March 7 & 8 Belk Theater
Kwamé Ryan, conductor
Louis Schwizgebel, piano
Welcome!
This March, the Charlotte Symphony invites you to experience both its rich history and dynamic future.
Music Director Kwamé Ryan returns to lead Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 — a masterpiece that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire with its sweeping melodies and powerful emotion. We’re delighted to have pianist Louis Schwizgebel join us as soloist.
We then turn to a different kind of storytelling with How to Train Your Dragon in Concert on March 14 and 15, where a beloved film score that has captivated new generations comes to life through the power of live orchestral music.
On March 21 and 22, we welcome back former Music Director Christof Perick for a program of orchestral highlights from Wagner’s operas — music that has shaped the symphonic tradition for over a century. And on March 28, our Spring Gala brings us back to the newly restored Carolina Theatre — the site of the Charlotte Symphony’s very first concert in March 1932 — for a special evening featuring the incomparable Renée Fleming.
With every performance, we honor where we’ve been while looking ahead to a vibrant future. That’s why we’re especially eager to share what’s next. Our 2025–26 season announcement is coming soon, and we can’t wait to reveal what’s in store. Be sure to follow us on social media or sign up for our e-club at charlottesymphony.org to be among the first to hear what’s ahead.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your presence ensures that the Charlotte Symphony continues to thrive, building on its legacy while shaping the future.
David Fisk President & CEO
Your Charlotte Symphony Experience
Whether you’re attending your first Symphony performance, or you’re a longtime subscriber, we’d like to extend to you a warm and inclusive welcome! Below is some helpful information to ensure you make the most of your Charlotte Symphony experience.
What should I wear?
The Charlotte Symphony has no specific dress code. We encourage you to be comfortable and come as yourself in a style of your choice.
When do I applaud?
Audiences applaud to welcome the concertmaster, conductor, and featured artists onstage. Some works may have several sections, or movements, separated by a brief silent pause. It is tradition to hold applause until the last movement. If you are unsure, wait for the conductor to face the audience. But if you feel truly inspired, do not be afraid to applaud!
Can I take photos?
Certainly! We welcome and encourage you to capture and share photos before and after the concert, as well as during intermission. Feel free to use your cell phone for photography without flash during the performance, but please refrain from video or audio recording.
Concert Program
THE NINETY-THIRD SEASON
Kwamé Ryan, conductor · Louis Schwizgebel, piano
Friday, March 7, 2025, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 7:30 pm
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Arts
ADAM WALTERS (b. 1972)
The Downfall of Gaius Verres
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
I. Moderato
II. Adagio sostenuto
III. Allegro scherzando
Louis Schwizgebel, piano
- INTERMISSION -
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
“Bacchanale” from Samson and Delilah
OTTORINO RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
Feste romane (Roman Festivals)
I. Circus Games
II. The Jubilee
III. Harvest Festivals in October
IV. Epiphany
CONCERT DURATION: Approximately 2 hours, with one 20-minute intermission. [~24ʹ] [~32ʹ] [~6ʹ] [~8ʹ]
This concert is made possible in part by the generous support of Ralph S. Grier
Kwamé Ryan conductor
Kwamé Ryan was born in Canada and grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where he received his early musical education. He completed his studies in the U.K. and Hungary, reading Musicology at Cambridge University.
The 2024–25 season marks the start of Ryan’s tenure as Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he held the position of General Music Director of Freiburg Opera from 1999 to 2003 and served as Musical and Artistic Director of the National Orchestra of Bordeaux Aquitaine from 2007 to 2013. As a guest conductor in Germany, he has led the Radio Orchestras of Stuttgart and Bavaria, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Staatsoper Saarbrücken, and Staatsoper Stuttgart. In France, he has worked at Opéra de la Bastille, Opéra de Lyon, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. His work in the U.S. and the U.K. has taken him to the Symphony Orchestras of Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Houston, Boston Lyric Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish Symphony, and the London Philharmonia. He has been a regular guest of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and, in 2021, returned to La Monnaie in Brussels for the world premiere of Kris Defoort’s The Time of our Singing , which won the International Opera Award for World Premiere of the Year.
A recipient of international awards for outstanding work in the field of music education, Ryan has served as Musical Director of the National Youth Orchestra of France and as Director of the Academy for the Performing Arts at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
Guest engagements this season include returns to Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie and Dutch National Opera, along with debuts at Washington National Opera and the Residentie Orkest in The Hague.
Louis Schwizgebel piano
Louis Schwizgebel has been described as “a genuine virtuoso, a spirited young genius with real depth” (Fono Forum) and an “insightful musician” (The New York Times). He is praised repeatedly for his poise, elegance, imagination, expressive lyricism, and crystalline articulation. He performs regularly in recital and with the finest orchestras across the globe, and has received critical acclaim for his recordings.
