Fairfax Symphony and Michael Cavanaugh

23 SEASON / 24

Friday, March 8, 2024 at 8pm

The Music of BILLY JOEL

Michael Cavanaugh

Capital One Hall starring with

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

Jason Seber, conductor

This concert is brought to you through a partnership of the Fairfax Symphony and Capital One Center

The FSO’s 2023/24 Season is made possible with generous support from

MEET THE ARTIST

MICHAEL CAVANAUGH

Michael Cavanaugh is the new voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook and a charismatic performer and musician made famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out. Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin’ Out, Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. He appeared in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances and received multiple accolades. The show culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations.

Michael began playing at age seven, when his parents bought their first piano. Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by his hero Billy Joel, Michael formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions, fine-tuning the craft that would become his chosen career. His first full-time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando, Florida, at a piano bar called Blazing Pianos. In January of 1999, Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life: an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed New York, New York Hotel and Casino. It was there that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage one fateful night of February 2001. It only took two songs before Billy was convinced that he had found his new Piano Man: Michael Cavanaugh. Michael closed up shop at New York, New York and moved to New York City to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp to shape the Broadway Musical that would be called Movin’ Out. In the lead role, he received both Tony and Grammy nominations.

With the close of Movin’ Out at the end of 2005, Michael began touring in his own right, creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. Michael soon became one of the hottest artists in the private events market, and he continues to perform worldwide for company and charity events as well as sporting events including many PGA tour events, the SuperBowl, and the Indy 500. His interpretation of the modern rock/pop songbook led to Billboard calling him “The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook,” and he was recognized by Reuters as Entertainer of the Year for the private events market.

It wasn’t long before symphony orchestras discovered Michael’s talents and audience appeal. He accepted his first orchestral booking, “Michael Cavanaugh – The Songs of Billy Joel and More,” which debuted in April 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony and continues to tour today. In October 2008, he signed with Warner/ADA to distribute his first CD, In Color. In June 2010, Michael debuted his second symphony show in the Generations of Rock series titled “Michael Cavanaugh: The Songs of Elton John and More” and then debuted his

third symphony show, “Singers and Songwriters: the Music of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond and James Taylor,” in 2012. In 2015, he debuted his fourth symphony show: “Rockin’ Christmas with the Pops.” He continues to tour all four symphony productions along with performing with his band in performing arts centers and other public venues.

“The Way I Hear It”, his second commercial album, was released in April 2017, and it debuted at #17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Recently, Michael Cavanaugh reached the POLLSTAR Live75. The top 75 active touring acts in the country.

MEET THE ARTIST

JASON SEBER Conductor

Jason Seber recently completed his sixyear tenure with the Kansas City Symphony where he led over 300 concerts featuring many genres of music, as Assistant Conductor and Associate Conductor. Prior to his appointment with the KCS, Seber served as Education Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra from 2013 to 2016 and MD of the LYO from 2005 to 2016. Seber has guest conducted many leading American orchestras, including the Colorado, Houston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville and St. Louis Symphonies. Seber developed a passion for Pops in Kansas City and looks forward to creating/arranging and conducting new and exciting programs across the country.

FAIRFAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

VIOLIN 1

David Salness, Concert Master

Cristina Constantinescu

Mia Lee

Sharon Like

Gersh Chervinsky

VIOLIN 2

Sarah Berger, Principal

Andrew Juola

Cindy Crumb

Angela Ramirez

Jessica Mun

VIOLA

Paul Bagley, Principal

Patti Reid

Cristian Contreras

Asha Baylor

Raggie Cover

CELLO

Syneva Colle, Principal

Brent Davis

Anne Rupert

Kathy Thompson

DOUBLE BASS

Aaron Clay, Principal

Erik Cohen

Asa Dawson

FLUTE

Sharon Lee, Principal

Cherri Hall

OBOE

Emily Synder Foster, Principal

Amelia Merriman, English Horn

CLARINET

Patrick Morgan, Principal

Wendi Hatton, Bass Clarinet

FRENCH HORN

Eric Moore, Principal

Greta Richard

Neil Chidester

Cecilia Kozlowski

TRUMPET

Chris Ferrari

Rob Singer

Bret Magliola

TROMBONE

Russell Sharp

Bryan Bourne

David Hagee, Bass Trombone

PERCUSSION

Alex Garde, Principal

Mike Gatti

HARP

Nadia Pessoa

Christopher Zimmerman | Music Director

FSO at George Mason University

Saturday, March 9, 2024 | 8pm

Center for the Arts

Jandali

Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)

