Peninsula Symphony: Taylor Eigsti plays Rhapsody in Blue

Mitchell Sardou Klein Music Director & Conductor

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TAYLOR EIGSTI PLAYS RHAPSODY IN BLUE + Music by Joe Hisaishi

OCTOBER 5 & 6 SAT / Heritage Theatre, Campbell SUN / San Mateo Performing Arts Center

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WELCOME FROM PSO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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TONIGHT’S PROGRAM

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PROGRAM NOTES

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MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

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RESIDENT CONDUCTOR

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FEATURED ARTIST

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IN MEMORIAM

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ORCHESTRA ROSTER: OCTOBER 2024

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RISING STAR: KLEIN COMPETITION WINNER

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ADOPT-A-MUSICIAN

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SUPPORTERS

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BOARD, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

PSO program copyright ©2024 Peninsula Symphony Orchestra PENINSULA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 146 Main Street, Suite 102 Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 941-5291 peninsulasymphony.org

Welcome from PSO Executive Director

Welcome to the opening concerts of our 76th Season! We are thrilled to have you all with us as we embark on a new year of exciting musical experiences together. This season opener brings us back together with long-time fan favorite and close musical friend and partner, pianist Taylor Eigsti, alongside his quartet. It’s been amazing to witness Taylor’s talents take him on an award-winning trajectory since his first performance with us at a young age, and we are honored to collaborate with him and his ultra-talented colleagues on stage tonight.

Our musical path this year will traverse great American masters with the Stanford Symphonic Chorus in November, John Williams’ memorable film scores in January, powerhouse masterworks in March with pianist Jon Nakamatsu, and the launch of a recent Klein Competition winner, violist Emad Zolfaghari (plus Respighi and Tchaikovsky) in May! We can’t wait to share these memorable musical experiences with you.

Please consider joining us for the remainder of the season as a new or returning subscriber if you enjoy yourself tonight! See a member of staff in the lobby who can assist you with applying the value of your concert tickets toward a season subscription. Subscribing is the best and most affordable way to experience all four memorable concerts of our 76th Season.

Again this year, the Peninsula Symphony will offer our communities a wide range of educational and outreach events through our Bridges to Music program. You can learn more about this at peninsulasymphony.org. Stay connected with us also on Facebook and Instagram throughout the year for behind-the-scenes glimpses and a deeper connection to the community musicians who bring all the vibrant works to life.

Performing for you is extremely meaningful for every musician on stage. Our hope is that you enjoy a shared experience at each and every one of our performances, and if you like what you hear, please invite a friend or loved one to a future concert. Word of mouth remains the number one way we reach new attendees year after year.

Whether you are attending a concert for the first time, have made an initial donation or contribute regularly to support our programs, you motivate us and give our efforts meaning. Thank you deeply, and we hope to see you again very soon.

Chelsea Chambers Executive Director

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Photo by Shervin Lainez

Mitchell Sardou Klein, Music Director & Conductor

TAYLOR EIGSTI plays Rhapsody in Blue OCTOBER 5, 2024 at 7:30pm / Heritage Theatre, Campbell OCTOBER 6, 2024 at 2:30pm / San Mateo Performing Arts Center Mitchell Sardou Klein, Music Director & Conductor Nathaniel Berman, Resident Conductor Taylor Eigsti, Piano Charles Altura, Guitar David “DJ” Ginyard, Bass Oscar Seaton Jr., Drums

Joe Hisaishi, Spirited Away Suite One Summer’s Day, Nighttime Coming, The Gods, View of the Morning, The Bottomless Pit, The Dragon Boy, No Face, The Sixth Station, Reprise, The Return Nathaniel Berman, conducting Xinran Shi, piano

Joe Hisaishi, Merry-Go-Round of Life from Howl’s Moving Castle Taylor Eigsti, piano

Taylor Eigsti, Bewitched (World Premiere) (arr. Taylor Eigsti; orch. Andrew Balogh) Juan Tizol & Duke Ellington, Caravan (arr. Taylor Eigsti & Ronald Miller) - Intermission Taylor Eigsti “Hutcheonite” Tree Falls (orch. by Tim Maurice) Plane Over Kansas (arr. Yuma Sung) George Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue Taylor Eigsti, piano

* THESE CONCERTS ARE GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY * Sheri Frumkin in honor of Paula Uccelli Paula Uccelli in memory of Peter Uccelli A friend of PSO in honor of Pieter Smith Meiying Forney & Steve Shatas

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PROGRAM NOTES Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin exemplifies cross-genre music like no other. He grew up in NYC as the son of Russian immigrants, and at the age of 10 showed a talent for music and the piano. Early on he made a modest living on Tin Pan Alley as a composer of popular songs.

