Co-presented with Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Friday, February 27, 2026 | 8PM
Soka Performing Arts Center
at Soka University of America Joshua Bell with Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Featured Performers
Orchestra
Violin I
Joshua Bell
Harvey de Souza
Amanda Smith
Gabrielle Painter
Fiona Brett
Miranda Playfair
Martin Gwilym Jones
Sijie Chen
Dorina Markoff
Violin II
Martin Burgess
Matthew Ward
Clare Hayes
Richard Milone
Antonia Kesel
Miranda Dale
Cecily Ward
Viola
Robert Smissen
Fiona Bonds
Ian Rathbone
Nicholas Barr
Matthew Maguire
Cello
Richard Harwood
Will Schofield
Judith Herbert
Reinoud Ford
Sarah Suckling
Bass
Lynda Houghton
David Stark
Alice Kent
Flute
Harry Winstanley
Sarah Newbold
Oboe
James Hulme
Rachel Ingleton
Clarinet
Fiona Cross
Thomas Lessels
Bassoon
Julie Price
Featured Performers
Orchestra
Percussion
Laura Bradford
Lorna West
Horn
Stephen Stirling
Joanna Hensel
Peter Francomb
Jamie Shield
Trumpet
Mark David
William O’Sullivan
Trombone
Rebecca Smith
Andrew Cole
Daniel West
Tuba
James Tavares
Timpani
Louise Lewis Goodwin
PROGRAM
CHARLES IVES
Variations on “America” (arr. Iain Farrington)
SAINT-SAËNS
Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
DVOŘÁK
Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
Variations on “America” (arr. Iain Farrington) CHARLES IVES
It feels especially fitting, in a year marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, to open with music by Charles Ives— the composer who has come to embody the “maverick” streak in American musical history. Yet Ives’s Variations on “America” comes not from the iconoclast of legend but from the astonishingly gifted teenager who already showed signs of the independence and irreverence that would define his mature voice.
Ives wrote the piece in 1891, when he was seventeen. By then he was already a seasoned church organist—he had held his first post at fourteen in Danbury—and he later performed the Variations as a Fourth of July offertory at the Methodist church in Brewster, New York, where he soon took up a new organ position. The premise is straightforward: a set of variations on “America” (also known as “My Country, ’Tis of Thee”), the patriotic hymn that generations of schoolchildren grew up singing.
The tune itself has an older life: it first took shape as the 18th-century British anthem “God Save the King,” whose composer is unknown— and which remains the United Kingdom’s national anthem today. Americans adopted it with new words in 1831, when Samuel Francis Smith fashioned the patriotic hymn “America” from the familiar melody. For decades, it served as the young
nation’s unofficial anthem, lodged deep in public memory.
The young Ives approaches this familiar melody with gleeful freedom. His variations twist, refract, parody, and celebrate the tune all at once—with surprise key changes, rhythmic disruptions, and sly harmonic jokes that would not become fashionable for decades. Even as a teenager, he was quietly remaking the rules.
The piece later entered the orchestral world through the American composer William Schuman’s well-known arrangement from the early 1960s Tonight, however, we hear a new version by the British organist, composer, and arranger Iain Farrington, whose vivid, stylistically alert orchestrations have made him a favorite of ensembles across the UK. There’s a certain irresistible irony in hearing this most American of youthful provocations through the bright, clear sonorities of a quintessentially British chamber orchestra, yet the match proves ideal: Farrington’s scoring preserves the sparkle and mischief of Ives’s original while giving the music a fresh, modern sheen.
Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
Camille Saint-Saëns’s long life (1835–1921) stretched from the high Romantic generation through the upheavals of the First World War and the uneasy beginnings of Modernism. He championed the
revolutionary advances of Liszt and Wagner, yet recoiled from the later innovations of Debussy and Stravinsky. Though he composed prolifically across every major genre—even writing early film scores—only a handful of works have stayed firmly in the repertory. Many of these date from the 1870s and 1880s, his peak decades: Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, The Carnival of the Animals, the Organ Symphony, and the Third Violin Concerto.
Saint-Saëns understood the concerto form from the inside out—a fluency that performers like Joshua Bell respond to instinctively. His writing gives the soloist room to shape a line with freedom, yet always within a firm architectural frame.
A virtuoso pianist from childhood, Saint-Saëns introduced Beethoven’s piano concertos to skeptical Parisian audiences and wrote five for himself—after giving a debut at age ten in which he offered, as an encore, to play any Beethoven sonata the public might name, from memory. He found the concerto, with its inherently public, theatrical character, to be a form where elegance, clarity, and a refined sense of drama could coexist.
No wonder, then, that the Violin Concerto No. 3—composed in 1880 and written expressly for the great Spanish virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate—feels so poised and natural. The last of SaintSaëns’s three violin concertos, it is also the one most perfectly
matched to Sarasate’s artistry. Saint-Saëns had already indulged his taste for bravura display in the First Concerto, also written for Sarasate; here he offers something richer and more integrated, shaped by the violinist’s lyricism rather than sheer athleticism.
Sarasate (1844–1908), to whom the concerto is dedicated, was one of the pivotal musicians of his era—in addition to his celebrity as a virtuoso violinist, he was a composer, a champion of new music, and an artist admired by G.B. Shaw and painted by Whistler. His playing was famed for beauty of tone, purity of intonation, and effortless poise— qualities Saint-Saëns makes central to the expressive profile of this work. As the composer once wrote: “The artist who does not feel completely satisfied by elegant lines, by harmonious colors and by a beautiful succession of chords does not understand the art of music.” The Third Concerto seems built on that creed.
The first movement opens with a gesture reminiscent of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, with the soloist entering almost immediately over an agitated orchestral rustle. The violin states a stark, emphatic theme before melting into freer, more expressive phrases. This tension between gruff severity and lyrical release becomes the movement’s governing contrast. A sweet, highlying melody—one of Saint-Saëns’s most grateful inspirations—softens the mood before the opening idea returns in altered forms.
The slow movement, Andantino quasi allegretto, is fluid and gently propelled, calculated to be played at a quicker pace than an Andante. Saint-Saëns described it as “a lake between two mountains,” and praised Sarasate’s ability to sound “as calm on the lake as he was agitated on the mountains.” The music’s lilting rhythm gives it a pastoral, almost dreamlike serenity, with delicate woodwind writing supporting the violin’s purity of line. It is the concerto’s oasis: intimate and perfectly proportioned.