In 2023–24, Schwizgebel’s highlights included a tour with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Kazuki Yamada (Victoria Hall Geneva, Zurich Tonhalle, Casino Bern, KKL Lucerne) and concerts with the Tonkünstler-Orchester (Vienna Musikverein), Oxford Philharmonic, Erfurt Philharmonic, Dortmunder Philharmoniker, Belgrade Philharmonic, Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Royal Bangkok Symphony, and Orchestre national de Metz (Amsterdam Concertgebouw), as well as Mozart play-and-conduct projects at the Puplinge Festival and with the Geneva International Orchestra at the Piano à Saint-Ursanne Festival.
In recent seasons, further highlights have included performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, all BBC Orchestras, Royal Scottish National Symphony, Bavarian Radio Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Bamberg Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Oslo Philharmonic, Danish National Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Vienna Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Oregon Symphony, and Auckland Philharmonia.
In solo recital and chamber music, Schwizgebel performs regularly at major festivals and halls including London’s Wigmore, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Rheingau Festival, Klavierfest Ruhr, Lille Piano Festival, Septembre Musical de Montreux-Vevey, and Singapore International Piano Festival. He has performed chamber music with the
likes of Benjamin Beilman, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Renaud Capuçon, and Alina Ibragimova. Finally, Schwizgebel has worked with a wide range of conductors including Edward Gardner, Mirga GražinytėTyla, Emmanuel Krivine, Nicholas Collon, Thierry Fischer, Charles Dutoit, Marek Janowski, Fabio Luisi, Lahav Shani, Robin Ticciati, Louis Langrée, John Wilson, James Gaffigan, Santtu Matias Rouvali, Ben Gernon, Elim Chan, Allondra della Parra, Michael Sanderling, Vasily Petrenko, and Fabien Gabel.
Schwizgebel performs frequently in his native Switzerland; he has played in major festivals such as Verbier, Lucerne, and the Gstaad and Meisterinterpreten series at Zurich Tonhalle. In 2014 he made his BBC Proms debut with an electrifying televised performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and in 2018 at the Festival de Radio France in a televised performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
Schwizgebel records for Aparté and his latest recording of Schubert’s Sonatas D. 845 and D. 958 was described as an “album of extraordinary precision” by Le Figaro. Previous releases include Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto Nos. 2 and 5 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, described as “gorgeously singing and wonderfully delicate” by BBC Music Magazine, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Nos. 1 and 2 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra hailed as a “beautifully nuanced account” by Gramophone.
Schwizgebel was born in 1987 in Geneva. He studied with Brigitte Meyer in Lausanne and Pascal Devoyon in Berlin, and then later at the Juilliard School with Emanuel Ax and Robert McDonald, and at London’s Royal Academy of Music with Pascal Nemirovski. At the age of seventeen, he won the Geneva International Music Competition and, two years later, the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York. In 2012, he won second prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition and in 2013 he became a BBC New Generation Artist.
Christopher James Lees
Resident Conductor
Christopher Warren-Green Conductor Laureate
2024 · 2025 MUSICIAN ROSTER
FIRST VIOLINS
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, Concertmaster
The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair
Joseph Meyer,* Associate Concertmaster
Kari Giles, Acting Associate Concertmaster
Dustin Wilkes-Kim,
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Susan Blumberg°°
Jane Hart Brendle
Cynthia Burton
Ayako Gamo
David Horak†
Lenora Leggatt
Jenny Topilow
Angela Watson†
Hanna Zhdan
SECOND VIOLINS
Oliver Kot, Principal
The Wolfgang Roth Chair
Kathleen Jarrell, Assistant Principal
The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair
Carlos Tarazona°
Monica Boboc
Martha Geissler
Sakira Harley
Tatiana Karpova
Ellyn Stuart
VIOLAS
Benjamin Geller, Principal
The Zoe Bunten Merrillt Principal Viola Chair
Kirsten Swanson†
Acting Assistant Principal
Matthew Darsey†
Ellen Ferdon
Wenlong Huang
Viara Stefanova
Ning Zhao
CELLOS
Jon Lewis, Principal
The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair
Allison Drenkow, Assistant Principal
Marlene Ballena
Jeremy Lamb
Norbert Lewandowski†
Sarah Markle
Oksana McCarthy†
DOUBLE BASSES
Jason McNeel, Acting Principal
Judson Baines, Assistant Principal
Justin Cheesman†
Jeffrey Ferdon
° Non-revolving position
°° Alternates between first and second violins
† Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony
‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc.
* On leave
This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians on stage varies depending on the piece being performed.