Anthony McGill, clarinet

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”

Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 8pm

GMU Harris Theatre

Clyne

“Dance” for cello and orchestra

Inbal Segev, cello

Stravinsky

Orchestral Suite

Pulcinella Suite

Sunday, June 9, 2024 | 4pm

Center for the Arts at

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

Boyer

Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue

Jeffrey Biegel, piano

Beach “Gaelic” Symphony

MEET OUR 2023/24 FELLOWS

Fairfax Symphony Diversity Fellowship Program

This season, we strengthen our commitment to serving students through high-quality education and mentorship programs, with the FSO Diversity, the FSO Diversity Fellowship program to help accelerate the careers of talented, student musicians from backgrounds that are underrepresented in orchestras today. The program is designed to enhance opportunities for pre-professional musicians, encourage greater diversity in the field, and increase diverse representation in orchestras across the United States.

ASA DAWSON, double bass

Asa Dawson is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland School of Music’s undergraduate program, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance while studying under Anthony Manzo. Asa has also studied under Paul DeNola, a member of the National Symphony’s powerful Double Bass section. The summer festivals Asa Dawson has participated in include the National Symphony’s Summer Music Institute, Eastern Music Festival, and National Orchestral Institute + Festival. Asa Dawson has also performed with the National Philharmonic and other local orchestras in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Asa Dawson will be spending the next year studying with Paul DeNola while taking orchestral auditions and freelancing. In his spare time, Asa enjoys composing, film scoring, and woodworking

MARGE (ASHA) BAYLOR, viola

My name is Asha Baylor, but I also go by the name Margie (after my late grandmother). I started playing the viola in 6th grade as an elective for school, and it quickly grew into one of my greatest passions. I started auditioning for local orchestra events in the area and getting private lessons by the next year, and even went to an arts high school (Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology). When I was accepted into Victoria Chiang’s studio at Peabody, it was like a dream come true! I’m so grateful for every teacher and program that’s gotten me to where I am now, and I’m excited to see where else my viola will take me

CRISTIAN CONTRERAS, viola

Cristian Contreras is an accomplished Violist from Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 19, he won a three-year tenure with the American Youth Symphony and also attended the National Orchestral Institute. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Viola Performance at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Cristian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach.

ANGELA RAMIREZ, violin

Angela Ramirez is a violinist from Miami, Florida. She is a senior at the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute where she studies violin with Rebecca Henry. Angela has participated in local and national orchestra festivals, including New World Symphony Side-by-Side Ensemble, Music for All National Festival, Florida All-State, and the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. In the summer and fall of 2019, she attended the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles National Festival and Institute, where she performed alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for performances at the Hollywood Bowl and Edinburgh International Festival. In more recent summers, Angela returned to Los Angeles as a YOLA alumni/Encuentros Orchestra member and performed alongside the LA Phil for three different performances across California.

Carolina Pedroza, violin

She was a permanent member of the Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas (Venezuela) and has been concertmaster of the Catholic University Symphony Orchestra, Penn State Philharmonic, and Colour of Music Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a section member of the West Virginia Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony, among others. She has participated in festivals including FEMUSC (Brazil), A Tempo (Colombia), Sewanee Summer Music Festival (TN), Academia Internacional Teatro del Lago (Chile), Northern Lights Music Festival (MN), and Colour of Music Festival (SC and CA).

The FSO Diversity Fellowship is made possible in part by Virginia Commission for the Arts, Fairfax County Government, and TD Bank.

2023-2024 PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT

The Fairfax Symphony gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the following contributions received within the past twelve months as of March 1, 2024. Thank you for dedicating these vital gifts to the music and education programs we work so passionately to create and share with our community.

