Music Worcester 2024-2025 Program Book by Music Worcester

2024–2025 SEASON

THE WORCESTER CHORUS 2024–2025

Chris Shepard, Director

Ode to Joy

November 9, 2024 at 7:30pm & November 10, 2024 at 3pm

Groton Hill Music Center

With the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra.

Handel Messiah

December 7, 2024 at 8pm

Mechanics Hall

With vocal soloists: Soprano Jennifer Sgroe, Mezzo Soprano Kim Leeds, Tenor Kirk

Bobkowski, and Bass-Baritone Jason Zacher; and the Worcester Festival Orchestra.

Bach Secular Cantatas

BWV 213 & 214

March 22, 2025 at 4pm

Mechanics Hall

Part of Bach’s Birthday Bash Festival Weekend.

Handel & Charpentier

May 17, 2025 at 8pm

Mechanics Hall

The Worcester Chorus wraps up the season with a performance of Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Charpentier’s Te Deum.

Vision To Life

Love the arts? We do too. Make the most of your giving by partnering with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, one of the largest non-capital arts funders in the region.

We offer a variety of giving options to help you support the causes closest to your heart, now and forever.

To learn more, visit greaterworcester.org or email Kelly Stimson at kstimson@greaterworcester.org.

ChatJSB

Artistic Director Chris Shepard interviews musicians and scholars who have performed and studied Bach, discussing their personal experiences, the works they love and how they have been influenced by Bach’s extraordinary and varied repertoire.

Chris Shepard

Ruth Susan Westheimer

Artistic Director of THE COMPLETE BACH

Bach 101

This series is an audio introduction for audiences to Bach’s life, the musical genres to be surveyed over the coming decade, and various terms of great importance to understanding Bach’s output.

Unlocking Bach

In these audio program notes for each concert in THE COMPLETE BACH, Chris Shepard includes history and context for each work and delves into movements that are especially rich in the “Bach code,” and deciphering them at the piano. Unlocking Bach episodes will be posted prior to each concert.

B. Thompson

THE 2024–2025 SEASON

166th Worcester Music Festival

Philip Glass Ensemble, October 18, Mechanics Hall

BACHtoberfest, OCTOBER 25–27

• CONCORA: Bach Cantatas BWV 71, 119 & 120, October 25, Mechanics Hall

• Bach Organ Multimedia Concert, October 26, Mechanics Hall

• Zlatomir Fung: Bach Cello Suites, October 26, Mechanics Hall

• First Unitarian Church Choir: Bach Cantata BWV 61, October 27, First Unitarian Church

• BACHtoberfest Choir: Bach Cantatas BWV 50, 62 & 122, October 27, Mechanics Hall

Maxim Vengerov, violin: Brahms, Prokofiev, & Schumann, November 17, Mechanics Hall

Worcester Chamber Music Society: Bach Christmas Cantatas, December 6, First Unitarian Church

The Worcester Chorus: Handel’s Messiah, December 7, Mechanics Hall

The Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble Holiday Concert, December 22, Trinity Lutheran Church

An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma: Reflections in Words and Music, January 10, Mechanics Hall

Rodney Marsalis Big Brass, January 24, Mechanics Hall

Imani Winds & Boston Brass: Piazzolla, Sandoval, & deFalla, February 14, Tuckerman Hall

Ian Bostridge, tenor: Schubert, Britten, & Korngold, March 2, Tuckerman Hall

Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields & Bruce Liu, piano: Copland, Haydn, & Shostakovich, March 9, Mechanics Hall

BACH’s Birthday Bash, MARCH 21–23, all events at Mechanics Hall

• Jeremy Denk, piano: Bach Partitas, March 21

• The Worcester Chorus: Bach Secular Cantatas BWV 213 & 214, March 22

• Handel + Haydn Society: Bach Concerti for Two Harpsichords, March 22

• Worcester Bach Collective with 5 partner choirs, March 23

Sphinx Virtuosi: Joplin, Skye, Coleridge Taylor, & Carreño, March 30, The Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross

Moveable Feast: Bach Organ Recital, April 27, Trinity Lutheran Church to First Baptist Church

Time For Three, May 14, JMAC BrickBox Theater

The Worcester Chorus: Handel & Charpentier, May 17, Mechanics Hall

Anthony Smith President

Osman Bilsel

Bruce Bursten

Kirk A. Carter, Esq

Aldo Garcia Guevara

Alvin Gomez

2024–2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Eric Brose Vice President

William D. Hoffmann, MD

Bonnie Johnson

Christine Keller

Polly Kimmitt*

Alice Lambert

Adrien C. Finlay, Executive Director, Music Worcester, Ex Officio Endowed by The McDonough Charitable Foundation

Gabriel Cain Treasurer

Jeffrey Levine

Margaret Pottle

Kenneth Prince

Bob Sorrenti

Wakana Suzuki

CORPORATORS

Angela Knapton Clerk

Virginia M. Vaughan, PhD

Patricia Verderese

Karen-Louise Walker, ThD

Margaret Wong

*President of The Worcester Chorus

Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, PhD, Chair

Richard Ardizzone

Wendy W. Ardizzone

Kay Bassett

Samyabrata Bhaduri

Osman Bilsel

Elizabeth Blodgett

Karmen Bogdesic

Eleanor Brockway

Frederick Brose

Bruce Bursten

Gabriel Cain

Kirk A. Carter, Esq.

