9 – 9:25 am
Always Remember to Try - Mandy Harvey

Mandy Harvey will talk about her personal journey of losing her hearing and experiencing failure. Understanding that the difficulties you face are stepping stones to moving forward if you dare to try.

Core takeaways: building a firm foundation by creating a core community. Understanding the root of your dream as the path may very likely change there are many ways to achieve the main goal…sometimes in ways you never thought possible.

9:30 – 9:55 am
The Art of Music Recording - Robert McCutcheon

A virtual walkthrough tour of the state of the art facility at The Vault Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, which includes an award winning team and historical vintage gear used on numerous seminal records of the 1970's 80's and 90's. https://thevaultrecording.com/

Owner and President Bob McCutcheon will discuss high end studio production all the way to DIY recording on your laptop, along with advice on distribution, promotion of the music business.

Talking with Your Hands: Conducting Session - Dr. Tina DiMeglio

Conducting is nonverbal communication for musicians. We will discover how to LOOK the way the music SOUNDS by using a simple "toolkit" of basic conducting gestures. Be ready to get your hands moving!

Intro to Desk Drumming - Sophia Elliott

Have you ever found yourself tapping your pencil against your desk? You may be a secret drummer! In this Intro to Desk Drumming, you will learn how to create an entire drum set out of pencils and your own hands. Learn several sounds, techniques, and grooves through the art of pencil tapping! Have some pencils with you for this session.

10 – 10:25 am
Careers in Music Beyond the Stage - Melia Tourangeau

While being a performer, musician, or artist is a wonderful dream and aspiration, there are also a host of other career options that support our musicians that have equal importance in sharing art with our communities. Many people don't think about the behind-the-scenes skills needed to make the performances happen - from marketing, development, finance, IT, operations, artistic planning, community outreach, and human resources. It takes a well-rounded team to make a music or arts organization work. Supporting beyond the stage can be an equally fulfilling career path in the arts and talented people are certainly needed in the field!

10:30 – 10:55 am
Music Education Major 101: A Day in the Life - Dr. Allison Davis

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to major in music education at the college level? Whether you dream of performing on stage, teaching future musicians, composing original works, or simply deepening your passion for music, this virtual session offers an inside look at the life of a music education major. This engaging conversation will explore the daily realities, opportunities, and challenges that come with pursuing music as a degree.

11 – 11:25 am
PMEA Alum: Broadway’s Kelsee Kimmel - Kelsee Kimmel

Kelsee will be discussing her education, life, and career so far as a Broadway performer both in New York City and National Touring Productions across the country. She will answer questions live in a forum-style Q&A presentation.

BELIEVE: Building Culture as a Student Leader - Brett McCutcheon

Inspired by Ted Lasso’s message of optimism, empathy, and teamwork, this session helps student leaders discover how to build a culture of trust, belonging, and motivation within their music programs. Through interactive activities and open discussion, participants will explore what it means to “Believe” — in themselves, in their peers, and in the power of positive leadership. Students will walk away with strategies for improving communication, resolving conflicts, supporting their directors, and inspiring their sections to reach their full potential — all while keeping kindness and accountability at the heart of what they do.

Marching Band Conducting - Ally Germ and Dr. Jonathan Helmick

This interactive session will focus on conducting a marching band. This session will introduce students to a variety of conducting styles and explain when to use them. Students will have an opportunity to briefly learn how to conduct using various cues that help emphasize certain musical elements while adding visual flair.

11:30 am – 12:25 pm
THUD: The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers Performance and Q&A

Hear THUD perform and at the end of the performance, students will have the chance to ask members of THUD any questions they have.

12:30 – 12:55 pm
A Brief History of Contemporary Marching Band in America - Greg Bimm

Greg Bimm was at the forefront of the marching band activity for decades. Not only did he have success with his program, Marian Catholic from Chicago Heights, IL, but he helped to shape what marching band looks like today. In this session, we’ll have a conversation with Greg about how marching band has evolved from the 1970s to today. What did a marching band look like 50 years ago and how and why has it changed?

