Triumph Over Adversity Festival by Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Triumph Over Adversity Festival CONCERTS: FEBRUARY 18-20, 2021

ABOUT THE PROGRAM COLEMAN: SONATINE FOR CLARINET AND PIANO Thursday, February 18, 2021, 7pm PST

VIRTUAL CONCERT

TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY FESTIVAL Artistic Directors Anthony McGill, clarinet Demarre McGill, ﬂute Michael Brown, piano Orion Weiss, piano Michael McHale, piano

Sonatine is an 8-minute recital work in one movement inspired by Coleman’s travels throughout Europe, most notably while touring with jazz icon Steve Coleman. The work is reminiscent of a performance at a nightclub, where players wailed soulful tunes and riffs on a lovely summer evening in Berlin. Sonatine starts on fire, and thrives with intensity, rhythmic drive, and drama for both clarinetist and pianist —vcolemanmusic.com

STILL: SONGS FOR FLUTE WITH PIANO PROGRAM Sonatine for Clarinet and Piano

Valerie COLEMAN (b. 1970)

Orion Weiss, piano

Songs for Flute with piano

William Grant STILL (1895-1978)

Orion Weiss, piano

Fanmi Imèn Poem for Flute and Piano

Valerie COLEMAN (b. 1970)

Orion Weiss, piano

Three Smiles for Tracey for Solo Clarinet Swiftly Gently Sprightly

Adolphus HAILSTORK (b. 1941)

COLEMAN: FANMI IMÈN POEM FOR FLUTE AND PIANO Michael Brown, piano

Portraits of Langston

Valerie COLEMAN (b. 1970)

Performed by the McGill/McHale Trio Narrated by Eric Owens

The Philharmonic Society’s 2020-21 season is made possible through the generous support of Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation Anonymous Howard and Judith Jelinek The Segerstrom Foundation

Known as “The Dean of Afro-American composers,” Still’s musical style incorporates a variety of African American and European styles. William Grant Still found great success with early radio and theater orchestras. He is best known for his instrumental music, but his songs and operas (he wrote eight operas) are equally well-known. Still was the first black conductor to lead a major symphony in the United States (Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, 1936), and the first African American to conduct an allwhite orchestra in the Deep South (1932). His opera Troubled Island was the first opera composed by an African American to be produced by a major opera company.

Sam and Lyndie Ersan

The title Fanmi Imèn is Haitian Creole for Maya Angelou’s famous work, Human Family. Both the musical and literary poems acknowledge differences within mankind, either due to ethnicity, background, or geography, but Angelou’s refrain: “we are more alike, my friends, than we are unlike,” reaffirms our humanity as a reminder of unity. Coleman’s work draws inspiration from French flute music blending with an underlying pentatonicism found in Asian traditions, a caravan through Middle Eastern parts of the world merging with Flamenco, and an upbeat journey southward into Africa with the sounds of Kalimba (thumb piano). Fanmi Imèn was

ABOUT THE PROGRAM range of expression—from introspective reflection, to whimsical banter, to shared frenetic anxiety. Each movement contemplates a selected Langston Hughes poem, intended to be read in tandem with performance. Coleman’s notes to the score explain that she was inspired by Hughes’s eye-witness experience of the legendary artists and places associated with the Harlem Renaissance and Parisian cabarets of the 1920s. “The imagery that Hughes provides gives me quite a historical palette. Stylistically, this work incorporates many different elements that are translated into [music for flute, clarinet and piano]: the stride piano technique, big band swing, cabaret music, Mambo, African drumming, and even traditional spirituals.”

commissioned by the National Flute Association for its 2018 High School Soloist Competition.

—Elinor Olin

Portraits of Langston Movements 1.

Helen Keller (Reading)

i. Prelude: Helen Keller

Danse Africaine (Reading)

HAILSTORK: THREE SMILES FOR TRACEY FOR SOLO CLARINET

ii. Danse Africaine

Hailstork is of African American ancestry and his works blend musical ideas from both the African American and European traditions.

Le Grand Duc Mambo (Reading)

iii. Le Grand Duc Mambo

In Time of Silver Rain (Reading)

iv. Silver Rain

—flutesheetmusic.com

Hailstork’s awards include a Fulbright fellowship (1987). In 1992 he was named a Cultural Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Old Dominion University maintains the Adolphus Hailstork Collection, in the special collections area of the F. Ludwig Diehn Composers Room, in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. In 1999, he was awarded the Brock Commission from the American Choral Directors Association. Hailstork is published by Theodore Presser Company and Carl Fischer Music.

9. Jazz Band in a Parisian Cabaret (Reading) 10.

v. Jazz Band in a Parisian Cabaret

11.

Summer Night (Reading)

12.

vi. Harlem’s Summer Night

COLEMAN: PORTRAITS OF LANGSTON Portraits of Langston is a six-movement suite calling for virtuosic dexterity and ensemble subtleties from flutist, clarinetist, and pianist alike. Coleman’s trio calls for an extraordinary 3

ABOUT THE PROGRAM MONTGOMERY: SOURCE CODE Friday, February 19, 2021, 7pm PST

VIRTUAL CONCERT

TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY FESTIVAL Artist Sphinx Virtuosi

PROGRAM Concert introduction by Artistic Directors Demarre and Anthony McGill Jessie MONTGOMERY (b. 1981)

Source Code

Dabke

Kareem ROUSTOM (b. 1971)

Elegy

Philip HERBERT

Fuga y Misterio

Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921–1992)

Delights and Dances

Michael ABELS (b. 1962)