The finale is the most expansive movement, and the most structurally adventurous. SaintSaëns begins with a surprising flourish: the violin launches what seems like a passionate cadenza spanning its full range, only to be interrupted by an orchestral recitative. Then the tempo quickens, and the movement unfolds through a series of contrasting themes, among them a choralelike melody that later returns in noble brass sonorities. This chorale helps steer the music toward a bright turn to the major key for the spirited, forward-driving coda.
Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK
Nearly a decade after SaintSaëns completed his Third Violin Concerto, Antonín Dvořák had settled into life at his country home in Vysoká, about 30 miles south of Prague on land owned by his wealthy brother-in-law. It was a landscape he loved: woods alive with birdsong, quiet ponds, and
long forest paths. Dvořák wandered these paths daily, chatting with villagers and letting musical ideas settle into place. He even converted an old sheep barn into a small house where he composed several of his best-known works, including, in 1889, the Eighth Symphony.
The Eighth emerged at a moment of renewed confidence. Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony (1885), full of inner turmoil, had won validation the Czech composer long sought in a cultural climate often dominated by German-Austrian attitudes. He approached the new symphony “with individual thoughts worked out in a new way,” as he put it—a deliberate contrast to the darker cast of the Seventh. The renowned conductor Hans Richter, reporting on the Vienna premiere of the Eighth Symphony, wrote: “You would have enjoyed this performance very much. We all felt that it is a great work and so we were all enthusiastic.”
Although the Eighth contains the Czech musical fingerprints one expects from Dvořák—buoyant rhythms, modal inflections, dancelike phrasing—its personality is even more deeply bound to the natural world of Vysoká. Some pages suggest a pastoral idyll; others veer into more ambiguous, even volatile territory. That blend of light and shade gives the symphony its unmistakable voice. The work was prompted in part by Dvořák’s appointment to the Bohemian Academy of Science, Literature, and Arts, and he led members of Prague’s National Theater
Orchestra (where he had once played as a violist) in the premiere in February 1890.
The first movement opens in a gently veiled G minor, its melancholy theme emerging in the strings. This idea returns at several structural points, but the mood soon brightens into a radiant G major. This is music that feels like sunlight breaking suddenly through a canopy of leaves. The flute’s birdsong, one of the movement’s most memorable gestures, functions not as mere ornamentation but as a true thematic idea. Pastoral calm coexists with brass-driven climaxes, and the movement grows from a handful of simple motifs that Dvořák recombines with a sense of organic growth.
Variation—so fundamental to the natural world Dvořák loved— shapes the Adagio’s drama. The strings present the theme at the outset, and Dvořák spins a series of reflections: tender, brooding, and at times turbulent. One variation subtly recalls the birdsong of the first movement; another expands into a stormier, more dramatic scene. Instrumental color is essential to the movement’s design, as the melody passes through the orchestra with constantly shifting timbre.
Instead of a scherzo, the third movement offers a melancholy waltz in G minor—elegant but wistful, as if filtered through memory. Its contrasting middle section brings a gentle innocence, using material from an early one-
act comic opera Dvořák had written many years before. The return of the waltz theme has a softened, almost nostalgic glow.
Launched by trumpet fanfares, the finale offers a set of variations on a two-part theme first stated by the cellos. These opening measures contain, in compressed form, yet another echo of the flute idea from the first movement, now transformed into something sturdier and more assertive. Dvořák’s methods recall models he admired—Beethoven’s Eroica, Brahms’s transformational craft— but the result is unmistakably his own. The Symphony’s final minutes are both magical and slyly humorous, as if the composer suddenly shakes off his reverie and urges the music toward a headlong, giddily exhilarating finish.
Program notes by Thomas May © 2026.
JOSHUA BELL VIOLIN & MUSIC DIRECTOR
With a career spanning almost four decades, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. He has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world and regularly appears as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, conductor, and as the Music Director of London’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF).
In the 2025–26 season, Bell continues to champion the rediscovered Violin Concerto by Thomas de Hartmann, following his recent Diapason d’Or-winning world premiere recording of the work. After giving its UK premiere at London’s BBC Proms, he performs the concerto with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and Oslo Philharmonic, and gives its Canadian premiere during his season-long tenure as a Toronto Symphony Spotlight Artist. With ASMF, he leads extensive tours on both sides of the Atlantic, including returns to the Vienna Konzerthaus and New York’s Carnegie Hall. Other orchestral highlights include his first appearances as Principal Guest Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony; concerto dates with the Houston Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra; and concerts and an Asian tour with Hamburg’s NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. As well as giving recitals in the U.S. and Europe, Bell joins Steven
Isserlis and Evgeny Kissin for trio programs in New York, Kansas City, Paris, Vienna, and Prague, and reunites with Jeremy Denk for duo recitals at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Ravinia Festival.
In 2011, Bell was named Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, succeeding Sir Neville Marriner, who founded the orchestra in 1959. Bell’s history with the Academy dates back to 1986, when he first recorded the Bruch and Mendelssohn concertos with Marriner and the orchestra. He has since led the orchestra on several albums, including the 2019 Grammy-nominated Bruch: Scottish Fantasy. In April 2024, the Academy announced the extension of his contract through the 2027–28 season. Bell is also the Founder and Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra of America (COA), which aims to empower the next generation of artists through performance opportunities, mentorship, and educational outreach initiatives. In April 2025, COA made its debut at TED2025, where Bell gave a TED Talk about the power of live orchestras in today’s tech-filled world.
Bell has commissioned and premiered new works by John Corigliano, Edgar Meyer, Behzad Ranjbaran, and Nicholas Maw, winning a Grammy Award for his recording of Maw’s Violin Concerto. In 2023–24, he introduced his newly commissioned concerto project, The Elements, a fivemovement suite by renowned living composers Jake Heggie,
Jennifer Higdon, Edgar Meyer, Jessie Montgomery, and Kevin Puts. Bell gave the work’s premiere performances with Hamburg’s NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and Seattle Symphony.