1 – 1:25 pm
Composer Q&A with Tyler S. Grant

Join composer Tyler S. Grant—who began writing music at age 10 and was published by 13—for an interactive Q&A session with student composers. Ask questions about creativity, technique, and the composing process while gaining real-world insight and encouragement for your own musical journey.

1:30 – 1:55 pm
What's Your W.H.U.T.? - Gary Mayne

As a therapist in private practice, Gary Mayne is a trauma specialist who also deals with anxiety and depression on a regular basis and as a trombonist he has gotten to play and record with some of the world's finest. Through work with his clients, he has discovered the close connection between our lives as dedicated musicians and how we can truly utilize those skills to help build life-long access to strength and resilience.

Through data-backed strengths learning this presentation will allow and teach attendees to do specific things including:
• Identify their strengths in life and in their playing
• Learn a formula for identifying strengths independently in the future

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Greg Bimm

A Brief History of Contemporary Marching Band in America (12:30 - 12:55 pm)

Greg Bimm (Chicago Heights, Illinois) served as Director of Bands at Marian Catholic High School from 1977 through 2023. Under Bimm’s direction, the Marian Band grew from 70 to over 280 members and built a reputation as one of the premier high school band programs in the U.S. Honors include 7 BOA Grand National championships, 21 BOA National class championships, and 34 consecutive BOA National Finalist appearances. Marian has won 42 successive Illinois State marching class championships. The concert bands at Marian performed at the first BOA National Concert Festival and at numerous other state and national conventions. They have been undefeated in Catholic school concert contests for 41 years. They’ve appeared in the Macy’s, Presidential Inaugural, and Rose parades and are among the few to receive both the Sudler Flag for concert band excellence and the Sudler Shield for marching band by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Bimm has received numerous NBA Citations of Excellence, the national ASBDA Stanbury Award for young band directors (1983), and twice the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In 1995, Bimm was the first high school band director to conduct the Illinois All-State band. Bimm received the Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence from IMEA and received career recognition from the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education. He was named a Lowell Mason Fellow by the NAfME and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bimm was inducted into the inaugural class of the ISU College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame, the Distinguished Alumni at LaSalle-Peru Township High School, and the MFA-BOA Hall of Fame. Bimm received an honorary doctorate in music education from the Vandercook College of Music and the Chicagoland Music Educator John Paynter Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Bimm was honored by the Midwest Clinic as a Clinic Legend and has been a member of the ABA since 1994.

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Allison Davis

Music Education Major 101: A Day in the Life (10:30 - 10:55 am)

Dr. Allison Davis serves as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she currently teaches music education courses. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from the University of Missouri with a Cognate in Wind Conducting and Band Pedagogy, a Master of Music in Music Education with a Specialization in Wind Conducting from Bowling Green State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University. Dr. Davis has had the pleasure of studying with Dr. Brian Silvey, Dr. Wendy Sims, Dr. Amy Knopps, Dr. Lisa Martin, Dr. Ken Thompson, and Dr. Bruce Moss.

Dr. Davis’s primary areas of research focus on instrumental conducting and rehearsal techniques, preservice music teacher education curricula, repertoire selection, and democratic practices in large ensemble settings. Her dissertation, A Multiple Case Study of Preservice Music Educators Experiences in Rehearsal Clinic, investigated the experiences of secondary instrumental music education majors in an advanced conducting and rehearsal skills course. Dr. Davis is active in both state and national research settings, presenting at conferences and publishing in both peer-refereed and practitioner journals.

Prior to her university teaching experience, Dr. Davis taught a combination of secondary band, choir, general music, and marching band in the public schools of Ohio and Missouri. Due to her time spent with a diverse student populations, she has advocated for the performance of contemporary music by marginalized composers. Ensembles under Dr. Davis’s direction have premiered works by Cory Brodack, Emilio José González, and Yoell Tewolde (student composer), and she has worked closely with other acclaimed composers including Katahj Copley, Kevin Day, Grace Baugher Dunlap, Kelijah Dunton, Roshanne Etezady, and Jennifer Jolley. She actively integrates technology in both lecture-based and ensemble-rehearsal settings, including utilizing ForScore in full ensemble rehearsals and frequently hosting collaborative Zoom sessions with composers, to create a more interactive and enhanced student experience. Dr. Davis regularly works as an adjudicator, clinician, and music arranger for bands of all ability levels and age ranges around the country.