The first sketches of Source Code began as transcriptions of various sources from African American artists prominent during the peak of the Civil Rights era in the United States. I experimented by re-interpreting gestures, sentences, and musical syntax (the bare bones of rhythm and inflection) by choreographer Alvin Ailey, poets Langston Hughes and Rita Dove, and the great jazz songstress Ella Fitzgerald into musical sentences and tone paintings. Ultimately, this exercise of listening, re-imagining, and transcribing led me back to the black spiritual as a common musical source across all three genres. The spiritual is a significant part of the DNA of black folk music, and subsequently most (arguably all) American pop music forms that have developed to the present day. This one-movement work is a kind of dirge, which centers on a melody based on syntax derived from black spirituals. The melody is continuous and cycles through like a gene strand with which all other textures play. —umkc.edu ROUSTOM: DABKE Dabke is a folk dance and a type line dance from Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, that is typically performed at joyous occasions. The leader of the dance line, called a hawaash, directs the movements of the dancers behind him. There are many variants of this dance that involve men and women and the rhythms that accompany it. This movement is based on a six beat dabke rhythm called sudaasi. Dabke is an arrangement of the third movement of Kareem Roustom’s A Voice Exclaiming; a work for triple string quartet that was originally commissioned for the Kronos Quartet and Providence R.I. based Community MusicWorks. Dabke has been performed ensembles that include the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Morgenland Festival Orchestra (German), the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, City Music Cleveland, the Staatstheater Kassel Orchestra (Germany), the Rowan University String Ensemble, as well as performances in Indonesia and beyond. —kr.music.com

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

HERBERT: ELEGY Elegy: In Memoriam of Stephen Lawrence memorializes Stephen Lawrence, a black British teenager murdered in 1993 by a gang of young white men. British composer Philip Herbert paid tribute to him with a poignant elegy composed for 18 string players—each representing one year of Lawrence’s life—that the composer describes as “a gesture of empathy,” he hopes that it will help us “press together across our communities to help realize [Stephen’s] dreams.” The music is full of soulful harmonies with gentle dissonances in sonorous chords, under a plaintive melody, which characterize the heavy emotions brought to mind by this tragedy. —minnesotaorchestra.org PIAZZOLLA: FUGA Y MISTERIO Piazzolla’s Tango Nuevo bands were usually comprised of two bandoneon players, two violins, double bass, cello, piano, and electric guitar, an instrumentation that effectively upended the standard of tango music. Other great recordings and concerts involved jazz vocalists and even jazz vibraphonists. Fuga y misterio from María de Buenos Aires, originally written for bandoneon, was arranged for violin, vibraphone, viola, and cello by Argentinian guitarist and composer Coco Nelegatti. The work begins with the viola stating the main theme, which is repeated in its entirety by the remaining instruments. Once

multiple themes have been established, the work slows down and shifts character, evoking the Misterio portion of the piece. This slow and sensual music lasts only briefly before returning to the bright and exciting Tango music that was stated in the beginning of the work.

—marineband.com

ABELS: DELIGHTS AND DANCES Michael Abels is a composer based out of Los Angeles, California. He has been composing since he was only 8 years old! He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but spent a large part of his childhood with his grandparents on their farm in South Dakota. He started playing piano at age 4, and wrote his first piece for full orchestra when he was 13. Michael wrote this piece, Delights and Dances, in 2007. It is written for string quartet and orchestra, and has three musical ideas in it. The first idea is a slow, snake-like group of notes played by the cello, which passes that musical idea onto the viola. The passage is marked rubato in the music, which means that the music doesn’t have to be played in strict time - they can choose how fast or slow to take it in the moment. The next section is called Bluesy, and the orchestra will play arco behind the quartet (they will play with their bows instead of plucking, or playing pizzicato). The last section is called Bluegrassy, and it will sound like there is some fiddling going on! The last section is faster than the others and helps the piece to end in a happy, upbeat way.

—newhavensymphony.org 5

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Saturday, February 20, 2021, 7pm PST

VIRTUAL CONCERT

TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY FESTIVAL Artistic Directors Anthony McGill, clarinet Demarre McGill, ﬂute Jessica Choe, piano Michael Brown, piano Michael McHale, piano

PROGRAM Principal Brothers No. 1 for Solo Flute

James LEE III (b. 1975)

Principal Brothers No. 3 for Solo Clarinet

James LEE III (b. 1975)

I. Calmly II. Playful III. Con spirito For Anton Vishio

Tyshawn SOREY (b. 1980)

Michael McHale, piano

Kanto Kechua No. 3 for Flute and Piano

Gabriela Lena FRANK (b. 1972)

LEE III: PRINCIPAL BROTHERS NO. 1 FOR SOLO FLUTE & PRINCIPAL BROTHERS NO. 3 FOR SOLO CLARINET The year 2020 has definitely been a very challenging year with many upheavals. During this time of the COVID-19 health crisis, wearing masks, and high racial tensions, I decided to compose four short solo woodwind works for flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, which represent the core woodwind section in an orchestra. I was inspired to compose these short pieces after I first heard Igor Stravinsky’s three short pieces for clarinet, which totals a little more than four minutes in duration. I thought that it would be nice to highlight and honor my African American male colleagues in the orchestral music world. I wanted to celebrate the fact that they are the principal player in the section of their respective orchestras. — James Lee III

SOREY: FOR ANTON VISHIO Tyshawn Sorey is a critically acclaimed multiinstrumentalist from Newark, New Jersey. Preferring to express himself through several sonic mediums, Sorey is a skilled percussionist, trombonist, pianist, and composer. Sorey’s work has been widely covered in publications such as The Village Voice, National Public Radio, Jazz Times, and The New York Times, all of which have expressed approval and respect for his music.

