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Dead Serious: A Halloween Concert

November 2, 2025 at 5pm

Rudder Auditorium

Symphony Experience

CONCERT COURTESY

We strive to provide the best possible listening experience. Please silence all phones and electronic devices before the performance begins. Cough drops, candy wrappers, or other noises can be distracting to musicians and fellow patrons. Out of tradition, applause is usually reserved for the end of a work rather than between movements — but if you are truly moved by the performance, don’t be afraid to show it!

FOOD & DRINK POLICY

Food and drinks are not permitted inside the auditorium or theatre. Water is allowed, but please avoid plastic bottles that may cause noise during the performance.

LOST & FOUND

Lost items may be claimed through the Rudder Theatre Complex office.

ACCESSIBILITY

Wheelchair seating and accessibility accommodations are available. Please speak with an usher or contact us prior to the performance if assistance is needed.

SEATING

Concerts in the Rudder Theatre Complex are general admission by section. Season subscribers receive priority seating placement in the center front sections. Ushers will assist in guiding patrons to appropriate seating areas.

TICKETS

Tickets are non-refundable and nonexchangeable. If you are unable to attend, extra tickets may be left with the MSC Box Office to be given to Texas A&M students.

PARKING

Patrons may park in the University Center Garage (UCG), located directly across from the Rudder Theatre Complex, free of charge. Take a ticket from the machine upon entry; after the concert, the garage gates will be open for exit. If the gates are closed, press the help button at the exit kiosk, let them know you attended the Symphony, and the gates will be opened for you.

PRE-CONCERT RECEPTIONS

Join us an hour before each Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra performance at the Rudder Theatre Complex for a complimentary pre-concert reception. Enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar, and the chance to mingle with fellow patrons before the music begins.

CONTACT US

For questions or assistance, please contact the Symphony Office at 979-696-6100 or services@bvso.org

Thank You to Our Title Sponsors

Mike Connor

BVSS Board President

Howdy and welcome to Season 44 of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra!

Maestro Marcelo Bussiki has put together a wide variety of concerts this season, sure to please all musical tastes. From spooky Halloween numbers, to video game music, to the best of Broadway, this season has it all. Of course, there are also the traditional classical concerts with amazing guest artists, including our own Javier Chaparro and Elizabeth Lee, Bethany Clearfield, and the 2025 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, Aristo Sham. In addition to the always-popular Holiday Pops Concert, this year, for the first time, the BVSO is joining forces with Ballet Brazos to present The Nutcracker.

A very special thanks to our season sponsors - College Station Hyundai, MercedesBenz of College Station, BMW of College Station, College Station Ford, Aggieland Chevrolet, and College Station Nissan. For the second year, this partnership continues to be a critical part of this season’s success. Thanks also to the Friends of the Symphony Orchestra, the Ham Family, the Rea Charitable Trust, The Plass Arts Foundation, Becky and B. Don Russell, and The Wakefield Foundation for their generous support of individual concerts. The Youth Concerto Competition continues to be endowed by Tracy and Tamara Carter. In addition, the BVSO Endowment enables us to host new and innovative programs like Video Games Live.

We are also very grateful to have our new Executive Director, Renee Knox, on board. Many of you may already know her. Renee has been in Bryan-College Station for almost 20 years and is well connected to the arts community here. I hope you will take the opportunity to meet her at an upcoming concert and welcome her to the BVSO family. Many thanks to Sandra Castañon for keeping a steady hand on the wheel as the Executive Director for the past two years. We wish her nothing but the best in the next chapter of her life.

But most of all, thanks to you, our patrons, for your support of the BVSO. Whether this is your first time to attend a BVSO concert or you are a long-time season ticket holder, we appreciate your investment in this Brazos Valley treasure.

