National Repertory Orchestra Annual Report 2020

National Repertory Orchestra

ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Carl Topilow, Music Director NROmusic.org

Elizabeth Hainen, NRO Alumna 1992, 2020 Guest Artist and Virtual Masterclass Series Instructor

This past summer, because of COVID, we were able to attend some of the NRO's pop-up concerts on the lawn by the river.

We thoroughly enjoyed it!

As always, the musicianship was excellent, and there were a variety of musical genres performed. Thank you, NRO, for being flexible during these difficult times and continuing to provide quality concerts for families to enjoy!

-Patricia Dotten 2

INSIDE THE ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE CEO

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ABOUT THE NRO

5 6-7

MUSICIANS ALUMNI STRING QUARTET

8

AUDIENCE & COMMUNITY

10 – 11

VIRTUAL EDUCATION GUESTS

13

BOARD & SUSTAINERS

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FINANCIAL SUMMARY

16 – 17

STAFF

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SIMPLE WAYS TO GIVE

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2021 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

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SEASON SPONSORS

& SUPPORTERS 21

Photo Credits: Carrie Benefiel, Elaine Collins, Jenny Cvek, Byron Swezy, NRO Staff and Todd Rosenberg (Michael Stern) Cover Photo: Samuel Viguerie, NRO Alumnus 2017 & 2019, 2020 Alumni String Quartet

Music Director, Carl Topilow

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FROM THE CEO DAVE DEPETERS Hello and welcome to the National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) Annual Report.

We began our 2020 fiscal year on October 1, 2019. At that time, we were looking forward to celebrating our 60th Anniversary, the tremendously successful tenure of Music Director Carl Topilow and another class of exceptionally talented musicians. Alas, it was not the season we imagined.

It was the season we reimagined.

For reasons far beyond our control, in April 2020, the NRO changed directions. We explored what we could safely and successfully accomplish and how we could make a difference for our fellows and audiences during COVID. While COVID was a difficult time, it was a privilege to have the opportunity to achieve new ways of expanding our mission of Changing Lives Through Music! As you read on, you will connect with an organization that remained deeply committed to that mission through education and service within and outside our community. We could not be more proud!

The successes would not have been possible without the support of our Board, volunteers, staff and donors like you. Contributors from our 60th Anniversary challenge gave more than $145,000 in additional funding. We worked hard to satisfy the needs of businesses, municipalities and foundations, each of whom remained dedicated to our season.

We are grateful to all who supported the National Repertory Orchestra 2020 Music Festival. Because of you, the NRO is here for you now and will be in the future. The challenges will grow in 2021. That said, we look forward with great expectation to working with Music Director Michael Stern, our returning 2020 fellows and an exciting lineup of great music, education and public service.

Dave DePeters

Thank you, Dave

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ABOUT THE NRO Founded in 1960 in Estes Park by Walter Charles, the NRO has called Summit County, Colorado home for almost 35 years. For eight weeks during the summer, audiences can enjoy the NRO’s music festival featuring Maestro Carl Topilow and other renowned conductors, guest artists and some of the most talented musicians on the planet.

OUR MISSION The National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) is a preeminent intensive summer music festival creating diverse, thoughtful and socially conscious musicians through experiential learning. We inspire young musicians to be great leaders in their communities while Changing Lives Through Music!

OUR VISION Breaking barriers between education, performance and community to develop 21st century musicians!

Silverthorne 4th of July Celebration, 2019

Melissa Aleles & Vincent Kiray, NRO 2019 5

MUSICIANS

Sarah Biagini, NRO 2019 & 2020

The following musicians would have been part of the 2020 concert season.

All received invitations to return in 2021!

