CSYO Spring Concert - program 03-11-23

SPRING CONCERT March 11 Knight Theater

DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK charlottesymphony.org

CONTENTS

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WHAT’S INSIDE...

A Message from the President & CEO 3 Concert Program 5 Conductor Bios 6 About the CSYO 10 Youth Philharmonic Roster 11 Youth Orchestra Roster 12 About the CSO 15 2022-23 Musician Roster 16 Board of Directors & Trustees 18 Administration 19

join the musical dialogue What did you think of the performance?

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WELCOME

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Welcome to your CSYO! I’m delighted to welcome you to the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras Spring Concert at the Knight Theater!

Under the wonderful leadership of Youth Orchestra Conductor Christopher James Lees and Youth Philharmonic Co-Conductors Katie Ebert and Eric Thompson III, we are more committed than ever to providing our young musicians with an extraordinary music education and a nurturing environment in which to grow and connect in music and friendship.

This afternoon you’ll experience the Youth Orchestra and Youth Philharmonic perform a wide range of works from Mozart and Wagner to Stravinsky and Ravel! This inspiring group of young musicians have worked incredibly hard alongside the Symphony’s talented conductors and musicians, who served as coaches to prepare them for this moment today. We are all extremely proud of their accomplishments!

None of this would be possible without the support of parents and families and without the generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony. Thank you for being here today to hear these talented young musicians and to support the future of music in our community.

Enjoy the concert!

David Fisk President & CEO

The CSO is…

MORE THAN WHAT’S ONSTAGE.

Did you know that the Charlotte Symphony is much more than what you see on the Belk and Knight Theater stages?

Beyond the Classical, Pops, Family, and Movie Series in the theaters, we work to uplift, entertain, and educate our community through inclusive education programs and community performances.

• The CSO has three programs for young musicians: the Youth Orchestra, the Youth Philharmonic, and the Youth Ensemble.

CSO musicians participate in coaching throughout the year, and even perform with the young musicians!

• Reaching approximately 15,000 students each season, we also have extensive school programs, including Project Harmony, “Music and the Holocaust,” and “One Musical Family” Education Concerts.

• We perform throughout the region, from community parks and schools to breweries, senior care centers, and places of worship all season long.

The CSO is…FOR EVERYONE. To learn more, visit charlottesymphony.org

CONCERT PROGR AM

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SPRING CONCERT Saturday, March 11, 2022 at 3:00 pm Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY YOUTH PHILHARMONIC Katie Ebert, co-conductor Eric Thompson III, co-conductor GIUSEPPE VERDI SOON HEE NEWBOLD

“Anvil Chorus” from Il Trovatore Calypso Sea American Landscape

W. A. MOZART RICHARD WAGNER

Overture from The Magic Flute Suite from Tannhäuser I. Pilgrim’s Chorus II. Evening Star III. Grand March

(There will be a brief pause to reset the stage.)

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA Christopher James Lees, conductor HENRY COWELL

Ancient Desert Drone

JOSEPH HAYDN

Symphony No. 89 I. Vivace

MAURICE RAVEL

“The Fairy Garden“ from Mother Goose Suite

IGOR STRAVINSKY

Firebird Suite (1919 Version) Berceuse and Finale

CONDUCTOR BIOS

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Christopher James Lees resident conductor

Emerging American conductor Christopher James Lees brings passionate and nuanced orchestral performances to the stage, a fierce commitment to contemporary music, and a natural charisma to audiences all around the world.

In 2018, Mr. Lees began an appointment as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition to the more than 50 annual concert appearances with the CSO, he has stepped in to conduct Subscription Classical performances on four occasions, including gala concerts with Grammy Award winning artists Branford Marsalis in May 2021 and Rhiannon Giddens in November 2022.

This season, Mr. Lees makes his debuts with the New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony, and Fort Worth Symphony. An active guest conductor, Mr. Lees has returned for performances with the Los Angeles and Rochester Philharmonics, the Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Portland, and Flint Symphonies, and conducted debuts with the Indianapolis, Kansas City, Toledo, and Vermont Symphonies.

Additional engagements have taken him to the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra de Chambre de Paris, Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and at the Music in the Mountains Festival & Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão in Brazil.

