French Masters & Boléro October 25, 2026 at 5pm Rudder Auditorium
Table of Contents Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra Symphony Experience President’s Letter Symphony Board of Directors Symphony Management & Staff Marcelo Bussiki, Music Director Concert Program Guest Artist Biography Concert Roster Program Notes
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Support & Giving Annual Fund Permanent Endowment Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra Corporate, Foundation & Community Support
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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, and other noises can be distracting to musicians and fellow patrons. Multi-movement works, such as symphonies and concertos, are best appreciated uninterrupted. It is customary to hold applause until the conclusion of the complete work — 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 performance hall. Water is allowed, but please avoid plastic bottles or other containers that may cause noise during the performance. LOST & FOUND For concerts at the Rudder Theatre Complex, lost items may be claimed through the Rudder Theatre Complex office.
to help you locate your seat. Our Holiday Concert at Christ Church is general admission, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. 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 For concerts at the Rudder Theatre Complex, 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.
ACCESSIBILITY Wheelchair seating and accessibility accommodations are available. Please speak with an usher or contact us prior to the performance if assistance is needed.
PRE-CONCERT RECEPTIONS Join us before each 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 concert.
SEATING All concerts at the Rudder Theatre Complex have assigned seating. Please sit in the seat indicated on your ticket. Ushers are available
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
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Mike Connor BVSS Board President
Howdy and welcome to Season 45 of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra! Maestro Marcelo Bussiki has once again assembled a first-in-class program of concerts this season. From an incredible mashup of iconic classical music with dynamic hip-hop dance to traveling a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there is something for all fans of symphonic music. Of course, there are the traditional classical concerts with amazing guest artists, including our own Andrew Wheeler and Penny Zent! In addition to the always-popular Holiday Concert, the BVSO is once again joining forces with Ballet Brazos to present The Nutcracker. A very special thanks to our season sponsors - College Station Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz of College Station, BMW of College Station, College Station Ford, Aggieland Chevrolet, and College Station Nissan. For the third year, this partnership continues to be a critical part of this season’s success. We are also grateful to the Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra, the Ham Family Trust, the Eugene Edge Charitable Trust, The Gilbert and Thyra Plass Arts Foundation, the Plass Charitable Trust, Becky and B. Don Russell, the Nina Astin Winkler Charitable Trust, and Amarillo National Bank for their generous support of individual concerts. The wonderful Youth Concerto Competition continues to be endowed by Tracy and Tamara Carter. This year, not only are we celebrating the BVSO’s 45th season, but we are also celebrating its 30th season under the direction of Marcelo Bussiki! Since 1996, Marcelo has led the BVSO and has grown it from a small community orchestra to one of the well-respected regional symphonies in the state. Musicians from across Texas now come to Bryan/College Station to play the challenging repertoire for which the BVSO is known. Be sure to save the date, May 1, 2027, for BVSO’s annual Derby Day Gala. Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with dinner, live entertainment, auctions, and festive Derby traditions while supporting the BVSO. You will not want to miss this always fun event. More details to come! Finally, a heartfelt thanks to you, our patrons, for your continued 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. Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance!