Linda Chadwick

Melvin S. Cutler

Jennifer D’Amico O’Connor, OD

Geoffrey Dancey

Dix F. Davis

Sonia Descormiers

Mary Fletcher

Minjin Fromm

Janice Fuller

Aldo Garcia Guevara

Alvin Gomez

Ivan R. Green, MD

Joel P. Greene

Phyllis Harrington

Susan Henry

Janice C. Hitzhusen, MD

William D. Hoffman, MD

Emily G. Holdstein

Bonnie Johnson

Kallin Johnson

Christine Keller

Polly Kimmitt

Angela Knapton

Barbara C. Kohin

Shirish Korde

Helen P. Koskinas

Alice Lambert

Catherine H. Levine

Jeffrey Levine

Otti Levine

Meredith Lord

Ingrid Mach

Michael D. Machnowski

Aparna Mahadev

Samantha McDonald

Zenya Molnar

Susan Moran

Mahroo T. Morgan

Charisse Murphy

Cecilio Orta

Matthew W. Panagiotu

Serge Paul-Emile

Martha Pappas, EdD

Cynthia Pitcher

Kenneth Prince

Gail T. Randall

ARTISTIC & ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL

Kate Brandt, Director of Marketing & Communications

Adrien C. Finlay, Executive Director, endowed by the McDonough Charitable Foundation

Rae Johnson, Box Office & Marketing Coordinator

Heather MacFarlane, Education Director

Lisa Utzig, Executive Assistant & Bookkeeper

THE WORCESTER CHORUS

Mark Mummert, Associate Conductor & Accompanist

Chris Shepard, Artistic Director

Ann-Cathrine Rapp

Kathleen Rooney

Zelda Schwartz

Mark Seeley

Janice Seymour

Gloria Shahin

Michael Sleeper

Bob Sorrenti

Mark Spuria

Wakana Suzuki

Joyce Tamer

George W. Tetler, III

Virginia M. Vaughan, PhD

Karen-Louise Walker, ThD

Kristin Waters

Charles “Chick” Weiss

Todd H. Wetzel

Margaret Wong

THE COMPLETE BACH

Chris Shepard, The Ruth Susan Westheimer Artistic Director

BOOKKEEPING & ACCOUNTING

Nonprofit Numerics

PUBLIC RELATIONS

CK Communications Group

GRAPHIC DESIGN & WEBSITE

TidePool Press

berkshirebank.com/berkshirebiz

Member FDIC. 3/24

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Music Worcester’s team works year-round to bring international talent to Central MA and activate the incredible cultural facilities and venues right in our backyards —including Mechanics Hall, The Hanover Theatre, Tuckerman Hall, the Jean McDonough Arts Center, and the Prior Performing Arts Center. Increasingly, however, Music Worcester searches for world-renowned talent who takes a real interest in engaging with our community. Opportunities to introduce main series artists to area schools and programs serving all ages for masterclasses, coaching, demonstrations, Q&As, and other educational activities remain of utmost interest as planning for future seasons occurs. During the 2024–2025 season, we proudly announce the many visiting artists who will be in area classrooms, lecture halls, practice rooms, and rehearsals.

• Zlatomir Fung, a native of Westborough before his international career took off, will visit Westborough High School to work with its orchestra program while he’s back in Massachusetts for the complete Bach Cello Suites in October, coaching and mentoring their string players.

• Rodney Marsalis and his fellow big-band members will visit South High Community School in January, preparing band students to join them on stage at their Mechanics Hall performance. The concert will conclude with several pieces for big band and accompanying concert band. This occasion

will allow many of the students to not just attend a concert at Mechanics Hall for the first time, but also to play on its historic stage.

• Imani Winds & Boston Brass come together mid-February for a performance at Tuckerman Hall, but in the days leading up to the public performance, both groups will frequent Worcester’s Burncoat High School and Auburn High School to work with student ensembles, both bands and orchestras.

• Sphinx Virtuosi, presented in partnership with the Prior Performing Arts Center of the College of the Holy Cross, have been engaged for a residency in conjunction with their public performance at Worcester’s newest cultural venue. The chamber orchestra, split into string quartets, will visit both elementary and middle school campuses in the region, and speak about their unique history as a performing arts ensemble for BIPOC musicians.

