Claim to fame: With the announcement that Tito Capobianco will not renew his contract as Pittsburgh Opera’s artistic director when it expires next year, Weinstein has moved up from executive director (a purely administrative post) to general director, overseeing the company’s artistic as well as its business matters.
Last year: No. 22

Claim to fame: Although Sports-rock closed the long-running Downtown nightclub Heaven and the urban club Cairo, it moved forward by taking over the Fox Chapel Yacht Club -- moving in with the popular restaurant Siena -- while refashioning Ciro’s in Market Square. Sportsrock also opened the Rosebud Deli in the CNG Tower. A pioneer in the Strip District with Metropol and Rosebud, Fernandez continues to hold his own there thanks to his promotion agency, Next Big Thing Productions. He is currently working on turning the Crane Building in the Strip into a viable concert venue.
Last year: No. 9

President, WQED Pittsburgh, parent company of WQED-TV, WQEX-TV, WQED-FM, WQEJ-FM and Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Prospects magazines

Claim to fame: Plans to sell WQEX and use the proceeds to pay off debt are still stymied by the FCC, which refuses to approve or deny the sale. Meanwhile, Miles got Paxson to shell out a $1 million advance in return for WQED re-signing the lapsed sales proposal (Paxson would pay $35 million to be split between WQED and Cornerstone TeleVision, owners of WPCB. Pax TV would take over Channel 40, WPCB would move to Channel 16). Miles is anxious to launch a nightly magazine-type show on WQED, but it’s awaiting funding from donors who are waiting for the WQED sale. It may not be his fault, but if WQEX is still in limbo at this time next year, Miles’ ranking is unlikely to rise.
Last year: No. 13

Claim to fame: In the past year, the museum tripled membership, expanded its board of directors from seven to 15 and hosted its first educators’ open house. It also secured its first major corporate sponsorship, $50,000 from AT&T, and has established a development office. Exhibitions included site-specific commissions by world-renowned and emerging artists, as well as a traveling show. Luderowski and curator Michael Olijnyk traveled to five Asian countries to select artists for the museum’s fall 1999 exhibition.
Last year: No. 17

Executive producer and general manager, Pittsburgh CLO

Claim to fame: Note that name change. Since arriving in Pittsburgh last year, Kaplan has continued efforts to attract national attention by backing and originating musical theater tours, and "Pittsburgh CLO" is a brand name that can travel. He inherited last season’s touring production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Although this year’s CLO tour of "Sweet Charity" was canceled (through no fault of CLO), the company’s "Bye Bye Birdie" was rehearsed and presented in Cleveland, so it’ll be more polished for the Pittsburgh opening.
Last year: No. 28.

Artistic director, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Claim to fame: There is no doubt that this is a different Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under Orr’s artistic direction. The company is being molded in the image of his alma mater, American Ballet Theatre, rather than Patricia Wilde’s sleek George Balanchine/New York City Ballet style. It looks as if "full-length," "dramatic" and "star power" will be PBT buzzwords.
Last year: No. 24

Director, Carnegie Museum of Art

Claim to fame: Armstrong oversaw stellar installation of the art moderne panels from the Normandie, a 1930s ocean liner. And he garnered an unspecified but large Mellon Bank gift and a $130,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant for the Carnegie International, which opens Nov. 6. He has also arranged for future exhibitions -- "Aluminum by Design: Jewelry to Jets" and one on the effect of artificial light on artists since 1750. It’s hoped each will attract more than 200,000 visitors. Still, the public wants more touring shows.
Last year: No. 26

Director, Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, and chairman, Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission

Claim to fame: Since DeSantis was appointed chairman of the city Historic Review Commission in 1990, his leadership has been marked by clarity, commitment and vision in the service of Pittsburgh’s historic buildings. DeSantis also can claim one of this year’s sweetest architectural coups: As director of the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, he authorized construction of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s never-built Point View apartments as part of the annual event, which drew Wright fans from around the world.
Last year: Newcomer

