CRESCENDO NEWSLETTER F O R
H A N D E L
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VOL. 3 ISSUE 4 | June 2019
YOUNG MEN’S CHORUS CAPS HOT STREAK WITH IRELAND TOUR On June 22, members of the H+H Young Men’s Chorus will embark on an eight-day tour to Ireland, capping a successful season and marking five years of tremendous growth. Since 2014, the YMC has nearly doubled in size to include 40 singers and has appeared on numerous occasions alongside the professional H+H Chorus—most recently as part of the season-ending Mozart’s Requiem. The summer tour, which also includes members of the Young Women’s Chorus, stops at Galway Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin. H+H’s talented students will perform, perfect their art in master classes with Irish musicians, and sing with a local choir in Galway. Donor support makes all this possible, and H+H is especially grateful to Lucas Wegmann, whose endowment of the YMC in 2016 and annual support since has allowed for its recent growth and standout successes. Wegmann is an H+H subscriber, retired finance executive, and resident of Maine. Lucas Wegmann, right, with Liam, Neil, and Molly, members of the H+H Youth Choruses
“Young men need the opportunity to grow and develop in a demanding and deeply meaningful manner,” he recently shared. “The Young Men’s Chorus requires discipline, determination, commitment, and significant sacrifice, all of which lead to personal growth and musical reward. I support YMC as a way of recognizing, encouraging, showing appreciation and respect for the efforts of these young men and their leader, Dr. Kevin McDonald.”
H+H is also grateful to those donors who generously provided scholarship support for this year’s tour: Carolyn and Bill Aliski, David B. Elsbree and Lorraine Gilmore, Joseph M. Flynn, Philip Gerdine, Suzanne and Easley Hamner, Maryanne King, Mary and Sherif Nada, Nancy Nizel, Patricia and Leonard Rosenthal, Emily F. Schabacker, Dr. Mary Jane Spiro, Janet Whitla, Elizabeth and Robert Wax, and the Parachute Fund.
NEW WAYS OF GIVING AS H+H NEARS END OF FISCAL YEAR
PHOTO: CHRIS PETRE-BAUMER
H+H is gaining momentum as we approach June 30, the end of our fiscal year. Our donors have been more generous than ever before, with record levels of support from individuals. Many are giving through Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), and recently this has become even more flexible. We talked to Mike Peluse, Vice President of Development, to find out more. Can a contribution made through a DAF fulfill an individual’s pledge? Mike Peluse: Absolutely! Recently issued guidance from the IRS addresses several different uses of a DAF, including the fulfillment of legally binding pledges. Before, it was unclear whether the donor was allowed to commit DAF funds to fulfill a pledge to a charity, since the DAF sponsor legally controls and disburses the funds. Because of this, DAF sponsors would not typically approve funds to satisfy binding pledges. However, since the IRS announced Notice 2017-73, using a DAF to fulfill a donor’s pledge to an organization has been deemed acceptable under certain circumstances.
Why did the IRS rules change? MP: This change is due to the fact the IRS has determined DAFs to be pass-through vehicles, meaning they consider the funds distributed from the DAF as coming from the individual donor, rather than coming from the DAF sponsoring organization. This ruling is in part due to the fact that the donor has a reasonable expectation that the DAF sponsoring organization will fulfill their wishes for a charitable distribution. Though these gifts are now acceptable to the IRS, have they placed any restrictions that donors should know about? MP: There must be no reference to the pledge in making the distribution from the DAF to the charity, the donor/advisor cannot receive anything more than an incidental benefit in exchange for the gift, and the donor/advisor may not claim a charitable deduction for the DAF distribution—even if the charity receiving the distribution sends the donor/advisor a tax acknowledgement. If you have made a pledge to H+H and would like more information about fulfillment through your DAF, please contact the development office at 617.262.1815, or visit our website at handelandhaydn.org/support/ways-of-giving/.
H+H WELCOMES ALL You might have seen the news coverage of nine-year-old Ronan Mattin’s “wow!” exclamation after H+H’s recent performance of Mozart’s Masonic Funeral Music at Symphony Hall. His impromptu expression of musical joy captured the hearts of everyone in attendance, and then it took off as a story around the world. My favorite commentary came from The Boston Globe: “Magic happens when you listen.” After we met Ronan and his grandfather, we learned that Ronan is on the autism spectrum. His story goes to show that classical music is for all, as a universal means of expression, and that H+H makes music for all. Your generous support helped make Ronan’s experience possible.
David Snead PRESIDENT AND CEO
Ronan Mattin with his grandfather
THE SOCIETY BALL WALTZES TO NEW HEIGHTS H+H’s annual fundraising gala, The Society Ball, reached new heights last month as it raised funds to support H+H’s education and artistic programs. The event raised more than $365,000, the most since 2015’s Bicentennial Gala. We are deeply grateful to the gala leadership for making this success possible: Jane Tyler, Honorary Chair, and Co-Chairs Eric Aho, Michael Oliveri, Catherine Powell, and Judy Verhave.