Warmest regards,

Mike Connor

BVSS Board President

Symphony Society Board

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mike Connor President

Benton Cocanougher President Elect

Andrew Wheeler

First Vice President

Sue Lee

Second Vice President

Martha Vilas Secretary

Don Hellriegel Treasurer

Marcelo Bussiki†

Music Director

Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair

Penny Zent

Orchestra Chair

Renee Knox† Executive Director

Ryan Becker

Karen Bonarrigo

Blanche Brick

Mark Browning

Pierce Cantrell

Joe Cook† Communications Director

Letty Fuentes Orchestra Representative

Chuck Hermann

Cameron House

Tai Lee

Cathy Loving

Adam Mikeal

Orchestra Representative

Scott Shafer

Marca Ewers-Shurtleff

Melissa Sibley† Bush Board Fellow

Thomas Teegeman† Bush Board Fellow

Rod Thornton Gaines West

Jennifer Wood FASO President † Ex-Officio

Marcelo Bussiki

Music Director

Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair

Marcelo Bussiki is the music director/conductor of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. He is also the Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Blinn College. He has had a passion for music since his early years. Born in Cuiaba, capital of Mato Grosso State in Brazil, Bussiki left home at age 14 to study at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music in Rio de Janeiro. He continued his conducting studies under Maestro Roberto Duarte at Rio de Janeiro Federal University. Upon graduation, he was named music director of the orchestra of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, a position he held for six years. Bussiki was awarded knighthood in the Ordem de Merito de Mato Grosso in recognition of his pioneering work in cultural expansion and musical education. He received the title of Oficial, the highest honor that the executive power can confer upon an artist in Brazil.

Bussiki came to the United States in 1992 under a scholarship from the Brazilian government and studied at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. From 1994-1996, he directed that university’s New Music Ensemble, developing an extensive repertoire of modern and contemporary music. He received a doctorate of musical arts in conducting from the University of Houston in 1998.

During his tenure with the Brazos Valley Symphony, Bussiki has been in demand as a guest conductor in Texas and out of state. In September, 2002, he returned to his native Brazil under sponsorship from the Brazilian National Bank in Rio de Janeiro to conduct 15 performances of Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Viva la Mama, as well as other symphony concerts in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. In October 2001, he conducted a premiere performance of the Organ Concerto by vanguard U. S. composer Lou Harrison, featuring organist John Walker and the Carnegie-Mellon Percussion Ensemble, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Bussiki conducts several concerts a year at the International Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas. He was conductor for the International Guitar Festival in 2005, 2006, and again in 2016. In 2014, Bussiki was awarded the “Artist of the Year” honor by The Arts Council.

BRAZOS VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

2025-2026 SEASON

BACH TO TCHAIKOVSKY - SEP 21

A thrilling start to the season featuring virtuosic violin and cello performances across iconic musical eras.

DEAD SERIOUS: A HALLOWEEN CONCERT - NOV 2

A spine-tingling symphonic tale with mysterious narration and haunting orchestral works.

HOLIDAY POPS - DEC 14

A festive concert ﬁlled with brass fanfare, choral harmonies, and holiday joy.

VIDEO GAMES LIVE - JAN 25

An immersive journey through legendary video game soundtracks brought to life by a full orchestra.

FRESH VOICES AND IDEAS - FEB 22

An adventurous program spotlighting contemporary works and the premiere of a bold new BVSO commission.

VAN CLIBURN GOLD - MAR 8

A dazzling evening of classical brilliance with award-winning pianist Aristo Sham and a spirited orchestral lineup.

DEFYING GRAVITY: BLOCKBUSTER BROADWAY - APR 26

A high-energy tribute to Broadway’s greatest hits with unforge able songs and stellar Broadway vocals.