Bell’s many collaborators include Emanuel Ax, Chris Botti, Chick Corea, Renée Fleming, Josh Groban, Lang Lang, Dave Matthews, Anoushka Shankar, Regina Spektor, Sting, and Daniil Trifonov.
As an exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell has recorded more than 40 albums, winning Grammy, Mercury, Gramophone, Diapason d’Or, and Opus Klassik awards. He is currently recording Fauré’s chamber music with Steven Isserlis and Jeremy Denk, who previously partnered with him on a 2024 Mendelssohn trios release that was a Gramophone “Editor’s Choice.” Bell’s 2019 Amazon Originals Chopin Nocturne arrangement was the first classical release of its kind on Amazon Music, and his 2013 album with ASMF, on which he conducts Beethoven’s Fourth and Seventh Symphonies, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Bell worked with John Corigliano on the film soundtrack for The Red Violin (1998), which won the composer an Academy Award and made Bell a household name. Since then, he has appeared on several other soundtracks, including Ladies in Lavender (2004) and Defiance (2008). To commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Red
Violin, he performed with live orchestra at screenings of the film at festivals and with the New York Philharmonic. He appeared three times as a guest star on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and made numerous appearances on the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle. Bell is also featured on six Live from Lincoln Center specials, as well as on a PBS Great Performances episode, “Joshua Bell: West Side Story in Central Park.” In 2020, PBS presented Joshua Bell: At Home with Music, a nationwide broadcast produced entirely in lockdown by Tony and Emmy Award-winning director Dori Berinstein. Sony Classical subsequently released the companion album, Joshua Bell: At Home with Music (Live).
A keen advocate for accessible music education, Bell received the 2022 Paez Medal of Art from the Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts and the 2019 Glashütte Original Music Festival Award, presented in association with the Dresden Music Festival. He has also partnered with Trala, the techpowered violin learning app; is actively involved with Education Through Music and Turnaround Arts; and, in 2014, mentored and performed alongside National YoungArts Foundation string musicians in the HBO Family documentary special, Joshua Bell: A YoungArts Masterclass.
Through an ongoing partnership with Embertone, the leading virtual instrument sampling company, Bell launched the Joshua Bell Virtual Violin. A sampler for producers,
Violin. A sampler for producers, engineers, artists, and composers, it is widely considered the best virtual instrument of its kind. He also collaborated with Sony PlayStation 4 VR on the Joshua Bell VR experience, which features Bell and pianist Sam Haywood performing in full 360-degree VR.
In 2007, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post story about Bell performing incognito in a Washington, D.C. metro station sparked an ongoing conversation about artistic reception. This inspired Kathy Stinson’s 2013 children’s book, The Man with the Violin, and an animated film with music by Academy Award-winning composer Anne Dudley. Illustrated by Dušan Petričić, Stinson’s 2017 book, Dance with the Violin, offers a glimpse into one of Bell’s childhood competition experiences. Bell debuted the “Man with the Violin” festival at the Kennedy Center that same year, later presenting a “Man with the Violin” family concert with the Seattle Symphony.
Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Bell began playing the violin at the age of four and started studies with his mentor, Josef Gingold, eight years later. At 14, he debuted with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and at 17 made his Carnegie Hall debut with the St. Louis Symphony. He signed with his first label, London Decca, at 18, when he also received the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Since then, Bell has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, named “Instrumentalist of the Year”
by Musical America, selected as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, and recognized with the Avery Fisher Prize. He has also received the 2003 Indiana Governor’s Arts Award and, in 1991, a Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the Jacobs School of Music. In 2000, he was named an “Indiana Living Legend.” Bell has performed for three American presidents and the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He participated in former President Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities’ first cultural mission to Cuba, subsequently joining Cuban and American musicians for an Emmy-nominated PBS Live from Lincoln Center special titled Joshua Bell: Seasons of Cuba, which celebrated the renewal of cultural diplomacy between Cuba and the United States.
Bell performs on the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin.
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is one of the world’s finest orchestras, renowned for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music.
Founded in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields has evolved into a musical powerhouse, an orchestra renowned across the world for its commitment to the musical freedom of its players and the sharing of joyful, inspiring performances.
Today, with Music Director Joshua Bell, ASMF’s player-led approach empowers every member of the orchestra. This creates a direct line and electrifying connection between the orchestra and its audiences, resulting in ambitious and collaborative performances that transcend the more traditional conductor-led model.
In 2025/26, ASMF presents more than 100 concerts, in its most ambitious season to date. Its London season commences with a performance by ASMF BBC New Generation Associate Julius Asal, and touring performances with Jan Lisiecki. This season includes three new commissions by Sally Beamish, Huw Watkins and Eleanor Alberga, as well as the UK premiere of Kevin Puts’s Earth.
Beyond the concert hall, ASMF’s commitment to a social purpose manifests in impactful projects
that harness the power of music to empower people. The orchestra have a longstanding history of work which connects with people experiencing homelessness, and its education projects develop autonomy and creativity among emerging musicians worldwide.
ASMF’s collective artistic responsibility fosters enduring collaborations with worldrenowned soloists, exemplified by a 15-year partnership with Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell. These collaborations showcase the benefits of trust and true artistic collaboration developed over time. Building on its rich global legacy, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields remains one of the world’s most-recorded orchestras, igniting a love for classical music in people around the world through live performance and digital initiatives.
Today, ASMF continues a busy international touring program alongside a significant presence in the UK – making the orchestra one of the country’s most celebrated cultural exports.
Find out more about supporting the work of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields at asmf.org/support
60th Anniversary Farewell Tour
SUNDAY, MAR. 01, 2026 | 5PM
“There is no one like the Assads in the world of music for either the scope of their interests or the depth or the musicianship or technical abilities.” - Seattle Post
Angela Hewitt
SUNDAY, MAR. 22, 2026 | 3PM
PROGRAM
BACH Partita No. 5 in G major
SCHUMANN Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
COUPERIN From the Sixième Ordre
RAVEL Le Tombeau de Couperin
“I know of no musician whose Bach playing is of greater subtlety, beauty of tone, persuasiveness of judgment or instrumental command” - BBC Music Magazine
TICKETS &
Marc-André Hamelin
SUNDAY, APR. 12, 2026 | 3PM
PROGRAM
HAYDN Sonata in D major, Hob. XVI:37
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata in C major, Op. 2, No. 3
MEDTNER Danza festiva, Op. 38, No. 3
RACHMANINOFF Étude-Tableau in E-flat minor, Op. 39, No. 5 and more!
