Past History:
The Edgewood Symphony can trace its beginning to 1902 when
Westinghouse Electric Company organized the Westinghouse educational
Center for its employees. From that grew various recreational activities
including musical groups and a symphony. The symphony grew to become
the Westinghouse Center Symphony, and later the Wilkinsburg Civic Symphony.
The Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, as we know it today, was formed in 1987
from the Wilkinsburg Civic Symphony, and is now one of the premier community
symphonies. It is composed of amateuer volunteers from more than 40 communities
and four countries. They rehearse one night each week.
These 60 musicians perform a subscription season of four concerts each year, along
with appearances at Edgewood Community Day and in the past, City of Pittsburgh's
Citipark's Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch summer concert series. Many concerts
feature local professional musicians as soloists, many of them members of the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, some concerts involve other
community arts organizations.
The ESO is pleased to have worked with
orchestral and choral organizations in Mt. Lebanon, Highland Park, East Liberty
Edgewood, Churchill , CCAC-Boyce Campus, Gateway School District, and
Woodland Hills School District.
The Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, Inc., is a non-profit organization.
Its yearly budget is funded through grants, member donations, ticket sales
and community donations.
Recent History:
The EDGEWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is now in its second decade as one of Pittsburgh's leading community arts organizations. Numbering some 60 volunteer musicians, the members come from more than 40 communities in four counties. They range in age from 13 to 73. Among its ranks are doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, students and even a mayor. They rehearse every Tuesday evening and present 6 to 8 concerts a year, including a yearly appearance on Citiparks Bach, Beethoven and Brunch series.
The ESO involves itself with many different segments of the community through its frequent collaborations. The ESO has performed jointly with The Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, The Pittsburgh Chorale East, and the Three Rivers Choral Society. It has also collaborated with orchestral and choral organizations from Woodland Hills High School, Gateway High School, Winchester Thurston School, the church choirs in Mount Lebanon, and the Sewickley Academy.
Previous music director, Roy Sonne, says, "I see the ESO as a haven for devoted instrumentalists who are dedicated to excellence and to lifelong learning and growth. Over the past several years the orchestra has grown steadily in skill and in reputation. We have also succeeded in attracting some remarkably talented and accomplished musicians. Together we have progressed to a level not normally associated with community music groups. We have given creditable performances of such difficult works as Brahms Symphonies #1 and #4 and the Firebird Suite of Stravinsky. Ten years ago it would have been a pipe dream to think of performing the Firebird Suite. Today it is a reality."
As part of the lifelong learning experience, ESO musicians have received coaching from top professional symphony musicians such as Elden Gatwood, William Caballero, Albert Hirtz and Richard DiAdamo.