CLARINET

VIOLIN

BASSOON

Christophe Koenig, co-concertmaster Benjamin Kronk, co-concertmaster Michael Romans, co-concertmaster Julia Brandenburg, co-principal second Henry Jenkins, co-principal second Sarah Biagini Evan De Long Sean Diehl Sarah Elert Nathan Hartson Robbie Herbst Sarah Hook Caroline Joyner Joyce Kwak Audrey Lee Luke Lentini Elizabeth Mandic-Nowac Bryce Martin Olivia Moaddel Maitreyi Muralidharan Christopher Nelson Maggie Niekamp Marin Osawa Aiko Richter Duo Shen Jinyoung Song Allison Taylor Jonathon Winter

Justin Best Paul Hafley Elena Murphy Hector Manuel Noriega Othon

Amelia del Cano Michael Lamar Nicolas Richard Brendon Sill

VIOLA

Nicholas Lindell, principal Silvana Ferrarin, assistant principal Julius Adams Charles Alves Michael Ayala Sunwoo Lee Joshua Muzzi Ho Fei Ng Madeline Warner

CELLO

Kyle Anderson, principal Alex Chambers-Ozasky, assistant principal Carlton Colby Jessamyn Fry Joe Kovac Marilyn Liu Esther Seitz Magali Toy

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DOUBLE BASS Dante Ascarrunz Landon Honolka Max Mulpagano Olivia Reyes Mark Stroud Kevin Thompson

FLUTE

Trey Bradshaw Jamie Kim Sarah Pollard Tessa Vermeulen

OBOE

Jillian Kouzel Amelia Merriman Andrew Port Kim Sooyoung

HORN

Rachel Nierenberg Aisling O’Sullivan Lauren Robinson Austin Ruff Maxwell Stein

TROMBONE

Andrew Danforth Cameron Kerl James Tobias

BASS TROMBONE Ross Sanchez

TUBA

Brian Kelley

TIMPANI

Charles Renneker

PERCUSSION

Caleb Breidenbaugh Emma Gierszal Mary La Blanc Parker Olson

HARP

Abigail Kent

PIANO

Thomas Steigerwald

TRUMPET

Wyeth Aleksei Douglas Amos Justin Bernardi Julia Tsuchiya-Mayhew

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NRO MUSICIANS

ALUMNI STRING QUARTET Julia Brandenberg Violin, Alumna 2018 & 2019

Audrey Lee Violin, Alumna 2016 & 2018

Elizabeth Hainen Harp, Alumna 1992

Edwardo Rios Viola, Alumnus 2015 & 2017

Mina Hong Violin, Alumna 2018 & 2019

Samuel Viguerie Cello, Alumnus 2017 & 2019

Joey Howe Cello, Alumnus 2017

#NROmusic

Mina Hong

Julia Brandenberg

Audrey Lee

NRO Alumni String Quartet at Silverthorne Performing Arts8 Center

Edwardo Rios, NRO Alumnus 2015 & 2017 & Samuel Viguerie, NRO Alumnus 2017 & 2019, 2020 Alumni String Quartet

You really made the most of 2020 and turned very challenging obstacles into opportunities to show your versatility! Keep it up!

-NRO Audience Member 99

AUDIENCE & COMMUNITY Summer was not what we imagined. It was what we reimagined.

LIVE MUSIC DURING THE PANDEMIC NRO Pop-Up String Quartet performances featured alumni and provided a safe way for audiences to enjoy live music.

NRO VIRTUAL MASTERCLASS & SEMINAR SERIES

The NRO Virtual Masterclass and Seminar Series featured renowned guest artists and conductors to offer free online music education to NRO musicians and the public.

Every 2020 NRO Fellow had the opportunity to participate in a masterclass or lesson on their instrument. Seminars included discussions on a variety of essential topics for the Arts. All events were accessible online and open to public.

LOCAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES The National Repertory Orchestra’s kids' music program was created in direct response to the community’s need to support our local daycare centers and day camps.

Through both live and virtual content, Summit County children enjoyed quality music programming in a safe environment throughout the summer, helping our local families, providers, and the community at large.

Special thanks to Moozie the Cow and the Children’s Kindness Network along with NRO Alumna, Sylvana Ferrarin.

