Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Pops Conductor Byron Stripling appears in a new edition of Front Row, the online virtual initiative of the Pittsburgh Symphony Friday night at 7:30 December 4 with  Finding Your Song. Byron describes the places he visits including the Hill District, August Wilson house and Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild.  He talks Pittsburgh jazz greats and his most recent listening suggesting essential tracks by saxophone legend Sonny Rollins and much more. Byron recently appeared with  the Dallas Symphony, the Toledo Symphony and more in one occasion wearing a mask while singing.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck called in to the QED Morning Show to talk about the latest with the PSO and the pandemic.  He talks about what he's been up to during the pandemic and and his holiday plans.

Alan Newcombe is a pianist and producer for Deutsche Grammophone Hamburg joined by Anja Rittmoeller, VP of Catalog Development and Project manager for DG. They explain how the Beethoven Nine Symphonies with William Steinberg recorded for the Command label in the 1960's were reissued in 2020 for the 250th Anniversary of Beethoven's birth celebration. Alan tells us what makes these recording special, about Steinberg and his influences of Toscanini and Klemperor, and what impressed him about the Pittsburgh Symphony. They also discuss if classical music fans are listening more during the pandemic and what sort of reviews the reissued set has been getting.

Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Charlie Powers celebrates Veterans Day and remembers great moments from his eight years as a member of the President’s Own US Marine Corps Band playing at the White House for state occasions and with all-star guests like Yo Yo Ma. Charlie has the latest on the Front Row series of online Pittsburgh Symphony concerts, his Bright Spot in the Extraordinary Measures online presentations where he joined Suzanne Park to play Bach and more when he appeared live on the QED Morning Show talking from his home in the Strip District.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violinist Chris Wu joined the QED Morning Show to talk about the PSO's new "Front Row" Virtual Experience series.   He also talks about dealing with the Covid pandemic and you hear "Take the A Train."

Violinists and Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Lorien Benet Hart and Claudia Mahave began the Day of Music Fifth Anniversary this morning at 8:30 playing live and without a net on the Classical QED Morning Show with Jim Cunningham. Telemann, Mozart, Bartok and Leclair began the celebration in the best possible spirit. This afternoon listen for the Clarion Quartet with Anna Singer at 2:30 and watch for the pop up concerts around town.

The Clairon Quartet, which is made up of members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, stopped by WQED-FM this afternoon to talk about the 5th annual Day of Music, as well as to perform in our studio.

Associate Principal Pittsburgh Symphony Oboe Max Blair talks about his new website, his work in Wilkinsburg with the Coach and Play effort, the Pittsburgh outdoor concert with the City theatre Drive In Festival, his Siberian Husky Artemis, two favorite restaurants in Lawrenceville, the hipness of Portland and Pittsburgh, his Bach on the Extraordinary Measures website, Facebook concert from the Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony webpage and he introduces Mozart’s Eighth Sonata in Murray perahia’s recording which he is learning to play on the piano as a pandemic extra effort. Live on the QED Morning Show with Jim Cunnngham.

The Principal Piccolo of the Pittsburgh Symphony discusses her running, kayaking and bicycling during the pandemic and the Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony virtual 10K run. Rhian describes her emotions during the time away from the stage and the upcoming concerts put together by City Theater. She fills us in on her years in Benghazi, Libya and Calgary, Alberta.  She plays the piccolo and runs down the tradition of standing for the Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever plus she introduces Mahler’s Symphony No 1 from this live QED Morning Show broadcast with Jim Cunningham.

Pittsburgh Symphony principal trombone Peter Sullivan discusses his upcoming Pittsburgh Symphony concerts, his teaching at CMU and the Cleveland Institute of Music, the curry he is cooking in his kitchen, and surviving the pandemic.  He also remembers working with Mariss Jansons and he introduces the Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 which he recorded with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.