Ann Hobson Pilot

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Ann Hobson Pilot (born November 6, 1943) is an American musician and the former principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and as a soloist with many orchestras in the United States. She was one of four African American musicians who were the first to play in United States symphony orchestras during the 1960s. graphy[edit]Ann Hobson was born on November 6, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in an African-American family. Her mother was a concert pianist.[2] She began studying the harp when she was 14. Though she achieved a concert caliber by her senior year of high school, she encountered obstacles due to her race early on. The Maine Harp Colony rejected her application to study there during the summer because of her race. Following her graduation from the Philadelphia Girls High, she was able to attend the Maine Harp Colony, where she met pioneering woman harpist Alice Chalifoux.[1] After returning from Maine, Hobson studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy. She later transferred to the Cleveland Institute of Music where she could study with Chalifoux. She received a Bachelor of Music degree there. Hobson was selected to play as master harpist in the National Symphony Orchestra in 1966, its first black member, replacing Sylvia Meyer.[3] She continued with the National Symphony till 1969.[1][2] Hobson was the second harpist with the Pittsburgh Symphony before jo

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