Contents
••
Official Program Magazine of the Houston Symphony 615 Louisiana, Suite 102, Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 224-4240 • www.houstonsymphony.org
March • 2011
Programs 10 March 4-6 14 March 18-20 16 March 24, 26, 27 20 March 31
10
On Stage and Off
Superstar pianist Gabriella Montero brings her Venezuelan roots and incredible improvisational talents to the Jones Hall stage this month.
6
The 2011 Houston Symphony Ball Celebration honored those working tirelessly to raise funds for the Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Programs.
3 Credits 27-35 Donors 9 From the Orchestra 4 Hans Graf 23 Houston Symphony Chorus 5 Letter to Patrons 8 Orchestra and Staff 26 Symphony Society
Features 36 Backstage Pass 6 Houston Symphony Ball Celebration 24 Music Matters! 7 Spotlight on Sponsors 33 Support Your Symphony 18 Upcoming Performances 25 Volunteers
14 Cover photo by Sandy Lankford. For advertising contact New Leaf Publishing at (713) 523-5323 info@newleafinc.com • www.newleafinc.com • 2006 Huldy, Houston, Texas 77019
Acknowledgements
The Official Airline of the Houston Symphony
www.houstonsymphony.org
The Official Health Care Provider of the Houston Symphony
Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski leads the Houston Symphony in some of history’s most popular classical works. You won’t want to miss this exciting concert!
Credits...........................
Mark C. Hanson Executive Director/CEO Jessica Taylor Editor Carl Cunningham Program Annotator Elaine Reeder Mayo Editorial Consultant
www.newleafinc.com (713) 523-5323 Janet Meyer Publisher janetmeyer@newleafinc.com Keith Gumney Art Director kgumney@newleafinc.com Jennifer Greenberg Projects Director jenniferg@newleafinc.com Jennifer Ludlow Account Executive jludlow@newleafinc.com Linda Lang Senior Account Executive lindalang@newleafinc.com Frances Powell Account Executive divascenes@aol.com Carey Clark CC Catalyst Communications Marlene Walker Walker Media LLC Sarah Hill Intern The activities and projects of the Houston Symphony are funded in part by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Houston through the Houston Downtown Alliance, Miller Theatre Advisory Board and Houston Arts Alliance. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at The Woodlands is the Summer Home of the Houston Symphony. Digital pre-media services by Vertis APS Houston Contents copyright Š 2011 by the Houston Symphony
LATE SEATING In consideration of audience members, the Houston Symphony makes every effort to begin concerts on time. Ushers will assist with late seating at pre-designated intervals. You may be asked to sit in a location other than your ticketed seat until the end of that portion of the concert. You will be able to move to your ticketed seat at the concert break. CHILDREN AT CONCERTS In consideration of our patrons, we ask that children be 6 years and older to attend Houston Symphony concerts. Children of all ages, including infants, are admitted to Weatherford Family Concerts. Any child over age 1 must have a ticket for those performances. CAMERAS, RECORDERS, CELL PHONES & PAGERS Cameras and recorders are not permitted in the hall. Patrons may not use any device to record or photograph performances. Please silence cell phones, pagers and alarm watches and refrain from texting during performances. March 2011
Hans Graf............................................................................................................
Photo by Sandy Lankford
This month, during the weekend of March 24 through 27, we present an allStrauss program ranging from the youth and fire of Don Juan to the age and wisdom of Don Quixote. Don Quixote’s farewell to life is one of the most beautiful endings that Strauss has ever written. It is always a point of pride to be able to present musicians of the Houston Symphony in the solo spotlight. Brinton Averil Smith, principal cello, will be our Don Quixote de La Mancha, and Wayne Brooks, principal viola, will be his sidekick, Sancho Panza. The part of Don Quixote is often played by the principal cellist of an orchestra, but it is a full grown, real soloist’s solo, and I am looking forward to this piece with great anticipation. Brinton is a kind of philosopher in his own right—he is an accomplished, world-class mathematician in addition to being a world-class musician! He will bring a wonderful personal touch to this music. I am not sure whether, when writing the Four Last Songs, Strauss was aware that these would truly be his four last songs—not only in the timing of his life, but also in the arc of his musical creativity. Strauss was writing from a position where he, like Don Quixote, had reached the resignation of a life which ended differently than he would have wished. The horror of 12 years of war had not destroyed him, but they did leave a deep mark. He was darker and quieter, and this tired state of mind—which knows all and has seen all—imbues these autumnal and deeply-affecting songs. Strauss’ orchestration is incredibly beautiful. It is the most luxurious symphony score—even without the singing—but with it, is really sublime. To achieve this, we will have Erin Wall providing her voice to this work. She is a star; she is sublime. I look forward to seeing you in Jones Hall.
Biography............................................................................................................ Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, dis- Salzburg Festival. In summer 2010, he conducted the opening concert of tinguished Austrian conductor Hans Graf—the Houston Symphony’s 15th the Aspen Music Festival and returned to Tanglewood and Chicago’s Grant Music Director—is one of today’s most highly respected musicians. He Park Festival. began his tenure here on Opening Night of the 2001-2002 season. An experienced opera conductor, Graf first conducted the Vienna Prior to his appointment in Houston, he was music director of the State Opera in 1981 and has since led productions in the opera houses of Calgary Philharmonic, the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Berlin, Munich, Paris and Rome, including several world premieres. Recent the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra and the Iraqi National Symphony engagements include Parsifal at the Zurich Opera and Boris Godunov at the Orchestra. Opera National du Rhin in Strasbourg. A frequent guest with all of the major North American orchestras, Graf Born in 1949 near Linz, Graf studied violin and piano as a child. He has developed a earned diplomas close relationship in piano and conHans Graf conducting Gil Shaham and the Houston Symphony on February 3, 2011: with the Boston ducting from the “With its taut structure, driving fortes and refined soft moments, Symphony and Musikhochschule the interpretation was a reminder of why Graf, who will leave the appears reguin Graz and conlarly with the tinued his studsymphony after the 2012-13 season, will continue to be welcomed orchestra during ies with Franco back to major American orchestras.” the subscription Ferrara, Sergiu season and at Celibidache and Charles Ward for the The Houston Chronicle the Tanglewood Arvid Jansons. Music Festival. His career was launched in 1979 when he was awarded first prize at the He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Houston Symphony in Karl Böhm Competition. January 2006 and returned leading the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in March His extensive discography includes recordings with the Houston 2007. He and the Houston Symphony were invited to appear at Carnegie Symphony, available through houstonsymphony.org: works by Bartók and Hall in January 2010 to present the New York premiere of The Planets—An Stravinsky, Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony, Berg’s Three Pieces from the Lyric HD Odyssey. Suite and a DVD of The Planets—An HD Odyssey. Internationally, Graf conducts in the foremost concert halls of Europe, Graf has been awarded the Chevalier de l’ordre de la Legion d’Honneur Japan and Australia. In October 2010, he led the Houston Symphony on a by the French government for championing French music around the world tour of the UK to present the international premiere of The Planets—An and the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic HD Odyssey—a project that has been picked up by the Cleveland, Seatlle of Austria. and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. He has participated in the Maggio Hans and Margarita Graf have homes in Salzburg and Houston. They Musicale Fiorentino, Bregenz and Aix en Provence and appeared at the have one daughter, Anna, who lives in Vienna.
(
www.houstonsymphony.org
)
Letter to Patrons................................................................................................. Photo by Alexander Portraits
Bobby Tudor President Photo by bruce bennett
“Scheherazade and Her Magical Nights” is the exciting theme for this year’s Houston Symphony Ball—a black-tie event that will be held at the Hilton Americas—Houston on Friday, March 25. We are grateful to Sharin Anneysa Gaille for serving as our Ball chair, and to Gene and Linda Dewhurst for their contributions as Ball Underwriting Committee chairs. The Ball is our annual opportunity to raise important funding for the Houston Symphony’s Music Matters! Education and Community Engagement Programs, acknowledge our Ball honorees and dance the night away! At the Ball, we will present the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Philanthropy Award to the Past and Present Symphony Society Chairmen: Gus S. Wortham, F.M. Law, Warren S. Bellows Sr., Harmon Whittington Dr. Charles F. Jones, John T. Cater, Richard G. Merrill, Mrs. Edward W. Kelley Jr., John D. Platt, J. Hugh Roff Jr., Stewart Orton, Joe F. Moore, Constantine S. Nicandros, Alexander “Mike” K. McLanahan, M.S. Stude, and Ed Wulfe. The 2011 Houston Symphony Maurice Hirsch Corporate Citizenship Award will be presented to Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods, and the 2011 Raphael Fliegel Award for Visionary Leadership will be presented to Jay and Shirley Marks. Our congratulations and thanks to this esteemed list of Houston Symphony supporters. Also this month, Associate Conductor Robert Franz will conduct our annual Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert on Thursday, March 31. Each year, we are proud to provide a wonderful evening of music to honor all of the talented men and women who work in music education. The musicians of the Houston Symphony will be joined in the second half by student musicians from the Houston Youth Symphony for a performance of Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D major. During the evening, we will present two special awards to individuals who have exemplified dedication and passion for teaching music: the Spec’s Charitable Foundation Award for Excellence in Music Education, and the Jacob L. and Sophia Meyer Farb School Bell Award for Lifetime Achievement. Finally, please note that we have added a special concert to the current season. Be sure to join us for a fantastic evening with Tony Bennett, who joins our musicians for a special, onenight-only performance on Tuesday, April 26! As always, we appreciate your support of our wonderful Symphony and look forward to seeing you in Jones Hall again soon.
Mark C. Hanson Executive Director/CEO
March 2011
Houston Symphony Ball Celebration.......................................................
^ Host Sam Abraham, Houston Symphony League Vice President of Fundraising Helen Shaffer and husband Jim Shaffer
^ 2011 Opening Night Chairs Bill and Kathy Rovere
all photos © laurieperez.com
Symphony supporters gathered in the new, ground-floor showroom of Abraham’s Oriental Rugs at the Decorative Center of Houston on Thursday, January 27, 2011 to celebrate the upcoming 2011 Houston Symphony Ball, themed “Scheherazade and her Magical Nights.” Hosted by Samuel and Omana Abraham, the reception was a “delightful way to celebrate our ball, and to honor the dedicated team of volunteers who are working tirelessly to organize what will be a spectacular evening that will raise funds to finance our Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Programs,” commented Ball Chair Sharin Anneysa Gaille. “Scheherazade and her Magical Nights” will be held on Friday, March 25th at the Hilton Americas – Houston Hotel. For more information, please contact Events Manager Samantha Gonzalez, at (713) 238-1487 or samantha.gonzalez@houstonsymphony.org.
^ Hosts Sam and Omana Abraham
^ Long-time Symphony supporters Dr. Malcolm and Jackie Mazow
^ Christina and Executive Director/CEO Mark C. Hanson
^ Long-time Symphony supporter Diane Lokey Farb
^ Ball Chair Sharin Anneysa Gaille and Executive Director/CEO Mark C. Hanson www.houstonsymphony.org
^ New Symphony Board members Doré and Kevin Meyers
^ Betty Tutor, Annie Abraham Thomas and Houston Symphony League Vice President of Fundraising Helen Shaffer
Spotlight on Sponsors...................................................................................... Bank of America believes that community vitality and the success of our business are inextricably linked. Recognizing that the health of the company is dependent on the health of the community it serves, we leverage our resources to connect associates, customers, shareholders and communities to create opportunities for success. In 2009, Bank of America embarked on a 10-year, $2 billion philanthropic giving goal to strengthen the communities where we live and work. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s key programs include health and human services, education, environmental, arts, culture and community development. Bank of America is a major supporter of U.S. arts and heritage, and believes in combining responsible business practices with good corporate citizenship. Our support of the arts effectively benefits stakeholders in the short term by driving positive business results and support of local economies. Over the long term, our commitment fuels innovations that characterize our heritage, drive the nation’s progress and helps shape its future. To learn more about Bank of America, visit bankofamerica.com.
Through Wells Fargo charitable contributions and the efforts of our enthusiastic team of volunteers, we share our success with our communities by supporting causes and organizations that address vital community needs. Benefiting the communities where we live and work has been at the heart of Wells Fargo’s culture since our company was founded—and that heritage continues today through our continued support of the Houston Symphony. The people and communities we serve have been
good to us as a company and as individuals. Wells Fargo donated $330,000 to 29 Texas nonprofits chosen by customers as part of a broader effort to provide more than $1 million to organizations that serve people in need this year. In 2009, Wells Fargo donated $9 million to 1,800 nonprofit organizations throughout Texas. We are committed to supporting organizations and events that significantly contribute to the communities where we do business. Cultural programs like those of the Houston Symphony greatly add to the quality of life in our communities, and that is why we are active supporters of this wonderful organization.
Shell Oil Company, a major long-time contributor to the Houston Symphony, is underwriting the Symphony’s Favorite Masters Series once again as part of Shell’s continuing commitment to the communities it serves. Shell is proud to continue its history of supporting the Houston Symphony, which includes title sponsorship of an 11–city European tour (1997) and a nine–city U.S. tour (1998). Since its founding, Shell Oil Company has invested more than $500 million in charitable, cultural and educational organizations throughout Houston and the nation. Shell support of culture and the arts encompasses a wide range of symphony, opera and theatre groups, as well as the visual arts and science museums, libraries and zoos. Shell has received a broad range of national awards including the Business Committee for the Arts Award, the City of Houston’s recognition for outstanding support of the arts and the Outstanding Corporation Award from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. The Houston Symphony salutes Shell Oil Company and applauds its support of the Symphony and other arts and cultural institutions nationwide. March 2011
Orchestra and Staff. .......................................................................................... Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEO
Hans Graf, Music Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair Michael Krajewski, Robert Franz,
Principal Pops Conductor
Associate Conductor
Sponsor, Cameron Management
Sponsor, Madison Charitable Foundation
Brett Mitchell,
Assistant Conductor First Violin: Frank Huang, Concertmaster Max Levine Chair Eric Halen, Associate Concertmaster Ellen E. Kelley Chair Assia Dulgerska, Assistant Concertmaster Cornelia and Meredith Long Chair Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster Fondren Foundation Chair Marina Brubaker, Hewlett-Packard Company Chair Alexandra Adkins MiHee Chung Sophia Silivos Rodica Gonzalez Ferenc Illenyi** Si-Yang Lao Kurt Johnson Christopher Neal Sergei Galperin Quan Jiang*
Xiao Wong Myung Soon Lee James Denton Anthony Kitai
Second Violin: Jennifer Owen, Principal Charles Tabony, Associate Principal Hitai Lee Kiju Joh Ruth Zeger Margaret Bragg Martha Chapman Kevin Kelly Mihaela Oancea Christine Pastorek Amy Teare Geoffrey Applegate*
Piccolo: Allison Garza
double Bass: David Malone, Acting Principal Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair Mark Shapiro, Acting Associate Principal Eric Larson Robert Pastorek Burke Shaw Donald Howey Michael McMurray Flute: Aralee Dorough, Principal General Maurice Hirsch Chair John Thorne, Associate Principal Judy Dines Allison Garza
Oboe: Robert Atherholt, Principal Lucy Binyon Stude Chair Anne Leek, Associate Principal Colin Gatwood Adam Dinitz English Horn: Adam Dinitz Clarinet: David Peck, Principal Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal Christian Schubert Alexander Potiomkin***
Viola: Wayne Brooks, Principal Joan DerHovsepian, Associate Principal George Pascal, Assistant Principal Wei Jiang Linda Goldstein Fay Shapiro Daniel Strba Thomas Molloy Phyllis Herdliska Joshua Kelly*
E-Flat Clarinet: Thomas LeGrand Bass Clarinet: Alexander Potiomkin*** Tassie and Constantine S. Nicandros Chair Bassoon: Rian Craypo, Principal Stewart Orton Chair Eric Arbiter, Associate Principal American General Chair Elise Wagner J. Jeff Robinson
Cello: Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Christopher French, Associate Principal Haeri Ju Jeffrey Butler Kevin Dvorak
Contrabassoon: J. Jeff Robinson
Horn: William VerMeulen, Principal Wade Butin, Acting Associate Principal* Brian Thomas Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Chair Nancy Goodearl Philip Stanton Julie Thayer Trumpet: Mark Hughes, Principal George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair John DeWitt, Associate Principal Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Anthony Prisk Speros P. Martel Chair Trombone: Allen Barnhill, Principal Bradley White, Associate Principal Phillip Freeman Bass Trombone: Phillip Freeman Tuba: Dave Kirk, Principal Timpani: Ronald Holdman, Principal Brian Del Signore, Associate Principal Percussion: Brian Del Signore, Principal Mark Griffith Matthew Strauss Harp: Paula Page, Principal Keyboard: Scott Holshouser, Principal Neva Watkins West Chair Orchestra Personnel Manager: Steve Wenig Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager: Michael Gorman Librarian: Thomas Takaro Assistant LibrarianS: Erik Gronfor Michael McMurray Stage Manager: Donald Ray Jackson Assistant Stage Manager: Kelly Morgan
........ i. an mp .Ti
........ ...... ..