Jessica Choe, piano

The Blue Bag for Clarinet and Piano

Adolphus HAILSTORK (b. 1941)

Michael Brown, piano

Sam and Lyndie Ersan

FRANK: KANTO KECHUA NO. 3 FOR FLUTE AND PIANO “One of my mentors, the venerated composer Leslie Bassett, from time to time would surprise himself with his own lyricism. A hard-bitten modernist that yet wielded a melodic and tonal hand, his Aria from Seven Preludes for Piano is a beautiful gem of seemingly contradictory aesthetic impulses. In my Kanto Kechua (Quecha Song) No. 3 for flute and piano, I weld together a brief quote from

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Leslie’s music with re-imaginings of my own inspired by the native musics of Andean Perú, particularly its Quechua-Indian traditions.” — wisemusicclassical.com

HAILSTORK: THE BLUE BAG FOR CLARINET AND PIANO Dedicated to Anthony McGill. The music was inspired by singers such as Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, and Aretha Franklin. The clarinet part includes sections of improvisation on the blues scale.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS ANTHONY MCGILL, CLARINET Hailed for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (New York Times), clarinetist Anthony McGill enjoys a dynamic international solo and chamber music career and is principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic—the first African-American principal player in the organization’s history. He is the recipient of the 2020 Avery Fisher Prize, one of classical music’s most significant awards. McGill appears as a soloist with top orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Kansas City Symphony. He performed alongside Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gabriela Montero at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece by John Williams. As a chamber musician, McGill is a favorite collaborator of the Brentano, Daedalus, Guarneri, JACK, Miró, Pacifica, Shanghai, Takács, and Tokyo Quartets, as well as Emanuel Ax, Inon Barnatan, Gloria Chien, Yefim Bronfman, Gil Shaham, Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, and Lang Lang. He serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Bard College Conservatory of Music. He is the Artistic Director for the Music Advancement Program at The Juilliard School. In 2020, McGill’s #TakeTwoKnees campaign protesting the death of George Floyd and historic racial injustice went viral. DEMARRE MCGILL, FLUTE Demarre McGill has gained international recognition as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician. Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, he has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Grant Park, San Diego and Baltimore symphony orchestras and, at age 15, the Chicago Symphony. Now principal flute of the Seattle Symphony, he previously served as principal flute of the Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He recently served as acting principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and earlier with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.As an educator, Demarre has performed, coached and presented master classes in South Africa, Korea, Japan, Quebec and throughout the United States. With his brother Anthony, he was a speaker and performer at the 2018 League of American 8

Orchestras Conference. He has also served on the faculties of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, the National Orchestral Institute (NOI) at the University of Maryland, the Orford Music Festival, and participated in Summerfests at the Curtis Institute of Music. In August of 2019, he was named Associate Professor of Flute at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and is an artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival and School. A founding member of the Myriad Trio, and former member of Chamber Music Society Two, Demarre has participated in the Santa Fe, Marlboro, Seattle and Stellenbosch chamber music festivals, to name a few. He is the co-founder of The Art of Élan and, along with clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Michael McHale, founded the McGill/McHale Trio in 2014. Their first CD, “Portraits,” released in August 2017, has received rave reviews, as has “Winged Creatures,” his recording with Anthony McGill and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2019-20 the McGill/McHale Trio performs at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, as well as in Washington D.C. and on chamber music series throughout the Midwest. Media credits include appearances on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center, A & E Network’s The Gifted Ones, NBC’s Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, with his brother Anthony when they were teenagers, on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. A native of Chicago, Demarre McGill began studying the flute at age 7 and attended the Merit School of Music. In the years that followed, until he left Chicago, he studied with Susan Levitin. Demarre received his Bachelor’s degree from The Curtis Institute of Music and a Master’s degree at The Juilliard School. SPHINX VIRTUOSI

Since its founding in 2004, Sphinx Virtuosi has defined itself as the most diverse professional chamber orchestra in the country. The dynamism in this ensemble’s approach to music making offers an experience of unmatched vibrancy for seasoned and new audiences alike. Comprised of 18 of the nation’s top Black and Latinx classical soloists, these artists tour annually as cultural ambassadors to communities far and wide. This unique self-conducted ensemble earned rave reviews from The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Sun Times, and beyond. Allan Kozinn of the New York Times described their performance as “first-rate in every way… producing a more beautiful, precise and carefully shaped sound than some fully professional

ABOUT THE ARTISTS orchestras that come through Carnegie Hall in the course of the year.” Since their Carnegie debut in 2004, Sphinx Virtuosi have returned to Carnegie Hall annually from 2006 performing to sold-out halls and earning outstanding reviews. At once a bridge between communities of color and the classical music establishment, Sphinx Virtuosi continue to garner critical acclaim during their annual national tours to many of the leading venues around the country. Inspired by Sphinx’s overarching mission of transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, the Sphinx Virtuosi works to advance the social impact of music upon our greater society. Dedicated to new music, the ensemble has pioneered the discovery of gems by composers of color, with the aim of expanding the canon and amplifying new and important voices. Collaborations with composers like Michael Abels, Kareem Roustom, Jimmy Lopez, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Terence Blanchard and Xavier Foley are among many exciting highlights. Masterworks by Shostakovich, Bartok, Schubert, Jennifer Higdon, John Adams, Bach and Mozart are often woven into the carefully curated programs, which combine risk, exploration and homage. They have also collaborated with Denyce Graves, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, Chicago Children’s Choir, Damien Sneed and others. As individual artists, Sphinx Virtuosi have performed as soloists with America’s major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras. Members also hold professional orchestral positions, and several have been named Laureates of other prestigious international competitions, including the Queen Elizabeth and Yehudi Menuhin. Roster members are graduates of the nation’s top music schools, including Juilliard, Curtis and Cleveland Institutes of Music, Eastman School, and beyond. The Sphinx Virtuosi’s first recording was released on the White Pine label and features music of Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Gabriela Lena Frank and George Walker. Sphinx Virtuosi are passionate about empowering the next generation of artists and audiences, and as such, enjoy building interactive, bi-lingual (English/Spanish) programs and working with schools in underrepresented communities.