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Dr. Tina DiMeglio

Talking with Your Hands: Conducting Session (9:30 - 9:55 am)

Dr. Tina DiMeglio is a professional educator, conductor, and clarinetist. She is currently the Director of Bands at Pennsbury High School in Bucks County, PA, where she directs the Pennsbury High School “Long Orange Line” Marching Band, PHS Symphonic Winds, and the Pennsbury Community Band. She often works as a clinician, presenter, and guest conductor for band programs and honor bands around the nation.

DiMeglio was most recently the Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where she conducted the USF Symphonic Band. She was heavily involved in mentoring future music educators and taught courses in conducting and music education.

In the summer of 2023, Dr. DiMeglio conducted the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in the nation’s capital as a guest conductor and conducting workshop participant. She won first prize at the Inaugural Frederick Fennell International Conducting Competition, held in Modica, Italy in November 2021. She was a Conducting Fellow in the 2019 Midwest Clinic Reynolds Conducting Institute, and was also a recipient of the 2019 CBDNA Mike Moss Diversity Conducting Fellowship Study Grant. She actively works toward increased diversity and inclusion in the wind band medium, collaborating with composers and artists from historically marginalized communities and mentoring conductors of all genders. DiMeglio has recently shared her expertise in conducting, rehearsal techniques, and concert programming at the 2023 Midwest Clinic and 2024 Florida and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association conferences.

She served as the Music Director of the Tampa Brass Band from 2021-2024, and was recently named Music Director of the Lancaster British Brass Band in the spring of 2024.

DiMeglio earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree from the University of Miami, where she studied Instrumental Conducting with Dr. Robert Carnochan and conducted the prestigious Frost Wind Ensemble. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting from West Chester University and a bachelor’s degree in music education, clarinet concentration, from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music where she studied clarinet with Paul Demers of the Philadelphia Orchestra and graduated Magna Cum Laude as a member of the academic honors program.

Dr. DiMeglio maintains a private lesson studio and performs professionally as a conductor, clinician, and clarinetist. When not teaching or performing, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jonathan and their many rescue animals.

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Sophia Elliott

Intro to Desk Drumming (9:30 - 9:55 am)

Sophia Elliott is an educator and percussionist in the Pittsburgh area. In December 2025, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Slippery Rock University. Sophia is a percussion fanatic with experience in the marching arts, orchestral percussion, and drum set.

 

 

 

 

 

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Ally Germ

Marching Band Conducting (11 – 11:25 am)

Ms. Ally Germ is a Western Pennsylvania native and a 2024 graduate of Slippery Rock University. She brings over eight years of marching band experience, including four years as a drum major, where she developed a passion for conducting and leadership. Currently in her second year of teaching, Ms. Germ serves as the Director of Bands at Cornell School District in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.

Ms. Germ’s teaching experience spans grades 4–12 in both marching and concert band settings. During college, she worked with two high school marching bands over the summers, completed student teaching with band students in grades 4–12, served as an Assistant Marching Band Director in northeast Ohio teaching grades 6–12, and most recently teaching band students grades 5-12 in the Cornell School District. In addition, Ms. Germ has organized, coordinated, and led Slippery Rock University’s annual Drum Major and Color Guard Camp for several years, working closely with Dr. Jonathan Helmick—whom she is honored to co-present this session with.

 

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Tyler S. Grant

Composer Q&A with Tyler S. Grant (1 - 1:25 pm)

Tyler S. Grant is an internationally recognized composer, arranger, conductor, and clinician of music for concert bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles of all levels. His music is featured regularly in performances by both region and all state honor ensembles and is also featured annually on Editor’s or Publisher’s Choice Repertoire Lists around the world. His work, Panoramic Fanfare, was a winner of the Dallas Wind Symphony’s 2014 “Call for Fanfares” Competition. Panoramic Fanfare has since been performed by collegiate and professional ensembles throughout North America.

