8, 2024
& CONCERT HONORING MARIAN ANDERSON
HOME OF THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA REDEDICATED JUNE
JUNE 8, 2024
or the very first time, welcome to Marian Anderson Hall. This evening is about many things, but principally it is about a powerful connection of musical and American history for our beloved city.
Beginning with this concert, the name of Marian Anderson—one of the greatest voices of the 20th century, civil rights icon, and proud Philadelphian—will grace the portals of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s home in perpetuity. We are deeply honored to inhabit this living memorial to an exceptional Black American artist.
Here, we make very visible and very real our commitment to the ideals by which Anderson lived her life: equity, justice, freedom, and the belief that the arts are for everyone. Tonight’s performance will feature our great Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director Yannick NézetSéguin, Queen Latifah, Angel Blue, Audra McDonald, Latonia Moore, and Marcus Roberts— trailblazers, like Anderson, who are helping to create an inclusive future for the performing arts. The beautiful program includes a new orchestration of Florence Price’s arrangement of “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord,” 85 years after Anderson sang the work at her historic 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial—a celebratory act of resistance after she was barred from performing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, because of her race.
We will honor Marian Anderson’s name and legacy with our music, always. Every day, in text messages and conversations among Philadelphians and visitors, between family members, friends, and music-lovers, we will see and hear the constant refrain of a most wonderful, new, uniquely Philadelphia phrase: “See you in Marian Anderson Hall!” Her name will be on tickets, in program books, on our website, in promotional brochures, and in advertisements. Marian Anderson will be ubiquitous again, and her presence will be part of every performance.
The dedication of Marian Anderson Hall began with a visionary $25 million gift from Board Trustee and former Chair Richard Worley and Leslie Miller, herself a former Trustee and, for a time, president of the Kimmel Center. Theirs is a truly selfless act of philanthropic leadership. To create and sustain a lasting monument of this stature is a massive effort, an ongoing collaboration with the people and communities of Philadelphia and beyond. We extend our deepest thanks to Rich and Leslie, and our appreciation to all those who brought us to this moment: the Great Stages Gala sponsors and co-chairs, the distinguished honorary chairs of the Great Stages Gala and Marian Anderson Hall Rededication, as well as our dedicated Board of Trustees, musicians of the Orchestra, and staff.
See you in Marian Anderson Hall!
Dianne and Jeffrey Rotwitt
Molly D. Shepard and Peter J. Dean
Dr. Marie Stuart
Philip C. Timon
Jack and Ramona Vosbikian
Joseph and Ashley Zebrowitz
Anonymous
Principal Sponsor
Dr. Susan C. Aldridge
Ivan C. Anderson, Jr.
Sherrin Baky-Nessler*
Sibby Brasler
Nancy Brodie
Brown Advisory
Elinor H. and James M. Buck III
Amy and Terry Buckman
Patricia Carson
Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness
Lynette Chappell-Williams
Dr. Robert Cody
Michael and Constance Cone
Eleanor L. Davis
Nancy and Kenneth Davis
Robert and Patricia Delany
JoAnne and Albert DiSanto
Henry and Kathy Donner
Elise Drake
Drexel University
Kate Duffy
Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
Mary and Richard Emrich
Exit Design
Linda Frankel
Diane Fuchs
Susan B. Giesecke, M.D., and A. Charles Winkelman, M.D.
Lauren Gilchrist
Gwynne and Don Grasberger
Robert Heim and Eileen Kennedy
Craig and Marianne Hillemeier
Eric and Lenora Hume
Erika H. James, Ph.D.
Philip P. Jaurigue
Dr. Deborah Jordan
Toba and Lawrence Kerson
Matías Tarnopolsky President and CEO
Michael Lynagh and Peg Mertz
Joseph Kluger and Susan Lewis
Jeffrey and Susan Leonard
Joseph M. Manko, Sr.
The Hon. Frederica Massiah-Jackson
Jasmine Moore
Natalie Nixon, Ph.D.
Philadelphia Zoo
Jourdan Marie Porter, Psy.D.
Richelle and Kameron Rabenou
Josephine and Thomas Rees
The Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell and Arthur Tilson
Jon and Karen Richter
Nancy and John Rogers
Jeanne Ruddy and Victor F. Keen
Anne Schoemaker
Jason Schupbach
Dianne L. Semingson
Irene McMenamin Shabel
Richard and Amanda Smoot
Ann R. Sorgenti
Judith Sills Swartz and Randy Swartz
Dr. R.J. Wallner
Dr. Sankey V. Williams and the Hon. Constance H. Williams
Dr. Dilys V. Winegrad
Maria Parisi Vickers
Richard and Diane Woosnam
Huanjie Yuan
Anonymous
Donation
Elizabeth Baim
Robert Bubeck
Marybeth Henry
Ian and Emily Kaufman
Bennett Keiser and Joy Wilf Keiser
Sally and Tod MacKenzie
Timothy O’Neill and Elizabeth Murphy
Jennifer and Ralph Watts
Barclay Whitaker
*Deceased
Sponsors as of May 16, 2024
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“ ”
The minute a person ... dares to take the open-heart ed and courageous way, many others follow.