He was soon very successful on Broadway as well, and excelled in producing film scores later in life. He had limited classical training, and he understood that he lacked some skills that could help him. He asked to study with Ravel, but was turned down. Ravel reportedly said, “Why become a second-rate Ravel when you’re already a first-rate Gershwin?” Gershwin composed a number of works that bridged the gaps between jazz, popular music, Broadway, and classical music. Let’s not forget about An American in Paris, Porgy and Bess, and Concerto in F. Tonight we get to hear the incomparable Rhapsody in Blue. First, George was a remarkable pianist. He could play instinctively in many styles, and he improvised with great skill. Many of the virtuoso solo passages in Rhapsody in Blue were improvised in his own early performances of the piece. He just did his thing, like no other. There are several versions of Rhapsody in Blue. PSO will perform the full orchestra version orchestrated

by Ferde Grofé (1942). But it’s George’s genius that shines through. It’s a kind of concerto with improvisation, free in form, expressive in intent. Not bound by historical constraints but also respectful of tradition, Rhapsody in Blue captures the energy, ambition, freedom, diversity, and optimism of life in New York City at the time. Gershwin wrote: “True music must reflect the thought and aspirations of the people and time. My people are Americans. My time is today.”

Over the centuries, some famous composers lived sadly short lives. For example, Mozart and Schubert died relatively young. But somehow their creative lives were complete. Late Mozart, late Schubert, their music is recognizably that of genius that knew that the end was near. This is not the case with Gershwin.

His early death at age 38 was a sudden and crushing blow, a creative life cut short in its prime. The great American writer John O’Hara remarked: “George Gershwin died on July 11, 1937, but I don’t have to believe it if I don’t want to.”

- Program notes by Larry Laskowski

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PROGRAM NOTES

Spirited Away Suite Spirited Away is a critically acclaimed animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced

by Studio Ghibli, released in 2001. The story follows Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who, while moving to a new neighborhood with her parents, stumbles into a mysterious world inhabited by gods, spirits, and witches. Her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba, leaving Chihiro to navigate this enchanting yet perilous world to save them and find a way back to the human realm. The film is celebrated for its breathtaking hand-drawn animation, richly detailed environments, and imaginative creature designs. Themes of identity, resilience, and personal growth are woven throughout Chihiro’s journey, making her transformation from a scared, dependent child into a brave, self-reliant individual deeply compelling.

Spirited Away also delves into Japanese mythology and Shinto traditions, adding cultural depth and authenticity. The setting of a traditional Japanese bathhouse and the presence of various kami (spirits) immerse viewers in the world’s folklore. The film’s universal appeal, bolstered by its critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, has cemented its status as a timeless classic.

The orchestral music in Spirited Away, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is integral to the film’s emotional resonance and storytelling. Hisaishi’s score blends haunting melodies, uplifting pieces, and serene tunes, perfectly capturing the film’s magical and mysterious atmosphere.

Key pieces like “One Summer’s Day” and “The Sixth Station” evoke a profound sense of wonder and nostalgia, enhancing the viewer’s connection to Chihiro’s journey. The soundtrack’s popularity extends far beyond the film, with orchestras worldwide performing the music in concerts, often to sold-out audiences. The compositions have become iconic, celebrated for their beauty and emotional depth, and have contributed significantly to the global appreciation and enduring legacy of Spirited Away.

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PROGRAM NOTES

Merry-Go-Round of Life from Howl’s Moving Castle Howl’s Moving Castle, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released by Studio Ghibli in 2004, is a beloved animated fantasy that follows Sophie, a young woman cursed by a witch and turned into an elderly lady. In her quest to break the spell, Sophie meets the enigmatic wizard Howl, who lives in a magical moving castle that roams the countryside. The story beautifully blends themes of love, identity, and the impact of war, set in a stunningly imaginative world filled with picturesque landscapes, flying machines, and magical creatures. Howl’s Moving Castle was both a critical and commercial success, solidifying its place as one of Miyazaki’s most enduring and universally cherished works.

Merry-Go-Round of Life, composed by Joe Hisaishi, perfectly captures the film’s enchanting and adventurous spirit. It opens with a delicate, lilting waltz, played by the solo piano, that sweeps listeners into a dreamlike world. The melody feels timeless, evoking the gentle motion of a carousel or the rhythm of life itself. As the piece unfolds, the orchestration deepens, with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion adding a sense of grandeur and emotional resonance.

What makes this composition stand out is its ability to evoke both joy and introspection. MerryGo-Round of Life stands on its own as a rich, textured work, offering a musical experience that is both uplifting and deeply moving—just like the film it accompanies.

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PROGRAM NOTES Joe Hisaishi Joe Hisaishi, born Mamoru Fujisawa on December 6, 1950, in Nakano, Nagano, Japan, is a prolific composer, conductor, and musical director, renowned for his work in film scoring, particularly his collaborations with Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki. Hisaishi’s music has become synonymous with the magic and emotional depth of Miyazaki’s films, contributing significantly to their global acclaim.

Joe Hisaishi’s compositions are celebrated for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth, drawing inspiration from both Western classical music and traditional Japanese musical elements. His ability to blend these influences results in a unique and timeless sound that resonates with audiences worldwide. Beyond Spirited Away, Hisaishi has composed music for numerous other Miyazaki films, including My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle, each time contributing to the films’ storytelling with his evocative scores.

