Alumni

We love to hear from our alumni and what they’ve been doing since their time with Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras. Natalie Kasievich was a violinist in TRYPO from 1992-1999. Read more about Natalie and her latest accomplishments: Natalie’s love for music started at the age of four when she began playing the violin. By age nine, she had become a member of the Symphonette violin section. “I spent Saturday afternoons with TRYPO for almost a decade. It was a very fun and influential part of my life. I am very grateful for my experience with the organization that became …

For our final Senior Spotlight of the 2021-22 season, we are featuring two seniors from our violin section and one from our cello section. Learn more about Sophia, Max, and Katy below! Sophia  Sophia has been a part of the #TRYPOfam for six years. During her time in TRYPO, Sophia has played cello in Symphonette and Young Peoples Orchestra. Sophia became interested in joining TRYPO because she always heard fellow musicians speaking very highly of the program. Her favorite TRYPO memory was when she got to go to Washington, D.C. with her friends during her time in Symphonette. Sophia graduated …

Hanna Kim has been the percussion coach for TRYPO’s Wind Symphony since 2021 and was a TRYPO member from 2007 to 2009, making her a part of the TRYPOfam for over a decade! Ms. Kim is currently a freelance musician based in Pittsburgh. She performs with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New World Symphony in Miami, and Curtis Symphony Orchestra in Philadelphia.  Ms. Kim earned her Bachelor of Music Performance degree from The Juilliard School where she studied with Daniel Druckman, her Masters of Music degree from Temple University under the tutelage of Alan Abel and Christopher Deviney, and her …

We love to hear from our TRYPO Alumni about what they have been doing since their time with us. Today we connect with Jimmy Cunningham. Jimmy used to play viola in our Young Peoples Orchestra ensemble and also participated in Youth Chamber Connection (YC²). (Jimmy’s mom, Laurie Cunningham, founded and managed YC² up until this season.) Jimmy writes about everything he has accomplished and what he is up to now: Hi friends!! I loved my time in TRYPO as YPO principal viola (2012-2014), and I loved playing chamber music from 8th-12th grade with TRYPO’s Youth Chamber Connection while attending CAPA. Since …

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we will highlight the female composers who will have their works performed at our spring concert on May 28 at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts. For our first post, we are highlighting Hannah Ishizaki. Hannah is a former TRYPO member and Pittsburgh native who now lives and works in New York City. She is currently in residence as a Toulmin Creator through National Sawdust and The Center for Ballet and the Arts. Hannah made history as the youngest woman ever to have a world premiere performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2017. Her …

A native of Pittsburgh, Kathleen Melucci holds the Principal Cello position with the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and  Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. Kathleen holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Mannes College of Music. Her major teachers include Bernard Greenhouse, Steven Doane, and Timothy Eddy.  In addition to her orchestral positions, Kathleen is an active freelancer, chamber musician, and educator.  Kathleen is a member of the Artistic Staff at the Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestras (where she was a member at age 10), Youth Chamber Connection, and maintains a thriving private cello studio. A committed Suzuki teacher, Kathleen has …

Make a gift to the “Don’t Forget Your Music Stand” Fund to help the new YC² Manager get up and running and send Mrs. Cunningham a message!