Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra Alumni Page

04/09/2024

PYSO concludes the 2023-24 season on Sunday, May 19 at 7:30 PM at Heinz Hall!
Program features Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 "Titan” in D Major, Respighi’s Fountains of Rome, and the vibrant Overture to L'Amant anonyme by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, whose remarkable story was recently portrayed in the acclaimed 2022 film 'Chevalier'.

Adding to the magic, PYSO alumni will grace the stage to accompany the orchestra for the fourth movement of Symphony No. 1. This promises to be an evening of extraordinary power and music that you won't want to miss!

Free tickets are available now at www.pyso.org/tickets

03/25/2024

Attention PYSO Alumni! There is still time to register and be part of our upcoming Alumni Side-By-Side concert on Sunday, May 19! Return to the stage of Heinz Hall and perform with current members of PYSO in the fourth movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major, under the direction of PYSO Music Director Jacob Joyce.

Connect with old friends, meet former students, share your story with our current students, and enjoy music-making with PYSO once again! All PYSO alumni are welcome to join us.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this form by Monday, April 8, 2024: http://tinyurl.com/PYSO-Alumni-Side-By-Side



Take a look at some of these photos from our archives. If you have any favorite PYSO photos feel free to share!

03/20/2024

Congratulations to PYSO Alumni Jimmy Cunningham and Devin Moore who recently performed at Carnegie Hall with the NYO All Stars Orchestra. The orchestra was comprised of accomplished musicians who have participated in Carnegie Hall's renowned National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). The concert was conducted by Maestro Yannick Nezet-Seguin (currently music director of the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Philadelphia Orchestra) and featured renowned pianist Daniil Trifinov. The program included Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7.

Check out these photos from the concert, including Jimmy Cunningham with Maestro Seguin, and Jimmy and Devin with PSO violist Sean Juhl.

Bravo to Jimmy and Devin!

02/14/2024

Congratulations to Imani Winds on their Grammy win!! 🎉🎶 We're thrilled to celebrate Monica Ellis, a PYSO Alumna (bassoon, 1989-1991), and all of her colleagues for this incredible achievement! 🌟

02/09/2024

We recently heard from PYSO Alumnus Thomas Dougherty (Violin 2006 – 2008) who writes, “…I was lucky enough to get to sub with the PSO last weekend on their Lift Every Voice concert (February 3, 2024)…” Tommy sat near PSO Violinist Ross Snyder, who is also a PYSO Alumnus (Violin 1999 – 2003)! Tommy’s dear friend, and PYSO Alumna, Lucy Bender (Violin 2006 – 2008) came to support in the audience. Tommy shared these pictures with Lucy and his parents. Thanks for reaching out Tommy – !

01/24/2024

Attention PYSO Alumni! Join us at our concert on Sunday, May 19 at Heinz Hall for a PYSO Alumni Side-by-Side. Return to the stage of Heinz Hall and perform with current members of PYSO in the fourth movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major, under the direction of PYSO Music Director Jacob Joyce. Connect with old friends, meet former students, share your story with our current students, and enjoy music-making with PYSO once again! All PYSO alumni are welcome to join us.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this form by Monday, April 8, 2024: http://tinyurl.com/PYSO-Alumni-Side-By-Side

Take a look at some of these photos from our archives. If you have any favorite PYSO photos feel free to share!

12/18/2023

PYSO recently heard from Matthew Rygelski (Clarinet 2018 to 2022). An undergraduate from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, Matthew recently started his Masters of Music Degree at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. He has performed with the Peabody Institute Wind Ensemble and Marin Alsop's Peabody Conductor's Orchestra and has also begun working as a teacher for the Baltimore School for the Arts and Baltimore Symphony OrhKids program.

Matthew shared some of his fondest musical memories from PYSO such as working with the great woodwind coaches from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (especially Scott Bell, Jim Rodgers, and Jack Howell) and his favorite performance with PYSO from December 2019 when he performed Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7.

Matthew writes, “My experience in PYSO has prepared me for both auditioning in college and for professional organizations. I still remember the music and practicing advice I would receive in full orchestra rehearsal and find that I am using those valuable skills today.”

Thank you, Matthew - !

12/06/2023

More news from a PYSO Alum! - Way to go Kaylyn Shearer!!

💚🖤🤍 🎶 Well, the cat’s out of the bag! I’ll be joining the National Broadway Tour of WICKED in Knoxville, TN in January! Getting to play Oboe & English Horn for this show is a dream come true, and I can’t believe those magic oboe moments will be me! 😍 I’m so excited! 🎶 💚🖤🤍

10/31/2023

PYSO recently heard from Gabrielle Faetini (Violin 2011 to 2014) who has been very active in the Pittsburgh area as a freelance musician.

After earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Violin Performance from Duquesne University, Gabrielle has pursued a successful career in music, currently working as an orchestral musician and educator in Pittsburgh and West Virginia, with notable achievements such as joining the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and performing with various orchestras, teaching at The Ellis School, managing her private studio, and being part of the Hot Metal Strings quartet.