HARP
Andrea Mumm Trammell, Principal
The Dr. Billy Graham Chair
FLUTES
Victor Wang, Principal
The Blumenthal Foundation Chair
Amy Orsinger Whitehead
Erinn Frechette
PICCOLO
Erinn Frechette
OBOES
Timothy Swanson, Principal
The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡
Erica Cice
Jamison Hillian†
Terry Maskin*
ENGLISH HORN
Erica Cice
CLARINETS
Taylor Marino, Principal
The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair
Samuel Sparrow
Allan Rosenfeld
E ♭ CLARINET
Samuel Sparrow
BASS CLARINET
Allan Rosenfeld
BASSOONS
AJ Neubert, Principal
Joshua Hood
Nicholas Ritter
CONTRABASSOON
Nicholas Ritter
HORNS
Byron Johns, Principal
The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair
Andrew Fierova
Bradley Burford
The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair
Richard Goldfaden
Paige Quillen
TRUMPETS
Alex Wilborn, Principal
The Betty J. Livingstone Chair
Jonathan Kaplan*
Peter Stammer†
Gabriel Slesinger, Associate Principal
The Marcus T. Hickman Chair
TROMBONES
John Bartlett, Principal
Thomas Burge
BASS TROMBONE
Scott Hartman, Principal
TUBA
Colin Benton, Principal
The Governor James G. Martin Chair
TIMPANI
Jacob Lipham, Principal
The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair
PERCUSSION
Brice Burton, Principal
The CSO is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.
ON HIS RETIREMENT CELEBRATING
Alan Black
After nearly four decades with the Charlotte Symphony, Alan Black is taking his final bow this weekend, leaving behind a legacy of artistry, leadership, and unforgettable performances.
Since joining the CSO in 1986 and serving as Principal Cellist for over 30 years, Alan has been a guiding force within the Orchestra — leading with dedication and an unwavering commitment to his colleagues and audiences.
Reflecting on his time with the Charlotte Symphony, Alan shared one of his most cherished memories:
“The highlight of my career was in 2000 when Yo-Yo Ma performed with us, and I got to play the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos with him.
Beyond being the most famous musician on the planet, he is also an amazing human being — warm, engaging, and filled with humility. In many ways, he has been the most influential person in my musical life, and I am deeply grateful.”
Listen to Alan Black share insights and stories from his remarkable career on the latest episode of WDAV’s Piedmont Arts Podcast
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is one of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas. As Charlotte’s most active performing arts group, the CSO presents around 150 concerts each season, reaching more than 130,000 music lovers.
The 2024-25 season marks a transformative era under the dynamic leadership of newly appointed Music Director Kwamé Ryan. With 65 full-time musicians, the Symphony performs throughout the community in a variety of venues, from the Belk and Knight theaters to parks, breweries, community centers, schools, senior care centers, and places of worship. With its new mobile stage, CSO Roadshow, the Symphony extends its reach directly into neighborhoods, bringing live music to communities across the region.
Engaging with more than 10,000 students each year, the Charlotte Symphony nurtures the next generation of musicians and music lovers through its four diverse youth orchestras, in-school education programs, instrument coaching, and Project Harmony — which offers free after-school lessons in music and life skills to over 200 students in under-resourced areas.
OUR MISSION
The Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.
OUR VISION
Reaching out through the transformative power of live music, the Charlotte Symphony will be a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region.
Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra continues to play a vital cultural role in the region and remains committed to the belief that music, accessible to all, enriches and unites our community. For more information, visit us online at charlottesymphony.org
Adam Walters
BORN: 1972 in the United Kingdom
The Downfall of Gaius Verres
(2024) U.S. Premiere
PREMIERE: April 11, 2024 at Huddersfield Town Hall, Huddersfield, UK
Approximate performance time is 6 minutes.
The Downfall of Gaius Verres is an orchestral work by Adam Walters, a composer, arranger, teacher, and instrumentalist who currently makes his home in London. It is the second composition by Walters for the Orchestra of Opera North.
The Downfall of Gaius Verres
Gaius Verres was a Governor of Sicily whose staggering abuse of power — including bribery, looting, and summary executions — was finally brought to an end by his trial in 70 A.D. The prosecutor was Marcus Tullius Cicero, who accepted the case when it was brought to him by the Sicilians who had been living under Verres’s tyranny. The trial was well-documented at the time, and accounts of it serve both as a detailed example of corruption in the Roman Republic, and of Cicero’s brilliance as an orator.
My short orchestral work is inspired by this event, as depicted in Robert Harris’s historical novel Imperium. I was particularly drawn in by his description of the crowds that grew ever larger and more frenzied as the trial drew nearer. In my piece, Verres is represented by the opening horn motive which, as the musical narrative unfolds, is woven into the orchestral texture in a variety of guises. Cicero is assigned a melody first heard in the winds. Insistent and unchanging, the melody is intended to evoke Cicero’s tenacity which ultimately led to his successful prosecution of Verres.
- Adam Walters
Sergei Rachmaninoff
BORN: April 1, 1873 in Semyonovo, Russia
DIED: March 28, 1943 in Beverly Hills, California
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor Opus 18 (1901)
PREMIERE: November 9, 1901 in Moscow, Russia
Approximate performance time is 32 minutes.