Executive Director, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Claim to fame: A review of the center’s mission, begun when she arrived two years ago, resulted in a new logo and look that commits to the central role of the artist. A clarification of the relationship with member guilds resulted in better and more frequent exhibitions of their work. More programming has been developed to appeal to families and draw in a broader community. Willumsen was awarded a position this year as a Denali Initiative Fellow, a three-year national program that gives enterprise training to nonprofit leaders. An important member of her team is center curator Vicky Clark, who gives form to the center’s emphasis on cross-disciplinary programming through challenging, cutting-edge exhibitions.
Last year: One to watch

Founder-director, Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers of Opera; voice professor at Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh

Claim to fame: After retiring and moving to Pittsburgh to obtain medical treatment for a handicapped child, the former Metropolitan Opera soprano and daughter of legendary singer Ezio Pinza founded EPCASO in 1982 as an educational program (in Pittsburgh and Oderzo, Italy) to honor her father and pass on her knowledge of opera. Among her many successful students is mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux -- who moved to Pittsburgh to be close enough to work with her teacher on a regular basis.
Last year: No. 32

Claim to fame: The man whose PG Dossier once listed "hot dogs at Dave’s push cart outside Hillman Library" as his secret vice has a new special called "A Hot Dog Program" airing on PBS stations June 30. In the name of good eats and great TV, Sebak traveled from Macon, Ga., to Anchorage, Alaska, and from L.A. to Coney Island (with a stop at the O in Oakland). Proving that public TV loves the Sebak-summer combo, it will premiere another documentary, "Great Old Amusement Parks," July 21. And Sebak recently got the go-ahead to produce a special saluting "Things That Are Still Here" for a December WQED airing.
Last year: No. 30

Executive director, ProArts (Western Pennsylvania Professionals for the Arts)

Claim to fame: Motivated by a concern for the success of low-budget arts groups, Coleman’s organization this year oversaw the creation of a new arts calendar for small arts groups. ProArts’ ticket service is running smoothly, and this spring the group held its first fund-raising event. In addition, Coleman continues to offer workshops on arts administration. The rising profile of this organization is reflected in Coleman’s jump in the rankings.
Last year: No. 43

Claim to fame: In her surprise final year with the dance council, Dickey had to confront a number of problems, including the cancellation of Japanese master artist Kazuo Ohno and the closing of the Byham Theater for repairs, which eliminated sure artistic hits like Alonzo King’s contemporary ballet, "Lines," and butoh artist Maureen Fleming. But there is no doubt that during her tenure she moved the dance council to the forefront of American dance presenters and tapped a diverse cultural audience base that no other Pittsburgh organization can touch.
Last year: No. 19

Business manager, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Claim to fame: PBT’s man behind the scenes is emerging to share the spotlight with artistic director Terrence Orr, a move not without controversy. His detractors say that he is chipping away at the artistic product by eliminating dancers, musicians and the number of PBT performances. His backers counter that PBT is still standing, despite the shaky finances that have plagued the company for years. Libman was the one who garnered significant grants from the Heinz Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts.
Last year: Newcomer

Artistic director and producing director, Gargaro Productions

Claim to fame: In its nine years, Gargaro Productions has become one of Pittsburgh’s prime sources of professional musical theater. Gargaro’s trademark is his clever staging and sweeping interpretation of musical scores. Since 1995, he has added several large educational programs for children and young adults. This year, to accommodate construction at its Byham Theater home, Gargaro has temporarily rerouted his audience to the Antonian Theater at Carlow College and the Westin William Penn. Several artistic associates have begun directing or choreographing shows, giving Gargaro himself more time to teach and to conduct.
Last year: No. 27

Founder and head, the Three Rivers Lecture Series

Claim to fame: Ciccone, a veteran of the New York publishing business, secured some of the top writers for his series’ eighth season, including Frank McCourt, Arthur Miller and John Updike, producing several sold-out lectures -- two for McCourt. The series is now a permanent cultural fixture on Monday nights and will offer such names as August Wilson, David Halberstam, Garry Wills and Michael Korda next season. Ciccone also holds an executive position in a local Internet company.
Last year: No. 31