Tickets at MSC Box Oﬃce 979-845-1234

DEC 05

DEC 06

A Brazos Valley tradition since 2012

Concert Sponsor:

The Plass Arts Foundation

Dead Serious: A Halloween Concert

Sunday, November 2, 2025 · 5:00pm Rudder Auditorium

Marcelo Bussiki, conductor

Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair

Mike Wright, narrator

30′ The Composer is Dead Nathaniel Stookey Words by Lemony Snicket

INTERMISSION

5′ “Infernal Dance” from The Firebird Stravinsky (1919 Version)

16′ Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 (Selections) Berlioz

IV. March to the Scaffold (Allegretto non troppo)

V. Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath (Larghetto—Allegro)

listed are approximate

Mike Wright, narrator

Mike Wright is VP/General Manager of ABC affiliate WAAY-31 TV in Huntsville, Alabama and Fox affiliate WCOV-TV in Montgomery, Alabama, joining the stations after many years at CBS affiliates KBTX and KWTX in Bryan-College Station and Waco. For many years, Wright served as radio play–by–play for Texas A&M Women’s Basketball and later for ESPN’s SEC+ network. Prior to his current role, Wright served as the “Voice At Kyle Field” for Texas A&M Football.

He has served local communities through hundreds of civic events and fundraisers, and was honored to be one of four “Educators of the Year” from the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum for his work with former First Lady Barbara Bush’s “Reading Literacy” initiative. He has served as narrator for numerous performances with the Brazos Valley Symphony. Wright has been previously honored by the Texas Association of Broadcasters as Broadcaster of the Year.

Mike and his wife, Bethany, are parents of adult twins, Macy and Mason. A native of Mexia, Wright holds an Associate of Arts from Blinn College and a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Baylor University.

Concert Roster

Marcelo Bussiki

Music Director

Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair

FIRST VIOLIN

Javier Chaparro, Concertmaster

Creighton Miller Concertmaster Chair

Jose Gerardo Flores

Letty Fuentes

Amy Harris

Edward Ji

Eddy Marcano

Steve Merson

Ricardo Montoya

Amanda Schubert

Oscar Vera

SECOND VIOLIN

Adam Mikael, Principal

Penelope Kosztolnyik and Joe Ham

Violin II Chair

Laura Callon

Erika Elder

Misty Elfer

Ethan Lammayot

Luis Osorio-Betancourt

Lucina Reyes

Mario Zelaya

VIOLA

Luis Perez, Principal

Paul Duston

Sam Lee

Gregory Mata

Carlo Mauricio

Alejandro San Miguel

CELLO

Jane McCormick, Principal

Ward and Diane Wells Cello Chair

Cony Knight

Alex Lammayot

Elizabeth Lee

Brady Meyer

Andrew Nguyen

BASS

Gaven Krase, Principal

Alex Collins

Ray Fisher

Steve Martin

Josue Martinez

FLUTE

Penny Zent, Principal

The Hermann Family Flute Chair

Jessica Borski-Owens

OBOE

Rebecca Fairweather Haskins, Principal

Amy Burgess

CLARINET

Jill Stewart, Principal

Wendy and Grant Wolfe Clarinet Chair

In honor of Dr. Arthur Wolfe

Victor Battista

BASSOON

Eric Miller, Principal

Luis De la Garza

Adam Drake

HORN

Mary McNeel, Principal

John Craig Hubbard

Chris Shelburne

Michael Woodard

TRUMPET

Edgar Jaime, Acting Principal

Paul Armitage

Kristofer Hammond

Daniel Venglar

TROMBONE

Austin Richardson, Acting Principal

Steven Vogel

BASS TROMBONE

Michael Johnson

TUBA

Ethyn Evans, Principal

Keith Packman

TIMPANI

Todd Quinlan, Principal

PERCUSSION

Sarah Burke, Principal

Gary Martin Percussion Chair

Zach Edwards

Grant Gould

Patrick Slevin

HARP

Hope Cowan

PIANO

Catherine Schaefer

Program Notes

The Composer is Dead

Music by Nathaniel Stookey and Words by Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)

Lemony Snicket is the pen name and alter ego of Daniel Handler, a well-known author of children’s books, including two series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and All the Wrong Questions. Nathaniel Stookey is an American composer and musician whose numerous orchestral chamber, vocal, and theatrical compositions have won international acclaim. Both men were born in San Francisco, California, in 1970. Their joint endeavor, The Composer is Dead, was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and premiered by the same Symphony on July 8, 2006, with Snicket as the narrator. The book and accompanying CD were published in 2009. Stookey also co-authored translations of The Composer is Dead (his best-known composition to date) into Spanish and French. Who killed the composer? Was it the strings, or was it the woodwinds? Where were the brasses last night after the performance? What does the percussion section have to say for itself? As The Inspector (the narrator) interrogates each section, each of the instruments produces an alibi. And yet, the composer’s still dead! This whodunit joins Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra as fun ways for children (and adults) to learn about the instruments of the orchestra.

