Music Director Principal Guest Conductor Violin I Galina Istomin Joyce Wohlgemuth Violin II Viola Cello Arthur Moncrieffe Principal October and May Bridget Meachum Kwan Lee Bass |
Flute/Piccolo Oboe Karyn Drombosky Carolyn Cubik Clarinet Bassoon Julia Brooks Trumpet Christine Betschart Trombone Brandon Eberly Bass Trombone Tuba Percussion Mario Butera |
Edward Leonard
Music Director
Edward Leonard was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He started his early musical training on the violin at the age of four under the direction of his parents; both string players in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Leonard would later begin his piano training which would eventually earn him a full scholarship to complete his Bachelor’s Degree cum laude in Piano Performance under the direction of Enrique Graf at the College of Charleston. While there, he performed in numerous venues such as the Monday Night Concert Series and the Thursday noon concerts at the College of Charleston, the Candlelight Concert Series at historic Drayton Hall, and appeared as soloist with the College of Charleston Orchestra and the Charleston Metropolitan Orchestra. He also composed several pieces that were premiered at the annual Composers’ Forum at the College of Charleston.
Mr. Leonard was accepted on full scholarship to study with Juan Pablo Izquierdo at Carnegie Mellon University where he earned his Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting and completed the Performance in Residency Program. As a conductor he has worked extensively the Carnegie Mellon ensembles, such as the Philharmonic, Contemporary Ensemble, and Repertoire Orchestra not only in conducting his own programs, but preparing them for conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis and Erich Kunzel. Mr. Leonard has also been a frequent guest conductor in the Pittsburgh area. He has conducted the Edgewood Symphony and Butler Symphony after winning the 2007 BCSO Young Conductors’ Competition. In 2008, Mr. Leonard was asked to be the Assistant Conductor of the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. The past three summers, he attended the prestigious Pierre Monteux School for Orchestral Conductors in Maine as one of only a handful of participants from throughout the world. During his second and third summers there, he was named an Orchestra Assistant. Mr. Leonard as also appointed the Music Director and Conductor of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic in 2011 after they held a yearlong search for the position.
Suzanne Underhill
Concert Mistress
Suzanne started playing the violin at a young age, studying Suzuki violin with Carol Dallinger at the University of Evansville. She played, served as concertmaster, and soloed with many groups, even touring with some musical theater productions. She moved from southern Indiana to Bloomington to study violin at the IU School of Music in Bloomington, IN with Steve Boe. While there, she also had the opportunity to work with many of their resident luminaries including Henryk Kowalski, Lawrence Lo, and Josef Gingold. Suzanne graduated from IU with a double-degree in music and biology.
While pursuing her Doctorate in Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis, she still found time to continue her musical pursuits by playing with and leading numerous orchestras, opera groups and chamber music ensembles.
Dr. Underhill moved to Pittsburgh to continue her scientific research at the University of Pittsburgh focusing on brain injury and mechanisms of addiction. She was pleased to find such a rich and diverse music community in the Pittsburgh area and enjoys continuing her musical development by performing with several groups throughout the region.
Principal Bassoon
Karen earned her Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from Hiram College in 1992, and has worked for a flux manufacturing company and a pharmaceutical company in various areas including product development, quality assurance, and project management. Although her academic focus was in the sciences, she has pursued her passion for music over the years. Before joining the Philharmonic, Karen was principal flautist with the Stow Symphony Orchestra in Ohio. The highlight of her tenure there was playing Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra, during which she had the pleasure of working with Eric directly. In 2000, Karen decided she was ready for a new challenge, and began learning how to play bassoon. In her spare time, Karen enjoys cooking, gardening, reading and fantasy football.
Principal Trumpet
David Fenn studied trumpet at the Leicestershire School of Music, England. He then went on to study chemistry at The University of Birmingham, obtaining his Bachelor of Science in1983 and Doctor of Philosophy in 1986. He remained musically active during this time, performing as principal trumpet with The University of Birmingham Orchestra and The Kendal Theatre Orchestra and as principal cornet with The Enderby Band.
After graduating, David worked as a scientist for ICI in Buckinghamshire and played for several orchestras and chamber groups based in Oxford and London.