• Time for Three will work with the strings program of Abby Kelley Foster School, providing mentorship and coaching on one of their own arrangements, leading up to the student musicians joining the trio on stage at the Jean McDonough Arts Center in May. The collaborative piece for this engagement, Joy, uses motifs and melodies from Beethoven’s Ode to Joy

Zlatomir Fung

Imani Winds & Boston Brass

Sphinx Virtuosi

Rodney Marsalis Big Brass

Time for Three

© Shervin Lainez

© Scott Jackson

Be engaged

SEASON 19

OUT OF THE DARKNESS – Tom Keil Memorial Concert

Sept 27 7:30 pm Harvard Unitarian Church

Sept 29 4:00 pm Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University Schulhoff, Pärt, Eastman, and Shostakovich

DAZZLE, DREAMS, AND DRAMA

Guests: William Kirkley, clarinet; Clark Matthews, horn; Adrian Jojatu, bassoon; Guinevere Fridley, double bass

Nov 10 4:00 pm Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University Mozart, Alberga, and Schubert

BACH CHRISTMAS CANTATAS – In collaboration with The Complete Bach and Music Worcester

Soloists: Kristen Watson, soprano; Krista River, mezzosoprano; Mathew Anderson, tenor; David McFerrin, bass

Dec 6 7:30 pm First Unitarian Church, Worcester

FORCES OF NATURE

Feb 2 4:00 pm Jeanne Y. Curtis Hall, Assumption University Beethoven, Crumb, and Haydn

VOICES RISING – In collaboration with Worcester Black History Project and Worcester Center for Crafts

Feb 27 7:30 pm Worcester Center for Crafts Loggins-Hull, Simon, Montgomery, Lee, and Hailstork

ANIMAL ADVENTURES – Annual Free Family Concert

Mar 2 3:00 pm Mechanics Hall, Worcester Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf Saint-Saëns – Carnival of the Animals

ALTER EGOS

Nason A. Hurowitz Memorial Concert

Guest: Amy Advocat, clarinet

Apr 4 7:30 pm Fitchburg Art Museum

Apr 6 4:00 pm Shapiro Hall, Joy of Music Rota, Williams, and Hermann

VERY OPEN REHEARSALS – 5:00-7:30 PM

To benefit Neighborhood Strings

Sept 22 Pärt – Fratres, for string quartet

Nov 3 Mozart – “Kegelstatt” Trio in E-flat Major

Tickets and information: Online: Worcesterchambermusic.org

Phone: 508-926-8642 Email: boxoffice@worcesterchambermusic.org

SUPPORT AN INCREDIBLE MUSICAL LEGACY

Music Worcester’s current scope of operations, community engagement activities, and service to greater Central Massachusetts remain possible due to the immense generosity of so many supporters over many decades.

Founded as the Worcester County Musical Institute with a performance at Mechanics Hall on September 28, 1858, Music Worcester has welcomed legendary artists to cultural venues around the region since that first concert.

Artist-in-Residence

Vijay Gupta & the Darshan Trio at

Sarah Gibbons Middle School, Fall 2023

“It is incumbent upon us as beneficiaries of this musical treasure to ensure Music Worcester’s future potential.”

Rooney Board member and founding Legacy Society member

We wish to thank our Music Worcester Legacy Society members.

Anonymous (2)

Linda Acciardo

Leslie & Susanne Blatt

Kirk & Price Carter

Sarah & Dix Davis

Anthony Smith & Andrea Erickson

Mary Fletcher

Gregory D. Hutchins

Catherine H. Levine

William & Kathleen Major

Glenn Meltzer

Dennis & Jane Neslusan

Carol A. Pelletier

Joel & Zenie Popkin

Kenneth D. Prince

Kathleen Rooney

Dr. Paul & Zelda Schwartz

Robert Sorrenti

Virginia M. Vaughan, PhD

Midori at Mechanics Hall, Fall 2023

Kathy

© Heather McFarlane © Isaac Bates

The organization gratefully acknowledges the incredible legacy of the following former contributors, whose estate and planned gifts have supported major initiatives, including the establishment of Music Worcester’s endowment, over the past 100 years.

Mary Norton Allen

Hildegard Armstrong

Grace C. Baker

George Bassett

Lena Bellows

George R. Bliss

Barbara G. Brown

Charles Bruninghaus

John Z. Buckley

Margaret V. Buckley

Charlotte Buffington

Pearl Haroian Burton

Robert Coleman

Mary Coes

Charles Davis

Edward Davis

Katherine Allen Davis

Caroline Murdock DeWitt

Mabel E. Fales

Marion Fletcher

Cornelia B. Forbes

Mabel Knowles Gage

Thomas Hovey Gage

Florence S. Garland

John H. Garvey

John Haines

Charles A. Hamilton, Jr.

Benjamin Tabor Hammond

Marjorie J. Heald

Bradley C. Higgins

Clara Carter Higgins

John H. Hitchcock

Stephen Hodes

Alice Hoogasian

Allie B. Houghton

Britta Jeppson

John Jeppson

Francis L. Jones

Paul M. Jourcin

Irma Leavitt

H. Levenson

Walter C. Martin

William Martin

Jean McDonough

Raymond G. Morin

Joan Nelson

Helen Ongley

Mary Ann Pervier

Priscilla Peterson

Christie Pierce

Ann J. Prouty

Richard Prouty

Susan Ella Reed-Lawton

Albert W. Rice

Mary Gage Rice

Saidee & Hermann Riccius

Marion P. Sargent

Charles W. Saxe

James A. Saxe

Anne Schneider

William B. Schofield

Paul Shannon

Albert F. Simmons

Florence E. Sinclair

Benjamin L. M. Smith

Helen Stoddard

Sylvia Stubblebine

Violet F. Taylor

Elsa Tivnan

Eunice Wheeler

Florence White

Albert Whitin

To learn more about including Music Worcester in your future plans, please contact Adrien Finlay: adrien@musicworcester.org or 508-754-3231 x204.