GOVERNMENT ARTSFAIRFAX

City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts

County of Fairfax

National Endowment for the Arts

Virginia Commission for the Arts

FOUNDATIONS AND CHARITABLE FUNDS

Anonymous

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

Charles Delmar Foundation

Nelson J. & Katherine Friant-Post Foundation

Richard & Caroline T.

Gwathemy Memorial Trust

Mary & Daniel Loughran Foundation

TD BANK Foundation

The Rea Charitable Trust

CORPORATIONS

Hilton Fairfax Goodwin Living

McKeever Services

The Mather

Dominion Energy

NOVEC

Priority One Services, Inc.

SYMPHONY SOCIETY CONCERTO CLUB

PLATINUM

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Brownell

Pepe Figueroa

Joyce L. Hanson

Dr. Mark Head

Martin Poretsky

Stephen and Mary Preston

Laura and Ervin Walter

GOLD

The Timothy Evan Owens Memorial Chair

Steve and Debbie Cohen

Mr. Sean Foohey

John Lockhart

Eric Moore

In memory of Richard Benedict

Sherman & Etta Mae Thomas Sherman

Sally and Rucj Uffelman

SILVER

Anonymous

Ms. Esther Beaumont

Nina and David Breen

Janine and Curt Buser

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Caress

Daniel and Carol Graifer

Mr. and Mrs. C. David Hartmann

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn A.

Hemer

Robert and Maryanne Jones

David & Lenka Lundsten

Ms. Joetta Miller

Mr. William A. Nerenberg

David and Bridget Ralston

James and Miriam Ross

Mr. and Mrs. David Seida

RHAPSODY CIRCLE

Anonymous

William Bell

James and Jane Bangarra

Mr. and Mrs. James Bongarra, Jr.

