Friends of Music Hall 2021 Annual Report

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

2021 Annual Report

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Peter E. Koenig, President

I’m pleased to share this “annual” report, covering the activities of the Friends of Music Hall (FMH) from January 2020 to September 2021, a period of unprecedented challenges from a deadly virus for all of us and our organization. I can say with confidence that FMH has survived and it is in a strong position to continue our efforts to preserve, improve, promote, and provide education about Cincinnati Music Hall.

It’s not been easy. We hired our first-ever executive director, Mindy Rosen, at the beginning of 2020 with no idea of what lay ahead in response to COVID-19. Consequently our new executive director faced a dark Music Hall with no opportunity to learn the ropes and to coordinate indoor tours. Mindy has masterfully supported our devoted volunteers, overseen safe outdoor tours, and kept everyone in touch with virtual meetings and virtual events. Mindy has laid the foundation for our operations that are now ready to restart.

With great pride we completed a massive project to restore Music Hall’s historic finials, designed by Samuel Hannaford to decorate the peaks of this architectural gem. Led by Thea Tjepkema’s astonishing research and passionate attention, with a group of preservation experts — Patricia Bittner, Ed Rider and Ken Jones — the project culminated with a late June event to celebrate the final step of reinstalling these beautifully restored details.

“I can say with confidence that FMH has survived and it is in a strong position to continue our efforts to preserve, improve, promote, and provide education about Cincinnati Music Hall.”

Music Hall’s efforts would not be possible without our committed and knowledgeable volunteers who provide informative tours of Music Hall, as well as other supportive activities. We are also sustained by a hard-working volunteer board, whose committees and efforts are chronicled in this report.

A special recognition will be given to our dedicated friend and organ expert, Ronald F. Wehmeier, at the annual meeting. Ron is a past board member and now sits on our advisory council. We are fortunate to have such a skilled Wurlitzer technician and friend to Music Hall.

We were saddened in August by the loss of board member Polk Laffoon IV, who also served on the advisory council. A veteran journalist and author, he wrote board minutes and many articles for our publications. From a long line of esteemed citizens, Polk engaged with many of our city’s arts and cultural institutions. He will be sorely missed.

Please read and enjoy this report, and thank you for your ongoing support of the Friends of Music Hall.

Peter E. Koenig, President

Friends of Music Hall

BOARD MEMBERS LISA ALLISON • I have no musical training, but I do have a musical ear. If I listen to a piece of music, once, and then if I hear it again (even years later), I can whistle every note!

PATRICIA BITTNER • I love a good story, especially ‘based on a true story’ TV docu-dramas. Music Hall provides so many interesting and surprising ‘true stories’. Thanks to our historian Thea Tjepkema for unearthing and retelling them. Netflix here we come!

KELLEY BRANDSTETTER TRACY • As an urban dweller in OTR, I can’t believe my luck to have fantastic neighbors like Music Hall, Washington Park and Findlay Market.

HOLLY BRIANS RAGUSA • I adore

PETER KOENIG • When I first went to Music Hall — as a youngster in grade school on a field trip — I remember being amazed at the immense size and complicated beauty of the exterior of the building and the interior of the foyer and auditorium. I still am.

KEN KREIDER • As kids move away to college, I hope to reignite my passion for hiking and biking, left behind in the 1990s.

ALEK LUCKE • I’m a huge fan of Star Wars books and comics, and have an embarrassingly large collection at this point.

YEMI OYEDIRAN • I yell at college kids, shoot things, hit things with sticks, and try to bend stats to my will all in an effort to hide from my snarky teenage twins.

RICK PENDER • I’ve

mustard, words on pages, all the moon’s phases and am fairly certain that certainty is our greatest enemy.

been attending Music Hall concerts and opera performances since 1980, when I came to Cincinnati to be WGUC’s promotion director.

JOANNE GRUETER

ED RIDER • Still hoping

• I love discovering a new way to see Music Hall, sharing photos online, and uncovering new stories, which FMH includes in its tours and presentations.

ANNETTE JANUZZI WICK • Writer. Lover of stories buried and life unearthed.

TRICIA JOHNSON • My home art collection includes paintings done by several family members and I’m a curator of wandering fairy gardens.

to see one of the Music Hall ghosts.