Chris Shepard conducts The Worcester Chorus in “This Love Between Us,” Fall 2023

Chris Thile & the Knights at Mechanics Hall, Fall 2023

Isaac Bates

—MARY OLIVER

We are proud to support

MUSIC WORCESTER

Improving the quality of life in our community through culture & the arts.

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CONTRIBUTORS & SUPPORTERS

Music Worcester’s programs and events could not take place each season without significant philanthropic support from the many individuals, households, charitable foundations, and area businesses that contribute each year. This listing, below and on the following pages, reflects gifts, pledges, and commitments received between July 1, 2023, and September 15, 2024, and includes annual fund contributions, concert sponsorships, campaign and endowment gifts, donations for THE COMPLETE BACH, and program underwriting support. Please let us know if any names are listed in error. To learn more about the ways you can support Music Worcester, please contact Adrien Finlay: adrien@musicworcester.org or 508-754-3231 x204.

Gifts of $10,000+

George I. Alden Trust

Darryl Anderson & Devon Miller

Susan Henry & Robert Blair

Carol Edelstein & Bruce Bursten

Kirk & Price Carter

The Ruth H. and Warren A. Ellsworth Foundation

The Fletcher Foundation

Mary & Warner Fletcher

The George F. & Sybil H. Fuller Foundation

The Albert J. Gifford Charitable Trust

Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Hoche-Scofield Foundation

Emily & James Holdstein

Lisa Kirby Gibbs & Peter Gibbs, The Kirby Foundation

MA Cultural Council

Estate of C. Jean McDonough

Mildred McEvoy Foundation

Dr. & Mrs. Glenn Meltzer

Ruth & Peter Metz Family Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

Jane & Dennis Neslusan

Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas Foundation

Marlene & David Persky

Christopher Ranjitkar & Adrien Finlay

Carol & Michael Sleeper

Lynda Young & Robert Sorrenti

Virginia M. Vaughan

Paul & Patti Verderese

Ruth Susan Westheimer

Gifts of $5,000+

Leora Balsam & William Hoffman

Eric Brose & Jan Seymour

Brose Hie Hill Foundation, Inc.

Jeanne Remillard Curtis Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation

The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, Inc.

Dexter-Russell Inc & Hyde/Dexter-Russell Charitable Foundation

Cora & Larry Gordon

Drs. Noreen & Ivan Green

Drs. Janice Hitzhusen & James Pease

Jeppson Memorial Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Judith S. King

Alice M. & Eugene R. Lambert

Ottilie & Jeffrey Levine

Nancy & Garry Levitsky

Mahroo Morgan

Carol Pelletier

Elizabeth & Alan Peppel

Cynthia & Stephen Pitcher

Kenneth Prince

Michele Pugnaire

Linda Robbins

Sigel Family Foundation

Andrea Erickson & Anthony Smith

Christine Keller & Walter Talbot

Yasuko Tanaka

UniBank

Shirley & Peter Williams

Margaret Wong

Worcester State University

Gifts of $2,500+

Drs. Lene Jensen & Jeffrey Arnett

Jane Beckwith & Joan Russo

Tom & Patsy Cecil

Kim M. Ciborowski

Webster A. Collins

Berkshire Bank

Cornerstone Bank

Kenneth & Katherine Cranson

Sarah & Dix Davis

DCU for Kids

Helen & Paul Dexter

J. Irving England & Jane L. England

Charitable Trust

Fidelity Bank

Renee & Dennis Finlay

Allen W. Fletcher

Susan Goyette

Joyce Brinton & Bruce Hauben, The Helen G. Hauben Foundation, Inc.

Howard Jacobson

Nora Keil

Richard K. Kimball

Myles & Polly Kimmitt

Lisa & Neil McDonough

Drs. Sarah & William McGee

Anne & John Messier

Dr. Susan Moran

Suzanna & John Laramee

Zenie & Joel Popkin

Gail T. Randall

Mr. & Mrs. Henry B. Rose

Carol L. Seager

Dr. Paul E. Shannon Charitable Gift Fund

Alice Rowan Swanson Foundation

Joyce & Joseph Tamer

Lynne & George Tonna

Gayle & Charles “Chick” Weiss

Phyllis & Richard Whitten

Gifts of $1,250+

Anonymous

Margareta Berg

Susanne & Leslie Blatt

Paula & Billy Brunell

Gabriel Cain & Anh Dao

Jane Antoun Cartelli

Ronna & Jonah Cuker

Andrea & Herb Daroff

James Fournier & Michael Spooner

Minjin & Martin Fromm

Gabriele Goscz

Linda Haddad & Dr. Abraham Haddad

Margaret Blue Hamilton

Diane H. Hovenesian & Dr. Robert E. Berry, Jr.

