Mid-Texas Symphony Annual Report 2020-21

2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Mission Statement

Mid-Texas Symphony creates memorable experiences to ignite and sustain lifelong appreciation of symphonic music.

ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY

On behalf of the Mid-Texas Symphony Society, we proudly share this Annual Report with our supporters. Your gifts and grants made it possible for us to successfully navigate the series of challenges this year of COVID presented, ready to begin the 2021-2022 season with artistic and financial optimism.

Music Director Akiko Fujimoto planned a wonderful 2020-2021 season; but the pandemic’s societal restrictions required her to jettison the fall portion and devise a digital fall season of chamber concerts; interviews; and retro concerts. Looking at other orchestras for templates, she trimmed the spring season to hybrid in-person/live-streamed, socially-distanced, 45-minute concerts that were performed without intermission. That last sentence alone is a catalog of many of the things learned during the COVID year.

Our musicians responded almost immediately after the lockdown began by developing wonderful digital small concerts that we were proud to send to our supporters on a regular basis.

Prevented from holding our annual children’s concerts, MTS produced a digital video with teacher’s guide that went to 92 public and private schools in 6 Central Texas counties We were honored to be asked by the New Braunfels Parks & Recreation Department to help them open their Symphony Trail in Landa Park.

The operations of the MTS were bolstered by help from the federal government in the form of a Payroll Protection Program grant; the Small Business Administration (SBA) targeted advance grant; the SBA Economic Impact Disaster Loan targeted advance grant supplement; the SBA Shuttered Venue Operators grant; and a Rescue Grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. MTS also benefitted from generous contributions from foundations, local governments, civic organizations, and individual donors.

Thank you to each and every one of you! We could not have made it without you. We look forward to returning to full-length live concerts and your continued support during the 2021-2022 season.

Sincerely,

Ellen Salyers President

Jason Irle Executive Director

A LETTER FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

During the 2020-21 season of the Mid-Texas Symphony, the organization completely revised the originally scheduled season and found creative ways to provide music while keeping our musicians, staff and patrons safe

From September through December, we presented an all-digital fall season by releasing one of the following types of videos on-line weekly: Musical Message (digital concerts with commentary by MTS musicians and guest artists); Behind the Scenes (music director’s interviews with MTS musicians and special guests); MTS Retro (audio playback of past MTS concerts); and Virtual Happy Hour (Zoom gatherings for MTS patrons) On the educational front, we produced and distributed Young Texans’ Guide to the Orchestra – a 45-minute video for elementary students introducing instruments of the orchestra (including the conductor!)

In the spring, we performed three in-person concerts – Libertango, Sound of Cinema and Jupiter – all socially distanced and live streamed, and with limited in-person audience for the last two When the orchestra and the audience finally faced each other in March, the joy of being reunited was palpable in the hall, and we were all reminded of the importance of the human connection achieved by sharing live music together This was a bittersweet triumph, as social distancing forced us to utilize only a limited number of musicians per concert Instead, the entire orchestra was heard digitally in January when we released on-line Kaleidoscope, a collection of past MTS performances from disparate concerts unified by a common theme, and all musicians were invited to contribute individual videos of solo performances for a new digital series called Musical Minutes, which were released from February through April

Out of this most challenging season, two beautiful gems shone through: our musicians who exhibited amazing creativity and professionalism in adapting to the myriad changes and delivered at the highest artistic level; and the passion surrounding the Mid-Texas Symphony from all of our supporters I am extremely proud of our musicians and eternally grateful to our board, staff and patrons, without whose support we could not have achieved all that we did

Akiko Fujimoto Music Director

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2020-21 SEASON

The finale at Libertango Concert March 7, 2021

Jupiter concert soloist; Laura Scalzo, violin

Sound of Cinema Concert

March 28, 2021

April 5, 2021

MTS@HOME

The MTS@Home Series began as the result of a brief phone call in May 2020 from Executive Director Jason Irle to Concertmaster Craig Sorgi, asking Craig if he put could together a 3-5 minute digital musical video to send out to our subscribers.Slowly and then more and more frequently, MTS musicians provided digital concerts, blog posts, spotify lists, and more – all without compensation.