Mountain Top Children’s Museum at an NRO Alumni String Quartet pop-up performance

NRO ENCORE The NRO shifted the annual fundraising Gala event to the screen! On August 8, 2020, Viewers safely celebrated Honoree Carl Topilow and enjoyed alumni performances, a paddle raise and live auction, “The Secret Life of Carl Topilow,” a mini-concert and more from the homepage at NROmusic.org and on FaceBook @NROmusic. .

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$1,157,738 Infused into the local economy by NRO and its audiences

10,356

Attended NRO virtual and in-person events

2,000+

Viewers tuned in to NRO Encore!!

1,806

Children participated in NRO’s Music Education Initiative

55+

Hours of FREE Virtual Masterclasses & Seminars open to public

50+

Free and socially distanced live Pop-Up String Quartet Concerts performed between July 4 and August 16, 2020 throughout Summit County

Learn more about the NRO’s impact!

Take an in-depth look into the data above and how we are making a difference in the community in the NRO Impact Report.

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Peter Stumpf, NRO Alumnus 1982, 2020 Virtual Masterclass Instructor

I am sincerely grateful (for the NRO Virtual Masterclass & Seminar Series). I learned as much from the other talented cellists and their performances as I did from my own halfhour segment.

-Joe Kovac, NRO 2020 12

VIRTUAL EDUCATION GUESTS The NRO welcomed renowned guest artists and conductors to the Virtual Masterclass & Seminar Series. Most were NRO alums!

GUEST MASTERCLASS SERIES INSTRUCTORS Violin Virtuosos Augustin Hadelich Pinchas Zukerman Boulder Philharmonic Charles Wetherbee, NRO ‘88 & ‘89 Butler University Anton Nel Cincinnati Symphony Henrik Heide, former member, NRO ‘08 Cleveland Orchestra Stanley Konopka, NRO ‘90 Dallas Symphony Matt Good, NRO ‘85 Erin Hannigan, NRO ‘95 Nicolas Tsolainos, NRO ‘82 & ‘83

Los Angeles Philharmonic Burt Hara, NRO ‘83 Peter Stumpf, former member, NRO ‘82 Minnesota Orchestra Ellen Dinwiddie Smith, NRO ‘85 & ‘87 New York Philharmonic Joe Alessi, NRO ‘80 Christopher Lamb, NRO ‘80 Roger Nye, NRO ‘92 Philadelphia Orchestra David Bilger, NRO ‘82 & 83 Elizabeth Hainen, NRO ‘92 David Kim Don Liuzzi, NRO ‘79

GUEST SEMINAR SERIES CONDUCTORS Carl Topilow M.D., National Repertory Orchestra

Marcelo Lehninger M.D., Grand Rapids Symphony

Steven Schick M.D., BreckMusic

Michael Stern M.D., Kansas City Symphony

Jason Seber Asst. Conductor, Kansas City Symphony

Joshua Weilerstein M.D., Lucerne Chamber Orchestra

Teddy Abrams M.D., Louisville Symphony

Michael Stern

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BOARD & SUSTAINERS 2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mike Massey, President Pam Piper Yeung, Vice President Sally Queen, Secretary John Stafford, Treasurer Rick Poppe, Past President Libby Bortz Sam Bufford Barbara Calvin Tom Day Sean Gatzen Johanna Gibbs John Landon Patrice Lara Anne Mills Pam Wiegand

Pam Piper & Mike Massey

2020 SUSTAINERS

Mike Altenberg

Sandy Mortensen, Chair Libby Bortz and Mike Altenberg Murray and Marlene Altman Carlie and Terry Barnhart Ann Brewster Barbara and Jim Calvin Gerri Cohen M.A. Deen JoAnn Falletta John Fielder Barbara Strauss and Paul Finkel Nancy* and Bob Follett Nancy and Tom French Annette and Gerry Fricke Pamela and Reggie Gray Robin Hadley

Kenneth and Annette Hallock Joan Manley Houlton Anne and John Kern Jane King John Krakauer* Anita and Jim Kreider Patrice and Ron Lara Anne and Bill Mills Harriet Neiman Ann and Tom Rader Kate and Jim* Taucher Jack Thomas Lou Wagner Pamela and Sonny Wiegand Bobbie and Glen Zelkind (Deceased*) 14

Mina Hong, NRO Alumna 2018 & 2019 2020 Alumni String Quartet

For NRO Encore, I was most looking forward to playing pieces that made the audience feel nostalgic and also hopeful of the future. These are particularly difficult times and I wish nothing more but to bring a little light to everybody's lives.