PHOTO: MIKE PELUSE
Former Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, Principal Cello Guy Fishman, Anne and David Gergen
Michelle Coleman and Pam Waterman waltz to the H+H Orchestra
Concertmaster Aisslinn Nosky performs with members of the H+H Orchestra
PHOTOS (TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM ROW): GRETJEN HELENE
Eric Aho, Jane Tyler, Michael Oliveri, and Judy Verhave
H+H CONCERTS ARE FRESH AND FUN “There is a freshness in H+H that makes each concert experience truly joyful and yes, even fun,” says Kitty Flather, a Boston-area philanthropist and new member of H+H’s Board of Overseers. PHOTO: GRETJEN HELENE
“Those qualities will continue to engage a newer and wider following, which is such an important goal for H+H,” she explains. “Being in the front Kitty Flather row for the ‘WOW’ moment and witnessing Harry’s and the orchestra’s ebullient reaction to it, just says it all.”
Specifically, the Challenge for Excellence supports initiatives set forth in the 2018–23 strategic plan, focused on growth in artistry, education, and community engagement. Support in these areas allows us to recruit top musicians and guest artists, grow the H+H Youth Choruses and provide scholarships to deserving students, and establish new partnerships focusing on diversity and inclusion.
PHOTO: SAM BREWER
Flather has contributed to the Challenge for Excellence, which supports H+H’s passion and mastery. The Challenge pool is now at $1 million. With an additional $825,000 in qualifying matching gifts raised, H+H needs $175,000 in gifts and pledges by December 31 to meet its goal.
Harry Christophers leads the H+H Orchestra and Chorus in Mozart Requiem
For more on how you can participate, please contact Mike Peluse at 617.262.1815 or mpeluse@handelandhaydn.org.
NEW YORK DIDO AND AENEAS WILDLY ADORED was a magical venue for this dramatic and emotionally moving performance.” A New York City resident and arts philanthropist said, “I am very pleased to support H+H's performance of Dido and Aeneas in New York. H+H is a world-class organization, and I am happy that my gift made it possible for them to present their work on the national stage, and share this special performance with a global audience through a Facebook live stream. It is a privilege to help make programs like this possible, and I look forward to what the future has in store for this wonderful organization.”
Harry Christophers and H+H performing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Harry Christophers led the H+H Orchestra and Chorus in a performance of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Saturday, March 30. The whirlwind tour marked H+H’s triumphant return to the Met after a critically acclaimed concert of Monteverdi’s Vespers in 2017.
PHOTOS: STEPHANIE BERGER, ©2019
This tour was made possible through the generosity of individual donors. New York and Boston resident Janina Longtine, recently retired as a molecular pathologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and professor at the Yale School of Medicine, writes, “I have watched the Handel and Haydn Society grow and thrive, and it gives me great pleasure to sponsor programs like this that elevate their profile and showcase their artistry in New York City. The Met Museum's Temple of Dendur
And yes, there is more to come soon: in December the H+H Chorus will sing Handel’s Messiah with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center under conductor Harry Bicket, and the Orchestra returns to the Metropolitan Museum for “Christmas with the Strads,” performing on Stradivarius instruments from the museum’s Historic Instrument Collection.
The Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
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NEW 1815 SOCIETY MEMBERS RECOGNIZED
DONORS HOST EXCLUSIVE HOUSE CONCERT
1815 Society members at the annual luncheon in May
Last month, H+H inducted several new members into the 1815 Society at its annual appreciation luncheon. We are grateful to all those who have included H+H in their future plans. For more information on how to make a planned gift and ensure your legacy lives on at H+H, please contact Signe Lindberg at 617.262.1815, or slindberg@handelandhaydn.org.
PHOTO: ALEX AVERY
PHOTO: CHRIS PETRE-BAUMER
Early this month, H+H donors and subscribers Dick and Mary Scott hosted members of the H+H Orchestra for an exclusive concert at their home. The event was attended by H+H Board members and donors, along with individuals new to H+H, and offered guests an intimate concert experience with the chance to mingle with the artists. Principal Keyboard Ian Watson performs H+H is grateful to the others for host Mary Scott and attendees Ann who hosted similar events this and Graham Gund season: Graham and Ann Gund; John and Sally Miller with Julie Cox and Nina and Marshall Moriarty; Mary and Sherif Nada; Carolyn and Dana Pope; Tracey Roberts with Frederick and Cassandra Ilchman; and Jim and Cathy Stone.
If you would like more information on hosting a private concert in your own home, please contact Rachel Dacus Hill at 617.262.1815, or rdacushill@handelandhaydn.org.
H+H's fiscal year ends on June 30. Please consider making a gift to help us end the year on a high note. Your support will ensure that we are able to continue offering masterfully passionate performances, deeply impactful education opportunities, and broadly inclusive community programs. You can make your gift today by mailing a check to the H+H offices at 9 Harcourt Street, Boston, MA 02116; calling our Development team at 617.262.1815; or online at handelandhaydn.org/support. Thank you for your generosity!
PRAISE FOR MOZART REQUIEM
PHOTOS: SAM BREWER
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: “This was an awesome performance with wonderful singing, history, and selection of music.” “I loved the program. I came because of the Mozart Requiem, but I loved the first half at least as much! The performances of all were absolutely knock-out.” “This was a concert dream.”
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THE CRITICS: “Leading with bold gestures, Christophers mined all the emotional depths from the score, drawing out wide dynamic shading and surging vocal lines marked by crisp, percussive diction. “Rarely has this orchestra played with such sensitivity and conviction.” — Boston Classical Review