2023-24 Annual Impact Report

Elliot Cole’s “Flower Pot Music” being performed at the ENVZN Festival

DEAR FRIENDS,

Kate Hatmaker Co-founder, Executive Director & Artistic Director

ABOUT

Known for its collaborative spirit, Art of Elan has been pioneering unique events and bringing exciting classical music to diverse audiences for over 16 years through innovative partnerships and bi-national initiatives that have cultivated curious audiences on both sides of the border Its consistent track record of sold-out performances stems from its commitment to commissioning new work, collaborating with world class artists and composers, programming engaging and thought-provoking concerts, and expanding its impact in the region through thoughtful community engagement programs. By drawing inspiration from the word élan, which represents momentum, style, and spirit, Art of Elan continues to engage and energize audiences in new ways

MISSION

The mission of Art of Elan is to build community through music and enrich the cultural life of San Diego by presenting exciting and exceptional chamber music concerts, simultaneously educating and exposing diverse audiences to classical music through innovative programming, the commissioning of new works, unique performance venues and personal connections with concertgoers

TEAM

Kate Hatmaker Co-founder, Executive Director & Artistic Director

Fiona Digney Managing Director & Artistic Producer

Anahita Pestonjamasp Accounting & Donor Relations Coordinator

Emily Persinko Marketing Associate

Vince Martinez Social Media & Design

Jason Boucher Production Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Chute, chair; T. Hampton Dohrman, Kate Hatmaker, Greg Markow, Cynthia Obadia, Peter Otto, Ann Preisman, James Robbins

ADVISORY BOARD

Claude Benchimol, W. Gregory Berton, Gordon Brodfuehrer, Elizabeth Brown, Kathleen Charla, Harold Fuson, Pam Fuson, Jory Herman, Barbara Katz, Jennifer Luce, Demarre McGill, Deborah Pate, Tommy Phillips, Toni Robin, Jeanette Stevens, Debra Thomas, Alan Ziter

ART OF ELAN AFFILIATED ARTISTS

2023-24 SEASON

Issac Allen, violin

Fernanda Baltodano, YAH teaching artist

Jay Campbell, cello

Mitchell Carlstrom, percussion

Chi-Yuan Chen, viola

Chia-Ling Chien, cello

Tina Chong, piano

Angela Choong, viola

Megan Conley, harp

Shawn Conley, double bass

Christina Courtin, violin/vocals

John Degnan, French horn

Fiona Digney, percussion

Tommy Dougherty, violin

Kevin Gobetz, double bass

Bram Goldstein, violin

Alex Greenbaum, cello

Kate Hatmaker, violin

Andrew Hayhurst, cello

Sam Hager, double bass

Colin Jacobsen, violin

Jason Karlyn, viola

Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, double bass

Jordan Kuspa, cello

John Lee, cello

Rose Lombardo, flute

Wei Lu, violin

Batya MacAdam-Somer, viola

Andrew Munsey, percussion

Alex Noice, guitar

Maile Okamura, dancer

Max Opferkuch, clarinet

Christopher Otto, violin

Andrea Overturf, English horn

Julia Pautz, violin

John Pickford Richards, viola

Wesley Precourt, violin

David Rich, YAH teaching artist

Stephanie Richards, trumpet

San Diego Children’s Choir

Nicole Sauder, violin

Ryan Simmons, bassoon

Sarah Skuster, oboe

Julie Smith Phillips, harp

Hanah Stuart, viola

Pei-Chun Tsai, violin

Kojiro Umezaki, shakuhachi

Andy Watkins, percussion

Joshua White, piano

John Wilson, piano

Susan Wulff, double bass

Austin Wulliman, violin

Jing Yan Bowcott, violin

Jisun Yang, violin

Cherry Yeung, violin

Camilo Zamudio, percussion

Chelsea Zeffiro, dancer

Yao Zhao, cello

Xian Zhuo, cello

Max Opferkuch (clarinet) and Rose Lombardo (flute) at The San Diego Museum

BY THE NUMBERS

50 Years of collaboration with ARTS for our Young Artists in Harmony Program

Years of art-inspired programming

World premieres of commissioned works

Original compositions created by Young Artists in Harmony participants

Unique, cross-disciplinary, and collaborative productions

Musicians show-cased

Public concerts

Streams on Art of Elan’s free music app thanks to online

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Individual giving accounts for more than half of our annual budget. It is because of YOU that we can continue to Build Community Through Music.

