talk about growing up in the Hill and getting into the bassoon? Ellis: When I was younger, I started off playing saxophone and clarinet. Bassoon actually came last in the lineup. I had an awesome teacher, Arthur Pow, at Margaret Milliones Middle School. A few months or a year later, I started studying with Mark Pancerev, one of the PSO bassoonists.”
Posted July 30, 2018
