WMS Annual Report

HOPE & RESILIENCE WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT

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CONTENTS 3 7 8 10 11 12 13 15 18 20

Hope & Resilience Strategic Plan Let Them Sing Watch Muskegon Play 2019-2020 Financial Report Message from the Maestro WMS Musicians Sustaining the Symphony Board & Staff Sponsors & Foundations

MISSION West Michigan Symphony connects and enriches our diverse community through the transformative power of music. We fulfill this primarily through three core offerings: • •

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Professional, live symphonic performances in a welcoming environment The Block, a gathering space that sparks curiosity, inspiration and fellowship through the shared experience of uncommon live music Music Education that enriches the lives of children and adults through exploration, participation and performance

Season Sponsor Designed by Keely Payne

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CLASSICAL MUSIC for EVERYONE

360 W. Western Avenue, Suite 200 Muskegon, MI 49440 231.726.3231 westmichigansymphony.org theblockwestmichigan.org

HOPE & RESILIENCE

WMS KEPT THE MUSIC PLAYING DURING 2019-2020

There was just one more rehearsal before the concert when the Executive Order from the Governor’s office called a halt to all large public gatherings.

It was mid-March of 2020, and Music Director Scott Speck and the West Michigan Symphony were preparing a program featuring William Grant Still’s “Afro-American” Symphony and 19-year-old cellist Sujari Britt performing the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto. Earlier that day, the visiting artist had captivated young people during outreach programs for elementary students at The Block and string players at Muskegon High School. The WMS musicians were equally inspired by her energy that evening—and excited to be performing the Still symphony for the first time.

They are still waiting to perform it.

The descent of the pandemic that month effectively divided the 2019-2020 season in half. It had begun on a high note the previous fall with a Russian program of favorites by Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky, followed by an all-Beethoven concert featuring the Third Piano Concerto with Charlie Albright. Attendance was on an upswing with a 30% increase in ticket sales. High demand had resulted in an added second performance of the annual Holiday concert, and the rousing guitar duo of Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo in February generated a full house even in the dead of winter. In its sixth season, The Block was also experiencing a crescendo, with a subscriber base doubled in size over three years; multiple sold-out concerts; and a renovated sound system, lobby and main entrance.

A STRAIGHT LINE IN AN EARTHQUAKE But the environment abruptly changed in March 2020—and it hasn’t stopped since. The pandemic engendered a constantly shifting, evolving landscape—like trying to walk a straight line in an earthquake. It disrupted everyone’s lives: individuals and families, schools, area businesses and community benefit organizations. U.S. performing arts were especially hard hit, with venerable organizations like the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and the Joffrey Ballet forced to cancel their seasons and lay off staff and artists. Within weeks, smaller arts groups across the country followed suit like toppling dominoes. The entire music industry, it appeared, was going dormant.

We realized that our community was in need of music as never before, and decided that, while we might have to postpone, we would not cancel.

At West Michigan Symphony, we realized that our community was in need of music as never before, and decided that, while we might have to postpone, we would not cancel. Instead, we set about learning how to adapt our performance mission to the digital realm. At first, this was of the multi-tracked, iPhone video variety—including a version of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and an education video to enable our Link Up students to play their recorders along with the orchestra from home. Many of our musicians produced their own freelance online content as well—and their creativity was inspiring—but musicians need to be in the same room with each other for this art form to soar. We knew that we needed to bring them back together as soon as we could safely do so.

Our shorter season length and smaller size gave us an advantage over the big full-time orchestras: nimbleness.

We were able to quickly reschedule, and in some cases reprogram, our remaining concerts into the summer.

And while we lacked the huge production budget of groups like The Met—which wrote the book on digital

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livestreaming—or even, closer to home, the Detroit Symphony, we were able to draw on regional relationships and the internal resourcefulness of our staff to develop a format for near PBS-quality Virtual Concerts. This included the fantastic talents of videographer Arvin Candelaria, the audio wizardry of Blue Lake Public Radio’s Steve Albert, and the production skills of WMS Vice President of Operations Gabe Slimko.

SYMPHONIC HOME DELIVERY When the stay-at-home order was lifted in early June, we were back on the Frauenthal stage within days preparing our first Virtual Concert, featuring Mozart’s Divertimento, Barber’s Adagio, and George Walker’s Lyric for Strings. We established a strict safety protocol: everyone was required to wear masks, temperatures were checked at the stage door, and a six-foot minimum distance maintained at all times. Although the physical distance created some listening challenges for the musicians, they quickly adjusted and turned in an inspiring performance.

