Pittsburgh Symphony Association

The Pittsburgh Symphony Association is a volunteer organization committed to the support of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra through financial, educational and promotional activities.

To speak with us, please leave your name and contact information via the Pittsburgh Symphony Association hotline at 412.392.3303 or psa@pittsburghsymphony.org.

Join the Pittsburgh Symphony Association! We’d love to have you become part of our fun and vibrant group that is “Keeping the Music Alive.” If you want to be with others who love the orchestra, listen to beautiful music in Heinz Hall, get to know the musicians, and learn the “back-stage scoop,” the PSA is for you! Annual dues are $60 for Individuals or, at a great value – the Family Membership for $75. For more information, contact the PSA at 412-392-3303 or PSAmember@gmail.com.

It’s easy to join – do it now so you don’t miss out! Click here for a printable membership form

Objectives

• Ensure that the world-class Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has the necessary tools to keep the world-class music coming by raising funds and awareness.
• Honor and show appreciation to our world-class Orchestra.
• Develop a strong relationship among members of the Pittsburgh community by providing an opportunity for personal interaction with PSO musicians.
• Promote music appreciation and educational opportunities throughout the community.
• Increase public awareness of the Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Association.
• Encourage participation, growth and diversity in PSA and Affiliate organizations.

Click here for a downloadable copy of the PSA Bylaws. (Word DOC format)

PSA Calendar

January

Wed 9, 1:00-2:00       
Music 101 – Gianandrea Noseda, Guest Conductor                             
Heinz Hall

Fri 25, 6:00 pm          
Night at the Symphony – Pre concert dinner                                        
Heinz Hall

Fri 25, 8:00 pm       
PSA Subscription Series Concert                                                          
Heinz Hall

Sun 27, 2:00 pm        
Michael Francis, Conductor
Christian Tetzlaff, Violin;
Dvorak Violin Concerto
Heinz Hall

February

Wed 13, 10:00
Orchestra Appreciation Break                                                   
Heinz Hall

Thu 14, 9:45-1:30      
Affiliates' Day 
Maestro Honeck, Conductor
Mussourgsky, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven                                                          
Heinz Hall

March

Fri 1, 8:00 pm        
PSA Subscription Series Concert                                                           
Heinz Hall

Sun 3, 2:00 pm          
Maestro Honeck, Conductor
Verdi and Wagner: Greatest Opera Hits
Heinz Hall

Thu 7, 12:30-1:30      
Music 101 – Alison Peters Fujito, Violin                                                 
Heinz Hall

April

Thu 11, 12:30-1:30    
Music 101 – Christopher Allen, Percussion                                           
Heinz Hall

Fri 12, 8:00 pm
PSA Subscription Series Concert    
Juanjo Mena, Conductor
Joshua Bell,  Violin;  Bernstein Serenade
Heinz Hall

Sun 14, 2:00 pm        
Maestro Honeck, Conductor
Verdi and Wagner: Greatest Opera Hits
Heinz Hall

May

Thu 9, 5:00 - 7:30 pm
Membership Meeting
Lidia's Pittsburgh

Thu 16, 12:30-2:00    
Orchestra Appreciation Lunch                                                    
Heinz Hall

Fri 17, 6:00 pm          
Night at the Symphony – Pre concert dinner                                          
Heinz Hall

Fri 17, 8:00 pm
PSA Subscription Series Concert                                                           
Heinz Hall

Sun 19, 2:00 pm        
Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor
Valentina Lisitsa, Piano; Grieg Piano concerto
Heinz Hall

June

Fri 7, 8:00 pm
PSA Subscription Series Concert                                                           
Heinz Hall

Sun 9, 2:00 pm          
Maestro Honeck, Conductor;
Yuja Wang, Piano; Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1
Heinz Hall

Sat 15, 8:00               
PNC POPS Concert        
Lawrence Loh, conductor
Chris Botti, trumpet                                                                        
Heinz Hall
***Sweepstakes Prize Winners announced from the stage***

Board of Directors Meetings

All PSA Members and Affiliates are welcome to attend PSA Board Meetings. We value your imput. Please call 412. 392.3303 for further information.