The Mid-Texas Symphony would like to thank the following musicians for the generous donation of their talent and creativity over the summer of 2020

Jonathan Castillo, Bassoon

Margaret Hager, Viola

Eliza Jeffords, Viola

Liz Lee, Cello

Kristin Mortenson, Violin

Shana Norton, Harp

Donny Pinson, Trombone

Sherry Rubins, Percussion

Laura Scalzo, Violin

Craig Sorgi, Violin

Vanguel Tangarov, Clarinet

Mary Thornton, Trumpet

Click on the images to hear the music.

Concertmaster Craig Sorgi,

Concertmaster Laura Scalzo, and Eliza Jeffords, viola, performing Beethoven Birthday Bash Part 1

July 30, 2020

Principal Harp Shana Norton performs

Sophia Dussek's Thy Fatal Shafts in her garden

July 2, 2020

Asst.

FALL 2020 DIGITAL SEASON

Legend:

Musical Message - an intimate musical performance by MTS musicians and guest artists

Virtual Happy Hour - a Zoom gathering for members of the MTS family including musical performances and spoken remarks by musicians, staff and others.

MTS Retro - a concert playback (audio) of a past MTS performance with commentary from MTS conductors and musicians

Behind the Scenes - interviews with members of the MTS family, hosted by Music Director Akiko Fujimoto.

Click on the links below to watch and listen to the music.

9/8

Virtual Happy Hour & Season Opener

Performers: Laura Scalzo, Assistant Concertmaster & Vanguel Tangarov, Principal Clarinet

Speakers: Craig Sorgi, Concertmaster, Jason Irle, Executive Director & Ellen Salyers, Board President

MC: Akiko Fujimoto

9/10

Musical Message by Jennifer Berg, Principal Oboe

Behind the Scenes: An Oboist’s Journey to MTS Guest: Jennifer Berg

9/17

MTS Retro: TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 (September 16, 2018)

Behind the Scenes: How MTS Found a Music Director

Guest: Andrew Gignac, Principal Trumpet

9/24

Musical Message by Craig Sorgi: Playing It Safe with Craig & Co.

Behind the Scenes: Making of Craig's Corona Concerts

Guest: Craig Sorgi

10/8

Behind the Scenes: History of MTS by the Founding Mothers

Guests: Nina Mavrinac, Principal Second Violin & Eithne Goetz, Librarian and former Section Violin

MTS

10/15

Musical Message by Charles Yang, violin

10/29

Musical Message by Craig Sorgi: Playing It Safe with Craig & Co.

11/5

Musical Message by Eliza Jeffords, Assistant Principal Viola, Liz Lee, Cello & TLU Orchestra

Behind the Scenes: Being an Artist-Teacher at MTS & TLU Guest: Eliza Jeffords

11/12

Musical Message: Veterans Day with Sherry Rubins, Principal Timpani & Percussion

11/19

Musical Message: CASALS (arr. Mairs) Song of the Birds featuring Dan Zollars, Principal Cello. Steve Peterson, video/audio editor.

Behind the Scenes: Celebrating David Mairs, Conductor Emeritus

11/25

Musical Message by Craig Sorgi: Playing It Safe with Craig & Co. [Thanksgiving Edition]

12/5

Musical Message (holiday) from Shana Norton, Principal Harp

12/8

Virtual Holiday Happy Hour

Performers: Rick Novak, tenor & Rita Linard, Principal Flute

12/24

Musical Message & Season Finale by Craig Sorgi: Playing It Safe with Craig & Co. [Christmas Edition]

12/31

Musical Message: Craig and Co.- Playing It Safe The “New Year’s Eve Special” Edition

MTS

EDUCATION AND FAMILY OUTREACH

For over 33 years, patron contributions have allowed the Symphony to provide free orchestral concerts to fourth- and fifth-grade students in Comal and Guadalupe Counties. When the pandemic prevented this from happening, we created a digital video - “The Young Texan’s Guide to the Orchestra” with teacher’s guide - that was sent to 92 schools in 22 school districts in 6 Central Texas counties. Over 6,000 students viewed this video that we were able to make available at no cost to the school districts because of the continued support of our patrons.

New Braunfels Parks & Recreation Department approached MTS and asked us to serve as a consultant for their installation of a musical trail of over-sized percussion instruments. Sherry Rubins, Principal Percussionist, provided the Parks Department with advice on the placement of the instruments and schematics for simple tunes that anyone could play. Symphony Trail in Landa Park in central New Braunfels opened on November 9, 2020 and is a park feature visited every day by children and adults alike.