Only the second American Gustavo Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mr. Lees made his debut with the orchestra in April 2013 and returned for concerts in February 2015.

With the New York Philharmonic, St. Louis & Atlanta Symphonies, among others, Mr. Lees has served as a assistant conductor for the world’s leading conductors, including: Gustavo Dudamel, Paavo Järvi, Herbert Blomstedt, Leonard (continued next page)

CONDUCTOR BIOS (continued)

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Slatkin, David Robertson, Marin Alsop, Pablo Heras-Casado, Stéphane Danève, Susanna Mälkki, Robert Spano, and Nicholas McGegan.

After two summers of study with Robert Spano at the Aspen Music Festival, Mr. Lees was named winner of both the 2011 James Conlon Conducting Prize and the 2012 Aspen Conducting Prizes, respectively. In 2013, Mr. Lees returned for a third summer as assistant conductor for the Aspen Music Festival and School.

An active pianist, and equally comfortable in the opera pit, Mr. Lees has served as Music Director or Assistant Conductor for a wide array of operas: Aida (Atlanta Symphony), Peter Grimes & John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby (Aspen Opera Theatre Center), Louis Andriessen’s De Materie, and Philip Glass’ the CIVIL warS (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Don Giovanni & Mark Adamo’s Little Women, (University of Michigan Opera Theatre), and Nino Rota’s Il Capello di paglia di Firenze (AJ Fletcher Opera Institute).

A recipient of a Career Assistance Grant from the Solti Foundation US, Mr. Lees was also chosen for showcase on the Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation National Conductor Preview, hosted by the League of American Orchestras and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

A dedicated advocate for music of our time, Mr. Lees has premiered more than one hundred fifty new works by a diverse range of composers, and collaborated closely with Pulitzer Prize winners John Adams, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Caroline Shaw, Roger Reynolds, and Julia Wolfe.

A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Lees holds bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, and has studied conducting with Larry Rachleff and Robert Spano, as well as having participated in masterclasses with Lorin Maazel, Michael Tilson Thomas, Gustav Meier, and Jorma Panula.

When not performing, Mr. Lees can be found building Lego sets with his seven year old son, reading the stack of books on his nightstand, or perpetually training for a marathon.

CONDUCTOR BIOS (continued)

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Katie Ebert

co-conductor, CSYP

Katie Ebert is the Director of Bands at Cuthbertson Middle School in Waxhaw NC, having served in this capacity since the school’s opening in 2009. She is in her 19th year teaching public school, and each of her ensembles continues to experience success. The Cuthbertson Middle School concert bands have consistently earned superior ratings at local, district and regional music festivals. Under her baton, the middle school program has grown to a current enrollment of approximately 220 music students. Mrs. Ebert also serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Cuthbertson High School.

A graduate of Lassiter High School in Marietta GA, Mrs. Ebert holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Music Performance from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah GA, and a Master of Music Education from Western Carolina University. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and holds professional associations in the National Band Association, the National Association for Music Educators, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the American School Band Directors Association, the South-Central District Bandmasters Association, and the Union County Bandmasters Association. Mrs. Ebert is a three-time award recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and was recognized as Cuthbertson Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2016/17. She currently serves as a district representative on the state MPA committee and Solo and Ensemble chair.

Mrs. Ebert recently served as a guest clinician for the South Central and Northwestern All District Symphonic Honor Bands, and she continues to conduct both Distinct and County bands in the Southeast. She resides in Waxhaw, NC and team teaches the Cuthbertson band program alongside her husband Todd.

CONDUCTOR BIOS (continued)

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Eric Thompson, III co-conductor, CSYP

Eric L. Thompson, III serves as the Conductor for the Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble and Co-Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Philharmonic. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2007 where he held the Robert Ehrman Fellowship. There he studied with Grammy Award Winning and MacArthur “Genius” Edgar Meyer and Harold Robinson, principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Upon graduation, Eric played full-time bass with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra prior to joining Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Mr. Thompson is the recipient of many awards-he is the first bassist to become a laureate of the Sphinx Competition, he was awarded second place in the ASTA National Solo Competition, and in 2002 he was awarded a musicians union scholarship from the American Federation of Musicians and the rank of Eagle Scout by the National Eagle Scout Association of Boy Scouts of America. As a soloist, he has played on live television broadcasts and has performed concertos twice with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Since 2013, Mr. Thompson has been teaching orchestra at the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. His students have participated in CMS All-District Honors Orchestra, Western Regional Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of Charlotte, All State Orchestra, NC Governor’s School, Interlochen Arts Camp, UNCG Summer Music Camp, and attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr. Thompson has been recognized many times as an educator, including the Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2019 by the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte and the Crowning Achievement Award in Music Education in 2020 by the Crown Jewels Chapter, The Links, Incorporated. Most recently he was voted as the 2023 CMS Orchestra Director of the Year and conducted CMS All-District Middle School Honors Orchestra.

