THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
IN PARIS
Passion. Period.
2026-2027
NEW ALBUM RELEASE! Pre-Order now to save 20%, and your CD will be waiting for you at the next concert you attend.
Apollo’s Fire commits an epic masterpiece to disc...
Bach MASS in B Minor “TRANSCENDENT… easily one of the most memorable musical evenings in recent years.” – CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
GRAMMY® Award-winners Apollo’s Fire and Jeannette Sorrell offer an intimate and intense new take on Bach’s masterpiece. Recorded at the stunning Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, this luminous recording is full of grace, intimacy, and drama. Official release date is October 23, but Pre-Order now to avoid the lines in November! Visit our CD Gift Shop in the lobby, order online or call 216.320.0012 or 800.314.2535. Also available digitally on Amazon, Apple Music, and Spotify. A complete listing of CDs can be found at apollosfire.org.
IN PARIS Welcome from the President & Board Chair
5
Program
9
Notes on the Program
10
Soloist Profiles
15
Jeannette Sorrell
16
About Apollo’s Fire
17
Musician Roster
19
Musician Profiles
22
Individual Support
32
Foundations & Government Support
36
Apollo's Fire Administration
37
Board of Directors
38
ON THE COVER: Franklin's Reception at the Court of France 1778 by John Smith / Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection/ National Museum of American History
APOLLO’S FIRE PROUDLY WELCOMES TWO NEW ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS Apollo’s Fire is thrilled to announce that ALLISON RICHARDS is returning to AF as our new Managing Director, beginning next week! Allison was an outstanding senior staff member at AF from 2013-2021. As General Manager, she led our concert operations both locally and on tour; excelled in budget management; won the hearts of our musicians; and secured significant contributed income. For the past five years, Allison has worked with nonprofit organizations across the country as a senior consultant at Grants Plus, a leading professional grant-seeking firm. She is also a 2025 graduate of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Bridge Builders program and an accomplished violist. Allison looks forward to reconnecting with longtime AF patrons and meeting new friends beginning in November.
We are delighted to announce that last month, MICHAEL J. MEEHAN became the 8th Board Chair of Apollo’s Fire, succeeding the eminent Chuck Bittenbender (who remains on the Board). Mike most recently was Board Chair of Cleveland Play House. He is the Retired General Counsel of Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals, with a distinguished career as an attorney at the Clinic. He serves on Hillcrest Hospital's Board of Trustees and is a member and Past Chair of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese Finance Council. He also served as Faculty at the graduate business school of Cleveland State University. Mike looks forward to meeting his fellow Apollo's Fire supporters at concerts and receptions.
From the President & Chairman of the Board Dear Friends, Welcome to the inaugural performance of the 35th Anniversary Season of Apollo’s Fire! I am honored to serve as the new Chair of the Apollo’s Fire Board of Directors, succeeding Chuck Bittenbender, whose nine years of exemplary guidance and inspiration have helped this remarkable organization grow to new heights, both musically and organizationally. We look forward to Chuck’s continued leadership on the Board as Chair Emeritus. I am also excited to welcome Allison Richards back to Apollo’s Fire, this time as our new Managing Director! One of the things I love about Apollo’s Fire is its capacity for storytelling. The great storyteller Victor Hugo tells us that “music expresses that which cannot be put into words and which cannot remain silent.” This is the magic of Apollo’s Fire: bringing stories to life through the transformative power of music. Tonight, our story depicts a fledgling America: a nation still in its infancy, filled with hope, ambition, and promise. We encounter a pivotal chapter in the story of American independence, when Benjamin Franklin sought financial and military support from the French, which would ultimately secure the liberty of the thirteen colonies. In November, our storytelling takes us over the Atlantic to the Caribbean, where music teaches us that all human beings, from all walks of life, share the same human longings. In December, our musicians convene to tell one of the most cherished stories of all time through Handel’s Messiah. Although these themes span centuries, continents, and cultures, they are united by a common purpose: to tell stories that awaken our imaginations, illuminate our humanity, and connect us more deeply to one another. Thank you for coming to hear our storytelling. We look forward to sharing with you yet another season, our 35th, marked with Passion. Period. Warmly, Apollo's Fire s 5
Michael J. Meehan President & Chairman of the Board
THANK YOU to the generous sponsors of these BEN FRANKLIN in Paris performances GEORGE I. LITMAN, M.D. (Akron) in honor of Barbara Feld
MARILYN & TOM McLAUGHLIN (Cleveland)
This program was made possible with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts
Performing on historical instruments, Apollo’s Fire brings to life music of the past for audiences of today — with Passion. Period.
IN PARIS Jeannette Sorrell conductor Alan Choo & Chloe Fedor violins
Thursday, October 15, 7:30pm Friday, October 16, 7:30pm Saturday, October 17, 7:30pm Sunday, October 18, 4:00pm
First United Methodist Church, Akron St. Raphael Catholic Church, Bay Village Kulas Hall, Cleveland Institute of Music Gartner Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Art
Echoes
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC “Jeanine De Bique is one of the most exciting sopranos to catch onstage these days. Animated, joyful, and technically flawless.” – OPERAWIRE
SPECIAL EVENT - One Night Only! Legendary Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique has taken Europe by storm. In this stunning new program from Jeannette Sorrell, we explore the connections between Europe and the Americas in the 18th century. Across the waters, tales of love, despair, and resilience emerge from the palaces of Europe and the plantations of the Caribbean. Music of Handel, Purcell, Rameau and Vivaldi meets the soulful voices of Caribbean poets in this celebration of shared humanity. Catch this stunning new program before it heads out on an international tour to Carnegie Hall, London, Paris, Brussels, Lisbon, and more…! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 7:30PM – CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART
Tickets at 216.320.0012 | apollosfire.org
Program W O L F G A N G A M A D E U S M O Z A R T ( 1756-1791 ) Overture in C from Les Petits Riens, Paris (1778)
M . D U S U E L ( c. 1 7 00 ) Contredanse “La Voltaire et La Franklein”
J E A N-P H I L I P P E R A M E AU ( 1683-1764) Suite from Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour (1747) & Les Fêtes de l'Hébé (1739), ed. J. Sorrell Air de Triomphe | Chaconne | Air des Satyres | Contredanse | Tambourin
J O S E P H B O L O G N E ( 1 745 -1799) Sinfonie-Concertante No. 2 in G Major (1776) I. Allegro II. Rondo
Alan Choo & Chloe Fedor, violin
— Inter m is s io n — A N D R É G R É T RY ( 1 741 -1813) Suite from Zemire et Azor (1771) & Le Caravan du Caire (1783), ed. J. Sorrell Overture | Flight of the Cloud | Tambourin | Danse égyptienne
MOZART Symphony no. 31 in D Major, "Paris," K. 297 (1778) Allegro assai Andante Allegro
On Saturday night, join the artists after the concert for treats and sparkling drinks. Open to all.
Notes on the Program Summer of 1778: Ben Franklin in Paris, with Mozart and Bologne by Jeannette Sorrell The 1770s and 1780s were a fascinating period in the history of democracy. When the American colonists boldly risked their lives to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the shockwaves moved quickly across the Atlantic. The Americans’ message of democracy – as well as their plea for military assistance – was carried promptly to France by a 70-year-old printer, diplomat, and ladies’ man: Benjamin Franklin. Ben Franklin was the most culturally sophisticated and fascinating personality among the Founding Fathers. Born in Boston in 1706, he began working in his father’s candle shop at age 10, and soon Benjamin Franklin in 1767 by David Martin (1737-1979) apprenticed to his brother, a printer. At age 22, he established his own print shop in Philadelphia and soon began publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette. He became internationally renowned for his inventions and his experiments with electricity. For over 15 years, he alternated his residence between Philadelphia and London – initially serving in London as an agent for the Pennsylvania Assembly.
10 s BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
In 1776, after courageously signing the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers quickly dispatched Franklin, their most charming and skilled diplomat, as the first American ambassador to France. His assignment in Paris was utterly crucial: to secure French military aid for the fledgling United States – without which, the Americans had no hope of surviving this war with the British. Getting support from France was what it was all about. As one of the most colorful geniuses in American history, Franklin knew that the way to win the hearts and loyalty of the French was to immerse himself in their cultural life. During his 9-year stay, 1776-1785, he undertook his assignment with gusto – attending concerts, ballroom dances, and opera performances, and meeting the great French writer, Voltaire. Franklin was so successful in his assignment that he changed the course of history not only for the Americans, but also for the French. The boldness of the American fight for liberty quickly captured the French imagination, particularly since income inequality was at extreme levels in France. Ninety-five percent of the population of Paris was living in misery. Through Franklin’s persuasion, France provided over $2 million in direct government loans to the Continental Congress, alongside massive military support: 12,000 soldiers to fight on land, around 22,000 naval personnel and powerful fleets, and vast quantities of gunpowder, muskets, artillery, uniforms, and equipment. The French navy was crucial in several American battles, such as the victory at Yorktown.