Warmest regards,
Mike Connor BVSS Board President
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Symphony Society Board EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mike Connor
Martha Vilas
Penny Zent
Andrew Wheeler
Bruce Hamilton
Renee Knox†
Don Hellriegel
Marcelo Bussiki†
President
Executive Vice President First Vice President
Sue Lee
Secretary Treasurer
Orchestra Chair Executive Director
Music Director
Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair
Second Vice President
Ryan Becker
Cameron House
Scott Shafer
Karen Bonarrigo
Tai Lee
Rod Thornton
Mark Browning
Cathy Loving
Wanda Watson
Pierce Cantrell
Adam Mikeal
Gaines West
Joe Cook†
Orchestra Representative
Communications Director
Suzanne Neuberger
Letty Fuentes
Nicole Ozerova
Orchestra Representative
Chuck Hermann
Anne Prescott FASO President
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Caitlin Zimmerman† Bush Board Fellow
† Ex-Officio
Symphony Management & Staff
Renee Knox,
Joe Cook,
Executive Director
Communications Director
Rosalee McShane,
Deanna Harris,
Office and Patron Services Coordinator
Bookkeeper
Sandra Castañon,
Grants and Administrative Services Manager
Letty Fuentes,
Personnel Manager & Librarian
Todd Quinlan,
Operations Manager
BRAZOS VALLEY SYMPHONY SOCIETY OFFICE HOURS: M-F 9AM - 5PM
PHONE: 979-696-6100 WEBSITE: www.bvso.org EMAIL: services@bvso.org
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3524 Bryan, TX 77805
OFFICE ADDRESS: 4030 Hwy 6 South, Suite 230 College Station, TX 77845
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Marcelo Bussiki Music Director Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair
Marcelo Bussiki celebrates his 30th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra during the 2026–27 season, marking three decades of artistic leadership with the orchestra. Since taking the podium in 1996, Bussiki has played an integral role in the BVSO’s artistic growth and its presence in the Brazos Valley community. In addition to his musical career, Bussiki had a distinguished career in higher education, most recently serving as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Blinn College before retiring from the position in January 2026. Born in Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso State in Brazil, Bussiki discovered his passion for music at an early age. At 14, he left home to study at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music in Rio de Janeiro. He continued his conducting studies under Maestro Roberto Duarte at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Upon graduation, he was named music director of the orchestra of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, a position he held for six years. In recognition of his pioneering work in cultural expansion and music education, Bussiki was awarded knighthood in the Ordem de Mérito de Mato Grosso. He received the title of Oficial, the highest honor the executive power can confer upon an artist in Brazil. Bussiki came to the United States in 1992 on a scholarship from the Brazilian government and studied at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. From 1994 to 1996, he directed the university’s New Music Ensemble, developing an extensive repertoire of modern and contemporary music. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Houston in 1998. During his tenure with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, Bussiki has been in demand as a guest conductor in Texas and beyond. In 2002, he returned to his native Brazil under the sponsorship of the Brazilian National Bank in Rio de Janeiro to conduct 15 performances of Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Viva la Mamma, as well as symphonic concerts in Rio de Janeiro and Brasília. In 2001, he conducted a premiere performance of the Organ Concerto by American composer Lou Harrison, featuring organist John Walker and the Carnegie Mellon Percussion Ensemble in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bussiki has also conducted numerous concerts at the International Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas, and served as conductor for the International Guitar Festival in 2005, 2006, and 2016. In 2014, he was named Artist of the Year by The Arts Council.
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BRAZOS VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
September 27
B E E T H OV E N ’ S F I F T H
Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony anchors a powerful program of his greatest works, featuring Monarch Chamber Players in his Triple Concerto.
October 25
FRENCH MASTERS & BOLÉRO
Celebrate the beauty of French music with Ravel’s Boléro, saxophonist Andrew Wheeler performing Ibert’s Concertino da camera for saxophone, and other beloved French masterworks.
December 13
A H O L I DAY C O N C E RT
Celebrate the season with festive favorites and holiday classics for the whole family. Featuring local choirs, BVSO Brass and Percussion, and organ.
January 24
BREAKIN’ CLASSICAL
A high-energy program that breaks the mold by bringing classical music to life through the electrifying choreography of hip-hop dance.
February 21
ˇ Á K TO J O H N W I LL I A M S D VO R
Discover the beauty and versatility of the string orchestra in a program of timeless works. Featuring beloved classics alongside rarely performed gems.
March 21
S TA R WA R S : A N E W H O P E I N C O N C E RT
Experience the full film live on screen while the BVSO performs John Williams’ legendary score note-for-note.
April 25
SCHEHERAZADE
A sweeping season finale celebrating storytelling through music. From the mighty rivers of America to the legendary tales of One Thousand and One Nights.
