For immediate release:
June 24, 2022
Contact: Julie Goetz, Director of Communications
(412) 905-9058, jgoetz@pittsburghsymphony.org
Media Assets here→
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR BYRON STRIPLING THROUGH 2025-2026 SEASON
PITTSBURGH— The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce a three-year contract extension for Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling, through the 2025-2026 season. The second Principal Pops Conductor in the Orchestra’s history, Byron Stripling holds the Henry and Elsie Hillman Principal Pops Conductor Chair and began this leadership position in the 2020-2021 season.
“Byron’s sensational showmanship, powerful artistic vision and partnership with the orchestra musicians have brought infectious energy and flair to our signature PNC Pops subscription series” said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “Under Byron’s continued leadership, we look forward to presenting the rich diversity of popular programming that Pittsburgh audiences love.”
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Pops Conductor is a steward of the symphony’s popular (or, “Pops”) programming, which presents outstanding music from diverse genres including Broadway, movies, jazz, rock and soul, often with popular soloists. This weekend, June 24-26, 2022, Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling will close the PNC Pops subscription season with “Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown.”
“I’m honored to be given the opportunity to continue this partnership with the exceptional Pittsburgh Symphony that is all about creating and sharing music that uplifts the entire community,” said Byron Stripling, Principal Pops Conductor. “We are dedicated to providing nourishment to this community through the power of music and I look forward to sharing unforgettable memories for many years to come.”
Though expected to make his debut at Heinz Hall in this role in October 2020, Byron Stripling was not able to do so until October 2021, due to the pandemic. Despite the fact that the orchestra was not able to be in person with audiences at Heinz Hall in the 2020-2021 season, Stripling quickly embraced the community as Principal Pops Conductor through virtual concerts on PSO Front Row, the Pittsburgh Symphony’s award-winning virtual concert series. In the summer of 2021, Stripling led a series of outdoor concerts at Hartwood Acres (lauded by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as “hypnotizing”) that welcomed audiences to live performances once again.
Byron Stripling will conduct three PNC Pops subscription series concerts in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s recently announced 2022-2023 season at Heinz Hall: “The Sounds of New Orleans” on September 30-October 2, 2022; “Women Rock” on March 24-26, 2023; and “The Doo Wop Project” on June 23-25, 2023.
About Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is deeply grateful to PNC for its 2021-2022 title sponsorship of the PNC Pops series, marking PNC’s 21st consecutive year as title sponsor of the series. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra also thanks the Allegheny Regional Asset District, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for their ongoing support. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony.