Mission

The mission of Save Our Symphony Pittsburgh is to promote and support the world-class excellence and stature of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and to ensure its preservation in our community for future generations.

Strategic Vision

SOS Pittsburgh is dedicated to organizing, energizing and engaging the community of orchestra lovers in the Pittsburgh area. We seek to ensure that the orchestra maintains its proper position as one of the very best orchestras in the world, that it serves our community with superb performances and educational programs, and that it is recognized for artistic excellence throughout the country and in the international musical world. Our near-term focus will be on the following key priorities:

  • Maintaining the orchestra’s premiere artistic leadership
  • Attracting the nation’s most talented musicians to complete the orchestra’s complement
  • Driving needed changes in governance, transparency and institutional culture
  • Helping the orchestra engage our youth and other historically underrepresented audiences
  • Encouraging the orchestra to pursue innovative marketing efforts with a particular focus on social media
  • Empowering orchestra devotees to be effective advocates for the organization’s future

Strategies and Tactics

To achieve our mission and fulfill our vision, SOS Pittsburgh will promote grass-roots engagement with the community and advocate on behalf of audience members in the following ways:

  • Communicating with PSO musicians on a regular basis
  • Supporting the PSO’s marketing and fundraising activities
  • Raising awareness of issues or concerns regarding the PSO
  • Providing an online platform for information sharing and through which patrons’ voices will be heard
  • Providing tools and information to audience members to empower them to be effective advocates
  • Collaborating with community arts groups, businesses and individuals
  • Working with state and local elected officials on issues needing their attention
  • Sharing our experiences with audience advocacy organizations in other communities having a similar mission

Our leadership team consists of:

Board

  • Connie Phillips, Chair
  • Gillian Cannell, Vice Chair
  • Alice Gelormino, Treasurer
  • Adam Hertzman, Secretary

with

  • Kathy Maskalick
  • Mark Ozark

PSO musicians:

  • Scott Bell, oboe (retired)
  • Rhian Kenny, piccolo/flute
  • Claudia Mahave, violin
  • John Moore, bass
  • Dylan Naroff, violin

with

  • Rick Robinson, bass (retired, Detroit Symphony Orchestra)