MUSIC DIRECTOR MANFRED HONECK TO LEAD PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY IN “A CONCERT FOR PEACE” TO BENEFIT HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AT HEINZ HALL ON APRIL 2, 2022

Pittsburgh Symphony partners with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to raise funds for humanitarian aid for people of Ukraine

Concert to be livestreamed on the Pittsburgh Symphony’s digital platform Front Row and live broadcast on WQED-FM (89.3)

Special guest artists include Marta Krechkovsky, Leif Ove Andsnes, Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Duquesne University Voices of Spirit and Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists

UPMC Health Plan to provide major support for the concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2022

PITTSBURGH—Music Director Manfred Honeck will lead the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra joined by special guest artists in a concert in support of humanitarian relief for the people of Ukraine, to take place at Heinz Hall on April 2, 2022, at 7:30PM/EDT. The concert will also be livestreamed on the Pittsburgh Symphony’s digital platform Front Row (psofrontrow.org), and broadcast live by WQED-FM (89.3) with host Jim Cunningham. Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony will be joined by Pittsburgh Symphony musician Marta Krechkovsky, violin, Leif Ove Andsnes, piano, Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Duquesne University Voices of Spirit, and Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists. Though there is no charge to attend or stream the concert, the Pittsburgh Symphony and Manfred Honeck are asking those who do attend or stream the concert to make donations for humanitarian relief in Ukraine and has partnered with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania for this effort. After the concert takes place, it will continue to be available to be streamed on Front Row

"We offer this Concert of Peace as an expression of solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to support through both music and resources for humanitarian aid the universal values of freedom and human rights that are under violent attack in Ukraine," said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. "We thank in advance everyone in Pittsburgh and around the world who attend the concert or watch online or listen on air for their generosity, our partners at the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and all of the relief organizations for their dedication and courage. We also thank all of the artists for donating their services, and UPMC Health Plan for major support of this concert."

"UPMC Health Plan is proud to strongly support this wonderful event," said Diane Holder, President and CEO, UPMC Health Plan. "The concert demonstrates our region’s support for Ukrainian refugees. That the event is a concert is especially appropriate because music is uplifting in times of crisis."

Donations from the concert support United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and The Pittsburgh Foundation’s #PghUnitedForUkraine fundraiser. Every dollar raised will help support displaced Ukrainian refugees with basic needs.

"Wherever need exists, we are called to help. By partnering with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, we can elevate the #PghUnitedForUkraine campaign and provide more support for those fleeing Ukraine," said Bobbi Watt Geer, President and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. "We are grateful to the PSO for their time and talent and bringing the community together to help Ukrainians in crisis."

More than two million people have fled Ukraine, a number expected to rise to four million before the conflict is over. With the help of the community, the campaign will support those forced out by the violence, providing life-saving relief. Through United Way Worldwide’s network, funds will be distributed to support efforts via United Way Romania, United Way Hungary and Fundacja Dobrych Inicjatyw (Good Initiatives Foundation) in Poland that are working on the ground.

About the Concert for Peace, Program and Participants

Music Director Manfred Honeck will lead the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in a concert that is planned to be a bit over an hour long, with no intermission, that will feature works for full orchestra and a cappella choir, including works by Ukrainian composers Valentin Silvestrov (arr. Eduard Resatsch), Myroslav Skoryk (arr. Alexander Levkovich), and Mykhailo Verbytsky (arr. Kim Hartquist), as well as Arvo Pärt Dmitri Shostakovich, James MacMillan, Marta Keen, and Antonín Dvořák. The Concert for Peace will feature: Pittsburgh Symphony musician Marta Krechkovsky, violin; Leif Ove Andsnes, piano; Duquesne University Voices of Spirit, Dr. Caron Daley, Director; Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Shawn Funk, Artistic Director; and Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists (Madeline Ehlinger, soprano, Véronique Filloux, soprano, Yazid Gray, baritone, Jeremy Harr, bass, and Andrew Turner, tenor), Christopher Hahn, General Director. The livestream concert will be directed by seven-time Emmy Award winning producer director Habib Azar, the Pittsburgh Symphony’s frequent partner for its outstanding multi-camera digital concerts. All of these artists are donating their services for this concert. UPMC Health Plan is providing major support for this concert.

Tickets and Donations

Tickets for the in-person Concert for Ukraine at Heinz Hall are General Admission, first come-first served, and available now at the Heinz Hall Box Office at pittsburghsymphony.org, or 412.392.4900, or in person at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., in downtown Pittsburgh. To watch the livestream on April 2, 2022, viewers should visit psofrontrow.org and login with their Cultural District account, or, if they do not have a Cultural District account, follow the instructions on the Front Row homepage to create a free account. Links to the donation portal will be posted at Heinz Hall and on Front Row.

All who would like to attend the benefit concert, or watch the concert stream, and support the local campaign #PghUnitedForUkraine and Ukrainian refugees can make a donation at any time at https://give.unitedwayswpa.org/Ukraine

Media Contacts
Julie Goetz | Director of Communications
jgoetz@pittsburghsymphony.org | 412.392.4866 or 412.905.9058 (mobile)

For United Way of Southwestern PA:
Stacy Skiavo, Public Relations Manager 724.757.6365