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MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR Mitchell Sardou Klein

Music Director & Conductor Music Director and Conductor Mitchell Sardou Klein brings extensive conducting experience in the US, Europe, Australia and Japan to his leadership of the Peninsula Symphony. During his 39 years on the Symphony’s podium, he has guest conducted the Seattle Symphony, New Polish Philharmonic, Suddetic Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Eastern Philharmonic and many other orchestras in the US and Europe. In California he has led Symphony San José (formerly Symphony Silicon Valley), the San José Symphony, the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Inland Empire/Riverside Philharmonic, Ballet San José, the California Riverside Ballet and the Livermore-Amador Philharmonic and others. He co-founded and is Music Director of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra, which he has taken on concert tours of England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, Holland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia.

Maestro Klein directed over a hundred concerts as Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic (where he was also Principal Pops Conductor and Principal Conductor of Starlight Theater, the Philharmonic’s summer home), and also served as Music Director of the Santa Cruz Symphony. He also has extensive experience in conducting ballet orchestras, including the Kansas City, Lone Star, Oakland, and Westport Ballets, as well as the Theater Ballet of San Francisco and les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Before turning to the podium, he performed as a cellist for many years. Known to most everyone as Mitch, he enjoys travel, photography, jazz and visual arts in his spare time.

Since 1984, he has been Director of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition.

Held in San Francisco each June, the Competition has become one of the most prominent in the world, featuring prizes totaling over $35,000, attracting applicants from more than twenty nations annually, and launching numerous major international concert careers.

Critics have consistently praised his work. The San José Mercury described his performance with Symphony Silicon Valley in 2012 as a “gorgeous performance; big, enveloping and wonderfully luxuriant.” The San Mateo County Times described him in 2007 as “Super Conductor: Mitchell Sardou Klein, music director of the Peninsula Symphony, led his musicians through another triumphant concert. The Peninsula Symphony just keeps getting better and better. Great works and great performances by all.” The Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza proclaimed, “The American conductor quickly established a fine rapport with his orchestra. Klein is a musician who has the musical score in his head, rather than his head in the score, which he demonstrated ably. The creative conception and artistic shape which he brings to his work comes from deep inside him.”

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MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR Maestro Klein is a winner of many prestigious awards, including the 2008 Diamond Award for Best Individual Artist, the Silver Lei Award from the 2009 Honolulu Film Festival (for the World Premiere of Giancarlo Aquilanti’s La Poverta), the 2000 ASCAP Award for Programming of American Music on Foreign Tour, the 2001 Jullie Billiart Award from the College of Notre Dame for Outstanding Community Service, a 1996 award for the year’s best television performance program in the Western States (for the one-hour PBS program about him and the Peninsula Symphony) as well as the 1993 Bravo Award for his contribution to the Bay Area’s cultural life.

Mr. Klein was born in New York City, into a musical family that included members of the Claremont and Budapest String Quartets. He began cello studies at age four with his father, Irving Klein, founder of the Claremont Quartet. His mother, Elaine Hartong Klein, danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.

Cited for his “keen judgment, tight orchestral discipline, feeling for tempo, and unerring control,” Maestro Klein has conducted many significant world, American, and West Coast premieres, including works by Bohuslav Martinu, Meyer Kupferman, Joan Tower, Hans Kox, George Barati, Benjamin Lees, Giancarlo Aquilanti, Melissa Hui, Rodion Shchedrin, Brian Holmes, Ron Miller, Lee Actor, Michael Thurber, Jonathan Russell, Alvin Brehm, and Margaret Garwood. He has appeared frequently on national and international broadcasts, including National Public Radio, the Voice of America, the WFMT Fine Arts Network, PBS Television, and KQED television. He lives in Oakland, California with his wife, violist Patricia Whaley. Their daughter, Elizabeth, lives and works in Washington D.C.

Maestro Klein with Anthony McGill / April 2023

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RESIDENT CONDUCTOR

Nathaniel Berman Resident Conductor

Nathaniel Berman maintains an active presence as a performer and music educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. A faculty member at UC Santa Cruz since 2007, he is conductor of the UCSC Concert Choir and the UCSC Wind Ensemble and has appeared as guest conductor of the UCSC Orchestra and the University Opera Theater. Nathaniel has held the position of Music Director of the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony since 2011 and has appeared as guest conductor of the Santa Cruz County Symphony in annual collaborative concerts with the Youth Symphony.

A strong advocate for new music, Nathaniel is Artistic Director of the San Franciscobased new music ensemble Ninth Planet (formerly Wild Rumpus), with whom he has led premieres of commissioned works by dozens of composers, and he appears as conductor of new music on Innova, Other Minds, and Pinna recordings. Nathaniel has appeared as guest conductor with Empyrean Ensemble at UC Davis in June of 2019, as well as leading the world premiere of The Pressure by Brian Baumbusch, at San Francisco’s Other Minds Festival at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater. In March of 2023, he conducted the premiere performance of Prospero’s Island, a new opera by Alan Shearer, at Herbst Theater in San Francisco.