MTS

SYMPHONY GUILD

Every year, the Symphony Guild raises funds to benefit the Symphony through poinsettia sales and the presentation of young women as debutantes at balls held in the two communities of Seguin and New Braunfels. Poinsettia sales in both communities raised $13,900 during 2020-21 fiscal year.

The New Braunfels Guild chapter presented a class of nine debs at a live-streamed, socially-distanced presentation. Even balls were modified in response to the pandemic!

The following young women and their escorts were presented on January 30, 2021:

Jenna Elizabeth Buck, daughter of Keith and Anne Buck, escorted by James Windrow, son of Dr. Zach and Malissa Windrow

Lauren Amelia Hill, daughter of Randy Hill and Vickie Hill, escorted by Aaron Seidel, son of Sammy Rodriguez and Corey Conradt

Rebecca Rae Ingram, daughter of Bruce Ingram, Jr. and Sheila Jacobs escorted by Michael Starr, son of Darryl and Cindy Starr

Hannah Kathleen Lewis, daughter of Doug Lewis and Michelle McIlnay, escorted by Cameron Welch, son of Keith and Shana Welch

Chloe Marie Martin, daughter of Rodney and Stephanie Martin, escorted by Rylan Cox, son of Brian and Casey Cox

McKenzie Rae McMullen, daughter of Kenneth and Wendy McMullen, escorted by Charles Rodney Wipf, son of Lance and Amy Wipf

Mia McKenzie Weidenbach, daughter of Eric Weidenbach and Scott and Michelle Schwandt, escorted by Cameron Dunbar, son of Gion and Kim Dunbar

Emily Elizabeth Windrow, daughter of Dr. Zach and Malissa Windrow, escorted by Michael White, son of Mike White

Caroline Routh Young, daughter of Johnny and Brandi Young, escorted by Hampton McCollum, son of Derek and Joy McCollum

Stag: Blake Deering, son of Stephen and Carmen Deering

BEHIND THE SCENES SPOTLIGHTS

Susan Braden

Long-time San Marcos resident, Susan Braden has served on the MTS Board since 2012. That was the year she discovered MTS when the Symphony’s Chamber Players performed at the Price Center in San Marcos. As a long-time supporter of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Susan was no stranger to symphony music. After joining the MTS Board, Susan worked on a number of committees. She became co-chair and is now chair of the Special Events Committee, which organizes and presents the Christmas Dinner, pre-and post-concert receptions, and other events. During the pandemic year, Susan chaired our committee that implemented COVID safety protocols for both musicians and audience members. Susan and her family have been very generous in their financial support of the Symphony. Staff and fellow Board members know they can count on Susan for good ideas and the manpower to implement them.

Eithne Goetz

Eithne Goetz can truly be called a Founding Mother of the Mid-Texas Symphony. A native of Ireland and wife of the late Dr. Joe Goetz, Eithne has lived in Seguin since 1976. She became involved with the Symphony in 1978 when she read an article about Anita Windecker and her fellow pioneers, announcing the Symphony’s formation Eithne decided she wanted to be a part of this new organization and joined the Symphony Guild. In fact, she was the hospitality chair for a champagne reception following the initial Symphony performance.

Before the second concert, she joined the Symphony as a member of the violin section, and played until 2018 Since 1995, she has been the organization’s Music Librarian A symphony’s librarian is an essential member of the staff, responsible for all aspects of the musical scores. As well as distributing and collecting music for every concert, Eithne catalogs and maintains a database of all the music we own and when it was performed, helps prepare the season budget for music and musicians, purchases or rents any new music programmed, and monitors compliance with copyright and ASCAP/BMI rules

While doing all this, Eithne also helps layout the concert program book and tracks ad sales. She has a long history of being involved in the Symphony’s annual children’s concerts. Eithne continues to be actively involved in the Seguin chapter of the Guild and is a financial contributor to the Symphony. There is no aspect of the Mid-Texas Symphony that has not benefitted from Eithne’s touch

MTS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-21 OVERVIEW

July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021

The Mid-Texas Symphony Society has remained stable despite having to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the fiscal year, we expected that the organization would experience a significant loss of revenue due to the shutdown of public events. Due to patron contributions and grant funding (both foundational and disaster relief), this is a survivable loss of revenue as we enter the new season. We did not use funds from the general endowment accounts to supplement cash flow this year.