Numbers for Total revenue 2014-2024 go here

HELP US BROADEN OUR IMPACT

Even a small donation will help Art of Elan fulfill its mission of building community through music

Art of Elan is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and, as such, all contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law

Tax ID: 20-8136710

Donations can be made online at www artofelan org, and are also gratefully accepted at:

Art of Elan 6165 Radcliffe Dr San Diego, CA 92122

SCAN THE QR CODE TO MAKE A DONATION TODAY!

Wei Lu (violin), Zao Zhao (cello), and John Wilson (piano) performing at Art of Elan’s gratitude event at Mingei

Museum

SEASON 17 HIGHLIGHTS

Art of Elan’s 17th Season aimed to inspire with a year-long musical journey that was both grounding and uplifting Featuring beloved masterpieces alongside newly commissioned works, this special season was marked by a renewed commitment to authentic collaborations and meaningful, relevant programming for the San Diego community and online listeners everywhere Highlights include:

Participating in Vanguard Culture’s ENVZN Festival, joining more than 40 visionary artists and arts organizations from both sides of the U.S./Mexico border for a one-of-a-kind visual & performing arts festival

Presenting four events as part of the inaugural California Festival - a collaboration between the San Diego Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony

Presenting 15 thought-provoking concerts

Producing five world premieres, with three Art of Elan commissioned works

First-time collaborations with JACK Quartet and Ocean Music Action

Art of Elan receiving its second National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant

CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL

Art of Elan presented four events in November of 2023, as part of the inaugural California Festival, a statewide music initiative showcasing the most compelling and forward-looking voices in performances of works written in the past five years Created as a collaboration between the San Diego Symphony, LA Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony, the festival had over 100 participating organizations across the state of California The festival featured orchestras and musical organizations throughout California and a collection of new music from around the world, showcasing today’s most compelling and forward-looking voices in performances of works written within the past five years

In The Here & Now

Sunday | November 5, 2023

Art of Elan performed at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park for a community day event called ‘In the Hear and Now’ in collaboration with the San Diego Symphony, featuring a wide variety of composers whose new works collectively shape the soundtrack of our lives. From the spellbinding sounds of Juhi Bansal to the whirling folk melodies of Erberk Eryilmaz, and a world premiere of “Crossroads” by Nahre Sol, this colorful program reminded us of our diversity, our shared humanity, and our ability to celebrate both.

Downtown Sounds

Wednesday | November 15, 2023

Art of Elan’s popular downtown series returned to the Luce Loft with Downtown Sounds, an evening of thought-provoking new music that featured the world premiere of works by Jory Herman (LA Phil bassist and composer) and Mason Bynes (multimedia composer), along with new music by trumpeter Steph Richards, drummer Andrew Munsey, and others.

Young Artists in Harmony

Saturday | November 18, 2023

On November 18th, the Young Artists in Harmony program had its culminating concert for Fall 2023 participants at A Reason to Survive (ARTS) in National City, with world premiere works by student composers, performed by Art of Elan musicians.

Art of Elan “Creating Sound” with Artist Danielle Dean

Saturday | November 18, 2023

In Encinitas, Art of Elan musicians workshopped Mason Bynes ‘Black Goo’, a newly commissioned piece by Art of Elan, as a film score for ICA San Diego artist-in-residence Danielle Dean, whose work draws from her multinational and multiracial heritage to explore colonization, consumption and our shared humanity.

Art of Elan performs at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park for ‘In the Hear and Now’

Steph Richards performs at ‘Downtown Sounds’

Art of Elan musicians perform at ‘Creating Sound’ with artist Danielle Dean

DEATH AND THE MAIDEN AT THE JAI

Art of Elan returned to The JAI at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on January 16, 2024 with a performance that featured the epic “Death and the Maiden” string quartet by Franz Schubert. This powerful program intentionally set the 200 year-old work in an intimate, contemporary cabaret space where listeners were asked to bring fresh ears to the experience. A complimentary pre-concert talk in the Wu Tsai Courtyard further demystified this poignant work, as well as a post-concert Q & A with performing artists Wes Precourt, Kate Hatmaker, Hanah Stuart and Alex Greenbaum.

Photographed: Wesley Precourt (violin), Kate Hatmaker (violin), Alex Greenbaum (cello), and Hanah Stewart (viola) perform Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, “Death and the Maiden”

The Preuss School UC San Diego art students partnered with Art of Elan for our presentation of Schubert's “Death and the Maiden” at The JAI at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Students found inspiration in Schubert's unconventional composition and the Gothic architecture of the venue, leading to the creation of an art panel installation that was displayed at The JAI during the concert. Seeking to step out of their comfort zones, the students chose polycarbonate as an artistic medium, reflecting Schubert's departure from classical norms for “Death and the Maiden”. This project served as a valuable practice in exploration for the students, blending tradition with contemporary elements.

