2023–2024 IMPACT REPORT
ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS
Mercury’s Downtown Series concert “Crimson Prince of Venice” (January 2024) brought to life a dramatic duel between two violin titans: Vivaldi and Paganini. Designed to offer audiences a one-of-a-kind concert experience, the performance featured critically acclaimed dancers from the Houston Ballet, Connor Walsh and Melody Mennite, along with period costumes and dynamic multimedia effects on stage.
Mercury kicked off the season with “Bach’s Mighty Fortress” (October 2023) featuring the Mercury Singers—Mercury’s own professional professional vocal ensemble led by Dr. Betsy Cook Weber that joins the orchestra for several concerts throughout the season.
Each spring, Mercury holds auditions at Juilliard in NYC, selecting up to four post-graduate students for a one-year fellowship with the ensemble. These fellows perform with Mercury throughout the season, gaining valuable performance experience while introducing Houston audiences to the next generation of outstanding period musicians. For the 2023-2024 season, violinists Amelia Sie and Lydia Becker, recent graduates of Juilliard’s Historical Performance Program, were chosen as Mercury-Juilliard Fellows Amelia and Lydia performed a recital on May 16 that coincided with a derecho that caused widespread power outages across Houston, including at their venue. Despite the circumstances, the fellows performed their recital for a few dedicated patrons in the dark.
ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS
Mercury welcomed mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte for its final Neighborhood Series concert titled “Boleros: Songs from Latin America” (April 2024). This series of five concerts celebrated Latin American culture through beloved boleros, drawing large, enthusiastic audiences and introducing many new listeners to Mercury’s performances.
Mercury concluded its season with a period instrument performance of Schumann’s First Symphony and Brahms’ powerful Fourth Symphony. Held just days after the May 16 derecho that devastated Downtown Houston with widespread damage, the concert still drew an appreciative audience, showcasing live music’s unique ability to bring people together in challenging times.
ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
At the start of the 2023-2024 season, Mercury welcomed two new team members to its administrative staff: Chloe Bruns, Development Manager of Institutional Giving, and Brittany Schroeder, Development Manager of Individual Giving. The addition of these roles has strengthened Mercury’s fundraising capacity, enabling more targeted outreach and effective stewardship of relationships with both institutional funders and individual supporters.
In March, gala chairs Kenny and Gaby Owen hosted An Arabian Night, Mercury’s 16th annual gala, held at the brand-new Thompson Houston hotel—the first gala ever hosted at this venue. This unforgettable evening drew a record-breaking 370 guests, making it Mercury’s highest attended gala to date. With an extravagant Arabian Nights-inspired performance led by Artistic Director Antoine Plante, the event raised $290,000 after expenses in support of Mercury’s mission.
ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
In June, Mercury was honored to perform at the League of American Orchestras 2024 National Conference, held at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Houston. As a conference kickoff event, Mercury presented a free concert at Discovery Green, titled “Baroque to Boleros” which invited both local community members and conference delegates to enjoy an evening of Latin American and Baroque music. Additionally, all Mercury staff members attended the conference, gaining valuable insights and industry knowledge to bring back to the organization.
Mercury continues to livestream all our performances. In 2023-2024, Mercury saw 3,061 viewing households with 17% of Mercury at Home ticket purchasers coming from outside of Texas, spanning Canada, Australia, Spain, Japan, Korea, France, Switzerland, and Columbia. (End sentence there and remove part about states)
Over 300 Super Subscribers—season ticket holders who also donate to the organization—joined Mercury backstage at the Wortham’s Cullen Theater for an exclusive end-of-season celebration following the final Downtown Series concert, “Brahms’ Fourth.”
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Mercury began the season in September with its annual free community concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Over 5,000 attendees joined us for a program titled “Mozart by Moonlight.”
In November, internationally acclaimed violinist Rachel Barton Pine led a masterclass for orchestra students in the string program at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Four students received hands-on coaching from the professional musician, who also shared personal insights and experiences from her career.
Mercury’s education programs have engaged more than 20,000 students over the past five years, bringing teaching artists into Title I schools to work with children and to perform entertaining and curriculum-based concerts. During the 2023-2024 school year alone, Mercury’s education initiative enriched the lives of over 4,000 students in Houston ISD and Lamar CISD. The teaching artists involved included Kathleen Carrington (Viola), Daphnee Johnson (Cello), Brenda Rengel (Violin), Mayara Velázquez (Cello/Violin), Andrés González (Violin/Cello), Stephen Martin (Bass/Cello), and Matthew Dudzik (Cello).