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris Ultimately, the British and the French both spent roughly equal amounts on the American Revolutionary war, and both were bankrupted by it. After the war ended, France found itself in enormous debt, which put huge strain on the country's political system – eventually leading to the French Revolution in 1789. Having wrecked their economy to help the cause of American democracy, the French then wanted a bit of that democracy for themselves.
Bataille de Yorktown (The Seige of Yorktown) 1836, by Auguste Couder (1789–1873) depicting George Washington with the Marquis de La Fayette and other French soliders
In our festive exploration of the music that Franklin heard during his 9-year stay in Paris, the summer of 1778 stands out. This is when Paris was inhabited by four intellectual luminaries all at the same time: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, a 22-year-old struggling musician who was looking for work in Paris (unsuccessfully); JOSEPH BOLOGNE, Chevalier de St. Georges, age 32, the most famous and successful orchestral conductor and violinist in Paris, having been born to an enslaved African girl and a plantation owner in Guadeloupe, and then risen through extraordinary circumstance in Paris; his orchestral music influenced Mozart; nevertheless, he was passed over for the prestigious post with the Paris Opera because he was Black; ANDRÉ GRÉTRY, age 37, the most successful opera composer in Paris; his operas influenced Mozart;
Did these four prominent cultural figures meet? To what extent did they influence each other? What we know and don’t know raises tantalizing questions about the interaction between art and politics against the backdrop of revolution.
Ben Franklin & Mozart Mozart arrived in Paris with his mother in March 1778, hoping to find a post. Franklin had already been there for two years, but historians think it unlikely that the busy and popular Franklin, who was 72 years old in 1778, would have had time
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris s 11
BEN FRANKLIN, age 72, the ambassador from the fledgling United States, bringing the message that “all men are created equal,” (though the Americans had not yet abolished slavery).
Notes on the Program (continued) to meet the 22-year-old Mozart. Franklin was hobnobbing with the aristocrats whose support he needed to win for America. By contrast, Mozart was an obscure and impoverished social misfit.
W.A. Mozart by Barbara Krafft
Mozart soon fell into debt and took to pawning valuables. Tragically, his mother was taken ill and died in early July. There had been delays in calling a doctor—probably due to a lack of funds. The 22-year-old Mozart must have felt incredibly guilty that his mother died on his watch, as he failed to get a doctor in time.
Ben Franklin & Voltaire Franklin’s famous meeting with the great French writer took place in April 1778 at the French Academy of Sciences. Amid loud public applause and a cheering crowd, the two aging luminaries of the Enlightenment embraced – an iconic cross-cultural moment that witnesses compared to the ancient Greek poets Solon and Sophocles. "La Voltaire et La Franklein," which we perform, is an 18th-century French contredanse (country dance) that celebrated this historic public meeting. The first section has awkward leaps, depicting the stumbles of the elderly but beloved Voltaire. The second section is a more flowing Gavotte, representing the more vigorous Franklin.
François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) by Nicolas de Largillière
12 s BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
Mozart & Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Monsieur de St. George by Mather Brown
After Mozart’s mother’s death in early July, 1778, the troubled 22-year-old composer was all alone in Paris. He gave up his small apartment and asked his father’s old friend, Baron von Grimm, for a place to stay. Grimm arranged for Mozart to stay with his friend Madame Louise d’Épinay, who had a summer villa just outside of Paris. Mourning the loss of his mother, low in cash, and grappling to find his footing, Mozart here received lodging and free meals during July and August. And here is where the story gets very interesting.
At the same time, Joseph Bologne was residing next door in a small villa owned by the wife of the Duke of Orléans. She employed Bologne to oversee her private theatre after he was summarily passed over for a position at the Opéra, due to being Black. So, these two composers lived side by side for about seven weeks during July and August of 1778. Bologne was already legendary as the leading virtuoso violinist of France, a champion fencer, and the dynamic leader of the finest orchestra in
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris Paris – the Concert des amateurs. During Mozart’s stay, Bologne was at the apex of his career, actively performing his virtuosic symphonie concertante repertory. But strangely, Mozart never once mentioned Bologne in his letters to his father, though they were living next door, and Mozart was trying to find opportunities in Paris, including seeking prominent ensembles to perform his music. Did Bologne’s fame make Mozart feel insecure? Among the works that Mozart wrote during the Paris stay are the Symphony no. 31, “Paris” and the ballet Les petits Riens ("The Little Nothings"). Both were performed in Paris in June 1778, but by an inferior orchestra – the Concert spirituel – not Bologne’s orchestra. The Concert spirituel was the orchestra where Mozart’s father had some contacts and could arrange a commission. The ballet was an amalgamation of pieces by several composers. Mozart composed the overture and seven of the dance movements. Although the ballet music was well received, Mozart was not credited. He was so obscure in Paris that no one thought it important to credit him. Mozart’s “Paris” Symphony was premiered in June 1778 at the Palais des Tuileries. Though the rehearsal was a disaster (“You can’t imagine how they bungled and scratched their way through the Sinfonie,” Mozart wrote), the performance was triumphant. Mozart built in several crowd-pleasing special effects, including a strikingly bold, French coup d’archet (flourish by the violins) that launches the symphony on its boisterous journey. Grand unison passages in the Allegro movements, gradual crescendos leading to brilliant forte passages, and rapid string tremolos all create an electrifying soundscape and sense of excitement. Mozart and his father agreed on what constituted Parisian taste: “To judge by Stamitz symphonies that have been engraved in Paris, the Parisians must be fond of noisy symphonies.” IIndeed, Mozart calculated well: the thrilling opening Allegro received cheers and applause, even mid-movement. However, the successful concert did not lead to a job. After six months in Paris with no success in finding work, Mozart left and reluctantly returned to Salzburg. But the influence of Bologne lingered over him.
After Napoleon came along and banned the music of Black composers, Bologne was forgotten – while Mozart’s music eventually gained enormous popularity and respect in the 19th century. As noted by the scholar Caryl Clark, it is difficult to imagine that Mozart and Bologne did not meet. However, is it possible that their meeting was an awkward encounter, making Mozart too embarrassed to mention
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris s 13
Bologne was an early pioneer and leading exponent of the Symphonie concertante, a Classical work for two solo violins and orchestra. The dazzling virtuosity of his solo string writing captivated audiences. Between 1775 and 1779, he composed at least six symphonies concertantes – most likely including the one featured in our concerts. Mozart had never written in this primarily French genre, but after returning home to Salzburg, he composed his now-beloved Symphonie concertante. Hearing Bologne’s works performed in Paris clearly must have inspired him, whether or not the composers discussed the genre or examined each other’s manuscripts. Mozart could reportedly hear a piece once and write it down afterward, so he did not need to see Bologne’s score to be influenced by it.
Notes on the Program (continued) Bologne in his letters to his father? Was Mozart reluctant to admit that he had been overlooked or perhaps even rebuffed?
Ben Franklin & Joseph Bologne During Franklin’s years in Paris, he and Bologne moved in the same elite social circles and likely met, though no definitive evidence survives. Both men attended prominent salons and associated with leading scientists, musicians, and other figures of the French Enlightenment. The American delegation in Paris was clearly aware of Bologne’s fame; John Adams — who spent time there with Franklin — wrote vivid accounts of Bologne’s legendary accomplishments in his journals.
Ben Franklin, Rameau, & Grétry Jean-Phillippe Rameau, a late baroque composer, had died 12 years before Franklin arrived in Paris. However, his opera Les Fêtes de L’Hymen et de l’Amour (The Festivals of Marriage and Love) was so popular that it continued to be performed long after the composer’s death –reaching its 106th performance in Paris in 1776. André-Modeste Grétry succeeded Rameau as France’s foremost opera composer of the 1770s and 80s. He wrote André-Modeste Grétry more than 70 operas, mostly light and colorful, and attained by Élisabeth Le Brun what you might call Andrew Lloyd-Webber status across Europe. Ben Franklin, as an avid music lover, knew his work. The two likely crossed paths at the leading salons they both frequented. Zémire et Azor (Beauty and the Beast) and the Caravan de Caire (Caravan from Cairo) are among Grétry’s most popular works. Zémire was first performed in Paris in 1771 and stayed in the French repertory for 50 years. It was translated into several languages and enjoyed worldwide success, with performances St. Petersburg, Sweden, London, New York, and Philadelphia.