Nathaniel has been a member of the professional new-music chorus Volti, where he also served as Assistant Conductor, and has sung with early music ensembles Pacific Collegium and Euouae. Originally a trumpet player, he now keeps up his brass chops playing euphonium in the Balkan brass band Inspector Gadje.

Nathaniel received his Master’s degree in conducting from UC Santa Cruz, where he studied with Nicole Paiement. He grew up playing duets with his dad, a jazz pianist and singer.

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FEATURED ARTIST Taylor Eigsti Piano

GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti started playing the piano when he was four years old. Growing up in Menlo Park, CA, Eigsti was quickly labeled a prodigy, and has since released 9 albums as a bandleader, in addition to appearing on over 70 albums as a sideman. Eigsti recently won a 2022 GRAMMY® Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his most recent album “Tree Falls”, released in 2021 on GSI Records. In addition to this recent honor, Eigsti has garnered 3 individual GRAMMY® nominations over the years for his work as a recording artist and composer, including Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Eigsti has also been featured on several other GRAMMY® nominated albums by Gretchen Parlato and Julian Lage, and cowrote a featured composition with Don Cheadle for the GRAMMY® - winning soundtrack to the motion picture “Miles Ahead” (2017).

Over the past 30+ years, Eigsti has had the good fortune of performing, touring or recording with such luminaries as Dave Brubeck, Chris Botti, Joshua Redman, Sting, John Mayer, Esperanza Spalding, Chick Corea, Joshua Bell, Snarky Puppy, Vanessa Williams, David Benoit, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, Ben Wendel, Christian McBride, Julian Lage, Michael Nesmith, Marian McPartland, Stefon Harris, McCoy Tyner, Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Vince Mendoza, Joey DeFrancesco, Red Holloway, James Moody, Lalah Hathaway, Ernestine Anderson, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Becca Stevens, Casey Abrams, Tarionna “Tank” Ball, Christian McBride, Charles McPherson, The Clayton Brothers, Lizz Wright, Eldar, Dianne Schuur, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Ambrose Akinmusire, Hank Jones, The Brubeck Brothers, Sachal Vasandani, Erin Bode, and Frederica Von Stade, among many others.

In addition to touring with his working quintet and larger ensembles, Eigsti is a regular touring member of Terence Blanchard’s E-Collective band featuring the Turtle Island Quartet, and frequently tours in a duo context with Rolling Stones’ long-time vocalist Ms. Lisa Fischer. Eigsti has been a long-time member of the regular touring bands of Gretchen Parlato, Ben Wendel, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Eric Harland Voyager, Chris Botti, and many others over the years.

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FEATURED ARTIST Eigsti has had the honor to tour internationally for many years, having the opportunity to perform at many premiere venues throughout the world, including the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Salle Pleyel, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Royal Festival Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus, Olympia Hall, Massey Hall, Lincoln Center, Davies Symphony Hall, and many top festivals including Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Singapore Mosaic Music Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival, Quito Jazz Fes-tival, Jakarta Jazz Festival, Sydney Jazz Festival, Manilla Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and many more performances worldwide, including a private performance for former President Bill Clinton.

Eigsti has also been featured numerous times in various television specials, NPR appearances, commercials, and composed the theme music to the motion picture “Detachment” (2011) starring Oscar Award winner Adrien Brody, collaborating on the score with the Newton Brothers. In 2019, Eigsti was also featured on a television special with Chris Botti for PBS’s “Great Performances”, and was recently featured on the score to Spike Lee’s HBO 4-part DocuSeries “NYC Epicenters” (2021).

In addition to leading and performing with various small ensembles, Eigsti frequently has had the opportunity to work with, compose for and orchestrate music for various symphony orchestras, and has written an extensive repertoire of music for orchestra and jazz ensemble. Various soloist and compositional features include the San José Chamber Orchestra, Oakland Symphony, New York Philharmonic, New York Pops, LA Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Buffalo Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Portland Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Boston Youth Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Jose Youth Symphony, Golden State Youth Orchestra, Bear Valley Symphony, Tassajara Symphony, Reno Philharmonic and multiple featured collaborations with the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra.

In March 2022, Eigsti premiered “Imagine Our Future” in the Bay Area, which is a large ensemble work commissioned by the Hewlett Foundation, featuring Lisa Fischer on vocals and a 12-person band, which compositionally “crowd-sources” over 100 submitted musical and multi-media ideas from a cross-section of youth from Northern California.

Eigsti’s newest and ninth album as a bandleader, “Plot Armor” was released March of 2024, and is now available everywhere on GroundUP Music.

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IN MEMORIAM

Tonight’s concert is dedicated in loving memory to Lorraine Smith for her many years of service as a dedicated symphony guild member and deeply devoted supporter. The Peninsula Symphony family will always cherish her involvement, care, and impact in our mission-driven work.

