It was a night of cultured elegance when the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performed its annual community engagement concert at the newly-renovated Kaufmann Auditorium in the Hill District on June 14.
“This is a unique approach that we take to connect the community with the Pittsburgh Symphony,” explained Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor, Thomas Hong. “This is serving as the inauguration concert at the Kaufmann Center and we’re excited because we were able to bring a fuller orchestra to the community and therefore expand the repertoire.”
This year’s concert included a lot of good music including the jovial Overture to II Signor Bruschino by Gioachino Rossini and the short and methodical Romance No. 2 in F major by Ludwig Van Beethoven, which included Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra guest solo violinist Sylvia Kim.
“The concert was beautiful! It was something that you see in the movies,” said first-time symphony attendee and 36-year Hill District resident, Victoria Jennings. “The Hill District is turning for the better. The bars are closing and the neighborhood is on the upswing.”
Fellow Hill District resident C. Denise Johnson agreed with Jennings.
“It’s important that the arts are made accessible so that people can become comfortable with it and so families can get access to it,” said Johnson who has lived in the Hill District since 2008.
The positive changes occurring in the once-vibrant neighborhood is one of the things that attracted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to hold a concert in the area.
“We have a number of community relationships including East Liberty and Homewood,” said Jessica Schmidt, Hill District/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Community Engagement Committee member. “The Hill District has the best in music and it’s deep and rich in the arts and they are renovating the area.”
One of the upgrades in the area include the Kaufmann Auditorium where the concert was held. According to Hong, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra hasn’t performed at the venue since 2008. The newly renovated space reopened earlier this year.
According to Utkarsh Ghildyal of South Side-based Renaissance 3 Architects, the renovations included lowering the stage by two feet to make it more accessible, brighter, eco-friendly lighting, a 2,400 square-foot addition to the building’s side entrance and a 55-space parking lot.
“It’s a place for the community and it’s a family-friendly place for people to hang out or hold events,” Ghildyal said.
Kaufmann Center benefactor Elsie Hillman who also attended the community engagement concert, was happy with the night’s festivities and the new auditorium.
“I’m very excited about the auditorium and what is happening in the Hill District,” Hillman said. “It’s a different place than what it was 30-40 years ago and to see the growth of the area and the excitement of the young people in the area is great and to have the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra be a part of this is very exciting.”
Proceeds from the concert benefit the children in the arts programs at the Hill House.
It’s good to have art and culture accessible in the community. In order for a community to move forward, it needs activities that play to its soul,” said Terri Baltimore, vice president of neighborhood development at the Hill House.
“This neighborhood is steeped in the arts tradition. This yearly concert just adds another layer to that.”
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