Harold Smoliar

Harold Smoliar is Principal English horn of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  A native of Philadelphia, he began piano lessons at six and went on to study the oboe with Louis Rosenblatt, English horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  John de Lancie, former principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra, was his teacher at The Curtis Institute of Music where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1978.

Mr. Smoliar is a pianist and founder of the White Tie Group, a jazz ensemble originally begun as the Symphony Jazz Trio.  You can visit the White Tie Group at www.whitetiegroup.com, where you will find information about the members, their music, and how to order their CDs.

Mr. Smoliar was co-principal oboe of the Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira in Rio de Janeiro for one season, but left to join the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1979.  He made his debut as a soloist with the symphony in 1980 in Copland's Quiet City.

Mr. Smoliar teaches oboe and English horn privately, and is co-founder of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Project.  Harold and his wife, Virginia, manager, visual communications for PPG, have twin daughters.