JESSICA CHOE, PIANO Korean American pianist Jessica Choe began her musical studies at the age of 3 in Seoul, Korea where she was a prize winner in several national piano competitions including the Samick National Piano Competition, the Korea Daily Times Piano Competition and the Korean Department of Education Music Competition. After immigrating to the US at the age of nine, she performed throughout the continental United States in such halls as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, Lincoln Center and the Barns at Wolf Trap. Jessica has won numerous awards in the US including the Beethoven Society of America Piano Competition, the Baldwin Competition, the Henbest Piano Competition, the Bartok-Kabelevsky International Piano Competition and the Steinway Society Piano Competition. She was a finalist in the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition. Jessica was also the recipient of the 2004 Presser Foundation Career Development Award. In the 2003, Jessica made her European debut at Fondation Bemberg in Toulouse, France, and her New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall, both under the auspices of La Gesse Foundation. Jessica has performed solo recitals in France, Italy, Switzerland, San Marino in such halls as Teatro Concordia, I Tatti, and Salle Frank Martin. An avid chamber musician, she has performed on the Chamber Music series of the Seattle Symphony, Vashon Chamber Series, Mostly Nordic Series, Music of Remembrance and Chamber Music San Juans. Recently, she has collaborated with Philippe Quint, Alexei Lubimov, Maya Iwabuchi, Joseph Swensen, Eric Jacobsen amongst others. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Herbert Stessin, Benjamin Pasternack and Eleanor Sokoloff.

MICHAEL BROWN, PIANO Winner of the 2018 Emerging Artist Award from Lincoln Center and a 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Brown has recently performed as soloist with the Seattle Symphony, the National Philharmonic, and the Grand Rapids, North Carolina, New Haven, and Albany Symphonies; and recitals at Carnegie Hall, the Mostly Mozart Festival, and Caramoor. Brown is an artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performing frequently at Alice Tully Hall and on tour. 9

ABOUT THE ARTISTS He was selected by András Schiff to perform on an international tour making solo debuts in Berlin, Milan, Florence, Zurich’s Tonhalle and New York’s 92nd Street Y. He regularly performs recitals with his longtime duo partner, cellist Nicholas Canellakis, and has appeared at numerous festivals including Tanglewood, Marlboro, Music@Menlo, Gilmore, Ravinia, Saratoga, Bridgehampton, Bard, Sedona, Moab, and Tippet Rise.

MICHAEL MCHALE, PIANO Belfast-born Michael McHale has established himself as one of Ireland’s leading pianists and has developed a busy international career as a solo recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. He has performed as a soloist with the Minnesota, Hallé, Moscow Symphony and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, City of London Sinfonia, London Mozart Players and all five of the major Irish orchestras, and performed at the Tanglewood and Tokyo Spring Festivals, Wigmore Hall, London, Berlin Konzerthaus, Lincoln Center, New York, Symphony Hall, Boston and Pesti Vigadó in Budapest. In 2017 Michael was invited to become a Patron of the Ulster Youth Orchestra, and in 2018 he was appointed as a part-time professor of piano for undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Cork School of Music in Ireland. Michael collaborates regularly with Sir James Galway, Michael Collins, Patricia Rozario, Dame Felicity Lott and Camerata Pacifica.

ORION WEISS, PIANO One of the most sought-after soloists in his generation of young American musicians, the pianist Orion Weiss has performed with the major American orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic. His deeply felt and exceptionally crafted performances go far beyond his technical mastery and have won him worldwide acclaim. With a warmth to his playing that reflects his personality, Orion has performed with dozens of orchestras in North America and has dazzled audiences with his passionate, lush sound.

Named the Classical Recording Foundation’s Young Artist of the Year in September 2010, in the summer of 2011 Weiss made his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood as a last-minute replacement for Leon Fleisher. Weiss’s impressive list of awards includes the Gilmore Young Artist Award, an Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Gina Bachauer Scholarship at the Juilliard School and the Mieczyslaw Munz Scholarship. A native of Lyndhurst, OH, Weiss attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Paul Schenly, Daniel Shapiro, Sergei Babayan, Kathryn Brown, and Edith Reed. In February of 1999, Weiss made his Cleveland Orchestra debut performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. In March 1999, with less than 24 hours’ notice, Weiss stepped in to replace André Watts for a performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He was immediately invited to return to the Orchestra for a performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto in October 1999. In 2004, he graduated from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Emanuel Ax.

UPCOMING EVENTS *PLEASE NOTE: All 2021 concerts will have virtual viewing options. In-person opportunities will be announced on a concert by concert basis.