—MARIAN ANDERSON
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Marian Anderson performing at the Academy of Music in 1937
MARIAN ANDERSON HALL
n February 27, 1897, a great American singer was born in Philadelphia.
Anderson’s family grew roots in South Philadelphia after her grandfather, who was born a slave, made his way to the area after emancipation. It is within this community that she found her relationship with music. Anderson began singing in churches and performing throughout the city for local events. Eventually, at the age of 10, she joined the People’s Chorus of Philadelphia.
Between 1925 and 1965 she toured domestically and internationally with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throughout the United States and Europe. Over 20 years, between 1937 and 1957, she sang 12 times with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
In 1939, after being denied access to Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, because of her race, Marian Anderson gave a concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
That performance, championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, attended by 75,000, and heard on the radio by millions of listeners across America, cemented her place in American history as a rebuke to the forces of bigotry and injustice. In 1955, Anderson became the first Black artist to sing a leading role with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and was named a permanent member of the Metropolitan Opera company.
The acclaimed contralto has transcended cultural provocations by employing the gift of music to set a public stage. And while her legacy began in Philadelphia, her social impact surpasses place and time.
Marian Anderson storytelling
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Marian Anderson’s voice has reverberated throughout history.
Now, we are honored to include June 8, 2024, as another milestone in Anderson’s powerful legacy.
Marian Anderson Hall will stand as a permanent monument to her artistry and achievements, a reflection of the inclusive future she helped to engender, and an active testament to the intersection of art and positive social impact. Here, we will perform with the joy of Marian Anderson’s ongoing presence, we will celebrate her life and legacy, and we will inspire generations of young artists.
This year’s landmark Great Stages Gala symbolizes the growth and evolution of our organization— a commitment that propels us into the future.
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Right: Marian Anderson performing at the Lincoln Memorial, 1939
he Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts is boldly leading the way in building a bright, inclusive future for the performing arts— as the center of cultural life in Philadelphia, and as a model for the nation. With extraordinary artistic ambition and a commitment to reflecting the magic on stage in every interaction, we leave an indelible mark on audiences through the transformative power of the performing arts.
This is where a universe of world-class art forms, genres, and ideas takes shape. With the acclaimed Philadelphia Orchestra and visionary Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin as the centerpiece, we feature vibrant, multi-genre programming performed at the highest level, animating our stages—including the newly renamed Marian Anderson Hall—and attracting millions to our venues each year. We are delivering on a vision to increase accessibility, embrace equity and inclusion, reflect the diversity of our region, deepen community roots, and cultivate places of belonging.
At the heart of our work is the belief that the arts are for everyone.
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“ ”
My goal in life is to make sure that everyone feels welcome in the music and in the concert halls.
—YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN MUSIC
AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WALTER AND LEONORE ANNENBERG CHAIR
Photo: Ryan Donnell
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Photo: Margo Reed
“ [You are] ... a great unifier in our globe, in our commonwealth, and here in our city, no matter the race, class, socioeconomic status, the zip code, sexual orientation, identity, or religion. There is something about melody, music, and art that allows us to feel our human oneness. ”
—PHILADELPHIA MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER
THE ARTS AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE
This is a moment to redouble our commitment to inclusivity and access to the arts through new and expanded initiatives inspired by Marian Anderson’s lifelong commitment to artistry and social justice.
ARTISTIC INITIATIVES
With Marian Anderson’s name gracing the hall that is the home of The Philadelphia Orchestra, her daily presence has become a galvanizing force for our organization, and for all Philadelphians. We are proud to name the already diverse array of performances across our venues in her honor, and to build on our core artistic belief that the arts are for everyone, with the launch of the Marian Anderson Artistic Initiative. Showcasing composers and artists who embody Anderson’s passion for increasing inclusivity, diversity, equity, and access in the performing arts, the Marian Anderson Artistic Initiative contributes to the advancement of a more representative art form.
ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITIES
With programming as diverse as our region, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts is uniquely positioned to serve as a convener of Philadelphia’s vibrant and engaged communities. In addition to delivering artistic and arts education programming in our venues, our staff, artists, and musicians are active in neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and partner organizations, with the goal of serving our communities in authentic and meaningful ways.