14 s BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
d The encounters of these geniuses in Paris leads us to some fascinating questions. Did Mozart’s desire to escape from the domination of the aristocracy start to percolate during his Paris stay? And did his encounter with Bologne, a prominent and artistic Black man born in the Caribbean, jolt the young Austrian into contemplating the horrors of the Middle Passage slave trade? Did it open his eyes to the growing oppression of racial minorities within a supposedly “enlightened” French society? Ben Franklin’s views on slavery evolved and changed throughout his long life, as he ultimately became an abolitionist in his later years. Was his exposure to the multitalented and unjustly treated composer Joseph Bologne, the son of an enslaved African girl, one of the factors that led him to become an advocate for human rights and the abolition of slavery? We may never know for sure, but we can be grateful that these four intellects coincided in a time and place where philosophy and the arts began to shape how people thought about the world. ©2026 Jeannette Sorrell | Cleveland, OH
Soloist Profiles
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
ALAN CHOO, Associate Artistic Director and concertmaster, is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Red Dot Baroque, Singapore’s first professional baroque ensemble. Described as a "dynamo, delivering lines with panache" (Cleveland Plain Dealer), his album of Biber's Mystery Sonatas with Apollo’s Fire debuted at #2 on the Billboard Classical chart, earning a double fivestar review from BBC Music Magazine, and receiving rave reviews from The Strad (UK), Classica Magazine (France) and Stringendo (Australia). Besides Apollo's Fire, Alan has also appeared as a soloist with the FVG Orchestra (Italy), St. Petersburg Symphony (Russia), Bach Society of Minnesota, Tafelmusik Winter Institute (Canada), Shanghai Camerata, Singapore Symphony, and more. In 2024, Alan was conferred the NAC Young Artist Award, Singapore’s highest accolade for outstanding young artists. He also holds a Doctorate in Historical Performance from CWRU, which he completed under the tutelage of Julie Andrijeski. CHLOE FEDOR, violin, is known for her “lovely, plush, seductive tone” (New York Times), her “soulful, virtuosic” playing and “impeccable technical control” (Opera News). Chloe is artistic advisor and concertmaster of Lakes Area Music Festival’s baroque series, principal violin of GRAMMY® award-winning Apollo’s Fire, founding member and co-concertmaster of Helicon Ensemble, and a core member of the “outstanding” (The New Yorker) 17th-century string band ACRONYM. Sought out for her thoughtful and charismatic leadership, Chloe has recurring guest concertmaster appearances with groups across the continent, including The American Classical Orchestra, Amor Artis, Ensemble Altera, and Trinity Wall-Street Baroque Orchestra. In 2018, Chloe was featured on Broadway as the onstage baroque violinist in “Farinelli and the King.” She appears with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra throughout the season.
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris s 15
Jeannette Sorrell, Artistic Director
16 s Apollo's Fire
“Sorrell is an absolute dynamo onstage and a pleasure to see conduct… a force to be reckoned with.” –SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE GRAMMY®-winning conductor Jeannette Sorrell is recognized internationally as one of today’s finest interpreters of Baroque and Classical repertoire. She is the subject of Oscar-winning director Allan Miller’s documentary, PLAYING WITH FIRE: Jeannette Sorrell and the Mysteries of Conducting, commercially released in 2023. Bridging the period-instrument and symphonic worlds from a young age, she studied conducting under Leonard Bernstein, Roger Norrington and Robert Spano at the Tanglewood and Aspen music festivals; and studied harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam. She won First Prize in the Spivey International Harpsichord Competition, competing against over 70 harpsichordists from four continents. As a guest conductor, Sorrell has repeatedly led the New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, St Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque in San Francisco, and New World Symphony. She has also led the Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hallé Orchestra Manchester, Baltimore Symphony, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, Oregon Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, National Arts Center Orchestra (Ottawa), and Houston Symphony, among others. This season she returns to the New York Philharmonic and New World Symphony, and makes debuts with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the Kansas City Symphony, among others. As founder and conductor of APOLLO’S FIRE, she has led the renowned ensemble at London’s BBC Proms, Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and many international venues. Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire have released 34 commercial CDs, including 13 bestsellers on the Billboard classical chart and a 2019 GRAMMY® winner. Her CD recordings of the Bach St. John Passion and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons have been chosen as best in the field by the Sunday Times of London (2020 and 2021). Her Monteverdi Vespers recording was chosen by BBC Music Magazine as one of “30 Must-Have Recordings for Our Lifetime” (2022). With over 25 million views of her YouTube videos with Apollo’s Fire, Sorrell has attracted national attention and awards for creative programming, particularly her multicultural programs. She was nominated for a second GRAMMY® award in 2025.
Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra “Sorrell and her dazzling period band… are incandescent” – THE SUNDAY TIMES, London
GRAMMY®-winning ensemble Apollo’s Fire is praised as “the USA’s hottest baroque band” (Classical Music Magazine, UK). Led by award-winning harpsichordist and conductor Jeannette Sorrell, the period-instrument orchestra is dedicated to the baroque concept of moving the passions of the listeners. As America’s most active touring baroque orchestra, Apollo’s Fire has performed seven European tours, with sold-out concerts at the BBC Proms in London, Madrid’s Royal Theatre, Bordeaux’s Grand Théàtre de l’Opéra, St. Martin-inthe-Fields, the Heidelberg Spring Festival, the National Concert Hall of Ireland, and venues in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Portugal. AF’s 2026 London residency at St. Martin-in-the-Fields garnered a 5-star review in The Arts Desk, hailed by the critic as “a unique and memorable event that quickened the mind and ravished the ear… a magical mix. A banquet to relish and remember…” North American tour engagements include regular appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; and the Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Caramoor festivals; as well as performing at the Boston Early Music Festival series, the Library of Congress, the Aspen Music Festival, and major venues in Toronto, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Apollo’s Singers have twice performed with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Jeannette Sorrell, receiving rave reviews. At home in Cleveland and Chicago, Apollo’s Fire enjoys sold-out performances for its subscription series, which has drawn national attention for creative programming.
Apollo's Fire s 17
With over 25 million views of its YouTube videos, Apollo’s Fire has gained worldwide popularity releasing 34 CDs and winning a GRAMMY® award in 2019 for the album Songs of Orpheus with tenor Karim Sulayman. Thirteen of the ensemble's CD releases have become best-sellers on the classical Billboard chart, including Bach’s Coffeehouse, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Monteverdi Vespers, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, and Sorrell’s crossover programs including Sacrum Mysterium – A Celtic Christmas Vespers; Sugarloaf Mountain – An Appalachian Gathering; Sephardic Journey – Wanderings of the Spanish Jews; and Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain.
DID YOU KNOW?
Your charitable dollars may already be waiting to make music. If you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), you can recommend a grant to Apollo’s Fire at any time. DAFs are simply a private charitable savings account that allow you to make a contribution, take an immediate tax deduction, and grant money to charities over time, helping to bring the extraordinary music of Apollo’s Fire to life on stage and in our community. A tax-smart way to give: Appreciated stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds held for more than one year can often be contributed directly to a DAF. This may help reduce capital-gains taxes while allowing more of your assets to support the charitable causes you care about. Already have a DAF? Consider recommending a grant to Apollo’s Fire today. Questions about giving through your DAF? Contact Rees Taylor Roberts, Development Manager at RRoberts@apollosfire.org or 216.320.0012 x 3. Apollo’s Fire does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your professional advisor regarding your individual circumstances.
Apollo's Fire Musicians VIOLIN I Alan Choo, concertmaster Emi Tanabe, assistant concertmaster Freya Creech Carrie Krause Carmen Lavada Johnson-Pájaro Andrew Fouts Marlisa del Cid Woods VIOLIN II Chloe Fedor, principal Hanna Bingham* Aniela Eddy Kiyoe Matsuura Guillermo Salas-Suárez Ann Yu* VIOLA Elizabeth Holzman Hagen, principal Yaël Senamaud Jason Fisher Christopher Nunn CELLO Sarah Stone, principal HyunKun Cho Anna Steinhoff Caroline Nicolas
FLUTE Kathie Stewart, principal Ellen Sauer Tanyeri OBOE Debra Nagy, principal Kathryn Montoya CLARINET Dominic Giardino, principal Elise Bonhivert BASSOON Stephanie Corwin, principal Clay Zeller-Townson HORN Todd Williams, principal Sara Cyrus TRUMPET Perry Sutton, principal Ryan Berndt TIMPANI & PERCUSSION Matthew Bassett HARPSICHORD Mikhail Grazhdanov
CONTRABASS Sue Yelanjian, principal Tracy Rowell
*Young Artist Fellow
Best wishes from all of us at Apollo's Fire!
Apollo's Fire s 19
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. GEORGE I. LITMAN!
