Heroes Like You
Who makes our mission possible? Heroes like you.
Being a hero doesn’t require rushing into a burning building to save lives. The definition is a bit broader than that and requires only the selfless attempt (and intent) to benefit others through some amount of personal sacrifice. When you give your assets to support our mission, you become a hero—at least to the people whose lives are changed by the music.
What does a hero look like? Here are just a few of the supporters who have helped us change lives.
PNC Pops Superfans: Ed and Mary Harris
Ed Harris took his parents to as many PNC Pops concerts as possible and remembers his father (in the later stages of dementia) dancing in his seat at Heinz Hall, singing along with the orchestra to the music of ABBA. Ed apologized to nearby concertgoers and was surprised and touched when their response was simply, “Don’t stop him…he’s enjoying the music so much.” That memory and so many others at Heinz Hall have cemented Ed’s love for the symphony and the shared human experience of live PNC Pops concerts.
While this memorable performance was the last that Ed’s father was able to attend at Heinz Hall, Ed and his wife Mary continued the family tradition and have been dedicated PNC Pops subscribers and supporters of the Pittsburgh Symphony for decades since. Their involvement has grown into friendships with members of the orchestra and the PSO’s artistic team, and the Harrises continue to “expand the circle,” bringing friends and business clients to concerts at Heinz Hall to introduce them to the Pittsburgh Symphony and the PNC Pops. 
A Renaissance Man: Michael F. Butler
Michael F. Butler Memorial First Violin Chair
Michael Butler was a true Renaissance man. Starting from an early age, he focused on his three great passions—learning, music, and sports—graduating from Clairton High School as salutatorian of the Class of 1953, first chair violin in the orchestra, and quarterback of Clairton’s football team. Those passions followed him through life and his impressive law career.
In Tune with the PSO: Giulio and Barbara Magrini
On July 4, 1988, Giulio Magrini shared the stage at Point State Park with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, reading his poem The Pittsburgher, followed by the PSO’s performance of Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Over 100,000 citizens assembled that day to celebrate and pay tribute to Pittsburgh’s recently deceased mayor Richard S. Caliguri through words and music, and it remains one of Giulio’s proudest moments as a writer and citizen.
