Together, great things can be orchestrated.
Proud supporters of the Irving Symphony Orchestra
GUEST ARTIST
American pianist Clayton Stephenson’s love for music is immediately apparent in his joyous charisma onstage, expressive power, and natural ease at the instrument. Hailed for “extraordinary narrative and poetic gifts” and interpretations that are “fresh, incisive and characterfully alive” (Gramophone), he is committed to making an impact on the world through his music-making.
Growing up in New York City, Clayton started piano lessons at age 7, and the next year was accepted into The Julliard School’s Music Advancement Program—a full scholarship program for under-represented students—where he lingered to watch student recitals and fell in love with music. He advanced to Juilliard’s elite Pre-College at age 10—with the help of his teacher at the time, Beth Nam, who gave him countless extra lessons without charge—to study with Matti Raekallio, Hung-Kuang Chen, and Ernest Barretta. Clayton practiced on a synthesizer at home until he found an old upright piano on the street that an elementary school had thrown away; that would become his practice piano for the next six years until the Lang Lang Foundation donated a new piano to him when he was 17.
He credits the generous support of community programs with providing him musical inspiration and resources along the way. As he describes it, the “Third Street Music School jump-started my music education; the Young People’s Choir taught me phrasing and voicing; Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program introduced me to formal and rigorous piano training, which enabled me to get into Juilliard Pre-College; the Morningside Music Bridge validated my talent and elevated my self-confidence; the Boy’s Club of New York exposed me to jazz; and the Lang Lang Foundation brought me to stages worldwide and transformed me from a piano student to a young artist.”
Recent and upcoming highlights include concertos with the Houston, North Carolina, and Cincinnati Symphonies; festival appearances at Grand Teton, Grant Park, and Tippet Rise; recitals at Washington Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center, Fondation Louis Vuitton, and
Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall; gala performances with the New York and Las Vegas Philharmonics; and collaborations with violinists Nikki and Timothy Chooi. He also joins the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as a 2024–2025 Artist-in-Residence.
Clayton graduated from the Harvard-New England Conservatory (NEC) dual degree program in spring 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in economics at Harvard and a master’s degree in piano performance at NEC under Wha Kyung Byun. In addition to being the first Black finalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, he received an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2024, won the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition in 2023, and is a 2025 Sphinx Medal of Excellence honoree.
Weill
HÉCTOR GUZMÁN
Music Director and Conductor
Maestro Héctor Guzmán is regarded as one of the most respected and admired conductors in this country and abroad. He is Music Director of the Irving, Plano, San Angelo, and Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestras in the United States and Conductor Emeritus of the Jalisco Philharmonic in Mexico.
In addition, he has been guest conductor of an array of prestigious ensembles: Mexico: National Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, UNAM Philharmonic, Xalapa Symphony, Bellas Artes Chamber Orchestra, Vivaldi Orchestra of Mexico City, and State of Mexico Symphony. United States: Dallas Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Tulsa Philharmonic, the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, and the Chicago Sinfonietta. Dominican Republic: National Symphony. Czech Republic: Collegium Orchestra of Prague. Poland: Rszezow Philharmonic. Japan: Japan Philharmonic. South Korea: Masan Philharmonic and Gangsam Symphony. Italy: Amadeus Orchestra, Sinfonia Venetto, Milano Classica Orchestra, Bari Symphony, San Remo Symphony, and Pomeriggi Musicale Orchestra of Milan.
Spain: Sinfónica de Murcia, Joven Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, and Excelentia Orchestra. Germany: Herzer Orchester, Panamá: National Symphony, Guatemala, Festival Orchestra, among many others. In Sept. 2022, Maestro Guzmán was named “Artist in residence” of the prestigious “Madrid Soloists Orchestra” in Spain.