T I C K E TS & I N FO R M AT I O N
MSC BOX OFFICE
VI S I T BVS O.O R G
In Person or Phone 979-845-1234
View Concerts & Learn More
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Concert Sponsor:
The Gilbert and Thyra Plass Arts Foundation
French Masters & Boléro Sunday, October 25, 2026 · 5:00 PM Rudder Auditorium Marcelo Bussiki, conductor Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair
Andrew Wheeler, saxophone
8′
Gymnopédies Nos. 1 and 3 Lent et grave
Erik Satie orch. Claude Debussy
Lent et douloureux
10′ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 13′ Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
Paul Dukas Jacques Ibert
I. Allegro con moto II. Larghetto — Animato
INTERMISSION 8′
Clair de lune
Claude Debussy
orch. André Caplet
17′ Valses nobles et sentimentales
Maurice Ravel
I. Modéré II. Assez lent III. Modéré IV. Assez animé V. Presque lent VI. Assez vif VII. Moins vif VIII. Épilogue: lent
15′ Boléro
Maurice Ravel *Performance times are approximate.
This program made possible through the support of the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts Please note: audio and video recordings and flash photography by audience members are prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Program subject to change. 2026-27 Season | 13
Guest Bio Wheeler’s discography includes recordings through Mark Records, Altissimo, Coker & McKree, and Omega Studios.
Andrew Wheeler, saxophone American Saxophonist Andrew Wheeler, a native of Tomball, Texas, currently serves as Executive Vice President of The Brazos Valley Symphony Board of Directors, as well as the Principal Saxophonist with The Brazos Valley Symphony. He is a former member of “The World’s Finest” United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. where he served as a Concert Saxophonist from 1999-2009, and is currently a JLV Sound Paris Artist. Highlights of Wheeler’s career include ten years with The United States Navy Band, Washington D.C.; a position he won as a junior music education major at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Wheeler is one of the youngest hires in the history of The Navy Band. During his time with the Navy Band Wheeler performed for five U.S. Presidents, foreign dignitaries, and thousands of people across 48 states during six national concert tours. Wheeler has performed at The White House, The Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, The Smithsonian, The Kennedy Center, and concert halls all across the United States. Wheeler was a frequent performer at The Navy Band’s Annual Saxophone Symposium and soloist with the Concert Band. Wheeler held the Baritone saxophone chair in the Navy Band’s Saxophone Quartet from 2000-2007 and held the Soprano chair from 2008-2009. Wheeler has shared the stage with notable artists such as Patty Labelle, Larry Gatlin, Ernest Borgnine, Denise Graves, Charlotte Church, Billy Gillman, and CeCe Winans.
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An accomplished chamber musician Wheeler led the Catalyst Saxophone Quartet to wins at the prestigious Fischoff and Coleman National chamber music competitions in 1998. Catalyst was also awarded the Angie Machado Prize by the Carmel Chamber Music Association in 1998, and was the runner up at the MTNA National chamber music competition in 1997. Catalyst is the youngest Senior Wind Division Gold Medal Winner in Fischoff’s 52-year history. Prior to joining the Navy Band Wheeler was the Principal Saxophone player with the Moores School of Music Wind Ensemble from 1996-1999 where he studied Saxophone with Dr. Karen Wylie, and music education with Eddie Green. Today Wheeler lives in Montgomery, TX with his Wife, Terri, and Daughters, Brooklyn and Charlotte. Wheeler is the General Manager and Operating Partner of College Station Hyundai and represents the state of Texas on the Southern Region Dealer Council with Hyundai Motor of America. In 2012, Wheeler graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M.