ABOUT THE CSYO

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The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra experience provides extraordinary music education in pursuit of musical excellence.

The program aims to inspire in our students a strong sense of character, discipline, commitment, and community.

The ensembles are inclusive, diverse, and accessible to all students, regardless of financial resources. High-quality ensemble training is led by Charlotte Symphony Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees, Youth Philharmonic Co-Conductor Katie Ebert, CSYE Conductor & CSYP CoConductor Eric Thompson III, and professional Charlotte Symphony musicians, who provide a nurturing environment through which young musicians create lasting bonds in music and friendship.

We offer regular performance opportunities throughout the city, including the Belk and Knight theaters, plus access to the Charlotte Symphony’s renowned Conductor Laureate & Music Adviser, Christopher Warren-Green, and international visiting artists, such as Joshua Bell.

YOUTH PHILHARMONIC

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Katie Ebert, co-conductor Eric Thompson III, co-conductor FIRST VIOLINS Ethan Brainard Susan Carroll Ian Cox Noel Fang Lilliann Fernandez Amelia Fleury Erin Hadiwidjaja* Janelle Haywood Mila Held Emma Hew Emily Li Aarthi Nelatoor Mya Nguyen Ishika Peter Neil Zhu SECOND VIOLINS Ryan Ahn* Ellie Allen Amisha Bharti Campbell Carter Clara Gaviria Danyal Khan Madison Lee Elena Oh Ramya Puttagunta Corban Ressler Keshav Saravanan Rithika Saravanan Purvi Selvaraj Ariya Song Elina Tackson Ethan Zheng

CELLOS Lars Botts Alexander Chu Anja Magi Chloe Oh* Addison Turner DOUBLE BASS Noah Hagerty FLUTES Kieran Betts Justin Li Sullivan Mann Siya Patel Nitin Rapolu CLARINETS Grace Chiu Sarah Echevarry Maxwell Tan Natalie Taylor TROMBONES Daniel Paulauskas TUBA Josh Pascual PERCUSSION Codi Travis

VIOLAS Tom Joseph Keisha Kalra Katelyn Morton Mahi Valiveti Jane Wieland* Rhianna Zhu * Denotes Principal String player.

Wind & Brass players rotate positions throughout the concert.

YOUTH ORCHESTR A

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Christopher James Lees, conductor FIRST VIOLINS Aauysh Bharti Nathan Butler Sarah Chen Juliette DeMay Andrew Hempe Evan Hempe Hailey Kim Brigitte Kittner Akshara Krishna Aliya Ling Annie Liu Allen Ma Julia Moy Joy Ni* Ishara Shrestha-Rai Medha Ullagaddi Julia Yang Jasmine Zheng Alice Zhong SECOND VIOLINS Marie Allbritton Aarti Anugonda Cecilia Bolling* Lillian Dong Lucy Frost Hadley Hines Zodayah Hsu Dhanvi Manivasagam Dhiya Manivasagam Madeline Mckinney Sydney Nguyen Sophia Oh Isabella Pierre Jordan Polk Rose Pradeep Neal Rao Anjali Reddy Maya Sanders Mackenzie Sturgill Sameeya Vasan Rachel Wang ZhangKai Yang

VIOLAS Nicholas Feddersen Brendon Hablutzel* Katie Jung Ella Kuzara Mia Lederer Kiu Yuk Kieran Lee Katherine Liu Claire Mitchell David Rankin CELLOS Charlotte Feddersen Ryan Kim Christian Ko* Isaac Park Gabriel Pierre Josiah Shin Madeline Sturgill Ben Uslan Raechel Wu DOUBLE BASSES Brian Dong Alexander Shaffer Michael Stratford* FLUTES Kieran Betts Prisha Desai Nandini Goswami Karis Huang Aubry Wilhelm OBOES Andre Berard Kimberly Haines Connor Koivisto Rebecca Roberts CLARINETS Cecilia Chiu Forrest Healy Wyatt Stocks