Several weeks later, violinist Chee-Yun arrived for her long-awaited performance of the combined Vivaldi and Piazzolla Four Seasons. The July program marked the first full-length Masterworks concert by a Michigan orchestra since the lifting of the stay-at-home. The audience was virtual; the performance anything but. Those who watched from home experienced one of the most vibrant, energized renderings ever of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Piazzolla’s delightful and earthy tango-infused music—in its 1998 version—was the perfect foil to the delicate European refinement of the older work. The large-hearted Chee-Yun brought joy and infectious energy to the stage. The musicians, performance-hungry after months of solitude, responded with unprecedented focus and passion.

FOUR SEASONS, TWO HEMISPHERES

MARDI GRAS IN MUSKEGON

One patron shared how moving the Virtual Concert was—and broke down over the phone as she spoke.

Audience response was palpable. One patron called the next day to share how moving the concert was—and broke down over the phone as she spoke. Others cited the sense of being onstage seeing the interchange between Scott and the players up close. A new subscriber to the Virtual Pick 4 Series described the purchase as an act of self-care for her and her husband. “It’s so important to have something like this to keep our spirits up,” she told us. “It helps us feel connected with the musicians and our fellow audience members.”

If you missed this and the other Virtual Concerts that followed, you can still see them—they’re all available in our Virtual Concert Hall on the WMS website. We will be continuing exclusively with this format until we are able to begin admitting live audiences again. Since we don’t know how long it will be until that happens, we strongly encourage your participation. We need you! These concerts are a balm to the soul for musicians and audience alike.

They are keeping our WMS musical family together.

What has taken place since last March at WMS has been a testament to hope and resilience… to commitment and loyalty. Our corporate sponsors and foundation donors were incredibly generous and understanding in the face of our inability to fulfill the originally intended activities of their support. And the dedication of our patrons has been, and continues to be,

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SLAVIC SEASON OPENING

BEETHOVEN’S BIRTHDAY

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

the lifeblood of the organization. In the face of the complete disruption of the traditional live concert experience, the vast majority of our subscribers stuck by us—either signing on to the Virtual Concert Series, donating their subscription balance, or converting it to a MusicFutures Pass—at a level considerably higher than the national average. The Financial Report (page 11) tells that story: support from individuals—in the form of gifts, subscriptions and other ticket sales—accounts for a full 60% of total revenue.

The loyalty of our patrons is the lifeblood of WMS. The vast majority stuck by us—at a level considerably higher than the national average.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? During a facilitated planning session last fall, Board and staff members outlined the most important character traits of WMS going forward:

Nimbleness | Determination | Skill | Open-Mindedness | Resilience These would be good traits to cultivate at any time. Right now they are essential. Ben Cameron, President of the Jerome Foundation, recently remarked that arts organizations are used to operating from inside to outside: we curate our art internally and take it out to the community. We are less accustomed to going from out to in: discerning what is happening in our society—the immediate locale or broader human community—and then developing our artistic response. It is time to adopt a fresh approach.

Our new Vision reflects this with words like catalyst, facilitate, collaborate—a change of posture from outreach to engagement. There is a timeliness to this—an urgency, even—that is connected with current events: the pandemic, the racial crisis, and the fracturing of our nation’s social fabric. Consultant Jill Robinson maintains that the Arts are essential to what she has dubbed the recovery economy. “We must constantly be thinking about whom we are serving and how we can best serve them,” she emphasizes. “The creative sector is needed to help our communities recover.”

Winston Churchill said: “Never waste a good crisis.” We are following his advice by taking the opportunity to reinvent the WMS.

Winston Churchill said: “Never waste a good crisis.” We are following his advice. Far from going dormant, we are taking the opportunity to reinvent the WMS in a number of significant ways.

Making equity and inclusion a core value. Late in 2020 we convened a facilitated steering committee, comprised of Board, staff and musicians, to develop a comprehensive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework for WMS. Goals include increasing diversity of race and gender across the organization; expanding shared leadership and plurality of voices; and fostering wider relevance and ownership of WMS. Building on our existing education programs, can we transform into a community-embedded leader providing underserved youth with access to music? Can we become known for authentically championing artists and musicians of color? Can we expose our core audience to wider cultural influences and attract non-traditional audiences? These are among the challenges we are exploring.

Expanding youth education footprint. In partnership with Muskegon Public Schools, WMS is developing plans for Tune Up, a free after-school instrumental music program. The offering is modeled after El Sistema, an intensive youth orchestra program from Venezuela that has inspired similar initiatives in communities across the U.S. and worldwide. El Sistema operates in the most economically challenged environments to impact families with few resources for music and arts. Students will have free use of a quality musical instrument, participate in group lessons, and receive help and support with practice and homework. Although some may go on to pursue a musical career, the primary goal of the program is to help young people develop the essential life skills and habits of mind they need to lead successful lives. Tune Up is slated for launch in the fall of 2022.

