Peninsula Symphony: Taylor Eigsti plays Rhapsody in Blue
TAYLOR EIGSTI PLAYS RHAPSODY IN BLUE
OCTOBER 5 & 6
SAT / Heritage Theatre, Campbell SUN / San Mateo Performing Arts Center
+ Music by Joe Hisaishi
Mitchell Sardou Klein Music Director & Conductor
RISING
ADOPT-A-MUSICIAN
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.”
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
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.
FEATURED
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.
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 largeensemble 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.
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
Peninsula Symphony to the big stage 76th Season, legendary cinema January ‘25 program from iconic films: the Sorcerer’s Ark, Close Encounters E.T., Superman Convert your to a subscription
Symphony fan favorites return stage in our blockbuster along with a tribute to the cinema giant John Williams in a program that includes music films: Jaws, Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s Stone, Raiders of the Lost Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman and more . your single tickets subscription today!
MARCH 22 & 23
Jon Nakamatsu
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2
season: an earlier start time at 7:30pm on Saturdays, Sunday 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
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
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
Trumpet
Mike Marmarou, Principal
Nicholas Toscan
Bob Fitt
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
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.
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
LIFETIME ADOPTED MUSICIANS
Mitchell Sardou Klein Conductor
Deborah Passanisi
Dr. Lauren Speeth
MUSICIAN
Violin II
Violin I
INSTRUMENT
Debra Fong Concertmaster
Dave Allmon Trombone
Abraham Aragundi Cello
Lianne Araki Oboe
Michael Bresler
Timpani/Percussion
Katherine Bukstein Viola
Dane Carlson Oboe/English Horn
Daniel Cher Violin I
Garth Cummings Cello
David Dufour Horn
Robert Fitt Trumpet
Nicole Galisatus
Clarinet
Bradley Gibson Violin II
Audrey Gore Oboe
Joel Greene
Music Librarian
Juliet Hamak Bassoon
Patricia Harrell
Flute/Piccolo
Yukoh Hammura Flute
David Herberg Bass
Brian Holmes Horn
Johnathan Hsu
Tuba
Tetsu Ishihara Cello
Rahul Iyer Bass
Tara Iyer
Violin I
Susan Magrini Cello
Mike Marmarou Trumpet
Vineet Mehta Violin II
Ronald S. Miller
Clarinet
Bruce Moyer Bass
Randy Nickel Horn
Kristin Chesnutt Oro Violin II
Frank Rahn
Violin II
Jerry Saliman Viola
Kay Saito Shafi
Flute/Piccolo
Kirsten Shallenberg Cello
Matt Springer Violin I/Timpani
Paula Uccelli
Frank & Annette Rahn
Elfenworks Foundation
ADOPTED BY
Katherine & Roy Bukstein
Jacqueline Smith
Friend of PSO
Patricia L. Griffin
Celeste Everson Misfeldt & Todd Misfeldt
Margrit Rinderknecht & Richard Siemon
Kirt & Kelly Minor
Laura & David Francis
Sheri & Michael Frumkin
Hannelore Draper
Don & Cathy Draper
Penny Barrows in memory of John Barrows
Teri Quick
Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens
Al & Liz Dossa
John Givens
Krista & Jerry Terstiege
Nina Brody
Suesan Taylor
Mary Gundelach
Yvonne Hampton; Teri Quick
Marcia Leonhardt in honor of Judy & David Anderson
Suesan Taylor
Pauline Roothman
Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens
Ronald S. Miller
Sheree Kajiwara
Jacqueline Smith
Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens
Diana Lloyd
Dorothy Fahlman & Karin Chesnutt
Nichole Edraos & Jim Augustus
Dorothy Saxe
Ronald S. Miller
Jacqueline Smith
Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens
ADOPT-A-MUSICIAN
MUSICIAN
Judy Streger
Suesan Taylor
INSTRUMENT ADOPTED BY
Violin I
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
EMERITUS MEMBERS
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
PSO with Gaeun Kim / March 2024
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
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)
“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-chairwe’d love to talk to you!
Chelsea Chambers (Executive Director) - chelsea@peninsulasymphony.org
Ben Hollin (Co-Chair, Board of Directors) - ben@peninsulasymphony.org
Amelia Yee , Front of House & Volunteer Coordinator
Aleena Mehdi , Intern
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
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