In partnership with the United Negro College Fund, we are creating a new endowed scholarship in Marian Anderson’s name in support of students from the Philadelphia region studying the performing arts or pursuing a career in performing arts administration at schools throughout the country.
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REVITALIZING OUR LANDMARK VENUES
There is no more fitting location for the first major concert venue in the world in Anderson’s name than her hometown of Philadelphia, also home to one of the world’s greatest orchestras and to a thriving performing arts community. Maintaining world-class venues requires continuous investment. Each year, we must raise critical funds to address the capital needs of our venues, ensuring they remain viable for future generations. From acoustical enhancements to technological upgrades, from weather proofing to climate control, these improvements are essential to preserving the integrity of the performances and providing unparalleled experiences.
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Miller Theater, and the Academy of Music are among Philadelphia’s most iconic buildings and are treasured community assets. We must ensure that they are prepared to serve 21st-century audiences and 21st-century presentations.
The Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza is also in need of stage and acoustic upgrades to help us fully realize our goal of the Plaza as a convening space for the community. We are committed to providing free programming in the Plaza, lowering the barrier of access to the arts for all.
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Photo: Al B. For
INSPIRING FUTURE ARTISTS
Mighty Writers teaches Philadelphia-area children to “think clearly and write with clarity.”
We invited their 2023 fall contest winner Domonique Bateman to compose the following reflection inspired by Marian Anderson.
For I am the child scorned by the burning mark of racial turmoil
Suffocated by the threatening stares, hateful thoughts, and societal warfare
I am the imposter, the burden, the grim taint of impurity
The tiptoeing of polished penny loafers and the quiet click-clacking of kitten heels
You may point your nose up in disgust
Frown at the smooth mahogany shadow trailing behind me
Clutch your pearls at my bodacious strut
But you cannot silence me
Why?
I care not for your envious eyes
Or your pretentious “hmphs”
Or maybe it’s the superficial smiles
Is it a blessing from the heavens?
That I can give you a slice of euphoria
Come my child and listen
Press your ear against my heart
You’ll hear the thumping of authenticity
Each beat inching you toward revelations
That your words cannot pierce the thick grafts of skin
For I was shunned with my spirit of advocacy
I cannot be weak
For a woman is only as strong as her community
I am armored with the affirmations of my brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, pastors and council
You cannot strip me of my faith and persistence
For virtue will always reign victorious
I have trodden through the murky waters of division
Crawled through the blazing desert
And you believe a word could deter me?
I have waltzed my way through ballrooms
Sashayed in luxurious quarters
Lounged in upscale hotels
Shook hands with the legendary
Despite your malicious intent
I am the phoenix that arose from the brute pile of ashes–
Triumphant
And there is no end to the things I can accomplish
“If you have a purpose in which you believe, there’s no end to the amount of things you can accomplish.”
— MARIAN ANDERSON
DOMONIQUE BATEMAN
is an 11th grader at North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey. She writes primarily about love, identity, community, and culture.
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GREAT STAGES GALA CONCERT
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 8:00 PM
MARIAN ANDERSON HALL
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN
Music and Artistic Director, and Conductor
QUEEN LATIFAH
Host
LATONIA MOORE
Soprano
AUDRA MCDONALD
Soprano
ANGEL BLUE
Soprano
MARCUS ROBERTS
Piano
Traditional/orch. Gray “My Country, ’Tis of Thee”
Verdi Overture to La forza del destino
Sondheim and Rodgers/arr. Einhorn/orch. Dabbon “Children Taught, Listen Carefully”
Coleman Fanfare for Marian
World premiere—Commissioned by The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Price from Symphony No. 3 in C minor: III. Juba: Allegro
Sibelius Finlandia, Op. 26
Puccini “Vissi d’arte,” from Tosca
Traditional “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
Traditional/arr. Price/orch. Gray “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord”
This program runs approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes, and will be performed without an intermission.
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THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
The world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience, and to create joy, connection, and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country, and around the world. Through innovative programming, robust education initiatives, a commitment to its diverse communities, and the embrace of digital outreach, the ensemble is creating an expansive and inclusive future for classical music, and furthering the place of the arts in an open and democratic society. Yannick Nézet-Séguin is now in his 12th season with The Philadelphia Orchestra, serving as music and artistic director. His connection to the ensemble’s musicians has been praised by both concertgoers and critics, and he is embraced by the musicians of the Orchestra, audiences, and the community.