NICOLE ROBERTS • I love design, especially brand design (so much that my dog is named “Logo”).

The Friends of Music Hall brand strategy project was such a joy to work on. I look forward to further amplifying and expanding the Friends of Music Hall brand for years to come!

CAROL SAMPSON • I am a lover of “ghost signs” (faded advertisements), foreign films, and salsa music.

SCOTT SANTANGELO • When I was younger, I admired people who were clever. Now that I am older, I admire people who are kind.

ROSEMARY SCHLACHTER • I’m fascinated by juggling, a skill I learned from Tim Perrino, veteran artistic leader of Cincinnati Landmark Productions.

DIANA TISUE • I pinch myself daily that I get to live in the same city as THE Music Hall.

THEA TJEPKEMA • I collect historic bricks — most from Ohio, Athens to Zanesville.

MARK WEADICK • Iconic Music Hall is a wonderful place to enjoy live music, Muddy Waters back in the day and the POPS and CSO today!

MATT ZORY • I dream of retiring to a ramshackle hole in the wall somewhere in the desert where I can roam days on end exploring that quiet, arid nothingness and everythingness.

Of course, this is my wife’s worst nightmare — which is how I know it’s a dream…

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MINDY ROSEN • I can’t read music and don’t play an instrument but I can’t live without listening to music — from Erik Satie to the Pet Shop Boys, Patti Smith and Philip Glass.

FRIENDS OF MUSIC HALL ADVISORY COUNCIL Meredith Downton Ken Jones Phillip Long

Karen McKim Linda Siekmann Ron Wehmeier

Committee Report

CAPITAL PROJECTS & FACILITIES

By Thea Tjepkema & Ed Rider, Co-Chairs

FINIAL RESTORATION PROJECT An essential part of Music Hall’s original High Victorian Gothic style — the decorative finials atop the roof’s peaks and gables — has been funded and restored by the Friends of Music Hall (FMH). The project began in November 2020 and was completed in June 2021. Ten finials and three spikes on a lyre (an ancient harp), originally hand-carved sandstone, had deteriorated and crumbled over the years and were almost completely lost. The restoration of the missing finials and lyre spikes was done with glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) reproductions, and these Gothic details have returned to the roofline according to architect Samuel Hannaford’s original design.

FMH hopes to restore the missing metal roof ornamentation in the future with help and support from our membership and donations.

For more details, visit our website and click on “Blogs” to read “The Finial Restoration Project” by Rick Pender and Diana Tisue.

Historical preservationist Thea Tjepkema spearheaded the project, beginning in 2017 by studying historic photographs showing the original sandstone and metal ornamentation on Music Hall’s roof.

FMH hired EverGreene Architectural Arts from Brooklyn, New York to create concept drawings of the missing ornamentation. In 2020, the FMH board approved funding to restore ten finials in four different designs, as well as three lyre spikes. Architect and FMH advisory council member Ken Jones was hired to work with Tjepkema to meet historic guidelines. SSRG (Structural Systems Repair Group), a Cincinnati construction firm, cleaned the existing sandstone areas and installed the restoration pieces with sound structural engineering. Arya Design, a local custom-casting company, created 3-D digital drawings, wood models, and plastic and rubber molds to create the replacement pieces.

The total project cost was more than $450,000 and primarily funded by the Patricia and Ralph Corbett endowment that is managed by the Friends of Music Hall.

During the finial restoration project, it was discovered that two gables on the south hall where finials were being replaced were leaning outward, and the sandstone coping was not level. FMH funded stabilizing and bracing for these walls. Spalling bricks and missing mortar, the result of sandblasting in 1970, were replaced on the hall’s front façade, which solved a problem with water intrusion. A missing attic dormer louver on the south hall roof is slated for replacement, too, returning the historic character of matching dormers.

Additionally fragments of the original hand-carved sandstone finials have been archived. These items were broken beyond repair but were carefully documented during this restoration project.

GIFTS TO THE FRIENDS OF MUSIC HALL ARCHIVES Sixth-generation Cincinnatian Philip D. Spiess II, now living near Washington, D.C., donated two historic photographs. One is of Music Hall from Washington Park (circa 1886-1888), making it one of the earliest photos to show the building’s original roof ornamentation. The other is of a modello (a small model) of a statue of an angel of music with two putti (angel cherubs) at her feet, one holding a horn and one with a lyre.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE.