When Sergei Rachmaninoff completed his First Symphony in August of 1895, he was 22 and brimming with all the confidence of youth. “I imagined that there was nothing I could not do and had great hopes for the future,” he later recalled. Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony received its premiere in St. Petersburg on March 28, 1897, with Alexander Glazunov conducting. The performance was a disaster, and immediately after the final notes sounded, Rachmaninoff “fled, horrified, into the street.”
While Rachmaninoff was able to escape the confines of the theater, he still had to face the wrath of the critics. Russian composer César Cui wrote in the St. Petersburg News:
If there were a conservatory in Hell, if one of its many talented students were instructed to write a programme symphony on the “Seven Plagues of Egypt,” and if he were to compose a symphony like Mr. Rachmaninoff’s, then he would have fulfilled his task brilliantly and would delight the inhabitants of Hell.
Rachmaninoff lapsed into a profound depression; his friends, alarmed by his state, tried all forms of cures. Finally, they convinced Rachmaninoff to consult Dr. Nikolai Dahl, a doctor who had gained some prominence for his employment of hypnosis. Between January and April of 1900, Rachmaninoff visited Dr. Dahl on a daily basis.
Rachmaninoff told Dahl that he had promised to compose a Piano Concerto. Dr. Dahl set about treating his patient:
Program Notes
I heard the same hypnotic formula repeated day after day while I lay half asleep in the armchair in Dr. Dahl’s study. “You will begin to write your concerto...You will work with great facility...The concerto will be of an excellent quality...” It was always the same, without interruption. Although it may sound incredible, this cure really helped me. Already at the beginning of the summer, I began again to compose. The material grew in bulk, and new musical ideas began to stir within me — far more than I needed for my concerto.
Rachmaninoff completed the final two movements of his Second Piano Concerto in the autumn of 1900 and performed them at a Moscow charity concert on October 14. Rachmaninoff added the opening movement in the spring of the following year and appeared as soloist in the November 9, 1901 premiere of the entire Second Piano Concerto. The composer readily acknowledged Dr. Dahl’s role in the creation of one of the most popular works of the 20th century and dedicated the concerto to him.
The Piano Concerto No. 2 is in three movements. The first (Moderato) opens with a series of tolling chords by the soloist, leading to the surging principal melody, marked “con passione.” The slow-tempo second movement (Adagio sostenuto) is a fantasia on a lovely theme, in turn related to a melody in the concerto’s opening Moderato. The finale (Allegro scherzando) is based upon two themes, the second, is one of Rachmaninoff’s most beloved. That theme makes a glorious return in the concerto’s closing measures.
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Camille Saint-Saëns
BORN: October 9, 1835 in Paris, France
DIED: December 16, 1921 in Algiers, Algeria
Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah (1877)
PREMIERE: December 2, 1877 at the Hoftheater in Weimar, Germany
Approximate performance time is 8 minutes.
During his long, productive, and highly influential career, Camille SaintSaëns composed successfully in a wide variety of genres. His catalogue includes a dozen operas; but only one, Samson and Delilah, has maintained a regular place in the repertoire. In the late 1860s, SaintSaëns became interested in the ill-fated affair of Samson and Delilah as the basis for an oratorio. Ferdinand Lemaire, who authored the work’s libretto, convinced Saint-Saëns instead to use the episode from the Book of Judges to create a fully-staged opera.
Within a few years of its 1877 premiere, Samson and Delilah established itself as a mainstay of the French repertoire, a status it holds to this day. Some excerpts from the opera enjoy an independent life in the concert hall, including Delilah’s second-act aria, “Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” (“My heart opens at your voice”) and the final act’s brilliant orchestral Bacchanale. In the Temple of Dagon, the Philistines celebrate their victory over the blinded Samson. But that victory proves to be shortlived when Samson destroys the Temple and his enemies.
Ottorino Respighi
BORN: July 9, 1879 in Bologna, Italy
DIED: April 18, 1936 in Rome, Italy
Feste romane (Roman Festivals) (1928)
PREMIERE: February 21, 1929 at Carnegie Hall in New York City
Approximate performance time is 24 minutes.
Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals is the final work in a series of three tone poems that present musical depictions of the sights, sounds, and history of the grand Italian capital. The first of the trilogy, Fountains of Rome , premiered in 1917, followed by Pines of Rome in 1924. Both premieres were held at the Augusteo in Rome.
The 1917 premiere of the Fountains of Rome, led by Antonio Guarneri, was not a success. However, the following year, Arturo Toscanini conducted the work at a Milan concert. The Milan audience and critics responded enthusiastically, prompting Respighi to comment to his publisher, Ricordi: “In Toscanini’s hands everything takes on strength and color: he understands and brings out the composer’s innermost thoughts.” It was Toscanini who conducted the world premiere of Roman Festivals, leading the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall.