Bill and Dorothy Brandel

Dr. Karen Detweiler

Donald and Ruth Drees

Frank and Lynn Gayer

Eric and Joyce Hanson

Robert W. Henry

Mr. Kurt P. Jaeger

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kaye

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kerr

Anje Kim

Dr. and Mrs. Per Kullstam

John and Jeanette Mason

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Mattice

Joetta Miller

Judith Nitsche

Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Overton

Sandra Lee Stoddard

Linda Vitello

Michael Wendt

David and Deborah

Winston, In Memory of May Winston

SONATA CIRCLE

Ms. Pamela Charin

Christopher Forsberg

Anthony and Lucy Griffin

Christopher Gohrband

Gareth and Tân Habel

Mr. & Mrs. Eric Hanson

Spencer Howell

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Highfill

Mr. and Mrs. Wade Hinkle

Mr. and Mrs. David J. Lynch

Helen Noyes

Mr. Justice Percell

Ms. C. Carole Richard

Deborah Roudebush

Mary Jane Spiro

Mr. Michael W. Stoltz

Dr. Jack and Mrs. Jane

Underhill

Timothy N. Wade

Roy and Margaret Wagner

Mr. William Walderman

SERENADE CIRCLE

Dr. Charles Allen

Ms. Gay B. Baker

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Baker

David Black

Mr. and Mrs. James Bland

Donald Bieniewicz

Ms. Patricia Boots

Beverly and Terry Boschert

Kathryn and Tony Bovill

Patricia G. Brady

Judith and Peter Braham

Bill and Dorothy Brandel

Louis and Monika Brenner

David W. Briggs and John F. Benton

Mr. Eric Brissman

Mr. Robert Brown

Judith Buchino

Mary L. Burns

Marvin Burge

Mr. W. Carlson

Cedric Chang

Ms.Tzu-yi Chen

Mr. and Mrs. Brian H. Chollar

Douglas Cobb

Ms. Helen M. Conlon

Ms. Sandy Cromp

Mr. and Mrs. David Cross

Isabelle Cummings

Karin and Michael Custy

Ms. Barbara d’Andrade

In honor of Ms. Sarah Daniel

Ms. Alice DeKany

Catherine Dettmer

Dr. and Mrs. John S. Dillon

Judy Donnelly

Marilyn Dorn

Jean Mitchell Duggan

Colleen Dutson

Karen Eaton

Peggy and Arye Ephrath

Jean Esswein

Brian and Marian Ewell

Mr. John A. Farris

Ms. Jenifer Fisch

Wilford Forbush

Ms. Dorien Garman

Jennifer Gitner Allen

S. Greenspan

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Hargreaves

Frederic Harwood

In memory of

R. Dennis McArver

Joan Lisante Hood and James Hood

Mr. and Mrs.Ted Hudson

Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick G. Hutchison

Geraldine Inge

Mr. Edward Jarett

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Jehn

Nelson Joyner

Benjamin Justesen

Ms. Carol Kearns

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Kieffer

Bill and Priscilla Kirby

Frank and Susan Kohn

Greta Kreuz

Charles Kuehn

Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Kuhl

James Langmesser

Dara and William Laughlin

Anne Loughlin

Mr. and Mrs. David J. Lynch

Catherine Lyon and Stuart Kantor

Susan Manus

Barrie March

Alison Marr

Mr. Scott Marschall

In Memory of Joseph G. Marshall, M.D.

Kolleen Martin

Mr. and Mrs.Timothy J. McCarthy

Joel Meyerson

Mr. Robert L. Miller

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth P. Mittelholtz

Virginia and Marion Moser

Jean Murphy

Peggy Newhall

Diane Nolin

Col. and Mrs.Tommy T. Osborne

Anne and Jim Painter

Catherine Pauls

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Petrie

Mitzi and Dan Rak

Mr. Richard L. Renfield

Rolland Roup

Stephen Sanborn

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Schaub

Catherine Schifferli

Gayle Schlenker

Ms. Roslyn Schmidt

Mr. and Mrs. Karl W. Schornagel

Michael Schwartz

Ms. Doris Seaton

Neil and Beverly Seiden

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Seraphin

Kathleen Shultz

Mr. and Mrs. James Simpson

Sydney Smith

Nigel Smyth

Dorothy Staebler

John and Pamela Stark

Kristina Stewart

Agnes D. Stoertz

Mr. John Strong

Frederick and Marjorie Stuhrke

Mr. and Mrs. David Sukites

Reede and Jane Taylor

William Tompkins

Alton P. and Alice W. Tripp

Ms. Barbara Tuset

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Twedt

Jane Underhill

Ms. Shelley Vance

Janet Vanderveer

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Vandivere

Andrew and Myrna Wahlquist

Ms. Diane Wakely-Park

Robert and Charlene Ward

Mr. and Mrs. Egon Weck

Mr. and Mrs. Larry N. Wellman

Harry and Sandra Wilbur

Ms. Jane Woods

Mr. Emile L. Zimmermann

In-Kind

Fairfax City Self Storage

FAIRFAX SYMPHONY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jose “Pepe” Figueroa, Chairman

Priority One Services

John Lockhart, Treasurer

Thomas Murphy, General Counsel

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Thomas Brownell, Secretary

Holland & Knight LLP

Eric Moore

American University

Leland Schwartz

Author and Publisher

HONORARY BOARD

The Honorable Sharon Bulova

The Honorable Thomas M. Davis

Dr. Gerald L. Gordon

Julien Patterson

FSO ARTISTIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Christopher Zimmerman, Music Director

Jonathan Kerr, Executive Director

Lisa LaCamera, Chief Operating Officer

Susan Petroff, Director of Development

John Murton, Assistant Conductor and Fellowship Program Coordinator

Celeste Duplaa, Link Up Program Manager

Suzy Dawson, Accountant

Cynthia Crumb, Personnel Manager

Wendi Hatton, Librarian

Timothy Wade, Stage Manager

Heather Rhine, Graphic Designer

Enjoy a quiet stay and lush locale in Fairfax. Just off I-66 in the tree-lined Fair Lakes and a short walk from retail and dining. Centrally located near George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, offering plenty to do in Fairfax and the option to explore DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland… just minutes away!

Plus, parking is free for all hotel guests.

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