Ann Hobson Pilot on Chicago's Channel 11 Tonight; Performs With Chicago Sinfonietta Sept. 24 & 26

[“Ann Hobson Pilot, principal harpist for the BSO from 1980 until her retirement in 2009," is the subject of a PBS documentary which airs in Chicago tonight from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Channel 11. (Photo credit: Dina Rudick/Globe Staff/file 2009)]

Andrew Patner is an author, journalist and arts critic in Chicago who has supported our work for some time. Today he sends this message about the PBS documentary A Harpist’s Legacy - Ann Hobson Pilot and the Sound of Change:

“Dear Bill,

I thought that you and your readers might want to know that the Ann Hobson Pilot documentary airs tonight from 5:30 to 6 p.m. CDT on Chicago's PBS affiliate WTTW-Channel 11.

http://www.wttw.com/

“Ann will also be soloist in the Chicago and Chicago area premieres of 'her' John Williams concerto with the Chicago Sinfonietta and its new music director Mei-Ann Chen on Sep. 24 in Naperville, Ill., and Sep. 26 at Orchestra Hall in Chicago.

http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/

Thanks as ever for all that you do!

Andrew Patner

Chicago Sun-Times

WFMT Radio Chicago and wfmt.com

viewfromhere.typepad.com

David E. Robinson III: Harpist 'Angelica Hairston Senior Recital' 3 PM April 17 Greenforest Genesis Room

David E. Robinson III is Founder and Artistic Director of Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. He sends this announcement to AfriClassical:

“Please attend this dynamic harp recital of one of the most talented students around, Angelica Hairston at Greenforest Baptist Church Sunday, April 17th at 3 PM. She is a senior at Chamblee High School. She was a part of our summer camp in 2001 (as a young violinist - she still plays violin). It is rare to find good, talented harpists of color. She travels all over the world, takes part in clinics, camps, study-abroad, and internationally-known arts programs. To find our what her next projects are, check out her website at http://www.angelicahairston.com.”

The Angelica Hairston Senior Recital features these Guest Artists:

Maya Hairston Nesbit, Formerly of the AMA Flute Choir

Noelle Miller, Mezzo Soprano, Atlanta Opera Chorus

Danyelle Holder, Viola

Jordan Watts, Violin

Talia Momon, Violin

After 40 Years, Ann Hobson Pilot Retires as Principal Harpist of Boston Symphony Orchestra

[Ann Hobson Pilot, photo from The Myrtle Hart Society; Ann Hobson Pilot; Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Castaldo, Arcangelo Corelli, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Claude Debussy, Paul Hindemith; Boston Records 1002 (2001)]

The June issue of the eNewsletter of The Myrtle Hart Society announces the retirement of African American harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, Principal Harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, after a career of 40 years.

AnnHobsonPilot.com:
“Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director James Levine and the orchestra are honored to open Carnegie Hall's 119th season with a gala concert on October 1, 2009. Concert highlights include Evgeny Kissin perfroming Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor and the New York premiere of John Williams' new On Willows and Birches for harp and orchestra, written for the distinctive talents of BSO principal harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, who will retire from the BSO in August, 2009.”“In addition, a special Tribute Luncheon is being planned by the Coalition of Harpists of African Descent (CHAD) to honor Ms. Pilot on Sunday, October 4, 2009 in Boston, MA.”

AnnHobsonPilot.webs.com
“In an e-conversation with Ms. Pilot, Khymn Autumn, founder of CHAD, asked if news of her retirement was true. Ann had this to say, 'It is true that I will be retiring as a member of the BSO after the Tanglewood, 2009 season. I no longer enjoy Boston winters and I wanted to retire while I was still at the “top of my game.” The exciting news is that John Williams has written a harp concerto-type piece to honor my retirement and I will be premiering it with the BSO for the opening of Symphony Hall on September 23, the opening of Carnegie Hall on Oct. 1, and then back in Boston on Oct. 3 to perform the Williams piece, Elliot Carter's Mosaic and the Debussy Danses in a concert specifically designed to honor me. I don't know of any other retiring member who has received such an honor so I am extremely flattered. I have also been invited back to South Africa to perform with 3 orchestras there, probably in November. I plan to play the Williams and maybe the Debussy.'"