Noteworthy -- Spring 2015

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

NOTEWORTHY SPRING 2015

IN THIS ISSUE: The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary Spotlight on the Gelber Family Sir Andrew Davis: 40 Years on the TSO Podium OFFICIAL AIRLINE

PAM AND CHRIS HODGSON SEASON PATRONS

CONDUCTOR SHALOM BARD AND THE TORONTO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA RECEIVE APPLAUSE AFTER THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AT KOERNER HALL

CORPORATE CHAMPION

This season, the TSO is delighted to welcome Economical Insurance as the new sponsor of the Casual Concert Series. Their generous support of one of our mainstay series helps us to continue presenting dynamic performances with world-renowned guest artists, and to further engage our audiences at post-concert parties where patrons connect with our TSO musicians.

Economical’s vital corporate support makes it possible for us to enrich our city through live music, and we are thankful for their multi-year commitment to the TSO for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons.

COMPOSER GEORGE BENJAMIN CONDUCTS SOPRANO BARBARA HANNIGAN AND THE TSO IN A NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE OF WRITTEN ON SKIN, PRESENTED AS PART OF THE CASUAL CONCERT SERIES

The TSO also gratefully acknowledges Ed Berko, Economical’s Senior Vice-President & Chief Risk Officer, for his dedicated efforts and support of the Orchestra.

Your PRE LUDE and FINALE INTERCONTINENTAL® TORONTO CENTRE • AT THE CENTRE OF IT ALL TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ROY THOMSON HALL AND THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

OFFICAL HOTEL OF THE STEPS FROM

FEATURING

GLAMOROUS GUESTROOMS

THE DRAMA OF AZURE RESTAURANT & BAR AND THE ALLURE OF THE

SPA INTERCONTINENTAL®

225 FRoNt StREEt WESt toRoNto, oN M5V 2X3 CANADA 416 597 1400 • WWW.toRoNtoCENtRE.INtERCoNtINENtAL.CoM

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT & C.E.O.

Dear friends of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,

I am writing you this note in the midst of a truly wild and extraordinary year of growth, challenge, and opportunity for the TSO. We have been on quite a journey together.

CORPORATE

CHAMPION

In this issue, you will find feature pieces that touch on our commitment to talented youth in Toronto, the commissioning of new works, an important celebration of a legendary TSO music leader, and our new foray into radio as part of our efforts to make the TSO more accessible.

These all form an important part of the presentation of our new strategic plan and our celebration of the past achievements that have led us to this point.

You will read about the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra’s 40th anniversary and our plans for the future enhancement of the TSYO, which include raising funds to ensure that the TSYO is tuition-free for talented young musicians and seeing increased investment in faculty and guest artists. We will shine a spotlight on the New Creations Festival and the commissioning of a wonderful piece by Hilario Durán funded by the generosity of the Gelber Family. You will also learn more about our new radio show, Sunday Night with the TSO, on The New Classical FM (96.3 FM).

We are very delighted to celebrate Sir Andrew Davis’s 40 wonderful years on the podium with the TSO this spring—and we look forward to many more. Sir Andrew has been a musical fixture of Toronto for the past four decades and much of our future strategy enhances and expands work that he started in his time as our Music Director.

I look forward to seeing you all at various events or performances over the coming months. We thank you for your support and we look forward to hearing your thoughts about the TSO and its bright future.

Warmest regards, Jeff Melanson TSO PRESIDENT & C.E.O.

TSYO THE TORONTO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY On April 23, 2015, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) marked its 40th anniversary with a concert at Koerner Hall, led by TSYO Conductor Shalom Bard. Following this special performance, TSYO members, alumni, coaches, and donors attended a reception celebrating the past, present, and future of the organization.

TSYO CONDUCTOR SHALOM BARD

TSYO MEMBERS CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER AND HENRY PATERSON PERFORM “LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME” WITH BARENAKED LADIES BASSIST AND TSYO ALUMNUS JIM CREEGGAN AT THE POST-CONCERT RECEPTION

“As I conclude my third year conducting the TSYO, I am thrilled to collaborate with and lead these truly special young musicians.

To witness their transformation as a group each year is one of many rewards.”

— SHALOM BARD, TSYO CONDUCTOR

TSYO DOUBLE BASS SEAMUS JOHNSTON IS CONGRATULATED BY TSYO FOUNDER VICTOR FELDBRILL

“I can honestly say that in my 62 years of involvement with the TSO, the creation of the TSYO was a highlight and I congratulate them and their coaches for the splendid achievement on this important occasion.”