“Hamelin’s legend will grow - right now there is no one like him.” - Alex Ross, The New Yorker
Concessions
A wide variety of wine, beer, soft drinks and freshly prepared snacks will be available before the concert and during intermission.
Staff Drink Pick
The Division Bell
We asked the staff for their favorite drink pick to feature at concessions! The Division Bell was selected and will be available for purchase before the performance and during intermission.
Pre-order your concessions and skip the line during intermission! Click here for menu and to order
Our mission is to Engage, Educate, and Elevate the Human Spirit
Soka Performing Arts Center is dedicated to elevating the human spirit through transcendent live experiences. Discover the unmatched beauty of our acoustics. Expand your understanding and appreciation of music through our programs that illuminate new perspectives. Build community and forge deep connections through the shared experience of live performance. We invite you to become a part of our Soka Performing Arts Center family and to Listen. Feel. Transform.
Soka Performing Arts Center is located on the beautiful hilltop campus of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo. Our facility includes the 1,042seat Concert Hall featuring world-class acoustics designed by master acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota, designer of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, among many others. We also have an intimate 350-seat Black Box Theatre that allows for multiple seating configurations including club seating with bistro tables.
More than 800 performances have taken place since the center’s dedication on May 27, 2011. The 2025-26 season marks our fifteenth season presenting first-class programming in our world-class concert hall. We are continuing to expand our programming and outreach with the addition of a Children’s Concert Series and the only Great Pianists Series on the West Coast. From classical and jazz to world and contemporary music, the Soka Performing Arts Center has become a prized space for artists and audiences alike.
We are proud to be the home of the Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Our Sundays @ Soka Series with Pacific Symphony continues to be one of our most popular series year after year. Our presentations with other Orange County arts organizations have enabled us to reach further into our community to offer arts education and programming. Our partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County includes our Philharmonic Society Series, which brings superlative artists to our stage. We also partner with Philharmonic Society for our Outreach Program, bringing over 7,000 school children to Soka Performing Arts Center to experience live performances with outstanding musicians.
With its world-class acoustics and first-class performances, Soka Performing Arts Center is quickly becoming one of the cultural jewels of Orange County.
OUR SUPPORTERS
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ($75,000+)
Dr. Kenneth & Sandra Tokita
Sam* & Lyndie Ersan
CONCERTMASTER ($10,000+)
Ms. Emi Maeda
STAGE CHAMPION ($5000+)
Yoshitomo & Takemi Daido
STAGE BENEFACTOR ($1000+)
Anonymous
OC Chinese Cultural Club
John and Sue Prange
Terumi Saito
Jochen Schumacher
Alex & Sandy Scott
Scott A Shuping
Anson and Marilyn Wong
PLATINUM CLEF ($500+)
Anonymous
Jeffrey Hendrix
Edward D. Jones
Jane A. Lynch
GOLD CLEF ($200+)
Judy Kaufman
Lorraine Leiser
Naomi Uchiyama
SILVER CLEF ($100+)
Renée Bodie
Sam Chang
Masako Inage
Debrah Jiang
Chiharu Nagai
Paul Porto
Thomas Prigorac
Jonia Suri
Joseph Whittaker
BRONZE CLEF ($25+)
Raquel Bruno
Kenneth Hanawa
Ryosuke Iga
Jeannette Pease
Joyce M Wrice
Taro Yamanashi
* Deceased
List current as of 09/26/2024
The Soka Performing Arts Center deeply appreciates the support of its sponsors and donors, and makes every effort to ensure accurate and appropriate recognition. Contact Renée Bodie, General Manager at (949) 480-4821 to make us aware of any error or omission in the foregoing list.
DONATE TO SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Your support helps ensure Soka Performing Arts Center fulfills its purpose: to engage, educate, and elevate the human spirit. Your gift supports the programming of world-class performances, provides transformative educational outreach experiences, and opens the opportunity to build engagement with our community by sharing the joy of live music.
Our subscription and renewal program provides you with even more flexibility in our season packages*. With our enhanced program, you now have the power to curate your very own unique experience.
• 15% Discount for a 3 performance package
• 18% Discount for a 4 performance package
• 20% Discount for a 5+ performance package
*full details online at soka.edu/pac
OUR PARTNERS
• Blueport Jazz
• Philharmonic Society of Orange County
• Pacific Symphony
• Parnassus Society
SOKA PAC MANAGEMENT TEAM
Renée Bodie
General Manager & Artistic Director
John Morgan
Box Office Manager
Antoinette Rossman
House Manager/Assistant to the General Manager
Steve Baker
Production Manager
Jarmil Maupin
Internal Events Manager
Ian Smith
Technical Services Manager
Katie Ohrn
Lighting Supervisor
Piano Tuners
Kathy Smith Lead Tuner
Ron Elliott
David Stoneman
David Vanderlip
Website soka.edu/pac
Soka Performing Arts Center resides on the beautiful campus of Soka University of America. We thank the SUA Board of Trustees and the SUA Leadership Council for all of their support.
