A Birthday Salute to Ann Hobson Pilot
Born in 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ann Hobson Pilot first took up harp while attending the Philadelphia Girls School. She attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy and later the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied under Alice Chalifoux. Persevering through racism, she rose to the top of her field, and became the Boston Symphony Orchestra's first Black principal player (and the first Black female principal player at any major orchestra). With a passion for education and creating a more inclusive field, she often contributed royalties from her recordings to support organizations such Project STEP or the UNCF. This special focus exhibit celebrates the occasion of Ann Hobson Pilot's 80th birthday last November.
Snapshot of Ann Hobson Pilot playing the harp
(Photographer unknown)
Beginning with the BSO in 1969
When Ann Hobson Pilot joined the orchestra in the fall of 1969, she was one of five women in the orchestra and the only Black player (bass player Ortiz Walton had left the orchestra in 1962).
Orchestra portrait with Music Director William Steinberg, fall 1969
A view of the orchestra at the time of Ann Hobson Pilot's hire. (Seated in the violin section is a player who also started in 1969, Ikuko Mizuno, the BSO's first Asian player). (Photography Incorporated)
Ann Hobson Pilot with harp
(Photographer unknown)
Newspaper article announcing Ann Hobson Pilot's appointment to the BSO as assistant principal harpist in 1969
Pilot began her career in the harp section under the baton of William Steinberg, and was elevated to principal harp by Seiji Ozawa in 1980.
Boston Globe, October 13, 1969
The Bay State Banner, a paper elevating Boston's African-American voices and interests, highlights Ann Hobson Pilot's recent hire at the BSO
Bay State Banner, November 6, 1969
Trailblazer: First Black Female Player at the BSO
A Versatile Performer Across All Ensembles
Over the course of her 40-year career with the BSO, Ann Hobson Pilot performed with all of the ensembles encompassed by the BSO: the Pops, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, and the BSO. She even inspired John Williams to compose a concerto for harp and orchestra, which she premiered in 2009.
Program book for Ann Hobson Pilot's performance of Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp with Arthur Fiedler, the Boston Pops, and Paul Fried (flute), June 17, 1972
Pilot would perform this concerto and others numerous times with the BSO and the Pops under the batons of Seiji Ozawa, Colin Davis, André Previn, Andrew Davis, John Williams, and Harry Ellis Dickson.
Program for Boston Symphony Chamber Players concert on February 14, 1971 in Sanders Theatre at Harvard University
Throughout her career with the BSO, Ann Hobson Pilot frequently performed with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. For this concert, she joined the chamber ensemble for Ravel's Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet, and string quartet.
The Boston Symphony Chamber Players perform with guest Ann Hobson Pilot at Jordan Hall on March 22, 2009
Elizabeth Rowe on flute, Steven Ansell on viola, and Ann Hobson Pilot on harp. (Michael Lutch)
Program for the September 23, 2009 world premiere of John Williams' "On Willows and Birches," Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, with Ann Hobson Pilot
After 40 years of performing with the orchestra, Pilot culminated her career with the BSO with the premiere of a harp concerto written especially for her.
Composer John Williams and soloist Ann Hobson Pilot after the premiere performance of "On Willows and Birches," Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, on September 23, 2009
John Williams wrote his harp concerto for Pilot to honor her on her retirement after 40 years with the orchestra. (Michael Lutch)
Extracurriculars Beyond the BSO
In addition to her position at the BSO, Ann Hobson Pilot founded the New England Harp Trio, received a doctorate in music, traveled to study the origins of the harp in Africa, performed with ensembles such as the Orchestra 2001, and released several recordings, including one with solo harp works.
New England Harp Trio: (left to right) Carol Procter, cello; Ann Hobson Pilot, harp; and Lois Schaefer, 1971
Shortly after joining the BSO, Pilot formed a chamber ensemble with two women BSO members; the group performed together for many years. (Photography Incorporated)
Ann Hobson Pilot, shown here with her husband Prentice Pilot, receives an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Bridgewater State College, 1988
(Photographer unknown)
Ann Hobson Pilot sits with members of an indigenous community while on a trip to South Africa
During her sabbatical from the BSO (1996-1997), Ann Hobson Pilot raised funds for a PBS production to document her travels to South Africa. Performing with the National Symphony of Johannesburg only six years after apartheid ended, she also took time to visit indigenous communities to explore the harp's African roots.
Image printed in The American Harp Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1, Summer 1999
Philadelphia Inquirer article highlighting Ann Hobson Pilot’s career journey
The harpist’s hometown profiled her before one of her performances with Orchestra 2001, a Philadelphia-based ensemble focused on contemporary music. In the article, Pilot mentions her then newly released CD (also featured in this exhibit), and describes how she commissioned a harp work by a Black composer because of the scarcity of such works at the time.
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 1, 1992
Album cover for compact disc featuring Ann Hobson Pilot performing solo harp works (Boston Records, 1991)
To welcome and appeal to a Black audience, she closed with Malotte's The Lord's Prayer. Part of the recording took place in Boston's historic African Meeting House, and a portion of the profits were donated to the UNCF. Listen to a short excerpt below.
Listen: Excerpt from Ann Hobson Pilot's performance of The Lord's Prayer by Malotte (Boston Records, 1991)
For Further Information...
The American Harp Journal has published several articles featuring Ann Hobson Pilot and her work:
Videos
Ann Hobson Pilot's TedTalk, 2020
A Harpist’s Legacy – Ann Hobson Pilot and the Sound of Change
Profiles and Interviews
The Last Pluck: BSO Harpist Retires After 40 Years, WBUR
Harpist Ann Hobson Pilot on Overcoming Racism in Classical Music, Sarasota Magazine