REVENUES

Contributed Support-35.9%

Ticket Sales- 5.4%

Grants- 52.6%

Guilds-6.1%

$82,104 $12,400 $120,431 $13,900

Total- $228,835

EXPENSES

Artistic and Education Programs- 49.3%

Marketing- 4.9%

Salaries (non-artistic)- 32.1%

Operations (non-artistic)-13.6%

$116,488 $11,637 $75,875 $32,127

Total- $236,835

2020-21 ORCHESTRA

The following musicians performed in the Mid-Texas Symphony throughout the 2020-21 Season, including the Fall 2020 Digital Season and Spring 2021 Re-Imagined Season Concerts.

MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

Akiko Fujimoto

VIOLIN I

Craig Sorgi, Concertmaster

Laura Scalzo, Assistant Concertmaster

Milena Georgieva

Julie Post

Philip Johnson

Angela Caporale

Sixto Elizondo

Kevin Mendoza

VIOLIN II

Nina Mavrinac, Principal

Eva Weber

Bruce Kanagaki

Bethany Turriff

Nancy Reyes

Molly Turner

Bethany Raynes

VIOLA

Wanda Lydon, Principal

Eliza Jeffords, Anita Windecker Endowed

Chair

Sean Schultze

Margaret Hager

Ken Greene

Karoline Leal

Deb Weltzer

CELLO

Dan Zollars, Principal

Cynthia Foster

Elizabeth Lee

Dorian Ramirez

Megan Swisher

BASS

Ray Fisher, Principal

Marianne Newberry

Mike Robberson

FLUTE

Rita Linard, Principal

Martha Fabrique

PICCOLO

Martha Fabrique

OBOE

Jennifer Berg, Principal

Patty Esfandiari

Mark Ackerman

CLARINET

Vanguel Tangarov, Principal

Kathleen Jones

Nicholas Councilor

Ilya Shterenberg

E FLAT AND BASS CLARINET

Nicholas Councilor

BASSOON

Jonathan Castillo, Principal

Meridith Wright

Nicole Haywood

Mark Rogers

FRENCH HORN

Libby Barnette, Principal

Caroline Steiger

Paul Blackstone

Peter Rubins

TRUMPET

Andrew Gignac, Principal

Mary Thornton

Jeff Castle

Lauren Eberhart

TROMBONE

Donny Pinson, Principal

Michael Steiger

Eden Garza

Paul Garza

TUBA

Robert Petrisky, Principal

KEYBOARD

Eric Daub, Principal

HARP

Shana Norton, Principal

TIMPANI & PERCUSSION

Sherry Rubins, Principal

Adam Bedell

Josue Solalinde

Bill Patterson

Eric Peterson

MAESTRO'S

Anonymous

CIRCLE - $10,000 AND UP

H-E-B+ City of New Braunfels+

COMPOSER’S CIRCLE- $5,000 TO $9,999

Susan Riehm Braden*

Kathy and Warren Nossaman

East Texas Community Foundation- Riehm Family Trust+

Jessie Carolyn Brown Fund +

Mid-Texas Symphony - New Braunfels Guild Chapter

Mid-Texas Symphony - Seguin Guild Chapter

ARTIST'S CIRCLE - $2,500 TO $4,999

Candy* and Bruce Carpenter

Texas Commission on the Arts+

CONCERTMASTER - $1,000 TO $2,499

Carl and Linda Conger

John and Jean Dorbandt

Akiko Fujimoto* and Israel Getzov

Joseph and Eithne Goetz

Linda Chick Haseloff in memory of Robert L. Chick Jr.