Lynne Johnson & Joseph Myerson

Mary E. Johnson

Angela Knapton

Gretchen & Robert Kossack

Paul LaBelle

Catherine H. Levine

Ingrid Mach & Dany Pelletier

Indira & Baltej Maini

Daniel & Rena Miller

Ellen More & Micha Hofri

Matthew W. Panagiotu, DDS

Reliant Medical Group

Robin & Vincent Rougeau

Ellen & John Savickas

Peter Schneider

The Schwartz Charitable Foundation

Mark & Elise Seeley Fund of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Mark J. Spuria

Sylvia Gafvert Stubblebine Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Sheila & George Tetler

Todd H. Wetzel

Gifts of $1,000+

Marilyn & Bob Armstrong

Ethan Bates

Christopher Borg

Katie & Andrew Fletcher

Laine & Justin Fletcher

Wakana Suzuki

Ellen Hornig

Mary & Marc Levesque

Marjorie Ropp

Edith & Gordon Swan

Simon & Patricia Trussler

Christina L. Wei & Daniel O’Leary

Wyman-Gordon Foundation

CONTRIBUTORS & SUPPORTERS

Gifts of $500+

Ursula and Sawkat Anwer

Donald C. Bates

Norman Bitsoli

Catherine M. Colinvaux

J. Christopher & Catherine Z. Collins

Ann Desmarais & Paul S. Kennedy

Julie & Matt Fletcher

Martha P. Grace

Carl Fulwiler & Jean King

Phyllis Harrington

Pat Hertzfeld

Honee A. Hess & Philip R. Magnusson

Dianne E. Horgan

Margaret J. Hurley

Tracy & Morey Kraus

Michael Machnowski & Jenny Loew

Dr. Faren Williams & Luke Maki

Samantha McDonald & Ossian Cooney

Kathleen Olson

Barbara & Serge Paul-Emile

Mana Ranjitkar

Melissa & Lance Schachterle

Dr. Paul & Zelda Schwartz

Vivian Shortreed

Theodore J St Antoine

Nadia & Marc Ullman

Gifts of $250+

Anonymous

Linda L. Acciardo

Chukwunwike & Blessing Agunwamba

Richard & Wendy Ardizzone

Amanda & Patrick Baliva

Kim & James Bates

Alison McCrone & Robert Baum

Penny Booth

Emily S. Castner

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union

Fan Chen

Virginia Deranian

Grace & Alexander Elton

Cindy Gingrich & Richard Baker

Alvin Gomez & Aidan Hennigan

Lisi-Greene Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Deborah Haraldson

Chris & Lou Anna Hinckley

Barbara & Tom Hollister

Jeanne & Bob Kissane

Yael London & Murray Kohn

Bruce Kovner

Dmitry Levenson

Heather & Taylor MacFarlane

Juliet Maglitta

Mr. & Mrs. David & Janet Mayotte

Charlene Nemeth

Sharon J. Nist & Kurt K. Parliment

Margaret Pottle

Kate Olivia Rafey

Ann Rothstein

J. Robert Seder

Johnetta Smith & John Downs

Becky & David Spanagel

Sam & Connie Stewart

Steve Taviner & Matthias Waschek

Jeffrey Vaughan

Kristin Waters

Gifts of $100+

Anonymous - 10

Michael Adami-Sampson

Alexandra & David Andrews

Richard Aramony

Anthony & Barbara Trayers Athy

Barbara & Michael Ball

Kay & John Bassett

Dean Beiggs

Kenneth E. Bibeau

Berni Birch

Elizabeth Blodgett

Chrysanthe Demetry

David Blood-Deschamps

Ms. Heath Drury Boote

Lois & Serena Brynes

Maureen Carey

Linda Carli & Michael Dorsey

Liz & Mike Cavanaugh

Rita & David Chad

Donna Crocker

Frederick G. Crocker, Jr.