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Right-sizing the endowment. Successful symphonies across the nation all have one thing in common: a strong endowment to support programs. Endowments, along with earned revenue and philanthropy, provide a stable funding base that supports a compelling vision for growth and impact. The average symphony endowment generates 18% of the organizational budget. By comparison, WMS’s endowment makes up less than 2% of budget. The pressure of annual fundraising creates budgetary uncertainty that precludes many long-range strategic activities. To offset this, we are in the quiet phase of a campaign—co-chaired by Kay Olthoff and Jan Deur—to bring the endowment to $5 million.

All three of these initiatives are taking place within the context of our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan—a resilient guiding framework even in the face of the rapidly changing landscape of COVID-19.

The musicians are still waiting to perform that concert with cellist Sujari Britt. It is currently on the docket for the spring of 2022—a full two years after the originally scheduled date. Long before that—if all goes well—we will be back to performing for live audiences in Frauenthal and The Block. But until then, we will continue fulfilling our artistic and educational mission however we can. Why? Because we believe that music is as essential as air and food. We believe it is a core resource for connectivity, self-care and emotional health. We’re not in the entertainment business... we’re in the hope business. I cannot recall a time when that has been more important.

Andy Buelow President/CEO

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2020-2023 STRATEGIC PLAN VISION We are a catalyst for a music-infused West Michigan: leading, facilitating, connecting and collaborating with the community to stimulate cultural vibrancy, inclusivity and pride of place.

PILLAR I ARTISTIC VIBRANCY

PILLAR II MUSIC EDUCATION

PILLAR III COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

PILLAR IV AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

PILLAR V FUND DEVELOPMENT

PILLAR VI INFRASTRUCTURE

• Plan programming that attracts and inspires people at all levels of familiarity with the art form • Transform concerts into events that captivate audiences and become the “talk of the town”

• Work toward eliminating barriers to participation in music education for all the community’s youth • Expand program geographic footprint to include under-served areas of West Michigan • Develop adult programs that deepen music appreciation and participation

• Expand relationships and relevance through strategic collaborations • Work toward diversifying the organization at all levels to accurately reflect the community

• Expand organizational visibility and reach; cultivate new audiences • Build audience loyalty, retention and sense of community

• Expand and diversify the donor base • Build lasting, committed relationships with donors • Grow organizational endowment

• Build and retain the human resources needed to achieve this plan • Protect and optimize venues and staging spaces • Refine and optimize Business Model

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LET THEM SING

OUR CHILDREN ARE MAKING MUSIC DURING COVID

We adapted, we remained flexible, and we persevered to keep music in children’s lives this past year—thanks to your unwavering support!

In 2019-2020, 53 elementary schools from six counties in West Michigan participated in the annual WMS Link Up program—its 16th year. Between fall and spring, the WMS had over 4,000 students learning to read and play music on the recorder and preparing to join the orchestra for the April 15, 2020 concert—the culmination of this impactful year-long program featuring curriculum from Carnegie Hall. WMS musicians were preparing to present another outstanding children’s concert and children were excited to attend in person and play their recorders with us.

Then, schools closed...

Students were sent home...

And for the first time in 16 years we had to cancel the WMS Link Up concert! Soon to follow, all other WMS youth activities and youth performances were also perforce cancelled.

It was a sad, uncertain, and often scary period for the WMS, the teachers—and especially for the students. But with schools closing and students transitioning to at-home learning, the WMS education staff adapted to connect with students via video conferencing so that learning could continue.

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The students had been literally working on the Link Up curriculum all year and were within a month of the concert when the schools closed. In order to provide them with the best possible culmination of Link Up, we created a video version of “Simple Melody” (the Link Up theme song) featuring a reduced orchestra and members of the WMS Children’s Choir. Director of Education Karen Vander Zanden led students on the recorder. Students throughout West Michigan were thus able to play recorder and sing with the WMS from home in a virtual Link Up concert performance.

In the fall, the start of the WMS 2020-2021 season created educational opportunities and experiences that we would not have otherwise pursued.

The Debut and Premier String programs, our young string ensemble groups, rehearsed outdoors at the Muskegon Farmers Market in the beautiful fall months. This unique time brought a sense of joy, creativity and fun—a badly needed musical outlet for students when most schools had eliminated band, choir and orchestra.