.....Horns.
.... . .. Ha rp .. . . .P ia n
..
First
...
.........Vi ola s
.
...
.C ...
s. ello
Conductor
www.houstonsymphony.org
o.
nd.Violins. Seco
.Violins.
.... ...
a
s. sse
mb on es .. .Tru ... mp ets
.
nets. ....Bassoo Clari ns. .... tes. ......Oboes u l F . . . .....
..Tr o
. ba Tu
B
.Percussion.
Steinway is the official piano of the Houston Symphony. James B. Kozak, Piano Technician. Local assistance is provided by Forshey Piano Co. The Houston Symphony’s concert piano is a gift of Mrs. Helen B. Rosenbaum.
Stage Technician: Toby Blunt Zoltan Fabry Cory Grant *Contracted Substitute **Leave of Absence ***Regular Substitute
Martha GarcĂa, Assistant to the Executive Director Meg Philpot, Director of Human Resources
Steven Brosvik, General Manager Roger Daily, Director, Music Matters! Kristin L. Johnson, Director, Operations Steve Wenig, Orchestra Personnel Manager Michael Gorman, Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager Donald Ray Jackson, Stage Manager Kelly Morgan, Assistant Stage Manager Jessica Williams, Fidelity Partnership Coordinator Meredith Williams, Assistant to the General Manager Carol Wilson, Manager, Music Matters!
Michael D. Pawson, Chief Financial Officer Sally Brassow, Controller Philip Gulla, Director, Technology Amed Hamila, Director, Database Support Heather Fails, Manager, Ticketing Database Janis Pease LaRocque, Manager, Patron Database Kay Middleton, Receptionist Maria Ross, Payroll Manager Armin (A.J.) Salge, Network Systems Engineer Chris Westerfelt, Manager, Accounts Payable and Special Projects
Aurelie Desmarais, Senior Director, Artistic Planning Merle N. Bratlie, Director, Artist Services Thomas Takaro, Librarian Amanda Tozzi, Director, Popular Programming and Special Projects Erik Gronfor, Assistant Librarian Michael McMurray, Assistant Librarian Rebecca Zabinski, Artistic Assistant
Glenn Taylor, Senior Director, Marketing Allison Gilbert, Director of Marketing, Subscription & Group Sales Melissa H. Lopez, Director of Marketing, Special Projects Carlos Vicente, Director of Marketing, Single Tickets Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services Natalie Ferguson, Graphic Designer Jeff Gilmer, Group Representative, Inside Sales Jason Landry, Senior Manager, Patron Services Erin Mushalla, Marketing Assistant Melissa Pate, Assistant Manager, Patron Services Representatives Tim Richey, Manager, VIP Patron Services Derrick Rose, Group Representative, Outside Sales Melissa Seuffert, Assistant Marketing Manager, Digital Media/Young Audience Engagement
Jennifer R. Mire, Senior Director, Communications Jessica Taylor, Editor, Magazine Holly Cassard, Manager, Public Relations
Ron Fredman, Senior Director, Development Tara Black, Director, Individual Giving Vickie Hamley, Director, Volunteer Services Brandon VanWaeyenberghe, Director, Corporate Relations Peter Yenne, Director, Foundation Relations and Development Communications Jessica Ford, Gifts Officer Samantha Gonzalez, Manager, Events Abbie Lee, Patron Services Assistant Sarah Slemmons, Development Associate, Administrative Services Lena Streetman, Manager, Individual Giving
From the Orchestra........................................................................................... Photo by sandy lankford
On behalf of my colleagues in the Houston Symphony, welcome to Jones Hall! We musicians are frequently asked about our favorite composer or compositions, and answering this question is often like trying to pick your favorite child—impossible! There are so many incredible works by genius composers that singling out one, or even a handful, seems hopeless. However, this month, in addition to two weeks that feature classical works so well known and beloved that they need no introduction, we also spend a week immersed in three monumental works of Richard Strauss, a composer on almost every orchestral musician’s list of favorites. Born in 1864, Strauss’ life spanned an era of enormous change in music and almost every other aspect of life. When he died in 1949, the outlines of today’s modern world were already visible. Unlike the clichés of the flamboyant composer, Strauss was a mild, business-like man and a somewhat hen-pecked husband; but in composition, his dramatic fantasy took flight. He became known for virtuosic and theatrical orchestral writing and was the first to unleash the full force of the expanded orchestra and techniques of Wagner into the symphonic realm. His first tone poem, Don Juan, was boldly original: symphonic music of operatic scope, eschewing conventional forms to create music unabashedly at the service of the storyline. He challenged the orchestra as no one previously had, and the success of Don Juan was followed by other grand tone poems including Don Quixote—also heard this month—and the well-known Also Sprach Zarathustra and the (immodestly titled) self-portrait, A Hero’s Life, both heard next season. But for all the drama and sizzling virtuosity of the tone poems, it is his Four Last Songs, written shortly Brinton Averil Smith before his death, that I most look forward to this month. At 25, Strauss wrote Death and Transfiguration, a Principal Cello youthful portrait of a dying hero, full of drama, struggle and triumph. When, at 84, he returned to the subject of mortality, he had witnessed his homeland and the pre-eminent cultural world he had helped create hijacked and driven to misery, death and destruction. (Strauss had been held a virtual hostage by the Nazi regime, forced to be an artistic propaganda figurehead in order to protect his Jewish daughterin-law and grandchildren.) In the Four Last Songs, dying is no longer a grand, dramatic struggle. Instead, the songs speak of death and life with a beautiful serenity and nostalgic, autumnal glow that makes these simple songs among the most powerful music ever written. Such heart-rending warmth and peace coming in the last days of the master of musical melodrama—a man who has seen his world destroy itself and yet leaves not with a shaking fist, but with a sublime calm and accepting heartbreak. Every time I hear them, I know that I am being shown a glimpse of some greater truth that Strauss knew at the end of his life. It’s goose-bump inducing music that transforms our very understanding of life and death and shows the power great music has to truly change us. We look forward to sharing all of this month’s masterpieces with you. Enjoy the concert.
March 2011
•••
•••
•••
•••
•••
Notes..................................
Program
by Carl Cunningham
•
••
DANZAS FANTÁSTICAS, OPUS 22 Joaquín Turina
••
Born: Dec 9, 1882, Seville, Spain Died: Jan 14, 1949, Madrid, Spain
••
Fidelity Investments Classical Series
•••
Recording: Enrique Bátiz conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Regis)
•••
•••
Friday, March 4, 2011 8 pm Saturday, March 5, 2011 8 pm Sunday, March 6, 2011 2:30 pm Jones Hall
•••
Instrumentation: three flutes (one doubling piccolo), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings
••••
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody
Except for his guitar music and a couple of orchestral works, Joaquin Turina may be the least performed among Spain’s post–romantic composers. But his relative obscurity is certainly not in keeping with the vigor and high quality of his music. Music became an important part of Turina’s life from early childhood, and as a young adult, he turned aside parental plans for a medical career to devote his energy to music. After achieving recognition as a pianist and composer in his native Seville, he unsuccessfully sought to produce musical theater works on opera and zarzuela stages in Madrid. In 1905, Turina traveled to Paris, gravitating between groups of composers who supported the traditional principles of César Franck or the newer style of Claude Debussy. Manuel de Falla became an important friend, and both composers returned to Madrid where Turina built a major career despite dictator Francisco Franco’s rise and political disapproval of his career and family. Turina composed Danzas fantásticas in 1920; the score exists in versions for orchestra and solo piano. Inspired by the novel, La orgía, by the prolific Seville-born novelist, José Más (a Turina contemporary), each movement is prefaced by a quotation from the novel. The first movement, an Aragonese jota, bears the quotation: “It seemed as though the shapes of some incomparable picture moved within the calyx of a flower.” Titled “Exultation,” the movement opens with a brief, mysterious introduction, and then launches into a series of vigorous Spanish dance melodies, changing pace as they proceed. The slow second movement, “Dream,” is prefaced by an abject quotation: “When the strings of the guitar were struck, they were like laments from a soul that could no longer stand the weight of sorrow.” Unlike the outer movements, this lightly scored, free-form processional blends Andalusian melodies and Basque rhythms. The closing “Orgy,” which takes its title from the Más novel, is a farruca of unrelent-
•••••
*Juanjo Mena, conductor *Gabriela Montero, piano
•••••••
Turina Danzas fantásticas, Opus 22 I Exaltación: Lento—Vivo II Ensueño: Cadencia ad libitum—Moderato III Orgía: Allegretto mosso quasi allegro Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Opus 43
••••••••••••••••••
Rachmaninoff
Work composed: 1920
INTERMISSION Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550 I Molto Allegro II Andante III Menuetto and Trio: Allegretto IV Allegro assai
*Houston Symphony debut
•••• • • • • •
•
•• • • • •
Saturday’s concert is generously sponsored by Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. Juanjo Mena’s performances are generously sponsored by The Kathleen Cullen Burton Guest Conductor Series, supported by a generous gift from The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts. The printed music for Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor was donated by Mr. Maurice Aresty.
• •• • • •
Prelude is sponsored by Fluor. The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.
•
••
•••
•••
•••
10 www.houstonsymphony.org
•• •
These concerts are being recorded for future broadcast on KUHF 88.7 FM, the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony and Classical Season media sponsor.
•• • • •
The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Naxos. Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.
•
.......................................... ing brilliance. It carries the quotation: “The perfume of flowers blends with the aroma of chamomile, and the bloom of tall chalices brimming with incomparable wine. Exhilaration rises up from this, like incense.” Turina’s mastery of the orchestral medium is evident throughout all three dances. Special notice should be taken of his extensive use of the woodwind instruments, lending a bright lacquer to the tone of the orchestra. RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF PAGANINI, OPUS 43 Sergei Rachmaninoff Born: Apr 1, 1873, Semyonovo, Russia Died: Mar 28, 1943, Beverly Hills, California Work composed: 1934 Recording: Pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, with André Previn conducting the London Symphony (Universal) Instrumentation: piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings Although Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Second and Third piano concertos have achieved immense popularity, his final piano-orchestral work, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, has probably eclipsed them as a favorite with concert audiences. This set of 24 variations is based on the 24th Caprice for Solo Violin by legendary violinist-composer Nicolò Paganini. And as in numerous other works by Rachmaninoff, the spectral “Dies Irae” plainchant from the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead joins Paganini’s theme, beginning with Variation VII. Rachmaninoff composed the work in seven weeks during the summer of 1934, while living in a recently-completed villa he had built on the shores of Lake Lucerne. While the music is cast as a theme and variations, its large outline resembles the fast-slow-fast design of a three-movement concerto. While each variation becomes progressively more elaborate, Rachmaninoff built other piano-concerto traits into the work. The central section, Variations XII-XVIII, forms a lyrical slow movement and Variation XI is the first of three solo cadenzas. Two other cadenzas occur in Variation XV (during the slow movement) and Variations XXII-XXIII (the finale). The tonal plan of the work conforms to that of a concerto. Rachmaninoff biographer Barrie Martyn tells several interesting tales about the work. One of the best concerns a perilous leap to a high note Rachmaninoff kept missing while practicing the piece before its premiere. At a dinner party one night, fellow pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch persuaded Rachmaninoff to drink a shot glass of crème de menthe and then try March 2011 11
Notes continued.............................................................. to make the leap. He succeeded—and thereafter downed one just before he went onstage for every performance of the work! SYMPHONY NO. 40 IN G MINOR, K.550 Wolfgang Amadè Mozart Born: Jan 27, 1756, Salzburg, Austria
Recording: John Nelson conducting the Paris Orchestral Ensemble (Naïve) Instrumentation: flute, pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns and strings More has been written about Mozart’s last three symphonies—and especially the G minor Symphony—than any of his other works in that form. While much of this prose centers upon the individuality and magnificence of these works, there is also much discussion about why they were composed, since whether Mozart ever heard them performed remains a mystery. As scholar Neal Zaslaw notes, Mozart’s music is full of wonderful idealism, but he did not write music solely to express idealistic goals; he wrote to earn money, pay rent and put food on the table. For all their posthumous fame, there is no documented performance of any of these three symphonies during Mozart’s lifetime. In June 1788, about a month before the work was completed, Mozart wrote about a series of concerts he planned to give, but there is no record that the concerts ever took place. There has been much speculation that at least one of the last three symphonies was performed on one of two German tours Mozart made during 1789 and 1790, or even in Vienna as late as April 1791, eight months before his death. Zaslaw notes that manuscript orchestral parts of the G minor Symphony, “which may date from Mozart’s lifetime,” can be found in several libraries and monasteries throughout Germany and the Austrian empire. Mozart scholar H. C. Robbins Landon takes note of a quote that “a new large symphony by Mozart” opened the aforementioned 1791 concert in Vienna, ironically conducted by Mozart’s longtime rival, Antonio Salieri. The fact that Mozart revised the G minor Symphony, adding clarinets and re-writing the oboe parts, further suggests that it must have been performed, but an actual confirmation has not surfaced. The symphony is famous for its minor-key tonality, being one of only three such works in the Mozart symphonic repertoire. It is also noted for the sad, sighing shape of its opening theme and the expressive chromaticism of its secondary theme. The slow movement rises from a mood of Mozartean serenity to strong dramatic moments at its center, and the stern 12 www.houstonsymphony.org
Juanjo Mena, conductor
Recently appointed chief conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena is also principal guest conductor of Norway’s Bergen Philharmonic and chief guest conductor at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. Following his North American debut with the Baltimore Symphony (2004), he has been re-engaged every year since. Other recent and upcoming debuts include the Atlanta, Cincinnati, Colorado, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Oregon symphonies, and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Internationally, Mena has appeared with the BBC, Bucharest and Oslo philharmonics, the Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestre National de France, Orquesta Sinfônica de São Paulo, RAI/Torino, RSO/Berlin, RTVE/Madrid and the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, among others. Future engagements include the Danish Radio, New Zealand and Prague symphonies; the Dresden and Netherlands Radio philharmonics; the Orchestre National de Lyon and Real Filharmonía de Galicia. Festival appearances include Grant Park, La Folle Journée, White Nights Festival and numerous others with the Bilbao Symphony. Also active in opera, Mena has led productions of Eugene Onegin, Le Nozze di Figaro, Salome, Elektra, Ariadne auf Naxos and Bluebeard’s Castle, among others. He conducts Tristan und Isolde (Bilbao) later this year. He has recorded a complete collection of Basque symphonic music with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra (Naxos); a CD of works by Gabriel Pierné with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will soon be released (Chandos). Born in Vitoria, Mena began his musical training at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Conservatory. He studied composition and orchestration with Carmelo Bernaola and conducting with Enrique Garcia-Asensio at the Royal Higher Conservatory of Music in Madrid, where he
© Sussie ahlburg
Work composed: 1788
Biographies. ...............
Mena
Died: Dec 5, 1791, Vienna, Austria
Minuet is memorable for its syncopated rhythm and rigorous contrapuntal texture. Only in the Trio section does the mood turn unexpectedly sunny. The symphony’s darker implications return in its boiling finale. ©2011, Carl R. Cunningham
.......................................... received the Prize of Honor. Awarded a GuridiBernaolo Scholarship, he studied conducting in Munich with Sergiu Celibidache. Mena was awarded the Ojo Critico Prize by Radio Nacional de España (2002) in recognition of his career and dedication to contemporary music. © colin bell
Montero Gabriela Montero, piano
Gabriela Montero’s visionary interpretations and unique improvisational gifts have won her a quickly expanding audience and devoted following around the world. Today, in both recital and concerto performances, Montero often invites her audience to participate by asking members to provide a melody for her improvisations. Montero gave her first public performance at age 5 in her native Caracas, Venezuela. At 8, she made her concerto debut with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, and was granted a scholarship to study in the United States. Previous engagements include acclaimed performances with the New York, Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl) and Rotterdam philharmonics; the San Francisco and Pittsburgh symphonies; Philharmonia Orchestra; the Koln Philharmonie and WDR Sinfonieorchestre Koln. In recital, she has appeared in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dresden, Hamburg, and at the Klavier Festival Ruhr, Salzburg Festival, Tonhalle Dusseldorf, Istanbul International Festival, Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Harris Theater, Ravinia Festival, National Arts Centre Ottawa, Orchard Hall Tokyo and the Progetto Martha Argerich Festival (Lugano) where she is invited annually. This weekend’s performances mark her Houston Symphony debut. Montero’s first release consisted of one disc of music by Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt, and a second of her deeply felt and technically brilliant improvisations for EMI/Angel. Her EMI CD, Bach and Beyond, is a complete disc of improvisations on themes by Bach which topped the charts for several months. Her 2008 recording of improvisations, Baroque—released by EMI to great critical acclaim—received fivestar reviews from BBC Music Magazine and Classic FM. Her most recent recording, Solatino (released by EMI Classics), includes works by six Latin American composers, including Alberto Ginastera’s Piano Sonata No. 1 and her own improvisations on Latin themes. March 2011 13
•••
•••
•••
•
••
••
••
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pops at Jones Hall
•••
•••
Friday, March 18, 2011 8 pm Saturday, March 19, 2011 8 pm Sunday, March 20, 2011 7:30 pm Jones Hall
Photo by michael tammaro
•••
Biography...................