Your Philadelphia Orchestra takes great pride in its hometown, performing for the people of Philadelphia year-round. The Orchestra’s award-winning education
and community initiatives engage over 50,000 students, families, and community members of all ages. Through concerts, tours, residencies, and recordings, the Orchestra is a global ambassador and one of our nation’s greatest exports. It performs annually at Carnegie Hall, the Mann Center, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Bravo! Vail Music Festival. The Orchestra also has a rich touring history, having first performed outside Philadelphia in its earliest days. In 1973 it was the first American orchestra to perform in the People’s Republic of China, launching a five-decade commitment of people-to-people exchange.
Under Yannick’s leadership, the Orchestra returned to recording with 13 celebrated releases on the Deutsche Grammophon label, including the GRAMMY® Award–winning Florence Price Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3. The Orchestra also reaches thousands of radio listeners with weekly broadcasts on WRTI-FM and SiriusXM.
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Photo: Jeff Fusco
YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN MUSIC AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who holds the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair, is currently in his 12th season with The Philadelphia Orchestra, serving as music and artistic director. Additionally, he became the third music director of New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 2018. An inspired leader, Yannick is both an evolutionary and a revolutionary, developing the mighty “Philadelphia Sound” in new ways. His intensely collaborative style, deeply rooted musical curiosity, and boundless enthusiasm have been heralded by critics and audiences alike.
Yannick has established himself as a musical leader of the highest caliber and one of the most thrilling and sought-after talents of his generation. He has been artistic director and principal conductor of Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain since 2000 and in 2017 he became an honorary member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Yannick has shown a deep commitment to expanding the repertoire by embracing an ever-growing and diverse group of today’s composers and by performing
the music of under-appreciated composers of the past. In 2018 he signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. Under his leadership The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to recording with 13 releases on that label, including Florence Price Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3, which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Orchestral Performance.
A native of Montreal, Yannick studied piano, conducting, composition, and chamber music at Montreal’s Conservatory of Music and continued his studies with renowned conductor Carlo Maria Giulini; he also studied choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College. Among Yannick’s honors are an appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada; Companion to the Order of Arts and Letters of Quebec; an Officer of the Order of Quebec; an Officer of the Order of Montreal; an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres; Musical America’s 2016 Artist of the Year; and honorary doctorates from numerous institutions in both Canada and the United States.
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Photo: Landon Nordeman
HOST QUEEN LATIFAH
Queen Latifah is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award–winning and Oscar-nominated musician, actress, producer, label president, author, and entrepreneur. She has had amazing success since her career began in Hollywood, and in 2006 she became the first hip-hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She received rave reviews, an Academy Award nomination for “Best Supporting Actress,” a Golden Globe nomination, and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination for her portrayal of Mama Morton in the feature musical Chicago. She also received an Emmy Award nomination, a Golden Globe win, and a SAG Award win for her role in the cable film Life Support. In 2015 she earned an Emmy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, and a SAG Award for her role in the cable film Bessie, which she also produced. She most recently was a 2023 honoree at the 46th Kennedy Center Honors. Queen Latifah’s additional film credits include Jungle Fever, Set It Off,
Bringing Down the House, The Last Holiday, Beauty Shop, Girls Trip, and End of the Road Her television credits include Living Single and Star. She additionally starred in the live television adaptations of The Wiz Live! for NBC and The Little Mermaid Live! for ABC.
Queen Latifah has earned six GRAMMY Award nominations, as well as a GRAMMY Award for “Best Solo Rap Performance.” In 2004 she was nominated for “Best Female Rap Solo Performance” for “Go Head.” In 2005 she was nominated for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” for The Dana Owens Album, and in 2008 she was nominated for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” for Trav’lin’ Light
Queen Latifah currently stars and is an executive producer on the CBS series reboot of The Equalizer. The show recently wrapped its fourth season and has been renewed for a Season 5.
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SOLOIST LATONIA MOORE
Considered one of the greatest sopranos in the world today, Latonia Moore opened the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 season as Sister Rose in Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Other season highlights include Margherita in Boito’s Mefistofele at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, a reprise of Billie in Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones at the Metropolitan Opera (with which she opened the Met’s 2021–22 season and made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut), and Verdi’s Requiem at the BBC Proms.
Ms. Moore has received acclaim for her portrayal of the title role in Verdi’s Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Zurich Opera, Opera Australia, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, English National Opera, the New National Theatre in Tokyo, Dallas Opera, San Diego Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Detroit Opera, and the Ravinia Festival, among others. Additional operatic highlights include Cio-Cio San in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera, the
Semperoper Dresden, and the Hamburg State Opera; Liù in Puccini’s Turandot at the Royal Opera Covent Garden and in Bilbao; the title role in Puccini’s Tosca and Elisabeth in Verdi’s Don Carlos with Opera Australia; Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème with the Semperoper Dresden; Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen, Elvira in Verdi’s Ernani, and Lucrezia in Verdi’s I due Foscari in Bilbao; Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello at Bergen National Opera; and Serena in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at English National Opera and Dutch National Opera.
