“Byron has an extraordinary gift for connecting with audiences of all ages,” Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the PSO, said. “His impact goes far beyond the PNC Pops series. Whether he’s leading Fiddlesticks, a Pops concert, or inspiring students at rehearsals and in local classrooms, Byron embodies the PSO’s mission to share music as a transformative force. I am thrilled to continue this partnership with him.”

Under the contract extension, Stripling will continue to conduct three subscription weeks of the PNC Pops each season and remain an integral part of the Symphony’s artistic and community life. Beyond his Pops leadership, Stripling also has conducted special concerts, led PSO’s Fiddlesticks Family Concerts, and visited Pittsburgh schools, engaging young audiences with his warmth and passion for music.

“I am deeply honored to extend my time as Principal Pops Conductor with this incredible orchestra,” Stripling said. “The musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony are second to none, and together we’ve been able to create concerts that uplift, celebrate, and bring people together. I can’t wait to make even more joyful music with this community.”

The PSO’s ’25/26 PNC Pops season launches this weekend with “Come Swing with Me,” a high-energy tribute to the hits of the 1950s led by Stripling and featuring vocalist Paul Loren. In February, Stripling leads “America the Beautiful,” an original program tracing the evolution of American music in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The season also brings the return of “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” in celebration of the cartoon icon’s 85th anniversary, December’s beloved Highmark Holiday Pops, and a special collaboration with Pittsburgh CLO for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific“ in Concert. The season closes out with “Tropical Rock” in April and “Disco Divas” in June conducted by Stripling.