SUA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Stephen S. Dunham, JD | CHAIR
Vice President and General Counsel Emeritus, Pennsylvania State University | Baltimore, Maryland
Tariq Hasan, PhD | VICE CHAIR
Chief Executive Officer, SGI-USA | New York, New York
Andrea Bartoli, PhD
President, Sant’Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue | New York, New York
Matilda Buck
Benefactor | Los Angeles, California
Lawrence E. Carter, Sr, PhD, DD, DH, DRS
Dean, Professor of Religion, College Archivist and Curator, Morehouse College | Atlanta, Georgia
Andy Firoved
CEO, HOTB Software | Irvine, California
Jason Goulah, PhD
Professor of Bilingual-Bicultural Education and Director, Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education, Director of Programs in Bilingual-Bicultural Education, World Language Education, and Value-Creating Education for Global Citizenship, College of Education, DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois
Clothilde V. Hewlett, JD
Commissioner of Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, State of California | San Francisco, California
Karen Lewis, PhD
Sondheimer Professor of International Finance and Co-Director, Weiss Center for International Financial Research, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Luis Nieves
Founder, Chairman Emeritus AUL Corp, Benefactor | Napa, California
Isabel Nuñez, PhD, MPhil, JD
Professor of Educational Studies, Dean of School of Education, Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, Indiana
Gene Marie O’Connell, RN, MS
Health Care Consultant, Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing | Corte Madera, California
Adin Strauss
General Director, Soka Gakkai International-USA | Santa Monica, California
Yoshiki Tanigawa
Benefactor, Soka Gakkai | Tokyo, Japan
Gregg S. Wolpert
Co-president, The Stahl Organization | New York, New York
Edward M. Feasel, PhD
President, Soka University of America (ex-officio member) | Aliso Viejo, California
Edward M. Feasel, PhD
President
Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Economics
Archibald E. Asawa
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Investment Officer
Katherine M. King, PHR
Executive Vice President of University
Community
Chief Human Resources Officer
Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator for Faculty, Staff and Others
Michael Weiner, PhD
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of East Asian History & International Studies
Bryan E. Penprase, PhD
Vice President for Sponsored Research and External Academic Relations Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Tomoko Takahashi, PhD, EdD, LHD
Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment
Dean of the Graduate School Professor of Linguistics and Education
David Welch, JD Vice President University Counsel
M. Robert Hamersley, PhD Dean of Faculty Professor of Environmental Biogeochemistry
Hyon J. Moon, EdD Dean of Students
Title IX and Section 504 Deputy Coordinator for Students
Michelle Hobby-Mears, MBA
Associate Dean of Students Director of Student Activities
Andrew Woolsey, EdD Dean of Enrollment Services
Martin Beck, MA
Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Academy of St Martin in the Fields – Administration
Chief Executive Officer - Annie Lydford
Executive Director, Performance & Planning - Tim Davy
Head of Concerts & Tours – Hannah Bache
Concerts & Tours Manager – Anna Galloway
Orchestra Personnel Manager - Charlotte Templeman
Performance & Projects Assistant - Esme Sullivan
Project Manager – Alex Tighe
Stage Manager (US Tour 2026) – Michael Pattison
Stage Manager (Vail, CO and Winona, MN) – Hal Hutchison
Librarian – Helen Harris
Director of Development & External Affairs - Chris Martin
Head of UK Development - Amy Scott
Development Manager (American Friends) – Georgina Hamilton
Marketing & Communications Manager - Rose Hall
Development & Marketing Coordinator – William Lloyd
Head of Social Purpose - Callum Given
Head of Audiences and Community – Charlotte Cosgrove
Finance Manager – Philip Knight
Academy of St Martin in the Fields For Opus 3 Artists
Robert Berretta, Managing Director
Benjamin Maimin, Chief Operating Officer
Jemma Lehner, Associate Manager
Miles Bentley, Administrative Assistant
For the Academy of St Martin in the Fields US Tour
Leonard Stein, Consulting Producer
Peter Katz, Touring Coordinator
John Pendleton, Company Manager
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County gratefully acknowledges the following donors for their generous support of the Fund for Music during the past twelve months. These contributions make up the difference between the income generated from ticket sales and the actual cost of bringing the world’s finest orchestras, soloists and chamber ensembles to Orange County and inspiring 100,000 K-12 students each year with quality music programs. Gifts range from $70 to more than $100,000, and each member of the Philharmonic Society plays a valuable role in furthering the mission of this organization.
YOUTH MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM SPONSORS
Bluebird Legacy Inc.
Chapman University
The Committees of the Philharmonic Society
The Crean Foundation
The Davisson Family Fund for Youth Music Education
The William Gillespie Foundation
Hearst Foundation
Thomas J. Madracki Memorial Endowment
Orange County Community Foundation
Pacific Life Foundation
U.S. Bank
Anonymous
SERIES SPONSORS
Donna L. Kendall Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek/Jelinek Family Trust, Eclectic Orange Series
Henry T. and Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation
FOUNDER'S SOCIETY ($100,000+)
The Committees of the Philharmonic Society
Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation
Dr. Howard Jelinek/Jelinek Family Trust
Philharmonic Foundation
Henry T. and Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation
Elizabeth Segerstrom
Maria Manetti Shrem
Jane Fujishige Yada
Bluebird Legacy, Inc.
The Crean Foundation
MAESTRO'S SOCIETY ($50,000+)
Colburn Foundation
Douglas Burch Classical Programs Fund
Elaine and Carl Neuss
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Podlich
Gail and Robert Sebring
Ms. Dea Stanuszek
CHAIRMAN’S SOCIETY ($25,000+)
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fuerbringer
Valerie and Hans Imhof
Robert E. and Marjorie R. Rawlins
Shanbrom Family Foundation
Doctor Bob and Mao Shillman
Douglas and Deirdre Smith
Steven M. Sorenson MD and J. Eric Shay
U.S. Bank
Mr. Stephen Amendt
Charles and Ling Zhang
LIFETIME GIVING
We proudly recognize the following donors whose enduring support over the years has sustained and advanced the Philharmonic Society's mission and enriched the cultural fabric of Orange County for generations to come.
$4M+
Elizabeth Segerstrom and Henry Segerstrom*
The Henry T. and Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation
$3M+
Mr. Howard J. Jelinek and Mrs. Judith Jelinek*
Ms. Donna L. Kendall
The Donna L. Kendall Foundation
Mr. William Roberts* and Mrs. Barbara Roberts
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith
$2M+
A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation
Anonymous
Mr. William J. Gillespie*
The William Gillespie Foundation
$1M+
Anonymous
Mr. And Mrs. John C. Crean* Crean Foundation
Mrs. R.E. Rawlins*
Mrs. Michelle Rohé
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Segerstrom Foundation
$700K+ Colburn Foundation Disneyland
Mr. Lawrence Gates* and Mrs. Margaret M. Gates
Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier Jr.*
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Kohl
The Orange County Register Philharmonic Foundation of Orange County
Shanbrom Family Foundation South Coast Plaza
$500K+
The Committees of the Philharmonic Society
Mr. Sam Ersan* and Mrs. Lyndie Ersan
Ms. Carol Frobish*
Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation
Mr. Edward Halvajian* and Mrs. Joan Halvajian
Mr. Jerry Harrington* and Mrs. Maralou B. Harrington
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Podlich
Ms. Dea M. Stanuszek
*Deceased
PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY
($10,000+)
John Chimo Arnold, in Memory of Diane Arnold
Carol and Eugene Choi
Suzanne and David Chonette
City of Laguna Beach
Marjorie and Roger Davisson
The Dirk Family
Karen and Don Evarts
Hung Fan and Michael Feldman
Mrs. Jean Felder
Mrs. Joanne C. Fernbach
Mr. John D. Flemming and Mr. Mark Powell
Frome Family Foundation
Margaret M. Gates
Ms. Joan Halvajian
Milli Hill
Betsy and Gary Jenkins
Kari Kerr
PLATINUM BATON ($6,000+)
France and Dr. Richard D.
