season AT A GLANCE
Saturday, 22 June 2024 • 5:30 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT Masquerade!
Saturday, 20 July 2024 • 8:30 p.m.
NON-SERIES CONCERT 1
Symphony Under the Stars: The Music of Tina Turner
Saturday, 14 September 2024 • 5:30 p.m.
MASTERWORKS CONCERT I
Opening Night: Gershwin & 100 Years of Rhapsody in Blue
Saturday, 14 September 2024 • 7:30 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT
Opening Night After Party
Saturday, 28 September 2024 • 10:00 a.m.
EDUCATION CONCERT
Symphony Kids 1: The Grimm Princesses
Saturday, 26 October 2024 • 7:30 p.m.
MASTERWORKS CONCERT II
Violinist Stephen Cepeda Plays Shostakovich
Saturday, 2 November 2024 • 10:00 a.m.
EDUCATION CONCERT Symphony Kids 2: The Four Musicians
Saturday, 16 November 2024 • 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 17 November 2024 • 2:00 p.m.
MASTERWORKS CONCERT III Hansel and Gretel
Masterworks Subscription Concert
Non-Series Concert
Education Concert
Masquerade & Special Events
Monday, 2 December 2024 • 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 3 December 2024 • 6:30 p.m.
NON-SERIES CONCERT 2 Christmas in the Cathedral
Friday, 24 January 2025 • 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 25 January 2025 • 7:30 p.m.
NON-SERIES CONCERT 3 Mozart by Candlelight
Saturday, 1 February 2025 • 10:00 a.m.
EDUCATION CONCERT Symphony Kids 3: The Billy Goats Gruff
Saturday, 22 February 2025 • 7:30 p.m.
MASTERWORKS CONCERT IV Pianist Roman Rabinovich, Prokofiev, & Dvořák
Saturday, 22 March 2025 • 7:30 p.m.
MASTERWORKS CONCERT V Behold the Sea!
Saturday, 5 April 2025 • 10:00 a.m.
EDUCATION CONCERT Symphony Kids 4: Once Upon a Time
Wednesday, 16 April 2025 • 1:00 p.m.
EDUCATION CONCERT Annual Youth Concert: Saint-Georges' Sword & Bow
Saturday, 3 May 2025 • 7:30 p.m.
MASTERWORKS CONCERT VI
Beethoven's Emperor & Pictures at an Exhibition
Saturday, 21 June 2025 • 5:30 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT Masquerade!
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Internationally Renowned Guest Artists
More than 15 fabulous guest artists appear this Season, including the return of noted Israeli Pianist Roman Rabinovich, acclaimed Gershwin Pianist Kevin Cole, Helena Symphony Concertmaster Stephen Cepeda, Italian Pianist Rodolfo Leone, more than 12 vocal soloists from around the world, and GRAMMY ® Award-winning Soprano Sylvia McNair!
All Gershwin The Helena Symphony’s 70th Season begins with a full evening of Gershwin featuring An American in Paris, highlights from the Great American Songbook, and the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue. In addition to Pianist Kevin Cole, this performance features legendary Soprano Sylvia McNair. Gershwin & 100 Years of Rhapsody in Blue is followed by the dazzling Opening Night After Party in the Helena Civic Center Ballroom!
Hansel and Gretel Perfect for the whole family, kick off the holiday Season with the famous Brothers Grimm fairytale Hansel and Gretel. This whimsical masterpiece comes to life with a cast of renowned vocalists, entrancing sets and costumes, and a timeless coming of age tale!
Christmas in the Cathedral Continue to enjoy Helena’s longest holiday tradition in the majesty and beauty of the Cathedral of St. Helena with two nights of performances and the incredibly popular Handel’s Messiah!
Mozart by Candlelight
This special concert brings the music of Mozart and Beethoven to life in a more intimate setting – all by candlelight. This performance sells out quickly and subscribers get first access, so be sure to include this purchase with your Season tickets!
Beethoven’s Emperor & Pictures at an Exhibition Season 70 culminates with two stunning masterpieces of symphonic music - Beethoven’s immortal Emperor Piano Concerto and Mussorgsky’s extraordinary Pictures at an Exhibition!
Behold the Sea
The Helena Symphony Orchestra & Chorale captures the magic and majesty of the sea with Debussy’s landmark La Mer and Ralph Vaughan William’s breathtaking masterpiece A Sea Symphony!
Free Education Concerts
Four exciting Symphony Kids programs return for all ages along with the Annual Youth Concert for fourth and fifth graders. These are a great way to bring music to children’s lives!
70 YEAR STORY Become Part of Our
We invite you to become a Season 70 Musician Sponsor! Sponsoring a musician’s chair for a Season gives you the opportunity to make a significant, flexible, and direct impact on our music-making. In addition to being acknowledged prominently on the Helena Symphony website and program, you get to personally know the musician you are sponsoring and celebrate with us at the annual Musical Chairs Reception.
You Can:
Name your sponsored chair in honor or in memory of a loved one.