Program
Krajewski
•••
•••
•••
Pops Knockouts
Michael Krajewski, conductor
Much in demand across the United States and Canada, Michael Krajewski delights concertgoers with his imaginative, entertaining programs and wry sense of humor. Audiences leave his concerts smiling, remembering the evening’s music and surprises. Maestro Krajewski joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Pops Conductor at the beginning of the 2000-01 season. His fans especially enjoy his Star-Spangled Salute at Miller Outdoor Theatre and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and the Houston holiday tradition, Very Merry Pops. He also serves as principal pops conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra. He was recently promoted to Principal Pops Conductor for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra —the first in Atlanta! He previously held principal pops conductor positions with the Long Beach and New Mexico Symphonies. As a guest conductor, he has performed with the Boston Pops and the Hollywood Bowl orchestras, and has appeared with symphonies across the U.S., including those of Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Francisco and more. In Canada, he has led Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, as well as the Edmonton and Winnipeg symphonies. Krajewski has performed with an eclectic group of artists including Sir James Galway, Marilyn Horne, Alicia de Larrocha, Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Al Hirt, Cab Calloway, The Kingston Trio, Ben E. King, Mary Wilson, Patti Austin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Canadian Brass and Pink Martini. With degrees from Wayne State University and the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, Krajewski furthered his training at the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Conductors. He was a Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony and later served as that orchestra’s assistant conductor. Michael Krajewski lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Darcy. When not conducting, he enjoys travel, photography, jogging, bicycling and solving The New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle.
••••
Michael Krajewski, conductor Houston Symphony Chorus Charles Hausmann, director
•••••
•••••••
Offenbach/C. Binder Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld: Can-Can Suppé Overture to Die leichte Kavallerie (The Light Cavalry) Vaughan Williams/ Fantasia on Greensleeves from Sir John in Love R. Greaves Tchaikovsky Suite from The Nutcracker, Opus 71a III Valse des fleurs: Tempo di Valse Pachelbel/H. May Canon in D J. S. Bach/L. Norris Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 (Little) for Brass Quintet and and Orchestra Rossini Overture to William Tell: Allegro vivace
Presenting Sponsor
•
The printed music for Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker was donated by Tim and Katherine Pownell.
The printed music for Tchaivosky’s 1812 Overture was donated by Mr. Gary L. Clark.
•• • • •
Appearances by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski are generously sponsored by Cameron Management. Saturday’s concert is generously sponsored by SPIR STAR.
•• •
•
The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Naxos. Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.
••
•••
•••
•••
14 www.houstonsymphony.org
•• • • •
The printed music for Steffe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Jens Pederson.
•
The printed music for Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Peter H. Masson.
•• • • • •
The printed music for Orff’s Camina Burana was donated by Ms. Kelly Reynolds in memory of her grandparents, Fisher and Hazel Reynolds, Rosa Brand, Roy Callaway, Rubin Brand, Miles and Elaine Strickland, and Ms. Melanie S. Wiggins.
The printed music for Williams’ The Phantom Menace was donated by Mr. Raymond Oshman.
•••• • • • • •
Orff Carmina burana 1 O Fortuna: Pesante Borodin/Rimsky- Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor Korsakov 17 Polovtsian Dance with Chorus: Andantino—Allegro vivo J. Williams Suite from The Phantom Menace 4 Duel of the Fates: Maestoso—Allegro deciso J. Bock/Williams Excerpts from Fiddler On the Roof W. Steffe/ The Battle Hymn of the Republic P. J. Wilhousky Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture, Opus 49
••••••••••••••••••
INTERMISSION
•
•••
•••
•••
•••
•••
Notes..................................
Program
by Carl Cunningham
•
Richard Strauss
••
Born: Jun 11, 1864, Munich Germany
••
Died: Sep 8, 1949, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
••
Fidelity Investments Classical Series
•••
•••
•••
Thursday, March 24, 2011 8 pm Saturday, March 26, 2011 8 pm Sunday, March 27, 2011 2:30 pm Jones Hall
•••
••••
Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote
•••••
Hans Graf, conductor Erin Wall, soprano Wayne Brooks, viola Brinton Averil Smith, cello
DON JUAN, OPUS 20 Work composed: 1888-89
•••••••
R. Strauss
Recording: Daniel Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony (Erato)
Don Juan, Opus 20
R. Strauss Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) I Frühling: Allegretto II September: Andante III Bein Schlafengehen: Andante IV Im Abendrot: Andante
••••••••••••••••••
Instrumentation: three flutes (one doubling piccolo), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings
INTERMISSION R. Strauss
While Richard Strauss’ career extended through the first half of the 20th century, the progressive aspects of his style reached their peak in his early music, especially the three operas, Salome (1903), Elektra (1911) and The Woman without a Shadow (1916-20). From then on, most of his music took a reflective glance at the bygone glories of the post-romantic era. This program surveys his musical style before and after its peak, exhibiting modernistic touches amid his traditional tendencies.
Don Quixote, Opus 35
Special thanks to Dr. Eduardo Urbina, The Cervantes Project and Texas A&M University Libraries for the images that accompany Strauss’ Don Quixote. Total Gold Classics
•••• • • • • •
The 10 tone poems of Richard Strauss extend over nearly a 60-year period, tracing his compositional development from the daredevil style of his youth to the deep philosophical reflection of his last years. Don Juan, the second of these descriptive orchestral essays, definitely belongs to the former category. In fact, its boldness and technical virtuosity won Strauss his spurs as an orchestral composer. Unlike Tirso de Molina’s 16th-century play, El burlador de Sevilla, which is the ultimate source of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Strauss took his character from a more sympathetic treatment of the womanizing Spanish nobleman, written by Austrian poet Nikolaus Lenau in the mid 19th-century. In the Lenau/Strauss version, Don Juan’s amorous forays are seen as a constant but fruitless search for the ideal woman. Instead of being dragged down to Hell at the end by the awesome stone cemetery monument to the Commander he accidentally killed, Don Juan allows himself to be run through in a duel with the commander’s son. Like other Strauss tone poems, the 18minute work is set in a large sonata movement, although its alternation of vigorous swashbuckling episodes and lyrical interludes in the central development section suggests a hybrid structure including elements of rondo form. The opening theme associated with Don Juan is marked by a dashing virtuosity that seems to toss technical challenges to the winds. Later on, a slower horn theme establishes his
Hans Graf’s biography appears on page 4. Thursday evening’s performance is generously sponsored by The Methodist Hospital System. The weekend’s concerts are generously sponsored by United Airlines.
•
The printed music for Strauss’ Don Juan was donated by Drs. Paul and Gretchen Darlington in honor of Dave Kirk. The scores for Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) were donated by Mr. Antonio Inserni.
•
•• • • •
The printed music for Strauss’ Don Quixote was donated by Ms. Marie Casamayor in memory of Mack Patrick Casamayor, Mr. and Mrs. Carr Dishroon, Joyce and David Fox, Mr. and Mrs. John Gardner, Mr. Robert Jobe, Mrs. Sandy Leach, Ms. Michelle Poe, Mr. Dick Rahn, Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Speir, Mrs. Colleen Gold and Ms. Sharon Messa.
•• • • • •
The SoundPlusVision series is sponsored by The Alkek & Williams Foundation and supported in part by an endowed fund from The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Fund for Creative Initiatives.
•• • • •
Prelude is sponsored by Fluor.
The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.
•• •
The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Naxos. Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.
••
•••
•••
•••
16 www.houstonsymphony.org
•
These concerts are being recorded for future broadcast on KUHF 88.7 FM, the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony and the Classical Season media sponsor.
•
.................................................................................................................... magnificent nobility. The lyrical second theme describing his first affair begins gently enough, but rises to a level of passion that indicates his first enounter resulted in a conquest. Dalliances with other women are implied in several lyrical interludes preceding the full return of the main theme in the recapitulation. Don Juan’s stabbing and death are depicted in a short tragic codetta, unlike the extended orchestral apotheoses that conclude most of Strauss’ symphonic poems. VIER LETZTE LIEDER (FOUR LAST SONGS) Work composed: 1948
trio of Der Rosenkavalier, plus hints of the sleep motive from Ariadne auf Naxos later in the piece, according to Strauss song scholar Alan Jefferson. An overt quotation of the horn’s transfiguration motive from Death and Transfiguration at the very end of “Im Abendrot” is the most prominent of Strauss’ backward glances in the Four Last Songs. In contrast to the preceding song, the full orchestra bursts forth in its introductory measures, and returns with the same fullness of sound at various interludes and at the end. Though there is an almost trudging character to the slow-paced vocal line, the
singer and orchestra express a glowing sense of hope fulfilled as they glimpse the ray of light at the end of life’s tunnel and wonder expectantly, “Can this be death?” DON QUIXOTE, OPUS 35 Work composed: 1897 Recording: Daniel Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony (Erato) Instrumentation: piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets (one doubling E-flat clarinet), bass clarinet, three bassoons, contrabasContinued on page 19
Recording: Soprano Renée Fleming, with Christoph Eschenbach conducting the Houston Symphony (RCA Victor) Instrumentation: three flutes (one doubling piccolo), piccolo, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, three bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon), four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, harp, celesta and strings Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs were the last works he completed shortly before his death. Joseph von Eichendorff’s poem, “Im Abendrot” (“In the evening glow”), was actually the first song he wrote on May 6, 1948. He then sought other poems to complete a cycle and selected four texts by Hermann Hesse, three of which he set during the remainder of that summer and fall. Although the rich sound of the orchestral accompaniment confirms the vitality of Strauss’ creative powers at the end of his life, the tone of these songs betrays a worldweary state of mind. Rather than rejoicing in the renewal of spring, the cavern-bound poet seems to marvel that he has survived to witness green shoots struggle upward through earth’s frozen crust one more time. The thrill of life renewed is expressed in a triumphant climax on a B-natural (the highest note in the cycle), as the singer exults in “a miracle before me” (“ein Wunder vor mir”). But in “September,” a spirit of resignation begins to overwhelm the fading joys of summer, just as roses bloom one last time amid yellowing leaves and chilling raindrops. The melodic line lies lower and often droops at the ends of phrases, seldom perching atop the musical staff. Strauss creates a sudden wavering melody as the soprano sings of Hesse’s summer shuddering to a quiet close. Notwithstanding the sudden addition of the somber trombones and tuba to the orchestra, a sense of escape from the world’s cares through childlike dreams pervades the rather lightly scored “Bein Schlafengehen.” The song’s airy vocal profile is seconded by the addition of a celesta and a sweet violin solo, echoing thematic motives from the third-act March 2011 17
Upcoming Performances.................................................................................. Scheherazade
April 8, 9, 10, 2011 Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor Aralee Dorough, flute Mozart: Serenade No. 6 in D major, K.239 (Serenatta notturna) Mozart: Flute Concerto No. 2 in D major, K.314 Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade Relive the exotic legend of the young entrancing temptress, Scheherazade, and her tales told over 1,001 nights.
Fidelity Investments Classical Series
Shell Favorite Masters
Tickets: from $25
Mendelssohn’s Scottish Plus Josefowicz
April 14, 16, 17, 2011 Kirill Karabits, conductor Leila Josefowicz, violin V. Silvestrov: Elegy Sibelius: Violin Concerto Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) Mendelssohn’s travels to Scotland inspired this dramatic symphony which ranges from hushed to majestic. Tickets: from $25
The Music of Led Zeppelin: A Rock Symphony
Fidelity Investments Classical Series
TOTAL Gold Classics
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pops at Jones Hall
April 15, 2011 at 7:30 Brent Havens, conductor Randy Jackson of Zebra, lead vocals Following the success of a sold-out performance in Summer 2007, the Houston Symphony now takes you back to experience the music of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. With songs from the chart-topping catalogue of Led Zeppelin, this show combines the power of an orchestra and a full rock band enhanced with dramatic lighting effects. Tickets: from $25
Tony Bennett
April 26, 2011 at 7:30 “If one man can lay claim to the great American songbook, it is Tony Bennett....They don’t make them like that anymore.” - The Daily Telegraph A true American icon in every sense of the word, Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums chart from the ’50s to the ’90s, and into the new millennium. His golden voice has created memories and touched our hearts with songs like “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Because of You” and “The Shadow of Your Smile.” Now hear him LIVE with the Houston Symphony for this one-night-only concert. Tickets: from $39
Order Today!
houstonsymphony.org (713) 224-7575
Form a Group! Share Memories. Save Money. Buy 10 or more tickets - Call (713) 238-1435.
Thank you to our media partners: Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony
18 www.houstonsymphony.org
Exclusive Digital Media Partner
Exclusive Print Media Sponsor, YPB
Exclusive Media Sponsor, Events
Notes continued from page 17.......................................... soon, six horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tenor tuba, bass tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings
The Cervantes Project The Cervantes Project is a research initiative dedicated to the development of a comprehensive digital archive based on the works of Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), with a particular focus on the study of Don Quixote de la Mancha. Cervantes’ work is the cornerstone of Hispanic letters and one of the world’s most influential authors. In partnership with the Center for the Study of Digital Libraries and the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives—a division of the Texas A&M University Libraries—our goal is to create an online repository of textual, documentary, bibliographic and visual electronic resources to serve the needs of students and scholars interested in Cervantes’ life, times and work (cervantes.tamu.edu).
Biographies. ...............
Wall
Several of Strauss’ descriptive symphonic poems are important character studies which he adapted to different formal plans. Till Eulenspiegel is an orchestral rondo, while Ein Heldenleben and Don Juan are sonata movements. Don Quixote is even more complex in its design, combining a set of variations with elements of a concerto—in this instance a concerto involving solo cello and viola. Strauss ranged far and wide over the 126 chapters of Cervantes’ two-part novel about the old Spanish nobleman who becomes so obsessed with ancient tales of knightly deeds that he leads his squire on a series of chivalrous misadventures. The extended introduction, 10 variations and coda make up individual episodes in the work, and include some of the most colorful and imaginative orchestral writing in his entire compositional career. Thematic ideas depict Quixote reading about the deeds of ancient knights and fantasizing an idealized love for Dulcinea del Toloso in the orchestral introduction. All of these fantasies come to a climax in a huge contrapuntal episode, leading to the entry of the solo cello reiterating Quixote’s main theme. The bass clarinet, tenor tuba and solo viola then take up Sancho Panza’s themes. Variation I combines the themes of Quixote, Sancho and Dulcinea, as the knight sallies forth to battle some “giants,” which turn out to be windmills that toss him high in the air. He charges forth even more boldly in Variation II to vanquish an imaginary army—in reality, a herd of sheep. Strauss ingeniously imitates their bleating in an interlude of highly dissonant pulsating chords in the violas, muted horns and trumpets. Variation III features a major solo for the violist, peppering the exasperated Quixote with Sancho Panza’s questions and comments. In Variation IV, he mistakenly tangles with a procession of religious penitents, only to be knocked off his horse, and in Variation V, he keeps watch over his shining armor, set to a brief flourish from the harp and two solo violins. A saucy dance tune in the oboes (Variation VI) introduces the rough tavern girl he mistakes for his long-sought Dulcinea. Variation VII employs a whooshing wind machine as Quixote imagines himself on a wild ride through the air. Then, a series of running passages through the orchestra depict a boat ride in which he is eventually dunked and dragged ashore. In Variation IX, he scatters a couple of Benedictine monks (represented by two solo bassoons), thinking they are bad men carrying off a damsel in distress. In Variation X, Quixote is brought to his
senses by a concerned neighbor, who bests him in a jousting match, thus convincing him to return home where the old knight passes away in a poignant mellow coda to the entire work. ©2011, Carl R. Cunningham
Erin Wall, soprano
Soprano Erin Wall has appeared with the San Francisco, London, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver and Nashville symphonies, and the Orchestre de Paris, among others. Her concert engagements this season include: Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 (Edinburgh Festival) under Donald Runnicles, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons, the Orchestre National de France under Daniele Gatti and on tour with the NDR Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Hamburg and Hannover under Christoph Eschenbach. Further concerts include Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock (National Arts Centre Orchestra), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Nashville Symphony), Schubert’s Mass No. 6 (San Diego Symphony) and a recital with the Aldeburgh Connection in Toronto. Continued on page 22
March 2011 19
•••
•••
•••
•••
•••
Notes..................................
Program
by Carl Cunningham
•
••
OVERTURE TO MASKARADE Carl Nielsen
••
Born: Jun 9, 1865, Sortelung near Nørre Lyndelse, Denmark
••
Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert
•••
•••
•••
Though Danish composer Carl Nielsen is far more famous for his six symphonies than his two operas, his romantic comedy, Maskarade (Masquerade Ball) is a joyously melodic stage work that merits far wider exposure than it has attained on the world’s opera stages. The lighthearted opera is based on a nationally popular play by leading 18th-century Danish playwright Ludvig Holberg. The plot concerns the effort of young Leander to avoid the marriage his father has arranged to an unknown woman, because he has just met the girl of his dreams at last night’s masquerade ball. But when the masks are taken off at the following evening’s masquerade, that girl turns out to be the same one his father chose for him. The brief overture opens with the frothy music from the third-act masked-ball scene. It continues with two other themes not employed in the opera—a more delicate, lightly-scored theme and a bold, brassy fugal section that eventually incorporates the opening ball theme in an exuberant potpourri.