By linking to school curriculum and standards, Mercury’s in-school performance, “Shakespeare vs Cervantes,” served as a dynamic learning platform, exposing students to the contributions and writings of two literary giants, Shakespeare and Cervantes, paired with musical works by Vivaldi and Telemann.
Katie Carrington teaching at HISD school
Students at HISD schools enjoying a performance from Mercury musicians
Rachel Barton Pine and orchestra students at Kinder HSPVA
55 IN-PERSON CONCERTS
10
AT-HOME BROADCASTS
5,000
ATTENDEES AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE COMMUNITY CONCERT
21,750
AUDIENCE MEMBERS
118 ARTISTS ENGAGED
12+ PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVED THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS
91%
SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL RATE
10,913
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
4,500+
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ENGAGED
COUNTRIES REACHED BY STREAMING
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
June 30, 2024 and 2023
During the 2023-2024 season, Mercury Chamber Orchestra achieved solid financial growth, with revenue peaking near $1.7 million. Key revenue drivers included significant individual contributions, a successful annual gala, and growaing audiences. Expense management kept spending aligned with revenue, while increased cash reserves helped boost Mercury’s financial resilience. With a thriving audience base and balanced budgeting, the 2023-2024 season set the stage for Mercury’s continued growth and community impact, creating a healthy foundation for artistic organizational success in the future.
July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023
CONTRIBUTED REVENUE
MERCURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA DONORS
MERCURY PATRON SOCIETY
Based on total giving from 7/1/2023-6/30/2024
Mercury’s Patron Society recognizes individuals making annual leadership gifts of $2,500 or more. Mercury is grateful to the following individuals whose annual contributions provide vital support for the organization and make our concerts, events, and music education programs possible.
PLATINUM
Steve & June Barth*
Donna & Mike Boyd*
William Gould & Patricia Branton*
Kirsten Jensen & David Kerley*
Stephen & Kristine Wallace*
Lynn & Oscar Wyatt*
Anonymous (2)
GOLD
Mollie & Wayne Brunetti*
Blake & Martha Eskew*
John & Mariko Jordan*
Mrs. Warren Kreft*
Rosemary Malbin*
Rose Ann Medlin & William E. Joor III*
Gaby & Kenny Owen*
Antoine Plante & Lori Muratta
SILVER
Joe & Kim Caruana
Rebecca Fieler*
William & Jane Guest
Lloyd Kirchner*
Kelly & David Rose*
BRONZE
Jessica & Jay Adkins*
The Estate of George E. Antunes
Walter Mark & Mary Kay Buehler*
Robert N. Chanon*
Marcia & Thomas Faschingbauer*
Debra & Mark Gregg
Virginia Hart & Robert Navo*
Nick Jameson
Cristela & Bill Jonson*
Lili & Hans Kirchner*
Keith & Julie Little*
Ms. Mimi Lloyd*
D M Marco*
Carol & Joel Mohrman*
Neil Sackheim & Stephen Voss*
Robert Sartain*
Linda & Tom Sparks
Ralf van der Ven
Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski
Nina & Michael Zilkha*
Anonymous
PATRONS
Michael & Marsha Bourque*
Drs. Susan & Dennis Carlyle
Mindy & Josh Davidson*
Mrs. Edward N. Earle*
Marilyn & Bill Eiland*
Mary Foster & Don Desimone*
Caroline Freeman
Peter & Chris Godfrey
Carter & Nancy Hixon*
Janice & Timothy Howard*
Mr. Duane C. King & Ms. Carmen Delgado*
Forrest Lumpkin*
Michael & Angelika Mattern*
Luc Messier & Julie Fette*
Dr. Maureen O’Driscoll-Levy
Dr. & Mrs. Christopher Prince*
Andrew J. Sackheim*
James E. Smith & Sasha Van Nes*
Ann Tornyos*
Douglas & Carolynne White*
Courtney Williams MD*
*Subscribers
We greatly appreciate each gift given to support Mercury, and we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please notify Brittany Schroeder of any inaccuracies or omissions by contacting her at brittany@mercuryhouston.org
MERCURY SUPPORTERS
Mercury is grateful to the following individuals whose ongoing support makes our concerts, events, and music education programs possible.