Ms. Moore’s orchestral appearances include Vivetta in Cilea’s L’arlesiana and Fidelia in Puccini’s Edgar with the Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall and Bess in Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic and Simon Rattle. She has recorded Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth with English National Opera for Chandos and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Vienna Philharmonic for Deutsche Grammophon.
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SOLOIST AUDRA MCDONALD
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. She is the winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two GRAMMY Awards, and an Emmy, and in 2015 she received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. She won Tonys for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, which also served as the vehicle for her Olivier Award–nominated 2017 debut in London’s West End.
On television, Ms. McDonald won an Emmy Award as the official host of PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center and received nominations for Wit, A Raisin in the Sun, and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She stars as Liz Reddick in The Good Fight on Paramount+ and gueststars as Dorothy Scott in Julian Fellowes’s
historical drama The Gilded Age on HBO and HBO Max. Her film credits include Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect.
A Juilliard-trained soprano, Ms. McDonald has performed Poulenc’s La Voix humaine and LaChiusa’s Send (who are you? I love you) at Houston Grand Opera and Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at Los Angeles Opera. She has issued five solo albums on the Nonesuch label as well as Sing Happy with the New York Philharmonic on Decca Gold. She also maintains a major career as a concert artist, regularly appearing on the great stages of the world and with leading international orchestras. A founding member of Black Theatre United, board member of Covenant House International, and prominent advocate for LGBTQAI+ rights, her favorite roles are those performed off stage as an activist, wife to actor Will Swenson, and mother.
Photo: Allison Michael Orenstein
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SOLOIST ANGEL BLUE
Angel Blue has emerged in recent seasons as one of the most influential sopranos before the public today. The two-time GRAMMY Award winner, 2020 Beverly Sills Award recipient, and 2022 Richard Tucker Award winner is celebrated worldwide for her honeyed soprano and affecting deliveries of many of the most beloved roles in the operatic repertory, such as Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata, Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème, and Destiny/Loneliness/ Greta in Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones.
The 2023–24 season saw Ms. Blue as Leonora in Verdi’s Il trovatore at San Francisco Opera, the title role in Puccini’s Tosca at the Vienna State Opera, and Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen and a role debut as Magda in Puccini’s La rondine, both at the Metropolitan Opera. Other recent performance highlights include her debut in the title role of Verdi’s Aida at the Royal Opera House and a tour with the
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Equally active on the concert platform, Ms. Blue has appeared in recital and in concert in over 40 countries. Her orchestral engagements have included concert versions of Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic and with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Munich Philharmonic, Strauss’s Four Last Songs with the London Philharmonic, Peri in Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri with the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Cincinnati Symphony.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Ms. Blue dedicated her time to encouraging younger singers to stay motivated to finish their studies and continue in opera through an online talk show called Faithful Friday, where she interviewed people she found inspiring. Ms. Blue was raised in California and completed her musical studies at UCLA.
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Photo:
Dario Acosta
SOLOIST MARCUS ROBERTS
Pianist Marcus Roberts is known throughout the world for his many contributions to jazz music as well as his commitment to integrating the jazz and classical idioms to create something wholly new. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where his mother’s gospel singing and the music of the local church left a lasting impact on his music. He began teaching himself to play piano at age five after losing his sight but did not have his first formal lesson until age 12 while attending the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. At age 18 he went on to study classical piano at Florida State University.
Mr. Roberts has won numerous awards and competitions, including the Helen Keller Award for Personal Achievement and the 2024 Dorothy and David Dushkin Award by the Music Institute of Chicago. His critically acclaimed legacy of recorded music includes solo piano, duets, and trio arrangements of jazz standards as well as original suites of
music for trio, large ensembles, and symphony orchestra. He launched his own record label, J-Master Records, in 2009. One of his more recent endeavors is the Modern Jazz Generation, a multigenerational band that is the realization of his long-standing dedication to training and mentoring younger musicians.
Mr. Roberts is also an accomplished composer and has been commissioned by Chamber Music America, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Atlanta Symphony, the Saito Kinen Orchestra, and the American Symphony Orchestra, among others. He was awarded a grant by South Arts and the Doris Duke Foundation for the creation of the audio-video project Tomorrow’s Promises. In addition to providing support to younger musicians, he continues to find ways to serve the blind and other disabled communities. Mr. Roberts is a professor of music at the Florida State University College of Music and a distinguished professor of music at Bard College.