Nathaniel Stookey

Daniel Handler

Credit: Rii Schroer

CARSON ELLIS © HARPERCOLLINS

Program Notes

“Infernal

Dance” from The Firebird (L’Oiseau de Feu) (1919 Version)

Igor Stravinsky

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was born in Oranienbaum (near Saint Petersburg), Russia on June 17, 1882, and he died in New York City on April 6 1971; he was buried in Venice, Italy. His ballet The Firebird was first performed at the Paris Opera on June 25, 1910, by Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, with Gabriel Pierné conducting. Stravinsky arranged the music into concert suites in 1911, 1919, and 1941, which he often conducted himself.

The Firebird was the first of Igor Stravinsky’s collaborations with Sergei Diaghilev, a Russian impresario based in Paris, and his pioneering troupe, the Ballets Russes. In 1909, Diaghilev, having failed at enlisting better-known Russian composers, invited the still young and relatively unknown Stravinsky to compose the score for a ballet based on Russian folklore. In the ballet’s story, Prince Ivan must defeat an evil ogre, Kastchei the Deathless, who has been capturing princesses and turning them into stone. To do so, he enlists the aid of the Firebird, whose beautiful feathers gleamed like fire. This creature had previously given Prince Ivan one of her feathers in return for his having saved her from hunters. In the “Infernal Dance,” the fourth movement of the suite, the Firebird casts a magic spell on Kastchei and his minions, compelling them to dance frenetically to the point of exhaustion. This enables Prince Ivan to destroy the giant egg containing Kastchei’s soul, and thus his power. Stravinsky had studied with Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov until the latter’s death in 1908, and he emulated his teacher’s colorful orchestration in much of the ballet. But, in the “Infernal Dance,” Stravinsky employed the percussive orchestral effects, driving rhythms and dissonant harmonies that came to represent his style.

Tamara Karsavina as the Firebird in the 1910 Ballets Russes production of L’Oiseau de Feu

Program Notes

Symphonie fantastique (Fantastic Symphony), op. 14

Hector Berlioz

Louis-Hector Berlioz was born in La Côte-Saint-André, France on December 11, 1803, and he died in Paris, France on March 8, 1869. He conducted the first performance of the Symphonie fantastique at the Paris Conservatoire in 1830.

Movement 4: March to the Scaffold

Movement 5: Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath

Hector Berlioz was the archetypal Romantic, a partly self-taught dreamer who composed according to his own concepts and imagination rather than by following established rules or models. Thus, his musical style is highly original and difficult to categorize. A man of letters in his own right (he was an astute music critic), Berlioz received much inspiration from literature. He attended a performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and fell passionately in love with the actress who played Ophelia, an Irishwoman named Harriet Smithson. At first Harriet ignored his love letters, but Berlioz was persistent in his pursuit. Three years later, he began to compose a semi-autobiographical work about a forlorn lover driven nearly to suicide by a failed romance. This work is his most famous composition, the Symphonie fantastique: épisode de la vie d’un artiste (episode in the life of an artist). In five movements and requiring a huge orchestra, it was the most monumental symphonic piece up to that time. It is an early example of program music, that is, music that tells a story to a predetermined script (Berlioz wrote his own program notes). Moreover, Berlioz’s use of an “idée fixe” (“fixed idea”), a theme that recurs throughout each movement, was a revolutionary development that led to Richard Wagner’s use of Leitmotifs (recurring themes relating to particular characters, places, or concepts) in opera. In the Symphonie fantastique, the “idée fixe” refers to the Beloved, or Smithson herself. Tonight’s performance begins with the fourth movement, March to the Scaffold. Berlioz wrote in his program: “The Artist, knowing beyond all doubt that his love is not returned, poisons himself with opium. The narcotic plunges him into sleep, accompanied by the most horrible visions.” The Artist has killed his Beloved and is sentenced to be executed by the guillotine. A military band escorts him to the scaffold as the strings cheer. He thinks of his Beloved just as the blade of the

