WQED President Deborah Acklin, background left, listens as the River City Brass Band surprises travelers today at the Pittsburgh International Airport with a performance. (Photo: PIT Airport)
WQED and the Allegheny County Airport Authority today announced a partnership to re-launch classical music programming by local artists for the Pittsburgh International Airport and Port Authority subway stations.
Content on “Q the Music: Pittsburgh Classical Network” will be provided digitally from WQED’s Oakland studios. It’s an update of the former “Classics on the Move” music programming, which had been funded by PPG Industries through 2010. The Airport Authority will sponsor content for one year, with WQED working to secure additional underwriting later.
Similar music programs are rare among airports nationwide, the announcement noted, due to broadcasting rights and other issues. Pittsburgh’s feed will feature recordings of southwestern Pennsylvania musicians including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and university orchestras from schools such as Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon.
Today’s announcement at the airport was accompanied by a “flash mob” performance by the River City Brass Band, “to the surprise and amazement of hundreds of visitors at Pittsburgh International Airport,” the station said.
Classical QED FM 89.3 also broadcast live from the terminal following the announcement.
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