Mitchell Sardou Klein Music Director & Conductor

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Jon Nakamatsu

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2

eason: an earlier start time at 7:30pm on Saturdays, y matinees at 2:30pm - perfect for the whole family.

ORCHESTRA ROSTER - OCTOBER 2024 Music Director & Conductor Mitchell Sardou Klein Resident Conductor Nathaniel Berman Violin I Debra Fong, Concertmaster Kim Bonnett Peter Cheng Colin Gaffney Tara Iyer Jueun Nam Girish Nanjundiah Matt Springer Judy Streger Alex Wang Sarah Wu Violin II Deborah Passanisi, Principal Moosa Azfar Susanne Bohl Brad Gibson Frank Rahn Katharine Schmidtke David Williams Audrey Yan Angela Yeh Hanna Yoshimoto Viola Elyse Ader, Principal Katherine Bukstein Andrea Hata Elizabeth Ingber Jerry Saliman Judy Beck Sumerlin Jolynda Tresner Carolyn Worthington

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Cello Ami Nashimoto, Acting Principal Sandy Baratoff Garth Cummings Victor Ha Tetsu Ishihara Tomoko Ishihara Annette Lewis Ryan Toulouse Bass Suesan Taylor, Principal Cory Combs David Herberg Grant Parker Andrew Salsbury Michael Tong Jeff Wachtel

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ORCHESTRA ROSTER - OCTOBER 2024 Flute Kay Saito Shafi, Principal Patricia Harrell Kristin Kunzelman Piccolo Patricia Harrell Oboe Audrey Gore, Principal Lianne Araki Dane Carlson Clarinet Nicole Galisatus, Principal Nick Cotter Ron Miller Bass Clarinet Nick Cotter Saxophone Rich Avila Alex Lill Linda Wilson Bassoon Juliet Hamak, Principal Kyoko Yamamoto Richard Krishnan Contrabassoon Richard Krishnan Horn Brian Holmes, Co-Principal Randy Nickel, Co-Principal Justin Privitera, Assistant Principal David Dufour Anna Newman

Trombone Rami Hindiyeh, Co-Principal Randall Chase Todd Weinman Tuba Johnathan Hsu, Principal Timpani Mike Bresler, Principal Percussion Paul Burdick, Acting Principal Michael Chen Erica Richstad Gerry Martin Nathan Tran Keyboard/Piano Xinran Shi Music Librarian Joel Greene

Trumpet Mike Marmarou, Principal Nicholas Toscan Bob Fitt

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RISING STAR: KLEIN COMPETITION WINNER Emad Zolfaghari Viola

Canadian violist Emad Zolfaghari has recently come to international attention after winning the first prize and audience prize at the 2024 Primrose International Viola Competition. Emad was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at age 16, where he currently studies with Hsin-Yun Huang. He is the first prize winner of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition, first prize winner of the International Morningside Music Bridge Competition, second prize winner of the Johansen International String Competition and third prize winner of the OSM String Competition.

Emad has appeared as a soloist with several major symphony orchestras, including l’Orchestre Métropolitain under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Montreal Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra and the National Metropolitan Philharmonic.

Emad has attended several festivals such as Morningside Music Bridge, the Center Stage Strings festival as a junior faculty member, the Perlman Music Program, Music from Angel Fire, ChamberFest Cleveland, ChamberFest West, the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, and the Music in the Vineyards Festival. Emad currently plays on a fine 1700 Matteo Goffriller viola on generous loan from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, and a Sartory Copy bow from CANIMEX, inc.

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Don’t miss our season finale on Saturday, May 17 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, and Sunday, May 18 at the Capuchino Performing Arts Center.

Jessie Montgomery, Soul Force Carl Philipp Stamitz, Viola Concerto in D, Op. 1 / Emad Zolfaghari, viola Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Capriccio Italien, Op. 47 Ottorino Respighi, Pines of Rome, P. 141 TICKETS: peninsulasymphony.org

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ADOPT-A-MUSICIAN LIFETIME ADOPTED MUSICIANS Mitchell Sardou Klein Conductor Deborah Passanisi Violin II Dr. Lauren Speeth Violin I

Paula Uccelli Frank & Annette Rahn Elfenworks Foundation

MUSICIAN INSTRUMENT ADOPTED BY Debra Fong Concertmaster Katherine & Roy Bukstein Dave Allmon Trombone Jacqueline Smith Abraham Aragundi Cello Friend of PSO Lianne Araki Oboe Patricia L. Griffin Michael Bresler Timpani/Percussion Celeste Everson Misfeldt &

Todd Misfeldt Katherine Bukstein Viola Margrit Rinderknecht & Richard Siemon Dane Carlson Oboe/English Horn Kirt & Kelly Minor Daniel Cher Violin I Laura & David Francis Garth Cummings Cello Sheri & Michael Frumkin David Dufour Horn Hannelore Draper Robert Fitt Trumpet Don & Cathy Draper Nicole Galisatus Clarinet Penny Barrows in memory of