Irish actress Harriet Smithson, whose portrayal of Ophelia inspired Berlioz to compose his Symphonie fantastique. Portrait by George Clint, c.1827.

Program Notes

guillotine comes down, causing the “idée fixe” theme to be interrupted as his head rolls and drums roar. In the fifth movement the Artist finds himself in a vision of hell, full of sorcerers, goblins, and witches, one of whom is the Beloved. A church bell tolls, then the low brasses play snatches of the Dies irae, a chant from the Requiem, or Latin Mass of the Dead. There is a fugal section in this movement. Berlioz found the fugue a difficult form to master, and so he considered it an appropriate metaphor for hell. The music becomes more frantic as the soul of the Artist is carried to its damnation, with the Beloved looking on with glee.

Berlioz and Smithson did eventually get together and marry, but the marriage was unhappy; the two separated after less than a decade. Even so, Berlioz continued to support Smithson for the rest of his life.

Program Notes by Felicia Piscitelli

Holiday Pops!

Dec. 14, 2025 | 5 PM

Ring in the season with a joyful celebration of holiday favorites, featuring soaring choirs, festive brass, and magical moments the whole family will love.

Brazos Valley Symphony Annual Fund

The Brazos Valley Symphony Society gratefully acknowledges the individuals whose generous financial commitments and unique forms of support make possible the continued growth of the Symphony’s artists, programs, and services.

Gifts to the BVSO Annual Fund provide the vital operating support that sustains our concerts, guest artists, and community outreach each season. These contributions bridge the gap between ticket sales and the true cost of presenting live symphonic music, ensuring that world-class performances, innovative education programs, and meaningful cultural experiences remain available to our community.

The following list recognizes those who have contributed to the Annual Fund as of October 22, 2025, in support of the Orchestra’s 44th season.

MAESTRO

($10,000+)

William & Nancy Benfer Charitable Trust

The Clearfield Family

SOLOIST ($5,000 - $9,999)

Extraco Banks

Cindy & Bruce Hamilton

Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra

The Ham Family Trust

Don Hellriegel

Becky & B. Don Russell

Sue Lee

CONCERTMASTER ($2,000 - $4,999)

Amarillo National Bank

Jan & Bill Johnson

PRINCIPAL ($1,000 - $1,999)

Dorothy Anderson

Fuller & Gloria Bazer

Ryan & Kari Becker

Paul & Karen Bonarrigo

Pierce Cantrell in Memory of Carol Cantrell

Benton Cocanougher

David & Joanne Claridge

Mike & Sheila Connor

Jane Flaherty

Charles & Lorraine Hermann

Jerry & Cathy Loving

Jo Monroe

John & Carol Nichols

Michael & Karen Pilant

Shirley Smith in Memory of Robert E. Smith

Robert & Katherine Thomas

Ellen & Penrod Thornton

Harvey Tucker in Memory of Sandra Tucker

Dean & Dorothy Wichern

Grant & Wendy Wolfe

David Woodcock in Memory of Valerie Woodcock

Rod and Penny Zent

PATRON ($500 - $999)

Robert & Blanche Brick

Marcelo Bussiki

Claude & Joanna Gibson

Janet Higgins

Dr. Michael J. King & Ms. Robin Altholz

Billy & Mary Jo Lay

Joyce Perkins

Susan Perri

Dave & Lou Ellen Ruesink

Mark & Carol Sadoski

Scott & Debe Shafer in Honor of Peggy Shafer

Carl Shafer

Bobby & Nita Smith

ANNUAL FUND CIRCLE ($50 - $499)