Students working on the art panel installation at The Preuss School UC San Diego

ART OF ELAN AT THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART

I doubt the museum has ever hosted such raucous, ebullient music–and it was thrilling!

—Ken Herman, San Diego Story

Art & Movement - Art of Elan returns to the San Diego Museum of Art with two special concerts that explore the intersection of art and movement. Taking inspiration from artists Helen Frankenthaler and George Rickey, listeners are invited on a musical journey that highlights kinetic energy as a means of expression, re-invigorating us individually and collectively

Rhythmic Musings

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Tied to Helen Frankenthaler's '“Warming of the Wires”, this colorful program featured the whirling folk melodies of Erberk Eryilmaz alongside the soaring sounds of Kevin Puts and the rhythmic games of Steve Reich. Milhaud's playful "7th String Quartet " received its San Diego debut on this rhapsodic program that also features Vincent Persichetti's "Serenade for flute and harp "

Balancing

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Tied to George Rickey's sculpture "Two Lines Oblique: San Diego," this diverse program, titled, “Balancing”, featured music by Arthur Honegger, Reena Esmail, Osvaldo Golijov, and Nahre Sol Alyssa Morris' "Motion" for winds added a playful element to this musical mosaic which was held in the rotunda of the museum

Photographed: Art of Elan musicians perform at The San Diego Museum of Art performances, ‘Rhythmic Musings” and “Balancing”

ART OF ELAN AT MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM

Maps & Memories at Mingei International Museum

Thursday, October 19, 2023

"Maps & Memories” was inspired by Mingei International Museum’s Washi Transformed exhibit featuring highly textured two-dimensional works, expressive sculptures, and dramatic installations that explore the astonishing potential of Japanese handmade paper, known as washi.

This concert featured the San Diego Children’s Choir in works by Ilse Weber, as well as “Six Japanese Gardens” for solo percussion by Kaija Saariaho, performed by percussionist Mitchell Carlstrom, and the Hausmann Quartet accompanied renowned composer and shakuachi player, Kojiro Umezaki for a performance of his work titled, “(Cycles) What falls must rise” written by Umezaki for shakuhachi, string quartet, and electronics.

Songs of Hope

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Tied to Mingei International Museum’s cross-border exhibit (LA FRONTERA) that showcases handmade jewelry from artists on both sides of the U.S. / Mexico border, this program amplified a variety of voices, featuring the world premiere of an Art of Elan commissioned work by composer Michi Wiancko for solo harp, in addition to works by Sarah Kirkland Snider, Lei Liang, Kian Ravaei and others.

Photos: Kojiro Umezaki (shakuachi) and Mitchell Carlstrom (percussion) perform at “Maps & Memories”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTERS:

SAMUEL I. AND JOHN HENRY FOX FOUNDATION

PRATT MEMORIAL FUND

THE SCHOENITH FOUNDATION

ELAINE BALDWIN

Young Artists in Harmony Spring 2024 concert

YOUNG ARTISTS IN HARMONY

For the past nine years, Art of Elan has offered its “Young Artists in Harmony” (YAH) program in partnership with the nationally recognized A Reason To Survive (ARTS), an organization that believes in the power of the arts and creativity to literally transform lives YAH consists of weekly workshops where high school and community college students have the opportunity to explore musical composition with professional musicians, to create and be part of a professionally recorded public performance, to meet and collaborate with other like-minded music students of high school and college age, and to build a musical composition portfolio Participants in YAH receive weekly mentoring and coaching from professional Art of Elan musicians who workshop and provide feedback on student works This unique program culminates each semester with a multidisciplinary and collaborative concert that showcases original compositions the students create over the 6-10 week period, performed by Art of Elan musicians Each concert is professionally recorded and is available for free streaming and download on Instant Encore

I’m grateful to have the privilege of being in this program to compose music to be performed by such amazing artists. Getting to meet so many likeminded people and hear my pieces come to life is truly something else.

—Kian Ouano, Olympian High School

Young Artists in Harmony participant, Hernán Martinez Osnaya, introduces his piece during the Spring 2024 concert

STAY CONNECTED

Art of Elan records and shares audio from concerts for FREE on InstantEncore so you never have to miss the music. Download our free Art of Elan app to listen the fast, easy way.

Find the music at: www.instantencore.com/artofelan

All audio recordings by Rumley Music and Audio Production

Visit Art of Elan’s YouTube channel to watch concert videos from every concert this season! Subscribe to receive notifications when new videos are posted.