John Barrows Bradley Gibson Violin II Teri Quick Audrey Gore Oboe Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens Joel Greene Music Librarian Al & Liz Dossa Juliet Hamak Bassoon John Givens Patricia Harrell Flute/Piccolo Krista & Jerry Terstiege Yukoh Hammura Flute Nina Brody David Herberg Bass Suesan Taylor Brian Holmes Horn Mary Gundelach Johnathan Hsu Tuba Yvonne Hampton; Teri Quick Tetsu Ishihara Cello Marcia Leonhardt in honor of

Judy & David Anderson Rahul Iyer Bass Suesan Taylor Tara Iyer Violin I Pauline Roothman Susan Magrini Cello Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens Mike Marmarou Trumpet Ronald S. Miller Vineet Mehta Violin II Sheree Kajiwara Ronald S. Miller Clarinet Jacqueline Smith Bruce Moyer Bass Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens Randy Nickel Horn Diana Lloyd Kristin Chesnutt Oro Violin II Dorothy Fahlman & Karin Chesnutt Frank Rahn Violin II Nichole Edraos & Jim Augustus Jerry Saliman Viola Dorothy Saxe Kay Saito Shafi Flute/Piccolo Ronald S. Miller Kirsten Shallenberg Cello Jacqueline Smith Matt Springer Violin I/Timpani Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens

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ADOPT-A-MUSICIAN MUSICIAN INSTRUMENT Judy Streger Violin I Suesan Taylor Bass Jshon Thomas Violin II Nicholas Toscan Trumpet Jolynda Tresner Viola

Kate Wahl Violin I Alex Wang Violin I David Williams Violin II Carolyn Worthington Viola Sarah Wu Violin I Kyoko Yamamoto Bassoon Hanna Yoshimoto Violin II Jane Zhang Violin II

ADOPTED BY Alan & Spike Russell Martin Chai & Gray Clossman Sheri & Michael Frumkin Bob & Karen Fitt Brian Holmes, Maureen Thrush, and Roy & Victoria Sasselli Sheri & Michael Frumkin Bichen Wang Family and Friends Richard Izmirian Alan & Spike Russell John Givens Hironari & Yoshihiro Yoshimoto Gayle Flanagan

EMERITUS MEMBERS

John Givens, Principal Bassoon, adopted by Juliet Hamak & George Yefchak

Would you like to adopt a musician? It is our goal to have the entire orchestra adopted as a special way of supporting us.

For information on this meaningful program, please reach out to Chelsea Chambers, Executive Director at chelsea@peninsulasymphony.org or (650) 941-5291.

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SUPPORTERS We are grateful to the following contributors who support live symphonic music and education on the Peninsula. Our donor listing below is a compilation of total giving received between June 1, 2023 and September 22, 2024. If you see an error in this listing or would like more information on ways you can contribute to Peninsula Symphony, please reach out to Executive Director Chelsea Chambers by emailing chelsea@peninsulasymphony.org.

Risoluto ($50k +) The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Maestoso al fine ($25k - $49,999) The Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation Fortissimo ($10k - $24,999) Katherine & Roy Bukstein California Small Business Administration David Cone Sheri & Michael Frumkin in honor of Paula Uccelli, Chelsea Chambers, Jim Fung, and Mitchell Sardou Klein Krista & Jerry Terstiege Friend of PSO in memory of Pieter Smith Friends of PSO (2) Crescendo ($5k-$9,999) Pamela Ferris John Givens Joel Greene in honor of The Monkeyman of Burlingame Mary Gundelach in memory of Charles M. Gundelach Russell Hurley Diana Lloyd in memory of Cliff Lloyd Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens Ronald S. Miller Celeste E. & Todd M. Misfeldt Teri Quick in honor of Brad Gibson Maria Shim & Nicholas Fox Paula Uccelli in memory of Peter Uccelli Friend of PSO

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SUPPORTERS Presto ($2,500 - $4,999) Janice Boelke Nathan Brookwood & Patricia Hendriks Barbara Erickson Meiying Forney & Steve Shatas in appreciation of Sheri Frumkin Brad Gibson Alex Kurosawa Vineet Mehta & Karishma Sharma Deborah Passanisi Redwood City Arts Commission William & Diane Reuland Rita’s Rainbows Paul Schneider in memory of Amanda Smith Schneider Jeff & Gwyn Wachtel Scherzo ($1,000-$2,499) Kathryn Barnard & Kenneth Shirriff, Reception Sponsors Barbara & Robert Brandriff in memory of Dorothy Lunn Martin Chai & Gray Clossman Daniel Cher & Laura Wolfe Tom Cooper & Mary Hom Howard & Diane Crittenden Stanley Dirks Don & Cathy Draper Hannelore Draper Gene Esswein Gayle Flanagan Laura & David Francis in appreciation of Daniel Cher Mariam S. Galvarin Alexandra Gillen & Hartmut Koeppen Juliet Hamak & George Yefchak Patricia Harrell Benjamin & Kaoru Hollin Sheree Kajiwara & Richard Izmirian in memory of Dr. Diana Koin James Kleinrath & Melody Singleton Susan Lin in appreciation of everyone at PSO Bill Malmstrom Joe & Mollie Marshall Randy & Janie Nickel Craig & Wendy Nishizaki Nvidia