MARCH

APRIL

SMETANA TRIO

ALISA WEILERSTEIN, CELLO AND INON BARNATAN, PIANO

Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 7pm PST Virtual Concert  BEETHOVEN: Piano Trio in D major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost” NOVÁK: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 27, “Trio quasi una ballata” DVORÁK: Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, “Dumky”

GEORGE LI, PIANO

Thursday, March 4, 2021, 8pm PST  Virtual Concert BEETHOVEN: Andante Favori BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 LISZT: Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178

BROOKLYN RIDER

Thursday, March 11, 2021, 7pm PST Virtual Concert JACOBSEN: Three Miniatures for String Quartet SHAW: Schisma FRANK: Kanto Kechua #2 BEETHOVEN: Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

YEFIM BRONFMAN, PIANO Sunday, March 21, 2021, 3pm PST Virtual Concert

BEETHOVEN: Sonata in D major, Op. 10, No. 3 DEBUSSY: Suite bergamasque BEETHOVEN: Sonata in F minor, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”)

Thursday, April 8, 2021, 8pm PST Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall* Select Beethoven Cello Sonatas

BRENTANO QUARTET

Friday, April 9, 2021, 8pm PST Venue TBD* HAYDN: String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Op. 17 BARTÓK: String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102  BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51

PINCHAS ZUKERMAN, VIOLIN AND AMANDA FORSYTH, CELLO Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 8pm PST Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall*

BRUCKNER: Adagio from String Quintet in F major, WAB 112 DVOŘÁK: Sextet for Strings in A major, Op. 48  BRAHMS: Sextet for Strings No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 18

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA AT 100: A MUSICAL PORTRAIT

Philippe Quint, violin  Additional artists to be announced  Tuesday, April 6, 2021, 8pm PST Co-presented by Irvine Barclay Theatre Concert sponsored by Steven M. Sorenson MD  Additional support provided by the Ibex Foundation Multi-Grammy-nominated violinist Philippe Quint celebrates the centennial of tango legend Astor Piazzolla in a performance of music and dance.

UPCOMING EVENTS JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET, PIANO

DANISH STRING QUARTET

DEBUSSY: Préludes Books 1 and 2

Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet makes its second appearance in the 2020-21 season with a performance showcasing its players’ masterful technique and heartfelt expressivity. Program to be announced.

Saturday, April 24, 2021, 8pm PST Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall*

MAY 2021 Laguna Beach Music Festival COUNTERPOINT  Festival Artistic Director: Conrad Tao, piano Caleb Teicher, dancer  Friday, May 14, 2021 Locations in Laguna Beach*

Duo program with music by Bach, Gershwin, etc.

2021 Laguna Beach Music Festival ITS BRILLIANCE ALMOST FRIGHTENED ME Festival Artistic Director: Conrad Tao, piano Saturday, May 15, 2021 Locations in Laguna Beach*

Laurence CRANE: Prelude No. 1  BERG: “Traumgekrönt” from Seven Early Songs  SCHUBERT: “Gretchen am spinnrade” (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel) Eric WUBBELS: gretchen am spinnrade  Ruth Crawford SEEGER: String Quartet  BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135

2021 Laguna Beach Music Festival CHANGE THIS THREAD ON WHICH WE MOVE Festival Artistic Director: Conrad Tao, piano Sunday, May 16, 2021 Locations in Laguna Beach*

Caroline SHAW: Entr’acte (Westerlies arrangement) DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata in G minor  GESUALDO: selected Madrigals  Other works to be announced.

Sunday, May 16, 2021, 3pm PST Samueli Theater*

SERGIO ASSAD, CLARICE ASSAD, AND THIRD COAST PERCUSSION

Sergio Assad, guitar  Clarice Assad, piano/voice  Third Coast Percussion Friday, May 28, 2021, 8pm PST Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall* In an exploration of global music traditions, legendary guitarist Sergio Assad, along with Clarice Assad’s spellbinding vocals and the rhythms of Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion, will take audiences on a vast musical journey grounded in familiar stories.

JUNE AUGUSTIN HADELICH, VIOLIN AND ORION WEISS, PIANO

Monday, June 14, 2021, 8pm PST Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall* BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23 DEBUSSY: Sonata in G minor, L. 140  COLL: Hyperlude No. 5 for Solo Violin  YSAŸE: Sonata No. 6 in E major for Solo Violin BRAHMS: Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100 DEBUSSY: L’isle joyeuse, L. 106 ADAMS: Road Movies

RENÉE FLEMING, SOPRANO

Thursday, June 17, 2021, 8pm PST Renée and Henry Segerstrom oncert Hall* In a rescheduled performance from the previous season, four-time Grammy winner and legendary soprano Renée Fleming appears in a program of beloved songs and arias.

TICKETS & INFORMATION | 949.553.2422 | PHILHARMONICSOCIETY.ORG 12

All artists, dates, times, venues, programs, and prices are subject to change.

DONORS The Philharmonic Society of Orange County gratefully acknowledges the following donors for their generous support of the Fund for Music during the past twelve months. These contributions make up the difference between the income generated from ticket sales and the actual cost of bringing the world’s finest orchestras, soloists and chamber ensembles to Orange County and inspiring 100,000 K-12 students each year with quality music programs. Gifts range from $60 to more than $100,000, and each member of the Philharmonic Society plays a valuable role in furthering the mission of this organization.

YOUTH MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM SPONSORS The Crean Foundation • Chapman University The Davisson Family Fund For Youth Music Education • The William Gillespie Foundation Thomas J. Madracki Memorial Endowment • Orange County Community Foundation Pacific Life Foundation • Gail and Robert Sebring • U.S. Bank • Wells Fargo • Anonymous

SEASON SPONSORS Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation Anonymous • Judith and Howard Jelinek • The Segerstrom Foundation • Sam and Lyndie Ersan

SERIES SPONSORS Sam B. and Lyndie Ersan, Laguna Chamber Music Series Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek, Eclectic Orange Series

PHILHARMONIC CIRCLE ($100,000+) The Committees of the Philharmonic Society • Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek • Philharmonic Foundation Barbara Roberts • Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith

MAESTRO CIRCLE ($50,000+) Sam B. and Lyndie Ersan • National Endowment for the Arts Gail and Robert Sebring • The Segerstrom Foundation

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($25,000+) Colburn Foundation • The Crean Foundation Mr. John D. Flemming and Mr. Mark Powell • Margaret M. Gates - in memory of family Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation • Steven M. Sorenson MD and the IBEX Foundation Ms. Dea Stanuszek • Anonymous