In December of 1949 in Carnegie Hall, Toscanini recorded Roman Festivals with his NBC Symphony Orchestra. The kaleidoscopic orchestration and massive climaxes test the limits of even the most sophisticated modern recording technology. Certainly, the challenges were even greater when Toscanini and the NBC Orchestra recorded the work more than seventy years ago. RCA producer Richard Mohr recalled that when the recording was played for Toscanini’s approval, the maestro felt it lacked sufficient impact. When the engineers informed Toscanini that a higher recording level could lead to sound distortion, the Maestro thundered: “I don’t care! Break the machines!”
Roman Festivals is in four movements, played without pause. The score includes the following description:
I. Circuses — A threatening sky hangs over the Circus Maximus, but it is the people’s holiday: “Ave Nero!” The iron doors are unlocked, the strains of a religious song and the howling of wild beasts float on the air. The crowd rises in agitation: unperturbed, the song of the martyrs develops, conquers, and then is lost in the tumult.
2. The Jubilee — The pilgrims trail along the highway, praying. Finally appears from the summit of Monte Mario, to ardent eyes and gasping souls, the holy city: “Rome! Rome!” A hymn of praise bursts forth, the churches ring out their reply.
3. The October Festival — The harvest festival in the Roman “Castelli” covered with vines: hunting echoes, tinkling of bells, songs of love. Then in the tender even-fall arises a romantic serenade.
4. The Epiphany — The night before Epiphany in the Piazza Navona: a characteristic rhythm of trumpets dominates the frantic clamor: above the swelling noise float, from time to time, rustic motives, saltarello cadenzas, the strains of a barrel-organ of a booth and the appeal of the proclaimer, the harsh song of the intoxicated and the lively stornello in which is expressed the popular feelings. “Lassàtece passà, semo Romani!” (“We are Romans, let us pass!”)
Arturo Toscanini, a champion of Respighi’s music
We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Annual Fund. This list reflects gifts received between July 1, 2023 through February 1, 2025.
BENEFACTOR CIRCLE
$100,000+
Jacqueline B. Mars
$50,000 – $99,999
Jane & Hugh McColl* Douglas Young
$25,000 – $49,999
Joan & Mick Ankrom
Ruth & Richard Ault
Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman Philanthropic Fund
Judith & Mark Brodsky
Margarita & Nick Clements
Roberta H. Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor* Jean & Dick Cornwell
Susan Cybulski Linda & Bill Farthing
$15,000 – $24,999 Anonymous
Anonymous (2)
Joye D. Blount & Jessie J. Knight Jr.
& Emanuel Clark
& Peter DeMaio
& Christoph Feddersen
& John Huson
Krumdieck & Sally Gregory
J. O’Leary Richard J. Osborne
Debbie & Pat Phillips
Kathy & Paul Reichs
Carolyn Shaw
Fox Ralph S. Grier
Andrea & Sean Smith
Melinda & David Snyder
Ken & Tara Walker
Levine Tanya & Steve Makris
& Alex McKinnon
& Alex Miles Keith Oberkfell & Mica Post Oberkfell Judy & Derek Raghavan Kelly & Neal Taub
$10,000 – $14,999
Anonymous (2)
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In Loving Memory of Lopez-Ibanez from Lina & Enrique Lopez-Ibanez
Leslie & Michael Marsicano
Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Robert Norville
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Drs. Jennifer Sullivan & Matthew Sullivan
Ann & Michael Tarwater
Jill & Kevin Walker
Andromeda & John Williams
Lisa & Richard Worf
* The CSO recognizes donors of exceptional generosity whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million with the designation of Music Director Society.
VIRTUOSO CIRCLE
$5,000 – $9,999
Wedge & Debbie Abels
Howard P. Adams & Carol B. McPhee
Jeannette & Francisco Alvarado
Paul & Kristen Anderson
The Charlotte Assembly
Tiffany & Jason Bernd
Mr. James Biddlecome
In Loving Memory of Bernadette Zirkuli Biddlecome
Mary & Charles Bowman
Barbara & Twig Branch
Robin & William Branstrom
Shirley & Michael Butterworth
Glenda Colman & Floyd Wisner
Morgan & Brian Cromwell
Mary Anne Dickson
David J.L. Fisk & Anne O’Byrne
William & Patricia Gorelick
Family Foundation
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Carol & Ron Follmer
Dr. Robert A. Gaines & Toni Burke
Caren & Charles Gale
Sarah & Frank Gentry
Laura & Marshall Gilchrist
Laurie & Barry Guy
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The Jenny Lillian Semans Koortbojian Trust in honor of Sally Trent Harris
Vivian & Robert Lamb
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Susan & Loy McKeithen
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Mr. & Mrs. Harley F. Shuford, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Pope A. Shuford
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Chris & Jim Teat
Brienne Tinder & Thomas Lervik
Judith & Gary Toman
Mr. Herbert Verbesey In Memory of Tess Verbesey
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$3,500 – $4,999
Anonymous
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Reginald B. Henderson, Esq.