Campbell
Richard Goodman
Jane and Joe Hanauer
GOLDEN BATON ($3,000+)
John W. Benecke and Lee Marino
Barbara and Robert Boies
Peter Bordas
Dr. and Mrs. Berislav Bosnjak
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Burra
Mr. James Carter
Diana and Robert Clemmer
Susan and Kevin Daly
SILVER BATON ($1,200+)
Abbott Laboratories
Dr. and Mrs. Donald R. Abrahm
Janet Aengst
C. David Anderson
Nancy Arnold
Eileen and Yoshi Asahi
David and Frances Nitta Barnes
Dr. Lori Bassman and Mr. Harley C. Bassman
Tod and Craig Beckett-Frank
Ms. Michelle Brenner
Mr. James J. Brophy
Mrs. Diana Casey
Mr. and Mrs. Gustave S. Chabre
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart A. Clark
Lauren and Cor Claus
Dr. Harvey Eisenberg
Cherie and Lawrence Felix
CONCERTO ($600+)
Anonymous
Charlotte W. and Richard D.
Alexander
Brien Amspoker and Ellen Breitman
Emmett Carlson and Ross Conner
Mary Chelius
Mr. Randall K. Chun
Peter Conlon and Deborah Shaw
Eve and Timothy Donovan
Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation
Resa Evans
SONATA ($300+)
Dinanath and Shobhana
Ambegaokar
Lisa Ambler
Deborah and John Barcellona
Ronald and Regina Bender
Carol and Walter Boice
Dixie and John Bliss
Ms. Lynne Bloomberg
Robert Braun
Mr. Scott Brinkerhoff
Gail Brooks
Evelyn Brownstone
Mr. and Mrs. Tyke Camaras
Luisa Cano
Beverly and Dave Carmichael
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Chamberlain Jr.
Elizabeth Henry and Bruce Ibbetson
Carole Innes-Owens
Ms. Elizabeth Jones
Patricia K. Duffie Living Trust
Deborah and Cody Engle
Mr. Gilbert Gluck and Mrs. Catherine A. Bradley
Ellen Pickler Harris and Ron Harris
Ms. Jena Jensen and Mr. Daniel Jaffurs M.D.
Jeffrey 2011 Charitable Lead
Dr. and Mrs. Sidney A. Field
Petrina Friede
Dr. Anna Gonosova
Ildiko R. Good
Michael Gordon
Katherine and Carl Greenwood
Mr. and Mrs. Noel Hamilton
Barbara Hamkalo
Dan Haspert and Gerry Curtin
Mr. Chuck Hong
Julia and John Houten
Barbara Howland
Judith and Kevin Ivey
Anne Johnson, in Memory of Tom
Douglas Johnson
Dr. Nancy L. Kidder
LaDonna T. Kienitz, Esq. Eunsuk Kim
Walter C. Fidler
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Forsstrom
Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Fowler
Mr. and Mrs. Donald French
Cheryl Garland
Mark and Brenda Gow
Pamela Hoffman
Grace Holdaway
Mrs. Songhee Jin
Kay Becknell Jones
Maki Kaijo
Janet Laurin, in honor of Rodney Axton
Gary and Jan Lawrence
Dr. and Mrs. Shigeru Chino
Gordon Cowan
Stephanie Dencik, in Memory of Susie Gallagher
Veronica and Gerald DeVries
Mrs. Frayda Eilbert
Deanna Epley
Jeanie Gibson
Marvin Goecks, Jr.
Dr. Alan L. Goldin
Mark V. Gurvich
Huntington Harbor Trinidad
Philharmonic Committee
Sandra and Jerome Harlan
Howard and Carol Hay
Marlene Hewitt
K.A. Hummel
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Nielsen
Cheryl Hill Oakes
Lauren and Richard Packard
Mr. Patrick Paddon
Kay Poggi
Christopher Quilter
Ms. Mirella Reznic
Mr. Robert Ronus
Samueli Foundation
Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation
Pamela and Alexander Munro
Carol and Roger Nilsen
Annuity Trust
Elliott Kornhauser and Joe Baker
Vicki and Richard Lee
Ms. Barbara McMurray
Dot and Rick Nelson
Kent and Yumi Livesay
Madylon and Dean Meiling
Sandra Price
Cathy and David Krinsky
Hank and Bonnie Landsberg
Dr. Sean Liang
Barbara and Greg MacGillivray
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Malcolm
Mrs. Linda Lipman Mandelbaum
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Marshall
Karen McCulley
Mr. H.W. McKee and Ms. Robin L. Huffman
Mrs. Sharon McNalley
Dr. Vahe Meghrouni
Danny and Kristy Melita
Patricia Morgan
Elizabeth and Philip Morse
Ann Niedringhaus
Susan Qaqundah
Katsuhiko and Meiko Maeshige
Dr. Lani Martin
Caren Mason
Kelly and Susan McClellan, in memoriam Judith Jelinek
Linda Owen
Michael and Meili Pinto
Rana Porter
Mr. and Mrs. John Prange
Lucinda Prewitt
Deborah and Tom Rapport
Karyn Rashoff
Les Redpath
Mr. and Ms. Peter T. Ridley
Luke Hung
William Iglehart
Seth Johnson
Elizabeth M. and Donald P. Johnson
Sumie and Alfred Jossi
Kenneth and Janis Kaplan
Eva Khwaja
Barbara R. Kilponen
Nancy and Ned Kriz
Kim and Ken Kummerow
Bruce Larson and Dinny Beringer
Dr. and Mrs. Craig Leonard
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Dr. Deirdre McTeggart
Bethany Mendenhall
Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting
Ellen and Vasily I. Semeniuta
Anne and Danny Shih
Walter and Masami Stahr
Diane Stephens
Ms. Barbara Tanner
Gayle Widyolar
Edward and Anna Yeung
Mr. and Mrs. James G. Reynolds
Dr. Emmanuel Sharef and Emilia Yin
Marcia Kay and Ron Radelet
Karen and Phil Ridout
Ms. Harriet Roop
Mr. and Mrs. David Seigle
Diane and Igal Silber
Ms. Linda Silverman and Mr. Ercil Brown
Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sobel
Christopher Reed and Pat O’Brien
Marian Sansone
Deb and Rob Schlesinger
Eva Schneider
John Jacob Shaak
Dr. William and Mrs. Marta Sokol
Eric W. Bell and Susanne L. Spangler
Vina Spiehler
John and Dorothy Stevens
Alexander Stimpson
Mitchell and Donna Thiessen
Dr. and Mrs. Harvey S. Triebwasser
Mrs. Elaine Westerhout
Dr. Rebecca Yamarik
Suzanne Sandmeyer and Wes Hatfield
Carol Schwab
Myrna and Leonard Simon
Mr. Scott Theodorson and Ms. Sandy Koh Theodorson
Mike Tompkins and Lynn Weiser
Edith Tonkon
Ms. Carole Uhlaner and Mr. D Brownstone
Edith and Thomas Van Huss
Western Allied Corporation
Ms. Sally Westrom
Karen and Douglas Wilson
Victoria Mortensen
William Nottingham
Angela and David Pak
Mr. Richard Parslow
Perry Family Fund
Sidney and Nancy Petersen
John Pettit
Mr. Dennis Poey
Dr. and Mrs. William G.
