Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Percussionist Andrew Reamer spoke with Jim Cunningham just a few hours before the final concert of the Pittsburgh Symphony European Festival tour September 7 2024 in Vienna, Austria. He talks about the special events of the tour which began at the Salzburg Festival. It is an emotional event for Mr. Reamer because it is his last concert as he will begin his retirement after 35 years. He looks back at some of the special events that took place having been hired by Lorin Maazel in 1989 and participated in 40 tours. Andy has also been a favorite soloist in the annual Thanksgiving concert with the Feuerfest Polka, playing the anvil while wearing colorful costumes. Many of his family members are on the tour, including his wife, Ruth Ann, who also recently retired from her longtime job as a columnist in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He hopes to return as a guest from time to time and will continue his work with the Drummer’s service company, which his father founded. The Cleveland Orchestra is also on tour in Vienna using a bass drum he made as does the Pittsburgh Symphony.
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