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$2,500 – $3,499
Anonymous
Harriet B. Barnhardt
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Si & Michael Blake
Lee & Alan Blumenthal
Dr. & Mrs. O. Robert Boehm
Frances & Herbert Browne
The Jack H. & Ruth C. Campbell Foundation
Dr. William H. Carson
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Elizabeth Betty Eaton
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Dee Dee McKay
$2,500 – $3,499 (continued)
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Pamela Pearson & Charles Peach
Dr. Reta R. Phifer
Kathleen D. Prokay
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Glenn Sherrill, Jr. In Honor of Robin Branstrom
Nancy E. Simpson
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Dottie Stowe in Loving Memory of Dickson Stowe
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PATRON CIRCLE
$1,500 – $2,499
Anonymous
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Jean E. Davis & Robert A. Metzger
Dr. Kandi & Gary Deitemeyer
Elizabeth Betty Eaton Martin Ericson, Jr.
Melisa & Frank Galasso
Jenn & Taylor Gherardi
Carol & Joseph Gigler
Judith Greene
Karen Gunther
Angela M. & Michael D. Helms
Maureen & Daniel Haggstrom
Martha D. Jones
Helen & Gene Katz
Ginger Kemp
Michael Lamach
Dr. & Mrs. Randolph Mahnesmith
Anna Marriott
Rosemarie Marshall & Lee Wilkins
Louise & Gary McCrorie
Janet & Peter Nixon
Caroline Olzinski
Helen & Arvind Patil
Jeanine & Naeem Qasim
Dr. John & Susan Rae
Anne & Mark Riechmann
Brendan Reen
Audrey & Donald Schmidt
Dr. Stephen P. Schultz & Donna Dutton
Anjan Shah
Jane Perry Shoemaker
Katy & Raleigh Shoemaker
Rebecca & Eric Smith
Patricia & Morris Spearman
Maxine & Robert Stein
Jean Summerville
Tillie S. Tice
James H. Trexler & Kelly Zellars
Vera Watson
Grant Webb
Linda & Craig Weisbruch
Pam West
Cricket Weston & David Molinaro
Bryan Wilhelm
Elizabeth & Stephan Willen
Deems Wilson
Barbara Yarbrough
$1,000 – $1,499
Anonymous (5)
Michele & Ross Annable
Marc Aspesi & Paulette Isoldi
Dianne & Brian Bailey
Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln A. Baxter
Katherine & John Beltz
Shirley W. Benfield
Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation
Sam Blackmon
Ethan Blumenthal & Sara Kidd
Marilyn & Herb Bonkovsky
Jodie & Erik Bowen
Khary Brown In Memory of Kyden Justice Brown
Jane & Larry Cain
Amanda & Kevin Chheda
Dr. & Mrs. Bill Chu & Jin Wang
John Colton
Dr. Kilian Cooley
Ann F. Copeland
Kathleen Goldammer-Copeland & Mark Copeland
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Couture
Larry J. Dagenhart
Gwin Dalton
Judy & Bob Erb
Heather & Thomas Finke
Annual Fund Supporters
Carol
Mariam
Joyce
Nydia
Susan
Lucy
Dr.
Rebecca
Linda
Judith
& Sam Bernstein
Nicholas Bonevac
James Broadstone
Aram & Scott Bryan
Angie & Howard Bush
Mary Lou & Greg Cagle
Barbara F. Caine
Catherine P. Carstarphen
Dr. W. Gerald Cochran & Mr. Timothy D. Gudger
Thomas E. Collins, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Charles E. Cook
Jack Cook
Margie & Alpo Crane Ellen M. Crowley
Todd Croy
Libby & David Currier
Margaret & George Dewey
Diane & Doug Doak
Kris & Thomas Duffy
Heather & Gray Dyer
Kate & Trae Fletcher
Dr. John & Eileen Gardella
Jean & Stephen Geller
Stacy & Pete Gherardi
Walter H. Goodwin, Esq.