— VICTOR FELDBRILL, O.C. O.ONT., TSYO FOUNDER

The TSYO is generously supported by CIBC and many other thoughtful donors.

“We believe that the next generation of orchestral musicians deserves the best opportunities in their training regardless of means and that the TSYO is an essential part of the development of the extraordinary young musicians of the Greater Toronto Area.”

— JEFF MELANSON, TSO PRESIDENT & C.E.O.

“Throughout its 40 years, the TSYO has maintained an unwavering commitment to developing not only wonderful musicians, but also exceptional citizens.”

— PETER OUNDJIAN, TSO MUSIC DIRECTOR

For four decades, the TSYO has been dedicated to providing a high-level orchestral experience for talented young

TSYO TIMELINE

musicians. The programme delivers a unique, powerful, and life-enriching opportunity that encourages significant achievement, regardless of the career path participants choose to pursue.

HERE ARE SOME NOTABLE MILESTONES: 1974: With the unanimous support of the TSO Board of Directors, the TSYO is founded

by Victor Feldbrill.

1980 1974

1980: The TSYO’s first Camp Weekend is held at Camp Kandalore in Minden, Ontario.

1983: The TSYO makes its Roy Thomson Hall début as guest orchestra for a TSO Young People’s Concert.

1985: Making its European début, the TSYO tours the UK and the Netherlands.

1983

1988: The TSYO tours Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

1995: In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the TSYO performs a special concert at Massey Hall.

2012: The TSYO tours British Columbia.

2015: TSO President & C.E.O. Jeff Melanson announces that, beginning in the 2015/2016 season, the TSYO programme will be offered tuition-free to all members.

SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF ORCHESTRAL TALENT Please consider making a special gift in honour of the TSYO’s 40th anniversary. Your support will help ensure the continuation and growth of a strong tradition of nurturing the development of talented and dedicated young people in our city.

Did you know

that TSO musicians Sydney Chun, Vanessa Fralick, Jim Gardiner, Sarah Jeffrey, Shane Kim, David Longenecker, Gabriel Radford, and Steven Woomert; TSYO Conductor Shalom Bard; and RBC Resident Conductor Earl Lee are all TSYO alumni?

Your support of the TSYO today could help launch the career of a TSO musician of tomorrow! Visit TSO.CA/Support

or call 416.593.7769 X 414 to donate by June 30, 2015.

2015 1995

Spotlight

on

THE HILARIO DURÀN TRIO AND CONDUCTOR ROBERTO MINCZUK STAND FOR APPLAUSE AFTER THEIR PERFORMANCE WITH THE TSO

The world première of a piece commissioned by the TSO from Latin Jazz artist Hilario Durán took place on April 29 and 30 at Roy Thomson Hall.

And while a new work is always cause for celebration, what makes the story of “Sinfonia Afrocubana” all the more special is that it came about thanks to one family’s desire to pay tribute to their late mother’s passion for music.

The commission was made possible through the generous support of the Esther Gelber Fund, which was established by sisters Nance Gelber—a long-term supporter of the TSO and former Board member—Patty Rubin, Judith Gelber, and Sara Charney in honour of their mother.

Before the première, music journalist Errol Nazareth connected with Hilario Durán, Nance Gelber, and Patty Rubin to learn how “Sinfonia Afrocubana” came to life. Here is an excerpt from his article:

The Esther Gelber Fund is administered by the Canadian Music Centre.

THE GELBER FAMILY

HILARIO DURÀN WITH NANCE GELBER, WHO WAS PRESENTED WITH A BOUND SCORE OF “SINFONIA AFROCUBANA” BEFORE ITS PREMIÈRE

“[The Gelber family was] at a jazz club called The Opal where I was performing with my trio,” Durán recalls. “And they loved the music and talked to me about the possibility of writing a concerto for the Trio and the Symphony.”

Durán says the idea gathered steam a few years later when the Canadian Music Centre, whose mandate is to “support, preserve and promote the works of Canadian composers,” approached him with the idea, on behalf of the Gelber family. …Nance Gelber and her sister Patty Rubin say their mother, Esther Gelber, had developed a keen interest in all forms of original Canadian music composition later in life.

“So after her sudden death in 1983, her friends donated funds for ‘something musical,’” Nance says.

“The Esther Gelber Fund came together to support Canadian music commissions in a variety of musical forms. Jazz is one of those and Cuban-born Hilario Durán is one of Canada’s jazz jewels.”

