Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Adds New Hearing Loop In Heinz Hall

Patrons who use hearing aids or cochlear implants will have an improved listening experience at Heinz Hall concerts and events. The facility has become the first theater in western Pennsylvania to install an electromagnetic hearing loop in its auditorium.

A hearing loop is a wire that circles a room and is connected to a sound system, which transmits sound electromagnetically. The electromagnetic signal is picked up by the telecoil, or t-coil, in a hearing aid or cochlear implant, connecting listeners directly to the sound source while most of the background noise is eliminated.

The Dauler Hearing Loop at Heinz Hall runs throughout the orchestra, Grand Tier, Dress Circle, Family Circle and Gallery sections of the hall, with the exception of the orchestra pit, first four orchestra level rows and Grand Box left. It was installed in August. It is named for late Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra trustee L. Van V. Dauler, Jr., who suggested the technology to the symphony's administration and financed the project through his family's charitable foundation.

"It is a priority for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to continue to foster an environment in Heinz Hall that is inclusive and welcoming," said Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. "The hearing loop system will insure that all our patrons can fully enjoy the majestic sound of the Pittsburgh Symphony, as well as so many other events presented in this beautiful hall."

The hearing loop system also was installed at the Heinz Hall Box Office windows, allowing for better communication between box office staff and patrons using assistive hearing devices.

"Van loved the Pittsburgh Symphony and wanted all patrons to be able to enjoy the concerts at Heinz Hall as much as he did, even if they need assistive hearing devices," said Van Dauler's wife, Randi. "I know he'd be thrilled to see this project completed and to witness the pleasure of those who can now hear the music more clearly than ever."

To use the hearing loop at Heinz Hall, users of hearing aids and cochlear implants with a telecoil (t-coil) need to make sure their t-coil is activated and properly set by their audiologist. Users can then activate the setting once in Heinz Hall. If users are not sure if their hearing aid has a t-coil or if they experience difficulty and require assistance, they should contact their audiologist.

Sound heard through telecoils can vary from hearing aid to hearing aid and according to position in the theater. Generally, the best signal is found when seated in the center of a row and facing toward the stage. For patrons needing further assistance in selecting the best seats, please contact the Heinz Hall box office.

In addition to the hearing loop system, Heinz Hall now offers three portable t-coil devices that can be worn around the neck by patrons with t-coil enabled hearing assistance devices to pick up the signal from the hearing loop system, allowing them to sit in the sections of the hall outside of the installed coverage area. The hall will continue to offer 60 FM hearing assistance devices with earphones for others without t-coil enabled hearing aids. All hearing assistance devices are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The hearing loop system was provided by Listen Technologies and installed by Metro Pro Sound - a subcontractor of Lighthouse Electric of Pittsburgh - who installed the same system at New York's Lincoln Center. Mascaro Construction, L.P., provided construction management for the project.

The hearing loop at Heinz Hall was a gift from Randi & L. Van V. Dauler Jr. and the Emma Clyde Hodge Memorial Fund.

Additional funding for Heinz Hall capital improvements in 2016 was provided by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

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) and Mariss Jansons (1995-2004). This tradition of outstanding international music directors was furthered 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. Its "Pittsburgh Live!" series with Reference Recordings has resulted in back-to-back Grammy Award nominations in 2015 and 2016. As early as 1936, the Pittsburgh Symphony broadcast on the airwaves coast-to-coast and in the late 1970s it made the ground breaking PBS series "Previn and the Pittsburgh." 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 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 HALL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is owned and operated by Pittsburgh Symphony, Inc., a non-profit organization, and is the year-round home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The cornerstone of Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Heinz Hall hosts many events that do not feature its world-renowned Orchestra including Broadway shows, popular touring artists, comedians, speakers and much more. For a full calendar of upcoming non-symphony events at the hall, visitheinzhall.org.

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