PRESIDENT’S CLUB ($10,000+) Pete and Sabra Bordas Mr. James J. Brophy Mr. Gary Capata Charitable Ventures of Orange County CIBC Kimberly Dwan Bernatz Mr. Warren G. Coy Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty The Dirk Family

Karen and Don Evarts Hung Fan and Michael Feldman Mrs. Joanne C. Fernbach Walter Fidler Joan Halvajian Maralou and Jerry M. Harrington Milli and Jim Hill Valerie and Hans Imhof Mr. Wesley Kruse

Helen and Fritz Lin Haydee and Carlos A. Mollura The Isidore & Penny Myers Foundation Elaine and Carl Neuss Pacific Life Foundation Lauren and Richard Packard Mr. and Mrs. William F. Podlich

Richard and Deborah Polonsky Dr. and Mrs. Chase Roh The Shillman Foundation South Coast Plaza Mr. and Mrs. David Troob U.S. Bank Mr. Stephen Amendt Dr. Gayle Widyolar

DONORS PLATINUM BATON ($6,000+) Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Catherine Frandsen & Campbell Co., Inc Marjorie and Roger Davisson (d.b.a. Max Mara)

Richard Goodman Gary and Betsy Jenkins Carolyn and Bill Klein

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Kohl

GOLDEN BATON ($3,000+) Mr. and Mrs. James Alexiou Argyros Family Foundation Diane and John Chimo Arnold John W. Benecke and Lee Marino Suzanne and David Chonette Marjorie Davis Mr. Roger Duplessis Frome Family Foundation The William Gillespie Foundation

Marcia Kay and Ron Radelet Elizabeth Reinhold Mr. and Mrs. James G. Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Ridout Ms. Harriet Roop Mr. and Mrs. David Seigle Ellen and Vasily I. Semeniuta Dr. Emmanuel Sharef Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund Diane and Michael Stephens

Dr. and Mrs. David Stephenson Wells Fargo Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Fritz C. Westerhout Bobbitt and Bill Williams

Helen Dell-Imagine Dr. and Mrs. Sidney A. Field Dan Folwell Mr. and Mrs. Donald French Petrina Friede Mr. and Mrs. Philip Friedel JoAnn and Peter Fuerbringer Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gold Dr. Anna Gonosova Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Gordon Shell Grossman Mr. Robert Hall Ellen Pickler Harris and Ron Harris Sigrid Hecht

Anne Johnson - in memory of Tom Dr. and Mrs. Tae S. Kim Hank and Bonnie Landsberg Vicki and Richard Lee Mr. and Mrs. Richard Malcolm Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mastrangelo Elizabeth and John Middleton Pat and Ken Morgan Morgan Stanley Stephanie and Don Harrell Mr. Carl Neisser Richard and Dot Nelson Marlene and Chris Nielsen Susan Qaqundah

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rados Mr. and Mrs. Glen L. Reeves Eva and Fred Schneider Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sobel Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence S. Spitz Walter and Masami Stahr Ann Stephens Dr. Nancy E. Van Deusen Kathryn and David Wopschall Anonymous

Ms. Arlene Holtzman Jean and Shingchi Hsu Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Ivey Ms. Sumie Jossi Kari Kerr Dr. Nancy L. Kidder Barbara Klein Lauren Klein Ms. Barbara Macgillivray Katharine Mallin Dr. Lani Martin and Mr. Dave Martin Elizabeth Morse Music 4 Kids

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Niedringhaus Dr. and Mrs. Eliezer Nussbaum Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pinto Ms. Janet Portolan and Ms. Lois Powers Mr. and Mrs. John Prange Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rapport Les Redpath Richard and Diane Reynolds Christa Schar Carol Schwab Ms. Barbara Sentell

Ms. Diane Stovall Robert A. and Sandra E. Teitsworth Mr. and Mrs. Scott Theodorson Dr. and Mrs. Harvey S. Triebwasser Sally Westrom Dag Wilkinson and Caroline Beeson Ivy Yan Joanne Yoon Katharine and Robert Young Anonymous

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Greenwood Elizabeth F. Hayward and Robert M. Carmichael Ms. Elizabeth Jones Cheryl Hill Oakes Orange County Community Foundation The Robert J. and Doreen D. Marshall Fund Mr. Patrick Paddon Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Phillips Chris Quilter

SILVER BATON ($1,200+) Dr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Abbott Dr. Donald Abrahm David and Frances Nitta Barnes Ada and Berislav Bosnjak Charitable Fund Dr. and Mrs. David Casey Mrs. Linda Lipman Cassuto Dr. and Mrs. Shigeru Chino Mr. and Mrs. Stewart A. Clark Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clemmer Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles Dr. Frank A. D’Accone

CONCERTO ($600+) Janet Lee Aengst Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaos Alexopoulos Kevin and Roan Alombro Brien Amspoker and Ellen Breitman Eric S. Blum Mr. James Carter Mrs. V. de Reynal Mr. and Mrs. David Erikson Mrs. John Felder Ms. Barbara Hamkalo Mr. and Mrs. Jon Hartmann Dr. Daniel E. Haspert and Mr. Gerard Curtin

