HERE IS THE LATEST OFF-STAGE BUZZ
- Riverlife’s Shore Thing
- PSO Musician Appointments
- Pittsburgh Pride Choir
- Nicolas Gaudreau joind Pittsburgh Ballet as Development Director
- Pittsburgh A&E Book goes 100% Online & Free
All Aboard Riverlife’s ‘Shore Thing’ Public Space
by BG Brewing and artwork by Fran Flaherty and Janel Young.
(Images: Courtesy of Riverlife, Sharon Eberson, top left)
A new public space on the North Shore has opened for food and drink, for activities and just chilling, with the bonus of enjoying a Downtown vista while you do your thing.
Riverlife, the nonprofit “dedicated to creating, activating, and celebrating Pittsburgh’s riverfronts,” has launched the public gathering space, Shore Thing. Anchored in the Allegheny River, just off Allegheny Landing and the Clemente Bridge, the 4,800-square-foot platform was formed by the melding of 10 modular industrial barges.
Shore Thing includes sustainable infrastructure, such as a solar-powered container, created in partnership with Pittsburgh’s ZeroFossil, that houses BG Brewing food and beverage offerings. Free programs including yoga, live music and arts workshops are already underway (visit https://shorething.riverlifepgh.org/ for a schedule).
A canopy installation called the “Pittsburgh Chandelier,” designed by artist Fran Flaherty and students at Carlow University, provides partial covering to picnic-style benches with suspended Capiz shells that move to the rhythm of the wind. The platform also is adorned with the mural “A New Wave,” painted by Pittsburgh-based artist Janel Young.
BG Brewing of Braddock answered the call to provide Shore Thing’s menu of “Barge Bites + Beer,”
“For us, the thing that gets us up in the morning is this idea that beverages bring people together,” said Alaina Webber of BG Brewing. “This platform on its own was super cool as a public amenity, a public park on the water, drawing attention to the ability to be on the water. … So we really believe in this project as an affordable asset to get people out here, and also drawing attention to the shoreline as a Pittsburgher.”
The official ribbon cutting was delayed twice by heavy downpours, but the space has been open to the public since the last week in June.
“Thousands of Pittsburghers provided input to our guiding vision plan, ‘Completing the Loop,’ ” said Matthew Galluzzo, president and CEO of Riverlife. “Their message was clear: Pittsburghers want riverfronts filled with amenities and attractions – places that bring people together to create memories.”
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Appoints Principal Bassoon, Principal Viola, Assistant Principal Bass, and Announces Two New Paul J. Ross Fellows
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and Music Director Manfred Honeck announced three new appointments to its roster of musicians: beginning in September 2025 Julia Harguindey, Principal Bassoon, and Zhenwei Shi,Principal Viola, as well as Michael Banks, Assistant Principal Bass, who began in May 2025.
From left: Julia Harguindey, Principal Bassoon, Zhenwei Shi, Principal Viola and, Michael Banks, Assistant Principal Bass (PSO supplied images)
Julia Harguindey most recently served as Principal Bassoon of the Nashville Symphony and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. She will begin teaching at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University School of Music as well as Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music in the 2025-2026 academic year. During the 2024-25 season, Harguindey performed with the PSO as Guest Principal for the season finale of the BNY Classics concerts.
Zhenwei Shi currently serves as Principal Viola of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, where he was appointed Principal at the age of twenty-three in 2019. Since 2018, he has been a frequent guest player with the San Francisco Symphony and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He assumes the Cynthia S. Calhoun Principal Viola Chair.
Michael Banks received his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School in New York City and his master’s degree from The Colburn School in Los Angeles. He began playing with the PSO at the end of May for the orchestra’s performances of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.
“Each of these three musicians brings a passion and energy to their playing that will add to the vitality of our great orchestra,” said Music Director Manfred Honeck. “Julia, Zhenwei and Michael continue a long line of incredibly distinguished players in Pittsburgh, and will themselves contribute to our history. I am pleased to welcome all three to the PSO family, excited to perform with them — whether at Heinz Hall, in the community, or abroad — and eager for the music they will inspire and create.”