In November, the Music Mentor program launched itself into the world of video-conferencing. WMS musicians began engaging and performing for students virtually in their classrooms. Six WMS musicians were thus able to build and sustain a connection to children and to music education. These visits are continuing throughout the school year into the spring of 2021.

To finish the second half of a bumpy school year the WMS has committed to supporting schools and students by creating the WMS Moves education program and concert. This temporarily replaces our normal Link Up program that uses the recorder instrument as its primary learning tool—an activity that schools have disallowed due to health concerns during the pandemic. Scott Speck and Karen Vander Zanden created the Moves program with lesson plans that reinforce a classical repertoire and a pre-recorded video concert that encourages students to move, clap, and play rehearsed percussion rhythms. This reinvents the way students connect to the music and the orchestra during the pandemic—continuing to incorporate the physical participation they need, but in a safe way.

Why does all this matter? Music is vital to a well-rounded education and it has proven to prepare students for success in work and in life. There are many known benefits to music and the arts. We know that the arts boosts literacy and advances math achievement, it keeps student engaged in school, develops critical thinking and improves self-esteem and confidence. The benefits to providing music encourage us to continue supporting the arts in our community of schools.

Really, what matters most in music education is not how and where we provide music education, but that we at the WMS are adapting and creating, and continually reinventing programs that enrich the lives of children and adults through music exploration, participation, and performance to inspire generations of music lovers! Thank you for the support that makes this possible.

Karen Vander Zanden Director of Education and Corporate Engagement

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WATCH MUSKEGON PLAY 2020 brought harmony to community parks and street corners.

Today, more and more children (and adults) experience music solely through earbuds and MP3s—but music was never intended to be a spectator sport. In keeping with the Vision of a music-infused West Michigan, a group of Rotarians and WMS leaders concluded an exciting two-year initiative in 2020 to help bring music-making back within the reach of everyone in our community—especially the children.

More than 30 permanently-mounted outdoor musical instruments were installed last summer at eight different locations in Muskegon and Muskegon Heights.

WMS Board member Susan Cloutier-Crain and her husband, Orville, both longtime Rotarians, brought the idea for the initiative back from a visit to Toronto in 2018, where they first encountered the park instruments. Believing this would be an exciting addition to Muskegon’s burgeoning downtown revitalization, the Crains assembled a task force to raise funds for the project. The group included WMS board members Pete Brown and Jan Deur and President Andy Buelow; Judy Hayner of Muskegon’s Public Art Initiative; Larry Fife of the Woodcliffe Neighborhood Association in Muskegon Heights, and representatives of the City and County of Muskegon.

The $100,000 fund raising campaign concluded successfully in May 2020. The instruments were ordered in June, shipped in July, and installed in August by City of Muskegon crews. Locations include Rotary Park and Heritage Landing; the pocket parks at Seventh & Shoreline and the Farmers’ Market; the Olthoff Stage across from the Frauenthal Center; St. Joseph and McLaughlin parks; and Johnny O. Harris Park in Muskegon Heights.

“Music is a global language that creates community connection and a sense of belonging,” said Cloutier-Crain.

“These are exactly the things Muskegon is working to foster, especially in its downtown.”

But perhaps the little girl who ran up to Susan at the Rotary Park music pad said it best: “Thank you for installing these wonderful instruments. You all get an A-plus!”

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2019-2020 FINANCIAL REPORT WMS was in a position of relative strength when the pandemic hit. In 2018, through generous loan forgiveness from a private donor, we retired our accumulated debt. We also posted operating surpluses for two seasons in a row, enabling us to stabilize cash flow and begin building a small reserve. As noted above, 2019-2020 began with growth in subscriptions and single tickets, and contributions were on the rise. The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of our spring Gala, but this loss of income was partially offset by a federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan, which qualified for full forgiveness.

Earned revenue decreased as a percentage of total revenue to about 29%—well below the norm. With no live performances during the second half of the season, we were unable to sell any single tickets. Fortunately, our subscribers demonstrated strong loyalty, and we retained nearly 85% of our subscription revenue—well above the national average during this period. Strong individual giving carried the day as well.

On the expense side, we realized savings on program services since we had to dramatically reduce the size of the ensemble in order to safely perform, and two of the rescheduled concerts—Four Seasons, Two Hemispheres and Mardi Gras in Muskegon—took place in July and August, outside of the 2019-2020 fiscal year. All of these factors—along with the PPP loan—contributed to a surplus. We are grateful and fortunate—but the brunt of the challenge presented by COVID-19 will likely fall in the current and next fiscal years. We remain confident and hopeful... but vigilance is the price of success.