DONORS SONATA ($300+) Richard Alexander Arts Orange County Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Bauer Marianne and Frank Beaz Dr. Ruth Benca Richard Bigelow Ms. Michelle Brenner Mr. Scott Brinkerhoff Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Buccella Mr. and Mrs. Tyke Camaras Mary E. Chelius Mr. and Mrs. Wil Chong Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Collier Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Compton Peter Conlon and Deborah Shaw Susan and Kevin Daly Reuben H. Fleet Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Fowler Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibson Dr. Alan L. Goldin Dr. and Mrs. Mark W. Gow Bonnie and William S. Hall Terry Hanna Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Hay Christian Heffelman The Bryant Henry Family Mrs. Marlene Hewitt Ms. Grace Holdaway Barbara and Don Howland Eric Jao Elizabeth M. and Donald P. Johnson Albert C. Johnston III Dr. Burton L. Karson Patty Kiraly Dr. and Mrs. William P. Klein Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Kriz Dr. and Mrs. Gary Lawrence Dr. and Mrs. Craig Leonard Elsie M. Little

Kevin and Iryna Kwan Loucks Louise and John Ludutsky Ms. Bethany Mendenhall Dr. Kevin O’Grady and Mrs. Nella Webster O’Grady Cathy Olinger Mr. and Mrs. Gus Ordonez Coralie Prince Mrs. Margaret Richley Peter Ridley Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ringwalt Dr. Stephen Rochford Dr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Romansky Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Rosenblum Mr. Kenneth Rudolf Mrs. Merilyn Sandahl Suzanne Sandmeyer and Wes Hatfield Mr. Paul A. Schmidhauser and Ms. Cindy R. Hughes Hon. and Mrs. James Selna Dr. James Shelburne Sharon Silcock Ms. Dorothy J. Solinger Dr. Agnes Szekeres David and Lois Tingler Tisbest Philanthropy Edie Tonkon Marjorie Tussing Cory Winter Victor Wu Mr. and Mrs. Robert Yates Ms. Daren Zumberge

RICHARD AND VICKI LEE

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Frieda Belinfante in memoriam

Douglas T. Burch, Jr. in memoriam

Jane K. Grier John M. Rau

List current as of January 29, 2021 The Philharmonic Society deeply appreciates the support of its sponsors and donors, and makes every effort to ensure accurate and appropriate recognition. Contact the Development Department at (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, to make us aware of any error or omission in the foregoing list.

DONORS DONORS TO THE PHILHARMONIC FORWARD CAMPAIGN The Philharmonic Society’s campaign is the first of its kind in the organization’s history. It will grow the Society’s endowment—providing greater opportunities for the presentation of the world’s leading orchestras and other musical performances while expanding our educational and community outreach—and also establish a current needs fund for organizational sustainability and flexibility. We are proud to recognize those who are helping secure the Society’s future with a gift to the Philharmonic Forward Campaign. We are grateful for their support, which will help fuel the Society’s growth and provide a legacy of incomparable music and superb music education programs in perpetuity.

$1,000,000+ Mr. James J. Brophy Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sebring Anonymous

$500,000+ Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty James and Judy Freimuth

$250,000+ The Davisson Family Fund for Youth Music Education Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith

$100,000+ Pete and Sabra Bordas David and Suzanne Chonette Karen and Don Evarts Milli and Jim Hill Marlene and Chris Nielsen Richard and Deborah Polonsky Diane and Michael Stephens Anonymous

$50,000+ Mr. Douglas T. Burch, Jr.* Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Campbell Erika E. Faust* Mrs. Joanne C. Fernbach Joan Halvajian Elaine and Carl Neuss Marcia Kay Radelet Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Ridout Ms. Dea Stanuszek Dr. Daniel and Jeule Stein

$25,000+ Mr. William P. Conlin* and Mrs. Laila Conlin Mr. and Mrs. Donald French Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fuerbringer Mr. and Mrs. Noel Hamilton Dr. and Mrs. Chase Roh

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mastrangelo Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Michel Charles Mosmann Carl Neisser Joan Rehnborg Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sobel Dr. and Mrs. Julio Taleisnik Marti and Walter Unger Gayle Widyolar, M.D. Sandi Wright-Cordes U.S. Bank Anonymous

Up to $24,999 Eleanor and Jim Anderson John W. Benecke *Deceased Mr. and Mrs. Jim Burra Ana and Ron Dufault Hung Fan and Michael Feldman First American Trust Kimberly Dwan Bernatz Mr. John D. Flemming and Mr. Mark Powell Duke Funderburke Carolyn and John Garrett Karin Easter Gurwell Maralou and Jerry M. Harrington Mrs. Alice E. Hood Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee Marina Windjammer Group Judith and Kevin Ivey Ms. Lula Belle Jenkins Doris and Jim Kollias Mrs. Elizabeth C. Kramer Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Madracki

LEAVE A LEGACY Estate gifts allow our long-time subscribers and donors to leave an enduring legacy that helps ensure the long-term financial strength of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Please consider including us in your will, as either a percentage of your estate or a fixed amount. Doing so will support our commitment of presenting world-class programming and music education that enriches the cultural life of Orange County for generations to come. For more information, please contact 949.553.2422, ext. 233, or email Support@PhilharmonicSociety.org.

DONORS LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS Mr. and Mrs. James Alexiou Dr. and Mrs. Julio Aljure Diane and John Chimo Arnold Estate of Edra E. Brophy* Mr. James J. Brophy Mr. Douglas T. Burch, Jr.* Mr. William P. Conlin* and Mrs. Laila Conlin Pamela Courtial* Mr. Warren G. Coy Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty Mr. Ben Dolson* Camille and Eric Durand Trust* Karen and Don Evarts Erika E. Faust* James and Judy Freimuth Ms. Carol Frobish*

The William Gillespie Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier, Jr. Mr. Edward Halvajian* Ms. Joan Halvajian Ms. Marie Hiebsch* Mr. and Mrs. James R. Hill Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hull Mr. Leonard Jaffe Judith and Howard Jelinek Dr. Burton L. Karson Donna L. Kendall Hank and Bonnie Landsberg Mrs. Carla Liggett Dr. William Lycette Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Michel Mr. and Mrs. Bart Morrow Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Nadler Eva Cebulski Olivier

Mrs. Frank M. Posch* Marcia Kay Radelet Marjorie Rawlins* Mrs. Ladislaw Reday* Elaine M. Redfield* Mr. Richard M. Reinsch* Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sebring Mr. H. Russell Smith* Ms. Dea Stanuszek Diane and Michael Stephens Vas Nunes Family Trust* Betty M. Williams* Anonymous

*Deceased Bold type indicates gifts of $50,000 or more. Please call the Philharmonic Society Development Department if you have included either the Philharmonic Society or the separate Philharmonic Foundation in your will or trust so that we may honor you as a member of the Legacy Circle. For more information, call (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, or visit: www.PhilharmonicSociety.org/SupportUs and click on Planned Giving.