Concert Roster Marcelo Bussiki
Music Director Sue & J.C. Lee Music Director Chair FIRST VIOLIN Javier Chaparro, Concertmaster Creighton Miller Concertmaster Chair Amanda Schubert Kevin Mendoza Ryan Coppin Yuan Wu Oscar Vera Eddy Marcano Edward Ji Johnny Chang Letty Fuentes Sydney Ebersohl Luis Gutierrez-Fonseca SECOND VIOLIN Adam Mikeal, Principal Penelope Kosztolnyik and Joe Ham Violin II Chair Jarred Kennedy Lucina Reyes Ning-chih Hsu Grace Liu-Anderson Ethan Lammayot Luis Osorio-Betancourt Alejandro San Miguel Jisu Shin Erika Elder VIOLA Gregory Mata, Acting Principal John Holguin Omeed Manshouri Sam Lee Paul Duston James Ximenez CELLO Elizabeth Lee, Principal Ward and Diane Wells Cello Chair Alex Lammayot Marina Burguete Samuel Linzan Herlane Smith Andrew Nguyen
DOUBLE BASS Gaven Krase, Principal The Jacob and Cooper Appelt Bass Chair Andy Moritz Sabrina Behrens Alex Collins Ray Fisher FLUTE Penny Zent, Principal The Hermann Family Flute Chair Daniel Pardo PICCOLO Jessica Borski-Owens OBOE Rebecca Haskins, Principal Ryan Hirokawa OBOE D’AMORE Ryan Hirokawa ENGLISH HORN Amy Burgus CLARINET Jill Stewart, Principal Wendy and Grant Wolfe Clarinet Chair Carmen Borregales BASS CLARINET Roberto de Guzman ALTO SAXOPHONE Andrew Wheeler, Principal TENOR SAXOPHONE Ryan Agard
HORN Mary McNeel, Principal John Craig Hubbard Michael Woodard Stephen Wadenpfuhl TRUMPET Phil Scoles, Principal Edgar Jaime Kris Hammond Daniel Venglar TROMBONE Spencer Chapman, Acting Principal Steven Vogel BASS TROMBONE Michael Johnson TUBA Guytano Martorano TIMPANI Todd Quinlan, Principal PERCUSSION Sarah Burke, Principal Gary Martin Percussion Chair Patrick Slevin Zach Edwards Chris Goodwin Briana Wadenpfuhl HARP Ayren Huslig, Principal Kelsey Sham PIANO Catherine Schaefer
BASSOON Luis de la Garza, Acting Principal Adam Drake Dallas Lauderdale CONTRABASSOON Dennis Beaver
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Program Notes Tonight’s concert features music from Paris, France, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries—a place and time of extraordinary artistic, literary, and musical creativity. Some aspects of this intellectual ferment include a reaction against the perceived excesses of Romanticism, the rise of Impressionism in art and music, and the elaboration of a distinct modern French style. Several of these works were written originally for piano and orchestrated later; the two pieces by Ravel were also ballets.
Gymnopédies Nos. 1 & 3 Erik Satie; orchestrated by Claude Debussy Erik Satie was born in Honfleur, France, on May 17, 1866, and he died on July 1, 1925, in Paris. Although he left only a small number of works, his unconventional ideas continue to influence composers today. In 1888 he composed his set of three Gymnopédies for solo piano, in natural minor or modal harmonies and in slow triple meter. Unlike most piano music of that period, they are spare in texture and un-virtuosic. Satie’s friend, Claude Debussy, arranged these pieces for a small orchestra of flutes, oboes, horns, harp, and strings; he added a second harp and a cymbal for Gymnopédie #3. Debussy’s instrumentation adds color while retaining Satie’s sparse texture.