Heinz Hall 3rd Floor Conference Room, 1st Wednesday of the month:

12:00 - 2:00 Wednesday, September 5

5:30 - 7:30 Wednesday, October 3

12:00 - 2:00 Wednesday, November 7

5:30 - 7:30 Wednesday, December 5 (Holiday Lunch – subject to change)

12:00 - 2:00 Wednesday, January 2

12:00 - 2:00 Wednesday, February 6

12:00 - 2:00 Wednesday, March 6

5:30 - 7:30 Wednesday, April 3

12:00 - 2:00 Wednesday, May 1

5:30 - 7:30 Wednesday, June 5

Affiliates

Learn more about Symphony North and Symphony East by visiting the PSA Affiliates page.

Music 101

Music 101 is a series of informal, educational lecture/performances presented by PSO musicians, conductors, composers and key staff. The Music 101 program has a long history both as part of the educational mission of the PSA and as an audience-building endeavor for the PSO.  It began in 1983 and is now in its 30th season.  The lectures are held at Heinz Hall at 12.30–1.30 pm, allowing the public to spend lunchtime listening to an informal and stimulating talk by a musician.  

Speakers discuss their lives, their careers, their sections and their instruments (including short performances), and are usually assailed with questions from an extremely engaged audience.  This audience is diverse, ranging from college students to business professionals to home-schooled children and their parents to senior citizens.  Audience members learn a lot, and also feel privileged to interact personally with PSO musicians, enhancing both their concert experience and their sense of responsibility as patrons of the Orchestra. 

Open to the public without reservations, the lectures are held at 12:30 pm (except 1 pm on Jan. 11, 2013) in the Dorothy Porter Simmons Regency Room at Heinz Hall, $2 admission.  Guests may bring their own lunch or order a $12 gourmet picnic lunch in advance by calling 412-392-3303 or emailing PSAMusic101@gmail.com.  Lunch is available from when the doors open at 11:15 am.

Thursday, September 20, 2012:
LORNA McGHEE (Principal Flute):
“From Old World to New: Journeys with the Flute”

Wednesday, October 24, 2012:
CRAIG JOHNSON (Executive Director: Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra),
     and PYSO Ensemble:
“PYSO & the PSO: A Special Relationship”

Thursday, December 6, 2012:
MICHAEL LIPMAN (Cello):
“Old Cello New Cello”

Wednesday, January 11, 2013 (1 – 2pm): NEW DATE
GIANANDREA NOSEDA:
“Victor de Sabata Guest Conductor Chair”

Thursday, March 7, 2013:
ALISON PETERS FUJITO (First Violin):
“Never say Never”

Thursday, April 11, 2013:
CHRISTOPHER ALLEN (Associate Principal Timpani):
“Tales from the Back”

BNY Mellon Grand Classics (MGC) Introductory Concert Package

Join us for a specially designed package for PSA members and Affiliates who are not currently MGC subscribers. The offer includes seven concerts for the price of five, a free POPS voucher, and guaranteed discounted parking all for the price of $67.73 to $234.33 depending on day and seat selection. Call 412. 392.4900 or 800.743.8560 to subscribe. 

Informal gatherings, PSA SPARKLERS, are offered post-concert on the evening of each of these 7 performances at downtown venues.  All PSA/AFFILIATE members and their guests are invited to join this gathering to socialize with their friends and musicians.  Watch your e-mail for details prior to each performance.  For further information contact the PSA Hotline at  412.392.3303. 

Click here to download the PSA subscription series informational flyer (Adobe PDF format)

Fine Instrument Fund

The PSA's Fine Instrument Fund (FIF), established in 1984, assists the PSO by purchasing instruments for use by the musicians while under contract with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Since its inception, the FIF has purchased a Hinger timpani, a Steinway Grand Piano, a Galanti organ, Zildjian cymbals, four rotary trumpets, three Wagner tubas, four rotary trumpet cases, four Clevanlander timpani, a basset horn, a Lyon & Healy Harp, a Shiedmayer celesta, a marimba one® five-octave marimba designed to PSO specifications and in October 2012, completed the purchase of a second Lyon & Healy harp.

We will continue to work with the PSO to identify future fine instrument purchases. In addition to generous donations, the FIF generates funds through 50/50 raffles held at various events through out the year, and the sale of Commemorative Cards, a distinctive way to acknowledge birthdays, graduations, weddings, births, anniversaries and memorials. Your donations are welcome and encouraged.

A package of 10 Fine Instrument Cards can be purchased for $90 by calling the Pittsburgh Symphony Association hotline at 412.392.3303 and leaving your name and contact information. 

Board of Directors