The PSO announced trombonist Jacob Ogbu and bassist Christian Harvey as its newest Paul J. Ross Fellows for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 seasons, beginning in September 2025. They join current fellows Landon Young (French horn) and Carlos Clark (bassoon), who will complete their fellowships in August 2026.
“I’m pleased to welcome Jacob Ogbu and Christian Harvey to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as our newest and 18th class of Paul J. Ross Fellows,” said Melia Tourangeau, President & CEO of the PSO. “Since its beginning in 2007, the Fellowship is not only a tribute to Paul Ross’s groundbreaking legacy as the PSO’s first full-time African American musician, it also reflects our deep commitment to fostering exceptional talent through transformative professional training. Christian and Jacob bring outstanding artistry and passion to the Pittsburgh community, and we are proud to support their musicianship and career.”
Renaissance City Choir Comes Out with New Name for 40th Anniversary: Pittsburgh Pride Choir
Western Pennsylvania’s only LGBTQIA+ and allies choral group proudly announces its new name: Pittsburgh Pride Choir.
Formerly known as the Renaissance City Choir, the choir has been a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQIA+ cultural community since 1985. The name change marks a new era — one that reflects the group’s identity and mission in a vibrant, visible, and proudly queer-forward way.
“We chose this name to more clearly align with our Pittsburgh community and to proudly proclaim our identity as an out and proud LGBTQIA+ organization,” said Douglas McIntyre, Board President.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Announces Nicolas Gaudreau as New Director of Development
Gaudreau Will Lead the Organization’s Fundraising, Sponsorship, and Donor Outreach Efforts
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) announced today the appointment of Nicolas Gaudreau as its new director of development. Gaudreau will begin his role on July 7, 2025, just before the start of PBT’s 2025-2026 season. He joins PBT from the Oregon Ballet Theatre, where he has served as Director of Development. He is a seasoned fundraising executive with over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including roles as an arts administrator, former ballet dancer, and lifelong arts advocate.
“I’m thrilled to join Adam W. McKinney, Nicholas Dragga and the entire organization in building strong communities through the transformative power of dance,” said Nicolas Gaudreau. “From cherished annual traditions like The Nutcracker to thrilling world premieres by today’s most exciting choreographers, I can’t wait to see you at the ballet!”
“We are absolutely delighted to have Nicolas join PBT as our new director of development,” said Nicholas Dragga, PBT executive director. “The combination of his leadership skills, fundraising expertise and Pittsburgh background will serve PBT and the community well. We look forward to working with him to deepen relationships, build new partnerships and continue PBT’s outstanding community outreach.”
The Pittsburgh A&E Book has fully transitioned to a free web resource
The Pittsburgh A&E Book has been published in print throughout the 2000s and remains the region’s only comprehensive directory created by and for creative professionals. Now fully digital and completely free, the directory remains a vital resource for the arts and entertainment community.
This project is the work of Pittsburgh arts entrepreneur and internet pioneer James A. Richards. Its origins trace back to the late 1980s, when Jim began organizing events for the Joseph Horne Company department store. To keep track of the numerous individuals and organizations he collaborated with, he started a “groups file” — a collection of contacts and resources that expanded significantly during his tenure as a founding staff member of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership in the 1990s.
Today, The Pittsburgh A&E Book includes listings for Film, Television, Theatre, Dance, Opera, Music, Visual Arts, and Event Resources. It also features helpful tools for fundraising, securing foundation grants, gaining publicity, advertising, and accessing professional business services such as accountants, attorneys, unions, and industry associations. The entire directory is searchable online.
With its transition to a digital format, The Pittsburgh A&E Book is now accessible to everyone at www.pittsburghaebook.com. Whether you’re a performer, producer, or part of a support service, you’ll find nearly every resource you need. (Note: To be listed in the directory, individuals or organizations must have a functioning website.)
Backstage Photo Quiz
Can you identify this backstage space in one of Pittsburgh’s famous area theaters?
Please share your reply in the comments. oSP will post the answer in our next Call Board post. Send any interesting backstage photos or Call Board pix to info@onstagePittsburgh.com
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Feature Stories
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