Rhonda S Bogner, CPA Chief Financial Officer

REVENUE Individuals: 36% Corporate: 15%

2019-2020 SEASON CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Admissions: 20%

REVENUE Earned Revenue Contributed Revenue TOTAL

$307,661 $831,163 $1,138,824

EXPENSE Program Services Administration Advancement TOTAL

$761,541 $235,746 $62,964 $1,060,251

Foundation: 22%* Other Earned: 7%

EXPENSE

Program Services: 72% Surplus (Deficit)

$78,573

To view full audited financials visit westmichigansymphony.org *Includes Federal PPP Loan forgiveness

Administration: 22% Advancement: 6%

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MESSAGE FROM THE MAESTRO Dear WMS Patrons: I’m sure you feel, as I do, that this past year has been the strangest in memory—and certainly the most challenging.

Most importantly, I’ll never forget the people I have lost to the pandemic, including two close family friends. But on top of that, from my point of view, it has created a personal dilemma of almost existential proportions.

What does a conductor do? It’s a question I never had to ponder before. Of course, I could list several important duties that make up the role of Music Director—but chief among them is conducting! And for months, that was simply impossible. The total shutdown of all concert activities last year left me asking myself, quite sincerely, what function I fulfilled in society. I know that a lot of our West Michigan Symphony musicians felt the same way.

Music is more than what we do for a living—it’s indistinguishable from who we are.

And so, when we began creating concerts onstage again in June, it was nothing less than the reinstatement of our identities. The feeling was indescribable. With each small concert we produced, I saw our musicians come more and more to life; even six feet apart, behind their masks, their smiles were unmistakable. Though the Frauenthal seats were empty, they felt your presence—even in your physical absence. This sense of connectivity in music brought joy and purpose back to their lives—and to mine. As we begin to put bigger and bigger ensembles on our stage, we will be able to provide this feeling for more and more of our musicians.

Of all the musical activities where I take part, the West Michigan Symphony was the first to start up again—months ahead of most other orchestras in the country. I will always be grateful to WMS for allowing me to feel whole again, during the strangest year of my life.

Scott Speck Music Director

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WMS PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS Our musicians are West Michigan’s cultural ambassadors and a key part of its creative capital. In addition to WMS, our players teach privately and at major Michigan universities, perform with other orchestras, and appear as recitalists and chamber musicians across the Midwest and beyond.

John Heffernan

Gene Hahn

Jacie Robinson

Arturo Ziraldo

Romona Merritt

Jill Marie Brown

Edward Hickman

Interim Concertmaster

Principal Viola

Principal Flute

Principal Trombone

Amanda Dykhouse

Mark Portolese

Alica Gregorian Sawyers Igor Cetkovic Principal Cello

Associate Principal Cello

Brook Bennett

Mathew Burri

Gabriel Renteria

Jonathan Holden

Marat Rakhmatullaev

Paul Clifton-O’Donnell

Pamela Smitter

Clinton McCanless

Matthew Beck

Sylvia Norris

Leo Taylor

Associate Concertmaster

Associate Principal Viola

Principal Oboe

Principal Tuba

Assistant Concertmaster

Principal Clarinet

Principal Percussion

Adam Liebert

Assistant Principal Violin 1

Principal Bassoon

Principal Harp

Principal Violin 2

Assistant Principal Cello

Principal Horn

Associate Principal Violin 2

Associate Principal Bass

Principal Trumpet

Principal Timpani

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WMS MUSICIANS Music Director Scott Speck

Sponsored by Mike & Kay Olthoff

First Violin John Heffernan interim concertmaster

Cello Alicia Gregorian Sawyers principal Sponsored by Pete & Sherry Brown

Igor Cetkovic assc. principal Sponsored by Fred & Joey Norris

Brook Bennett asst. principal

Sponsored by Pat & Julie Donahue

Sponsored by Dr F Remington & Ginny Sprague

Gene Hahn assc. concertmaster Jacie Robinson asst. concertmaster

Sponsored by Dr Mark D & Kristine M Clark

Sponsored by Bruce & Donna Hood

Adam Liebert asst. principal Sponsored by Dr Alan Steinman

Carmen Abelson Hannah Christiansen Jennifer Kotchenruther

Sponsored by Bob & Charlotte Chessman

Sofiya Levchenko Maya Shiraishi

Sponsored by James & Susan Geisler

Oxana Sourine

Sponsored by Darlene Collet in memory of Lee Collet

Sofie Yang Second Violin Amanda Dykhouse principal Mark Portolese assc. principal Katie Bast Francine Harris