In addition to a spectacular career as a conductor, he enjoys international success as a concert organist, performing in venues such as the Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas, the Spivey Hall Distinguished Artist Series in Atlanta, the Olivet Nazarene recital series in Illinois, the cathedrals of Morelia, Guadalajara (Mexico) and Chartres (France), and the International Music Festivals in Toledo, Spain, and Zamora, Mexico. Maestro Guzmán holds degrees from the Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, the University of North Texas (BM), and Southern Methodist University (MM). His teachers include his mentor Anshel Brusilow, former concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra and former music director of the Dallas Symphony, and internationally renowned conductors Helmuth Rilling (University of Oregon) and Carlo Maria Giulini (Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy). He was also a protégé of the late Maestro Eduardo Mata, music director of the Dallas Symphony. In his native Mexico, Héctor Guzmán achieved an impressive reputation as an organist, under Prof. Victor Urban, by taking first prize in the “Chamber Soloists” and the “Manuel M. Ponce” national organ competitions. In the U.S, while a student of world-famous master teachers Dr. Robert Anderson and Alfred Mouledous, he earned further distinction by winning solo competitions at SMU and the University of North Texas. In addition, Maestro was the first Latin American ever chosen as a finalist in the “Grand Prix de Chartres,” the world’s most prestigious international organ competition celebrated in France. In addition, he received the “Mozart Medal,” Mexico’s highest musical honor, presented by the Embassy of Austria, the “Distinguished Mexican Award” from the government of Mexico, and is recognized as the 2022 North Texas Performing Arts “Distinguished Performing Artist Award” for his contributions to music worldwide.
IRVING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Maestro Héctor Guzmán, Music Director October 12, 2024 • 7:30 pm
Irving Arts Center - Carpenter Performance Hall
CONCERT TITLE SPONSOR Amati Circle
OPENING NIGHT - THE MAGIC OF MUSIC
GUEST ARTIST - Clayton Stephenson, Piano
Finalist - Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Mr. Stephenson appears by arrangement with The Cliburn
G ROSSINI Overture to La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
A SILVESTRI
J WILLIAMS
G GERSHWIN
Back to the Future (Main Theme)
From Back to the Future
March of the Resistance
From Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
INTERMISSION
Concerto in F
For Piano and Orchestra
Allegro
Adagio-Andante con moto
Allegro Agitato
Clayton Stephenson, Piano
Patrons will not be admitted into the hall while the concert is in progress. Please silence cell phones. We ask that no flash photography be used, but taking pictures is permitted. Thank you for your cooperation.
THANKS TO OUR 2024-2025 MAJOR CONCERT PARTNERS:
ROSTER
October 12, 2024
OPENING NIGHT - THE MAGIC OF MUSIC
VIOLIN I
Szemi Jobbagy, Concertmaster
Mevlan Mecid
Marina Dichenko
Xiachu Song
Santiago Ariza Rodriguez
Christine Binzel
Leihlani Garcia Tamez
Angelene Ku
VIOLIN II
Saejin Seo *
Lucas Raulino Silva
Crissanti Garcia Tamez
Alma Bulibekova
Violeta Fane
Irina Salazar
Karim Ayala Pool
Hoigum Park
VIOLA
Monika Nierychlo-Fryklund *
Bo Landefeld
Iris Messinger
Monika Idasiak
Iva Raykova
Cornelia Harris
Stephen Beall
Oscar Rendon
CELLO
Dan Totan *
Kyungjin Yoo
Alex Paradis
Creed Miller
Alexander Djinov
Ya-Chen Lee
Nathalie Hernandez
Jenna Wood
BASS
Dimitrius Samudio *
Randy Inman
John Hunter
Nestor Zayas
FLUTE
Lisa Nickl *
Janelle Olson
Jennifer Wheeler (Piccolo)
OBOE
Sharon Lacey *
Natasha Merchant
Annie Henneke (English Horn)
CLARINET
Gilbert Young *
Cheyenne Cruz
Donald Fabian (Bass Clarinet)
BASSOON
Leslie Massenburg *
Marty Spake
Kyle Larson (Contra-Bassoon)
HORNS
Susan Frazier *
Janet Nye
Ben Carroll
Stephanie Baron
TRUMPET
Glen Hummel *
Adam Miller