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164 YEARS OF GREATNESS AND COUNTING
The Academy of Music has been home to world-class performances and momentous life events for generations of Philadelphians and visitors from around the world. Proceeds from the Great Stages Gala benefit the restoration of the Academy of Music, along with the programs, people, and venues of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts.
Photo: Jessica Griffin
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ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 1865
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
2023–2024 SEASON
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Music and Artistic Director
Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair
Nathalie Stutzmann
Principal Guest Conductor
Ralph and Beth Johnston Muller Chair
Austin Chanu and Tristan Rais-Sherman
Assistant Conductors
Joseph Conyers
Education and Community Ambassador
Mark and Tobey Dichter Chair
Charlotte Blake Alston
Storyteller, Narrator, and Host
Osagie and Losenge Imasogie Chair
Frederick R. Haas
Artistic Advisor
Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience
First Violins
David Kim, Concertmaster
Dr. Benjamin Rush Chair
Juliette Kang, First Associate Concertmaster
Joseph and Marie Field Chair
Christine Lim, Associate Concertmaster
Marc Rovetti, Assistant Concertmaster
Dr. James F. Dougherty Chair
Barbara Govatos
Robert E. Mortensen Chair
Jonathan Beiler
Hirono Oka
Richard Amoroso
Robert and Lynne Pollack Chair
Yayoi Numazawa
Jason DePue
Larry A. Grika Chair
Jennifer Haas
Miyo Curnow
Elina Kalendarova
Daniel Han
Julia Li
William Polk
Mei Ching Huang
Second Violins
Kimberly Fisher, Principal
Peter A. Benoliel Chair
Paul Roby, Associate Principal
Sandra and David Marshall Chair
Dara Morales, Assistant Principal
Anne M. Buxton Chair
Philip Kates
Peter A. Benoliel Chair
Davyd Booth
Paul Arnold
Joseph Brodo Chair, given by Peter A. Benoliel
Boris Balter
Amy Oshiro-Morales
Yu-Ting Chen
Jeoung-Yin Kim
Willa Finck
Violas
Choong-Jin Chang, Principal
Ruth and A. Morris Williams, Jr., Chair
Kirsten Johnson, Associate Principal
Kerri Ryan, Assistant Principal
Judy Geist
Renard Edwards
Anna Marie Ahn Petersen
Piasecki Family Chair
David Nicastro
Burchard Tang
Che-Hung Chen
Rachel Ku
Marvin Moon
Meng Wang
Cellos
Hai-Ye Ni, Principal
Priscilla Lee, Associate Principal
Yumi Kendall, Assistant Principal
Elaine Woo Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr., Chair
Richard Harlow
Orton P. and Noël S. Jackson Chair
Kathryn Picht Read
Robert Cafaro
Volunteer Committees Chair
Ohad Bar-David
John Koen
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Derek Barnes
Alex Veltman
Basses
Joseph Conyers, Principal
Carole and Emilio Gravagno Chair
Gabriel Polinsky, Associate Principal
Nathaniel West, Acting Assistant Principal
David Fay
Duane Rosengard
Michael Franz
Christian Gray
Some members of the string sections voluntarily rotate seating on a periodic basis.
Flutes
Jeffrey Khaner, Principal
Paul and Barbara Henkels Chair
Patrick Williams, Associate Principal
Rachelle and Ronald Kaiserman Chair
Olivia Staton
Erica Peel, Piccolo
Oboes
Philippe Tondre, Principal
Samuel S. Fels Chair
Peter Smith, Associate Principal
Jonathan Blumenfeld
Edwin Tuttle Chair
Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia, English Horn
Joanne T. Greenspun Chair
Clarinets
Ricardo Morales, Principal
Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Chair
Samuel Caviezel, Associate Principal
Sarah and Frank Coulson Chair
Socrates Villegas
Paul R. Demers, Bass Clarinet
Peter M. Joseph and Susan Rittenhouse Joseph Chair
Bassoons
Daniel Matsukawa, Principal
Richard M. Klein Chair
Mark Gigliotti, Co-Principal
Angela Anderson Smith
Holly Blake, Contrabassoon
Horns
Jennifer Montone, Principal
Gray Charitable Trust Chair
Jeffrey Lang, Associate Principal
Hannah L. and J. Welles Henderson Chair
Christopher Dwyer
Chelsea McFarland
Ernesto Tovar Torres
Shelley Showers
Trumpets (position vacant)
Principal
Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest Chair
Jeffrey Curnow, Associate Principal
Gary and Ruthanne Schlarbaum Chair
Anthony Prisk
Trombones
Nitzan Haroz, Principal
Neubauer Family Foundation Chair
Matthew Vaughn, Co-Principal
Blair Bollinger, Bass Trombone
Drs. Bong and Mi Wha Lee Chair
Tuba
Carol Jantsch, Principal
Lyn and George M. Ross Chair
Timpani
Don S. Liuzzi, Principal
Dwight V. Dowley Chair
Angela Zator Nelson, Associate Principal
Percussion
Christopher Deviney, Principal
Charlie Rosmarin, Associate Principal
Angela Zator Nelson
Piano and Celesta
Kiyoko Takeuti
Keyboards
Davyd Booth
Harp
Elizabeth Hainen, Principal
Librarians
Nicole Jordan, Principal
Holly Matthews
Stage Personnel
Dennis Moore, Jr., Manager
Francis “Chip” O’Shea III
Aaron Wilson
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GREAT STAGES GALA THANK YOU!