Lee Copenhaver

Sponsored by Elinore Verplank

Natalie Hockamier Britta Bujak Portenga

Sponsored by Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors Jackie Engel, CFP®

Rachele Torres Carol Wildgen

Sponsored by Anne & Bart Merkle

Tatiana Zueva Viola Arturo Ziraldo principal Sponsored by Jan Deur

Romona Merritt assc. principal

Sponsored by Tom Schaub & Mary L Price

David Beytas Sara Churchill Csaba Erdélyi

Sponsored by JoLee Wennersten

Josh Holcomb Howard Jones

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Sponsored by Allen & Sandy Beck

Leah Brockman

Calin Muresan

Trumpet Pamela Smitter principal

Open

Bill Baxtresser

Sponsored by Dana Gonzalez

Sponsored by Bari Johnson

Sponsored by Cynthia Mazurek

Sponsored by Roger & Rebecca Tuuk

Bass Open principal Matthew Burri assc. principal Adam Attard

Trombone Edward Hickman principal

Dennis Bergevin David Chapman-Orr Lindsey Orcutt

Joe Radtke Evan Clifton bass trombone

Sponsored by Tom Knight

Flute Jill Marie Brown principal

Sponsored by The Martin Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County

Marissa Olin Leslie Deppe piccolo

Sponsored by Michael & Mary O’Brien

Karen-Jane Henry

Horn Paul Clifton-O’Donnell principal Greg Bassett Lisa Honeycutt

Oboe Gabriel Renteria principal Mika Allison

Sponsored by Eleanor Williams

Phil Popham English horn

Anthony DiMauro

Sponsored by Allan & Anne Dake, Jan Deur, Jack & Laura Schultz, Ted & Judy Stojak

Tuba Clinton McCanless principal Sponsored by John Essex

Timpani Leo Taylor principal

Sponsored by Douglas & Janet Hoch

Percussion Matthew Beck principal Boyan Tantchev Sponsored by Jill Sanders

Eric Jones

Sponsored by Marcia D’Oyly

Clarinet Jonathan Holden principal

Sponsored by Jon & Jane Blyth

Stephanie Hovnanian

Sponsored by Andy & Beth Buelow

Lisa Raschiatore bass clarinet

Harp Sylvia Norris principal

Sponsored by Paul & Karen Jackson

Sponsored by Don & Kathy Dahlstrom matched by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Piano/Celesta Open

Bassoon Marat Rakhmatullaev principal Jason Kramer

Music Librarian Amanda Dykhouse

Sponsored by Suzanne Richards & Lee Burlison

Sponsored by Ardy Bulthouse Kroes

SUSTAINING THE SYMPHONY

AUGUST 1, 2019 THROUGH JULY 31, 2020

$10,000 and up Anonymous Jan Deur Pat & Julie Donahue Douglas & Janet Hoch Mike & Kay Olthoff Peter M Turner $5,000-$9,999 Anonymous Jon & Jane Blyth Pete & Sherry Brown George W & Lori Lynn Cannon III William & Mary Lou Eyke Bari Johnson Buzz & Wendy Kersman Scott & Donna Lachniet John & Jessie Martin Monica Morse Joanna & Fred Norris Steve & Deb Olsen Mary L Price Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County (CFFMC) Suzanne Richards & Lee Burlison Jack & Becky Slimko Dr Alan Steinman $2,000-$4,999 Marilyn V Andersen Cathy & Bernie Berntson Fund of the CFFMC William & Susan Bissell Andy & Beth Buelow Michael Cerminaro DDS & Connie Verhagen DDS Orville Crain & Susan Cloutier-Crain Marcia D’Oyly Rob & Cathleen Dubault Darcy Dye Tilio Giacobassi Family Michael Gluhanich Keith Hopkins Hugh & Barbara Hornstein Stephen & Debra Jackson

Charles & Nina Johnson Charles & Vivian Johnson Barbara Kelso Amy Klop Daniel & Sheryl Kuznar Barbara J Murphy Bonnie Olson Memorial Fund Sawyer Family Fund of CFFMC Tom Schaub & Mary Price Michael & Corina Soimar Dr F Remington & Ginny Sprague Susan & Stephen Struck $1,000-$1,999 Anonymous Allen & Sandy Beck Susan & Frank Bednarek Fund of the CFFMC Claudia Bryant Gordon & Mary Buitendorp Ardy Bulthouse Kroes Bob & Charlotte Chessman Allan & Anne Dake Jackie Engel, CFP Essex Family Fund of the CFFMC Eugene Fethke Carol Folkert James & Susan Geisler Don Goodman Robert & Clara Harrell Paul & Karen Jackson Dr Beth Dunning Lower Mark & Bonnie Meengs Anne & Bart Merkle Dr C Michael & Mary O’Brien Mary Payne Dr Richard W & Nancy J Peters Gary & Beth Post Bruce Reichardt John Saling & Diane Fischer David & Linda Taylor Roger & Rebecca Tuuk Norna Verplank Robert & Nancy Voyt Michael & Patricia Wade