Steve Schiemann
TROMBONE
Timothy Owner *
Timothy Wight
Charles Cudney (Bass Trombone)
TUBA
Chris Vivio
TIMPANI
Jeffrey Keene
PERCUSSION
Derrick Logozzo *
William Klymus
Steve Kimple
Jay Majernik
PIANO
Astrid Morales Torres
HARP
Brittany Burns
LIBRARIAN
Luis Rodriguez
PERSONNEL MANAGER
Jim Gasewicz
* = Principal Musician
MUSIC DIRECTOR Héctor Guzmán
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024 | 2025 & PAST PRESIDENTS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kathrine Pennington
BOARD CHAIR Lisa Hultz
PRESIDENT Janet Boyce
SECRETARY Sunny Bettis
TREASURER Thom Davis
PARLIAMENTARIAN Dr. Robert Bettis
PRESIDENT EMERITUS Marguerite Korkmas
VICE PRESIDENTS
George P. Cole II
Grace Davis
Connie Dunn
Robert Reichelt
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Stacey Blackmon
John Bleecker
Dr. Jerry Dunn
Janie Perelman
Bob Shema
Catherine Whitman
Marilyn Willems
Al Zapanta (Ex Officio)
Rochelle Zapanta
SYMPHONY LEAGUE PRESIDENT
Connie Dunn
OFFICE/GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR
Judyann Robinson
SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER
Kristin Anderson
OVATION PROGRAM
Judyann Robinson
CONCESSIONS CO-MANAGERS
Jill Stephens
Lois Bair
PAST PRESIDENTS | CHAIRMEN
1962 N.E. (Mike) Grisham † 1963
1964-65
1965-66
James Gregory
Joe Rich
Pierce Shannon †
1966-68 Joe Vardeman † **
1968-69 Lynn Brown † 1969-71 Neill English † ** 1971-72
Oscar Hazelbaker † 1972-73 Wre Sutherland † 1973-74 Jim Ratteree † 1974-75 Mark Gordon 1975-76 Larry Bellah 1976-78 Arnold Martin † ** 1978-79 George Edwin † 1979-80
George Pepper 1980-81 Phil Silvernail
1981-82
1982-83
Edward Holmes
Curtis Headrick 1983-84 Jim Mcdougal † 1984-85 Ron Capps
1985-86
Gene Sparks † 1986-87
Norman McMurry † 1987-88
Robert Doan
1988-89 Earlene Matkin
1989-90
James Spriggs † 1990-91 Wanda Daugherty 1991-92 Harm Schreur † 1992-93 Don Schiller 1993-94 Ron Drew 1994-96
Jennings Smith † ** 1996-97 Frank Cannon 1997-98
Milton Cardwell, MD 1998-99 Don Oberlin, MD † 1999-00 Frank Flatley † 2000-01 Thomas Prague † 2001-02 Robert M. Curtis 2002-03
René Castilla 2003-04 Beverly Adams 2004-06 Chris Wallace ** 2006-08 Robert Martinez ** 2008-09 Rick Kroner 2009-10 Dale Walsh 2010-12 Lisa Hultz ** 2012-15 Charles Hosler** 2015-17 Connie Dunn** 2017-18 Victor Arias, Jr. Bob Shema
2018-21 Connie Dunn** 2021-23 Chris Wallace** 2021-25 Lisa Hultz**
† Deceased
** Served two or more consecutive terms as president/chairman
DISTINGUISHED
2024 | 2025
OVERTURE CIRCLE - $100,000+
City of Irving - Irving Arts Board
UNDERWRITER'S CIRCLE - $25,000 - $49,999
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Stemmons Foundation
MAESTRO'S CIRCLE - $10,000 - $24,999
Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Beach
Christus Health
Communities Foundation of Texas
Grace & Thom Davis
Design Block Zero (Bob Shema)
Kohl Foundation
Oncor
Parmenter Mandalay Towers
CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE - $5,000 - $9,999
BNSF Railway
Donna & Bob Bourgeois
Connie & Jerry Dunn
Fidelity Investments Frost Bank
Mrs. Denise Buzard Snipes
PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE - $2,500 - $4,999
Mr. & Mrs. James Anderson
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Bettis
Mr. & Mrs. John Bleecker
Mrs. Jan Boyce
Mr. George P. Cole II
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Hultz
National Endowment for the Arts
Texas Commission on the Arts
AMATI CIRCLE - $1,000 - $2,499
Mr. James Beach
Mr. & Mrs. Stacey Blackmon
Ms. Dawn Pennington Campbell
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Chris
Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Djinov
Mr. & Mrs. Héctor Guzmán
Ms. Laurie Kane
Mrs. Marguerite Korkmas
Dr. & Mrs. Howard Miles
Ms. Kathrine Pennington
Ms. Janie Perelman
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Rippel
CONCERTMASTER'S CIRCLE - $500 - $999
Mrs. Diann Contestabile
Dr. & Mrs. Lance Pickard
MUSICIAN'S CIRCLE - $100 - $499
Anonymous
Ms. Kim Andres
Mr. & Mrs. Victor Arias, Jr.