•••••
•••••••
••••••••••••••••••
Lalo Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 21 I Allegro non troppo II Scherzando: Allegro molto III Intermezzo: Allegretto non troppo IV Andante V Rondo: Allegro HOUSTON SYMPHONY
INTERMISSION Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 73 I Allegro non troppo II Adagio non troppo III Allegretto grazioso (Quasi andantino) IV Allegro con spirito
••••
Overture to Maskarade
Instrumentation: three flutes (one doubling piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings
•••
Robert Franz, conductor *Adam Wu, violin; Gold Medalist, 2010 Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition Houston Youth Symphony Michael Webster, music director
Work composed: 1906
Recording: Thomas Dausgaard conducting the Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Da Capo)
Thursday, March 31, 2011 7:30 pm Jones Hall
Nielsen
Died: Oct 3, 1931, Copenhagen, Denmark
COMBINED ORCHESTRAS
•••• • • • • •
SYMPHONIE ESPAGNOLE FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA, OPUS 21 Éduard Lalo
*Houston Symphony debut
Born: Jan 27, 1823, Lille, France
•
Died: Apr 22, 1892, Paris, France
•• • • • •
Work composed: 1877 Recording: Violinist Joshua Bell, with Charles Dutoit conducting the Montreal Symphony (Decca)
The printed music for Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D major was donated by Patricia L. Casey.
•• •
•
••
This concert is being recorded for future broadcast on KUHF 88.7 FM, the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony and Classical Season media sponsor.
•••
•••
•••
20 www.houstonsymphony.org
•• • • •
This evening’s presentation of The Jacob L. and Sophia Meyer Farb School Bell Award is sponsored by the Farb Family Endowment Fund. The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Naxos. Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.
Instrumentation: piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, percussion, harp and strings
•• • • •
To honor the work of an administrator active in encouraging music education in schools, the Spec’s Charitable Foundation Award for Excellence in Music Education will be presented this evening.
•
Tonight we honor the dedicated men and women who work in the schools of the greater Houston area for their devotion and the crucial difference they make in the lives of young people.
Along with the late 19th-century nationalistic movement that furthered the careers of Borodin and Mussorgsky, Grieg, Smetana, Dvorˇák, Albéniz and Granados in countries surrounding Western Europe, there was increased interest, especially among French composers, in the
•
.................................................................................................................... rative solo writing dominate the somber fourth movement, which becomes the most intense, dramatic moment in the concerto. Its severity is thrown to the winds in the concluding rondo, where zestful Spanish rhythms and Lalo’s brilliant orchestration are enhanced by silvery harmonics and virtuoso effects on the violin. In this finale, a tambourine, triangle and harp are added to the standard symphonic ensemble. SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN D MAJOR, OPUS 73 Johannes Brahms Born: May 7, 1833, Hamburg, Germany Died: Apr 3, 1897, Vienna, Austria Work composed: 1877 Recording: Christoph Eschenbach conducting the Houston Symphony (Virgin Classics) Instrumentation: pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani and strings In 1876, Johannes Brahms won his 21-year struggle to complete his First Symphony. Suddenly, he entered into the most productive period of his career, producing three more symphonies, three concertos, two major overtures and numerous keyboard, vocal, choral and chamber music masterworks over the next decade. The Second Symphony was the first major orchestral work to appear, and it was completed the very next year. While this D major symphony is obviously the work of the very same Brahms, its relaxed, genial character is sometimes as different from the frowning C minor symphony as day is from night. It was composed in the sunny rural environment of Pörtschach, a remote lakeside village in the Carinthian Alps of Southern Austria. Biographer Karl Geiringer has recorded a characteristic quote on the symphony by Brahms’ close friend, the surgeon and amateur pianist Theodor Billroth: “It is all rippling streams, blue sky, sunshine, and cool green shadows. How beautiful it must be at Pörtschach!” Billroth’s comment is especially applicable to the easy, rocking themes that dominate the exposition of the first movement and to the gentle Austrian minuet that makes up the third movement. Though the first movement builds up a typical Brahmsian storm in its central development section and its lengthy coda, the themes set forth at the beginning of the movement are mostly lyrical and untroubled. But even here, Brahms’ stylistic fingerprints are readily apparent in a motivic imitation that shadows the opening horn theme and in the long, spun-out character of a subsidiary violin theme that soon follows. In his contrapuntal wizardry, Brahms combines the two themes when they return at the beginning of the recapitulation.
If sunlight is obscured by clouds anywhere in the symphony, it is in the beautiful but plaintive slow movement, which opens with one of Brahms’ heartfelt cello themes. Gorgeous touches of his unique orchestration abound in this large sonatina movement, along with the elusive harmonic colors provided by his use of chromatic tones. The third movement is the gentlest of minuets, interspersed with two trios. Each of its various sections becomes a variant of what came before and contrast is achieved by sudden changes in the metric pulse. The extroverted finale makes an oblique reference to the symphony’s two opening themes, then builds climax upon climax in a giant movement that concludes in a brassy display that invariably brings cheering audiences to their feet. ©2011, Carl R. Cunningham
Biographies. ...............
Franz
exotic folk and popular music of foreign lands. This fascination focused primarily upon the music of neighboring Spain and produced such masterpieces as Bizet’s Carmen, Chabrier’s España Rhapsody and Debussy’s Ibéria. Éduard Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole should be firmly counted among these Spanish-oriented masterpieces. The composer himself was of Spanish descent, though he was immersed in French culture because his ancestors had lived in Flanders and northern France for three centuries. Like many famous composers, Lalo had to defy his father, a former soldier in Napoleon’s army, to pursue a musical career. He struck out on his own at age 16 for studies at the Paris Conservatory. After that, he found the road to success long and hard, in part because of a general lack of appeal among French audiences for the Viennese string quartet literature he promoted as a violinist, and early symphonic works he composed and apparently destroyed later. Lalo’s friendship with Spanish violinist Pablo de Sarasate finally brought him recognition with Sarasate’s premiere of his First Violin Concerto in 1874. Within a year, its popularity was supplanted when Sarasate played the Symphonie espagnole for the first time. Interestingly, its premiere on February 5, 1875, was followed in less than a month by the premiere of Bizet’s Carmen. Although Lalo’s catalog includes other significant orchestral, operatic, chamber music and vocal works, this unusual, oddly-named violin concerto constitutes his main claim to fame. It is not a symphony at all; with five movements, it departs from the normal three- or four-movement plan of a concerto (the central Intermezzo was apparently added after the remaining movements had been completed). The first, second, fourth and fifth movements do conform to standard concerto forms: a sonata movement, a scherzo, a pensive slow movement and an exuberant closing rondo. The enduring charm of the concerto derives from three elements: the attractive melodies and Spanish rhythms Lalo used to flavor the music, his brilliant orchestration and the flashy virtuoso effects he called forth from the soloist. The opening sonata movement is dominated by a strong, almost martial main theme, with a lyrical second theme set in relief. The entrance melody of the second-movement Scherzando is generally regarded as being in the rhythm of a seguidilla. It is highlighted by light pizzicato effects in the strings, and a sharply pointed accompaniment in the winds and brass. The Intermezzo, a seductive habanera, features a solo line that ranges from the throatiest low tones to showy violin roulades, seemingly tossed in the air. Strong, starchy rhythms and highly deco-
Robert Franz, conductor
Since beginning his tenure as Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony in June 2008, Robert Franz has led a broad range of creative educational and family concerts and is emerging as one of the most talented conductors of his generation. With a vast knowledge of symphonic and operatic works, Franz has worked with today’s finest classical soloists, including Sir James Galway, Joshua Bell and Rachel Barton, and many popular artists such as Chris Botti, Chaka Kahn and Judy Collins. Franz holds the posts of music director of the Boise Philharmonic and music director emeritus of the Carolina Chamber Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as music director of the Mansfield Symphony (2003-2010), resident conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (2005-2009) and associate conductor of the Louisville Orchestra (1997-2006). Conducting opera, ballet and musical theater, he had appeared with the Asheville Lyric Opera, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Portland Symphony (ME), Idaho Ballet, South Bend Symphony and Idaho Falls Symphony this season.
March 2011 21
Biographies continued....... Houston Youth Symphony................................. A champion of new music, Franz has conducted numerous world premieres and works by living composers. the Louisville Orchestra’s ASCAP award-winning new music concert series and co-hosted In a Different Key, a weekly contemporary music radio program. As a nationally recognized leader of arts education, Franz has forged partnerships with leading arts organizations and educational institutions; he maintains a continuing relationship with Radio Disney®. He has received the ASCAP Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming twice and the BPO/ECMEA Music Educators Award for Excellence, created the Kentucky Educational Television’s Creating Music and Stories program, and participated in Children’s Center and Enrichment Center chamber music residencies that provide arts enrichment experiences for disabled persons. Franz received his masters degree in conducting and a bachelor’s in oboe performance from North Carolina School of the Arts. He has participated in conducting workshops in the Czech Republic, St. Petersburg (Russia) and Nashville, and was a participant in the 1997 National Conductor Preview (ASOL). Visit www. robertfranz.com.
Michael Webster, music director Violin I Carl Rogers, concertmaster Bradley Parrimore Teresa Lee Daniel Gibson Lilly Liu Lutong Serena Wang Laura Cásarez Colleen Chen Janet Yim Isabella Yap Thomas Sangjoon Yum Eric Kuo Zeming Wang Eva Littman
Wu
Violin II Dominique Hammons, principal Daniel Johnson Melissa Du Rebekah Kim Katrina M. Yap Nick Kim Felix Gamez Davis Kim Shu-Chi Chang Naomi Chao Dana Zhang Wilson G. Hui Beverly “Lilly” Fang Christina Mao Viola Ben Zannoni, principal Danielle Collado Bridget Kinneary John G. Grigsby III Jennifer Yang Nathan Huang
Adam Wu, violin
At 17, violinist Adam Wu already displays exceptional talent and promise. He has won top prizes in the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, resulting in tonight’s performance, the Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, the Kingsville International Competition and the Houston Civic Symphony Competition. Wu has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras. In 2009-2010, he made professional debuts with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Jaap Van Zweden), Xiamen Philharmonic (Xiaoying Zhen) and the Hu Nan Philharmonic. In addition to tonight’s debut, Wu makes his Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra debut this season. Born in Houston in 1993, Wu began learning violin from his violin-making father at age 4. He later studied with Henry Rubin and Fredell Lack in Houston, and Masao Kawasaki at The Juilliard School Pre-college. He is currently a student of prominent violinist, Emanuel Borok. 22 www.houstonsymphony.org
Jerry Lee May Lin Liew Yongjoo “Jennifer” Cho Cello Charles Seo, principal Andrew Shiau Simon Yu Trevor Rybicki Spencer Shen Brian Li Marissa Merritt Daniel Schultz Ray Fontenot Sarah Song Kieran Cassin Aitken Bass Jordan Addison, principal Ricky Lethridge Harrison Berwick Dustin Hoang James Douglass Kirk Adam Fernandez Joshua Riesenberg Flute Cesar Dominguez Sami Eudy*‡ Ashley Hunterº~ Millie Nishikawa Oboe Lindsay Laird Virginia T. McDowellº~ Michelle Nguyen*‡ Clarinet Leslie Collins Mike Gao Alex Perezº~ Jeremy Reynolds*‡
Bassoon Jordan Brokkenº~ Laetan Gaspard*‡ Lance Kelley Meridith Wright Horn Colin J. Lee Scott Leger*‡ Alyx Hendersonº~ Erica Long Hannah Wadley Trumpet Clay Casey Colleen Crossley Chris Stiles*‡ Paul Torrisiº~ Trombone Zachary Steeleº~ Conner M. Taylor*‡ Bass Trombone Andy Aronstam Tuba Brianna Compton*‡ Ben Malmerº~ Timpani Bradly Dombrosky~ Dino Georgeton* Massie Wingard‡ Winds, Brass And Percussion
Listed Alphabetically * Principal for movement I ‡ Principal for movement II º Principal for movement III ~ Principal for movement IV
Biographies continued from page 19................................. Current opera engagements include: the Countess in Nozze di Figaro and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Bavarian State Opera), Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lyric Opera of Chicago) and the title role in La Traviata (Vancouver Opera). She will also create the role of Cecilia in Bramwell Tovey’s new opera, The Inventor (Calgary Opera). Wall has recorded Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with Pierre Boulez and the Staatskapelle Berlin, released by Deutsche Grammophon.
Wayne Brooks, viola
Wayne Brooks has served as principal violist of the Houston Symphony since 1985. Born in Los Angeles, Brooks joined the orchestra in 1977 as associate principal violist after graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music. In addition to solo appearances with the
Houston Symphony, he has appeared in chamber music performances with Joseph Silverstein, Lynn Harrell, Yefim Bronfman, Garrick Ohlsson and Christoph Eschenbach. He has participated in in the Houston Symphony’s INNOVA chamber music series; in performances with Da Camera of Houston, Greenbriar Consortium, Mukuru “Arts for AIDS” Series; and in chamber music festivals in Craftsbury, Vermont and Lake City, Colorado. As violist of the Houston Symphony Chamber Players, he served on the faculty of Japan’s Pacific Music Festival, toured Japan (1993-1995) and Europe (1994, 1997) and recorded works of Webern and Berg. He has appeared at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival (1996, 1997). Brooks served as an associate professor of viola at Rice University’s Shepherd Continued on page 24
Houston Symphony Chorus.............................................................................. Photo by jeff fitlow
Hausmann Charles Hausmann, director
Dr. Charles S. Hausmann has led the Houston Symphony Chorus since 1986 and has prepared the group for more than 500 concerts and more than 40 acclaimed conductors, including Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, Claus Peter Flor and Robert Shaw. His extensive repertoire includes most of the major choral/orchestral masterworks. As director of choral studies and professor of conducting at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, Hausmann directs the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting and conducts the Moores School Choral Artists, a graduate chamber choir. He also serves as director of choral music at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. During the 2010-2011 season, Hausmann prepares the Chorus for Verdi’s Requiem, special concert with Andrea Bocelli, Very Merry Pops, Messiah and Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky.
Support the Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment The Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment was founded in 1997 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Chorus. Growing steadily over the years, it provides support for choral activities that enrich Houston’s musical life and enhance the high professional standards of the all-volunteer ensemble. Projects supported by the Chorus Endowment include the production of Voices of the Symphony, the Chorus’ a capella CD, and a performance of Mendelssohn’s great oratorio, St Paul. In coming seasons, the Chorus Endowment will help underwrite the Houston Symphony’s commission of an exciting new work for chorus and orchestra and support the performance of choral masterpieces that are not frequently heard. If you’re a Chorus member, alumnus or fan of choral music, we invite you to join this year’s Chorus Endowment campaign. For more on how you can help ensure the artistic future of the Chorus, call the Symphony’s Development office at (713) 337-8528 or visit hschorus.org.
