WINTER 2019–20
CRESCENDO NEWSLETTER FOR HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY PATRONS
EMI FERGUSON CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR AS PRINCIPAL FLUTE Emi Ferguson is one of the H+H Orchestra’s newest members, having been appointed principal flute in December 2018. She enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist, composer, and arranger, having released two chart-topping CDs: Amour Cruel and Fly the Coop. Growing up in the Boston area, what do you remember about H+H and the city from that time? Emi Ferguson: I moved to Brookline when I was 10, and I went to see H+H when I was in high school. I never dreamed that I would one day be involved. Boston is an unusually wonderful city for a young musician to grow up in with lots of opportunities to hear a variety of music and to study and learn. You have early music, contemporary music, pop music, and rock music all happening within a mile—it’s incredible! You perform on Classical, Baroque, and modern flute. What are the differences between your instruments? EF: The fingering systems are completely different and how you blow and create the sound is also completely different,
so you run into all sorts of fun challenges. Playing orchestral repertoire at H+H on period instruments continues to inform me of how I might play it on modern instruments as well. In some ways it’s all the same, because it’s the same music, but how the instruments behave, and the choices we make as a result, can be very different. Is there a connection between the historically-informed and contemporary sides of your career? EF: I think so much of what draws some people to both early music and contemporary music is curiosity. Nobody in either of those fields is trying to just sit back and let things happen, both require a person who’s willing to dig in, figure things out, and make it work. Outside of the H+H subscription season, Emi has been a part of several special concerts in and around Boston and New York City. Look out for the next issue of this newsletter to learn more about H+H’s triumph in New York City!
THINKING CREATIVELY ABOUT YOUR GIFT IN SUPPORT OF MUSIC When it comes to making a gift, most people pull out their check book or credit card. But have you considered making a gift of stock instead? By giving appreciated stock, your gift directly supports the music and programs you love at H+H, with enhanced tax benefits to you. What are the benefits? + If you’ve owned the stock for at least 12 months, you may be able to take a tax deduction for the full, fair-market value of the stock. + You pay no capital gains tax on any appreciated assets you contribute. + You have the satisfaction of supporting H+H in a way that benefits you as well. Be sure to notify H+H of your gift before initiating the transfer—that way we know to expect the securities so we can thank you promptly. Questions? Visit handelandhaydn.org/support/ways-of-giving for detailed instructions, or contact Brook Holladay at brook@handelandhaydn.org, or 617.262.1815. Not intended to provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor to confirm how you might benefit from this opportunity.
H+H TEACHING ARTIST RACHAEL CHAGAT BRINGS MUSIC TO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
H+H collaborates with elementary schools in several Boston neighborhoods to provide weekly in-school music classes to students who otherwise would not have access to musical instruction. Rachael Chagat is the H+H teaching artist at Brighton’s Winship Elementary School, part of the Boston Public School system.
RACHAEL CHAGAT H+H TEACHING ARTIST
How would you describe a typical day of teaching at the Winship School? Rachael Chagat: The Winship is a small school with a really strong feeling of com munity. Half the students come from the Allston-Brighton neighborhoods, with the rest coming from other parts of Boston, and they come from all different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Each day I see six classes back to back. Singing is the foundation of our musical learning and this year we are also working on a theme of “Connecting Cultures in Music,” so students are learning songs from different countries and cultures.
What does the support of H+H donors mean to you and your students? RC: Not every school is able to have a music program. I’ve seen students become really excited about what they are learning and discovering. I’ve seen them grow in their sense of pride and accomplishment after a performance. It’s so amazing that they get this opportunity to create and perform—an outlet that many need! So, thank you from all of us at the Winship! To make a gift in support of our Boston Public School Partnerships, please contact Mike Peluse at mpeluse@handelandhaydn.org.
What kind of growth do you see in your students over the course of the year? RC: Musically, they are becoming stronger singers, developing excellent ears, and have gained the ability to start to read rhythm and music. In terms of non-music skills, they’ve become more willing to take risks and are more open to things that are unfamiliar.
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MASTERFULLY PERFORMED. PASSIONATELY SHARED.
DONOR HIGHLIGHT:
ANN AND GRAHAM GUND SUSTAIN MESSIAH TRADITION Ann and Graham Gund were the generous sponsors of Handel’s Messiah this year. Like many Bostonians, attending H+H’s Messiah is a holiday tradition for them, and they feel it’s the best performance of Handel’s masterpiece to be heard anywhere. “We can't imagine the Christmas season in Boston without Messiah— particularly Handel and Haydn's version performed on period instru ments,” says Anne Gund. “Hallelujah!—The trumpets are phenomenal!”
ANN AND GRAHAM GUND
The Gunds’ sponsorship underwrote three sublime performances led by Masaaki Suzuki (in his H+H Messiah debut), joined by a diverse and internationally acclaimed cast of soloists including Elizabeth Watts, Reginald Mobley, Nicholas Phan, and Dashon Burton. Everyone at H+H extends their sincere thanks to the Gunds for their generosity and enthusiasm in sustaining this 166-year-old tradition!
LEFT TO RIGHT: DASHON BURTON, MASAAKI SUZUKI, AND JESSE LEVINE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION LIFTS EVERY VOICE This year’s Every Voice concerts in Roxbury and the South End were made possible by a new lead sponsor: the American Heart Association. Why did a leading health-focused non-profit support free community classical music concerts? Because a great deal of medical research (including that of the AHA) has found that positive health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations, are strongly associated with access to the arts and the connective and communal experiences they entail. Directed by Reginald Mobley, the concerts on Nov. 2 and 3 showcased music by Black and Jewish composers in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry and Union United Methodist Church. Thank you to the AHA for recognizing and supporting the importance of music to the overall health of our community.
MASTERFULLY PERFORMED. PASSIONATELY SHARED.
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GREG AND ANNE CRISCI MAKE A COMMITMENT TO H+H’S FUTURE Greg and Anne Crisci, longtime H+H subscribers, recently decided to support H+H through a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). “We contributed to H+H to support the promotion of Baroque and Classical music generally and to make available works by lesser-known but still important composers such as Purcell, Boyce, Corelli, and Albinoni,” they explained. “With the limited funding for music education in the public schools, we would also like to see students exposed to classical music. We grew up with classical music on the radio, on recordings, via Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts, and in Bugs Bunny cartoons. Students today do
not have those experiences. We hope our contribution will provide appreciation for the classics.” A CGA enables supporters to make a gift now, receive payments for life (typically a portion tax-free), and ultimately provide a wonderful gift to H+H. Thank you to Greg and Anne for supporting tomorrow’s audiences today!
To learn more about establishing a CGA, please contact Signe Lindberg at 617.262.1815 or slindberg@handelandhaydn.org.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: HOLD THE TRAIN! In 1885, the railroad revolved around Messiah! This notice was printed in Boston newspapers to inform H+H Messiahgoers that the train would be held until after the performance finished, giving out-of-town patrons time to make it to the last train home. The holiday tradition, already in its fourth decade by that point, attracted audiences from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. While the trains may not center around Messiah anymore, it remains a favorite tradition for many families today, as H+H celebrated its 165th consecutive season performing the piece.