Ms. Patty Caperton
Ms. Patricia Capra
Mr. & Mrs. Ted Davidson
Richard Gordon & John Harpool
Mrs. Kathy Howard
FRIENDS CIRCLE - $50 - $99
Anonymous
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Anderson
Mr. Joe Flores
Ms. Rose Hultgren
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Griffith
Mr. Steven Hoisington
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Hopwood
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Jett
Mrs. Gabriela Kenny
Vianey & Sonny Mansoori
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Matter
Ms. Laurie Garvie
Ms. Nell Anne Hunt Kroger Company
Mr. R.B. Reichelt
Texas Commission on the Arts
Mrs. Jeannie Buzard Williamson
Mr. Chris E. Wallace
Ms. Catherine Whiteman
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Shema
Ms. Bettye Thomes
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Walker
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Walsh
Ms. Marilyn Willems
Mr. & Mrs. Al Zapanta
Kaye & Oscar Ward
Dr. A. Marie Morris
Mrs. Anne Pfaff
Ms. Judy Pierson
Mrs. Nancie Rissing
Ms. Judyann Robinson
Mr. & Mrs. Zade Rosenthal
Mr. & Mrs. Lee Swann
Mrs. Karen Washington
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Tanner
Tom Thumb
HONORARIUMS
Marguerite Korkmas
By: Mrs. Mary Higbie
MEMORIALS
Victor Arias, Sr.
By: Ms. Kathrine Pennington
Mr. Chris Wallace
Patricia & Robert Buzard
By: Ms. Kathrine Pennington
Mrs. Denise Buzard Snipes
Mrs. Jeannie Buzard
Williamson
Rick Lindsey By: Anonymous
Joyce Flemming
By: Dr. & Mrs. Robert Bettis
Mr. George Cole
Ms. Kathrine Pennington
Ms. Judyann Robinson
Mr. Chris Wallace
Barbara Scott
By: Ms. Kathrine Pennington
Mrs. Anne Pfaff
Thank you for making donations, honorariums, and memorials in care of:
Irving Symphony Orchestra Association
Kathrine Pennington
By: Ms. Laurie Garvie
Ms. Nell Anne Hunt
Kay Weaver
By: Dr. & Mrs. Robert Bettis
Mrs. Janet Boyce
Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Dunn
Ms. Kathrine Pennington
Ms. Judyann Robinson
Mr. Patrick Shields
www.irvingsymphony.org | ed@irvingsymphony.org
The radio voice for classical music & the arts in North Texas
Serenity Meets Upscale Dining
Serenity Meets Upscale Dining
Located on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Mokara Spa provides a luxurious spa experience from head to toe Escape from your daily routine and make time for a relaxing massage, rejuvenating facial, or pampering nail service Please scan the first QR code to view all services
ed on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Mokara Spa provides a urious spa experience from head to toe. Escape from your daily routine and make time for a relaxing sage, rejuvenating facial, or pampering nail service Please scan the first QR code to view all services
Located on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Mokara Spa luxurious spa experience from head to toe. Escape from your daily routine and make time for a massage, rejuvenating facial, or pampering nail service Please scan the first QR code to view all
Located on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Mokara Spa provides a luxurious spa experience from head to toe Escape from your daily routine and make time for a relaxing massage, rejuvenating facial, or pampering nail service Please scan the first QR code to view all services
Located on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Mokara Spa provides a luxurious spa experience from head to toe Escape from your daily routine and make time for a relaxing massage, rejuvenating facial, or pampering nail service Please scan the first QR code to view all services
LRH Restaurant & Bar is the epitomal dining experience in prestigious Las Colinas Conveniently located in the heart of “El Ranchito de Las Colinas” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH pays homage to the local community through its name and Texas-inspired cuisine Please scan the second QR code to view our menu
Serenity Meets Upscale Dining