Linda & Dan Gordon
Cynthia Greenlee
Gloria Gunst
Dr. & Mrs. Michael D. Heafner
Stefan Heinzelmann
Priscilla & Michael Johnson
Mary & Steven Kesselman
Nancy H. Kiser
Moira Klein
Dorothy & Theodore Kramer
Jonathan Lamb
Barbara & Jerome Levin
Megan Levine
John J. Locke
Katherine & Mark Love
Dr. & Mrs. William W. MacDonald
Allison Malter
Leigh & Bruce Marsh
Paula & Francis Martin
Wendy & Ed Matthews
Jill Maxwell
Constance & Kiran Mehta
The Encore Society
The Encore Society includes individuals who have made provisions for the CSO in their estate plans. We are honored to recognize their support:
Anonymous (3)
Geraldine I. Anderson†
Richard & Ruth Ault
Baldwin Family Trust
Barnhardt Thomas Trust
Lincoln A. Baxter & Helen M. Fowler
Larry & Joyce† Bennett
Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman
Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein
Mark & Louise Bernstein† Rosemary Blanchard†
Twig & Barbara Branch
Saul Brenner
Mike & Joan Brown†
Mrs. Joan Bruns†
Jan & Bob Busch
Dr. Helen G. Cappleman, Ph.D.† Jim Cochran† Robin Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor
Tom Covington
Charles & Peggy Dickerson
Mr. Martin Ericson, Jr.
David J.L. Fisk & Anne P. O’Byrne
Peter & Ann† Guild
William G. &
Marguerite K. Huey Fund†
Dr. Nish Jamgotch, Jr.
Betty & Stanley Livingstone†
Lucille & Edwin Jones
Paula & Paul McIntosh
Nellie McCrory† M. Marie Mitchell†
Cricket Weston & David Molinaro
Joan & Richard Morgan
Don C. Niehus Eva Nove
Richard J. Osborne
Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge
James Y. Preston†
Mrs. Clayton (Dusty) Pritchett
Ann & Fritz Rehkopf
Elizabeth Waring Reinhard
Nancy W. Rutledge
Mike Rutledge
Harriet Seabrook
Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert
Morris & Patricia Spearman
Bob & Maxine Stein
Dr. Ben C. Taylor III
Mr. & Mrs. Hans Teich
Cordelia G. Thompson
Tim Timson
Jenny & Ken Tolson
Ms. Deborra Wood & Mr. Russell Propst
† Deceased
Corporate Partners
Government & Foundations
We are grateful for the following outstanding foundation and government funders:
The Trexler Foundation
Dowd Foundation, Inc.
The Dickson Foundation
Cole Foundation
The Charlotte Assembly
The Jack H. & Ruth C. Campbell Foundation
The Mary Norris Preyer Fund
The George W. & Ruth R. Baxter Foundation
Barnhardt/Thomas Trust
For
Comprehensive Campaign
We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Comprehensive Campaign. This list reflects gifts received through February 25, 2025.
$10,000,000+ Ban k of America · The C.D. Spangler Foundation
$5,000,000 - $9,999,999
John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
$2,000,000 - $4,999,999
Jane & Hugh McColl The Leon Levine Foundation
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999
Michele & Ross Annable Atrium Health Howard C. & Margaret G. Bissell Foundation Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. · EY · Contributions Associated with Falfurrias Capital Partners Lynn & Brian Good Julie & Howard Levine Loy & Susan McKeithen Novant Health
$500,000 - $999,99 9
Anony mous Arlene & Milton Berkman Robin & Bill Branstrom Deloitte
Mary & Mike Lamach · Rich Osborne · Debbie & Pat Phillips · M.A. Rogers
Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation Trane Technologies Truist Financial Corporation
$250,000 - $499,999
Cathy Bessant The Dickson Foundation The Gambrell Foundation
The Gorelick Family Foundation · Moore & Van Allen PLLC · Janet Preyer Nelson The Trexler Foundation · Betsy Fleming & Ed Weisiger
$100,000 - $249,000
Jeannette & Francisco Alvarado Joan & Mick Ankrom · Ruth & Richard Ault NCFI/Barnhardt Foundation · Catherine & Wilton Connor · Robin Cochran
Denise & Peter DeMaio The Dowd Foundation Linda & Bill Farthing
Dr. Richard Krumdieck & Mrs. Sally Gregory Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Brian T. Moynihan · Steelfab, Inc. · Andromeda & John Williams
$50,000 - $99,999
Cresce nt Communities · The Fox Family · Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle
Ulrike & Alex Miles Chris & Jim Teat · Rita & Bill Vandiver Lisa & Richard Worf
$10,000 - $49,999
Anonymous · Wedge & Debbie Abels · Mary Lou & Jim Babb · Tiffany & Jason Bernd Frank Bragg · Shirley & Mike Butterworth · Joye Blount & Jesse Knight, Jr. The Cato Corporation · Margarita & Nick Clements · Mary Delk
Caroline & Ben Dellinger III · Carlos & Lisa Evans · David Fisk & Anne O’Byrne
Bill & Carol Lorenz · Leslie & Michael Marsicano · Virginia & Chan Martin
