“As venues shut down across the city during one of the most difficult years in recent memory, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra found a way to shine, coming up with creative ways to bring music into people’s homes,” reads an editorial in the December 23 Pittsburgh City Paper, which has named the orchestra “Pittsburgh’s People of the Year 2020: Music.” “Soon after the stay-at-home order began in spring, the PSO began posting intimate daily videos, self-produced by its musicians from inside their homes. Some were beautiful performances, others included tips for music students. Sometimes, music director Manfred Honeck would host a program from his home in Austria. In July, as part of the Allegheny County Parks Summer Concert Series, the PSO put on masks and performed a concert aired on local TV and streamed on YouTube…. In August, the PSO partnered with 13 other local arts and culture organizations to produce a video featuring their music, encouraging the public to ‘#MaskUp.’ This fall, they revamped their season into Front Row: The PSO Virtual Experience, a series of creative at-home events…. When the symphony is finally back on stage and performing before a live audience again, fans will surely remember the ensemble’s personal touches.”
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