DID YOU KNOW? FMH continues to seek historic documents, photographs, and other archival items that reveal more about Music Hall’s original design.

As much as possible, items are collected digitally. If you own a piece of Music Hall history that can be scanned, we will scan it and return the original. Digital copies enable FMH to piece together the many details of Music Hall’s history and design.

CAPITAL PROJECTS & FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT CONTINUED

Titled “Music Bestowing Her Gifts,” it is believed to be the statue intended for Music Hall’s highest central peak. Although Hannaford did not include this angel in his architectural drawing, she did appear in many artists’ lithographs before Music Hall opened. No historical record has been found of who designed it or why it was neither completed nor installed.

Bruce Robinson, originally from Cincinnati and now living in Qatar, donated a silk woven image (“stevenograph”) of Music Hall and the cruciformshaped building in Washington Park for the 1888 Centennial Exposition of the Ohio Valley and Central States. Robinson purchased this souvenir in London.

CARVED WOOD ORGAN PANELS In 2020 FMH received a gift of three carved wood panels from Music Hall’s original Hook & Hastings organ. Tom Schmidt of Cincinnati donated these to FMH at the request of his late wife, Jeanne A. Schmidt.

These pieces will be restored and added to the organ panel display in Music Hall’s Taft Suite. Two decorative floral sections of the organ screen have also been restored and hung in FMH’s Music Hall office. FMH now owns 30 of the original 120 organ panels. Efforts continue to obtain more of them.

In addition, an inventory and insurance appraisal of all FMH’s Hook & Hastings organ panels has been completed by Bryson Appraisers of Cincinnati.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Working along with co-chairs Ed Rider and Thea Tjepkema, are Patricia Bittner, Joanne Grueter, Ken Jones, Ken Kreider, Karen McKim, Scott Santangelo and Matt Zory.

Committee Report

TOURS & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

By Ken Kreider, Chair

VIRTUAL GATHERINGS While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the committee and the Friends of Music Hall’s (FMH) dedicated team of 44 volunteer guides from meeting in person or conducting tours since early 2020, regular virtual gatherings on Zoom enabled us to share historic updates, musical performances and training topics.

Tour training sessions for new volunteer recruits were held several times over the past year. A special on-site training event was held in June to learn about the new finials installed on Music Hall’s rooftop.

New research about contributions to Music Hall by women and African Americans was added to all tours.

More than a dozen discounts from Over-the-Rhine merchants are now offered to tour guests who show a ticket or Friends of Music Hall sticker. Discounted parking in the Washington Park garage is one of the many perks.

NEW PROGRAMS A subcommittee of tour guides who are experienced teachers has been developing new programming for school-age children. Four short engaging videos were produced with musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra along with lesson plans about Music Hall’s history, musical terminology and interviews with each musician about learning to play an instrument as a child. These programs are now available to local schools.

Presentations to local civic groups and retirement communities included two new topics: “Muses: The Women of Music Hall” and “Under One Roof: The African American Experience in Music Hall.”

TOURS RELAUNCHED The good news was that outdoor tours of Music Hall were relaunched in April. At present, these tours are being offered twice weekly.

Guides now include information about the recently restored finials in their tours. Indoor Tours of Music Hall began in July 2021 and continue to be offered throughout the week.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS This busy committee is led by Ken Kreider and assisted by Holly Brians Ragusa, Meredith Downton, Linda Kiefer, Yemi Oyediran, Rick Pender, Lynne Reckman, Carol Sampson, Scott Santangelo, and Thea Tjepkema.

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FROM THE FRIENDS OF MUSIC HALL JUNE 3, 2020