Carolyn Adair

Steve & Dorinda Arden

Rhonda Bauer

Mary Blackburn

Mark & Nancy Browning

Sandra da Conturbia

Donna Cote

Kim Feldman

Dr. Stephen Fulling

Howard & Margaret Glueck

Scan here to donate to the Annual Fund

Phil & Zo Granberry

Tom & Linda Henry

Clifford & Alice Hoelscher

William Kennamore

Rodger Koppa

Dr. Roger & Mari Kuhnle

Drs. Laurine & William Marlow

Wener Rose

Ann & Byron Stebbins

Connie Surrency

Martha Vilas

Rand & Doris Watson

Eric & Julie Wilke

Ann Wiatt

Mary Williams

Dick & Linda Witherite

The Estate of Arthur Wolfe

Dean Thompson

Harvey Tucker in Memory of Valerie Woodcock

Tom Vogel & Barbara Gastel

Mary J. Volz

Terry & Marilyn Wade

Shirley Watts

Thomas & Anne Wehrly

Video Games Live Jan. 25, 2026 | 5 PM

You don’t need to be a gamer to love this night of music and visuals. Featuring a full orchestra, massive screen projections, lighting effects, and beloved themes from blockbuster video games. This immersive concert is part symphony, part rock show – and all unforgettable.

Scan here to purchase tickets

Brazos Valley Symphony Endowment

A strong endowment provides lasting support for the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, ensuring world-class performances, music education, and cultural enrichment for generations to come. Endowments grow over time, creating a legacy of artistic excellence while extending the impact of generosity beyond a lifetime.

Contributions to the BVSO Permanent Endowment provide stability for the Orchestra. Chair Endowments help the Symphony engage and support exceptional musicians, sustaining the artistry that defines every performance. A chair may be endowed for a five-year term (starting at $25,000) or in perpetuity (starting at $50,000), and can be named in honor of a family member, friend, or admired individual or organization—making this a meaningful way to invest in the Symphony’s future.

For more information about supporting the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra Endowment, whether through a planned or lifetime gift, please contact Renee Knox, Executive Director, at renee@bvso.org or 979-696-6100.

Pledged or received as of October 22, 2025

FOUNDERS ($100,000+)

Ruth Clearfield Memorial Fund

Larry and Mary Koeninger

Bert and Mary Loudon

Sue and J.C. Lee Music Director Chair

DIAMOND

Gary and Lynn Martin

Creighton Miller Concertmaster Chair

Creighton and Jeannie Miller

Bookman and Florence Peters

($50,000 - $99,999)

Tracy and Tamara Carter

Taylor and Cindy Craigen

The Hermann Family Flute Chair

Penelope Kosztolnyik and Joe Ham

Violin II Chair

PLATINUM

Gary Martin Percussion Chair

Carolyn McDaniel

Ward and Diane Wells Cello Chair

($25,000 - $49,999)

In Memory of Evelyn and Fred Anderholm

GOLD ($10,000 - $24,999)

Maestro Marcelo Bussiki

Carol and Pierce Cantrell

Chrissie and Jay Granberry

Lorraine and Chuck Hermann

The Coulter and Lily Rush Hoppess Foundation, Inc.

SILVER ($5,000 - $9,999)

Don and Pat Allen Rice

David and Joanne Claridge

Bonnie and Otway Denny

Gary and Judy Hart

Penelope Kosztolnyik and Joe Ham

Stephanie Sale and Jim Singleton

Charles and Cindy Still

Rose P. VanArsdel

Ward and Diane Wells

Wendy and Grant Wolfe

Clarinet Chair in honor of Dr. Arthur Wolfe Anonymous

Susan and Gaines West

Linda and Dick Witherite

Jan and Bill Johnson

Cathy and Jerry Loving

Joann Monroe

John and Carol Nichols

Joyce Nies and Peter Witt

Valerie and David Woodcock

Rodney and Penny Zent

Anonymous (2)

