“The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians is growing—and getting a new name,” writes Jordyn Hronec in Friday’s (12/3) Pittsburgh Business Times. “The fellowship program will henceforth be known as the Paul J. Ross Fellowship Program, named for the first African American musician to land a full-time contract with the PSO in 1965. The program is a two-year pre-professional program for musicians who identify as Black or African American to work closely alongside members of the PSO and prepare for professional auditions and opportunities…. The funding will allow for the program to expand to include not one Fellow, but four in each season by 2025. The new program will also include … annual pay for Fellows … equivalent to the minimum orchestra weekly scale for 21 work weeks at $43,000; full benefits of PSO insurance plan for Fellows, along with reimbursements of up to $8,000 for audition and professional development expenses…. Flautist Shantanique Moore … the PSO’s OTPAAM Fellow for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons, will be the first Paul J. Ross Fellow, having accepted an extension through the 2021-2022 season. Applications to audition for the [program] open on Dec. 10.”
Change font size