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS! Ekkehard Bohme

Al Geiser

Ruth Holthaus

Dale Pepper

Teri Boland

Sandra Geiser

Linda Kiefer

Sonja Racke

Alan Bunker

Barbara Gomes

Carol Kruse

Lynne Reckman

Mary Bunker

Cliff Goosmann

David Lane

Addie Renne

Gayle Burke

Ray Grothaus

Sandra Lett

Ed Rider

Steve Carlson

Joanne Grueter

Judy Martin

Thea Tjepkema

Patti Cruse

Jason Harris

Denise McLinden

Serena Tsuang

Tony Darby

Gayley Hautzenroeder

Becky Moeggenberg

Frederick Warren

Carol DeGreg

Nina Hayutin

Sue Monteith

Michelle Weber

Feriel Feldman

Chris Hill

Norma Nelson

Tom Ziegler

Raymond Fiedler

Ron Hoffman

Rick Pender

Interested in Cincinnati history, architecture and music? Seeking a rewarding volunteer experience that fits your schedule? Help us preserve the past and cherish the future! Become a Friends of Music Hall Program Tour Guide and share your enthusiasm for Cincinnati Music Hall with others. Call 513.744.3293 or email MusicHallTour@FriendsOfMusicHall.org

The Friends of Music Hall (formerly called the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall but renamed about a year ago to reflect inclusive outreach and service to the citizens of Greater Cincinnati) is committed to all who today speak out against systemic racism, racial injustice, and hate. We support protests, especially artistic expression as reflected in the efforts of Music Hall’s resident companies to promote understanding, unity, meaningful change and healing.

We grieve the loss of Black lives and injustice perpetrated on them. We are proud to represent a venue for all in our community, and we are committed to conversations and actions that will move everyone forward from this troubled moment in time.

Friends of Music Hall

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION UPDATE

By Thea Tjepkema & Alek Lucke

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT AND TRAINING In June 2020 the Friends of Music Hall (FMH) released a statement, carefully crafted by several of its members, to reflect the support of FMH for the sentiments of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and to reflect a redoubling of our efforts, along with the other Music Hall resident companies, in combating systemic racism and to better reflect the many voices and communities that make our region so vibrant and special.

This was followed in October by the FMH board engaging the Learning Lab at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to take part in their program Open Your Mind, which focused on exposing the ways in which implicit bias plays a role in our lives. The interactive presentation over Zoom involved conversation, visual aids, activities and data led by a staff member from the Freedom Center.

Civic Engagement’s Six at Six Lecture Series in September. Recently, “Under One Roof” was presented to several community engagement, diversity, and education representatives of the Music Hall resident companies for their input and suggestions.

To celebrate the “Year of the Woman” and the 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Right to Vote, Thea Tjepkema was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Cincinnati Preservation Association’s 25th Annual Fall Forum where she presented “Muses: The Women of Music Hall.” The legacy of the women of Music Hall, from artists, musicians, divas, prima ballerinas, suffragists, business leaders, and patrons of the arts, will not soon be forgotten.

NEW PRESENTATIONS Years of research gathering hard-to-find information and longforgotten heroic stories of diversity and inclusion are included in two new presentations created by board member Thea Tjepkema.

These talks feature never before highlighted people and instrumental events in the history of Cincinnati Music Hall and our community.

“Under One Roof: The African American Experience in Music Hall” explores African American civic leaders, athletes, and performers of all kinds who have, through determination and artistry, forged the ethos of our city under one roof in the three buildings of Cincinnati Music Hall. It was first presented in January 2020 to the Cincinnati branch of the English Speaking Union of the United States. In February 2020, it was presented at the Downtown Main Library for Black History Month. Next, “Under One Roof” was presented to the Northern Kentucky University, Scripps Howard Center for

Join Us.

Read our Blogs: Log onto our website to read enthralling, in-depth research in our Blogs about many of these agents of change in Music Hall mentioned in these two new presentations. Learn about the many performers in the Greystone Ballroom (today the secondfloor ballroom in the south hall) including Fountain Lewis, Adelina Patti, Sissieretta Jones, Susan B. Anthony, Mamie Smith, Theodore M. Berry, Estella Rowe and Wade Mann.

Book a Talk: Contact us about booking these talks and others to bring engaging stories into your community.

Become a Guide: The Friends of Music Hall is actively seeking new guides to bring diversity to our group. If you are interested in storytelling or researching lost history about Cincinnati Music Hall, please join our volunteers.

Committee Report

MEMBERSHIP

By Rosemary Schlachter, Chair

FRIENDS OF MUSIC HALL MEMBERSHIP TIERS 1878 Circle $50 Black Brick Circle $100 Mighty Wurlitzer Circle $250 Hannaford Circle $500 Springer Circle $1,000 Rose Window Circle $5,000 Corbett Circle $10,000+

OUR MEMBERS Bravo to 251 Friends of Music Hall (FMH) members who contributed nearly $200,000 to preserve and promote our beloved Music Hall.

