For immediate release:
June 7, 2022
Contact: Julie Goetz, Director of Communications
412.905.9058, jgoetz@pittsburghsymphony.org
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PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA APPOINTS PRINCIPAL TIMPANI AND ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL FLUTE
James Benoit and Austin Brown to join Orchestra in Summer 2022
PITTSBURGH—The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Manfred Honeck are pleased to announce the appointments of James Benoit as principal timpani and Austin Brown as associate principal flute, both of whom will begin their positions later this summer. Benoit will hold the endowed Barbara Weldon Principal Timpani Chair.
“We are delighted to welcome to the Pittsburgh Symphony James Benoit as principal timpani and Austin Brown as associate principal flute, two outstanding musicians with impeccable technique and highly desirable communication skills that are critical in their leadership roles. The selections of James and Austin came after a rigorous audition process that demonstrated the outstanding musicianship that is a hallmark of the Pittsburgh Symphony. We are also so pleased that they are returning to Pittsburgh, where each received significant music education, and look forward to their musical contributions for many years to come,” said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
James Benoit, timpani, is currently principal timpanist of the Seattle Symphony. Previously, Benoit was associate principal percussionist and assistant principal timpanist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and he spent four seasons as a section percussionist with the Sarasota Opera. An avid educator and supporter of music in the classroom, Benoit has served on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and has also taught at the Luzerne Music Festival and with Associate Solo Artists, a nonprofit that provides programs to children, teachers, businesses and social establishments in New York schools. A native of Niskayuna, New York, Benoit received an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University, his Master of Music from The Juilliard School, and his Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music.
Austin Brown, flute, recently served as acting associate principal flute of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and has played as a guest artist with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra while at The Colburn School, earning his Professional Studies Certificate in Flute Performance (’22). He has substituted with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and performed with the Colburn Orchestra, Colburn Chamber Music Society and the Carnegie Mellon University Philharmonic. Brown is a laureate of the Kobe and Aeolus competitions and has been awarded prizes from the Donald Peck International Flute Competition, and the Flute Society of Philadelphia’s Young Artist Competition. In addition to his professional studies certificate, Austin Brown received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Flute Performance from Carnegie Mellon University.