Contemplating on how PYSO has made a difference in her life, Gabrelle writes, “Playing on stage at Heinz Hall is what made me realize I wanted to be performing on stage forever, and I have kept that love and drive since then”

Read the full story on our blog: https://pyso.org/alumni-update-gabrielle-faetini/

Thank you Gabi – always wonderful to hear the exciting things PYSO Alumni are doing - !

09/26/2023

PYSO recently heard from Tommy Dougherty (Violin, 2006-08) who has been quite busy on the West Coast!

Over the past year, he participated in the DeGaetano Composer Institute with the Orchestra of St. Luke's where he wrote a new work for chamber orchestra, Impro-Vice, (under the mentorship of Anna Clyne). The piece was premiered on July 25, 2023, at the Dimenna Center under the baton of Brad Lubman. Check out these photos Tommy sent us!

Tommy is currently collaborating with a team of musicians on a new opera as well as playing in the Violin 2 section of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

We are so grateful to Tommy for writing in and sharing his PYSO experiences…“What I remember most about PYSO was the relationships that I developed with fellow musicians, many of which still exist today" Read more about Tommy's PYSO memories on our blog: https://pyso.org/pyso-alum-update-tommy-dougherty/

If you’re interested in reading more about what Tommy is doing, check out his website at https://tsdoughertycomposer.com/

Thank you Tommy for sharing all your wonderful news and PYSO memories!

08/14/2023

We recently heard from Trey Tillotson (Clarinet 2018 to 2020) who spent this past summer as a composition fellow at the Brevard Music Center where many of his pieces were performed at their music festival.

Trey is an active composer and freelance musician in the greater Chicago area attending Wheaton College. In 2023, he was winner of the Wheaton College Concerto Competition and the Ben Heppner Award and performed movements of Geraldine Green’s Bass Clarinet Concerto with Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra. Thank you, Trey, for reaching out to PYSO!

We love hearing from alumni! Let us know what you're up to via our online form: https://pyso.org/alumni-survey-form/

06/02/2023

PYSO recently heard from PSYO Alumnus Dennis Persin (Cello 1997 to 2001). Dennis is the Orchestra Director at Gateway School District as well as a Section cellist in the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. He fondly remembers the music making and the friendships he made in the orchestra, in particular traveling with PYSO to Interlochen in 2001 after being selected to participate in the National Youth Orchestra Festival.

Thank you Dennis - It's always great to hear from a PYSO Alum!!

04/27/2023

Baritone saxophonist Leo Pellegrino (PYSO Clarinet 2006-09) and his group TOO MANY ZOOZ come to Pittsburgh on May 5th to headline at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale. For the full story about Leo and Too Many Zooz’ national and international musical prowess visit:
https://www.wesa.fm/arts-sports-culture/2023-04-27/arts-newsletter-april-27?utm_source=WESA&utm_campaign=7a8008075a-inboxedition_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b8d5e86931-7a8008075a-55523587&fbclid=IwAR2PBNdJo4PycgB-X3eW3_xdNmd7Q0FN3YmXv9perrclx6V7aiLtGf4-Zko

The career of acclaimed baritone saxophonist Leo Pellegrino and his group Too Many Zooz was launched with a combination of an ancient form of public entertainment — busking — and one of the newest, the viral video.

02/21/2023

PYSO alumnus Daniel Orsen (Viola, 2008 – 10), who recently joined the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s viola section, announces the release of his album Wagner's Nightmare!

Check it out:
https://www.wagnersnightmare.com/

Congratulations Daniel!

11/22/2022

PYSO Alumnus Hannah Ishizaki (violin 2013-18) was very recently one of five winners named to the Hildegard Commission’s National Sawdust Mentorship Initiative (generously made possible by the Onassis Foundation and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation).

The commission includes a $5000 cash prize, mentorship with a member of the jury, a performance on March 9th by the National Sawdust Ensemble, a professional live recording, and the piece will be placed throughout the city in site-specific installations in April 2023. This project will also be a part of Carnegie Hall’s season long exploration of the many contributions that women have made to music. More information can be found at https://www.nationalsawdust.org/ment.../hildegard-commission

In 2017 PYSO premiered Hannah’s piece City of Bridges on our concert tour of Spain. Congratulations Hannah, so nice to see you getting much deserved attention from the art and music world!!!

10/21/2022

We recently heard from Alumnus Richard Heffler (Clarinet, 1969 to 1972)!
Richard is a former private teacher of clarinet, flute, recorder, and piano who played, composed, and arranged for the United States Marine Band "The President's Own" in Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 2006. He was also a Sacred Instrumental Music Arranger for David Smith Publications.

Richard writes that what he remembers most about PYSO was performing with all the “fine musicians in the orchestra during that time” and playing under the fine conductors Phillip Spurgeon and Michael Semanitz. Traveling to Switzerland in the summer of 1972 for the International Festival of Youth Orchestras ranks as one of his favorite PYSO memories.

Read what else Richard had to say on our blog: https://pyso.org/pyso-memories-from-alumnusrichard.../