PATTY RUBIN AND NANCE GELBER WITH CONDUCTOR ROBERTO MINCZUK AND THE HILARIO DURÀN TRIO

“Sinfonia Afrocubana” was well received by its first audiences, with appreciative music-lovers taking to their feet in standing ovations both evenings. When asked how it felt to hear the piece performed in concert for the first time, Rubin said, “What had been percolating for years was now magically alive and I felt, at first, simply grateful to Hilario and then so electrified by the composition. I never wanted it to end.”

Later, Nance Gelber added, “With commissioning musical works, everyone gets something new. The musicians bring new energy, the audience brings curiosity, and the whole auditorium feels excited.

For me, that première night with the Hilario Durán Trio in sync with the TSO, this all came together; the evening was fantastic.”

COMMISSIONS KEEP ORCHESTRAL MUSIC ALIVE AND GROWING BY ADDING TO THE EXISTING BODY OF SYMPHONIC REPERTOIRE, AND THE TSO IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE GELBER FAMILY FOR THE GENEROUS PART THEY PLAYED IN THE CREATION OF A MAGNIFICENT NEW WORK.

MAESTRO’S CLUB SPRING DINNER On May 4, 2015, members of the TSO Maestro’s Club joined President & C.E.O. Jeff Melanson, Music Director Peter Oundjian, and TSO musicians at Aria Ristorante for the annual Maestro’s Club Spring Dinner.

Featuring a special performance by TSO Principal Cello Joseph Johnson, the evening provided our generous donors with the opportunity to visit with friends old and new while celebrating the Orchestra.

TSO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SECOND VIOLIN WENDY ROSE WITH ARTHUR AND MARY HEINMAA

HOWARD AND LAURIE BACK WITH MICHAEL GNAT AND GAYLE GNAT

TSO PRINCIPAL CELLO JOSEPH JOHNSON WITH MAESTRO’S CLUB AMBASSADORS OLGA FERSHALOFF AND DAVID HALLMAN

JULIA ARMSTRONG, LAURIE BARRETT, AND JACQUELINE ROTHER

BETTIE AND MARK TULLIS

TSO MUSIC DIRECTOR PETER OUNDJIAN ADDRESSES THE DINNER GUESTS

MARGIE KELK WITH TSO VIOLIN VIRGINIA CHEN WELLS

MAESTRO’S CLUB AMBASSADOR MAYMAR NAMAN WITH TSO PRESIDENT & C.E.O. JEFF MELANSON

RUTH WATTS-GRANSDEN WITH EARLAINE COLLINS

TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 25TH ANNUAL FINE WINE CHARITY AUCTION Thursday, November 12, 2015

Celebrating 25 Years!

Now seeking donations of fine wine in support of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and its school and community programmes.

For more information, and the benefits of donating wine, visit TSVC.CA or call 416.593.7769 X 359.

SIR ANDREW DAVIS: 40 YEARS ON THE TSO PODIUM In 1974, a brilliant young musician made his first appearance on the podium of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Andrew Davis became the Music Director just a year later, and has been a regular visitor since becoming Conductor Laureate in 1986.

To celebrate his long relationship with the Orchestra, TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian invited Sir Andrew to conduct three different programmes this May. They comprised appearances by renowned guest artists such as superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma, as well as performances of Verdi’s Requiem, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and The Stolen Child—the world première of a work for Children’s Chorus and Orchestra commissioned by the TSO from Sir Andrew’s son Ed Frazier Davis.

40

TSO TOURS WITH THE MAESTRO

MEMORIES OF SIR ANDREW

1976: Eastern Canada (Québec, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland)

“[His] encouragement and contribution to the development of young musicians, composers and conductors has greatly enriched the musical culture of the city.”

1978: Japan and The People’s Republic of China 1979: Western Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and B.C.) California 1980: Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia 1983: Europe (England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia) 1984: Florida 1986: Europe (the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and France) 1987: Canadian Odyssey Tour (Ontario, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, B.C., Saskatchewan, and Alberta) 1988: Alberta

—ERMANNO FLORIO, TSO APPRENTICE CONDUCTOR, 1976–1979

“He is one of the few conductors I recall that has a genuine affection for his players, and can combine that with an ability to demand the highest standards from the musicians.”

