The orchestra performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2004.

The orchestra performed for Pope John Paul II at the
Vatican in 2004.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Thursday night marked Sarah Nelson’s first visit to Stambaugh Auditorium, and she got to witness a first for the venue as well.

The Fifth Avenue auditorium hosted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the first time in decades that a world-renowned orchestra has performed there, according to William Conti, president of Stambaugh’s trustees board.

Nelson, of Salem, was accompanied by her son, Nicholas.

“I’ve always wanted to come here, and this is my first time,” she said.

Nelson won the tickets by being the sixth caller to WSOM 600 AM radio.

“I’m just thrilled,” she said.

She also looked forward to the performance, mentioning that a cousin used to play with the symphony.

Conti said Stambaugh established a relationship with the Pittsburgh Symphony, which has performed internationally.

“After they saw the hall and they sounded the hall, they knew that it was a hall for symphony,” Conti said.

Michael E. Bielski, senior vice president and chief operating officer for the symphony, agreed.

“This is a real hall,” he said. “I can’t wait to hear the orchestra perform in it.”

Vatican performance

The orchestra has performed for some pretty highbrow audiences.

In January 2004, it was part of a performance for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

“We were the first American orchestra to play for the Pope at the Vatican,” Bielski said.

The concert celebrated the 25 years of the Pope’s papacy and his commitment to reaching out to other religions.

The orchestra was selected, and the week of the concert meshed with the orchestra’s schedule.

“At the end, he asked for an encore,” Bielski said. “There really is no encore to play [on Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2] so they played the last part over again.”

Thursday’s concert-goers, from elderly to children with their parents, filed into the historic hall.

Gerri Cominos’ husband won the tickets and gave them to her so she could enjoy the performance with a friend.

The performance marks her first exposure to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

“I’ve heard they’re wonderful,” the West Side woman said.

Lauren Marie and Tim Wilderoder, both from the Pittsburgh area, looked forward to a night of wonderful music.

Both students at Youngstown State University, Marie is in the Dana School of Music studying flute while Wilderoder focuses on tuba and bass.

“I love the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,” Marie said. “They’re amazing. They’re my home boys.”

Wilderoder was particularly interested to hear the orchestra’s performance of Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique, Opus 14.”