You are deeply appreciated not only by the thousands who enjoy Music Hall today but by many generations to come. We sing your praises in this annual report, in person, and on our website. We cannot thank you enough.

VIRTUAL COCKTAIL PARTIES In recognition of your generosity, members at the Hannaford Circle level and above enjoyed a special thank you event before the virtual Annual Meeting in September 2020. We hosted an intimate virtual cocktail party where donors had the chance to meet Music Hall stars — Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director at Cincinnati Opera Evans Mirageas, and Cincinnati Ballet Music Director Carmon DeLeone.

The virtual cocktail party format inspired two more events. We partied virtually in November 2020 as we watched “Nosferatu,” a 1922 classic German Expressionist silent movie accompanied by Trent Sims playing the Mighty Wurlitzer in

the Music Hall ballroom. Our star celebrity at this virtual cocktail party was Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips who discussed his favorite topic — staging vampires for theater productions.

Another intimate virtual cocktail party was held in April 2021 before watching “Girl Shy,” a classic 1924 Harold Lloyd silent comedy accompanied by Clark Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer. Along with our host Evans Mirageas, we were joined by organist Clark Wilson and film expert, screenwriter and University of Cincinnati Professor Joe Horine. Wilson revealed secrets about his original arrangement for “Girl Shy,” and Horine imparted fascinating details about Harold Lloyd’s experiences and the famous extended chase scenes in “Girl Shy.”

SUPPORTING ARTSWAVE AND GENERAL ELECTRIC In April 2021, FMH produced a 30-minute Music Hall Video Tour for a very special virtual membership event with ArtsWave and General Electric. Hosted by Thea Tjepkema and John Morris Russell, attendees won bottles of the ArtsWave 2020 Hook and Hastings Limited Edition Bourbon, aged with wood from Music Hall in the distilling process by Brain Brew Custom Whiskey in Newtown. The Video Tour will soon be playing on monitors at Music Hall.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS The Membership Committee members including chairperson Rosemary Schlachter, Holly Brians Ragusa, Tricia Johnson and Phillp Long plan more membership benefits for the coming year.

Cincinnati’s extraordinary landmark inspires both pleasure and pride among all of us who treasure the arts. We deeply appreciate your support of our work to preserve, engage and celebrate our beloved Music Hall.

Friends of Music Hall

MEMBERS 1878 CIRCLE

Kenneth & Lois A. Allen Lillian B. Becker George & Carol Beddie Christine Berryman Nika Bevis Todd Bezold Don & Kathleen Burns Lawrence W. Cline & Robert R. Radon John P. & Rosemary Connole Robin T. Cotton Kathryn Debrosse Carmon DeLeone Joy Diegmueller Paul J. Dirkes Wayne & Mary Jo Doebling Robert W. Dorsey & Anne Grieme W. David Eager Jr. Susan Fischer Robert Flisik Greg & Marsha Foltz Brian Frank Martha Ann Gramss Joanne Grueter Barbara Hahn Suzanne Hasl Philip & Gayley Hautzenroeder Betty Heldman Daniel J. Hoffheimer Tom & Kathy Hogan Carolyn Honkomp Robert L. Johnson Robert & Connie Jones Mace C. Justice Victor Kidd Linda Kiefer Christopher Knoop John Kollar Kenneth Kramer Diane E Landi Sandra C. Lett Joseph T. Luttmer Lois & Richard Manifold Michael & Marjorie McKinney Timothy A. Meyer Chris Nichols Alan E. & Tamar Oestreich Judy Prinz Jean Ratcliff Sherry Roth Michael Rozow Jr. Ann Schoen Marie F. Speziale Cherry & Bob Staab James Stabler

Joseph Eric Stevens Ruth Ann Voet Brad & Nancy Wellmann J. Miles Wolf Shelby Wood