Marty and Don Keil in memory of Roy Martinson and in honor of Helen Martinson

Jo Ann Lemmon in memory of Joe B. Lemmon

Helen Martinson

Jon N. and Sandra L. Moline

New Braunfels Rotary Club+

Rotary Club of Seguin+

Ellen Salyers* in memory of Patt & Jack Linden & Thomas Casteel

The Nancy Seaberry Frost Arts Endowment+

City of Seguin+

Tome* and Claire Walters

MUSICIAN - $500 TO $999

Karen Akkerman*

James C. and Pat Bischoff

Harry Botkin

Richard and Arlene Buhl

Susan B. and Stanley D. Casto

Bjorn Dybdahl

Linda Fritz

Mitchell and Marianne Gould

Ann Louise Hagerty

Ann Hodges

Earl and Eleanor Koester

New Braunfels Area Community Foundation+

Marj* and Mike Peters in honor of Anita Windecker

Tom and Cathy Talcott

Ted Windecker

Dan Zollars in honor of Wilda Zollars

FRIEND OF THE SYMPHONY - $250 TO $499

LaRue Blackwell

Sandra Bohannan

Craig Donegan

Christina Dyess

Nick and Heidi Franzen

Jackie Gilmore*

Cordelia Grant*

Margaret Hager

Shannon Hanz

Barbara and Don Hilbert

John Hillje

IBM Foundation+

Sheila Jacobs

Paul Leming

Rodney and Stephanie Martin

SUPPORTER - UP TO $249

Ellen Ashby Kennard

Lisa Baugh

Mary Blacketer

John Blodgett

Jack Bogle

Ronald Bluff

Keith and Anne Buck

Denise Burke

Philip Cagle

Steven and Natalie Carnes

Frederick and Nancy Carney in honor of Ellen Salyers’ Birthday

David G. and Caryn Clark

Debbie and Alan Cottrell

Betsy Cunningham*

Frank Dietz

Chelsey Donohoe

Mary Durand

Roger Elliott

Jan M. Estes

Elette Estrada

Catherine Fain

Michael Farquhar

Kristinn Fiedler

Mildred Finch

Cheryl Fisher

Philis Goetz

Sandra Gravitt

Barbara Hall

Pamela F. Hansen

Eric Hastings

Calvin and Irene Henze

Vickie Hill

Becky Huff

Betty Humphris

Laura and Jason* Irle

Eliza Jeffords

Bill Janszen

Ken and Martha Joyce

Rebecca and Basil Kallies

Sharon Kane

Cathy Kirk*

Jolene Kraft

Rita Linard

John and Nancy Masterson in memory of Jack Linden

Jan and Bill Morton

Charles and Ronda Oestreich

Gloria Osborn in honor of Eithne Goetz

Jacqueline Russell

Michelle Schwandt

Robert Sebesta

Adrienne Stone*

Gail Streun

Sandra Velat

Arthur Woytek in memory of Herbert and Margaret Woytek

John and Brandi Young

Judy Madden

Randee and Donald Malmsten

William and Shirley Manning

Beth and David Mairs

Barbara McCormack

Doug Lewis and Michelle

McIlnay

Kenneth and Wendy McMullen

Maritza Miller

Sheron Mireur

Henry H. Moore, Jr. MD

New Braunfels Music Study Club

Katherine Newell

Carolyn Norris

Walter Penk

Cindy Peterman

Adreann Peters

Kristi Posey

Charles and Sara Riggs

Ray and Martha Rinn

Elizabeth Romero in memory of Fred Romero R.Ph

Marilyn D. Sager

Dana Scheel

G. Paul Schlender

Ashley Schriewer

Carl Scott

Beverly Seidenschwarz

Patricia Schofield in honor of Craig Sorgi

Jan and Ernie Simon

Lauren Smith*

Thomas Smith

Daphne Spraitzar

Trudy Stone

Helgard Suhr-Hollis

Bruce and Carol Thatcher

Mary Thornton

Tres Hewell Mortuary

Dennis Turriff

Ann Tyrell

Thomas Williams

Beverly Willmann

Malissa Windrow

Dedrea WrightSchriver | Carmona/Zeledon-Castillo

Marguerite Zumbehl

* Board of Directors +Grantor/Foundation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF 2020-21

Executive Board

President of Society - Ellen Salyers

Secretary & Vice-President of Guild - Cathy Kirk

Vice-President of Education - Marj Peters

Vice-President of Development - Candy Carpenter

Vice-President of Finance - Tome Walters

Vice-President of Music - Adrienne Stone

Co-Vice-Presidents of Events - Betsy Cunningham and Susan Braden

Board of Directors

Karen Akkerman

Cordelia Grant

Lauren Smith

Jackie Gilmore

Seguin Guild Chapter President - Trina Eastwood

New Braunfels Guild Chapter President - Joy Harvey

Artistic Staff

Music Director - Akiko Fujimoto

Personnel Manager - Ray Fisher

Librarian - Eithne Goetz

Administrative Staff

Executive Director - Jason Irle

Box Office Manager - Blanca Mata

Marketing Assistant - Kylie Zochert

Grants Manager - Tabitha Dunham

Production Staff

Stage Managers - Rosalinda De la Cerda, Kevin Borgfeld, Crystal Gonzalez, Christopher Rosas

Audio Mics and Recording - Texas Precision Digital A/V

Video and Streaming Production - Steve Peterson