THE APOLLO'S FIRE 35th
Whether you are in Northeast Ohio or Grea Indulge your addiction to AF’s “joyou OCTOBER: OHIO 15-18
IN PARIS In this festive season opener, we explore Ben Franklin’s musical adventures in Paris during his 9-year stay. Conductor Jeannette Sorrell leads 35 musicians in Mozart's thrilling Paris Symphony and colorful music of Bologne and Rameau.
NOVEMBER: OHIO 6 & 13
Vivaldi’s
Four Seasons rediscovered
Apollo’s Fire and violinist Alan Choo bring the storyline of Vivaldi’s masterpiece to life with joy and surprises! Each concerto is preceded by a quick and polished “tour” of the sound effects to come.
NOVEMBER: CHICAGO 7 & 8 | OHIO 12
Echoes
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Legendary Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique joins AF to explore the historical connections between Europe and the Caribbean colonies in the 18th century. Catch this program before it heads out on an international tour to Carnegie Hall, London, Paris, Brussels, Lisbon, and more…!
DECEMBER: OHIO 4-6 & 19-20 | CHICAGO 15-17
Handel's MESSIAH Sound the Trumpet! On period instruments, Apollo’s Fire and Jeannette Sorrell take Handel’s masterpiece back to its roots as a dramatic and uplifting entertainment. The soloists become “visionary storytellers” in this acclaimed interpretation.
TICKETS & SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ON SALE NOW! CA
h
ANNIVERSARY SEASON
ater Chicago become a subscriber and save! us spontaneity” (THE NEW YORKER). JANUARY/FEBRUARY: OHIO 29-2 | CHICAGO 5 & 6
Fiddle Virtuosity from the Pubs of London Virtuoso violinist Alan Choo and friends invite you on a delightful romp through John Playford’s fiddle variations, alongside music of Dowland, Eccles, and Purcell.
Bach 's ST. MATTHEW PASSION
MARCH: OHIO 12 & 20 | CHICAGO 14 & 15
Apollo’s Fire and Jeannette Sorrell are thrilled to return to Bach’s legendary masterpiece on the 300th anniversary of its premiere. Acclaimed British tenor Ed Lyon makes his AF debut as the Evangelist in this dramatic presentation.
APRIL: CHICAGO 9-12
Primavera! A Vivaldi Celebration
Celebrate spring with Vivaldi’s beloved “Primavera” (springtime) concerto from the Four Seasons. Internationally acclaimed Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana returns to Apollo’s Fire for this joyful dive into Vivaldimania! Choose between 2 versions of the program, or go to both!
APRIL: OHIO 15-18
VIVALDI ON
Fi re!
Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana and the AF band set sparks flying with virtuoso concertos, including the famous “Il Grosso Mogul” violin concerto and Vivaldi’s stormy Concerto for Two Cellos. Come and hear why Jeannette calls Vivaldi the “rock-n-roll” composer of the 18th century.
ALL 216.320.0012/800.314.2535 or VISIT apollosfire.org
Musician Profiles MATTHEW BASSETT, timpani & percussion, has performed with Apollo’s Fire since 1993. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from CIM and a Master’s degree from Cleveland State University. Currently, he is principal timpanist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to performing, he maintains a busy schedule teaching privately, conducting, and repairing percussion equipment.
22 s BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
RYAN BERNDT, trumpet, serves as principal trumpet of both Haymarket Opera and Bach in the City, and frequently performs with Newberry Consort. Specializing in historical trumpets, Berndt has been praised for his “elegant lines” (Chicago Classical Review) and appears on Cedille Records’ 2026 release of Vinci’s Artaserse. His other historical-performance credits include Indianapolis Baroque, Bella Voce Sinfonia, and Oberlin’s Baroque Performance Institute. Berndt teaches trumpet at Wheaton College and Merit School of Music. HANNA BINGHAM, violin, is based in the greater Chicago area. Raised in Dekalb, Illinois, Hanna holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Northern Illinois University and earned her Master’s degree in string performance from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. She gained a strong love for early music from her time at Northwestern, where she studied with David Douglas of the Newberry Consort and Stephen Alltop. Hanna was previously a 2024-2025 Young Artist Fellow for Apollo's Fire. ELISE BONHIVERT, clarinet, enjoys dividing her time between playing, making, and repairing clarinets. She is currently based in Sea Bright, New Jersey, but was born in Singapore and has experience in early music from all over the world such as studying at Indiana University and The Royal Conservatory of the Hague, performing
in festivals such as the Oregon Bach, Utrecht, Bremen, Boston, Berkeley and Bloomington Early music festivals, and studying original instruments at the National Music Museum and University of Edinburgh. HYUNKUN CHO, cello, holds degrees from the Korea National University of Arts, Berlin University of the Arts, the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, and the Geneva University of Music, where he studied with luminaries of baroque cello including Markus Möllenbeck, Mitzi Meyerson, Bruno Cocset, Emmanuel Balssa, and Pedro Memelsdorff. His work has been recognized with awards from the International Telemann Competition, the Berliner-Bach Competition, and the International Competition Musica Antiqua Bruges. He has recently participated in acclaimed commercial recordings with the ensembles Au Pieds du Roy and Patrimonio Sonoro. STEPHANIE CORWIN, bassoon, approaches music with commitment and curiosity. Praised for her “warmth and composure” (Wichita Eagle), she is the inaugural winner of the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Bassoon Competition. Equally at home on historical and modern instruments, Corwin enjoys a wide-ranging career, including solo appearances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and performances with acclaimed ensembles across North America. A graduate of Davidson College, she studied with Frank Morelli at Yale and Stony Brook, and Michael McCraw at Indiana University. FREYA CREECH, violin, performs widely across North America and her native UK. This season’s highlights include appearances as concertmaster of Washington Bach Consort, and performances with Apollo’s Fire, Handel & Haydn Society, and the Smithsonian Chamber Academy on their renowned
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris collection of Strads. She collaborates regularly with True Concord, earning a GRAMMY® nomination (2025), and she has self-produced two albums of little-known solo violin music. She recently established Ensemble Valshamr, aiming to bring high-quality, zero-cost performances to her community in DC. SARA CYRUS, horn, is a NYC freelancer and performs with the New York Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, ABT, and on Broadway shows. She also performs with Philharmonia Baroque, American Classical Orchestra, and Handel/Haydn Society. She has recorded with Yo Yo Ma, John Legend, the Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, Apollo’s Fire, and Opera Lafayette. She attended Indiana University and Juilliard, and is currently on faculty at Rutgers and Montclair State Universities. ANIELA EDDY, violin, captivates audiences across North America and Europe with her nuanced, expressive playing. She performs with leading ensembles including Seraphic Fire, Voices of Music, Trinity Baroque, Handel & Haydn, TENET, Novus, and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. A graduate of Juilliard and CIM, Aniela is a founding member of Quartet Salonnières and Relic. She has appeared live on NPR with Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion and at festivals such as the Lucerne, Carmel Bach, and Göttingen Handel festivals.
DOMINIC GIARDINO, clarinet, is a New York City–based arts administrator, public historian, and historical clarinetist. He serves as Executive Director of Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc. and Instructor of Historical Clarinets at the University of North Texas, and performs with period-instrument ensembles throughout North America. His work as a performer and historian centers on the musical intersections of military and civilian cultures in the eighteenth century, which he explores through research and performance with his ensemble, Music of the Regiment. MIKHAIL GRAZHDANOV, harpsichord, is a historical keyboardist based in Cleveland. Grazhdanov is completing a DMA in historical performance at Case Western Reserve University and holds degrees from Moscow Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music. A prizewinner at the 2024 Jurow International Harpsichord Competition, Grazhdanov performs with soprano Andréa Walker as Duo CPE, appearing with Early Music Seattle and at the Boston Early Music Festival. ELIZABETH HAGEN, viola, is a graduate of Northwestern University and now enjoys an active career performing on modern and baroque violas in Chicago. She is principal violist of Music
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris s 23
JASON FISHER, viola, is a founding member and co-artistic director of A Far Cry. He maintains a vibrant career specializing in period instrument performance, serving as principal violist of Boston Baroque, and performing regularly with the Handel and Haydn Society, English Concert, Trinity Baroque, ACRONYM, Opera Lafayette, The Thirteen, Sarasa, and Teatro Nuovo. He is on viola faculty at The Rivers School Conservatory where he also serves as Director of the Chamber Music Lab.