JoLee Wennersten Hazel Whittaker Ellie Williams $600-$999 Anonymous Gary & Rhonda Bogner Maureen Campbell Ruth Clark Dr Donald & Nancy Crandall Kevin & Annette Even Gwen Hoffman David & Mary Hogan Pat Hunt Tom & Pat Johnson Dr Ray & Betsy Komray Kent & Charlotte Krive Pete & Mimi Kunz Garry & Charlotte Olson Janet Payne Denis & Barbara Potuznik Dan & Sarah Rinsema-Sybenga Jocelyn Shaw & Doug Hannink Robert Strauss Ann & Dan Tabor Dr Jane L Toot Richard & Marge Tourre Marguerite & Kenneth Winter Jane Wright Jim & Linda Zolman $300-$599 Chris Adams Ross & Sandra Aden Charles & Gloria Alstrom Anonymous Bruce & Paula Baker Barbara Bates-Lalick & Martin Lalick Paul & Grace Benedict Heather D Brolick Ron & Ann Marie Brown Jack & Marilyn Brown Ryan & Katie Bryker Michael & Joanna Buboltz Carol Burnet

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Rudy & Pat Chmelar George & Deborah Chmelar Valerie & Fred Church-McHugh Darlene Collet James & Diana Cornell William & Carol Cross III Don & Kathy Dahlstrom matched by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Mary & Gust Danigelis Joel & Linda Engel Jerry Engle Charles & Patti Fisher Kurt & Cathy Forrest Charles & Lynn Freeman Ron Fritz Evelyn Geile Mary Anne Gorman Bill Haug & Jane Curtis Judy Hayner Donald & Mary Henry Patricia Hesling Gwen Hoffman Wilda James Peter Kurdziel Mr & Mrs Paul Ladas Clara Lang Richard Linebaugh Michael Martin Charles Matthews & Kay Cater Matthews Cindy Mazurek Paul & Winnie McNergney Susan Meston Don & Phyllis Monte-Holtrop Scott & Janee’ Musselman Chris McGuigan & Gary Neal Hester P Newton Dan & Kendra Olsen Jim & Ruthann Olthoff Jason & Jamye Olthoff William & Gay Petersen David & Beth Pickard Roy & Britta Bujak Portenga Margaret Price Donna Little & Faye Redmond David E & Georganna Rice Joe & Paula Risselade Duane & Susan Schecter Jocelyn Shaw & Doug Hannink George & Dottie Strabel Bryce & Marti Tallant Peter & Judy Theune Carol Parker Thompson George & Laura Thurlow Tom & Liz Trzaska Bruce & Nina Van Dop Judy Wilcox Jan Witt Robert & Joanne Zayko

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$100-$299 Ron & Nancy Anderson Charles D & Laurel A Angus Anonymous Margo Atwell Jerry & Barbara Bakker Carl & Bonnie Bergman Arthur & Marilyn Bolt Bonnie Borgeson Mary & Bob Boyer Bob & Jan Brock Greta Bushnell Marie Bustin Michael & Kristine Carpenter Linda Caughey Curtis Chambers & Diana Wojton Dr Paul & Nancy Christie Mike Ciulis Joanne Cochrane E Jane Connell & Steven W Rosen David & Marie Culver Bob & Ann Erler Dale & Susan Ertzinger Steve & Darleen Dangel Greg & Judith DeWeerd Karen & Herb Driver Bruce & Esther Drukker Dennis & Barbara Dryer Janice Dyer Amanda & Gregory Dykhouse Harold & Mary Englund Tim & Anne Erickson Jacqueline Rose Fisher Dale & Bridget Fox Paula DeGregorio & Frank Galante David F Gerdes & Carolyn Smith-Gerdes Marjorie Gorajec Marcia Grasman LaDon Gustafson Revs Susan & Jerry Hagans Raymond Hamil Helga Hamm Dr & Mrs James Hegedus Timothy Hicks Thomas & Rita Higgins Cornelia Holley Kenneth Hoopes & Maria Ladas Hoopes William Horne Mary Anne & Thom Hornik Mary Ann Howe John & Jane Humphrey Charles & Suze Huttula Robert & Louise Jewell Jim & Mary Malek Don & Penny Johnson Robert & Susan Johnson David & Loretta Kasprzyk David & Allison Keessen