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Prudential Caroline & Chris Rackowski David Sacarelos & Yvette Lanza Jerry & Ellen Saliman Sara & Phillip Salsbury Margrit Rinderknecht & Richard Siemon Marianne & John Silva-Oba Suesan Taylor in memory of C. Barr Taylor, & in honor of Michael Tong & David Herberg Wells Fargo Foundation David A. Williams & Hilary Benton Carolyn & Tim Worthington Y&H Soda Foundation Hanna & Yoshihiro Yoshimoto Rachel Youmans Friend of PSO Vivace ($500-$999) David & Michelle Allmon Apple Inc Nina Brody Kathleen Brown Geoffrey W Burr Karin & Jim Chestnutt Erika Crowley in honor of Cary Kimler John DeLong & Sharon Peters Al & Liz Dossa Nicholas & Renee Toscan Nichole Edraos & Jim Augustus Anne Esparza

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SUPPORTERS Robert & Karen Fitt Alice Graham in memory of Dorothy Graham Givens Patricia L. Griffin Johnathan Hsu Douglas & Susan Jacobs Mitchell Sardou Klein & Patricia Whaley Ann & Ben Kong in honor of Linda Dunn, most dedicated volunteer Marcia Leonhardt in honor of Judy and David Anderson Susan Magrini Richard & Beverly Marconi Marcia & John Mehl Kirt & Kelly Minor in appreciation of Dane Carlson Angela Mogielski & Peter Cassini Beth Morris Elizabeth Nyberg in memory of Paul Nyberg Kristin Oro Charles Polanski Roland Feller Violin Makers Pauline Roothman Alan & Spike Russell John & Christine Sanguinetti Dorothy Saxe Kay Saito & Sayed Shafi Anita Stewart & Kaj Rekola Sue Larson Family Fund The Wachtel Pronovost Family in appreciation of Jeff Wachtel Molly Wachtel in honor of Jeff Wachtel Bichen Wang Todd & Andrea Weinman William Warren Weisenfeld Friends of PSO (3) Allegro ($250-$499) Lianne Araki in memory of Edward C. Hattyar Doron Bardas Michael & Adrienne Bresler Helen Cockrum Ruth Evans

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Delbert & Susan Fillmore Google, Inc. David Greene Dawn Grench in honor of Herb Grench Elke & Chris Groves Ann Guerra Hillel Hachlili Charles Hanes David & Elisa Herberg Steven Hibshman Brian Holmes & Jolynda Tresner Mela & Peter Hwang IBM International Foundation Sanjiv & Jazz Kaul Kenneth Krieg & Carol Dolezal Eugene Lee & Claire Chang Harvey Lynch Linelle Marshall Pamela Moore in memory of Bill Moore Vonya Morris Noni Naughton Chuck & Patty Ortenberg in honor of Jeff Wachtel Neil Panton Grant Parker Frank & Annette Rahn Cheryl & John Ritchie Alison Ross in appreciation of Linda Dunn Bill & Sherrean Rundberg Amy & Daniel Schiff in honor of Sheri Frumkin Karen & John Scorsur in appreciation of Jacqueline Smith, Chelsea Chambers, and the hardworking staff Ruth A. Short Lorraine Smith Matt Springer & Weiyun Ai The Trade Desk Jshon Thomas & Gary Carson Michael Tong & Luna Wang Cameron Wessel & Sapna Upadhyay Teri & Robert Whitehair Raymond & Cecilia Wong Friend of PSO in honor of Hanna Yoshimoto Friends of PSO (4)

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SUPPORTERS

PSO with Gaeun Kim / March 2024

Dolce ($100-$249) John & Barbara Adams Maryam Aghamirzadeh Karen Alden Michael & Merrie Asimow Wate & Johanna Bakker Barbara Barth Israel Beinglass Rebecca Berger in honor of Jerry Saliman Nathaniel Berman Jeanne Bertini David Biegelsen Jill Biegenzahn Juliette Bryson David & Janet Cain Dr. Patricia Campbell & John Miaullis Frank & Charlotte Cevasco in honor of Debbie Passanisi Faye Chapman Carol Chivers Mary Elise Clarity Joseph Coha Ronald Danielson Judy Davis in memory of

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Marilyn & Harold Mindell Tanya Dubinsky Suzanne & Allan Epstein Fredrika Felt in honor of Jeff Wachtel David Fernandez & Lori Krauss Ruth Finkelstein Shirley Foreman Ann & Stan Forman in honor of Sheri Frumkin Madeleine Frankel Jim Fung Michael & Cindy Galisatus Gayle Hansen in memory of James R. Hansen Matthias Hausner Joan Hebert Kathie Hillier & Bob Boen Marshall & Roberta Hollimon Perry Hopkins Intel Corporation Robert & Ana Johnson Alan Kalman Jeffrey Koseff & Thalia Anagnos Sandra Krakowski