YOUTH ORCHESTR A (continued)

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BASSOONS

TROMBONES

Timothy Brown Akosua Mensah

Ryder Hutchinson Hannah Moore

HORNS

TUBA

Nicholas Garman Liliana Grajales Elliot Kreitman Misty May

Mira Schar PERCUSSION Mark Li Ethan Xu

TRUMPETS Oscar Bao Conner Bapp Jacob Sims Sheldon Turner William Wiand

HARP Ella Higham

* Denotes Principal String player.

Wind & Brass players rotate positions throughout the concert.

MOVIE © 1983 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox Film Corp, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © All rights reserved.

SERIES

March 17 & 18 7:30 pm | Belk Theater The original Star Wars trilogy comes to a dramatic conclusion at Belk Theater this season with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The Empire and the Rebel Alliance prepare for a final confrontation. See it on the big screen with John Williams’s legendary score performed live!

704.972.2000 | charlottesymphony.org

ABOUT THE CSO

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One of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) connects with more than 100,000 music lovers each year through its lively season of concerts, broadcasts, community events, and robust educational programs. The CSO is committed to its mission of uplifting, entertaining, and educating the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional music experiences.

The Charlotte Symphony upholds the highest artistic integrity and takes bold steps to engage with its community through music. Its 62 professional, full-time time musicians perform throughout the region — from community parks and breweries, to places of worship and senior care centers — and offer significant educational support, aimed at serving the underresourced areas of our community.

The Charlotte Symphony is deeply committed to the notion that music, accessible to all and experienced in its many forms, enriches and unifies our community. The CSO believes in equity and inclusion and strives to be an industry leader in imaginative, relevant programming by intentionally seeking out women conductors, underrepresented in our industry, and conductors, composers, and guest artists of color.

Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony plays a leading cultural role in the Charlotte area and aims to serve the community as a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region through the transformative power of live music.

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.

For more information, visit us online at

charlottesymphony.org

MUSICIANS

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YOUR CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY Christopher Warren-Green, Conductor Laureate & Music Adviser Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor FIRST VIOLINS

DOUBLE BASSES

Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, Concertmaster The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair

Kurt Riecken, Principal

Joseph Meyer, Associate Concertmaster

Jeffrey Ferdon

Kari Giles, Assistant Concertmaster

Jason McNeel

Judson Baines, Assistant Principal

Ernest Pereira°* Susan Blumberg°°

FLUTES

Jane Hart Brendle

Victor Wang, Principal The Blumenthal Foundation Chair

Emily Chatham°° Ayako Gamo Jenny Topilow°° Dustin Wilkes-Kim 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 Tatiana Karpova Ellyn Stuart Martha Geissler Sakira Harley VIOLAS

Amy Orsinger Whitehead Erinn Frechette PICCOLO Erinn Frechette OBOES Hollis Ulaky, Principal The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡ Erica Cice Terry Maskin ENGLISH HORN Terry Maskin CLARINETS Taylor Marino, Principal The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair Samuel Sparrow

Benjamin Geller, Principal The Zoe Bunten Merrill Principal Viola Chair

Allan Rosenfeld

Alaina Rea, Assistant Principal *

E♭ CLARINET

Chihiro Tanaka, Acting Asst. Principal

Samuel Sparrow

Ellen Ferdon Cynthia Frank

BASS CLARINET

Viara Stefanova

Allan Rosenfeld

Ning Zhao Matthew Darsey†

BASSOONS

CELLOS

Joshua Hood Naho Zhu†

Jonathan Lewis, Principal The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair Allison Drenkow, Assistant Principal Alan Black, Principal Emeritus Marlene Ballena Jeremy Lamb Sarah Markle

Joseph Merchant, Principal

CONTRABASSOON Naho Zhu†

MUSICIANS (continued)

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HORNS

TIMPANI

Byron Johns, Principal The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair

Jacob Lipham, Principal The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair

Andrew Fierova Robert Rydel

PERCUSSION

Richard Goldfaden Philip Brindise†

Brice Burton, Principal HARP

TRUMPETS Alex Wilborn, Principal The Betty J. Livingstone Chair

Andrea Mumm Trammell, Principal The Dr. Billy Graham Chair

Jonathan Kaplan 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

This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians onstage varies depending on the piece being performed. ° 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

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Michael Reichman, VP of Artistic Operations & General Manager Carrie Graham, Director of Artistic Planning Tim Pappas, Acting Director of Operations Nixon Bustos, Principal Music Librarian Bradley Geneser, Assistant Librarian Erin Eady, Acting Personnel Manager John Jarrell, Stage Manager

The Charlotte Symphony is a proud member of the League of American Ochestras.

LEADERSHIP

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Linda McFarland Farthing Chair John Williams Vice Chair Mick Ankrom Treasurer David Fisk President & CEO Melissa Anderson Joye D. Blount Mike Butterworth Manny Clark Nick Clements Catherine Connor

Mary Delk* Denise DeMaio Richard Krumdieck Alex McKinnon Ulrike W. Miles Glenn Mincey Robert Rydel* Ylida Scott Melinda Snyder Jennifer Sullivan Jenny Tolson* Jenny Topilow* Kevin Walker *ex officio

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Richard Osborne, Chair Gov. James G. Martin Ruth & Richard Ault Jane & Hugh McColl Kat Belk Susan & Loy McKeithen Arlene & Milton Berkman Elizabeth J. McLaughlin Jason & Tiffany Bernd George McLendon Mary & Charles Bowman Patrick J. O’Leary Frank Bragg Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips Robin & Bill Branstrom Paul Reichs Derick & Sallie Close Nancy & Charles Robson Robin Cochran Patricia A. Rodgers Wilton Connor M.A. Rogers Jeanie & T. Thomas Cottingham III Dan & Sara Garces Roselli Brian Cromwell Laura & Mike Schulte Alessandra & Pasquale De Martino Carolyn Shaw Alvaro & Donna de Molina Tom Skains Peggy & Richard Dreher Emily & Zach Smith Lisa Hudson Evans Bob & Marsha Stickler Todd Gorelick Adam Taylor Janet Haack Cynthia Tyson Reginald B. Henderson, Esq. Braxton Winston Mark & Whitney Jerrell Richard Worf Jeff Lee Albert Zue

ADMINISTR ATION

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EXECUTIVE David J. L. Fisk, President & CEO Samantha Hackett, Executive Administrator ARTISTIC OPERATIONS (see p. 9) DEVELOPMENT Shayne Doty, Vice President of Development Leslie Antoniel, Associate Vice President of Development Libby Currier, Annual Fund Manager Tammy Matula, Database Manager Jennifer Gherardi, Campaign Coordinator Senta Harvey, Annual Fund & Sponsorships Associate FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Angel Adams, Vice President of Finance & Administration Lissette Rodriguez, Staff Accountant Chazin & Company, Financial Services Amy Hine, Office Administrator HUMAN RESOURCES Maribeth Baker (Catapult), Human Resources Counselor LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Aram Kim Bryan, Vice President of Learning & Community Engagement Emily Gordon, Project Harmony Manager Dylan Lloyd, Youth Orchestras Manager Peyton Wulff, Learning Manager Jirah Montgomery, Youth Orchestras Assistant MARKETING Mical Hutson, Vice President of Marketing & Audience Development Deirdre Roddin, Director of Institutional Marketing & Communications Nicole Glaza, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing Chad Calvert, Visual Communications Manager Laura Thomas, Marketing Manager Meghan Starr, Patron Communications Manager Garrett Whiffen, Ticketing Manager

128 S. Tryon Street, Suite 350 Charlotte, NC 28202 tickets: 704.972.2000 office: 704.972.2003

charlottesymphony.org

March 24 & 25 Belk Theater

Jessica Cottis, conductor Charlotte Master Chorale “Engaging” (The Scotsman) conductor Jessica Cottis returns to lead the Charlotte Master Chorale and your CSO in Mendelssohn’s expansive Symphony No. 2, “Hymn of Praise.”

704.972.2000 | charlottesymphony.org