Preston M.D.
Coralie Prince
Ms. Gail C. Romansky
Deborah and Frank Rugani
Kathleen Sangster
Paul Schmidhauser and Cindy Hughes
Ms. Barbara Sentell
SONATA ($300+)
Patricia Smoot
Diane Stovall
Kevin and Nella Webster-O’Grady
Dr. Mark Wohlgemuth
Ms. Cynthia Wolcott
Chava and Ted Wortrich
Sandi Wright-Cordes
Mr. Leonard Wyss
Ivy Yan
Dr. Andrew Yen and Ms. Grace Chen
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
Frieda Belinfante in memoriam
List current as of 1/6/2026
Jane K. Grier in memoriam
John M. Rau
Official Hotel Partner of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County
The Philharmonic Society deeply appreciates the support of its sponsors and donors, and makes every effort to ensure accurate and appropriate recognition. Contact the Development Department at (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, to make us aware of any error or omission in the foregoing list.
ESTERHAZY PATRONS
The Philharmonic Society is proud to recognize our dedicated patrons who have made a multi-year Esterhazy Patron pledge. We are grateful for their support, which has been largely responsible for enabling us to present the world’s most acclaimed symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists.
Mr. James Alexiou*
Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Anderson
A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation
Mr. Gary N. Babick
Ms. Tricia Babick
Mrs. Linda Beimfohr
Mr. and Mrs. John Carson
Cheng Family Foundation
Mrs. William P. Conlin
Marjorie and Roger Davisson
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Delman
The Dirk Family
Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Duma
Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Emery
Catherine Emmi
LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS
Mr. James Alexiou* and Mrs. Elaine Alexiou*
Dr. and Mrs. Julio Aljure
Diane* and John Chimo Arnold
Estate of Edra E. Brophy*
Mr. James J. Brophy
Mr. Douglas T. Burch, Jr.*
Mr. William P. Conlin* and Mrs. Laila Conlin
Pamela Courtial*
Gregory Pierre Cox
Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty
Mr. Ben Dolson*
Camille and Eric Durand Trust*
Karen and Don Evarts
Erika E. Faust*
James and Judy Freimuth
Ms. Carol Frobish*
LEAVE A LEGACY
Lyndie Ersan
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Freedland
Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family
Mr. Milton S. Grier, Jr.
Maralou Harrington
Dr. Howard J. Jelinek
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Chapin
Johnson
Dr. Siret Jurison
Donna L. Kendall Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Venelin Khristov
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Kirwan
Milena Kitic
Capt. Steve Lutz and Shala Shashani Lutz
The William Gillespie Foundation*
Mr. and Mrs.* Milton S. Grier, Jr.
Mr. Edward Halvajian*
Ms. Joan Halvajian
Ms. Marie Hiebsch*
Mildred and James* Hill
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hull*
Mr. Leonard Jaffe
Judith* and Howard Jelinek
Dr. Burton L. Karson*
Donna L. Kendall
Hank and Bonnie Landsberg
Mrs. Carla Liggett
Dr. William Lycette
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Michel
Mr. and Mrs. Bart Morrow
Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Nadler*
Eva Cebulski Olivier
Mrs. Frank M. Posch*
Professor Robert and Dr. Adeline Yen Mah
Mrs. Sharon McNalley
Dr. Vahe Meghrouni
Elaine and Carl Neuss
Mr. Thomas Nielsen
Milan Panic
Helen Reinsch
Barbara Roberts
Mrs. Michelle Rohé
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer
Elizabeth Segerstrom
Douglas and Deirdre Smith
Mrs. Elaine Weinberg
Mr. and Mrs. George Wentworth
Anonymous
*Deceased
Marcia Kay Radelet
Marjorie Rawlins*
Mrs. Ladislaw Reday*
Elaine M. Redfield*
Mr. Richard M. Reinsch*
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sebring
John Jacob Shaak
Mr. H. Russell Smith*
Al Spector and Tatjana Soli
Ms. Dea Stanuszek
Diane and Michael Stephens
Vas Nunes Family Trust*
Betty M. Williams*
Anonymous
*Deceased
Bold type indicates gifts of $50,000 or more.
Please call the Philharmonic Society Development Department if you have included either the Philharmonic Society or the separate Philharmonic Foundation in your will or trust so that we may honor you as a member of the Legacy Circle. For more information, call (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, or visit www.PhilharmonicSociety.org/Support and click on Planned Giving.