—FREDRICK RIZNER, TSO CO-PRINCIPAL HORN, 1974–1985, AND TSO PRINCIPAL HORN, 1985–1988

“I can think back on so many memorable performances and on his fairness and respect for his musicians, which brought out the best in all of us. We in Toronto are so fortunate to have such a loyal friend!”

—JUDY LOMAN, TSO PRINCIPAL HARP, 1975–1988

“I have two words for Sir Andrew—THANK YOU. For allowing me to be part of the TSO, for 25 years of music making, for your humanity, for your ability to make music fun and interesting while plumbing the depths of the human soul.”

—HARCUS HENNIGAR, TSO HORN, 1985–1988

0

ANDREW DAVIS AND CONTRALTO MAUREEN FORRESTER IN CHINA IN 1978

ANDREW DAVIS, KAREN KAIN, AND JOHN NEVILLE IN EDINBURGH IN 1986

FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT:

A SYMPHONIC ZOO SUN, JUNE 28, 2015 AT 4pm The Festival Hub at David Pecaut Square Bring the entire family for an afternoon of gorgeous animal-inspired music by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Elgar, Stravinsky, and more! This free TSO concert is part of the Luminato Festival.

For full details please visit

LUMINATOFESTIVAL.COM PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH

THE 11TH ANNUAL NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL

This year’s New Creations Festival—the most successful celebration of musical creativity in Canada—brought fresh sounds, cutting-edge drama, and international stars to Toronto, along with critical acclaim.

“Oundjian can be pleased at the crowd—enthusiastic recipients of the TSO’s offerings—who assembled to hear contemporary music on a February night. New Creations is prospering.”

—LESLIE BARCZA, BARCZABLOG ON A MIND OF WINTER

“Watching [composer George] Benjamin himself on the podium coax his music from a beautifully balanced TSO was an added benefit that capped an almost perfect evening in the embrace of the mystery of music.” — ROBERT HARRIS, THE GLOBE AND MAIL ON WRITTEN ON SKIN

SOPRANO BARBARA HANNIGAN PERFORMS A MIND OF WINTER WITH THE TSO

NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

DAVID G. BROADHURST

COMPOSER GEORGE BENJAMIN CONDUCTS THE TSO IN A PERFORMANCE OF HIS PIECE A MIND OF WINTER

Sunday Night

with the

TSO

8pm Sundays

March 29, 2015, marked the première of an exciting collaboration between the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and ZoomerMedia—Sunday Night with the TSO. Now the most popular Toronto radio show in its time slot, this weekly, hour-long programme on The New Classical FM is co-hosted by broadcaster and musician Kathleen Kajioka and TSO President & C.E.O. Jeff Melanson, and it delivers insider access to TSO musicians, repertoire, and behind-the-scenes field recordings.

Past episodes have explored questions and topics in classical music such as: •

Are our applause conventions too strict? (with TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian and pianist Emanuel Ax)

•

What goes on in your brain during a TSO performance? (with TSO musicians)

•

How sports can make you a better musician (with TSO Principal Timpani David Kent)

•

Writing symphonic music for film (with Oscar-winning film composer Mychael Danna)

Don’t miss a minute of your insider’s look at the music and stories of the TSO. Tune in to The New Classical FM every Sunday at 8:00pm or subscribe to a weekly podcast of the show at TSO.CA/Podcast.

ORCH ESTRA NEWS

TSO Violin Eri Kosaka—who will assume the role of Assistant Principal Second Violin beginning next season—and her husband, Toshi, recently welcomed a bouncing baby boy into their family.

Soma Kosaka was born on April 19 and weighed 7.4 lbs at birth.

Congratulations, Eri and Toshi!

After extensive auditions, the TSO is delighted to announce that our own Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron has been offered the position of Associate Principal Cello. We look forward to working with Emmanuelle in her new role starting in the 2015/2016 season.

We are also very pleased to announce the addition of Georgi Videnov to the Orchestra. He will assume the position of Percussion/Assistant Timpani at the beginning of next season.

Georgi studied at both the Peabody Conservatory of The John Hopkins University and the Yale School of Music—where he recently completed a Master of Music degree. He is also currently a member of the Yale Philharmonia and the New Haven Chamber Orchestra.

SOMA KOSAKA

NOTEWORTHY

Design: Chris Armstrong, Wesstrong Group Inc. | Photography: Malcolm Cook, Dale Wilcox, Brendan Zamojc, Michael Morreale, and Josh Clavir | Noteworthy is distributed free of charge to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s donor community. Charitable Reg. No. 10525 5335 RR0001

THE OBSESSIVE QUEST FOR

SJ: Once you have the reed put together, then it takes like 20 minutes to scrape out a reed, but it takes a few days for the reed to sort of settle into something you can play on.

