Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, the conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer and actor Byron Stripling has ignited audiences across the globe. Recently named Principal Pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, his baton has led orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. As soloist  with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being featured soloist on the PBS television special, "Evening at Pops," with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart. Currently, Stripling serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Byron Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with over 100 orchestras around the world including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and orchestras throughout Europe and Asia. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at festivals around the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, Byron Stripling was chosen, following a worldwide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, "Satchmo."  Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway."

Television viewers have enjoyed his work as soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards.  Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs including "20/20," CNN, and soundtracks of favorite movies. In addition to multiple recordings with his quintet, work with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, his prolific recording career includes hundreds of albums with the greatest pop, Broadway, soul and jazz artists of all time.

Byron Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster.  He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band.

Byron Stripling is devoted to giving back and supports several philanthropic organizations including The United Way and Homelessness advocate and The Community Shelter Board. He also enjoys sharing the power of music through Seminars and Master Classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools.  His informative talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages. 

Byron Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan.  One of his greatest joys is to return, periodically, to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, Stripling lives in the country with his wife Alexis, a former dancer, writer and poet and their beautiful daughters.

Katy Williams has performed the Fiddlesticks Family Concerts for the past 10 years and has loved every minute of it!  The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has become a second home and she will sing the praises of all the musicians, Maestros and staff forever. Other wonderful organizations that she sings with are  Pittsburgh Opera, Civic Light Opera, Quantum Theater, the Mendelssohn Choir, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Pittsburgh Concert Chorale and River City Brass Band. She has also had the frequent pleasure of singing with Maestro Larry Loh’s Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and in Syracuse, NY with Symphoria! Also, she has sung with Maestro Lucas Richman’s Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, TN and with Bangor Symphony Orchestra, ME.

Katy was a featured soloist for the PSO Holiday Pops concert series, singing the Marvin Hamlisch original song “Take Me to Christmas Past.” She made her Pittsburgh Symphony debut in September 2005 with Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Nights Dream and has been a frequent guest artist ever since. She was the boy soprano voice in Howard Shore’s Heinz Hall performance of The Lord of the Rings. She has also performed with the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and has sung the National Anthem in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium.

She has sung under the baton of Manfred Honeck, Sir Andrew Davis, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Rafael Frubeck de Burgos, Lucas Richman, Marvin Hamlisch, Robert Page, Lawrence Loh, and Daniel Meyer.

Currently, Katy is a chorister in Pittsburgh Opera and is adjunct music staff at Point Park University and Washington and Jefferson College. She is the soprano soloist at Rodef Shalom, Oakland, and the vocal artist-in-residence at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon, PA. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Vocal Performance. She lives in Mt. Lebanon with her husband, children and two dogs. She loves music, dogs, baking and a really good mac and cheese!