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts extends a very special thank you to our 2024 Great Stages Gala Co-Chairs, Anne C. Ewers, Osagie and Losenge Imasogie, Sidney and Caroline Kimmel, Ralph and Beth Johnston Muller, Caroline B. Rogers, and Michael D. Zisman. In addition, we extend our sincere thanks to our Honorary Chairs.
The Honorary Chairs of the Marian Anderson Hall Rededication and Great Stages Gala are analogous to the Sponsors of Anderson’s 1939 Lincoln Memorial performance. They are
Anderson’s family members, descendants of her friends and supporters, barrier-breaking artists, and luminaries who carry forward her legacy. We are deeply grateful to them for their support.
We also recognize members of our Host Committee, who have provided vital outreach for this event, ensuring that this recognition of Marian Anderson is a community celebration.
Marian Anderson Hall was named in her honor by a visionary philanthropic gift from Richard Worley and Leslie Miller. We extend our deepest gratitude for their transformative leadership. Additional generous support for Marian Anderson Hall was given by Sidney and Caroline Kimmel. We also thank the family and estate of Marian Anderson, whose enthusiasm and support for this initiative have been crucial.
Marian Anderson’s dress courtesy of the Danbury Museum and Historical Society
Photo: Margo Reed
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ralph W. Muller
Chair
Matías Tarnopolsky
President and Chief Executive Officer
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Music and Artistic Director, The Philadelphia Orchestra
James P. Brandau, M.D.
Patrick J. Brennan
Jeffrey Brown
Karen Dougherty Buchholz
Elaine Woo Camarda
Sara Cerato*
Joseph Ciresi
Michael M. Cone
Robert R. Corrato
Rev. Luis A. Cortés, Jr.
Sarah Miller Coulson
Robert J. Delany, Sr.
Mark S. Dichter
Jeff Dittus
Joseph M. Field
Mark J. Foley
John Fry
Lauren Gilchrist
Donald A. Goldsmith
Juliet J. Goodfriend
Julia Haller, M.D.
Robert C. Heim
Nina Henderson
Osagie O. Imasogie
Patricia Harron Imbesi
Erika H. James, Ph.D.
Philip P. Jaurigue
Bennett Keiser
Christopher M. Keith
David Kim*
Neal W. Krouse
Lauren Lambrugo*
Joan Lau
Brook J. Lenfest
Jeffrey A. Leonard
Bruce G. Leto
Tod J. MacKenzie
Joseph M. Manko, Sr.