ANDREW FOUTS, violin, has been noted for his “mellifluous sound and sensitive style” (The Washington Post). In 2008, he won the American Bach Soloists’ International Baroque Violin Competition. He is co-artistic director of Pittsburgh’s Chatham Baroque and a frequent concertmaster of the Washington Bach Consort. Andrew performs regularly with Apollo’s Fire, Opera Lafayette, Four Nations Ensemble, and Ars Lyrica. His teachers included Charles Castleman at the Eastman School of Music and Stanley Ritchie at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Musician Profiles (continued) of the Baroque, Haymarket Opera and The Callipygian Players. She has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Rembrandt Chamber Players, Chicago Opera Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, The Newberry Consort and The Chicago Philharmonic. For the past nine summers, she has played with The Grant Park Symphony.
24 s BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
CARMEN LAVADA JOHNSON-PÁJARO, violin, is based in New York City. She’s worked with renowned early music figures including Masaaki Suzuki, Jonathan Cohen, Reggie Mobley, Raphaël Pichon, Rachel Podger, among others. Her season includes performances with Twelfth Night, Arcangelo, the Handel & Haydn Society, Chatham Baroque, Apollo’s Fire, CMSCVA, Upper Valley Baroque, Washington Bach Consort, Staunton Music Festival, and more. She holds degrees from The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, & Eastman School of Music. CARRIE KRAUSE, violin, is concertmaster of the Bozeman Symphony and founder of Baroque Music Montana, which presents 50 concerts a year with an international cast of musicians. Carrie performs with ensembles across the country and on international series, including as concertmaster and soloist with Seattle Baroque, Juilliard 415, New Trinity Baroque, Pacific Baroque, and the San Francisco Bach Choir, as well as principal with The Thirteen in D.C., Oregon Bach Festival, and Spire in Kansas City. Carrie She holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon, Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Juilliard School. KIYOE MATSUURA, violin, performs with Haymarket Opera, Music of the Baroque, Callipygian Players, and Bach In The City. Her playing was described as “distinct in mood and setting…in a charming way” (Hyde Park Herald). She has been awarded a Chicago DCASE Grant for her duo Ensemble Vitelotte.
Matsuura was an Apollo's Fire Young Artist Fellow for the 2024-25 season. She is becoming a sought-after teacher in Chicago and has recorded over 250 YouTube videos of violin student repertoire. KATHRYN MONTOYA, oboe, appears with a variety of orchestral and chamber music ensembles including the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, Tafelmusik, and Handel & Haydn. She enjoys a varied musical career including performances on two GRAMMY® award-winning recordings with BEMF, and the Globe's Tony award-winning production of Twelfth Night on Broadway. Kathryn teaches historical oboes and recorder at Oberlin Conservatory and can often be found in Hereford, England with her husband, James, and six hens. DEBRA NAGY, oboe, is recognized as “a baroque oboist of consummate taste and expressivity” (Cleveland Plain Dealer). She has acquired a reputation for creating fascinating and inviting concert experiences as Artistic Director of Les Délices, and plays principal oboe with the Handel & Haydn Society and other ensembles around the country. Debra was awarded a 2022 Cleveland Arts Prize (Mid-Career Artist) and honored with the 2022 Laurette Goldberg Prize from Early Music America for her outreach work with Les Délices. CAROLINE NICOLAS, cello, hailed by The Strad as a "bright new star," is a Canadian performer active in repertoire from the Medieval to today. Performances include The English Concert, Philharmonia Baroque, Kammerorchester Basel, Ars Lyrica, Pacific MusicWorks, and New World Symphony; she has also appeared at the Boston Early Music Festival, Bach Festival Leipzig, and Styriarte. She is Artistic Director of Ars Poetica and has taught at Yale, Peabody, and the University of Washington.
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris CHRISTOPHER NUNN, viola, English orchestral, chamber musician & contractor based near Boston. Associate Principal of New Bedford Symphony & South Coast Chamber, violist for Zograf Quartet, Bridge Music Collective & NH music festival. Performs with Apollo’s Fire, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Emmanuel Music, Marsh Chapel, Portland Symphony, American Baroque, Boston Festival Orchestra, H&H and Boston Chamber Orchestra. Recent Broadway tours of Into the Woods and Parade, TV appearances on HBO and ESPN. Teacher, arranger & event manager. TRACY ROWELL, bass, is Associate Professor of Bass at Oberlin Conservatory, and on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Formerly the Assistant Principal Bass of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Rowell is Principal Bass of Citymusic Cleveland and performs regularly with Apollo’s Fire. An active chamber musician, Rowell performs on many concerts series, and she founded Citymusic’s Pantheon Ensemble. She regularly teaches at prominent music programs such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival and Domaine Forget.
YAËL SENAMAUD, viola, is a versatile historical string specialist and modern orchestral leader based in Wichita. An expert in Historically Informed Performance Practice, she performs on baroque viola, violin and viola d’amore as a core member of Apollo’s Fire and the Indianapolis Baroque. She balances this with her role as Principal Viola of the South Carolina Philharmonic and the Jackson Symphony. A Paris Conservatory graduate, she previously held permanent chairs with the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris and de la Comunitat Valenciana. ANNA STEINHOFF, cello, based in Chicago, specializes in the baroque cello and viola da gamba. She performs with ensembles including Haymarket Opera Company, Apollo’s Fire, Newberry Consort, Music of the Baroque, Madison Bach Musicians and Second City Musick and has recorded with bands including Mysteries of Life, Saturday Looks Good To Me, MONO, and Justin Roberts. She received degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University, where she studied with Peter Rejto and Hans Jensen. KATHIE STEWART, flute, is Adjunct Lecturer in Baroque Flute at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. She is a founding member and principal flutist of Apollo’s Fire, and has
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris s 25
GUILLERMO SALAS-SUÁREZ, violin (DMA in Historical Performance, CWRU) has served as guest concertmaster with Indianapolis Baroque, Bourbon Baroque, Lumedia MusicWorks, and American Baroque Opera. He collaborates regularly with SoundSalon (WA), the Academia de Música Antigua de Medellín (Colombia), and has served as guest clinician in Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, and in his native Costa Rica. His upcoming book The Tender Echo, on 18th-century Spanish violin performance practice, will be published by Indiana University Press this winter.
ELLEN SAUER TANYERI, flute, is a historical wind player based in Cleveland. She has degrees from the Juilliard School the University of Michigan, and is pursuing a PhD at CWRU. A passionate chamber musician and soloist, Sauer Tanyeri plays with NYC-based Nuova Pratica and was runner-up of the 2021 and 2024 National Flute Association Baroque Flute competitions. Sauer Tanyeri’s program notes and preconcert talks can be seen at The Cleveland Orchestra, where she serves as Archives & Editorial Assistant.
Musician Profiles (continued) performed with ensembles including The Cleveland Orchestra, Tafelmusik, Portland Baroque, Philharmonia Baroque and the Washington Bach Consort. She is also Assistant Director of the Seattle Baroque Flute Workshop. She is an avid proponent of Celtic music, playing Irish flute and whistle on several Apollo’s Fire recordings.
26 s BEN FRANKLIN in Paris
SARAH STONE, cello, is drawn to the cultural history of the music she plays. She performs with Apollo’s Fire, Tafelmusik, Handel and Hayden, Seraphic Fire, The Sebastians, New York Baroque Incorporated, The Staunton Music Festival, and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra. Stone is Executive Director of the chamber ensemble Repast Baroque and Artistic Director of Bitterroot Baroque, a community baroque orchestra in Hamilton, Montana. She holds degrees from the Juilliard School, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Rice University. PERRY SUTTON, trumpet, is one of today’s leading American historical trumpeters. Noted for his “remarkable lyricism and finesse” (Wall Street Journal), his “virtuosic performances,” “extraordinary excitement,” and “aplomb” (Boston Globe), he performs regularly with early music ensembles nationwide, including Apollo’s Fire, Handel & Haydn Society, Boston Baroque and Trinity Baroque Orchestra. Additionally, he can also frequently be heard freelancing on Broadway shows in New York. When not performing, he enjoys pursuing his hobbies of home cooking, photography, and golf. EMI TANABE, violin, enjoys a multifaceted career as a baroque violinist and a solo crossover artist. In addition to her work with Apollo's Fire, she performs with Haymarket Opera in Chicago. Her facility with improvisation has led to many solo performances with world music, Latin, and jazz ensem-
bles across the country, including the renowned Surabhi Ensemble, children’s music band Wendy & DB, and Teatro ZinZanni. She holds degrees in violin performance from the University of North Texas and Roosevelt University. TODD WILLIAMS, horn, has performed as principal with OAE, English Concert, Tafelmusik, Philharmonia, H+H, Boston Baroque, and BEMF, where he was a contributing solo artist on the GRAMMY® Award winning Best Classical Solo Vocal Album 2026. He also performs with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, RCA/Sony, Chaconne/Chandos, Naxos, CPO, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Apple TV, and 20th Century Studios where he recently recorded The Devil Wears Prada 2. He teaches at the Juilliard School. MARLISA del CID WOODS, violin, completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2000, prior to winning a position with the U.S. Army Band where she currently serves as the Command Sergeant Major. She has performed with top ensembles including The Thirteen, Opera Lafayette, and the Baltimore Symphony. She has been featured as soloist and concertmaster with the Washington Bach Consort, the Washington National Cathedral Orchestra, and the Alexandria Symphony. SUE YELANJIAN, contrabass, has performed with many of the leading North American baroque orchestras, including Relic, Tafelmusik, the Handel & Haydn Society, and Chatham Baroque. She has performed at the Carmel Bach Festival, Tanglewood, and Ravinia, as well as the Sturm und Drang Festival in Germany. She attended Oberlin Conservatory and received degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Boston University.