Fund your chair in monthly increments, rather than all at once.
Split the sponsorship with a friend, family member, or neighbor.
Enrich Our Community and Become a Helena Symphony Musician Sponsor! Chair Sponsorships
Musician Sponsorship covers a portion of the fee for this chair annually.
Contact Director of Development & Communications
$4,000 $3,000
$2,500
$1,500
Associate Concertmaster Principals
Assistant Concertmaster
Assistant Principals
Associate Principals
Section Musicians
To become a Helena Symphony Musician Sponsor, please contact: Cameron Betchey, Director of Development & Communications 406.442.1860 / development@helenasymphony.org
Masterworks Series
Your subscription includes tickets to all six extraordinary Masterworks concerts.
Opening Night
Gershwin &100 Years of Rhapsody in Blue
Saturday, 14 September 2024
5:30 p.m. (note time) • Helena Civic Center
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
SYLVIA McNAIR - Soprano
KEVIN COLE - Piano
Helena SympHony orcHeStra
GERSHWIN Gershwin’s Opening Night
Someone to Watch Over Me
Gershwin Medley
Second Rhapsody
7:30 p.m
Helena Civic Center Ballroom
Single Tickets: $70
Table of 8: $525
Table of 10: $650
Followed by the Opening Night After Party Presented by
An American in Paris How Long Has This Been Going On The Man I Love Rhapsody in Blue
Featuring Pianist Kevin Cole, the leading Gershwin interpreter, and internationally renowned and GRAMMY® Award-winning Soprano Sylvia McNair, Opening Night offers an evening of music by American icon George Gershwin, including his jazz-inspired Rhapsody in Blue for its 100th anniversary. Celebrate 70 years of the Helena Symphony’s music-making with Gershwin, world-renowned artists, dinner, drinks, the Opening Night After Party, and your Helena Symphony Orchestra!
Concert Sponsor Guest Artist Sponsors
Kevin Cole
Sylvia McNair
Violinist Stephen Cepeda Plays Shostakovich
Saturday, 26 October 2024
7:30 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
STEPHEN CEPEDA - Violin
Helena SympHony orcHeStra & cHorale
SHOSTAKOVICH
Violin Concerto No. 1
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé: Suite No. 2
RAVEL La Valse
Stephen Cepeda brings the passion, fury, and dark humor of Shostakovich’s virtuosic Violin Concerto. The HSO&C then performs Ravel’s romantic drama Daphnis & Chloe along with La Valse, a waltz-gone-wild.
Concert Sponsor Guest Artist Sponsors
SHROPSHIRE FAMILY OPERA SERIES
Hansel and Gretel
Saturday, 16 November 2024
7:30 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
Sunday, 17 November 2024
2:00 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
GRANT PREISSER - Stage Director & Set Designer
HEATHER ADAMS - Choreographer
WILLIAM KENYON - Lighting Designer
KIRA DILLS-DESURRA - Mezzo Soprano (Hansel)
NOLA RICHARDSON - Soprano (Gretel)
JOHN GREEN - Baritone (Father)
MARY-HOLLIS HUNDLEY - Soprano (Mother)
MATTHEW DiBATTISTA - Tenor (Witch)
TASCHA ANDERSON - Soprano (Sandman & Dew Fairy)
IronHorSe youtH muSIc opera cHoruS
Helena SympHony orcHeStra
HUMPERDINCK Hansel and Gretel
The whimsical Brothers Grimm masterpiece comes to life in this staged production featuring the coming of age of Hansel and Gretel and their journey through the forest, a battle with the mysterious witch, a dream ballet, and learning about greed, trust, and overcoming fears. This family-friendly opera, performed in English, is perfect for all ages.
Sponsors
Concert
Guest Artist Sponsors
Nola Richardson Kira Dills-Desurra
Pianist Roman Rabinovich, Prokofiev, &Dvořák
Saturday, 22 February 2025
7:30 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
ROMAN RABINOVICH - Piano
Helena SympHony orcHeStra
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7
World-acclaimed Israeli Pianist Roman Rabinovich returns to perform Prokofiev’s explosive Piano Concerto No. 2, described by the composer as “devilishly difficult.” Dvořák’s emotionally profound Seventh Symphony brings the concert to a close as a personal reflection on grief and joy.
Concert Sponsor
Guest Artist Sponsors
Roman Rabinovich
Behold the Sea!
Saturday, 22 March 2025
7:30 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
LEAH PATRIDGE - Soprano
MARKEL REED - Baritone
Helena SympHony orcHeStra & cHorale
DEBUSSY La Mer
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 1, A Sea Symphony
Debussy’s landmark La Mer captures the shimmering mysteriousness and power of the sea, and Englishman Ralph Vaughan William’s A Sea Symphony is an epic masterpiece blending the poetry of Walt Whitman with a transformative voyage of the human spirit.