LRH Restaurant & Bar is the epitomal dining experience in prestigious Las Colinas Conveniently located in the heart of “El Ranchito de Las Colinas” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH pays homage to the local community through its name and Texas-inspired cuisine Please scan the second QR code to view our menu
staurant & Bar is the epitomal dining experience in prestigious Las Colinas. Conveniently located in the of “El Ranchito de Las Colinas” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH pays homage to the local community through its name and Texas-inspired cuisine. Please scan the second QR code to view our menu.
LRH Restaurant & Bar is the epitomal dining experience in prestigious Las Colinas. Conveniently loc heart of “El Ranchito de Las Colinas” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH pays homage to the local c through its name and Texas-inspired cuisine. Please scan the second QR code to view our m
LRH Restaurant & Bar is the epitomal dining experience in prestigious Las Colinas Conveniently located in the heart of “El Ranchito de Las Colinas” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH pays homage to the local community through its name and Texas-inspired cuisine Please scan the second QR code to view our menu
Located on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Mokara Spa provides a luxurious spa experience from head to toe Escape from your daily routine and make time for a relaxing massage, rejuvenating facial, or pampering nail service Please scan the first QR code to view all services
Located on the Mandalay Canal at Lake Carolyn adjacent to Omni Las Colinas Hotel Mokara Spa provides a luxu head to toe Escape from your daily routin ing mass pampering nail service Please scan the fir ces
LRH Restaurant & Bar is the epitomal dining experience in prestigious Las cated in the heart of “El ” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH p community throug nspired cuisine. Please scan the secon menu.
A D D I T I O N :
•Mokara S y from 10 AM6 PM
•Please call (972) 402-8883 to make an appointment
I O N A L I N F
•Mokara Spa is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 AM6 PM
I O N A
D D
LRH Res mal dining experience in prestigious Las Co in the heart o nas” or “Little Ranch of the Hills”, LRH pays unity t -inspired cuisine Please scan the second
• •
I N F O R M A T I O N :
•Please call (972) 402-8883 to make an appointment
•Mokara Spa is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 AM6 PM
•Please call (972) 402-8883 to make an appointment
• • Spa is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 AMll (972) 402-8883 to make an appointment.
•Mokara Spa is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 AM6 PM.
• •
• •
LRH is open Sunday M and Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - midnight
Reservations can be made by calling (972) 556-0800 or via OpenTable
LRH is open Sunday - Thursday from 11 AM - 11 PM and Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - midnight
Reservations can be made by calling (972) 556-0800 or via OpenTable
LRH is open Sunday - Thursday from 11 AM - 11 PM and Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - midnight
•Please call (972) 402-8883 to make an appointment.
• • •Mokara Spa is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 AM6 PM.
•Please call (972) 402-8883 to make an appointment
LRH is open Sunday - Thursday from 11 AM - 11 PM and Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - midnight
Reservations can be made by calling (972) 556-0800 or via OpenTable
LRH is open Sunday - Thursday from 11 AM - 11 PM and Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - midnight
• •
LRH is open Sunday - Thursday from 11 AMand Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - midnight
Reservations can be made by calling (972) 556-0800 or via OpenTable
Reservations can be made by calling (972) 556-0800 or via OpenTable
Reservations can be made by calling (972) 556 via OpenTable
BNSF Railway
proudly supports the Irving Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra