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris ANN YU, violin, praised for her “full-bodied, rich, and warm tone” (Cleveland.com), loves exploring genres across historical and modern musical worlds. A founding member of the Poiema Trio and Mirum Quartet, she collaborates widely: Apollo's Fire, Caroga Arts Collective, Project: Music Heals Us, members of the Cavani, Dover, and Verona Quartets, plus artists like Cory Wong and Kishi Bashi. Yu holds two degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and is a second-year Apollo's Fire Fellow.
CLAY ZELLER-TOWNSON, bassoon, is the founder and Artistic Director of Ruckus, a period-instrument band: “it's that tight, and that wild" (The New York Times). Zeller-Townson joined the New England Conservatory faculty in 2023 and has given masterclasses at UCLA, Colburn, and Eastman. Passionate about rural education, Zeller-Townson taught public school in Vermont. He holds degrees from Eastman, Juilliard, and CUNY-Brooklyn College. He resides between Vermont and New York City.
For You, By You County residents make this arts experience possible through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. cacgrants.org
rt
Ho
us
e, C
A C-
f u n d e d sin ce 20 0 8
BEN FRANKLIN in Paris s 27
A
2026-2027 SEASON at EJ Thomas Hall
Sphinx Virtuosi with mezzo-soprano
J’Nai Bridges
American Brass Quintet February 9 7:30 p.m.
October 20 7:30 p.m.
James (Zijian) Wei,
piano
November 17 7:30 p.m.
Audra McDonald April 17 7:30 p.m.
Itzhak Perlman A Chanticleer Christmas November 28 and friends 3 p.m.
Emanuel Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Juilliard String Quartet
May 4, 7:30 p.m.
330-761-3460 • tuesdaymusical.org
BECOMING
J O N A T H A N
M O Y E R O R G A N
S A T U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 7 | 7 : 3 0 P M
Fauré: Masques et bergamasques, Op. 112 Hanson: Concerto for Organ, Harp and Strings, Op. 22, No. 3
Jonathan Moyer, organ Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C
Fire has over 25 million views of its YouTube videos? Check out our
Church of the Covenant, University Circle Daniel Meyer | Artistic Director & Conductor
Reserve pay-whatyou-wish tickets at:
Did you know that Apollo's
BLUEWATERORCHESTRA.COM
YouTuabe channel — apollosfirebaroque
Thank you to our Generous Supporters Your contributions make it possible every year to engage world-class musicians and guest soloists, deliver innovative programming, and serve our community through the Community Access Initiative. This list recognizes donations given in the last year. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Please contact Rees Taylor Roberts at RRoberts@apollosfire.org or 216.320.0012 x 3 with any updates. APOLLO’S CIRCLE ($100,000 & above) Anonymous Cuyahoga Arts and Culture Janice L. Greene† Walder Foundation HELIOS CIRCLE ($50,000 - $99,999) Paul M. Angell Family Foundation The George Gund Foundation William Lawlor John P. Murphy Foundation Alexander & Jennifer Ogan Ohio Arts Council Herb & Jody Wainer
32 s Apollo's Fire
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($25,000 - $49,999) Anonymous Jeff & Jamie Barnett Chuck & Christy Bittenbender Cleveland Foundation Kulas Foundation Marie Rowley Astri Seidenfeld Tim & Jennifer Smucker Robert A. & Judith M. Weiss MOUNT OLYMPUS CIRCLE ($10,000 – $24,999) Anonymous Akron Community Foundation Bonnie M. Baker Mary & Fred Behm Douglas Bletcher Joyce Chelberg The Costante-Champi Family Giving Fund Michael & Susan Delahanty Ann Fairhurst & Mark Cipra Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. Illinois Arts Council Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Cynthia Knight Dr. & Mrs. Richard J. Lederman Gina Leonetti George I. Litman, M.D. In honor of Barbara Feld Daniel McCroskey In memory of Jane McCroskey
Marilyn & Tom McLaughlin Ellen & Mike Meehan Peg’s Foundation Dale Perram & Marcia Blum Bruce Raymer Drs. Jonathan & Elisa Ross Dr. Michael J. Seider The Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby Dr. & Mrs. James & Rita Sheinin David Simmons The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Sonjia Smith Dr. Jeanne Sorrell Drs. Frederick & Elizabeth Specht In honor of Barbara Feld Karen & Richard Spector R. Thomas & Meg Stanton Elizabeth Walder Ed & Ellen Weber VERSAILLES CIRCLE ($5,000 – $9,999) Anonymous Michael Angell Kate & Ric Asbeck Drs. Stephen & Judy Bundra Catharina Caldwell Amy & Eric Carlson Homer Chisholm & Gertrude Kalnow Chisholm Tom & Karen Clark The Mary S. & David C. Corbin Foundation Mrs. Mary & Dr. George L. Demetros Charitable Trust Ralph Deskin Ann Fairhurst & Mark Cipra Barbara & Denis Feld Vivian & Malcolm Henoch The Hankins Foundation Jane Hubben Stephen & Maria Lans Dr. Miloslava Mervart Northern Trust Lori & Dan Nelson John & Linda Olejko Gary & Shay Olson Gertrude F. Orr Trust Advised Fund of the Akron Community Foundation Bill & Sandra Powel Mrs. Alfred M. Rankin†
Noha & Phil Ryder Albert G. & Olive H. Schlink Foundation Kenneth E. Shafer, M.D. Ryan Siebel The Sisler McFawn Foundation Sandra Smith Michael Taylor Carol Vandenberg Gregory Videtic, M.D. ESTERHAZY CIRCLE ($2,500 – $4,999) Anonymous Peter & Jane Anagnostos Baker Hostetler Donna Batson Karl & Amanda Bekeny Stephen & Jeanne Bucchieri Frances S. Buchholzer Cerity Partners LLC Chengelis Scientific Services LLC Michael & Susan Clark Bill Conway Douglas Cooper Frances G. & Lewis Allen Davies Ralph Deskin DLR Group Sarah & Robert Dresing Diane & Michael Ellis Feth Family Foundation Harry K. & Emma R. Fox Charitable Foundation Theodore & Teresa Good Jane Haylor & Mel Berger In memory of Sheldon & Marilyn MacLeod Byron G. Hays Dorothy & DuWayne Hanson Drs. Ka-Pi Hoh & Brian Perry Erin Horan Donna Jackson KPMG The Lehner Family Foundation Meng “Locky” Liu Fred & Pearl Livingstone Annette Lowe & Doug Dolch Lubrizol Susan McGill Patti & Hadley Morgenstern-Clarren David Nash Brendan & Elizabeth Patterson
Peggy M. Porter Chuck & Ilana Horowitz Ratner David Reimer & Raffaele DiLallo Phil & Noha Ryder Richard & Deborah Schroeder Patricia Skigen Lucy & Dan Sondles R. Thomas & Meg Stanton Sarah N. Steiner Rebecca K. Storey & Neal Simpson Synthomer Foundation Elizabeth & Michael Taipale Tucker Ellis Bradley Upham Libby & Ed Upton The Welty Family Foundation David & Judy Young
Elizabeth Osborne Don & Anne Palmer Tom & Deborah Park Jim & Kathy Pender John S. Perko Melodie Phillips In honor of Cynthia Knight and Rees Taylor Roberts James & Leslie Pickard Katrina Pipasts Thomas & Kate Pitrone Barbara Pittman William Plesec & Susan Stechschulte Sally & Derek Rance Fred Rasio Frank & Yolita Rausche The RDM Foundation Roger & Sally Read Roger F. Ream, D.D.S. Dr. Diana C. Reep Dr. Robert W. Reynolds Jane N. Richmond Melissa Richmond & Bill Watterson Charles E. & Mabel M. Ritchie Memorial Foundation Christine & Bill Robertson Margaret Robinson Rick & Alita Rogers Alan Rocke & Cristine Rom Diane & Todd Rosenberg Richard Rosenberg James Rosenthal & Annie Fullard Kasia G. & Douglas Rothenberg Nan & Peter Ryerson Richard & Tamara Rynearson Anthony Salem Betsy Sampliner Lynne F. & Ralph Schatz Paul Secunde Alice S. Sherman Frank Shoemaker Lloyd L. & Louise K. Smith Foundation Tom & Judy Spaulding Jane Peterson & Phil Star George Stark Allyson Stewart Terry & Jamie Stoller Jeffrey Strauss Susan Troia Anne Unverzagt John P. & Verna Vanderkooi Chuck Vergon Felix & Inna Vilinsky Sam Wainer Anne & Ed Wardwell Lucy & Chuck Weller Dr. Ann Williams