L’apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) Paul Dukas If you have seen the 1940 Disney movie, Fantasia, you will recognize this piece, a favorite around Halloween time. Paul Dukas, a music critic and teacher as well as a composer, was born in Paris on October 1, 1865, and he died there on May 17, 1935. He conducted the premiere of his tone poem, L’apprenti sorcier, on May 17, 1897, at the Société Nationale de Musique in Paris. He based it on a poem, “Der Zauberlehrling,” written a century earlier by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). In the story, a sorcerer orders his apprentice to mop the floor while he is away. The apprentice, tired of having to fetch water in a bucket, casts one of his master’s spells on a broom to do his work for him, which it does all too well. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know how to make it stop. He chops it in half, which only creates two brooms bringing double the amount of water at twice the speed, thus inundating the shop. The sorcerer returns, utters the correct spell to restore normalcy, and, in Dukas’s version, thwacks the remorseful apprentice’s rear end with the broom. 16 | Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra
Program Notes Concertino da camera, Alto Saxophone and Orchestra Jacques Ibert I. Allegro con moto II. Larghetto/Animato A prolific composer of operas, ballets, orchestral works, and film scores, Jacques Ibert was born in Paris, France on August 15, 1890, and he died there on February 5, 1962. He served as the director of the Academy of Rome, and later as a conductor of the Paris Opera and OpéraComique. Though less well known in the United States than in his native France, his music is admired for its humor and its technical polish. Ibert composed his Concertino da Camera (“little chamber concerto”) for alto saxophone and a small ensemble of eleven instruments in 1935. He dedicated it to the German-born American saxophonist, Sigurd Rascher (1907-2001), who premiered the work later that year. (Rascher was prominent in promoting the saxophone, an instrument often associated with jazz, in the world of modern classical music.) The first movement of the Concertino challenges the soloist with fast-moving sixteenth-note passages. The slow and lyrical second movement takes the saxophone to its higher register. A short, virtuosic cadenza leads to a lively ending.
“Clair de lune” from Suite bergamasque Claude Debussy; orchestrated by André Caplet Achille-Claude Debussy was born in Saint-Germain en Laye, France (near Paris) on August 22, 1862, and he died in Paris, March 25, 1918. He began writing his Suite bergamasque for solo piano in 1890; his friend and fellow composer, André Caplet (1878-1925), orchestrated it in 1911. One of Debussy’s best-known compositions, “Clair de lune” (“Moonlight”) is the third piece from this suite. It was inspired by a short poem by Paul Verlaine (1844-1896). The delicate, shimmery harmonies and the seemingly irregular flow of the music capture the poem’s description of fleeting moments of happiness falling, like moonlight, upon a melancholy soul.
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Program Notes Valses nobles et sentimentales Maurice Ravel I. Modéré II. Assez lent III. Modéré IV. Assez animé V. Presque lent VI. Assez vif VII. Moins vif VIII. Épilogue: lent Maurice Ravel was born in Ciboure (near Biarritz), France on March 7, 1875, and he died in Paris on December 28, 1937. In 1911 he composed a set of seven waltzes for piano solo in varying tempos, moods, textures, and expressions, with an “Épilogue” incorporating elements from each movement. He entitled the work Valses nobles et sentimentales (“Noble and sentimental waltzes”), in acknowledgement of Franz Schubert (1797-1828), whose waltzes he admired and imitated. This piano version was premiered in a concert in which the audience had to guess the name of the composer. Ravel was an excellent orchestrator, and in 1912 he arranged this suite for orchestra at the request of a Russian dancer, Natasha Trouhanova. He even produced a scenario for the ballet, which he entitled Adélaïde, ou le langage des fleurs (“Adelaide, or the language of flowers”). Ravel conducted the Lamoureux Orchestra in the first performance of the ballet on April 22, 1912, at the Théâtre du Chatelet, with Trouhanova in the title role. Although the ballet is rarely performed today, the Valses nobles et sentimentales have become an orchestral standard.
Boléro Maurice Ravel Boléro is Maurice Ravel’s most popular composition, yet most people don’t know that it was originally a ballet. One of Ravel’s friends, the dancer, actress, and arts patron Ida Rubinstein (1883-1960), commissioned the piece and danced in its first performance. The bolero is a dance form with a march-like rhythm, believed to be of Spanish origin. Ravel combines this driving rhythm (played on the snare drum) with a long, sinuous melody that repeats with changes in instrumental color, gradually building to a dramatic and somewhat dissonant climax. Walther Straram conducted the Paris Opéra in the premiere of Ravel’s Boléro on November 22, 1928. A year later, Arturo Toscanini led the New York Philharmonic in the American premiere. Later, when Toscanini directed another performance of Boléro in Paris, Ravel complained in a letter that the tempo was too fast! – Program notes by Felicia Piscitelli 18 | Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra
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Every gift to the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra helps bring world-class performances, educational outreach, and musical experiences to the Brazos Valley. Thank you for helping to keep live orchestral and classical music thriving in our community.