Since 2010, Tyler has regularly accepted commissions for new works and produced new publications for bands and orchestras each year. He credits his mentor Brian Balmages as pivotal to his success as a composer. Notable performance venues of his works include The Midwest Clinic, Carnegie Hall, Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival, the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Bands of America Grand Nationals, and numerous state-wide, national, and international music conferences and conventions.
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In addition to composing and arranging, Tyler enjoys conducting and clinic engagements with ensembles throughout the United States. He has served as a clinician with over 150 school instrumental music programs and honor groups across more than 25 states. Tyler was a contributing author for Alfred Music Publishing Company’s Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development series and has contributed interviews to numerous podcasts and articles including School Band & Orchestra Magazine and The Instrumentalist. Notable conducting venues include The Midwest Clinic and all-state bands in Nebraska, Oregon, Alabama, Louisiana, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Tyler is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education and studied conducting with Professor Randall Coleman. Before becoming a full-time composer and arranger, Tyler served as the Director of Bands at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School from 2019-2023. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and maintains an active composing and conducting schedule. His published works are available through The FJH Music Company, Inc., Alfred/MakeMusic Publications, and Tyler S. Grant Music Works, LLC.

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The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers (11:30 am - 12:25 pm)

The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers, more commonly known as THUD, is Harvard’s premier (and only) alternative percussion group on campus. Their mission centers on creating music out of anything, harnessing the power of creativity to make a rhythm from nothing. From Home Depot buckets to red solo cups, THUD is Harvard’s home for untraditional music and rhythm.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mandy Harvey

Always Remember to Try (9 - 9:25 am)

Mandy Harvey is a singer, songwriter, author, and speaker who happens to be deaf. Mandy was Simon Cowell‘s “Golden Buzzer” pick on America’s Got Talent. The video has collectively received over 800 million views. Mandy uses her talents and artistry to encourage others which can be seen by her many acts as part of nonprofit organizations such as No Barriers USA and work for “Music: Not Impossible” with Not Impossible Labs.

Her heart is to help others achieve their dreams by encouraging them to “Try” and move forward as a community. Mandy Harvey was most recently featured in the documentary, "Hero." The documentary challenges the notion that heroes possess superhuman abilities, emphasizing that everyone can be the hero of their own story by unlocking their innate potential. Mandy has also been featured in NBC Nightly News, Great Big Story, Vacations of the Brave, Music: Not Impossible (Not Impossible Labs), The LA Times, Dr. Oz, Pickler & Ben, America’s Got Talent, TODAY, Access Hollywood, Steve Harvey, and more.

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Dr. Jonathan Helmick

Marching Band Conducting (11 – 11:25 am)

Dr. Jonathan Helmick serves as Director of Bands at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) where he teaches courses in wind literature and conducts the Wind Orchestra and Symphonic Band.

Prior to his appointment at UTRGV, Dr. Helmick served as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Slippery Rock University. He joined the faculty in 2014 and directed the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, “Marching Pride,” and Concert Band. In addition to ensemble leadership, he taught courses such as Fundamentals of Conducting, Advanced Conducting, Low Brass Methods, High Brass Methods, Marching Band Techniques, Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques, and Applied Euphonium.

Dr. Helmick’s work with the SRU Wind Ensemble led them to national recognition, including being named a finalist for The American Prize in Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Performance (college/university division). Under his direction, the SRU “Marching Pride” performed internationally at the 2019 Dublin St. Patrick’s Festival Parade and Limerick International Band Championship, where they earned Best Overall Band, Best Adult Band, and Best International Band, and at London’s 2024 New Year’s Day Parade.

Jonathan holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He earned a Master of Music degree in Euphonium Performance, a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (with honors), and a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Organizational Communications (with honors), all from The University of Akron. Prior to his appointment at Slippery Rock University, he taught in public schools in Ohio and Mississippi. Dr. Helmick also served as Assistant Conductor and member of the Board of Trustees for the Freedom Brass Band of Northeast Ohio and performed on euphonium and baritone with the Brass Band of the Western Reserve.