BLACK BRICK CIRCLE

Mary & James L. Abbott Cate Dean James R. & Judith Adams Esq. The Alpaugh Foundation Robert A. Bauer Kate & Bill Baumann Beck Architecture / Donald Beck Patricia Beggs Wilma & Herbert Beigel Leslie & Carol Benet Patricia Bittner Rick & Karen Blatt Laurence & Hildy Bonhaus Mitzi Brown James & Carolyn Bruckmann Thomas G. Bruckmann Sherry L. Caito Kevin & Melissa Carlson Shannon K. Carter Ford Clark Anthony F. Cole Carole C. Cole Philip & Anne Cone Julie Coppens Seth Coppens Pamela Cottingham Alvin H. & Alva J. Crawford Stephen Crawford Sally H. Dessauer Jennifer Dibenedetto Marianne Doll Todd J. Duesing Mark & Anne Durket Harold K. & Linda W. Eberenz Larry Findlay & Carol Thomas Carol M. Fisher Barry Fittes Gail F. Forberg Neil & Linda Gartner Michael & Janelle J. Gelfand S. Bradley Gillaugh Elle Gould Page C. Grad Kelly Hale Chris Hanlin Shirley A. Henrich

Christine & Alan Hollatz Linda Holthaus Ruth C. Holthaus Joe & Dana Hopper Charles Hudson Michael Kahsar Thomas & Annette Kereiakes Jeff & Mary Ann Knoop Carol & Scott Kosarko David Lane David & Kathy Leugers Janet Lockwood Diana & John Lovelace Edgar E. Loyd Bobbie A. Maybrier James & Rebecca McDermott Karen Meyers & William Jones James & Sarah Michael David A. & Martha Millett Don & Judy Mills Susanne E. Monteith Regeana & Al Morgan Jerry Nerl Brad & Lisa Nogar Ohio Valley Camera Club Fred & Leila Oliver Kevin D. Ott C. Robert Paul & Nancy Pelc Rick Pender Patricia Powell Mike & Fran Ranieri Lynne Williams Reckman J. David & Dianne Rosenberg Kameron Schlachter Stacy Sommer Schmidt Arlene K. Schwerin Jean Short Eli Shupe & Toby Ruben AJ & Jennifer Singleton Betsy Sittenfeld Betty Ann Smiddy Lisa & Rob Smith Bill & Sue Sommer Deanna Spiro Julia Stephen Joseph Eric Stevens Thomas L. Tallentire Ralph Taylor Kathleen Thomas James L. Thompson Diana Tisue Janet Goldsberry Todd Linda & Jim Voss Nancy C. Wagner Patricia M. Wagner Michael L. Walton Esq.

Katie Weed Ronald F. Wehmeier Dennis Wilhelm John M. Yacher Linda Ziegler

MIGHTY WURLITZER CIRCLE

Jacklyn & Gary Bryson Chris & Beth Canarie Jean Z. Donaldson Meredith & Chuck Downton Emilie & David Dressler John W. and Helena Fischer III William E. Henrich Tricia & Eric Johnson Eric and Jan-Michele Kearney Peter E. Koenig Lawrence H. and Marjorie Kyte Jim Laskey Judith L. Martin John Morris Alice & David Phillips David & Priya Rolfes Ann Santen Charlotte & Richard Schnitz Victoria Shelton Murray & Robin Sinclaire The Society of the Sisters of the Transfiguration Blanche & Tim Sullivan Carl G. Swabek Cedric W. Vogel Fred & Jo Anne Warren Donna Wirth & Bob Groszer YourCause, LLC

HANNAFORD CIRCLE Lisa and David Allison David & Elaine Billmire Holly Brians Ragusa Otto M. Budig Deborah W. Campbell Cincinnati Stage Employees Local #5 Mary & Tim Coyne Joseph J. Dehner Meredith & Chuck Downton Ms. Ann A. Ellison Carl & Joyce Fischer Susanne E. Geier Sandra & Albert Geiser Clifford J. Goosmann & Andrea Wilson

Linda H. Greenberg Kathleen M. Grote Jay & Shirley Joyce Robert A. & Marian K. Kennedy Charitable Trust Scott & Sarah Kiley Carol L. Kruse Pinky Laffoon Connie Lang Lippert Family Fund of Gr. Cincinnati Foundation Mark Manley Vivian Morgan Timothy S. Needler Charles Scott Nelson Phillip Nuxhall Ed & Barb Rider Gretchen Scott David & Martha Seagram Dee & Tom E. Stegman Greg Terhune Thea Tjepkema & John Morris Russell JoAnn Ward

SPRINGER CIRCLE

Charles N. Ellman Ashley & Barbara Ford Tom & Jan Hardy Emma D. Hartkemeier Kenneth P. & Emily Kreider Susan B. Lichtenbaum Calvin & Patricia Linnemann Phillip and Whitney C. Long Chris Powell Tarita Preston Thomas R. Schiff Rosemary Schlachter John B. Schmitz Linda Siekmann Irwin & Melinda Simon Dudley S. Taft Charitable Foundation Sally & Scott Tieke Kelley Brandstetter Tracy John and Juli Wallis Mark & Lisa Weadick

ROSE WINDOW CIRCLE

Ellen & Clark Sole Jr.