Charles Hausmann, Director Paulo Gomes Assistant Director
Susan Scarrow Chorus Manager
Scott Holshouser Accompanist
Tony Sessions Librarian
First Soprano Ramona Alms Alice Beckstrom Robyn Branning Kayle Burggrat Sarah Damaske Monica M. Davis Kathleen Forbes Clarice Gatlin Marta Giles Becky Hamilton Amanda Harris Sarah Keifer Youngjee Kim Veronica Lorine * • Pamela Magnuson Sarah Michels Lydia Musher Theresa Olin Megan Owen Karen Rennar Wendy Ridings Rhonda Ryan Jennifer Klein Salyer Heidi Sanders Beth Slaughter Deborah Spencer Lisa Trewin Tania Van Dongen Ramona WaltersStewart Beth Anne Weidler Megan Welch Jessica L. Williams
First Alto Krista Borstell Jami Bruns Patricia Bumpus Barbara Bush Thea Chapman Nancy Christopherson Robin Clarkson Christine Economides Mary Gahr Susan Hall Judy Hill Kristin Hurter Berma Kinsey Joyce Lewis * • Mary Lopushansky Ashley Maack Heather Maclaughlin Garbes Lisa Morfin Cynthia Mulder Thao Pham Jennifer L. Phan Linda Renner Linda Richardson Carolyn Rogan Holly Rubbo June Russell Maria Schoen Andrea Slack Vicki Westbrook Patsy Wilson Shelby Wilson
First Tenor Robert Browning James R. Carazola Patrick Drake Richard Field Timothy Foster Robert Gomez James Patrick Hanley Steven Hazel Donald Howie Francisco J. Izaguirre Frank Lopez Darrell Mayon * • Jim Moore Christopher M. Ortiz Peter Peropoulos Douglas Rodenberger David Schoen Tony Sessions Aaron Verber Adam White
Stephen M. James * • Jay Lopez Clemente Mathis William McCallum Chris Ming Matt Neufeld Kevin Newman Gary Scullin Stephen Shadle Thom Sloan Mark Standridge Sam Stengler Paul Van Dorn Joe Villarreal Kevin Wallace
Second Soprano Yoset Altamirano Lisa Anders Laura Bohlmann Nancy Bratic Anne Campbell Debby Cutler Vickie Davis Corita Dubose Karen Fess-Uecker Lorraine Hammond • Debbie Hannah • Megan Henry Sylvia Hysong Yukiko Iwata Natalia Kalitynska * • Amy Mobley • Carol Ostlind Linda Peters Susan Scarrow Vicki Seldon Paige Sommer Veronica A. Stevens Cecilia Sun Caryssa Treider • Nancy Vernau
Second Alto Melissa Bailey Adams Sarah Wilson Clark M. Evelyn Clift Rochella Cooper Andrea Creath Robin Dunn Holly Eaton Rachel El-Saleh Thi Ha Juli Herbert Nancy Hill Denise Holmes Catherine Howard Lois Howell Crystal Meadows • Lynne Moneypenny Nina Peropoulos Laurie Reynolds Holly Soehnge * • Mary Voigt Kaye Windel-Garza
Second Tenor * • Bob Alban Randy Boatright Harvey Bongers William Cole Paul Damaske Donn Dubois Jorge Fandino Mark Ferring Joseph Frybert John Grady Craig Hill Philip Lewis William L. Mize Dave Nussmann Greg Railsback Lesley C. Sommer Dewell Springer Jonathan Vaughan Tony Vazquez Leonardo Veletzuy Lee Williams First Bass Joe Anzaldua Greg Barra Justin Becker John Bond Bruce Boyle Christopher Burris Shawn Carnley Peter Christian Kevin Coleman II Steve Dukes Leigh Fernau Taylor Harper
Second Bass Steve Abercia * • Wilton T. Adams Bill Cheadle John Colson Roger Cutler Paul Ehrsam Tom Everage Chris Fair Ian Fetterley David M. Fox Yevgeny Genin Matt Henderson Terry Henderson George Howe Chuck Izzo Cletus Johnson Nobuhide Kobori • Ken Mathews Scott Mermelstein Clyde L. Miner Rob Morehead Greg Nelson Bill Parker John Proffitt • Robert Reynolds Daniel Robertson Rick Tegeler Richard White
* Section Leader • Council Member
A s of February 7, 2011
March 2011 23
Music Matters!. .................................................................................... Concerto Competition Names Winners The Houston Symphony held its 64th annual Concerto Competition at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music on January 8. The field of competitors, with 18 finalists, was narrowed to three winners: • 1st – Reshena Liao, violin; senior at St. John’s School; performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major • 2nd – Elijah Baik, cello; junior at Taylor High School; performed Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme • 3rd – Erik Wheeler, cello; junior at The High School for Performing and Visual Arts; performed Elgar’s Cello Concerto
^ The competition winners and judges; front row from left: Reshena Liao, Elijan Baik and Erik Wheeler; back row, from left: Robert Franz, Felicia Maye and Andrew Trechak
Gold medalist Reshena Liao was awarded $1000 and will perform with the Houston Symphony at next season’s Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert on January 26, 2012. Silver medalist Elijah Baik received $500 and will perform at the Houston Symphony League luncheon in May. Third place winner Erik Wheeler was awarded $250.
The contestants’ performances were judged by: • Felicia Moye – violin, Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition winner (1985); professor of violin, University of Wisconsin • Andrew Trechak – piano, Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition winner (1976); associate professor of piano, Wichita State University • Robert Franz – associate conductor, Houston Symphony Countless volunteers from the Houston Symphony League and the Houston Symphony League – Bay Area served as greeters, escorts, music runners, timekeepers and monitors. They also provided breakfast and lunch for the participants.
Biographies continued from page 22....................................................................... School of Music (1985—2001), teaching both solo and orchestral repertoire. His former students perform in the New World, Charlotte, Richmond and Detroit Symphonies; the Hong Kong Philharmonic; and the Chiara, Arianna and Borromeo quartets.
Brinton Averil Smith, cello
Houston Symphony principal cellist Brinton 24 www.houstonsymphony.org
Smith
Brooks In 1995, Brooks gave the Houston premiere of Alfred Schnittke’s Viola Concerto with Christoph Eschenbach. In 2001, he performed Frank Martin’s rarely heard Ballade for Viola and Orchestra with Larry Rachleff (Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra). Solo appearances with the Houston Symphony include Berlioz’ Harold in Italy, with Christoph Eschenbach, and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, with associate concertmaster Eric Halen.
Averil Smith has won rave reviews throughout the United States and in Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada and New Zealand. North American engagements have included collaborations with esteemed chamber ensembles; at the Marlboro, Brevard, Mainly Mozart, Texas and Aspen Music Festivals, among others; and concerti with orchestras in Detroit, San Diego, New Jersey, Fort Worth, San Jose, Las Vegas, Tucson and Phoenix.
His recordings of Miklos Rozsa’s Cello Concerto, Fauré’s Piano Trio and Après un Rêve, and the chamber music of Steven Gerber have received widespread critical acclaim and recognition by Gramophone Magazine, BBC Music Magazine, the American Record Guide and Strings Magazine. His performances have been broadcast on CBS Sunday Morning and on radio, including NPR’s Performance Today.
Before joining the Houston Symphony in 2005, Smith was a member of the New York Philharmonic and principal cellist of the San Diego and Fort Worth Symphony orchestras. He is a faculty member at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, and co-founder and artistic director of Restoration Chamber Music, a festival that pairs historic Galveston buildings with relevant classical concerts to benefit the island’s preservation efforts. Smith was a prize-winner in the Leonard Rose International Cello Competition, and in several consecutive Juilliard and Aspen Music Festival concerto competitions. He received the Melini Award for excellence in performance and was invited to perform at the American Cello Congress. The son of a mathematician and a pianist, Smith began his musical studies at age 5. At 10, he was admitted to Arizona State University and completed a B.A. in mathematics at 17. Smith completed his M.A. in mathematics at 19 (USC), while a scholarship student of Eleonore Schoenfeld, and then studied with cellist Zara Nelsova at The Juilliard School where he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He and his wife, pianist Evelyn Chen, have one daughter, Calista. www.houstonsymphony.org
Volunteers............................................................................................. Magical Musical Morning: The Sound of Music Fills the Holidays all photos by vickie hamley
^ The Instrument Petting Zoo is a mainstay of the event. Youngsters often surprise themselves when they blow a note or two on an instrument.
^ Chairs Katie Forney, Jenny Staff Johnson and Julie Barrett welcomed guests to the Houston Symphony League’s Magical Musical Morning at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa on December 11, 2010. The event raised funds for the Houston Symphony’s Music Matters! Education and Community Engagement Programs.
^ Houston Symphony League volunteer Jennifer Hooker helps Lilliana Billings blow a note on the flute while her siblings accompany on percussion instruments.
^ Magical Musical Morning T-shirts were back by popular demand this year. With a variety of markers, Caroline and Sarah Grace Raynes create their own colorful versions.
Turn-key Custom Publishing Graphic Design Identity Packages Logo/Brand Development Publication/Print Consulting Custom Invitations and Announcements
“New Leaf Publishing has professionalized our “brand” - they design and produce all of Avenue CDC’s publications, stationery, brochures and Annual Reports, and developed our logo. New Leaf also produces the invitations to our annual fund-raiser, and they’ve come up with creative designs year after year!
Mary Lawler, Executive Director, Avenue Community Development Corporation
P 713.523.5323 | F 713.523.5995 | www.newleafinc.com | info@newleafinc.com
March 2011 25
Symphony Society Board. ................................................................................. Executive Committee............................................................................................... President Bobby Tudor
Chairman of the Board Ed Wulfe Immediate Past President Jesse B. Tutor
Executive Director/CEO Mark C. Hanson Chairman Emeritus Mike Stude
Vice President, Artistic and Orchestra Affairs Brett Busby
Vice President, Finance and Board Governance Steven P. Mach
Vice President, Volunteers Barbara McCelvey
Vice President, Popular Programming Allen Gelwick
Vice President, Education Cora Sue Mach
Vice President, Development David Wuthrich
Vice President, Audience Development and Marketing Robert A. Peiser
General Counsel Paul R. Morico
President, Endowment Ulyesse J. LeGrange
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Nancy Littlejohn, President, Houston Symphony League Martha GarcĂa, Secretary Mark Hughes, Orchestra Representative Rodney Margolis Burke Shaw, Orchestra Representative Brinton Averil Smith, Orchestra Representative
At-Large Members Gene Dewhurst Jay Marks Helen Shaffer
Governing Directors..................................................................................................... Terry Ann Brown Prentiss Burt Brett Busby * John T. Cater Janet Clark Michael H. Clark Scott Cutler Lorraine Dell Viviana Denechaud Gene Dewhurst Kelli Cohen Fein Julia Frankel Allen Gelwick Stephen Glenn
Gary L. Hollingsworth Ryan Krogmeier Ulyesse LeGrange Rochelle Levit Nancy Littlejohn April Lykos Cora Sue Mach Steven P. Mach Beth Madison Rodney Margolis Jay Marks Mary Lynn Marks Bill McCartney Barbara McCelvey
Gene McDavid * Alexander K. McLanahan Kevin Meyers Paul Morico Arthur Newman Robert A. Peiser Fran Fawcett Peterson Geoffroy Petit David Pruner Stephen Pryor Gloria Pryzant John Rydman Manolo Sanchez Helen Shaffer
Jerome Simon David Steakley Mike Stude Bobby Tudor * Jesse B. Tutor Margaret Waisman Fredric A. Weber Vicki West Margaret Alkek Williams Ed Wulfe David Wuthrich Robert A. Yekovich
Trustees. ................................................................................................................. Philip Bahr * Janice Barrow Darlene Bisso Meherwan Boyce Walter Bratic Nancy Bumgarner Lynn Caruso Jane Clark Brandon Cochran Louis Delone Susanna Dokupil Tom Fitzpatrick Chris Flood Craig A. Fox
David Frankfort Susan Hansen Kathleen Hayes Brian James Joan Kaplan I. Ray Kirk Carolyn Mann Paul M. Mann Judy Margolis Brad Marks Jackie Wolens Mazow Elisabeth McCabe Marilyn Miles Tassie Nicandros
Scott Nyquist Edward Osterberg Jr. J. Hugh Roff Jr. Kathi Rovere Michael E. Shannon Jule Smith Michael Tenzer L. Proctor (Terry) Thomas Stephen G. Tipps * Betty Tutor Mrs. S. Conrad Weil David Ashley White James T. Willerson Steven J. Williams
Ex-Officio Martha GarcĂa Mark C. Hanson Mark Hughes Deanna Lamoreux Burke Shaw Brinton Averil Smith * Life Trustee
............................................................................................................................ Past Presidents of the Houston Symphony Society
Mrs. Edwin B. Parker Miss Ima Hogg Mrs. H. M. Garwood Joseph A. Mullen, M.D. Joseph S. Smith Walter H. Walne H. R. Cullen Gen. Maurice Hirsch Charles F. Jones Fayez Sarofim John T. Cater Richard G. Merrill Ellen Elizardi Kelley John D. Platt E. C. Vandagrift Jr.
26 www.houstonsymphony.org
J. Hugh Roff Jr. Robert M. Hermance Gene McDavid Janice H. Barrow Barry C. Burkholder Rodney H. Margolis Jeffrey B. Early Michael E. Shannon Ed Wulfe Jesse B. Tutor Past Presidents of the Houston Symphony League
Miss Ima Hogg Mrs. John F. Grant Mrs. J. R. Parten Mrs. Andrew E. Rutter
Mrs. Aubrey Leon Carter Mrs. Stuart Sherar Mrs. Julian Burrows Ms. Hazel Ledbetter Mrs. Albert P. Jones Mrs. Ben A. Calhoun Mrs. James Griffith Lawhon Mrs. Olaf La Cour Olsen Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn Mrs. Leon Jaworski Mrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr. Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr. Mrs. Thompson McCleary Mrs. Theodore W. Cooper Mrs. Allen H. Carruth
Mrs. David Hannah Jr. Mary Louis Kister Ellen Elizardi Kelley Mrs. John W. Herndon Mrs. Charles Franzen Mrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr. Mrs. Edward H. Soderstrom Mrs. Lilly Kucera Andress Ms. Marilou Bonner Mrs. W. Harold Sellers Mrs. Harry H. Gendel Mrs. Robert M. Eury Mrs. E. C. Vandagrift Jr. Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Terry Ann Brown Nancy Strohmer
Mary Ann McKeithan Ann Cavanaugh Mrs. James A. Shaffer Lucy H. Lewis Catherine McNamara Shirley McGregor Pearson Paula Jarrett Cora Sue Mach Kathi Rovere Norma Jean Brown Barbara McCelvey Lori Sorcic Nancy Willerson Jane Clark
Annual Campaign Donors. ............................................................................... The Houston Symphony expresses appreciation to the donors listed on this and the following pages for their generous contributions in support of Symphony programs. More information is available from the Individual Giving Department at (713) 337-8500, the Corporate Support Department at (713) 337-8520 or at houstonsymphony.org.
Corporations........................................................................................................ Crown Castle * ExxonMobil Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. * JPMorgan Chase KPMG LLP * Marathon Oil Corporation Vinson & Elkins LLP
As of February 1, 2011
$ 100,000-$499,999
BBVA Compass
United Airlines Fidelity Investments Shell Oil Company
$50,000-$99,999
$10,000-$24,999
American Express
* Cameron Chevron ConocoPhillips Frost * GDF SUEZ Energy North America The Methodist Hospital System Shell Oil Company TOTAL UBS * Weatherford International Ltd. Weill Cornell Medical College
$ 25,000-$49,999 Andrews Kurth, LLP
Chubbs Group of Insurance Companies
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Baker Botts L.L.P. * Bank of America Boeing Bracewell & Giuliani LLP * CenterPoint Energy Cooper Industries, Inc. * Devon Energy Corporation Ernst & Young * Fluor Corporation H. E. Butt Grocery Company Margolis, Phipps & Wright, P.C. * Macy’s Foundation Memorial Hermann Northern Trust
Spir Star, Inc. Star Furniture USI Vitol Inc. * Wells Fargo $500-$9,999 Beck, Redden & Secrest, LLP * Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, LLP Bloomberg L.L.P. Ironshore Insurance Services, LLP Lockton Companies Oceaneering International, Inc. Porter & Hedges, LLP PricewaterhouseCoopers, Inc. * Randalls Food Markets, Inc. Seyforth Show * Smith, Graham & Company * South Texas College of Law * Swift Energy Company Texas Children’s Hospital Wortham Insurance & Risk Management
Foundations. .........................................................................................................
As of February 10, 2011
* John P. McGovern Foundation
$1,000,000 & above
$25,000-$49,999
* Houston Endowment, Inc. * Houston Symphony League The Wortham Foundation Inc.
Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation The Humphreys Foundation The Schissler Foundation * Sterling-Turner Foundation
$500,000-$999,999
* M. D. Anderson Foundation
$100,000-$499,999
$10,000-$24,999
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation * The Brown Foundation The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation Madison Charitable Foundation * Spec’s Charitable Foundation
$50,000-$99,999
Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation The Alkek & Williams Foundation * Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Educational Fund
* Bauer Family Foundation Carleen & Alde Fridge Foundation * George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation * Houston Symphony League Bay Area * The Powell Foundation * Vivian L. Smith Foundation The Schissler Foundation Strake Foundation * Vaughn Foundation Warren Family Foundation
$2,500-$9,999
Stanford & Joan Alexander Foundation * The Becker Family Foundation
* Ray C. Fish Foundation * The Melbern G. & Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust Huffington Foundation Leon Jaworski Foundation William S. & Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation * Robert W. & Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation Lubrizol Foundation * Kinder Morgan Foundation * Lynne Murray, Sr. Educational Foundation The Helmle Shaw Foundation Susman Family Foundation Government Donors * City of Houston through the Houston Downtown Alliance, Houston Arts Alliance & Miller Theatre Advisory Board National Endowment for the Arts State Employee Charitable Campaign * Texas Commission on the Arts * Sponsors of Houston Symphony Education & Outreach Programs
Corporate Matching Gifts........................................................................................ Aetna Akzo Nobel AT&T Bank of America Boeing Caterpillar Chevron
Coca-Cola El Paso Corporation Eli Lilly and Company ExxonMobil Fannie Mae General Electric General Mills
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Halliburton Hewlett-Packard IBM ING Financial Services Corporation JPMorgan Chase
KBR Kirby Corporation Occidental Petroleum SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. Spectra Energy
March 2011 27
Leadership Gifts................................................................................................ The Houston Symphony gratefully acknowledges those individuals who support our artistic, educational and community engagement programs with Leadership Gifts at the highest levels. Donors at these levels set the standard for supporting the Symphony and we are proud to list them here.