Concert Sponsor
Guest Artist Sponsor ART & RENA BUMGARDNER
Markel Reed
Beethoven’s Emperor & Pictures at an Exhibition
Saturday, 3 May 2025
7:30 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
RODOLFO LEONE - Piano Helena SympHony orcHeStra
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition
Experience the heroic grandeur of Beethoven’s immortal Emperor Piano Concerto with noted Pianist Rodolfo Leone, before taking the colorful musical journey of Mussorgsky’s epic Pictures at an Exhibition.
Concert Sponsors
Guest Artist Sponsor
Rodolfo Leone
OPENING NIGHT AFTER PARTY
Saturday, 14 September 2024
7:30 p.m. • Helena Civic Center Ballroom
Single Tickets: $70 • Table of 8: $525 • Table of 10: $650
Celebrate the 70-year legacy of the Helena Symphony with the dazzling Opening Night After Party! Join us immediately following the 5:30 p.m. all-Gershwin
Opening Night performance for a post-concert event in grand style, including exquisite catered cuisine, drinks, entertainment, and a thrilling live and silent auction! Tickets are on sale now.
Presenting Sponsor
Sponsors
Saturday, 21 June 2025
Site of the Historic Broadwater Hotel
Single Tickets: $150 • Limited Seating – Reserve Your Place!
Experience the black-tie event of the summer at the gorgeous site of the Historic Broadwater Hotel, located west of Helena. This formal event features garden party-inspired cuisine, a cash bar, red carpet photographs, a masquerade beneath the trees, and a private concert by the Helena Symphony Orchestra & Chorale. This is a MUST ATTEND event at a rarely visited jewel of Helena!
MARILYN HUDSON
Non-Series Concerts
1 NON-SERIES CONCERT
Symphony Under the Stars
Saturday, 20 July 2024
8:30 p.m. • Carroll College
The Intrepid Credit Union SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS is a gift to the community from the Helena Symphony and Carroll College. The evening culminates with one of the best fireworks shows in Montana, also sponsored by Intrepid Credit Union. Over 18,000 people attend this wonderful tradition. This is a FREE PERFORMANCE!
Fireworks Sponsor
Subscribers can secure tickets with subscription purchases before they go on sale to the public.
2 NON-SERIES CONCERT
Christmas in the Cathedral Monday, 2 December 2024
6:30 p.m. • Cathedral of St. Helena
Tuesday, 3 December 2024
6:30 p.m. • Cathedral of St. Helena
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor
KELLY CURTIN - Soprano
LOGAN TANNER - Countertenor
WESLEY MORGAN - Tenor
CHARLES ROBERT STEPHENS - Baritone
Helena SympHony orcHeStra & cHorale
HANDEL Messiah
Usher in Helena’s longest and greatest holiday tradition for an evening of reflection, celebration, and sounds of the season in the profoundly reflective Cathedral of St. Helena.
Concert Sponsors Guest Artist Sponsor CONNIE & RON BERGUM
3
Mozart by Candlelight
Friday, 24 January 2025
7:30 p.m. • St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Saturday, 25 January 2025
7:30 p.m. • St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
ALLAN R. SCOTT - Conductor Helena SympHony orcHeStra
MOZART La Clemenza di Tito MOZART Divertimento in D major MOZART Symphony No. 28
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4
An overture and a symphony by Mozart are paired with Beethoven’s witty and cheerful Fourth Symphony –and all by candlelight.
1. ON OUR WEBSITE helenasymphony.org
Fast and convenient. Select the available seat you prefer. Charge with a credit card, using our secure ticket system.
2. OVER THE PHONE
406.442.1860
Symphony Box Office staff are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Charge with a credit or debit card.*
3. IN PERSON
21 N Last Chance Gulch, Suite 100
The Symphony Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, planning a social event, or introducing students to the Symphony, an unforgettable experience awaits your group. Orders of 10 or more tickets enjoy exclusive rates. Call the Director of Patron Services at 406.442.1860 or email patronservices@helenasymphony.org for details.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Box Office: 406.442.1860
tickets@helenasymphony.org
Presenting Sponsor Concert Sponsor
youtube.com/helenasymphony facebook.com/HelenaSymphony @helenasymphony
* The Symphony accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, checks, and cash. Please note, there is a $5 processing fee per transaction.
education
CONCERTS
FREE Performances • 10:00 a.m. • St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Saturday, 28 September 2024
The Grimm Princesses (with Dvořák’s String Serenade)
Saturday, 2 November 2024
The Four Musicians (with music of J.S. Bach)
Saturday, 1 February 2025
The Billy Goats Gruff (with music of Gabriel Fauré)
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Once Upon A Time (with excerpts from Sondheim’s Into the Woods)
Created for children 5-10, these imaginative 30-minute performances, with narration and actors, introduce children to the world of music and instruments and impart life lessons through interactive stories. Following each concert, children are invited to try instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo.
Sponsors
ANNUAL YOUTH CONCERT
Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow
Wednesday, 16 April 2025 • 1:00 p.m. • Helena Civic Center
Tickets are not sold for this concert, as students attend through their school music program.
Sponsors
