JAZZ AT THE STIFEL CONTINUES WITH WHITE TIE GROUP

WHEELING, W.Va. (March 2, 2009)- - White Tie Group, a jazz trio composed of members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1330 National Road, Wheeling.

The trio- Harold Smoliar on piano, Don Evans on bass and Andy Reamer on drums- opened for Ray Charles in Heinz Hall in August 1999. One of Pittsburgh’s favorite and most recognized jazz groups, the trio is often the featured act at notable Pittsburgh jazz spots such as Fosters, the Reservoir Jazz series in Highland Park, The Balcony in Shadyside and the Citiparks Courtyard Jazz series.

The White Tie Group has been featured and has also accompanied acclaimed jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval on the Pittsburgh Pops series. In addition, they have performed with clarinetist Richard Stolzman on Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Subscription Concerts. They have performed at the Frick Art and Historical Center as part of the Music for Exhibitions series, on the chamber music series at Rodef Shalom and several times at Waynesburg College.

Smoliar received a bachelor’s degree in music in 1978 from the Curtis Institute of Music. He played Principal Oboe in the Symphony Orchestra of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro for one season before joining the Pittsburgh Symphony as their English hornist in 1979. He is co-founder of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Project as well as White Tie Group.

Evans joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1990 as Assistant Principal Bass after playing the same position with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra since 1981. A graduate of Duquesne University School of Music, Evans has performed with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and the Three Rivers Training Orchestra.

Percussionist Reamer joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1989. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in music from Temple University and played percussion with the Philadelphia Orchestra for six years before joining the Pittsburgh Symphony. A faculty member at Duquesne University, he is head of the percussion department. He also has published a book for marimba players titled “Reamer’s Elixirs: Two Mallet Fixers for the Perspicacious Percussionist.”

The group released their first compact disc called, “Somewhere Over Neverland” and is busy working on another.

Please call the Stifel Center at 304.242.7700 for seats. Tickets are $20 each. Refreshments are available for purchase at all shows and parking is free and available just behind the center.