Ima Hogg Society – $150,000 or More Lieutenant Governor David H. Dewhurst Ms. Beth Madison Madison Benefits Group Inc. Mr. George P. Mitchell Mr. M. S. Stude Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Tudor III President’s Society – $75,000 - $99,999 Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams
Maestro’s Society – $50,000 - $74,999 Gene & Linda Dewhurst Maestro Hans Graf & Mrs. Graf Rochelle & Max Levit Nancy & Robert Peiser Laura & Michael Shannon
Concertmaster Society – $25,000 - $49,999
Janice Barrow Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Mr. Michael H. Clark & Ms. Sallie Morian Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein & Martin J. Fein Mr. & Mrs. Russell M. Frankel Ms. Sharin Shafer Gaille Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken Hyde Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi Mr. & Mrs. Ulyesse J. LeGrange Cora Sue & Harry Mach Jay & Shirley Marks Barbara & Pat McCelvey Mrs. Sybil F. Roos Ms. Louisa Stude Sarofim Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Mr. &. Mrs. Robert R. Springob, Laredo Construction, Inc. 28 www.houstonsymphony.org
Patron Donor Society........................................................................................ Members of the Patron Donor Society support the Houston Symphony with gifts to the Annual Fund and Events. Members of the Society are offered a wide array of benefits and recognition including invitations to special events and more. For more information on how to become a member of the Houston Symphony Patron Donor Society, please call the Development Department at (713) 337-8523. Principal Musician Society $15,000 - $24,999 Mr. & Mrs. Philip A. Bahr Gary & Marian Beauchamp Mr. & Mrs. J. Brett Busby Janet F. Clark Mr. Richard Danforth Mr. & Mrs. Michael Dokupil Allen & Almira Gelwick Lockton Companies Mrs. Aileen Gordon
Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Joella & Steven P. Mach Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Mihalo Mr. & Mrs. David R. Pruner Kathryn & Richard Rabinow Ann & Hugh Roff Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum Mrs. Maryjane Scherr
David & Paula Steakley Paul Strand Thomas Alice & Terry Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Warren Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber Mr. & Mrs. Conrad Weil Jr. Vicki & Paul West Dr. Jim T. Willerson Mr. & Mrs. Steven Jay Williams
Artist/Conductor Sponsor $10,000 - $14,999 Anonymous (1) Mr. & Mrs. Karl H. Becker Captain & Mrs. W. A. “Cappy” Bisso III Ruth White Brodsky Marilyn & Coleman Caplovitz Mrs. Lily Carrigan Mr. & Mrs. Gerald F. Clark Ms. Jan Cohen Dr. Scott Cutler Leslie Barry Davidson & W. Robins Brice Mr. George B. Geary Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Frank Herzog Mr. Harold E. Holliday Jr. &
Hon. Anna Holliday, R. Mr. & Mrs. David V. Hudson Jr. Debbie & Frank Jones Drs. Blair & Rita Justice Dr. & Mrs. Bernard Katz Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Mr. & Mrs. Brian P. McCabe Betty & Gene McDavid Mrs. Beverly T. McDonald Mr. Cameron Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Lucian L. Morrison Jr. Mary & Terry Murphree Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker Gloria & Joe Pryzant
Musician Sponsor Society $7,500 - $9,999 Anonymous (1) Eric S. Anderson & R. Dennis Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Charles G. Black III Dr. & Mrs. Meherwan P. Boyce Mr. & Mrs. Walter V. Boyle Mr. & Mrs. Walter Bratic Ms. Terry Ann Brown The Robert & Jane Cizik Foundation Roger & Debby Cutler Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Dell Judge & Mrs. Harold DeMoss Jr. Mary Ann & Larry Faulkner Mr. & Mrs. Chris Flood Angel & Craig Fox Mr. S. David Frankfort Christina & Mark Hanson Mr. & Mrs. John A. Irvine
Mr. Brian James Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Kinder Mrs. Margaret H. Ley Mr. & Mrs. Erik P. Littlejohn Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Lykos Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Paul M. Mann Dr. & Mrs. Michael Mann Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Mike & Kathleen Moore Sue A. Morrison Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Moynihan Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Nelson Bobbie & Arthur Newman Mrs. Tassie Nicandros Ms. Peggy Overly & Mr. John Barlow
Mrs. Lila Rauch Mr. & Mrs. Ken N. Robertson Julia & Albert Smith Foundation Mr. Stephen C. Tarry Stephen & Pamalah Tipps Gene Carlton & Ann Trammell Margaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. Ms. Jennifer R. Wittman Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Mr. & Mrs. Ed Wulfe Erla & Harry Zuber
Mrs. Philip M. Peterson Mrs. Helen B. Rosenbaum Mr. & Mrs. William J. Rovere Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Clive Runnells Donna & Tim Shen Mr. & Mrs. William T. Slick Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Tad Smith Dr. Alana R. Spiwak & Sam Stolbun Mr. & Mrs. Keith Stevenson Ann & Joel Wahlberg Stephen & Kristine Wallace Nancy Willerson Mr. & Mrs. Wallace S. Wilson Nina & Michael Zilkha
March 2011 29
Individual Donors........................................................................................................ Conductor’s Circle $5,000 - $7,499 Anonymous (1) Joan & Stanford Alexander Mr. Alan Aronstein Mr. Richard C. Bailey Mr. Ronald C. Borschow Joe Brazzatti Mrs. Catherine Campbell Brock & Dr. Gary Brock Mrs. George L. Brundrett Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Philip J. Burguieres Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Carter IV Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Cutsinger J.R. & Aline Deming Mr. & Mrs. David Denechaud Mr. & Mrs. Paul F. Egner Jr. Diane Lokey Farb Aubrey & Sylvia Farb Ms. Bernice Feld Mr. & Mrs. Marvy A. Finger Mr. Edwin C. Friedrichs & Ms. Darlene Clark Thomas & Patricia Geddy Mrs. Lila-Gene George Dr. & Mrs. William D. George Mrs. James J. Glenn Jr. Mr. & Mrs. David Gow Jo A. & Billie Jo Graves William A. Grieves & Dorothy McDonnell Grieves Mr. & Mrs. James E. Hooks William J. Clayton & Margaret A. Hughes Mary Louis Kister William & Cynthia Koch Mr. & Mrs. Stephen A. Lasher Mr. Clyde Lea & Ms. Pamela Fazzone Mr. E. W. Long Jr. Mr. & Mrs. George McCullough Sidney & Ione Moran Paul & Rita Morico Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Osterberg Jr. Mr. Howard Pieper Mr. Robert J. Pilegge Mr. Michael H. Price Ms. Karen S. Pulaski Michael & Vicky Richker Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr. Drs. Alejandro & Lynn Rosas Linda & Jerry Rubenstein Mr. & Mrs. Manolo Sanchez Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mr. Louis H. Skidmore Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Mark R. Smith Mr. & Mrs. John Speer Mr. & Mrs. Antonio M. Szabo Mr. Brian Teichman Shirley & David R. Toomim C. Harold & Lorine Wallace Robert G. Weiner Mr. & Mrs. Donald E. Woodard Jr. Woodell Family Foundation Winthrop A. Wyman & Beverly Johnson
Grand Patron $2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous (1) Wade & Mert Adams Mr. & Mrs. John S. Arnoldy 30 www.houstonsymphony.org
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey B. Aron Mr. Jeff Autor Mr. & Mrs. John C. Averett Mr. A. Greer Barriault & Ms. Clarruth A. Seaton Mr. & Mrs. Ken Barrow Mr. & Mrs. John Bauer Mr. & Mrs. Brad Beitler Ms. Dianne Bowman Jim & Ellen Box Mr. & Mrs. James D. Bozeman The Honorable & Mrs. Peter Brown Mr. & Mrs. Sean Bumgarner Alan & Toba Buxbaum Mr. & Mrs. Thierry Caruso Margot & John Cater Mr. William Choice & Mrs. Linda Able Choice Mr. & Mrs. Allen Clamen Mr. & Mrs. James G. Coatsworth Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Cochran Mr. & Mrs. Robert Creager Mr. & Mrs. James W. Crownover Mr. & Mrs. Louis F. DeLone Mr. & Mrs. Jack N. Doherty Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Dror Mr. Roger Eichhorn Mr. William Elbel & Ms. Mary J. Schroeder Mrs. Robin A. Elverson Mr. Parrish N. Erwin Jr. Mrs. Carolyn Grant Fay Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Ference Mr. & Mrs. Tom Fitzpatrick Ron & Tricia Fredman Mr. & Mrs. Buddy Haas Mr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Hafner Jr. Marion & Jim Hargrove Mr. & Mrs. Tim W. Harrington Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Hayes Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Hayes Mark & Ragna Henrichs Mr. & Mrs. Doug R. Hinzie Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Jankovic Mr. & Mrs. John F. Joity Mrs. Barry Lewis Kevin & Lesley Lilly Mr. James Lokay Robert & Gayle Longmire Mr. Bradley H. Marks Mr. & Mrs. Andrew McFarland James & Mary McMartin Mr. & Mrs. William B. McNamara Mr. & Mrs. Kevin O. Meyers Stephen & Marilyn Miles Mr. & Mrs. Arnold M. Miller Julia & Chris Morton Mr. Austin M. O’Toole & Ms. Valerie Sherlock Mr. & Mrs. James D. Penny Mr. & Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Pryor Mr. Peter A. Ragauss & Ms. Jennifer Smith Mr. & Mrs. Dave Roberts Ms. Janice Robertson & Mr. Douglas Williams Beth & Lee Schlanger Dr. Philip D. Scott & Dr. Susan E. Gardner Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Simon
Joel V. & Mary M. Staff Carol & Michael Stamatedes Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Tenzer Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. Unger Mr. & Mrs. Gene Van Dyke Mr. & Mrs. Wil VanLoh Mrs. Naomi Warren Mr. David Ashley White Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Wray Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright Mr. & Mrs. David J. Wuthrich Judge Clarease R. Yates & Mr. Cary Yates Dr. & Mrs. Robert Yekovich Mrs. Betsy I. Zimmer Edith & Robert Zinn Patron $1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous (9) David M. & Lisa B. Aaronson Dr. & Mrs. George J. Abdo Mr. & Mrs. Elliot Abramson Mrs. Nancy C. Allen, President Greentree Fund John & Pat Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Thurmon Andress Mr. Maurice J. Aresty Mr. & Mrs. John M. Arnsparger Mr. & Mrs. Paul H. Asofsky Mr. & Mrs. Arnie Azios Edward & Joyce Backhaus Stanley & Martha Bair Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Balasco Mr. & Mrs. David M. Balderston Ms. Marion Barthelme & Mr. Jeff Fort Mr. & Mrs. Joshua L. Batchelor Ms. Sallymoon S. Benz Dr. & Mrs. Devinder Bhatia Ms. Joan H. Bitar John Blomquist Mr. & Mrs. George Boerger Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Boggio Dr. & Mrs. Milton Boniuk Mr. & Mrs. John F. Bookout Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Brackett Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bray Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Bresenhan Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Brophy Susan & Richard Brown Mr. & Mrs. Laurence Burns Mrs. Anne H. Bushman Dr. & Mrs. William T. Butler Mr. & Mrs. Barent W. Cater Dr. Robert N. Chanon Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Clarke Mrs. Cielle Clemenceau Mr. William E. Colburn Mr. & Mrs. Charles Comiskey Mr. Mark C. Conrad Dr. & Mrs. James D. Cox Mr. David A. Coyle Sylvia & Andre Crispin Mr. & Mrs. T. N. Crook Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Cullen Jr. Mr. Carl Cunningham Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Davis Mr. & Mrs. Jerry H. Deutser Mr. & Mrs. Robert Deutser Mike & Debra Dishberger Elizabeth H. Duerr Dr. Burdett S. & Mrs. Kathleen
..................................................................................................................................... C.E. Dunbar Carolyn & David Edgar Dr. Kenneth L Euler Mr. & Mrs. Donald Faust Sr. Jerry E. & Nanette B. Finger Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Fischer John C. Fitch Mr. Dale Fitz Mr. & Mrs. Vince D. Foster Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Freedman Ms. Beth Freeman Paula & Alfred Friedlander J. Kent & Ann Friedman Sally & Bernard Fuchs Mr. & Mrs. Todd Fuller Mr. & Mrs. Magnus Fyhr Martha & Gibson Gayle Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gerard Gaynor Mr. & Mrs. John Gee Mr. Michael B. George Mr. Jerry George Mrs. Joan M. Giese Ms. Nancy D. Giles Mr. Walter Gilmore Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Glanville Mr. & Mrs. Morris Glesby Mr. & Mrs. Bert H. Golding Helen B. Wils & Leonard Goldstein Robert & Michele Goodmark Dr. & Mrs. Harvey L. Gordon Mr. & Mrs. Tony Gracely Ms. Joyce Z. Greenberg Mr. Charles H. Gregory Mary & Paul Gregory Ms. Christine R. Griffith Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Griswold Zahava Haenosh Ms. Carmen C. Halden Mrs. Thalia Halen Gaye Davis & Dennis B. Halpin Dr. & Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Hanna Rita & John Hannah Ms. Margaret W. Hansen Mr. & Judge Frank Harmon III Dr. & Mrs. Eric J. Haufrect Mr. & Mrs. Philip J. Hawk Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Heath Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Eric Heggeseth Marilyn & Robert M. Hermance Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hoffert Mr. Tim Hogan Mrs. Holly Holmes Mr. & Mrs. Norman C. Hoyer Dr. & Mrs. Robert Ivany Mr. Eric S. Johnson & Dr. Ronada Davis Mr. & Mrs. Walter Kase Sam & Cele Keeper Linda & Frank S. Kelley Mr. & Mrs. Bill King Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Krezer Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Russell W. Kridel Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Krogmeier Mr. Willy Kuehn Mr. & Mrs. Jack Lee Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Eugene Lehrer Mr. William W. Lindley Mr. & Mrs. Michael Linn Ms. Barbara Lister Mr. & Mrs. H. Arthur Littell Ms. Nancey Lobb Dr. & Mrs. Fred R. Lummis Jr. Mr. & Mrs. J.A. Mawhinney Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Bill McCartney Mr. & Mrs. James W. McCartney