Carolyn McDaniel

Linda and Paul Parrish

Karen and Michael Pilant

Ellen and Penrod Thornton

Elizabeth and Bill Ward

Dorothy and Dean Wichern

Bronze

($1,000 - $4,999)

Steve and Lisa Aldrich

Bob and Dorothy Anderson

Jennifer and Chandler Arden in Memory of Valerie Woodcock

Alethea Bair-Sutherland

Briaud Financial Advisors

Jo Berg

Robert and Blanche Brick

Taylor and Cindy Craigen

Terrance and Stacy Dill and Family

Cydney Collier Donnell

John and Naomi Fackler

Warren and Mary Finch

Rainer and Tami Fink

Jan Folse

FRIEND (UP TO $999)

Sara Alpern

Kenneth and Kathi Appelt

Pat and Sarah Ashburn

Karen Bachman

Leonard and Nancy Berry

Carol and Doug Biggs

Brett and Alisa Boatner

Robert C. Borden

Leonard L. Bowden

Scott Ball and Janice Bradshaw

Lorence and Zora Bravenec

Karen Buck and Porscha Buck

Jack and Mary Campbell

Irwin and Claudia Carroll

Dara and Judith Childs

Charlotte Christman

Robert H. Clearfield

Franco and Sandra da Conturbia

Olga and Brett Cooke

Marian and Gus Cothran

The Dangott Family Trust

Mr. David Dellwo and Mrs. Nancy Inglis

Ronald and Barbara Douglas

Norma Dunn in Memory of Cindy Still

Billie Elmendorf

John Fackler in Memory of Jeannie and Creighton Miller

Ann Fancher

Chris and Sandra Farris

Jack and Anita Friedman

Gracie P. Graves

Ivy V. Geiger

Jennifer Fredericks

Stephen A. Fulling

Phil and Zo Granberry

Gary and Judy Hart in Memory of Jeannie Miller

Edward E. and Ruth Anne Hazen

Alice and Clifford Hoelscher

Michael J. King and Robin L. Altholz

Randi and Averyt Knapp

Celebrating Virginia and Russell Mays

Karen Kubena

Sue Lee

Claire and John Lillie

Marti Marberry and Thomas Roraff

John and Leslie Miller

Andrew and Elizabeth Natsios

Carol Parzen

Joyce Perkins in Memory of Richard Perkins

Rhonda Raphael

Sheran Riley

Jami and John Rudinger, Jr.