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SUPPORTERS Sharon Krawetz Kristin Kunzelman Amy Kuo Jay & Sylvia Ladenheim in appreciation of Randy Nickel Lori Lambertson in memory of John Biegenzahn Sandra & Brandon Martinez-Larragoiti Richard Leder & Cherrill Spencer in appreciation of Mitch Klein & the staff William & Lucille Lee Amy Lit Michael Marmarou Melody Marshall Jan McKim Diane Merchant Joyce Monda Bruce Moyer Carol Muller Alan Pattison Karen & Douglas Perry in appreciation of Chelsea Chambers Wayne Phillips

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J. Richard & Karen S. Recht Marilyn Reisen Cynthia Robbins-Roth Stephen & Joanne Rovno Heather Sanders Victoria & Roy Sasselli Marian Schmidt Darlene Schumacher Marvin & Ellen Schwartz Dana Scoby Marilyn Sefchovich Marcyl Seidscher Noel Shirley Tom Silva Lynne Simpson Gang Situ Laura Sternberg Grant Takamoto Carolyn Tucher Adam Wantz Anne Wharton Warren R Williams Friends of PSO (6)

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“Sostenuto” Legacy Society The future of Peninsula Symphony is sustained by the generosity of individuals who choose to give during or after their lifetimes. Their contributions safeguard the presence of symphonic music on the Peninsula for this and future generations to come. To find out more about how to join this special group of cherished supporters, please reach out to Executive Director Chelsea Chambers, chelsea@peninsulasymphony.org.

Sostenuto Legacy Society Members as of September 2024:

Ellis Alden Anonymous Janice Boelke The Elfenworks Foundation Mitchell Sardou Klein & Patricia Whaley Judi McManigal Frank & Annette Rahn Genny Hall Smith Lorraine Smith Marguerite Szekeley William Warren Wiesenfeld Trust

Peninsula Symphony is seeking board candidates!

Our current board is composed of devoted community members with experience in the realms of finance, high tech, education, volunteer musicians and marketing.

Meetings are held virtually and in person four to six times a year. Board members may serve up to three consecutive 3-year terms. Elections are held on an ongoing basis.

We are seeking new board members from diverse backgrounds who bring additional skills and perspectives in order to continue to move our symphony forward. We want our board to reflect our community and strive to find members who will add diverse voices to the team. We are a working board, so if you are looking for a way to get out and live your best life by helping to govern a vibrant, innovative non-profit organization and contribute to your local community in a meaningful way, this is a great way to do it!

We would love to see candidates with experience in: · Financial Management · Legal Expertise · Human Relations · Fundraising / Grant-Writing · Event Planning · Education / Youth / Community programs · Passion for music and PSO If you or someone you know may be interested in a board position or just want to learn more about what is involved, please reach out to me or our board co-chair we’d love to talk to you!

Chelsea Chambers (Executive Director) - chelsea@peninsulasymphony.org Ben Hollin (Co-Chair, Board of Directors) - ben@peninsulasymphony.org

BOARD, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

PENINSULA SYMPHONY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ben Hollin, Co-Chair Jeff Wachtel, Co-Chair Randy Nickel, Secretary Katherine Bukstein, Chair, Governance Committee Sheri Frumkin, Chair, Development Committee Alan Russell, Treasurer Nicole Galisatus, Orchestra Rep Mariam Galvarin Juliet Hamak Tara Iyer Alex Kurosawa Lillian Lee Diana Lloyd

PENINSULA SYMPHONY STAFF Mitchell Sardou Klein, Music Director & Conductor Nathaniel Berman, Resident Conductor Chelsea Chambers, Executive Director Jim Fung, Director of Marketing & Digital Content Jenny Ugale, Operations & Outreach Manager Tara Kariat, Box Office & Administrative Assistant Faye Chapman, Bookkeeper Joel Greene, Music Librarian Greg van der Veen, Stage Manager Samantha Paschner, Rehearsal Setup Linda Dunn, Office Volunteer Heidi Hau, Piano Competition Coordinator Amelia Yee, Front of House & Volunteer Coordinator Aleena Mehdi, Intern

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The mission of the Peninsula Symphony is to enrich the lives of people in our community with inspiring, innovative, high-quality musical presentations at affordable prices, and to promote music education through engaging programs for children and adults.

The Peninsula Symphony Association of Northern California is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation, Federal Tax ID 94-6106974.

Peninsula Symphony 146 Main Street, Suite 102 Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 941-5291 / info@peninsulasymphony.org PeninsulaSymphony.org

The spirit of community lives here When everyone comes together, the opportunities open.

The goals become focused, the path to success gets wider.

This event is made possible by the tireless work of many selfless, talented individuals, moving forward with intention toward a strong and powerful future.

Alan Russell

Private Mortgage Banker 408-887-5141 homeloans.wellsfargo.com/Alan-W-Russell alan.w.russell@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 280182 Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2024 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. NMLSR ID 399801. AS6091280 01/2025 IHA-7961605

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