Mr. & Mrs. David R. McKeithan Jr. Alice R. McPherson, M.D. & Anthony A. Mierzwa Mr. & Mrs. David A. Mire Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mithoff Dr. Florence M. Monroe Dr. Eleanor D. Montague Ms. Marsha L. Montemayor John & Ann Montgomery Mr. & Mrs. Gerarld Moynier Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Mueller Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Newman Mr. & Mrs. Charles G. Nickson John & Leslie Niemand Nils & Stephanie Normann Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Olfers Jane & Kenneth Owen Mr. & Mrs. Robert Page Mr. & Mrs. Raul Pavon Michael & Shirley Pearson Mr. & Mrs. Gary Petersen Mr. & Mrs. Harry J. Phillips Jr. Mr. James D. Pitcock Dr. & Dr. Eduardo Plantilla Mr. & Mrs. James Postl Mr. John Potts Mrs. Dana Puddy Dr. & Mrs. Henry H. Rachford Jr. Clinton & Leigh Rappole Record Family Dr. Madaiah Revana, MD Hilda & Hershel Rich Mr. & Mrs. Allyn Risley Minnette & Jerome Robinson Ms. Regina J. Rogers Dr. & Mrs. Franklin Rose Mrs. Annetta Rose Mary Louise & David Sanderson Ms. Paula Santoski Mrs. Myrna Schaffer Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Schanzmeyer Mr. & Mrs. Marc J. Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Russell Sherrill Mr. & Mrs. W. Allen Shindler Mrs. Camille Simpson Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Smith Mr. & Mrs. William A. Smith Dean & Kay L. Snider Ms. Kelly Somoza Mr. & Mrs. George Stark Mr. & Mrs. James R. Stevens Cassie B. Stinson & James H. Gibbons Mrs. Mary Swafford Ms. Jeanine Swift Mr. & Mrs. Albert S. Tabor Jr. Mr. Stephen Tangney Mr. Mark Taylor Jean & Doug Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Vallee Mr. & Mrs. William Visinsky Mr. David Waddell Mr. & Mrs. Fred Wahrlich Mr. Danny Ward & Ms. Nancy Ames Mr. & Mrs. Eden N. Wenig Mr. & Mrs. Patrick J. Whelan Carlton & Marty Wilde Mr. Thomas H. Wilson Dr. & Mrs. Jerry S. Wolinsky Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Yankowsky Ms. Ellen A. Yarrell Mr. Sam M. Yates, III Mr. & Mrs. Mark Yzaguirre Mr. & Mrs. Charles Zabriskie Mr. Terry Zmyslo
Composer’s Circle $500 - $999
Anonymous (6) Mr. & Mrs. N. T. Adams Ms. Henrietta K. Alexander Ms. Joan Ambrogi Mr. & Mrs. Steve Ameen Corbin & Char Aslakson Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Axelrod Ms. Virginia C. Ballard Dr. David Barry Ms. Bernice Beckerman Mr. & Mrs. Mark Berkstresser Mr. Arno S. Bommer Mr. & Mrs. Giorgio Borlenghi Mr. & Mrs. Danny J. Bowers Jr. Bob F. Boydston Ms. Sally Brassow Katherine M. Briggs Ms. Barbara A. Brooks Mr. J. W. Brougher Dr. Bob Brown & Ms. Dena Rafte Mrs. Shirley Burgher Mr. & Mrs. Joseph L. Campbell Mrs. Marjorie Capshaw Mr. Petros Carvounis Mr. & Mrs. Kevin J. Casey Mr. & Mrs. E. Thomas Chaney K.D. Charalampous, M.D. Virginia A. Clark Jim R. & Lynn Coe Mr. & Mrs. Mark W. Coffin Mrs. Barbora Cole Mr. & Mrs. Todd Colter Mr. Robert A. Colton Ms. Barbara A. Conte Mr. & Mrs. Byron Cooley Mr. H. Talbot Cooley Michael T. Coppinger Mr. & Mrs. William C. Crassas Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. Crull Ms. Ann Currens Ms. Anna M. Dean Dr. & Mrs. Clotaire D. Delery Ms. Aurelie Desmarais Bruce B. Dice Mr. & Mrs. Mark Diehl Mr. & Mrs. Mark W. Dobbins Mr. & Mrs. James P. Dorn Mr. Dan Dunham Drs. Gary & Roz Dworkin Mr. & Mrs. Edward N. Earle Mr. Ramsay M. Elder Mildred & Richard Ellis Mr. & Mrs. William Evans Dr. & Mrs. Louis A. Faillace Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan B. Fairbanks Ms. Ursula H. Felmet Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Fleisher Mr. & Mrs. Theodore C. Flick Mr. James B. Flodine & Ms. Lynne Liberato Ms. Martha Garcia Mr. & Mrs. Harry Gendel Dr. & Mrs. Jack Gill William E. Gipson Gen. & Mrs. Melbern G. Glasscock Lee & Sandy Godfrey Mr. & Mrs. Herbert I. Goodman Mr. Teruhiko Hagiwara Ms. Vickie Hamley Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Harbachick Ms. Karen Harding Bruce Harkness & Alice Brown
W. Russel Harp & Maarit K. Savola-Harp Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Harrell Dr. & Mrs. William S. Harwell Mr. & Mrs. William Haskins Mr. & Mrs. Brian Haufrect Mr. & Mrs. Frank L. Heard Jr. Mr & Mrs. Dean Hennings Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Herrmann Ms. Hilda R. Herzfeld Mr. & Mrs. Ross K. Hill Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Hogan Mr. Ronald Holley & Dr. Natasha Holley Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Holloway S.y. & Y.j. Kim Hong Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Howes Ms. Vicki Huff Diane & Geoffrey Ibbott Mrs. Paula Jarrett Mr. Mark Johansson Mr. & Mrs. Wesley A. Johnson Mr. Scot W. Johnson Dr. & Mrs. Andrew P. Kant Ms. Karen Kelley Dr. & Mrs. Sherwin Kershman Lucy & Victor Kormeier Mr. Rodney Kubicek Suzanne A. & Dan D. Kubin Ms. Joni Latimer Mr. James Leatherby Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Lee II Mr. Richard Leibman Ms. Golda K. Leonard H. Fred & Velva G. Levine Michael & Sharon Lewis Mr. James C. Lindsey Mrs. Sylvia Lohkamp Tom & Kathleen Mach Mr. Kemp Maer Mr. & Mrs. Stevens Mafrige Mr. Christopher Mancini Ms. Liz Markell Ms. B. Lynn Mathre & Mr. Stewart O’Dell Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mattix Mr. & Mrs. James McBride Ms. Suzanne McCarthy Lawrence McCullough & Linda Jean Quintanilla Mr. & Mrs. Kevin McEvoy Mr. George McKee Ms. Mary J. McKerall & Ms. Marilyn Flick Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence McManus Mrs. Dorri Melvin Dr. & Mrs. John Mendelsohn Mr. Ronald A. Mikita Mr. & Mrs. Herbert G. Mills Mr. Willis B. Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. John C. Molloy Mr. & Mrs. John H. Monroe Jr. Mr. Richard Murphy Daniel & Karol Musher Alan & Elaine Mut Ms. Jennifer Naae Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey B. Newton Mr. Robert Nichols Marjory & Barry Okin Mr. & Mrs. Morris Orocofsky Ms. Margie Ortega Mr. & Mrs. Enrique Ospina Mrs. Caroline Osteen Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon I. Oster Mr. & Mrs. Marc C. Paige Mr. Robert Pastorek Rachel & Michael Pawson Mr. & Mrs. James L. Payne Mrs. Preston A. Peak March 2011 31
Individual Donors........................................................................................................ Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Penn Mr. John M. Petrosky Mr. & Mrs. W. Hugh Phillips III Ms. Meg Philpot Mary H. & Lynn K. Pickett Kim & Ted A. Powell Mr. Robert W. Powell Doris F. Pryzant Elias & Carole Qumsieh Dr. Mike Ratliff Mr. & Mrs. William B. Rawl Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Reans Mrs. Edith G. Reed Ms. Louisa B. Reid Dr. Alexander P. Remenchik & Ms. Frances Burford Mrs. Constance Rhebergen Mary & Jesse Roberts Mr. & Mrs. Fabrice Roche Ms. Franelle Rogers Mr. & Mrs. Keith A. Rogers Milton & Jill Rose Mr. Edward Ross Mr. John E. Ryall Dr. Raymond E. Sawaya Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Schwaab Mr. & Mrs. Vic Shainock Pamela & Richard Sherry Mr. Barrett Sides Mr. Barry E. Silverman & Ms. Shara Fryer Barbara & Louis Sklar Ms. Marcia Smart Mr. & Mrs. Stephen N. Smith Mr. & Mrs. William Smith Dr. & Mrs. C. Richard Stasney William F. Stern Mr. Myron F. Steves Dr. & Mrs. David Sufian Mrs. Louise Sutton Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Taylor Mr. Kerry Taylor Ms. Betsy Mims & Mr. Howard D. Thames Jacob & Elizabeth Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Tom Thweatt Dr. & Mrs. Karl Tornyos Mr. Daniel S. Trachtenberg Ms. Cathleen J. Trechter Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Tremant Mr. & Mrs. D.E. Utecht Mr. Viet Van Dr. & Mrs. Gage VanHorn Ms. Jana Vander Lee Mr. & Mrs. Bill Vaughn Jan & Don Wagner Dean B. Walker Betty & Bill Walker Mr. & Mrs. William B. Wareing Mr. Kenneth W. Warren Mr. & Mrs. James A. Watt J. M. Weltzien Mr. & Mrs. Ben White Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski Mr. & Mrs. Le Roy Yeager Mr. Ray Young Mr. William A. Young
Sustaining Member $250 - $499
Anonymous (18) Mr. & Mrs. W. Kendall Adam Mr. John Adkins Jr. Ms. Lina Amador Dr. & Mrs. Roy Aruffo 32 www.houstonsymphony.org
Mr. Rudy Avelar Mr. & Mrs. David Baggett Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Baizan Julie Ann & Matthew Baker Mr. & Mrs. John Baker Mr. & Mrs. James A. Baker III Mr. & Mrs. Seth Barrett Mr. & Mrs. John A. Barrett Dr. & Mrs. Robert C. Bast Jr. Mr. Steve A. Bavousett Ms. Roberta Benson Mrs. Robert L. Berge Mr. & Mrs. Paul C. Berner Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Bertrand Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Beshears Mr. & Mrs. Randall Beste Mr. & Mrs. Ed Billings James S. & Linda Birtwistle Ms. Suzie Boyd Dr. Arthur W. Bracey Ms. Tiffany Breeding Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Steven Brosvik Sally & Laurence Brown Fred & Judy Brunk Ms. Courtney Brynes Mr. & Mrs. Rick A. Burris Ms. Jodi Byerly Mrs. Miriam Byrd Mr. Eugene Byrd Mr. & Mrs. Raul Caffesse Mr. & Mrs. Dean L. Callender Virginia & William Camfield Mr. & Mrs. J. Scott Campbell Ms. Sandra Campos Mr. & Mrs. Kent Chenevert Mr. Kenneth Chin Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Cleveland Mr. Tulio Colmenares Mr. & Mrs. Clayton A. Compton Ms. Erin Connally Mr. Cecil C. Conner Mr. William S. & Dr. Mary Alice Cowan Ms. Jeanne A. Cox Ms. Mary Joe Danquard Leon Davis Ms. Elizabeth Del Pico Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Delaney Mr. & Mrs. Clifford C. Dukes Ms. Delores Dunham Mr. & Mrs. James H. Dupree Mr. & Mrs. David Dybell Mr. & Mrs. Peter Erickson Mr. Mike Ezzell Ms. Ann S. Farrell Mr. Chris C. Fellows Mr. & Mrs. James Flannigan Mr. Richard L. Flowers Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John M. Forney Mr. Joe Fowler Joyce & David Fox Mr. & Mrs. Michael S. Francisco Ms. Johnella V. Franklin Mr. Ralph F. Frankowski Ms. Diane L. Freeman Robert A. Furse, M.D. Dr. Abdel K. Fustok Ms. Martha Gardill Shifra & Terry Gardner Mrs. Holly Garner Dr. & Mrs. Gary M. Gartsman Mr. & Mrs. James E. Gerhardt Mr. Fred Gesiorski Mr. Glen Gettemy
Dr. & Mrs. Johnny Golden Ms. Heidi Good Mr. Ned Graber Mr. & Mrs. Tim Graham Mrs. Howard Grekel Ms. Jo Ann C. Guillory Mr. & Mrs. Roy T. Halle Mr. & Mrs. Tod P. Harding Mr. Paul Harmon Mrs. Clora B. Heath Mr. & Mrs. Walter A. Hecht Ms. Joy Herin Mr. & Mrs. John R. Heumann Mr. & Mrs. John Heyburn Jess Hines Jr. Susan Hodge Mr. David Hoffman Mr. Franklin Holcomb Jacque Holland Howard & Dorothy Homeyer Mr. & Mrs. John Homier Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Hopson John & Nancy Howard George E. Howe Mr. & Mrs. George M. Hricik Mr. Tyler Hubbard Mr. James M. Hughes Mr. & Mrs. James R. Hutton Mr. & Mrs. Mark Johnson Ms. Sheila K. Johnstone Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Kades Mr. Guido Kanschat Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Kantor Dr. & Mrs. Richard A. Kasschau Mr. & Mrs. Curtis R. Kayem Dr. Helen K. Kee Ms. Arlette Keene Mr. & Mrs. James A. Keller Mr. & Mrs. Hugh R. Kelly Dr. James Killian Dr. Alemka Kisic Dr. Nora J. Klein Dr. & Mrs. Douglas D. Koch Mr. & Mrs. Sam Koster Mr. Vijay Kusnoor Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Ladin Mr. & Mrs. Thomas S. Latham Mr. & Mrs. Brian Lawrence Mr. & Mrs. William Leighton Mr. & Mrs. Robert Leonard Mr. & Mrs. Earl L. Lester Jr. Mr. Philip Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Ralph A. Lillich Jr. Louise & Oscar Lui Joan Herrin Lyons Mr. & Mrs. Harry E. Mach III Mrs. D.B. Marchant Mrs. Renee Margolin Ms. Faerie Marston Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Marten Mr. Mark Matovich Mrs. Chong Ok Matthews Mr. R. Scott McCay Mrs. Alison McDermott & Mr. Adrian Glasser Ms. Judi McGee Mr. Daniel McHenry Odette & James McMurrey Mr. & Mrs. James L. McNett Dr. Robert A. Mendelson Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Michalski Ms. Georgette M. Michko Ellen Ochoa & Coe F. Miles Mr. Russell J. Miller &
Mrs. Charlotte M. Meyer Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Mireles Dr. David Moeller Ms. Kathleen Moore & Mr. Steven T. Homer Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Morgan Ms. Lauren Morgan Joyce & Owen Morris Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Moss Mr. & Mrs. Barry Myones Mr. Joel Ray Needham Mr. Philip R. Neuhaus Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ofner Mr. & Mrs. Duncan H. Orr Julie & Chip Oudin III Mr. William Pannill Grace & Carroll Phillips Ms. Alice Phillips Ms. Deborah Posso Mr. & Mrs. Arthur H. Pratt Mr. Arthur Preisinger Mr. & Mrs. Harold Preston Mr. Chip Purchase Ms. Nita D. Pyle Mr. & Mrs. Manuel E. Quintana Mr. & Mrs. Paul Ramirez Ms. Joanna Raynes Loreta & Ronald Rea Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Redden Mr. & Mrs. Norman T. Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. Walter Rhodes Mr. & Mrs. William K. Rice Mr. & Mrs. Claud D. Riddles Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Rinehart Mrs. George Risman Mr. James L. Robertson Mr. Brian Rodgers & Mrs. Sally Evans Drs. Herbert & Manuela Roeller Mr. & Mrs. Mervin Rosenbaum Mr. & Mrs. Norman Rosenthal Mr. & Mrs. John Ryder Dr. & Mrs. Barry Sachs Ms. Rachael Sanders Mr. & Mrs. Michael Scherer Mr. Ed Schneider & Ms. Toni A. Oplt Mrs. Joan Schnitzer Levy Garry & Margaret Schoonover Dee & Sharon Schrinner Ms. Elizabeth Schwarze Charles & Andrea Seay Mr. & Mrs. Charles O. Shearouse Mr. Lawrence E. Shelton Art & Ellen Shelton Mr. & Mrs. Charles C. Shumaker Mr. Stephen C. Smith & Mr. Ronald Jenson Mr. Marc Sofia Hans C. Sonneborn Ms. Blanche Stastny Mr. & Mrs. Donald K. Steinman Mr. Philip A. Stemmler Mr. & Ms. Gary Stenerson Ms. Jean Stinson Dr. & Mrs. Richard Strax Dr. John R. Stroehlein & Ms. Miwa Sakashita Mr. & Mrs. Hans Strohmer Ms. Lori Summa Ms. Barbara Swartz Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Symon Dr. Shahin Tavackoli Ms. Jessica Taylor Mr. Robert M. Taylor Mr. & Ms. Gary Teletzke
..................................................................................................................................... Howard Tellepsen Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Thurmond David & Ann Tomatz Mr. Tom Tomlinson Mr. & Mrs. Louis E. Toole Mr. & Mrs. Edmunds Travis Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Trowbridge Mr. John T. Unger & Ms. Kathy Welch Mr. Robert C. Updegrove Dr. & Mrs. Brad Urquhart Mr. Leo Valk Mr. David Vannauker Mr. Eugene Wagenecht Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Walker Mr. & Mrs. Mark J. Wanamaker Ms. Sandria Ward Mr. & Mrs. John Wardell Ms. Victoria Wendling Drs. A. & J. Werch Mr. & Mrs. Tommy Westall Mr. & Mrs. G. Thomas Whitcomb Mr. Richard White Mr. Donald White Mr. & Mrs. Cornel Williams Mr. & Mrs. Russell R. Williams Mr. Paul L. Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Wood Miss Susan Wood Mr. & Mrs. Clifford E. Woodward Mrs. Peggy J. Wylie Mrs. Barbara S. Young Mr. & Mrs. Paul J. Zohlen
Principal Pops Conductor’s Circle $5,000 or More Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Allen & Almira Gelwick Lockton Companies Dr. & Mrs. Bernard Katz Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Lykos Jr. Paul & Rita Morico
Mary & Terry Murphree Mr. Robert J. Pilegge Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ken N. Robertson Mrs. Sybil F. Roos Linda & Jerry Rubenstein Mrs. Maryjane Scherr Mr. & Mrs. Donald E. Woodard Jr.