BENEFACTORS
James & Barbara Becker
John Robert Behrman*
Carl R. Cunningham
The Carl & Phyllis Detering Foundation
Dr. Bill & Sharon Donovan
Rena & Richard D’Souza
Gary Gardner & Peg Palisin*
Connie & James Garson*
Leonard Goldstein & Helen Wils*
Janice & Timothy Howard*
Capital Builders
Shannon & Jamie Mann
Betsy & Rick Weber
Anonymous*
SUPPORTERS
Joel Abramowitz & Rita Bergers*
Clarruth Seaton & Greer Barriault
Thomas Beach*
D. Bentley*
Cheryl Verlander & Chuck Bracht
Melinda & William Brunger
Gilbert Cote*
Zed S Choi
Deborah Lugo & Andrés González
Miriam & Harold Hudson
Mary Angela Knauss
Mary & Rodney Koenig
Steve & Elaine Roach*
Penny & Sean Lewis*
Meredith & Ralph Stone
Amy Waldorf
Geoffrey Walker & Ann Kennedy
Trey Wilkinson Anonymous
DONORS
David Bartlow
Margaret Preston & Robert Baumgartner*
Drs. Yvonne Chen & Brandon Bell
Dr. Jerry L. Bohannon*
Gwen Bradford
Becky Browder*
Rustin Buck*
C. Robert Bunch*
*Subscribers
Yun Shin Chun
Steven Cowart
Chris & Delia Cowles*
Valerie Cramer*
Irene & Bryan Crutchley*
Benée & Chris Curtis*
Carla & Michael Deavers
Dana Dilbeck*
Risha & Patrick Dozark
Frank & Mariam Dumanoir
Corey Eickenloff*
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Ferenz*
Sydney Free*
Angelica Garza
Leslie Gassner
Vernon Gillette*
Dennis Griffith & Louise Richman
Tamara Haygood*
Kirk Hickey & William Maguire*
Richard & Ruth Hirschfeld
Anne Houang
Shane Hudson*
Brad & Alida Johnson*
Michele Joy & Tom Shahriari
Allen Karger*
Cheryl M. Katz
Frank & Lynda Kelly*
Edward Kenny*
Dennis & Casey Kiley*
Georgia & Stephen Kimmel*
Victoria & Alex Lazar
Mrs. Laura Leib*
Eli Levinowitz
Jim & Ellana Livermore*
Juan Ignacio Mangini
Rebecca Marvil
Nancy Wynne Mattison*
John H. Meltzer*
Steve & Kerry Morby
Robb & Audrey Moses
Jim O’Rourke
Will & Emily Perry
Ed & Janet Rinehart*
Melanie L. Rogers*
Robert & Rosanne Romero*
Dorry Shaddock*
Carol & Tom Sloan*
Richard & Joan Spaw*
Tommy Swate
Carolyn & Arthur Thompson*
Lindsey & Cory Vanarsdel*
Beatriz & Peter Varman*
Adriana Wechsler & Patrick Kelly*
Janet & Rich Wheeler
The Cruz-Wiley Family
Elizabeth D. Williams*
Dr. Robert K. Wimpelberg & Peter Hodgson*
Martha & Richard Wright*
Paul & Andrea Yatsco
Tom Young & Steve Nall
Anonymous (3)
FRIENDS
Keith Anthis
Jerry S. Baiamonte
Lesly Barrientos
Krisa Benskin
Daniel Biediger*
Daniel & Helene Booser
Kathy & Walker Brickey*
Wm. F. Brothers, Jr.*
Leslie Brown
Michael & Michaele Brown*
Ian John Butler
Ignacio Carrion
Claudia Castillo
Alex
Hobart Corwin
Roseline et Karl
Alexander Crabtree*
Lesa Curry
Allan & Bente Davies
Lesley Douthwaite
Clarice Droughton*
Todd & Emma Edwards*
Sepideh Fashami
K. Ferguson
Mark & Alicia Filley
Chalon Fontaine
Laurent Fouilloud-Buyat
Bolivar Fraga
Svetlana Franklin
Terry Gardner
Gail Gould
Mark Happe
Alma Harris
Jean Harris
Genevieve Hernandez
Richard Hickman
Mark Hoose*
Luke Howe*
Srivathsan Iyengar
Kimberly Leishner
Lisa Marcelli
David & Mary Jo Martin
James McFarland
The Miller Family
Caleb Mwika
Carol & Barry Myones
Ugochukwu Onochie
Julie & Chip Oudin*
Jehan-Francois Paris*
Jose Pastrana
Maria Olga Patino
Tim & Robin Phillips
Dr. Dennis Pieters
Ava Plummer*
Rumpelstiltskin
The Power Family
Elizabeth Price
Patricia de Groot & Marc
Puppo*
Patricia Rathwell*
Jorge M. Rivas
Jim Robin*
Daniel Robison*
Stephen Ronczy*
Charles & Andrea Seay
Craig & Ann Shepard
Hinda Simon
James Smith
Claudia Soler Alfonso
Baxter & Patricia Spann
FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATE COUNCIL
Mercury is grateful to the following foundations, government entities and Corporate Council members whose ongoing support makes our concerts, events, and music education programs possible.