CORBETT CIRCLE

Edward Castleberry Mary E. Carroll Trust Carolyn R. Shine

Committee Report

SPECIAL EVENTS

By Holly Brians Ragusa, Chair

arrangements and performance by Clark Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer for Harold Lloyd’s 1924 comedy classic, “Girl Shy.” Facing the challenges of COVID-19, the Friends of Music Hall’s Hundreds were able to enjoy this romantic comedy from home and (FMH) Special Events Committee worked to pivot in-person events learn more about the history of silent film. into meaningful virtual experiences. Our first was the September 2020 Annual meeting, a Zoom presentation with organization VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND FINIAL CELEBRATION updates and keynote speaker Thea Tjepkema. Attendees received a With Music Hall’s finials restored and outside tours restarted, virtual Halloween treat shared with all our members, a link to view there was much to celebrate! We gathered our “Nosferatu,” the spooky film classic, accompanied dedicated volunteers at Washington Park in on the Mighty Wurlitzer by organist Trent Sims.

June 2021 to toast each other and this wondrous HAPPY HOLIDAYS An updated version of “Nosferatu” will return in building. Also present and celebrated were many CONCERT October 2021. members of the finial restoration project team.

A live Happy Holidays Responding to safety protocols, the December concert is happening “Happy Holidays Wurlitzer Concert” was recorded December 10, 2021, in the ballroom for virtual release. Evans Mirageas, WURLITZER ORGAN DOCUMENTARY hosted again by Evans the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director at Cincinnati Over the summer of 2021 we interviewed our Mirageas with singers Opera, once again masterfully guided us through dedicated organ expert, Ronald F. Wehmeier, who Victoria Okafor and a magical evening of spectacular Wurlitzer Organ spoke about his years of service to the Mighty Avery Bargasse. Organist holiday music, performed by Mark Herman. Vocal Wurlitzer and his longstanding history of organ Jelani Eddington returns talents Jennifer Cherest and Thom Dreeze warmed work. We are fortunate to have such a skilled to the Ballroom to pull our hearts, as “Nutcracker” performances dazzled Wurlitzer technician and friend to Music Hall. out all the stops on from the Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy The full documentary will be released in 2022. the Mighty Wurlitzer. dancers. Thousands were able to enjoy this free The Cincinnati Ballet online concert.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

Special thanks to board member Tricia Johnson, who orchestrated a virtual Holiday gathering for FMH’s board of directors in December with lively games and delicious food and beverages.

In April 2020 “Silent Movies Made Musical” was presented virtually with astonishing organ

Academy will perform and Kenny Smith’s Peace & Serenity Choir will be onstage as Gospel finally meets the Wurlitzer in a celebration of the holidays

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Our thanks to chairperson Holly Brians Ragusa, Kelley Brandstetter Tracy, Erica DeMartina, Joanne Grueter, Alek Lucke, Yemi Oyediran, Rick Pender, Scott Santangelo, and Bethany Vondran.

Committee Report

MARKETING & COMMUNICATION

By Lisa Allison and Joanne Grueter, Co-Chairs

Explore The History Return !

Indoor Tours of Music Hall

TOUR through private and public spaces in this majestic structure led by our knowledgeable guides. SEE for yourself how it reflects the spirit of both past and present. DISCOVER our work to restore the finial ornamentations.

Tickets Available Weekly: 513-621-ARTS Online @ FriendsofMusicHall.org –or–

Music Hall’s Guardian Angel WHEN THEA TJEPK EMA TALKS (AND RESEARCHES , WRITES, LECTU RES, LEADS TOURS, AND GENERALLY ENTHU SES) ABOUT CINCINNAT I’S TEMPLE OF ARTS AND CULTU RE, EVERYONE LISTENS.