Grand Patron Pops $2,500-$4,999
Ms. Dianne Bowman Mr. Christopher Buehler & Ms. Jill Hutchison Mr. & Mrs. Byron F. Dyer Mrs. Barry Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Allan Quiat Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Rauch Mr. & Mrs. Leland Tate
Pops Patron $1,500-$2,499
Mr. John S. Beury Ms. Tara Black Jim & Ellen Box Ms. Sara J. Devine Mr. & Mrs. James E. Dorsett Carol & Larry Fradkin Mr. Robert Grant Mr. & Mrs. Ben A. Reid Shirley & Marvin Rich Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. Snyder Ms. Jody Verwers Mr. & Mrs. William B. Welte III Sally & Denney Wright
Headliner $1,000-$1,499
Rev. & Mrs. H. Eldon Akerman Mrs. Alan Gaylor Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry L. Hamaker Mr. & Mrs. George A. Helland Michael & Darcy Krajewski Mr. Gerard & Mrs. Helga Meneilly Mr. Anthony G. Ogden Roman & Sally Reed Mr. & Mrs. John T. Riordan Mr. & Mrs. Steve Sims Ms. Virginia Torres Ms. Amanda Tozzi Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence D. Wallace
Producer $500-$999
Mr. Stephen J. Banks Mr. Allen J. Becker Mr. Jay T. Brown W. M. Calvert Mr. & Mrs. Warren J. Carroll Ron & Barbara Dokell John & Joyce Eagle Mr. Larry January Ms. Mary Keathley Mr. Don E. Kingsley Mr. & Mrs. Barry H. Margolis Mr. & Mrs. Carrol R. McGinnis Mr. & Mrs. Joe T. McMillan W. R. Purifoy Mr. & Mrs. Philip Redding Mr. & Mrs. George A. Rizzo Jr. Mr. Morris Rubin Ms. Phyllis Schaffer Mr. & Mrs. Tim Shaunty Mr. & Mrs. David K. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Carl N. Tongberg Mr. Roger Trandell Donna Tromblee Dr. Holly & Mr. Michael Varner Mr. & Mrs. Don Wilton
Director $250-$499
Anonymous (1) Ann B. Beaudette Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Buhler Richard & Marcia Churns Marilyn & Tucker Coughlen Mr. T. J. Doggett Richard & Mildred Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Jim Gunther Mr. & Mrs. Dale Hardy Dr. George S. Knapp Charles C. & Patricia Kubin Mr. Richard S. Ledermann Mr. & Mrs. Roger Lindgren Patrick & Peggy McKinney Judy & Bill Pursell Dr. & Mrs. A. Carl Schmulen Mr. & Mrs. Harold L. Siegele Norbert F. Stang Ms. Beth Stegle Mr. & Mrs. William G. Straight Dr. & Mrs. William C. Watkins As of January 31, 2011
In Kind Donors......................................................................................................... As of January 10, 2011
Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design Baker Botts Be Friends Bergner & Johnson BKD, LLP Bright Star Casi Cielo Productions Cognetic Mr. Carl R. Cunningham
Darryl & Co. Deville Fine Jewelry DocuData Solutions The Events Company Hilton Americas - Houston Houston Chronicle Jackson and Company JOHANNUS Organs of Texas Jim Benton of Houston LLC JR’s Bar & Grill
KUHF 88.7 FM The Lancaster Hotel Limb Design Morton’s The Steakhouse Music & Arts Neiman Marcus New Leaf Publishing, Inc. PaperCity Pride Houston Pro/Sound
Saint Arnold’s Brewery Saks Fifth Avenue Shecky’s Media, Inc. Silver Eagle Distributors Sky Bar Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods Strip House Valobra Jewelry & Antiques John Wright/Texprint
Support Your Symphony
Houston Endowment Challenges You
In spring 2010, Houston Endowment made a generous gift to the Houston Symphony in the form of a challenge grant. The challenge is tied to a series of ambitious financial and annual fund goals that require the Symphony to significantly increase its annual fund revenue and donor base over the next two years. If we succeed, the institution will receive $1million in 2011 and an additional $1million in 2012. The Symphony will do its utmost to meet these ambitious goals, but we will need unprecedented support from the Houston community. To secure the $1million gift in 2011, we will need to attract more than 1,000 new donors and raise more than $8 million in annual fund revenue by May 31, 2011. Here’s how you can help: Please contact the Houston Symphony Development Department at (713) 337-8500 or visit houstonsymphony.org and click on the Support Your Symphony button to donate to the Annual Fund. March 2011 33
Legacy Society. ................................................................................................. The Legacy Society honors those who have included the Houston Symphony in their long-term estate plans through bequests, life-income gifts or other deferred-giving arrangements. Members of the Legacy Society enjoy a variety of benefits, including an annual musical event with a renowned guest artist. The Houston Symphony extends its deepest thanks to the members of the Society, and with their permission, is pleased to acknowledge them. Anonymous (10) Mrs. Jan Barrow George & Betty Bashen Dorothy B. Black Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield Ronald C. Borschow Anneliese Bosseler Joe Brazzatti Zu Broadwater Terry Ann Brown Dr. Joan K. Bruchas & H. Philip Cowdin Eugene R. Bruns Sylvia J. Carroll William J. Clayton & Margaret A. Hughes Leslie Barry Davidson Harrison R. T. Davis Judge & Mrs. Harold DeMoss Jr. Jean & sJack Ellis Mrs. Robin A. Elverson The Aubrey and Sylvia Farb Family Ginny Garrett Michael B. George Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Mr. & Mrs. Keith E. Gott Randolph Lee Groninger Marilyn & Robert M. Hermance Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Dr. Edward J. & Mrs. Patti Hurwitz Kenneth Hyde Mr. Brian James Drs. Rita & Blair Justice
Dr. & Mrs. Ira Kaufman, M.D. John S. W. Kellett Ann Kennedy & Geoffrey Walker Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Mr. & Mrs. Ulyesse LeGrange Mrs. Frances E. Leland Dr. Mary R. Lewis E. W. Long Jr. Sandra Magers Rodney H. Margolis Mr. & Mrs. Jay Marks James Matthews Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm Mazow Mr. & Mrs. Gene McDavid Charles E. McKerley Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Mihalo Ron Mikita Katherine Taylor Mize Ione Moran Sidney Moran Sue A. Morrison and Children Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Moynihan Gretchen Anne Myers Bobbie & Arthur Newman Edward C. Osterberg Jr. Joan D. Osterweil Imogen “Immy� Papadopoulos Sara M. Peterson Mr. Howard Pieper
Geraldine S. Priest Daniel F. Prosser Gloria & Joe Pryzant Mrs. Dana Puddy Walter M. Ross Mr. & Mrs. Michael B. Sandeen Charles K. Sanders Charles King Sanders Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Seay II Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Dr. & Mrs. Kazuo Shimada Jule & Albert Smith Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. Snyder Mike & sAnita Stude Emily H. & David K. Terry Stephen G. Tipps Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Dr. Carlos Vallbona & Children Margaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. David M. Wax & Elaine Arden Cali Robert G. Weiner Geoffrey Westergaard Jennifer R. Wittman Mr. & Mrs. Bruce E. Woods Mr. & Mrs. David Wuthrich As of February 8, 2011 sDeceased
Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment Donors........................................... Paul & Vickie Davis ExxonMobil David & Joyce Fox
Robert Lee Gomez Philip & Audrey Lewis Dave Nussmann
Remora Energy Susan Scarrow
In Memoriam..................................................................................................... We honor the memory of those who in life included the Houston Symphony in their estate plans. Their thoughtfulness and generosity will continue to inspire and enrich lives for generations to come! Mr. Thomas D. Barrow W. P. Beard Mrs. H. Raymond Brannon Anthony Brigandi Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Lee Allen Clark Jack Ellis Frank R. Eyler Helen Bess Fariss Foster Christine E. George
Mrs. Marcella Levine Harris General & Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Miss Ima Hogg Burke & Octavia Holman Mrs. L. F. McCollum Joan B. McKerley Monroe L. Mendelsohn Jr. Mrs. Janet Moynihan Constantine S. Nicandros Hanni Orton
Stewart Orton, Legacy Society co-founder Dr. Michael Papadopoulos Miss Louise Pearl Perkins Walter W. Sapp, Legacy Society co-founder J. Fred & Alma Laws Lunsford Schultz John K. & Fanny W. Stone Dorothy Barton Thomas Mrs. Harry C. Wiess Mrs. Edward Wilkerson
For more information on creating a legacy for the benefit of the Symphony, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (713) 337-8524 or e-mail plannedgiving@houstonsymphony.org. 34 www.houstonsymphony.org
My Houston, My Symphony: Campaign for a Sound Future. ....................... Artistic excellence, strong leadership, robust ticket sales and growing philanthropic support are vital, but they alone cannot guarantee the Houston Symphony’s future. To do so, its endowment must be increased. My Houston, My Symphony: Campaign for a Sound Future has two major goals: add $60 million to the Symphony’s endowment and raise $15 million in working capital. We are proud to recognize those who have already made commitments to this campaign and invite others to join them as we build an artistically and financially sound Houston Symphony.
Campaign Cabinet
Members
George Mitchell, Honorary Chair M. S. Stude, Chair Gene Dewhurst, Vice Chair Jesse B. Tutor, Vice Chair Mike McLanahan, Vice Chair Ulyesse J. LeGrange, Vice Chair
Jan Barrow Daniel Dror Rochelle Levit Rodney H. Margolis Jay Marks J. Stephen Marks
Houston Symphony Endowment Harry J. Phillips Jr. Robert B. Tudor III Wallace S. Wilson
President
Ulyesse J. LeGrange
Trustees
Prentiss Burt Janet Clark J. Cole Dawson III Gene Dewhurst Jesse B. Tutor
............................................................................................................................ Mr. & Mrs. Jay Marks * Mr. & Mrs. Lucian L. Morrison Jr. Foundations...................... Mrs. Sue A. Morrison & Children Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Newman $10,000,000 The Brown Foundation, Inc. * $1,000,000 - $4,999,999 Anonymous The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts * Houston Endowment Inc. Spec’s Charitable Foundation The Wortham Foundation, Inc. $500,000 - $999,999 The Fondren Foundation $100,000 - $499,999 M. D. Anderson Foundation The Cullen Foundation The Margaret & James A. Elkins, Jr. Foundation The William Randolph Hearst Foundation Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Mach Family Fund The Marks Charitable Foundation $25,000 - $99,999 Dror Charitable Foundation The Kayser Foundation The Nightingale Code Foundation
Corporations. ................... $100,000 - $250,000 Baker Botts L.L.P. Chevron ConocoPhillips Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Marathon Oil Company Foundation $50,000 - $99,000 Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP $25,000 - $49,999 Amegy Bank of Texas Goldman Sachs $10,000 - $24,999 Sterling Bank
Individuals....................... Founder Anonymous Grand Guarantor Mr. & Mrs. Philip A. Bahr * Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Barrow * Lieutenant Governor David H. Dewhurst Barbara & Patrick McCelvey Phoebe and Bobby Tudor Guarantor Estate of Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis
Estate of Mr. Walter W. Sapp * Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Shannon Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor * Major Benefactor Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Dell Levit Family/Grocers Supply Dr. & Mrs. Michael Mann Benefactor Anonymous * Linda & Gene Dewhurst Mrs. Robin A. Elverson Mr. & Mrs. Marvy A. Finger Houston Symphony Chorus Drs. Blair & Rita Justice Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi * Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Mr. & Mrs. Stephen G. Tipps *
Major Sponsor Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. David J. Beck Mrs. Ruth White Brodsky Mr. & Mrs. John T. Cater Mr. Michael H. Clark & Ms. Sallie Morian * Mr. Martin J. Fein & Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein in memory of Jean Viney Mr. & Mrs. Russell M. Frankel Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Ms. Martha Kleymeyer Mr. & Mrs. Gene McDavid Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Moore * Mr. & Mrs. Scott S. Nyquist Kathy & Harry Phillips Fund Gloria & Joe Pryzant Mr. & Mrs. J. Hugh Roff Jr. Ms. Charlotte A. Rothwell Mr. & Mrs. Paul N. Schwartz Ms. Ann Trammell Mr. & Mrs. Steven J. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Ed Wulfe Sponsor Anonymous (2) Mr. Clayton Baird Mr. & Mrs. Gary Beauchamp * Mrs. Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield Ms. Catherine Campbell-Brock & Dr. Gary Brock Ms. Janet F. Clark Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey B. Early Mr. & Mrs. Craig A. Fox * Mr. Frank T. Garcia & Dr. Elizabeth M. Spankus Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Hermance Mr. Jack Holmes * Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Mr. & Mrs. Ulyesse J. LeGrange Dr. & Mrs. Daniel E. Lehane Mr & Mrs. Harry Mach Ms. Judi McGee Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan *
Mr. & Dr. Edward C. Osterberg Jr. Nancy & Bob Peiser Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Quoyeser Mr. & Mrs. Albert J. Smith Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber *
Major Patron Mr. Thomas Becker & Mr. Jim Rosenfeld * Mr. Gordon B. Bonfield Mr. Anthony Brigandi Ms. Terry Ann Brown Mr. & Mrs. John R. Dennis III Mr. & Mrs. Osborne J. Dykes III Mr. & Mrs. Frank J. Hevrdejs Mr. & Mrs. Frank G. Jones Mr. E. W. Long Jr. The MacDonald-Peterson Foundation Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Tommy O. Mann Mr. & Mrs. C. W. Merchant Mr. & Mrs. James M. Mercurio * Mr. & Mrs. Kirk B. Michael Mrs. Hanni Orton * Mr. & Mrs. J. Dale Ramsey Mr. & Mrs. William J. Rovere Jr. Dr. Margaret Waisman & Dr. Steven S. Callahan Vicki & Paul S. West Mr. & Mrs. Melvyn Wolff Mr. David Zerhusen & Mrs. Kathy Schoff Patron Mr. & Mrs. Willie J. Alexander Mrs. Marty Ambrose Ms. Martha Z. Carnes Dr. Scott Cutler Mrs. Benjamin Danziger Ms. Leslie B. Davidson & Mr. W. Robins Brice Paul & Vickie Davis Mr. & Mrs. Patrick M. Dreckman The Estate of Emma Sue B. Frank Dr. Susan E. Gardner & Dr. Philip D. Scott Robert Lee Gomez Mr. Robert Grant Mr. & Mrs. Anthony W. Hall Jr. Susan & Dick Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Harrell Mr. & Mrs. Fraser A. McAlpine Mr. & Mrs. John S. Orton Mr. & Mrs. P. C. Peropoulos Mrs. Helen Rosenbaum * Joseph & Holly Rubbo Susan Scarrow Estate of Dorothy Barton Thomas Mr. David Ashley White Mr. & Mrs. David J. Wuthrich * Donor to endowment and working capital Listing as of August 9, 2010
March 2011 35
Backstage Pass. ................................................................................................. Dr. Robert and Marge Mihalo, musician sponsors
Brian Thomas, horn Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota Education: Bachelor of Music, Northwestern University Joined the Houston Symphony: 1995 Looking forward to in the 2011-2012 Season: Without question, the highlight will be the December return of Christoph Eschenbach for Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. This orchestra continues to have a strong connection with Maestro Eschenbach—a testament to his inspired music-making and leadership during his years here. I dare say that the concert will be the most sought-after ticket of the entire arts season in Houston.
Birthplace: Robert – Stamford, Connecticut; Marge – New York City Education: Robert – BS in applied mathematics, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn; MD, Wayne State University; Marge – BA, history, St. Joseph’s College for Women Joined the Houston Symphony: We have been Classical season ticket holders for about 20 years. Earliest musical memory: Robert – singing in my high school chorus for four years Current listening: The Brandenburg Concertos Looking forward to in the 2010-2011 Season: I am looking forward to just about everything! Favorite Symphony experiences: I thoroughly enjoy meeting and getting to know some of the musicians socially. Pastime and good company: Now that I’m retired from practicing medicine, my hobbies include amateur radio, gardening and the classic cinema of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. Meeting your musician: We have been Brian’s sponsors since he joined the Symphony in 1995. We met him at a Musician/Sponsor dinner in 1995. It was very special to be invited to Brian’s wedding to his wife, Victoria. All for a reason: As a supporter, I’m not just a “ticketholder,” but a member of the Symphony Family. My desire to get to know some of the members of the Symphony on a more personal basis has been fulfilled through sponsoring Brian. Pass it on: I think the sponsored musician gets a positive ego boost knowing he or she is appreciated for their contributions to the Houston Symphony and the City of Houston.
All in the family: My mother was a talented cellist and pianist in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and my father played in the cello section of the Minnesota Orchestra for 50 seasons. They met in Kenosha, when my dad, playing the Navy String Quartet at the time, came up as a “ringer” for a concert series for that city’s orchestra. A snowstorm delayed his arrival to a rehearsal, and by the time he got there, rehearsal had started and the only open chair was next to my mom. The rest is history! Discovering my vocation: In elementary school, I attended Minnesota Orchestra’s children’s concerts. It was a great thrill to see my dad on stage, and my classmates thought it was cool! Rather than going back to school after the concerts, I was allowed to meet my dad backstage and go to lunch with him. He always let me carry his cello, an important task that made me feel special. Perhaps this is why I chose to join the “family business.” Best thing about being a musician: I have always enjoyed the reaction when someone discovers that I am a Symphony musician. It is invariably a positive one, often followed by an admission that he or she played horn in high school, or that a son or niece is currently taking music lessons. The recognition makes me feel special and proud that I have persevered over the long decades and have been successful doing what I love! Alternative reality: I’ve had lawyers tell me I’d make a great lawyer; I know I would, but music called me first! Keeping it fresh: Listening deeply to others and to your own sound helps keep music-making fresh. Every time I play a familiar work, I strive to hear new details and play with deeper insight. My weeks with the Sun Valley Summer Symphony each August allow me to recharge my musical batteries by performing with top-notch musicians from other major orchestras. We only have one rehearsal per concert, so listening and cooperation are very important. Meeting your sponsor: My relationship with Bob and Marge Mihalo is unique in the Musician Sponsor program. They have been my only sponsors, by request, since 1995. I have lost count of the dinners, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving feasts and birthday celebrations that we have shared. It was difficult to cull through the dozens of photos to select “the one” for this article, and the process brought back so many good memories! Bob and Marge are very special to me and my wife, Victoria, and we dearly love them. Pastime and good company: I am an avid road cyclist (Tour de France time is always sacred), enjoy the technical and artistic aspects of highend audio, travel frequently with my lovely wife and nourish my soul with Celtic music. We also have six grateful rescue cats and often enjoy watching them play in our backyard wildlife refuge.
36 www.houstonsymphony.org