He relocated to Pittsburgh in 2001 and has been a member of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic since then. He works for PPG as a scientist. In his free time David enjoys cooking, cycling and hiking.
Younga Reitz
Principal Cellist
(December and March Concerts)
Cellist Younga Reitz began her musical training at an early age with piano, violin, then on to cello by the age of twelve, and graduated from Sunhwa Arts high school in Seoul, Korea. She holds a Bachelor's degree of Music Performance and a Master's degree from Duquesne University Mary Pappert School of Music along with an Artist Diploma from the same institute. As the first place winner of the Korean Music Education Association, Younga Reitz made a solo appearance with Les Arts de Baroque Orchestra at Hoahm Arts Hall for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea. Her solo and chamber music performances were heard in Switzerland, Holland, and the U.S. Younga Reitz has studied under Misha Quint, Anne Martindale Williams, Jennifer Langham, Seung Yon Lee, Myung Sook Jung, Lauren Mallory, and has participated in numerous international music festivals in the U.S., Europe and South Korea.
Mrs. Reitz teaches at the Pittsburgh School for the Creative and Performing Arts (Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12) and is the cello coach for the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra. In addition to leading the cello section of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra for two concerts this season, she manages and performs with the Pittsburgh Ensemble. She also teaches a studio of private students who study cello, violin, viola and chamber music. She has been coaching at several summer music camps including Musik Minnovations Chamber Music Camp and the Pine Richland school district summer camp among others for over ten years.
Jessica H. Beasley
Principal Horn
Jessica began playing the horn in the 4th grade and was motivated early on
during her studies with Keith Powell. In high school, she performed with
many of the honors bands and orchestras in the PMEA system, most notably as
principal hornist of the PMEA State Orchestra.
A highlight for Jessica was being accepted as a member of the Pittsburgh
Youth Symphony Orchestra where she performed at Heinz Hall under the
direction of Edward Cumming. She also loved being a part of the
award-winning Deer Lakes Lancer Marching Band.
Jessica joined the Pittsburgh Philharmonic in Spring 2011 and is very
excited to lead the Philharmonic’s talented horn section.
Jessica holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of
Maryland and M.S. in Project Management from Boston University. She
currently works to manage nuclear power plant projects for Westinghouse
Electric Company. In her spare time Jessica enjoys woodworking, playing
softball, and relaxing with her rescue-dog, Lexi.
She thanks her husband, parents, and godmother for their never-ending
support.
Walter Morales
Guest Conductor (May Concert)
Walter Morales is in his fifth season as the Music Director of the Edgewood. Starting in 2003 he served as Assistant Director of Orchestral Studies at Carnegie Mellon University where he was the Music Director and Conductor of the Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble and as Assistant Conductor for the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic. He has prepared the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic for guest conductors such as Erich Kunzel, Sir Andrew Davis, Peter Oundjian, David Effron, Thomas Baldner, and Juan Pablo Izquierdo. He has been a guest conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, Helix New Music Ensemble, and the Rutgers Chamber Orchestra. In April 2005, Mr. Morales conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as a finalist for the post of Assistant Conductor. In 2008, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh appointed him as Head of Music.
In addition to his commitments as a conductor, Mr. Morales is an active concert pianist. He has performed as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Symphony Orchestra of Chile, Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble, Carnegie Mellon Virtuosi, Princeton Pro Musica, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and the International Piano Series Orchestra. In New York City he has performed at Steinway Hall (1995), Weill Recital Hall (1996), and in Alice Tully Hall and the Bruno Walter Auditorium of Lincoln Center (1997). He has performed solo and chamber music recitals in Washington D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, California, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
His first commercial recording featuring George Crumb’s Makrokosmos III: Music for a Summer Evening is available on Mode Records. In June 2007 this recording received the Diapason d’or, the highest phonographic award in France. Recent CD releases include “Small Bear, Large Telescope,” featuring several ensemble works of American composer Carson Cooman, “Season Within,” a premiere recording of works by composer Marilyn Taft Thomas, and the first recording of Tlanehuatl, Books I & II by Costa Rican composer Alejandro Cardona for the Quindecim label.