David G. Marshall*
John H. McFadden
Jami Wintz McKeon
Stan Middleman
Dara Morales*
Ralph W. Muller
Elizabeth Murphy
Yannick Nézet-Séguin*
William Polk*
Jon Michael Richter
Caroline B. Rogers
Michele Kreisler Rubenstein
Charles E. Ryan
Kerri Ryan*
Adele K. Schaeffer
Dianne Semingson*
Peter L. Shaw
Adrienne Simpson
Matías Tarnopolsky*
Matthew A. Taylor
Jennifer F. Terry
Sherry Varrelman
Nathaniel West*
Rob Wilson
Dalila Wilson-Scott
Richard B. Worley
Joseph Zebrowitz
Bin Zhang
Michael D. Zisman
James W. Zug*
*Ex-officio As of March 2024
Academy of Music Board of Trustees
Caroline B. Rogers Chair
Ryan Fleur Secretary
Mario Mestichelli Treasurer
James P. Brandau
Anne F. Hamilton
Harry E. Hill III
Scott S. Johnson
Teresa C. Kenny
Bruce G. Leto
John H. McFadden
Ralph W. Muller
John R. Saler
Adele K. Schaeffer
Linda Fynes Siegfried
Matías Tarnopolsky
Michael D. Zisman
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The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts gratefully acknowledges the 2024 Great Stages Gala Committee Members
CO-CHAIRS
ANNE C. EWERS
OSAGIE AND LOSENGE IMASOGIE
SIDNEY AND CAROLINE KIMMEL
RALPH AND BETH JOHNSTON MULLER
CAROLINE B. ROGERS
MICHAEL D. ZISMAN
HONORARY CHAIRS
Stacey Abrams
Marin Alsop
Martina Arroyo
Christine Baranski
Jamie Bernstein
Robert W. Bogle
Joan Myers Brown
Joseph Conyers
Misty Copeland
Ginette DePreist
Jennifer DePreist
Ava DuVernay
Renard Edwards
Renée Fleming
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Clive Gillinson
Denyce Graves
Chris Hyams
Sherrilyn Ifill
Nicole Jordan
David Kim
Yo-Yo Ma
Wynton Marsalis
Audra McDonald
Bobby McFerrin
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Leontyne Price
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Maura Roosevelt
Nicholas Roosevelt
Booker Rowe
Robert F. Smith
Pierre Tourville
John Williams
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HOST COMMITTEE
LESLIE PATTERSON-TYLER AND REV. DR. MARK KELLY TYLER
Co-Chairs
Dr. Susan C. Aldridge
Sibby Brasler
Charlene Collins
Dr. J. Donald Dumpson
Ruth Naomi Floyd
Susan Levy Giles
Anne Hamilton
Ramon Jones
Dr. Ashley Jordan
Dr. Keith Leaphart
Stephanie Naidoff
Dr. Patrick and Evelyn Sample Oates
Katie and Tony Schaeffer
Adrienne Simpson
Richard Lee Snow
Elicia Pegues Spearman
Judith Sills Swartz
Laurin Talese
Shariah Dixon Turner
Union Baptist Church, Loretta Lewis, Trustee
Rev. Dr. Alyn and Dr. Ellen Jo Waller
Dyana Williams
We are also grateful to the Danbury Museum and Historical Society, the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, the National Portrait Gallery, and Ginette DePreist for their support of, and participation in, the Hall rededication.
Photo: Casey Rodger
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2024 GREAT STAGES GALA SPONSORS
Lead Sponsor
John McFadden and Lisa Kabnick
Ralph and Beth Johnston Muller
Platinum Sponsor
Comcast NBCUniversal
Joanna McNeil Lewis
Caroline B. Rogers
Gold Sponsor
Daughters of the American Revolution
Duane Morris, LLP
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center
Leonard P. and Irina Wilson Gage
Chris Hyams and Lize Burr
Patricia and John Imbesi
Independence Blue Cross
Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer and Joseph Neubauer
Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation
PNC
Mari and Peter Shaw
Stradley Ronon
Michael D. Zisman
Silver Sponsor
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®,
Omega Omega Chapter
Jeffrey and Tracy Brown Foundation, Inc.
Sarah Miller Coulson
Jeff Dittus and Stefanie Langer
Edith R. Dixon*
Mimi Drake, Cerity Partners and Dr. Tom Drake
Anne C. Ewers
Carole Haas Gravagno
Matt and Anne Hamilton
Hannah L. Henderson
Osagie and Losenge Imasogie
Rachelle and Ronald Kaiserman
Morgan Lewis
Netcarrier
Joan Rechnitz
Adele K. Schaeffer
S. Christopher and Dalila Wilson-Scott
TD Bank
Laurie Wagman
Bronze Sponsor
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Dr. Vijay and Mrs. Susan Aggarwal
Ballard Spahr LLP
James P. Brandau
Arthur M. Brewer
N. Judith Broudy
Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
Sara A. Cerato
Melanie and John Clarke on behalf of the League of American Orchestras
Dr. and Mrs. Robert R. Corrato
Lisa Crutchfield
Tobey and Mark Dichter
Dilworth Paxson LLP
Roberta and Carl Dranoff
J. Luke and Barbara Wilson Engeriser
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Forman Family Foundation
Julia A. Haller, M.D., and John D. Gottsch, M.D.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Hill III
Alexa and Michael Hogarty
Independence Foundation
Arthur M. Kaplan and R. Duane Perry
Christopher M. Keith
Neal Krouse and Karl Fong
Lauren Lambrugo
Drs. Brook and Joan Lau
Malmud Kravitz Foundation
David and Sandy Marshall
JP Morgan Private Banking
nContext
NJM Insurance Group
Louise H. Reed
Lyn M. Ross
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