Levels & Benefits
Visionary Circle Our highest level of support
Backstage & Behind-the-Scenes Tour An exclusive backstage tour and a private meet & greet with Fly Dance Co. at our January Concert.
Wine Tasting with the Maestro
A VIP wine tasting and conversation with Maestro Marcelo Bussiki.
Sit with the Symphony
Enjoy an unforgettable performance from two on-stage seats at a select performance.
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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 14, 2026, in support of the Orchestra’s 45th season.
VISIONARY CIRCLE Annual Fund donors of $10,000 or more GOLD ($25,000+) Don Hellriegel The Ham Family Trust
SILVER ($15,000 - $24,999) Friends Association of the Symphony Orchestra
BRONZE ($10,000 - $14,999) Becky & B. Don Russell
MAESTRO ($5,000 - $9,999) Sue Lee
Gaines & Susan West
Parten Wakefield
CONCERTMASTER ($2,500 - $4,999) Brett & Jill Giroir
Bobby & Nita Smith
Bill & Jan Johnson
Andrew & Terri Wheeler
PRINCIPAL ($1,000 - $2,499) Steve & Lisa Aldrich
Marcelo Bussiki
Mike & Sheila Connor
Dorothy Anderson
Pierce Cantrell
Robert & Blanche Brick
David & Joanne Claridge
Sam Creswell in Memory of Bert Loudon
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PRINCIPAL ($1,000 - $2,499) Laura De Asarta
John & Elouise Junkins
Robert & Katherine Thomas
Terrance & Stacy Dill
Jerry & Cathy Loving
Jane Flaherty
Bob Lynch
Harvey Tucker in Memory of Sandy Tucker
Jerry Gaston
John & Carol Nichols
Madeline Giroir
Michael & Karen Pilant
Marybelle S. Hamilton
David & Lou Ellen Ruesink
Charles Hermann & Lorraine Eden
Stephanie Sale & Jim Singleton
David Woodcock in Memory of Valerie Woodcock
Murat Russell
Martha Vilas
Mark & Carol Sadoski
Doris & Rand Watson
Dorothy & Dean Wichern Grant & Wendy Wolfe
VIRTUOSO ($500 - $999) Ms. Jill Cetina and Mr. Weihsueh Chiu Dr. Michael J. King & Ms. Robin L. Altholz
Scott & Debe Shafer in Honor of Peggy Shafer
IN HONOR OF BERT LOUDON
The Brazos Valley Symphony gratefully recognizes these Annual Fund donors who gave in honor of Bert Loudon. Sam Creswell
Brenda Rottinghaus
Laura Dague & Enrique Pinzon
Eric Stratton
Robin Page
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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 14, 2026
FOUNDERS ($100,000+) Ruth Clearfield Memorial Fund
Gary and Lynn Martin
Charles and Cindy Still
Larry and Mary Koeninger
Creighton Miller Concertmaster Chair
Rose P. VanArsdel
Bert and Mary Loudon
Creighton and Jeannie Miller
Ward and Diane Wells
Sue and J.C. Lee Music Director Chair
Bookman and Florence Peters
DIAMOND ($50,000 - $99,999) The Jacob and Cooper Appelt Bass Chair Tracy and Tamara Carter Taylor and Cindy Craigen The Hermann Family Flute Chair
Penelope Kosztolnyik and Joe Ham Violin II Chair Gary Martin Percussion Chair Carolyn McDaniel
Wendy and Grant Wolfe Clarinet Chair in honor of Dr. Arthur Wolfe Anonymous
Ward and Diane Wells Cello Chair
PLATINUM ($25,000 - $49,999) In Memory of Evelyn and Fred Anderholm
Penelope Kosztolnyik and Joe Ham
Susan and Gaines West
Stephanie Sale and Jim Singleton
Linda and Dick Witherite
The Coulter and Lily Rush Hoppess Foundation, Inc.
Joyce Nies and Peter Witt
Jan and Bill Johnson
Valerie and David Woodcock
GOLD ($10,000 - $24,999) Nancy E. and Mark S. Browning Maestro Marcelo Bussiki Carol and Pierce Cantrell Chrissie and Jay Granberry Lorraine and Chuck Hermann
Cathy and Jerry Loving Joann Monroe John and Carol Nichols
Karen and Michael Pilant Rodney and Penny Zent Anonymous (2)
SILVER ($5,000 - $9,999) David and Joanne Claridge
Linda and Paul Parrish
Bonnie and Otway Denny
Don and Pat Allen Rice
Cindy and Bruce Hamilton
Ellen and Penrod Thornton
Gary and Judy Hart
Elizabeth and Bill Ward
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Dorothy and Dean Wichern
BRONZE ($1,000 - $4,999) Steve and Lisa Aldrich
Stephen A. Fulling
Andrew and Elizabeth Natsios
Bob and Dorothy Anderson
Phil and Zo Granberry
Carol Parzen
Jennifer and Chandler Arden in Memory of Valerie Woodcock
Gary and Judy Hart in Memory of Jeannie Miller
Joyce Perkins in Memory of Richard Perkins
Alethea Bair-Sutherland
Edward E. and Ruth Anne Hazen
Rhonda Raphael
Jo Berg
Alice and Clifford Hoelscher
Sheran Riley
Briaud Financial Advisors
Michael J. King and Robin L. Altholz
Jami and John Rudinger, Jr.
Robert and Blanche Brick
Randi and Averyt Knapp Celebrating Virginia and Russell Mays
Dave and Lou Ellen Ruesink
Terrance and Stacy Dill and Family Cydney Collier Donnell John and Naomi Fackler Warren and Mary Finch Rainer and Tami Fink Jan Folse Jennifer Fredericks
Karen Kubena Sue Lee Claire and John Lillie Marti Marberry and Thomas Roraff
Becky and B. Don Russell Carol and Mark Sadoski Thomas Sadoski and Amanda Seyfried in Honor of Carol and Mark Sadoski Jack Skinner
John and Leslie Miller
FRIEND (UP TO $999) Sara Alpern
Don and Rosemary Green
Kenneth and Kathi Appelt
Lisa Halperin and Jonathan Coopersmith
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 Ivy V. Geiger Gracie P. Graves
Matt and Toni Straley in Memory of Tom Roraff Barbara and Emil Straube
General Joe G. Hanover
Connie Swing Surrency
W.T. (Bill) Harper
Mrs. Dwayne (Carol) Suter
Tom and Linda Henry
Mrs. Ann W. Thompson
Susan and Rodney Hill
Milton Thompson
Susan Irza
Margaret E. Touchstone
Myong and Pedro Ledesma
Victor and Jo Ann Treat
Robert and Candace Leslie
Harvey and Sandy Tucker
Karon and Glenn Mathews
Randy and Mary Ulery
David and Jeanette McMahon in Memory of Tom Roraff
Brad and Pat Vinson
Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Miller
Barbara Buffington Walker
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
Tom Vogel and Barbara Gastel 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
Thomas and Liana Rike in Memory of Tom Roraff
Ann Wiatt
Larry and Jean Ringer
Lima and Joe Williams
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
Mary Jane Wiggins Dr. Arthur V. Wolfe Dr. and Mrs. Grant Wolfe William and Mary Young Anonymous (4)
Timothy Seubert Mary Sherwood in Memory of Tom Roraff
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1 & 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes & Cottages for those 55 & better
CadenceCreekMissionRanch.com
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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
2026-2027 FASO OFFICERS Anne Prescott President
Rebecca Irelane President Elect
Jennifer Wood Past President
Lana Wood
1st Vice President
Emily Keefe
Magan Cain
3rd Vice President – Projects
Colleen Holmes Treasurer
Jennifer and Lana Wood
Mary Blackburn† Becky Hall† Karen Melvin† † Member at Large
Secretary
Alice Hoelscher
TASO Representative
2nd Vice President – Ambassadors
SYMPHONY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM The Symphony Ambassadors Program for high school junior and senior students enables them to understand the behind-the-scenes production of the Symphony. The Ambassadors usher at concerts, provide refreshments and snacks for the musicians, and participate in community service activities. If you know a high school student who may be interested in joining, please scan the QR code or visit www.bvso.org/symphony-ambassadors/ for more information.