Joyce Wohlgemuth
Concert Mistress (November and December Concerts)
Ms. Wohlgemuth earned admission into the Sun-Wha Conservatory in Seoul, South Korea, a very selective school commonly recognized as the best art high school in Korea. There, she participated in masters classes with artists such as Victoria Mullova, Aaron Rosand, and Pittsburgh pianist Earl Wild. After graduation, she came to the U.S. to continue her studies and to begin performing professionally in orchestras under well-known conductors such as David Zinmann, Loren Mazel, and Charles Bontrager. Ms. Wohlgemuth served as Concertmaster with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and performed with many other Western Pennsylvania orchestras, from the Butler County Symphony Orchestra to the Altoona Symphony Orchestra. Her teachers included Sung-Gwon Koh, Charles Stegeman, Huei-Sheng Kao, and Alison Peters Fujito. In 1992, she earned a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Violin Performance from the School of Music at Duquesne University. She is a ten year member of the Pittsburgh Ensemble and continues performing with other ensembles in addition to running her private violin studio. She serves as the 1st Violin coach at the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and assists the Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra and the Quaker Valley Middle School Orchestra as a Strings Specialist. She also teaches music at Kids College within the Quaker Valley School District.
Principal Clarinet
Alex Jones has a B.A. in clarinet performance from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Prior to being the principal clarinetist of Pittsburgh Philharmonic he was the principal clarinetist for Northwestern University Philharmonia and Summer Orchestras and the William and Mary Symphony Orchestra. He has also played principal clarinet with the Edgewood Symphony, Sinfonicron Light Opera, and Undercroft Opera Orchestras. He has been a featured soloist for the Philharmonic, University of Pittsburgh Symphony, Northwestern Philharmonia, and William and Mary Symphony including works by Debussy, Mendelssohn, Artie Shaw, and Mozart.
Alex is also a very active chamber musician playing with various groups including the Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh (a wind quintet) and the Morningside Trio (clarinet, cello, piano). In addition to playing clarinet he has performed many pieces on alto and soprano saxophones for the Philharmonic and several other orchestras. Beyond his musical exploits, Alex Jones has a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Northwestern University and is currently on the faculty of the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.http://www.jeffsys.net/~akjones/music
Principal Flute
Laura Arledge is an established performer in the Pittsburgh area. She plays principal flute in the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra and Undercroft Opera Orchestra and has also performed with the Johnstown Symphony, Westmoreland Symphonic Winds, Westmoreland Choral Society, and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
Miss Arledge teaches elementary vocal and instrumental music in the Hampton Township School District where she also serves as the Music Director and accompanist for Hampton Middle School's musicals, accompanist for Hampton High School's musicals, and Assistant Band Director for Hampton High School's marching band. She teaches private lessons at Johnstonbaugh's Music Center and previously taught at Seton Hill College.
Laura is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Flute Performance with a Minor in Conducting, and Music Education Certification.
Principal Viola
Although his professional career revolves around biology research and education (Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Duquesne University), Dr. Porter considers himself fortunate to have the opportunity to continue his involvement with classical music over the years through participation in string quartets and community orchestras. In college, he studied viola under Scott Lewis (now with the Utah Symphony) and played with the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra in Delaware, Ohio for 11 years. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh, he played viola with the Athens Symphony Orchestra for four years. Dr. Porter has played with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic for the past seven year as Assistant Principal and Principal Viola and is a member of the Romanza String Quartet. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors for three years in the capacity of Vice President, and currently serves as the Board President and Music Librarian.
Principal Second Violin
Diane Sadar holds a BS ED from Clarion State College where she studied with Dr. Isaac Ostrow. Her graduate courses were completed at Duquesne University and included jazz, American fiddle, and world fiddle styles workshops and directed �cello study with Dr. Stephen Benham. She is employed with the Mt. Lebanon School District as a string specialist and has a small studio of private students.
Diane has served the Philharmonic in several capacities including Vice President, Treasurer, and is currently the chair of Ways and Means as well as The Young Artist Concerto Competition.
Diane and her husband Tony (piano) have lived in the North Hills for 26 years where they raised their three grown daughters; Claire (cello), Faith (bassoon) and Christine (viola).
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