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE
Houston Endowment Inc.
Anonymous
CONCERTMASTER’S CIRCLE
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts
PLATINUM CIRCLE
ConocoPhillips
Houston Arts Alliance
Texas Commission on the Arts
The Wyatt Foundation
Tyler Starkel
Mark Stine
Barbara J. Taake*
Susan L Taylor*
Ellie Tyson
Katherine Vukadin
Elizabeth Fountain & John Ward
Jim Winn
Edith A. Wittig
John B. Zodrow
Anonymous (74)
*Subscribers
GOLD CIRCLE
de Boulle Diamond & Jewelry
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Advisory Board
National Endowment for the Arts
Shell Oil Company Foundation
SILVER CIRCLE
The Albert and Ethel Herzstein
Charitable Foundation
The Sartain & Tamez Family Trust Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation
South Coast Terminals
BRONZE CIRCLE
Arts Connect Houston
Bp Foundation
Chevron
ExxonMobil Foundation
Truist
MERCURY GALA SUPPORTERS
Mercury is grateful to the following individuals and corporations who supported our 2024 Gala, “An Arabian Night,” helping us raise funds to support our concerts and education initiatives.
PALACE OF PROPHECIES
June & Steve Barth
BAZAAR OF WONDERS
ConocoPhillips
de Boulle Diamond & Jewelry
Kayla Larson & Dillon Klein |
Marissa & Shane Gilroy
Kenny & Gaby Owen
Allison Shell & Martijn van Koolwijk
ELIXIR OF ETERNITY
Adell, Harriman & Carpenter, Inc.
Sarah Morgan & Oscar Brown
Lori Muratta & Antoine Plante
Western Midstream SLT
LAMP OF INFINITE DREAMS
Courtney Jean & Jonathan Ackerman | Monica & Amit Jhunjhunwala
Anaceli Aldaz & Javier del Olmo
The Donovan Family
Shelby & Eric Nielsen
Platform Partners
Kelly & David Rose
VEIL OF ENCHANTMENT
Acretio
Vanessa & Brandon Bailey
Lindsay Yates & Brian Ching
Susie & Juan Cintron
Citi
Meghan & Kevin Downs
Martha & Blake Eskew |
Marcia & Tom Faschingbauer
Amy & Blair Garrou
Debra & Mark Gregg
Ginny Hart & Robert Navo
Haynes Boone
Chris Hill & Heidi Hanna
Kirsten Jensen & David Kerley
Lande & Chris Juban
Julie & Keith Little
Mexcor International | The Morales Family
Jennifer & Joel Moore
The Periches & The Olsens
Neil Sackheim & Stephen Voss | Andrew Sackheim |
Marilyn & Bill Eiland
Christine & Jan Spin |
Jean-Pierre Baizan
Lisa & Mike Stewart
Truist
Vortex Companies
Kristine & Stephen Wallace |
Mary Kay & Mark Buehler
TICKETS & DONORS
The Bayne & Drakey Families
Marsha & Michael Bourque
Kari & Aaron Byrd
Brenda & Joe Carr
Kim & Joe Caruana
Annette & Knut Eriksen
Rebecca Fieler
Mary Foster & Don Desimone
Ana Treviño-Godfrey and Sebastian Godfrey
Jamie & Bobby Hillin
Christy & Webb Jennings
Cristela & Bill Jonson
Rose Ann Medlin & William E. Joor III
Carol & Joel Mohrman
Jennifer & Joel Moore
Christine & David Owen
Gretchen & Ken Penny
Sandra & Fred Pounds
Christine & Jan Spin | Jean-Pierre Baizan
Lisa & Mike Stewart
Michael Sulton
ORCHESTRA & SINGERS
Antoine Plante, Conductor
Lynn Wyatt Artistic Director Chair
Betsy Cook Weber Director, Mercury Singers
VIOLIN
Jonathan Godfrey, Concertmaster
Anabel Ramírez, Asst. Concertmaster