Jo-Anne Cronin

Claude Curtis

The Davenport Family

Mr. & Mrs. Phillips S. Davis

Mrs. Margery Dearborn

Glenn Demallie

Todd & Katy Donovan

Phyllis C. Edinburg

Elaine Fadden & Cynthia Maybeck

Melissa Anne Fischer

Simone & Jose Flores-Cartillo

Ann L. Flynn

Susan & Carl Foley

Celine & Tony Forte

Bruce Foss

Deborah & Mark Freeman

Janice L. & Mark W. Fuller

Kathleen & John Gagne

Drs. Raisa & William Gaines

Ed & Elaine Gardella

Melina Garland

Dr. Janet Ginkus Allen

Kimberly Goldman-Depietri

Scott Gonzalez

Patti & Harvey Gould

Mr. David R. Grenon

Mary Ann & Peter Grigg

Barbara & Donald Groves

James Hecox

Sally L. Hodgerney

Jeanne & Mark Hubelbank

Liverlips McCracken

Kathleen Jordan

Bill Kadish and Marie Hobart

Lee Klein

Robert Kleinberg

Renee Klucznik

Rose Koo Household

Helen P. Koskinas

John Kraska

Susan Laflamme

Paul Lango

Willa Kahn & Gregory Lazan

Rebecca A. Lee

Elaine Loehmann

Heaton-Lonstein Family Fund

Liz Mailhot

Minh & Robert Mailloux

Mary E. Manahan

Paul & Tina Mandeville

Joanne P. Marsh

Anita Masterson & Carlton Watson

Jeanne McCann

Pamela Mindell

Michelle Mondoux & Nate Hafer

Tim & Lynne Moriarty

Bruce Musicus

Debbie Nickerson

Robert Nunnemacher

Ruth Odgren

Susan Navarre & Timothy Olevsky

Damase Olsson

Patricia & Joseph Oyer

Judith & Thoru Pederson

R. Norman Peters

Lawrence & Carla Peterson

Mary Piecewicz

Marsha Platt

Patti & Russ Pottle

Nancy & Bob Rainville

Ann-Cathrine Rapp

Jonathan Rappaport

Rashida Garcia-Dancey & Geoffrey Dancey

Julie & Gareth Roberts

Ellyce Roitman

Elana Rosenbaum & David Levitin

Phyllis Roys

Robert Seymour

Christopher Shepard

Shirley Siff

Candace & Neel Smith

Tuyet Tran

Emily Starr

Dotty & Jerry Starr

Dr. Jay Stiller

David Story

Donna & David Talman

Kate Tower- Ludwig

Alison Towle

Jo & Huck Truesdell

Charles Turner

Francine & Rohit Vakil

Robin Van Liew

Jean & Herbert Varnum

Dolly Vazquez

Amy & Joe Virbasius

Susan R. Vogel

Karmen Bogdesic & Dinko Vujic

Erika Wade

William Wallace

Mary & Phillip Warbasse

Charles Washburn

James A. Welu

Wallace & Robin Whitney Jr.