Dave and Lou Ellen Ruesink

Becky and B. Don Russell

Carol and Mark Sadoski

Thomas Sadoski and Amanda Seyfried in Honor of Carol and Mark Sadoski

Jack Skinner

Don and Rosemary Green

Lisa Halperin and Jonathan Coopersmith

General Joe G. Hanover

W.T. (Bill) Harper

Tom and Linda Henry

Susan and Rodney Hill

Susan Irza

Myong and Pedro Ledesma

Robert and Candace Leslie

Karon and Glenn Mathews

David and Jeanette McMahon in Memory of Tom Roraff

Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Miller

Jane Miller

Jeannie Miller in Memory of Tom Roraff

Leon and Junett Noack in Memory of Tom Roraff

Dr. Ozden Ochoa

Mohsen and Terri Pourahmadi

Matthew and Merrilee Prochaska

The Quackenbush Kids

Thomas and Liana Rike in Memory of Tom Roraff

Larry and Jean Ringer

The Family of Arthur and Rosalie Roraff in Memory of Tom Roraff

Mary Frances Ross

Schade Family

Jay and Barbara Schleppenbach in Memory of Tom Roraff

Timothy Seubert

Mary Sherwood in Memory of Tom Roraff

Matt and Toni Straley in Memory of Tom Roraff

Barbara and Emil Straube

Connie Swing Surrency

Mrs. Dwayne (Carol) Suter

Mrs. Ann W. Thompson

Milton Thompson

Margaret E. Touchstone

Victor and Jo Ann Treat

Harvey and Sandy Tucker

Randy and Mary Ulery

Brad and Pat Vinson

Tom Vogel and Barbara Gastel

Barbara Buffington Walker

Bob Warden and Eva Read-Warden

Doris and Rand Watson

Anne and Thomas Wehrly

Gaines and Susan West in Memory of Lelia Bankston

Gaines and Susan West in Memory of Bonnie Denny

Gaines and Susan West in Memory of Jeannie Miller

Ann Wiatt

Mary Jane Wiggins

Lima and Joe Williams

Dr. Arthur V. Wolfe

Dr. and Mrs. Grant Wolfe

William and Mary Young

Anonymous (4)

Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra

For the past 40+ years, an auxiliary organization called FASO (Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra) has provided the volunteer hours required to promote and stage the exciting Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra concerts you enjoy each season. We invite you to become a member of FASO this year to help increase educational opportunities and appreciation for classical music in the Brazos Valley. Membership applications may be found on the symphony website: bvso.org/faso

2025-2026 FASO OFFICERS

Jennifer Wood

President

Anne Prescott President Elect

Becky Hall Past President

Rebecca Ireland

1st Vice President

Julie Beazer

2nd Vice President – Ambassadors

Meghan Cain

3rd Vice President –Projects

Colleen Holmes Treasurer

Beth Pennebaker Secretary

Alice Hoelscher TASO Representative

Mary Blackburn†

Sandy Farris†

Karen Melvin† † Member at Large

Championing the Next Generation: The Brazos Valley Youth Concerto Competition

Finalist Competition

Sunday, November 16, 2025

3:00 p.m.

First Methodist Church, Bryan, TX

Join us for this free concert and enjoy an afternoon of inspiring performances by some of the finest young musicians in the Brazos Valley as they compete for top honors in this year’s Youth Concerto Competition.

2025 Finalists

Jacob Goheen, trombone

Misato Koiwa, flute

Gaya Kulatilaka, violin

Sherwin Lo-Kuo, violin

Evelyn Schmeichel, clarinet

Stefan (Leo) Tower, violin

For nearly a quarter of a century, the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and its support guild, the Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra (FASO), have joined forces to spotlight the extraordinary musical talent thriving in our community. The Brazos Valley Youth Concerto Competition, now in its 24th year, continues to serve as a cornerstone of the Symphony’s educational mission— encouraging young musicians, fostering artistic excellence, and enriching the cultural life of the region.

Launched in 1999 by longtime FASO member and music advocate Linda Rundell, the competition invites schoolaged musicians from across the Brazos Valley to submit a performance of any concerto movement for solo instrument and orchestra. Finalists are chosen through a blind judging process by BVSO Music Director Marcelo Bussiki and a panel of Symphony musicians, ensuring that artistry and musicality shine above all else.

Each year’s finalists are then invited to perform in a live concert before a panel of distinguished judges. The experience provides invaluable performance opportunities for these young artists—and a memorable evening for audience members, who are treated to virtuosic performances and the excitement of live competition.

As part of its mission, FASO coordinates and funds the event entirely through the efforts of its dedicated volunteers. “We invite the public to join us as these finalists compete to become this year’s winner,” said Project Chair Penny Zent. “This is a wonderful opportunity to hear some of the finest young musicians in the Brazos Valley. Plus, admission is free!”

The top three winners receive scholarships from The Tracy and Tamara Carter Youth Concerto Endowed Scholarship Fund, and the first-place winner is invited to perform as soloist with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra during the annual Children’s Concert at Rudder Auditorium—an unforgettable experience that connects youthful promise with the professional stage.

Through the continued collaboration of BVSO and FASO, the Youth Concerto Competition remains a vibrant testament to the Symphony’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians and sharing the joy of music throughout the Brazos Valley.

Corporate, Foundation & Community Support

The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our corporate sponsors, foundations, community partners, and in-kind contributors. Their commitment helps sustain our artistic excellence, enrich music education, and ensure that live symphonic music continues to thrive in the Brazos Valley.