Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Names Christian Schörnich New Chief Operating Officer

PITTSBURGH - Following a national search, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has named Christian Schörnich as its new Chief Operating Officer effective January 1, 2016. Schörnich, with more than 15 years of experience in international leadership and management in both for profit and non-profit enterprises, comes to the Pittsburgh Symphony from the United Nations, where he has worked since 2005 in multiple roles. Most recently, he served as Senior Consultant in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Prior to his work at the UN, Schörnich was a project consultant for the Center for Applied Research in Boston and Senior Manager at the Munich International Airport.

"Christian Schörnich brings incredible management expertise to the Pittsburgh Symphony. His strengths in finance, business operations, negotiations, and change management align with my priorities for the role and my vision for the growth of the Pittsburgh Symphony. I am delighted that he will be joining us," said Melia Tourangeau, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

"I am so honored to be chosen as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's next COO," said Christian Schörnich. "I believe deeply in the mission of the orchestra and look forward to the work ahead as we set the course for the future."

Schörnich holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Konstanz and a Master of Arts in LawandDiplomacywithaCertificateinEconomicAnalysis,TradeandInvestmentfromTuftsUniversity. Helives in Mt. Lebanon with his wife, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violinist Eva Burmeister, and their two sons.

The PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, known for its artistic excellence for more than 120 years, is credited with a rich history of the world's finest conductors and musicians, and a strong commitment to the Pittsburgh region and its citizens. Past music directors have included Fritz Reiner (1938-1948), William Steinberg (1952-1976), Andre Previn (1976-1984), Lorin Maazel(1984-1996)andMarissJansons(1995-2004). Thistraditionofoutstandinginternationalmusicdirectorswasfurthered in fall 2008, when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck became music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony. The orchestra has been at the forefront of championing new American works, and gave the first performance of Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 1 "Jeremiah" in 1944 and John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine in 1986. The Pittsburgh Symphony has a long and illustrious history in the areas of recordings and radio concerts. As early as 1936, the Pittsburgh Symphony broadcast on the airwavescoast-to-coastandinthelate1970sitmadethegroundbreakingPBSseries"PrevinandthePittsburgh." The orchestra has received increased national attention since 1982 through network radio broadcasts on Public Radio

International, produced by Classical WQED-FM 89.3, made possible by the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. With a long and distinguished history of touring both domestically and overseas since 1900-including 36 international tours to Europe, the Far East and South America-the Pittsburgh Symphony continues to be critically acclaimed as one of the world's greatest orchestras.

HEINZ HALLFORTHEPERFORMING ARTSisowned and operated by Pittsburgh Symphony, Inc., anon-profit organization, and is the year-round home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The cornerstone of Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Heinz Hall also hosts many other events that do not feature its world-renowned orchestra, including Broadway shows, comedians, speakers and much more. For a full calendar of upcoming non-symphony events at the hall, visit heinzhall.org.

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