Kathy & Peter Wilcox

Gifts of $50+

Anonymous - 11

Barry Alman

Julie Alvarado

Greg Arcaro

Patricia Austin

Norman Beisaw

Michael Bharier

Dennis Bidwell

Lisa Black

James Butrym

Michael Cabasso

Glen Campbell

Peggi & George Chase

Chelsea Chwiecko

Mary Cipro

Constance Clark

Diane & Mike Clements

Jonathan Cogswell

Carolyn Collier

Jane Dewey

Ed Dix

Anthony Drappi

Margaret Dunbar

Nadezda Erastova

Valerie Fisk

Don Frabotta

Catherine Gallagher

Susan Goodman

Wendy & William Groot

Janet Guy-Hamilton

Kenneth Haduch

Nancy Hale & Ellie Armsby

Cynthia Hooper

LeeAnn Horner

Evelyn Love & Bruce Karlin

Kathleen & James Kasdorf

Maya Katz

Malcolm Ketchum

Patrick Kilcoyne

Nancy E. Kimball

George Kocur

Betsy & Matthew Koss

Elizabeth Kunhardt

Emerson Lemr

Daniel Martines

Angela McClain

Janice McLean

Joan McMenemy

Raaj Mehta

Paula Melican

Raj & Shiamin Melville

Sylvia A. Migridichian

Linda Miller

Christine & Alan Mosher

F. Michael & Catherine Novick

Robert Oakan

Judy & John Oakes

Susanna Peyton & John Campbell

Dawn & Paul Piccolomini

Elena & Thomas Powers

Julia Regan

James Bryant & Stuart Sadick

Deborah Sedares

Louis T Shropshire

Richard & Madeline Silva

P. Sommer

Jonathan Sosa

James Spall

Joel Stein

Maren & Michael Toohill

Victoria Triolo

The VanDoren Family

Doyle Ward

Sandra White

All Other Gifts

Anonymous

Roger Abell

Colleen & Jim Abrams

Janet Ainsworth

Joy Alexander

Loie Angelsten

David Anthony

Nancye Araneo

Suzanne Arpante

Patricia Ascione

Maureen Banb

Barbara Bailey

Joanne Baldwin

Charles Ball & Margaret McEvoy-Ball

Simon Barker

Randall S. Barko

Patricia Barrie

Michael Behnke

Vitaly & Lev Benkin

Daniel Benoit

Anne Bentzlin-Smith

Marguerite Berger

Dr. & Mrs. Steven Bernacki

Denise Bilotta

Osman Bilsel

Susan Black

Anne Watson Born

Mark Bowser

Scott Breen

Prof. Patricia Brennan

Karen Bright

David C. Brown

David Buffo

Ruby Burke

Tarik Buxton

William Cable

Matthew & Kathleen Canfield

James Capone

Michael Carlstrom

Timothy & Sheila Casey

Francisco Cevallos

Asya Childers

Scott Cobban

Kathryn Cohan

Kevin Conklin

John Conlin

Bronwyn Cooper

Judy & Eric Coughlin

Martin Couture

Susan Cropper

Loretta & Gary Cunningham

Susan Curtis

Darcy D’Andrea

Andrew Daudelin

V John David

Luke Davidson

Kim Dawkins

Sara Deibler

Kenneth Desabrais

Penelope Jane Dillon

Arthur Dono

Kathryn Emmitt

Leila & Ted Falk

Susan Farr

Robert Ficken

Terry Field

Marjorie Fisher

Andrew Flynn

Stephen Foley

Jeffrey Fontaine

Bruce Forman

Carol Fotos

Thomas Fox

Robert Frank

Karin Fredricksen

Olga Frimer

Yvonne Fuller

Irina Grisevskaya

Louise Garone

Dr. & Mrs. Frederick Georgian

Ger Gerard

Anna Gershon

Jay Glaser

Nancy Goedecke

Aidan Griffith

Bill Guenther

Erik Gustafson

Susan Gutierrez

David Guy

Carol Gyurina

Debbie Hall

Rhonni Hallman

Ann Harris

Randall Hartness

Andrea & Tim Henkels

Diane & Brian Hobbs

Jennifer Hoemann

Maureen Hogan

Sally & Edward Holden

Georgia Howe

Andrew Hrycyna

Jayne Hughes

Stephen Hughes

HongLoan Huynh

Beth & Kevin Johnson

Carole Jolie

Beth Kaake

Bryan Kachur

Nandana Kansra

Lina Karetsky

Jim Katz

Joseph Kelling

Carl Robert Keyes

Alina Khasperov

Debora Kirchner

Alisa Knight

Andrew Konnerth

Michael Phaneuf

& Holly Kreidler-Phaneuf

Jennifer Kremer

Tal Lachmann

Gregory Lanzoni

Nancy LaPelle

Mark LaPete

Douglas Latham

Paula Lea

April Leblanc

James Little

Regina Lubomirsky

Peter Lucas

Ruth Lull

Alex Lund

Erzo Luttmer

Eunice Maina

Heather Marchant

David Martell

Beverly & Greg Martiros

Greg Martiros

Lisa Mather

Marina Matuzek

Joan & John F. McClymer

Dana McFaden

Mary Busha

Rebekah & William McKinney

Robert Meaney

Sandra Meltzer

Susanna Meyer

Paula Miner & Kenneth Mills

Elizabeth H Minott

Wherever

Linda Moodie

Aki Morita

Karen & Stephen Mossey

Paul Mullan

Martin Newhouse

Nikola Nikolov

Suzie Nolin

James Norcliffe

John Nugent

James O’Connor

Mathew Often

Leigh O’Mara

William O’Neil

Mikols Palfi

Rachel & Ted Parkman

Mario Perez

Mr. & Mrs. James Perkins

Drs. Amanda Cook & Kenny Piatt

Mary & Ronald Plutnicki

Jason Porter

Lee Prager

Joan Puglia

Kerry Bart-Raber & Greg Raber

Rumya Raghunath

Jamie Rame

William Reyes

Paul Rioles

Judith Roberts

Dr. Claudio Rodriguez

Laurence Rosania

Miguel Ruiz

Rocky Sandy

Nathan Sarapas

Ralph & Debra Sbrogna

Judith & Len Schutzman

Deborah Sedgwick

Debralee Seles

Dexter Senft

Jacquelyn Shartin

Raymond Shea

Derk Smid

Emily Smith

Ruth Smith

Eunice Snay

Phyllis Spatrick

Sharon Strzalkowski

Xiaowu Sun

Tom & Emily Teller

Charles Tracy

John Traverse

Nathan Tregger

David Troen-Krasnow

Gloria Utzig

Judith & Gary Vaillancourt

Dale Valena

Philip Walsh

David Wenzel

Meredith West

Dorice Willingham

Penelope Winkler

Betsy Wood

Harry E. Woodell, Jr.

Paula G. Wyble

Rebecca Young-Jones

Kimberly Zeller

Georgianna Ziegler

In memory of Hildegard Armstrong

Mary & Phillip Warbasse

In honor of Jim Demetry & Sue Stafford

Chrysanthe Demetry

In honor of Mark & Susan d’Entremont

Todd & Katy Donovan

In memory of Rosi Heinsohn

Zenya Molnar

In honor of Adrien Finlay

Ingrid Mach & Dany Pelletier

Amy C. Martin

In memory of Nason Hurowitz

Martha P. Grace

In memory of Joanna Levine

Kate Olivia Rafey

In memory of Gerald R. Mach

Ken Prince

In memory of Dusty Miller

Emily & James Holdstein

Nora Keil

In memory of Patsy Mollica

Virginia Deranian

Bernadette M. & Brian K. Nelson

In honor of Mark Mummert & Chris Shepard

Nancy Hale & Ellie Armsby

In memory of Mickie Nelson

Nora Keil

In honor of Chris Shepard

Fan Chen

In memory of William Rawson Smith

Andrea Erickson & Anthony Smith

In memory of Stasia B. Hovenesian

Anonymous

Deborah Adams

Margareta G. Berg

Lisa Black

Jo-Anne Cronin

Mary & Warner Fletcher

Donald Gabor

Laura Garelick

Linda Haddad & Dr. Abraham Haddad

Diane M. Hovenesian & Dr. Robert E. Berry, Jr.