Oleg Sulyga, Principal Second Violin
Emily Richardson
Jacob Schafer
Ervin Luka Sešek
Rachel Shepard
Amelia Sie*
Hannah Watson
Joanna Becker
Lydia Becker*
Chloe Fedor
Andrés González
Jackson Guillen
Marisa Ishikawa
Kana Kimura
Matt Lammers
Maria Lin
VIOLA
Kathleen Carrington, Principal
Amber Archibald
Whitney Bullock
Matthew Carrington
Matthew Weathers
Rainey Weber
Sergein Yap
CELLO
Courtenay Vandiver
Pereira, Principal
Clara Abel
Keiran Campbell
Max Geissler
Ellie Traverse Herrera
Kristiana Ignatjeva
DOUBLE BASS/ VIOLINE
Deborah Dunham, Principal
Paul Ellison
Erik Gronfor
Antoine Plante
RECORDER/ HURDY GURDY
Gilles Plante
FLUTE
David Ross, Principal
Andrea LeBlanc
OBOE
David Dickey, Principal
Pablo Moreno
CLARINET
Thomas Carroll, Principal
Elise Bonhivert
BASSOON
Nate Helgeson, Principal
Georgeanne Banker
Stephanie Corwin
Morgan Davison
TRUMPET
Kris Kwapis, Principal
Leo Hernandez
Amanda Pepping
HORN
Todd Williams, Principal
Sarah Cyrus
Sadie Glass
Nate Udell
TROMBONE
Greg Ingles
Erik Schmalz
Mack Ramsey
PERCUSSION/ TIMPANI
Jesús Pacheco, Principal
Craig Hauschildt
THEORBO/ GUITAR
David Jacques
Héctor Torres González
HARPSICHORD/ ORGAN
Mario Aschauer
Bryan Anderson
MERCURY SINGERS
Briana Kerner
Brianna Fernandez
Chelsea Berner
Evan Cooper
Grace Roman
Jennifer Breneman
Jesús Bravo
Joel P. Williams
John Gallagher
Jordan Martinez
Justine Alexander
Mark Edenfield
Matthew Reynolds
Maximillian Macias
Michael Skarke
Nadiah Eleskandrany
Namarea
Randolph-Yosea
Nicole Colby
Phillip Velarde
Rachael Castillo
Sarah Neal
Stephanie Kopesky
Stephen Ash
Travis Falknor
Andreea Muţ, Rehearsal Piano
*Mercury-Juilliard Fellow
STAFF & BOARD
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Brian Ritter Executive Director
Katie DeVore Operations Manager
Chloe Bruns Development Manager, Institutional Giving & Operations
Brittany Schroeder Development Manager, Individual Giving
Andrés González Education Manager
Matthew Carrington Personnel Manager & Librarian Sponsored by Rebecca Fieler
2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Barth, President
Keith Little, Treasurer
Rebecca Fieler, Secretary
Blake Eskew, Immediate Past President
Antoine Plante, Artistic Director
Brian Ritter, Executive Director
Mark Berry
Marsha Bourque
Kevin Downs
Sofia Durham
Marcia Faschingbauer
Shane Gilroy
William Guest
Ginny Hart
Kirsten Jensen
Lloyd Kirchner
Forrest Lumpkin
Melissa Taylor Graphic Designer
Sectorlab LLC Marketing Consultant
Tyler Starkel, YPTC Accountant
Rose Ann Medlin
Ken Owen
James E. Smith
Ana Treviño-Godfrey
Ralf van der Ven
Stephen Wallace
Lynn Wyatt, Special Advisor
MISSION VISION
“TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY CELEBRATING THE POWER OF MUSIC THROUGH TEACHING, SHARING, AND PERFORMING WITH PASSION, INTIMACY, AND EXCELLENCE.”
• BE THE MOST WELCOMING AND INNOVATIVE ARTS INSTITUTION IN HOUSTON.
• BE AN EXEMPLARY PERIOD INSTRUMENT ENSEMBLE FOR THE NATION.
• TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF A DIVERSE AUDIENCE THROUGH MUSIC.