Apollo's Fire s 33
MEDICI CIRCLE ($1,000 – $2,499) Anonymous Bonnie & Chuck Abbey Joan Allgood Dave Mulligan & Kim Arnowitt Richard & Eleanor Aron Patricia Ashton Michael Bakes Stephen Ban Peter & Mindy Bartholomae James H. Bates Bath Community Fund Mark & Kathleen Binnig John & Susan Blackwell Mitch & Liz Blair Zeda Blau John & Claudia Boatright Arthur V. N. Brooks† In memoriam Mr. & Mrs. William D. Buss II James Calhoun Claudia Cash Judy & Bob Ciulla Fred & Kathryn Clarke Dr. Anne Clouser Herb & Ursula Cohrs Derek Cottier & Laura Tilly Harry Core Thomas M. & Janet S. Daniel The Deveny Family Henry C. Doll Dorris Donnelly Brian & Carol Duffy John J. Dyer, Jr. Keith Eggeman David & Marilyn Elk Lilly Eng John & Lee Ann Eyre Marilynne Felderman Susan P. Flowers
Casey Forbes & Signe Wrolstad-Forbes Bonnie Forkosh Dorothy & John Gardner William Gaskill & Kathleen Burke Margerita Gerborg Barbara Hawley & David Goodman Andrew Gordon-Seifert Bob Graf & Mia Zaper Graf Ann & Richard Gridley Marguerite & John Harkness Samuel & Kimberly Hartwell Sandra V. Hazra, M.D. Peter & Sunnie Hellman Paul Herman Martin & Maria Hoke Mr. Richard R. Hollington, Jr. Marsha G. & Thomas E. Hopkins Herbert J. Hoppe, Jr. Erica Hartman-Horvitz & Richard Horvitz Michael & Jane Horvitz Mrs. M. B. Humphrey* Melanie Ingalls Anne Juster Lori Kalberer In honor of Clara Rankin Walter Keith John & Linda Kelly Thomas Forrest Kelly, Ph.D. Janet Lowder & David Kinkaid Ilona Kisis Rabbi Roger C. Klein & Jacqueline Loewy Rick & Ellen Knapp In honor of Ed & Ellen Weber Raymond & Katharine Kolcaba Ursula Korneitchouk Rodger Kowall Marlene Krause Manning & John Kundtz Scott & Betsy Lassar Joan C. Long Karl & Anna Losely Rev. Richard Lutz Mary Ann Mahoney† Robert Toma & Christine Marsick Kevin Martin Dr. Susan McClary Robert Meisel Douglas Miller & Ellen Burke Marjorie Moskovitz & Joe Kanfer Deborah L. Neale Nordson Corporation Foundation Edward J. Olszewski Marilyn Orr
Thank you to our Generous Supporters (continued)
34 s Apollo's Fire
Robert C. & Emily C. Williams David & Kathleen Yonto Janice Young Richard & Mary Zigmond BRANDENBURG CIRCLE ($500 – $999) Anonymous Sue Aluzri Cynthia Ball Stephen Ban Carol Barnak Cheryl & Robert Barsan Bruce Baumberger & Ann Weatherhead Karl & Amanda Bekeny Erol & Laura Beytas Suzanne Bible Henry Billingsley & Karen Kidwell Dennis & Madeline Block Allayne & Douglas Wick Foundation Caroline Borrow Lisa & Ron Boyko Michael & Jacklyn Brennan Kelly & Doug Brill Leslie S. Brown Nancy E. Brown Paula Christ Monica & Edward Chuhna Michael Coleman Pam and David O’Halloran Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis Cassandra Crowley William D’Agostino Gary Davis & Jane Cooper Mark DelPrincipe Mary Dold Patricia Dorner Adrienne Dziak Barbara Eaton Dagmar Fellowes Timothy Fox Steven & Harriet Friedman Edie & Rich Gibbs Anne & Walter Ginn Peter & Francine Gray Rusty Greene Thomas Hoyt & Katharine Brooks Jones Family Fund Kurt Haas & Dierdre Pim Suzanne Hamilton & Char Ligo Merritt Harbert Jan Harding Nora Harmon-Bayer Dale Hedding Richard & Laurette Hershey Betty M. Hess Fred Heupler, M.D.
Drs. Adrianna & Geoffrey Hewings Gale & Jim Jacobsohn Carol Jasin Geraldine Kiefer Lynne Killgore & David Michel Marlene Krause Ed Larson & Janice Radak Jody Lefort & Ken Gober Pam LeRose & Tim Nichols Lawrence & Susan Liden Maria & Jonathan Litt Dolores Bielecki & Stephen Lorton Kathryn Machado Charles & Susan Marston Virginia & James Meil Moran Family Fund Stephen & Celeste Myers Denise & Douglas Nash Patrick & Judith O’Hara Susan Owen Mr. Franklyn Perry Barbara Peskin Ed Ponce & Mary Ann Quinn Ponce Mark & Claire Purdy Fund Dr. Diana C. Reep Michael & Dawn Rickman Margaret Robinson Phillip Rowland-Seymour Joan Safford Mary Schafer Betty & Dave Schneider Janet & Larry Sheir Mr. & Mrs. James Simler Jane Peterson & Phil Star Jeffrey Talbert Rebecca & Jeffrey Talbert Helena Torres-Trejo Donald Treap Susan & Dave Turner Hon. & Mrs. William F. B. Vodrey Sarah Vradenburg Anne & Ed Wardwell Michael Warner Mr. & Mrs. Larry S. Weiss Alan Wilde & Stephanie Switzer BUCKINGHAM CIRCLE ($250 – $499) Anonymous Anonymous In memory of Adam Shea Hewett Atty. LuWayne Annos Patricia Ashton Julianna Baillis Andrew & Ilze Bekeny Victoria & James Bell
Roger Bielefeld Robert & Susan Boltz The Echle-Walters Family Fund Terry & Christine Bowman Gisela Brodin-Brosnan Tom & Mary Brooks Bill & Carol Bruml James & Judy Burghart James Burke Ruth Cantleberry & Bud Stern Michael & Kareen Caputo Cindy & Tim Carr Jim & Berni Cockey Mrs. Betty Dalzell Barbara Ann Davis Patricia Deems James Denton Amy & Michael Diamant Duesenberg Family Charitable Fund Elinore Evans & John N. Rampe George Faddoul Robert & Marcia Fein Thomas Frattare Ann Gillespie Daniel & Kathleen Gisser Susan & Jeffrey Gumbiner John Gundy Peter & Lee Haas Louise E. Hamel Michael Hayes James & Ina Heup John Hibshman Gary & Anne Hinton Edith F. Hirsch Carole F. Hoover Stephen Hotchkiss Hope Hungerford Anne Hunter Byron H. & Diane F. Jackson Delia Johnson Ronna Kaplan & David Biegel Catherine Keating & Charles King Joseph & Nancy Keithley Charles Keller & Gayle Comstock Eric & Sue Kisch Karen Knobloch Lisa Kohn Robert I. Kohn Family Giving Fund Melodee Kornacker Jim & Rhonda Kroeger Carolyn & Steve Kuerbitz Richard Kus Martha Jane Lavelle Alan Lettofsky Richard Lilley & Carmen Letelier Richelle Lincoln Sandy Lindahl
Elona K. Lucas, PhD Jimmy Madsen Elizabeth K. Mann Tony Marini Frederic Markowitz Timothy Minnis Carole & George Morris Ken Mountcastle John Mroczka Laszlo & Jenn Nagy Florence Nelson Charlene & Marv Nevans Judith & Alfred Nicely Richard & Joanne Prober Bill & Jan Resseger Dr. Clare M. Rimnac & Dr. Thomas M. Hering Rees Taylor Roberts
Bobbie Rudnick Bryan & Sarah Salisbury Martin I. Saltzman, M.D. Jeffrey & Marilyn Sands Suzanne Maris Santos Monica & Mark Schie Dr. Adrian M. Schnall Barbara Schwaderer & Craig McGirr David Sinclair Mike Slattery Leslie Smith Juan Solana & Rosalind Jackson Mr. & Mrs. William Spatz Linda Sperry Kathleen St. John Mickey Stefanik Alan Steffen
Eileen Stork Susan Subak Richard Sullivan Dave & Reanetta Taylor Karen Trinkle Kok-Chi Tsim Richard Uza Susan H. Vonnegut Evelyn & Churchill Ward Ms. Jacqueline Weiner Lois S. Wolf Laura & Danno Wolkoff Sharon K. Yarnell Mary & Carl Yost John & Jane Zuzek †In memoriam