THE PERFECT OBOE REED from Sunday

Night with the TSO Sarah Jeffrey, TSO Principal Oboe: Clearly, I’m a woodworker. I’m a carpenter of sorts, and I’m just drawn to that kind of thing. And when my husband and I hang pictures in our house, we sort of have to take a time-out because I get like, “Oh, no, a little bit to the left, just a little bit more!” When he’s like, “I’ve done all of the measuring with the measuring tape!” But I know because I can see!

Because I’m obsessive about just the tiny little details. So, yes, I think oboists are maybe a little nuts.

Kathleen Kajioka: Would you say there’s a particular personality type that’s drawn to the oboe?

SJ: I don’t know what you’re talking about. [Laughs] Yeah, in order to play the oboe you do have to have a little bit of an obsessive personality. You have to be very particular about things, and you tend to go over things—over and over and over again—to make a certain thing be a certain way, which I’m not sure that the other instruments in the orchestra really have that thing. I don’t think they do that. People tend to be crazy when they play the oboe. You meet a lot of crazy people, and I think it’s because you spend so many hours obsessing over one tiny little detail.

KK: Sarah has a case that’s about the size of a woman’s wallet that holds all her reeds, and she showed me just how many she has at any given time.

KK: The critical detail that Sarah has to obsess about is in the meticulous carving of her reeds, which she spends hours and hours doing each day—and that’s before she can even play a single note of practice.

SJ: At least two hours a night, after I put my kids to bed. That’s when I work on reeds. I work on reeds before every rehearsal. So, two to three a day, I would say. Something like that. Just to stay consistent and to not turn crazy, because if your reeds are happy, then you’re happy.

KK: I asked Sarah to explain, in detail, the process of carving the perfect reed, and it’s quite complex. She uses a lot of words like “exact” and “specific,” and also tells me that one of the tools she uses is called a “guillotine.” It’s quite mind-blowing how precise each step is.

SJ: Well, my case holds 25, and there’s usually 25 in there. There’s a few spaces in my reed case because I just killed them because they were not being very nice and responsive. But in a given week, I’ll probably go through four or five at least. I’ll make six to eight and then choose the best of that bunch and sort of rotate them. But they don’t last very long.

KK: Each of the finished reeds in Sarah’s case is wrapped with coloured thread at the bottom, and, when you open the case, you see this rainbow of about five or six different colours—each one corresponding to the colour of the sound that she wants that particular reed to create.

SJ: There’s a few interesting colours in my case right now, like this purple was designed specifically for Tchaik 4 because it’s a really dark piece and the solo especially, in the second movement, is particularly dark and so I like to choose my colours according to that. Because if I chose a yellow reed I’m POSITIVE it wouldn’t work.

I’m positive.

BRAVO TO OUR SPONSORS SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

MAJOR SPONSORS

OFFICIAL AIRLINE RBC PIANO EXTRAVAGANZA, YO-YO MA PRESENTING SPONSOR, NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL SUPPORTER, AND 2014 EUROPEAN TOUR PLATINUM SPONSOR

OPENING NIGHT PRESENTING SPONSOR, POPS SERIES PRESENTING SPONSOR, CHINESE NEW YEAR PRESENTING SPONSOR, AND 2014 EUROPEAN TOUR GOLD SPONSOR

PERFORMANCE AND TOUR CARTAGE SPONSOR

SERIES AND SPECIAL PROJECTS SPONSORS

PERFORMANCE SPONSORS

TORONTO SYMPHONY VOLUNTEER COMMITTTEE

MEDIA AND CORPORATE SUPPORTERS Active Green + Ross Blakes Canadian Tire CBC Radio 2 Charton-Hobbs CIBC CI Financial

Deloitte Ernst & Young LLP Goldman Sachs Goodmans LLP Grano Henry’s IC Savings

Merrill Corporation Metropia PwC Quinn’s Steakhouse & Irish Bar RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust

The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall The New AM 740 The New Classical 96.3 FM The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

The Toronto Star Tidy’s Flowers Toron AMI Torys LLP Trish & Kevin Reed Worldwide Quest

* List reflects sponsors as of May 1, 2015.

NOTEWORTHY SPRING 2015

212 King Street West | 1st Floor Toronto, ON M5H 1K5