Georgia Howe

Gregory D. Hutchins

Elisa Karas

Renee Klucznik

Helen P. Koskinas

Dorothea Kourafalos

Danielle LaPaglia

Tina & Paul Mandeville

Patricia and Gary Maradian

Sylvia A. Migridichian

In honor of Dr. Michael Spooner

Patricia McGovern

In memory of Alden T. Vaughan

Anonymous

Darryl Anderson & Devon Lee Miller

In honor of Ginger & Alden Vaughan

Lois & Serena Brynes

Charlene Nemeth

Cynthia & Stephen Pitcher

Kenneth D. Prince

Gail T. Randall

Christopher Ranjitkar & Adrien Finlay

Richard & Jane Rudman

Ellen Scott

Shirley Siff

Jocelyn K Simon

Sharon Strzalkowski

Joseph & Joyce Tamer

Robin Van Liew

Virginia Vaughan

William Wallace

For information about making a gift, please contact Adrien Finlay: adrien@musicworcester.org or 508-754-3231 x204. March 21–23, 2025

MUSIC WORCESTER STRATEGIC PLAN

The strategic plan, adopted by the Board in January 2024, is the outcome of an extensive process that included comprehensive environmental evaluation, surveys of multiple individuals within our community, SWOT analysis, development of our Mission, Vision, and Values and then synthesis of all these inputs as well as others to create the strategies for our future. Building on the forward momentum of Music Worcester, the plan will define our brand and mission, strengthen and expand our educational services to our communities, and sustain our ability to deliver quality programming across the musical performance arts. Our Mission and Vision statements speak to our commitment to inspire, educate, enrich, and welcome all those in our community who value music.

I want to thank the members of our Strategic Planning Committee—Osman Bilsel, Eric Brose, Bruce Bursten, Alvin Gomez, Alan Peppel, Tony Smith, Ginger Vaughan, & Margaret Wong—and all who participated in our process for their contributions to this plan.

—Bob Sorrenti, Chair, Strategic Planning Committee

DEFINE AND ALIGN BRAND, MISSION AND GOVERNANCE

Clarify mission, implement a definitive branding strategy and fully engage constituents in supporting the mission and brand.

• Governance: Fully engage leadership (including Board & Corporators, Worcester Chorus, subscribers, donors) in committee work, fundraising, financial support and resource generation, & program participation

• Branding: Execute marketing strategy and campaigns aimed at sustained growth

• Facilities: Optimize relationship with Mechanics Hall

• DEIA: Implement comprehensive plan to support and implement change across Music Worcester, including with Board & Corporators, Worcester Chorus, staff, volunteers, & artistic planning

SUSTAIN AND BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL AND FISCAL

CAPACITY Build an organizational structure to support the full mission, enhance financial support through all channels and lead in collaboration with other organizations in our community.

• Structure: Implement an organization to sustain objectives

• Development: Increase annual fund giving from individuals & households while also invigorating corporate sponsorships and foundation awards

• Earned revenue: Increase and maximize ticket revenue annually

• Leadership: Become a recognized leader in collaboration with community partners both from within the arts & culture sector and beyond

• Budget: Implement multi-year approach to budgeting and audacious artistic planning

FACILITATORS TO ACHIEVING GOALS

• Established reputation for bringing quality performances to Central Massachusetts

• Exemplary leadership in furthering the mission of the organization

• Solid financial footing with sizable endowment supporting growth and expansion

3. STRENGTHEN

EDUCATION,

ENGAGEMENT

& SERVICE

TO THE COMMUNITY Build upon current programs to expand educational and outreach efforts for all ages, enhance the patron experience and collaborate with local artists.

• Educational outreach: Expand engagement efforts & create new K-12 partnerships

• Adult education: Adopt multiple channel approach to adult engagement, including podcasts, lectures and discussions, and enhanced program notes

• Patron Experience: Create an unrivaled audience experience

• Worcester Chorus: Expand performance opportunities for the ensemble and involve Chorus members more in educational activities throughout the region

• Collaboration: Implement tactics to engage varied artists, including local talent

Key metrics to monitor include: number of participants in programs, new households reached and activated annually, new collaborative efforts and ventures both in public programs and engagement activities, number of new/sponsored works presented, fuller engagement with the resources of Greater Worcester, & increase in number of students served and educational opportunities for all ages.

WAYS TO GIVE

Your Support can take many forms

While the organization always accepts direct gifts through the website’s secure server by credit card or by checks received through the mail, Music Worcester gladly welcomes:

• Recurring gifts set up monthly or quarterly credit card contributions and become a sustaining donor, creating a schedule that works for you and your lifestyle.

• Gifts of stock—please contact the Music Worcester office to receive information directly regarding gifting stock or securities to the organization.

• Planned giving—help secure the performing arts for future generations through an estate gift naming Music Worcester as a beneficiary.

• Contribute directly from an IRA—a special opportunity for those 70 ½ years old and older—you can give any amount (up to a maximum of $100,000) per year from your IRA directly to Music Worcester without having to pay income taxes on the money. This popular gift option is called the IRA charitable rollover but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short. This gift can be used to satisfy all or part of required minimum distribution, if you are required to take one. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you’ll benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions. Since the gift does not count as income, it can reduce your annual income level, which may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security income that is subject to income tax. For additional information on this, please consult your tax or financial advisor.

Music Worcester wishes to acknowledge the immense generosity of the donors who have established concert funds as part of the organization’s endowment.

These named funds support performances of significance each season that enable Music Worcester to continue securing world-renowned musicians and artists to perform at Greater Worcester’s celebrated cultural venues.

ADVERTISE

Music Worcester’s program book is distributed for free to all attendees at all season presentations. Our annual concert season attracts 20,000+ people from New England and beyond. Please visit musicworcester.org for ad rates, specifications, and placement date for January 2025. Thanks to our advertisers, our season culturally enriches our community!