PHILHARMONIC FORWARD CAMPAIGN
The Philharmonic Society’s Philharmonic Forward campaign is the first of its kind in the organization’s history. It will grow the Society’s endowment—providing greater opportunities for the presentation of the world’s leading orchestras and other musical performances while expanding our educational and community outreach— and also establish a current needs fund for organizational sustainability and flexibility.
We are proud to recognize those who are helping secure the Society’s future with a gift to the Philharmonic Forward Campaign. We are grateful for their support, which will help fuel the Society’s growth and provide a legacy of incomparable music and superb music education programs in perpetuity.
Co-Chairs
Donna L. Kendall and Douglas H. Smith
$1,000,000+
Mr. James J. Brophy
Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sebring Anonymous
$500,000+
Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty
James and Judy Freimuth
$250,000+
The Davisson Family Fund for Youth Music Education
Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family
Mr. and Mrs.* Milton S. Grier, Jr.
Douglas and Deirdre Smith
$100,000+
Pete and Sabra* Bordas
David and Suzanne Chonette
Karen and Don Evarts
Milli and Jim* Hill
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Nielsen
Richard* and Deborah Polonsky
Diane and Michael* Stephens
Anonymous
$50,000+
Mr. Douglas T. Burch, Jr.*
Dr. Richard D. and France
Campbell
Erika E. Faust*
Mrs. Joanne C. Fernbach
Joan Halvajian
Elaine and Carl Neuss
Marcia Kay Radelet
Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Ridout
Ms. Dea Stanuszek
Dr. Daniel and Jeule Stein
$25,000+
Douglas Burch Classical Programs Fund
Mr. William P. Conlin* and Mrs. Laila Conlin
Mr. and Mrs. Donald French
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fuerbringer
Mr. and Mrs. Noel Hamilton
Dr. and Mrs. Chase* Roh
Up to $24,999
Eleanor* and Jim Anderson
John W. Benecke
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Burra
Ana and Ron Dufault
Hung Fan and Michael Feldman
First American Trust
Kimberly Dwan Bernatz
Mr. John D. Flemming and Mr. Mark Powell
Duke Funderburke
Carolyn and John Garrett
Karin Easter Gurwell
Maralou and Jerry M.* Harrington
Mrs. Alice E. Hood
Huntington Harbour Philharmonic CommitteeMarina Windjammer Group
Kevin and Judith Ivey
Ms. Lula Belle Jenkins
Doris and Jim Kollias
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Kramer
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lewis
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Madracki
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mastrangelo
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Michel
Charles Mosmann
Carl Neisser*
Joan Rehnborg
Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sobel
Dr. and Mrs. Julio Taleisnik
Marti and Walter Unger
Gayle Widyolar, M.D.
Sandi Wright-Cordes
U.S. Bank
Anonymous
*Deceased
For more information, contact Halim Kim, Senior Director of Development, at (949) 553-2422, ext. 233 or email halim@philharmonicsociety.org.
ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY
Founded in 1954 as Orange County’s first music organization, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents national and international performances of the highest quality and provides dynamic and innovative music education programs for individuals of all ages to enhance the lives of Orange County audiences through music.
Since its inception, the Philharmonic Society has evolved and grown with the county’s changing landscape, presenting artists and orchestras who set the standard for artistic achievement from Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others. In addition, the Philharmonic Society celebrates multi-disciplinary performances under its Eclectic Orange brand and embraces music from a wide range of countries with its World Music performances.
The Philharmonic Society’s nationally recognized Youth Music Education Programs, offered free of charge, engage more than 80,000 students annually through curriculum-based music education programs that aim to inspire, expand imaginations, and encourage learning at all levels. These programs are made possible by The Committees of the Philharmonic Society comprised nearly 450 volunteer members who provide more than 50,000 hours of in-kind service each year. As a key youth program, the exceptional Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble provide top-tier training to the area’s most talented young musicians through multi-level ensemble instruction, leadership training, touring opportunities, challenging professional repertoire, and performances in world-class venues.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
OFFICERS
Elaine Neuss, Chair/CEO *
John Flemming, Deputy Board Chair *
Donna L. Kendall, Vice Chair *
Stephen Amendt, Secretary/Treasurer *
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kathy Barrett, President, The Committees *
Lauren Claus, Past President, The Committees
Kathy Cobb-Woll, President-Elect, The Committees
Hung Fan, Laguna Beach Music Festival Chair
Jean Felder, Artistic & Marketing Chair
Margaret Gates, Development Chair *
Benny Ishii, Orange County Youth Symphony Chair
Kari Kerr, Nominating & Governance Chair
Marlene Nielsen, Board of Governors
Mirella Reznic
June Shillman
Douglas Smith, Member at Large *
IN MEMORIAM
Sabra Bordas
Douglas T. Burch, Jr.
Jane Grier
PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Tommy Phillips
*Executive Committee
ARTISTIC OPERATIONS
Emily Sly, Artistic Operations Manager
Hana Kurihara, Concert Production Coordinator
Kathy Smith, Piano Technician
DEVELOPMENT
Kimberley Monday, Vice President of Development
Halim Kim, Senior Director of Development
Zach Edwards, Board Liaison and Development Coordinator
EDUCATION
Katherine Yang, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement
Courtney McKinnon, Associate Director of Volunteer and Education Services
Jennifer Niedringhaus, Senior Manager of Education and Community Engagement
Chloe Hopper, Education Associate and OCYS Coordinator
Penny Arroyo, Huntington Harbour Office Manager and Finance Coordinator
Hitesh Benny, Education and Community Engagement Intern
FINANCE
Roan Alombro, Vice President of Finance
Fay Hu, Finance and HR Associate
MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Jean Hsu, COO / Vice President of Communications
Marie Songco-Torres, Senior Marketing and PR Manager
Rosiana Falzon, Marketing and PR Associate
PATRON SERVICES
Jonathan Mariott, Director of Patron Services
Angelica Nicolas, Marketing and Patron Services Manager
Randy Polevoi, Musical Concierge
ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY AND STRING ENSEMBLE
Johannes Müller Stosch, Music Director and OCYS Conductor
Lucy Lu, OCYSE Conductor and OCYS Strings Coach
Danielle Culhane, Operations and Personnel Manager