Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 7:00pm

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many pictures is a song worth? Come explore the connections between music and visual images through the works of William Grant Still, one of America’s great composers. Throughout the evening, our host Jacob Joyce, with performances by PSO musicians, will introduce the works of Still and how he uses instrumental color, shape, and texture to create a vivid picture. Adding a new dimension to the experience, two visual artists will paint live during the performance, creating original works inspired in real time by the music on stage. The program will also introduce other composers known for their ability to paint an image: Florence Price, one of Still’s American contemporaries, and Maurice Ravel, a master of French Impressionism.

Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 7:00pm

How, exactly, did Beethoven revolutionize music? Join us for an evening of surprising discoveries from an artist who broke the mold, featuring live performances by members of the Pittsburgh Symphony and hosted by Marty Bates, EVP & COO of the Pittsburgh Symphony. We’ll trace Beethoven’s growth from a teenager to an elder statesman of the music world, repeatedly reinventing his craft throughout his lifetime.

Tue, May 17, 2026, 7:00 pm

Join us for a re-creation of the historic concerts of Pittsburgh’s Black orchestras, who thrived across the city in the 1930’s, including at St. James AME. Drawing from actual programs from those concerts, Pittsburgh Symphony musicians with host Jacob Joyce will demonstrate the rich tapestry of shared expression through classical music. This program part of the on-going collaboration between Dr. James Johnson, the Afro-American Music Institute and the Pittsburgh Symphony to give voice to Black musicians and composers in classical music and enrichen the artform for all audiences. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience, exploring the music and engaging with PSO musicians like never before.