Dede & Alex McKinnon · Posey & Mark Mealy · Dale & Larry Polsky
Wanda & Steve Phifer · Judy & Derek Raghavan · Shannon & Eric Reichard
Sara & Daniel Roselli · Emily & Zach Smith · Melinda & David Snyder
Dr. John A. Thompson, Jr. & Dr. Lee Rocamora · Jill & Kevin Walker
$5,000 - $9,999
Brian S. Cromwell · Toni Burke & Bob Gaines · Sarah & Frank Gentry
Carol & Joseph Gigler · Lucinda Nisbet Lucas · Dee Dee & William Maxwell
Melissa & Dennis McCrory · Cyndee Patterson · Betty & William Seifert
Peggy & Pope Shuford · Nancy E. Simpson · Drs. Jennifer & Matthew Sullivan
Martha Ann & Craig Wardlaw
2024-2025 OFFICERS
Richard Krumdieck, Chair
Ulrike Miles, Vice Chair
Melinda Snyder, Vice Chair
Linda McFarland Farthing, Immediate Past Chair
Kevin Walker, Treasurer
Denise DeMaio, Secretary
David Fisk, President & CEO
Kwamé Ryan, Music Director
2024-2025 DIRECTORS
Mick Ankrom
Joye D. Blount
Krisha Blanchard
Mike Butterworth
Nick Clements
Mary Delk*
Sidney Fletcher
Carrie Galloway
Lucia Zapata Griffith
Byron Johns*
Valerie Kinloch
Stephen Makris
Alex McKinnon
Juliette Pryor
Sara Garces Roselli
Lindsay Schall
Ylida Scott
Cameron Sherrill
Jennifer Sullivan
Brienne Tinder*
Andrea Mumm Trammell*
Ken Walker
*ex-officio
2024-2025 TRUSTEES
Richard Osborne, Chair
Paul Anderson
Ruth & Richard Ault
Arlene & Milton Berkman
Jason & Tiffany Bernd
Mary & Charles Bowman
Frank Bragg
Robin & Bill Branstrom
Dr. William Charles & Dr. Cynthia Nortey
Derick & Sallie Close
Robin Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor
Jeanie & T. Thomas Cottingham III
Brian Cromwell
Susan Cybulski
Alessandra & Pasquale De Martino
Alvaro & Donna de Molina
Peggy & Richard Dreher
Lisa Hudson Evans
Karen Fox
Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle
Ralph S. Grier
Laurie Guy
Janet Haack
Reginald B. Henderson, Esq.
Mark & Whitney Jerrell
Jeff Lee
Gov. James G. Martin
Jane & Hugh McColl
Stacie McGinn
Susan & Loy McKeithen
Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Mica Oberkfell
Patrick J. O’Leary
Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips
Paul Reichs
Nancy & Charles Robson
Patricia A. Rodgers
M.A. Rogers
Laura & Mike Schulte
Carolyn Shaw
Emily & Zach Smith
Will Sparks
Bob & Marsha Stickler
Chris & Jim Teat
Kelly & Neal Taub
Adam Taylor
Elizabeth & Steve Willen
Braxton Winston
Richard Worf
Joan Zimmerman
Albert Zue
EXECUTIVE
David J. L. Fisk, President & CEO
Samantha Hackett, Executive Administrator
ARTISTIC OPERATIONS
Scott Freck, Vice President for Artistic Operations & General Manager
Carrie Graham, Senior Director of Artistic Planning
Tim Pappas, Director of Operations
Bart Dunn, Principal Music Librarian
Nixon Bustos, Senior Music Librarian
Emily Schaub, Assistant Music Librarian
Erin Eady, Senior Manager of Orchestra Personnel
Claire Beiter, Artistic Operations Manager
John Jarrell, Stage Manager
DEVELOPMENT
Shayne Doty, Vice President of Development
Mandy Vollrath, Director of Corporate & Institutional Relations
Libby Currier, Director of Individual Giving
Tammy Matula, Senior Manager of Development Operations
Jennifer Gherardi, Development Manager - Campaign & Special Events
Meghan Woolbright, Annual Fund Manager
Noel Kiss, Advancement Associate
Josh Bottoms, Institutional Giving Coordinator
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Christian Drake, Vice President of Finance & Administration
Chazin & Company, Financial Services
Amy Hine, HR Coordinator & Office Administrator
Channing Williams, Accounting Associate
HUMAN RESOURCES
Maribeth Baker, Human Resources Counselor
LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Aram Kim Bryan, Vice President of Learning & Community Engagement
Dylan Lloyd, Senior Manager of Youth Orchestras
Mark Rockwood, Education & Community Programs Manager
Michaela Sciacca, Project Harmony Manager
Gavin Fulker, Education & Community Programs Assistant
Lily Moore, Youth Orchestras Assistant
Bria Alexander, Learning & Community Engagement Assistant
MARKETING & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Frank Impelluso, Vice President of Marketing & Audience Development
Deirdre Roddin, Director of Institutional Marketing & Communications
Nicole Glaza, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing
Laura Thomas, Senior Manager of Marketing & Audience Development
Chad Calvert, Visual Communications Manager
Meghan Starr, Patron Experience Manager
Garrett Whiffen, Ticketing Manager