Scan here to find out more about being a Symphony Ambassador
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YOUR support is CRITICAL
Please consider a gift to the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and make a difference by supporting artistic excellence, music education, and outreach in the community. Each year, ticket sales cover less than 25% of the Symphony’s costs. Help support your Symphony and the music you love!
$5,000+ Maestro
DONATIONS & FUNDRAISERS
Ticket Sales
20%
$2,500-$4,999 Concertmaster
57%
$1,000-$2,499 Principal
23%
$500-$999 Virtuoso $250-$499 Patron $100-$249 Friend
Grant Support Membership in the Brazos Valley Symphony Society begins at $50 per person. To donate and become a member please call 979-696-6100, visit our website at www.bvso.org or scan the QR code to donate today! 2026-27 Season | 33
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FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC 31st Concert Series
|
2026–2027
AMERICAN PATCHWORK QUARTET 2025 Grammy Nominee for the Best Folk Album
OCTOBER 9, 2026 | Friday, 7 PM A&M United Methodist Church
BUY TICKETS
ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS STRING ENSEMBLE “Their performances are nothing short of stunning.”
NOVEMBER 19, 2026 | Thursday, 7 PM A&M United Methodist Church
BUY TICKETS
APOLLO’S FIRE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA “The USA’s hottest Baroque band”
FEBRUARY 11, 2027 | Thursday, 7 PM A&M United Methodist Church
REGISTER FREE
AN EVENING WITH THE PIANO PUZZLER Known to millions as the Piano Puzzler on NPR’s Performance Today, Bruce Adolphe is “impossible to categorize. Pure genius.”
MARCH 2, 2027 | Tuesday, 7 PM The Ice House
BUY TICKETS
ERIC LU, piano Gold Winner of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, 2025
APRIL 2, 2027 | Friday, 7 PM Annenberg Presidential Center
REGISTER FREE
HIMARI, violin Texas Debut: A rare violin prodigy , “once-in-ageneration talent”
MAY 6, 2027 | Thursday, 7 PM Annenberg Presidential Center
BUY TICKETS
All concerts take place in Bryan–College Station, TX Appelt Family Foundation Nina Heard Astin Charitable Trust
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Eugene Edge III Charitable Trust Rea Charitable Trust
Nina Astin Winkler Charitable Trust
fcmtx.org
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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.
IN-KIND SERVICES, CORPORATE, AND MEDIA PARTNERS
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Corporate, Foundation & Community Support GRANT, TRUST, AND COMMUNITY The Clearfield Family Eugene Edge, III Charitable Trust The Ham Family Trust Gilbert & Thyra Plass Charitable Trust
Plass Arts Foundation Union Pacific Nina Astin Winkler Charitable Trust Becky & B. Don Russell
This program made possible in part through Hotel Tax Revenue funded from the City of College Station through The Arts Center. This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Improving Lives. Building Community.
oices V unbound
arkitex.com
2026-27 Season
MAGNIFICAT: A THRILL OF HOPE 7pm, December 7, 2026
First Presbyterian Church, Bryan, T X
Hope finds its voice in this joyful celebration of the Christmas season. Featuring Vivaldi’s exuberant Magnificat, Britten’s enchanting Ceremony of Carols, and cherished holiday favorites alongside the Bluebonnet Children’s Choir, this concert invites audiences of all ages to experience wonder, peace, and anticipation that the define the season. As part of Voices Unbound, these timeless songs remind us that hope is renewed each year through music shared in community.
Season Info & Tickets
bvchorale.org
Our program is made possible in part through Hotel Tax Revenue from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission for the Arts, the Eugene Edge Charitable Trust, and the Plass Arts Foundation.
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St. Thomas Early Learning Center 979-696-1728 www.stthomaselc.org Ages 3 Through Kindergarten
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