Dr. Helmick remains active as a musician and educator. He has appeared as a guest clinician, artist, and adjudicator across the United States—including Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia—as well as internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, and Sicily. He was honored with the Slippery Rock University President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018 and the Citation of Excellence from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in 2019. Nationally, he was recognized among the 2022 Yamaha “40 Under 40” and was named a quarterfinalist for the 2024 Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum.

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Kelsee Kimmel

PMEA Alum: Broadway’s Kelsee Kimmel (11 - 11:25 am)

Kelsee Kimmel is a dynamic New York City-based performing artist and musician, celebrated for her captivating stage presence and versatility. Originally from Harrisburg, PA, Kelsee honed her craft at Shenandoah Conservatory, where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. She is currently on Broadway in the TONY and Grammy Award-winning musical Hell's Kitchen.
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In 2018, Kelsee made her National Tour debut in Kinky Boots, and shortly after, she joined the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour as Maureen Johnson to critical acclaim. Following the pandemic shutdown, she launched the 1st National Tour of Pretty Woman the Musical. Kelsee gained widespread praise through her work with SIX, performing as an Alternate (Aragon, Seymour, Parr) on the 1st and 2nd National Tours, then with the Broadway company, and ultimately starring as Jane Seymour in the Toronto sit-down production from 2023 to 2024.
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Kelsee’s regional credits include Flat Rock Playhouse's How to Succeed...(dir./choreo. Richard J. Hinds) and Gypsy (dir./choreo. Amy Jones), and Rhetta Cupp in Great Plains Theatre's Pump Boys and Dinettes. Kelsee has performed worldwide as a production singer on Holland America Line, as well as with the B.B. King's All-Star Band At Sea. Kelsee is a member of Actors' Equity Association and is represented by CLA Partners.

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Gary Mayne

What's Your W.H.U.T.? (1:30 - 1:55 pm)

Gary Mayne is an accomplished trombonist, educator, and licensed mental-health therapist based in Reno, Nevada. As lead trombonist with the Reno Jazz Orchestra and regular performer with the Reno Philharmonic, he performs across jazz, Latin, and symphonic genres, and has appeared with artists ranging from Big Head Todd & the Monsters to the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and countless recordings.

In parallel with his music career, Gary owns Sound Minds Mental Health PLLC, where he provides trauma-informed individual and couples therapy integrating Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and EMDR. His work bridges creativity and psychology, helping clients and fellow artists cultivate emotional awareness, connection, and resilience.

 

 

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Brett McCutcheon

BELIEVE: Building Culture as a Student Leader (11 – 11:25 am)

Brett McCutcheon, a 2024 graduate from Slippery Rock University, is a passionate music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer dedicated to building community and culture through music. As the High School Band and Music Technology Teacher at Mt. Lebanon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brett directs the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and is the assistant director of the marching band while also leading initiatives that connect technology, leadership, and emotional awareness in the classroom.

Outside the classroom, Brett is the executive producer of "The Ocean – Five Years", a music short film documentary by Flying Scooter Productions created in collaboration with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Chris Jamison (NBC’s The Voice finalist). The project explores music as a tool for healing and connection, themes that also resonate deeply in his teaching.

A proud advocate for the performing arts, Brett continues to inspire students to “believe” in their role as leaders, artists, and changemakers—fostering a culture of purpose, inclusion, and excellence throughout the Mt. Lebanon Band program and beyond.

Ms. Baker is an active chamber music performer in the tri-state area. She is a member of the woodwind quintet Cincopation, which has performed in various venues in the Pittsburgh area, including the Westmoreland Symphony Chamber Music Series and the Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch series. She appeared as a guest artist with the Academy Chamber Ensemble in 2019, performing Mozart’s Sonata for Bassoon and Cello, Franz Krommer’s Quartet for Bassoon and Strings and Willy Hess’ Quintet for Contrabassoon and Strings. That series was featured on WQED-FM’s Performance in Pittsburgh.

