Jennifer Gerhard Mangone, Principal Viola

Jennifer Gerhard is Principal Violist of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Orchestra, and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, as well as substitute violist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Gerhard is also a member of the Wheeling Symphony String Quintet, an ensemble that performs educational programs and recitals throughout the region.  She is also a solo recitalist and chamber music performer.

Ms. Gerhard teaches both viola and violin privately, and has coached and held master classes at Carnegie Mellon University string camp, Wheeling Symphony Youth Orchestra, Musik Innovations chamber music camp and Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra, among others.  Prior to establishing a full private studio at home, she taught viola and coached chamber music at Duquesne University from 1989 to 1997, served as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and taught at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.

From 1982 to 1987 Jennifer held the position of Principal Violist with the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, Ms. Gerhard performed with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra and on Broadway, in addition to pursuing an active free-lance career throughout the New York City area.

Ms. Gerhard’s primary viola teachers were Paul Doktor, Sol Greitzer, Leonard Davis and Heidi Castleman. Originally from Long Island, New York, she received the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts with Highest Honors from the State University of New York at Purchase College in 1981.

Ms. Gerhard performs on a viola made in 1977 by James Radford Coggin.
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Jennifer Gerhard is married to Jeff Mangone, Principal Bassist of the Pittsburgh Opera, Ballet, Civic Light Opera, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestras. The couple resides in the North Hills.