Innkeepers Apollo’s Fire thanks the following patrons who generously provide accommodations for our musicians. For information about becoming an Innkeeper or Charioteer, please contact Rees Roberts at RRoberts@apollosfire.org. Noha & Phil Ryder • Diane and Michael Ellis • Charlotte and Jack Newman Mark and Kathleen Binnig • Don Nash • Christine & Richard Elliott Anne Unverzagt • Deb & Gary Franke • Linda Sandhaus & Roland Philip Chuck & Christy Bittenbender • Jane Richmond • Judy & David Young Edward Weber • Terry Boyarsky • Alisa Warshay • Tony Wesley & Al Cowger Dr. Kandice Marchant • Stuart Hamilton • Linda Miller & Steven Forgerson Alex & Jenny Ogan • Bob Galivan & Myriam Ribenboim Kasia Gustaw & Douglas Rothenberg • Priscilla Kaczuk Jane Haylor & Mel Berger • Astri Seidenfeld • Mia Buchwald Gelles
Apollo's Fire s 35
Joe & Donna Pacchioni • Judith & Robert Weiss • Debbie & Cooper White
Foundations, Government, & Other Organizations Apollo's Fire is grateful to the following funders who have made this season possible:
$100,000 & above
$50,000-$99,999
$20,000-$49,999
$10,000-$19,999 Akron Community Foundation Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. Illinois Arts Council
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Peg's Foundation
$5,000-$9,999 The Mary S. & David C. Corbin Foundation Mrs. Mary & Dr. George L. Demetros Charitable Trust
The Hankins Foundation The Sisler McFawn Foundation
$2,000-$4,999
36 s Apollo's Fire
BakerHostetler Bath Community Fund BNY Mellon Community Impact Program Feth Family Foundation Harry K. & Emma R. Fox Charitable Foundation KPMG International The Lehner Family Foundation
Lubrizol McMaster-Carr Supply Company Charles E. & Mabel M. Ritchie Memorial Foundation Synthomer Foundation Tucker Ellis Welty Family Foundation
Media Partners Ideastream Public Media
WFMT Radio Network
This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Administration ALLISON RICHARDS, Managing Director* DEVELOPMENT David Sands, Senior Advancement Manager, Chicago Rees Taylor Roberts, Development Manager MARKETING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Wendy Parkulo, Director of Marketing & Community Engagement Tikal Rivera, Marketing & Community Relations Manager, Chicago Hanna Bingham, Social Media Consultant BOX OFFICE Kelly Cosgrove, Patron Services Manager Gigi Kokai, Box Office and Community Engagement Coordinator ARTISTIC, PRODUCTION, & TOURING Kari Fitterer, Director of Artistic Operations & Touring Natalie Stepaniak, Artistic Operations Associate Tom Frattare, Production Stage Manager Erica Brenner, Director of Media Production FINANCE Martins Daukss, Finance Manager Sarah Emig, Bookkeeping Associate *Beginning October 25
Apollo's Fire s 37
3091 Mayfield Road, Suite 217 | Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 216.320.0012 | apollosfire.org
Board of Directors President & Chair Michael J. Meehan Chair Emeritus Charles A. Bittenbender Vice Presidents Elisa Ross Noha Ryder Treasurer Charles R. Abbey Secretary Karl A. Bekeny
James B. Rosenthal Phillip Rowland-Seymour Ryan Siebel Jeannette Sorrell* Kathie Stewart** Rebecca Storey Herb Wainer Edward Weber, D.O. Apollo’s Fire Chicago Elisa Ross M.D., President Doug Miller, Vice President Marietta McPike, Secretary Shay Olson, Treasurer
Anthony Calanni Amy Carlson Mike Angell Claudia Cash John Boatright Thomas Clark* Claudia Boatright Nichole Divall** Stephanie Champi Arthur Gibbs Blondean Davis, Ed.D. Andrew Gordon-Seifert Michael J. Meehan Ka-Pi Hoh, Ph.D. Florence Nelson Thomas Forrest Kelly, Ph.D. Carlos Romero Richard J. Lederman, M.D., Ph.D. Marlon Rucker Kevin Martin James C. Sheinin, M.D. Shay Olson Patricia “Patti” Skigen David Reimer Jeannette Sorrell* Phillip Rowland-Seymour Community Advisor Rodrigo Lara Alonso
Akron Advisory Board Thomas Clark, Chair Theron Brown Susan Delahanty Ashlee Foreman William Foster Walter Keith George Litman, M.D. The Rev. Dr. Sandra Selby Kenneth E. Shafer. M.D. Sandra R. Smith Libby Upton The Ambassadors Council Mitchell G. Blair Frances E. Buchholzer William E. Conway Samuel S. Hartwell Vivian Henoch Rabbi Roger C. Klein Annette Lowe Deborah H. Nash John Olejko Linda M. Olejko Robert Reynolds, M.D. Kasia G. Rothenberg, M.D. Sandra R. Smith Susan Troia Edward Weber, D.O. Allison Richards* *ex officio **Musicians’ Representative
Continuo Society
38 s Apollo's Fire
Apollo’s Fire recognizes and sends continued thanks to all former members of the Board of Directors who have so generously contributed their time, talents and financial resources over the years. Just as the continuo is the foundation of baroque music, these visionary individuals, through their service on the board, have been the foundation of Apollo’s Fire. Thomas S. Allen Bonnie Baker James Berlinski William P. Blair III† Christine Brez Arthur V. N. Brooks† Sally Brown† Richard Buffett Thomas Clark Nancy Bell Coe Ronald Crutcher T. Clifford Deveny, M.D. Clarence Drichta Ross W. Duffin James Ehrman Ann Fairhurst Suzanne Ferguson William J. Flemm
Mark Floyd Donald Laubacher John Gibbon William H. Lennon Robert C. Gilkeson, M.D. Fred J. Livingstone Scott Gonia David Love Joyce Graham Michael Lynn Paula Grooms Stephen A. Mahoney, M.D.† Norman C. Harbert† Polly Morganstern Russell Hardy Donald W. Morrison† Samuel Harris Clyde L. Nash, M.D.† Jonathan Hatch Charlotte Newman John D. Heavenrich Leroy B. Parks, Jr. Marguerite B. Humphrey† Brendan Patterson Conway Ivy Thomas F. Peterson, Jr.† Denise Jackson Jane Pickering Robert H. Jackson† Ronald Potts, M.D. Delia Jarantilla Sanford Reichart† Marjorie H. Kitchell† Robert Reynolds, M.D. Katherine Larson Shawn Riley
Richard Rodda Alex Sales, D.D.S. Sandra F. Selby William Sheldon, M.D. John Shelley Daniel Shoskes Carsten Sierck Kempton Smith Kathie Lynne Stewart Eugenia Strauss Susan Troia Robert Walcott Lee Warshawsky Carol Wipper Lynne Woodman Roger Wright Dave Young †
in memoriam
COMING IN NOVEMBER
Vivaldi’s
Four Seasons
rediscovered
As heard in cities across the U.S., Alan Choo & Jeannette Sorrell present Vivaldi’s beloved Four Seasons as revolutionary acts of musical storytelling – bringing Vivaldi’s pictorial descriptions to life. If you thought you knew the Four Seasons, be prepared for surprises! From the bird calls and storms to a barking dog, flies and wasps, drunken peasants, an exhilarating fox hunt with “gunshots,” and more… the story that Vivaldi intended with these pieces is made clear as each concerto is preceded by a quick and polished “tour” of the sound effects to come.
Friday, November 6, 7:30pm Friday, November 13, 7:30pm
The BATH Church (UCC) LAKEWOOD United Methodist Church
Tickets at 216.320.0012 | apollosfire.org
INVEST ENGAGE INNOVATE LEAD
Program Spotlight: POETRY OUT LOUD Cameron Goehring of Mount Healthy High School (Hamilton County) reciting a poem as part of a special Poetry Showcase during the Ohio State Fair. He participated in the 2022 Poetry Out Loud statewide competition.
Investing state and federal dollars, the Ohio Arts Council funds and supports quality arts experiences for all Ohioans to strengthen communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Learn more about our grant programs and resources, find your next arts experience, or connect: OAC.OHIO.GOV.