Also active as an orchestral musician, Ms. Baker is the second bassoonist with the Westmoreland Symphony and principal bassoonist with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra and the Academy Chamber Orchestra. She serves as principal contrabassoonist with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and has performed with many other orchestras and ensembles in the area. She is passionate about teaching and has served as the bassoon instructor at Slippery Rock University since 2010.

Ms. Baker is also a registered nurse who advocates for musician health and wellness. She received her nursing diploma from UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chatham University, and her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education from Capella University. She is the founder and coordinator of the SRU Musicians’ Wellness Program. Ms. Baker’s areas of study include musicians’ health and performance anxiety management. She is a member of the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA), where she serves as a PAMA Ambassador, and she has earned her PAMA Certification in the Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine.

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Robert McCutcheon

The Art of Music Recording (9:30 - 9:55 am)

In 1988, Bob started his first recording studio, “Alternative Studios” in his mother’s garage. He worked his way through college engineering and producing local Pittsburgh bands. After graduating from Robert Morris University with a business degree, he pursued a 28 year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, ultimately retiring as Managing Partner – but always followed his passion and continued to play, write and record music.

Inspired by their love of music, Bob, his wife Dana and their two sons Ryan and Brett embarked on a journey to create something more than just a recording studio. They envisioned a new and vibrant space were musicians of all kinds could connect, co-create, record and promote their music.

They purchased the old bank building on Neville Island and hired Los Angeles based Yanchar Design and Consulting Group, a premier design firm specializing in the design of high-end recording and post-production facilities.

In 2016 construction was complete and The Vault was born. With the addition of 6-time Grammy winner, Jimmy Hoyson (Warrant, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Jackson, Iggy Pop and Green Day to Lou Reed, Eric Clapton and B.B. King), the acquisition of the Neve 8058 (George Harrison, REM, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana) and Bob’s retirement from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Vault began operating commercially in 2018.

In addition to Jimmy, the team has now expanded to include engineers Dave Hillis (Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Temple of The Dog, Candlebox, and Blind Melon) and Greg Gordan (Run DMC, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Greta Van Fleet, Mirador, Oasis, Slayer, Slipknot)

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Melia Tourangeau

Careers in Music Beyond the Stage (10 - 10:25 am)

Melia Tourangeau began her tenure with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra when she was appointed President & CEO in May of 2015, the first woman and the youngest CEO in the Symphony’s 130-year history. Tourangeau’s personal and professional commitment to creating deep and meaningful connections between music, musicians and the community is a hallmark of her leadership of the Pittsburgh Symphony, one of America’s most distinguished orchestras.

Soon after her arrival, Tourangeau led the revival of a strategic planning process that has heightened the orchestra’s artistic excellence with innovative concerts, partnerships, premieres, and debuts; moved the organization toward financial stability, including growing the annual fund by 17%; fostered closer cooperation between the board, musicians, staff and volunteers; and deepened the orchestra’s community relationships and reach with new programming and digital technology. Under Tourangeau’s leadership, the Pittsburgh Symphony has extended the contract of its Music Director, Manfred Honeck, welcomed 25 new musicians to the Orchestra and brought new distinguished members of the community to the Board. She successfully led negotiations for a new contract with members of the Orchestra. Tourangeau has represented the orchestra on several highly acclaimed domestic and international tours, enhancing the orchestra’s international reputation. During her tenure, the orchestra’s illustrious recording history has been underscored with numerous GRAMMY Awards and nominations, including the award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2018.

Tourangeau came to the Pittsburgh Symphony from the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO) in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she served as President & CEO beginning April 2008. Prior to the USUO, Tourangeau worked for the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan, beginning as education director in January 1997, being promoted to director of operations in 1999, then vice president and general manager before being named CEO in 2005. Prior to that, she was the education coordinator at the Akron Symphony Orchestra.

She received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1994 from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a major in piano performance and a minor in musicology. In April 2007, she received a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis on nonprofit leadership from Grand Valley State University.

Tourangeau is a member of and serves on the Board of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and the Pittsburgh Forum of International Women’s Forum. She and her husband, Michael, live in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh with their two children.