BY POLK LAFFOON

IV | PHOTOGR APH

BY AARON

50 50

M. CONWAY

COMMITTEE MISSION The Marketing and Communication committee serves three essential functions for the Friends of Music Hall (FMH): To build awareness of our mission and purpose, to be stewards of our brand, and to enable and support other committees’ activities. Efforts include promoting tours, special events (especially ticket sales), and supporting fundraising, community engagement, and membership campaigns.

Cincinnati Magazine. Other media covering FMH activities were The Cincinnati Enquirer (Kathrine Nero’s Facebook live event in October 2020 and a feature about Music Hall in June 2021), CityBeat, Ohio Magazine, and WVXU-FM

DIGITAL CONTENT Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee decided to pivot from print to digital content, with a decision to no longer publish “Music Hall Marks.” A new digital publication debuted in November 2020, “Windows on Music Hall,” an e-zine that builds awareness of FMH’s mission, purpose, and events, and engages with our member base. It is now emailed quarterly to 4,000 friends and members of FMH and achieves significant readership. Annette Januzzi Wick conceived of “Windows on Music Hall” and leads this important initiative. Nicole Roberts designed the layout, and various committee members contributed content.

SOCIAL MEDIA

WE ENCOURAGE ALL FMH FRIENDS TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: @FriendsofMusicHall

FMH’s social media presence increased significantly during Instagram: 2020-2021 thanks to the dedicated @FriendsofMusicHall efforts of board members Carol Sampson (Twitter), Joanne Grueter (Instagram), and executive director Twitter: Mindy Rosen (Facebook). A senior @FriendsHall business major from the University of Cincinnati has been engaged as a digital marketing intern focused on search optimization strategy and Google strategies.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PROMOTIONAL COVERAGE In support of the other FMH committees, the marketing committee placed advertising and carried out promotional campaigns throughout the year for tours, virtual Wurlitzer concerts, and especially the Finial Restoration Project, which received extensive detailed coverage from Spectrum News 1, WCPO-TV, and

Committee members with specific expertise have enabled these successful initiatives: Alek Lucke (community engagement), Yemi Oyediran (videography), Rick Pender (writing and editing), Nicole Roberts (design and creative development), Carol Sampson (content creation and social media), Diana Tisue (community engagement), Annette Januzzi Wick (content creation, writing, and editing), and Matt Zory (photography).

Committee Report

FINANCE

By Mark Weadick, Chair

COMMITTEE MISSION The Finance Committee undertakes the responsibility of prudently managing the Friends of Music Hall’s (FMH) investment portfolios, producing financial statements, tax returns and other financial reports, and ensuring FMH’s physical assets are maintained and adequately insured.

70-80%

HIGH QUALITY EQUITY SECURITIES

FIXED INCOME & PREFERRED SECURITIES

our investment balances use is restricted to maintenance, repair and improvement of Music Hall. We are pleased with the performance and growth of the investment portfolios over the past several years, which we consistently monitor.

We are currently undertaking a review of our insurance coverages for the Mighty Wurlitzer and the carved wood organ panels. These unique assets require appraisal and insurance specialists.

INVESTMENT POLICY FMH’s investment portfolios are managed in accordance with our board-approved investment policy, the primary goal of which is to grow and maintain the purchasing power of the investment portfolio. Typically 70-80% of our investment portfolio is invested in high quality equity securities, with the balance allocated to fixed income and preferred securities. Bahl & Gaynor Investment Advisors has been retained by FMH to serve as our investment manager. In order to preserve investment balances for future use, the investment policy imposes an annual spending restriction of 4% of the average portfolio balance for the prior 12 quarters. A substantial portion of

FMH has retained the services of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for bookkeeping, invoice processing and financial statement preparation. Our financial statements are reviewed by Clark, Schaffer and Hackett, who also prepare our annual Form 990 tax return. Our financial statements and Form 990 are available upon request.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Committee Chair Mark Weadick is assisted by Kelley Brandstetter Tracy, Tricia Johnson, Peter Koenig and Phillip Long.

BACK COVER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF J. MILES WOLF © 2021; ALL OTHERS BY JOANNE GRUETER.

FRIENDS OF MUSIC HALL 1241 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 FriendsofMusicHall.org (513) 744-3293