Find videos at: www.youtube.com/artofelanmusic

All Video Recordings by Definite.media

Daniel Rumley of Rumley Music and Audio Production

JACK QUARTET

Art of Elan and ArtPower’s first-ever collaboration brought the renowned JACK Quartet to San Diego for an evening of music titled “Modern Medieval,” where connections of musicality and thought between European composers of the past and the voices of American music today were explored in this one-hour program that included music by Caroline Shaw as well as Gabriella Smith

JACK Quartet at The Birch Aquarium

OCEAN MUSIC ACTION RESIDENCY

This season, Art of Elan was thrilled to partner with Ocean Music Action, a non-profit organization dedicated to using the transformative power of music to inspire action on issues around climate and conservation. Its unique chamber music concerts are highly interactive and are paired with a voluntary social action day in which artists and audience join together to help the planet, reminding us all to be better stewards of our precious natural resources.

Ocean Music Action @ ICA San Diego / North Friday, May 31, 2024

Ocean Music Action’s ‘Everlasting’ program was inspired by the interconnectedness of all living things and the evolution of this relationship over time. A quartet of internationally renowned musicians (Megan Conley, harp; Shawn Conley, bass; Christina Courtin, violin/vocals; and Colin Jacobsen, violin) as well as dancer Maile Okamura performed music that honors our forests, oceans, and the creatures that depend on them. This program was centered around a newly commissioned work by Christina Courtin and serves as a beautiful and poignant reminder of our deep connection to nature and to one another.

Ocean Music Action + Surfrider San Diego Beach Cleanup

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Art of Elan and Ocean Music Action artists partnered with Surfrider San Diego for a beach cleanup at Saratoga Park. The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.

Ocean Music Action Family Concert @ San Diego Museum of Art

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Tied to the environmentally focused work of artist Fernando Casasempere, Art of Elan and The San Diego Museum of Art presented Ocean Music Action for an interactive family concert of music inspired by the beauty and wonder of our natural world. For this hour-long program in the May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden, children were encouraged to get up and move to the m included a singalong an

Photos: Ocean Music Action performs

LUMINARIA CIRCLE

As part of its mission to keep classical music exciting and relevant, Art of Elan has made a commitment since its inception to commission at least one new work a year As a result, numerous relationships have developed with both emerging and established composers, including David Bruce, Shih-Hui Chen, Lei Liang, Geoffrey Keezer, Jonathan Holland, Joseph Hallman, Kurt Stallmann, Lev “Ljova” Zhurbin, and Chris Brubeck among others. The Luminaria Circle supports these commissioning projects with membership at $1,000 that goes directly towards creating new works As a Luminary, members receive unique behindthe-scenes access to rehearsals of commissioned works, as well as private events with the composer, Artistic Director, and performing musicians

Three new Art of Elan commissioned works performed during the 2023-24 season:

Xerces Blue by Michi Wiancko, premiered in April 2024

Jeez by Jory Herman, premiered in November 2023

Black Goo by Mason Bynes, premiered in November 2023

Other Recent Art of Elan Commissioned Works:

Detroit by Yale Strom (2023)

Grace by Rand Steiger (2022)

Wistfully Yours by Jory Herman (2021)

Two Roads by LJOVA (2021)

Jabberwocky by Andrea González (2021)

Hidden Mothers by Steven Snowden (2020)

Dew, Time, Linger by Adele Faizullina (2020)

Precise Sentiments by Timo Andres (2020)

Starlighter by Colin Jacobsen (2019)

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Dan Visconti (2018)

Bruja by Andrés Martín (2018)

Tree Suite by Hannah Lash (2017)

First Light by Joel P. West (2017)

Variations on a Simple Theme by Avner Dorman (2017)

Petal by Petal, Leaf by Leaf by Lei Liang (2017)

Beat Suite #2 by AJ Nilles (2017)

ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS

commissioned by Art of Elan between 2009 and 2024

LUMINARIA CIRCLE

2023-2024 MEMBERS

Claude & Veronique Benchimol

Gordon Brodfuehrer

James Chute & Holly McMillan

Kathleen Charla

Hal & Pam Fuson

Eric Lasley & Judith Bachner

Julianne & Greg Markow

Cynthia Obadia

Deborah Pate & John Forrest

Tommy & Julie Phillips

Audrey Ratner

James Robbins

Jeanette Stevens

Terri Tunnicliff & Peter Otto

Mason Bynes (multimedia composer) at Luce Loft and ICA San Diego /North for the premiere of her new work ‘Black Goo’