ESTERHAZY PATRONS The Philharmonic Society is proud to recognize our dedicated patrons who have made a multi-year Esterhazy Patron pledge. We are grateful for their support, which has been largely responsible for enabling us to present the world’s most acclaimed symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists. Mr. and Mrs. James Alexiou Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Anderson A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation Mr. Gary N. Babick Ms. Tricia Babick Mrs. Alan Beimfohr Mr. and Mrs. John Carson Cheng Family Foundation Mrs. William P. Conlin Mr. Warren G. Coy Marjorie and Roger Davisson Mr. and Mrs. Jack Delman The Dirk Family Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Duma Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Emery Catherine Emmi Sam and Lyndie Ersan

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Freedland Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family Mr. William J. Gillespie Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier, Jr. Maralou and Jerry M. Harrington Dr. and Mrs. Howard J. Jelinek Mr. and Mrs. Mark Chapin Johnson Drs. Siret and Jaak Jurison Donna L. Kendall Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Venelin Khristov Mr. and Mrs. Roger Kirwan Capt. Steve Lutz and Shala Shashani Lutz Professor Robert and Dr. Adeline Yen Mah

Mrs. Michael McNalley Drs. Vahe and Armine Meghrouni Mrs. Michael D. Nadler Elaine and Carl Neuss Mr. Thomas Nielsen Milena and Milan Panic Helen Reinsch Barbara Roberts Mrs. Michelle Rohé Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer Elizabeth Segerstrom Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith Mrs. Eugenia D. Thompson Mrs. Elaine Weinberg Mr. and Mrs. George Wentworth Bobbitt and Bill Williams Anonymous

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Donna L. Kendall Chairman, CEO John Flemming Vice Chairman

Sabra Bordas Vice Chairman

Kimberly Dwan Bernatz Immediate Past Chairman

Stephen Amendt Secretary/Treasurer

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE John W. Benecke Development

JoAnn Fuerbringer Orange County Youth Symphony

Elaine P. Neuss Artistic and Marketing

Sabra Bordas Nominating

Jane K. Grier Member at Large

Douglas H. Smith Foundation

Hung Fan Laguna Beach Music Festival

Jean Felder President, The Committees

Jim Brophy

Margaret M. Gates

David Troob

Gary Capata

Wesley Kruse

Kim Weddon

Joanne C. Fernbach

Barbara Roberts

Kathryn Wopschall

PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Tommy Phillips 18

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Jean Hsu Chief Operating Officer / Vice President of Communications Marie Songco-Torres Senior Marketing & Public Relations Manager Jennifer Niedringhaus, Marketing & Public Relations Associate

DEVELOPMENT Halim Kim Senior Director of Development Kevin Kwan Loucks Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships Katie Lockie Development Coordinator

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Kathy Smith Piano Technician

FINANCE Roan Alombro Vice President of Finance Jessica Cho Finance Associate / HR Administrator

PATRON SERVICES Jonathan Mariott Director of Patron Services Angelica Nicolas Marketing & Patron Services Associate Randy Polevoi Musical Concierge

ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY Johannes Müller Stosch Music Director & Conductor Cathy Olinger General Manager & OCYSE Conductor Danielle Culhane Operations & Personnel Manager

EDUCATION

Sarah Little Vice President of Education & Community Engagement Heather Cromleigh Director of Volunteer & Education Services / Board Liaison

Moni Simeonov Coordinator of Strings Mathieu Girardet Coordinator of Winds Tristan Chilvers Assistant Manager & Librarian

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY ABOUT US Founded in 1954 as Orange County’s first music organization, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents national and international performances of the highest quality and provides dynamic and innovative music education programs for individuals of all ages to enhance the lives of Orange County audiences through music. For more than 65 years the Philharmonic Society has evolved and grown with the county’s changing landscape, presenting artists and orchestras who set the standard for artistic achievement from Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others. In addition, the Philharmonic Society celebrates multi-disciplinary performances under its Eclectic Orange brand and embraces music from a wide range of countries with its World Music performances. Its celebrated family concerts introduce children to classical music with creative and inspiring performances, instilling music appreciation for future generations.

The Philharmonic Society’s nationally recognized Youth Music Education Programs, offered free of charge, engage more than 100,000 students annually through curriculum-based music education programs that aim to inspire, expand imaginations, and encourage learning at all levels. These programs are made possible by the Committees of the Philharmonic Society comprised of 700 volunteer members who provide more than 90,000 hours of in-kind service each year.

As a key youth program, the exceptional Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble provide top-tier training to the area’s most talented young musicians through multi-level ensemble instruction, leadership training, touring opportunities, challenging professional repertoire, and performances in world-class venues. The Philharmonic Society also promotes life-long learning by connecting with colleges and universities to conduct masterclasses and workshops and providing pre-concert lectures to introduce audiences to program selections.

949.553.2422 | PHILHARMONICSOCIETY.ORG