-Mina Hong, NRO Alumna 15

FINANCIAL SUMMARY REVENUE Contributions Fundraising Events Concert Revenue Audition Tour Miscellaneous Endowment Distribution Total Income

$662,291 $101,507 $12,225 $48,975 $3525 $33,110 $861,633

EXPENSES Fundraising Special Events Marketing Education & Concert Production Miscellaneous Personnel Administrative Total Expense Net Income

$13,398 $25 $17,290 $146,127 $45,085 $530,014 $99,046 $850,985 $10,647

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ENDOWMENT FUND Beginning Balance Contributions Dividends & Realized Gains/Losses Distributions Market Change Closing Balance

$2,209,522 $333,016 ($67,735) ($33,110) ($78,183) $2,363,510

Above represents a final audit by McNurlin, Hitchcock & Associates, P.C. The NRO performs yearly audits in accordance with accepted U.S. auditing standards. In 2020, the NRO provided a multitude of free community and educational events true to the organization’s mission and long-range plan. The success of these events, required certain investment of operating funds. These investments, along with vigorous development activities allowed the NRO to complete the season with a small surplus.

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REVENUE Miscellaneous Concert Revenue

Audition Tour

Endowment Distribution

Fundraising Events

Contributions

EXPENSES Fundraising Administrative

Special Events Marketing Education & Concert Production Miscellaneous

Personnel

Joey Howe 17

info@NROmusic.org

FULL-TIME STAFF FULL-TIME STAFF Dave DePeters Chief Executive Officer Åsa Armstrong Director of Development

Carrie Benefiel Director of Marketing

Debbie Higgs Director of Finance

SEASONAL STAFF

Debbie Higgs

Darrin Blume Production Manager

Brittney Geurink University of Northern Colorado Fall Intern

David Bullman Orchestra Manager

Haley Nordeen Development Coordinator

Paul Gunther Principal Librarian

Mariel Stauff Assistant Librarian

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SIMPLE WAYS TO GIVE YOUR TAX REFUND CAN SUPPORT THE NRO ReFUND CO gives you an opportunity to directly support a local nonprofit like us that is doing important work in your community.

NRO Registration Number: 20023004605 (enter on tax return)

TEXT TO GIVE Text nromusic to phone number 56651. Respond to the return message with your donation amount. It’s that easy!

ONLINE Click here to make a gift to phoneYour number 56651. return message donation just howRespond you want itto tothe be. We appreciate the generosity of all of our donors! It’s that easy with your donation amount.

2021 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Appointment of new Music Director, Michael Stern NRO mobile app Director of Operations and Education, Alexis Luque Summit County Music Lesson Scholarships in partnership with Breckenridge Music Invitation to 2020 fellows to return for the summer festival

NROmusic.org

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Audrey Lee, NRO Alumna 2016 & 2018 2020 Alumni String Quartet

The level of talent in the NRO orchestra, combined with the genuine passion and support of the NRO audience and Breckenridge community, makes for an exceptionally memorable summer. I've gained lifelong friends and invaluable experience.

-Audrey Lee, NRO Alumna 20

SEASON SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATION & COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS!

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NRO Music Director Carl Topilow Dillon Amphitheater, 2019

Changing Lives Through Music!

NROmusic.org PO Box 6336 / 111 S. Main St. Unit C7 / Breckenridge, CO 80424 / (970) 453-5825