Ed & Lynne Kinkema Bruce & Mary Krueger Joan La Mourie Robert & JoAnn Landman Bob & Pam Lascko Phyllis Laurin Joan Leder Sandy Majeski Donald R Matthews Shirley McIntire Alice Michaud Rich & Teresa Micheil Rhonda Myers Ed & Ginevra Naill Jan & Bill Naymick Matt & Laurel Nease Kathryn L Neumann Leslie Newman Perry & Deb Newson Kay Ostrom Richard A. Pardini Thomas Pascoe Irene Pierson Albert & Elizabeth Posthuma Sylvia Precious Bruce & Shirley Privacky Rev William Randall Mike & Char Ratchford Susan Rehrer Randall & Gretchen Rhoades Kenneth Robison Brian & Sandra Roelof Bruce & Judy Rollston David Roodvoets James M Rynberg Bob & Bobbi Sabine Richard & Jane Schneider Gwynne & Steve Schoff Michael & Debra Schubert Glenn Sheathelm Thomas & Suzanne Shepherd Josh & Amy Silvis Colleen & Joseph Skendzel Helen & Jay Smith Frank & Barbara Smith Dar Smith Joanie Smith Hayden Smith Annoesjka Soler Vivian Sorden Mort & Gayle Speck Susan Sridharan Anbritt & Darlene Stengele Bill Papo & Julie Stewart Leon & Zinnie Stille Tom & Nanci Stone Clifford & Lucia Storr Verne & Janet Sutherland

Howard & Marilyn Swanson Warren Tibbitts Judith Tierney Frank & Emma Peterson Mary Towner John & Barbara Usmial John Van Walsum Ed DeJong & Diane VanWesep Becky Veltman Dr Paul Voss Bill & Shirley Walther Jean & Craig Weirich Dan & Nancy Weller Harry & Julie Wierenga Brewster & Mary Ellen Willcox Paul & Sherry Wilson Joe & Cindy Wolff Duane & Laurie Wright Douglas & Jennifer Zwemer

Corporate, Arts Council & Foundation Donors $50,000 and up Nichols $20,000-$49,999 Community Foundation for Muskegon County (CFFMC) Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF) Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs $10,000-$19,999 DTE Energy Foundation Fund Harbor Steel & Supply Corporation Harry A & Margaret D Towsley Foundation Leonel L & Mary Loder Fund of the CFFMC Meijer Foundation Mercy Health Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge $5,000-$9,999 Arconic Fifth Third Bank Fremont Area Community Foundation Hines Corporation Howmet Community Fund of the CFFMC JSJ Foundation Fund L3HARRIS PNC Bank Rehmann Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Samuel L Westerman Foundation Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce

$1,000-$4,999 Bank of America Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Comerica Bank Consumers Energy Eagle Alloy, Inc Folkert Family Foundation Grand Valley State University Lorin Industries Muskegon Community College Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp Raymond James Sand Products Corporation Fund of the CFFMC Shoreline Insurance Agency, Inc Sparta Community Foundation Up to $999 Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Iota Chapter Ann & Bud Eichmann Fund of the CFFMC John L. Wheeler Memorial Scholarship Fund of the CFFMC Newkirk Electric Rotary Club of Grand Haven Schierholz/Hogan Family Fund of the CFFMC Target Corporation The Gerber Foundation

Past Presidents Club The Past Presidents Club provides ongoing guidance, advocacy and support to the WMS long after its members’ terms are completed. WMS thanks and honors these individuals for their generosity, collective wisdom and continuing leadership.

Susan Bissell Pete Brown Marcia D’Oyly David Gerdes David Hogan Pat Hunt Paul Jackson Tom Johnson Wendy Kersman JoAnn Landman Clara Lang Deb Newson Fred Norris Kay Olthoff Mike Olthoff Sylvia Precious Chip Sawyer Susan Sridharan Ann Tabor

Jane Toot Peter Turner Becky Veltman Jane Wright

Harmony Park Donors Maestro Muskegon Rotary Foundation Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Concertmaster Patrick O’Leary & Karen Yamasaki City of Muskegon Principal Community enCompass Nelson Neighborhood Association Mike & Kay Olthoff Lead Frank & Susan Bednarek Orville & Susan Crain Don & Nancy Crandall Jan Deur Grace & Don Matthews Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County Graphics House Hayner Consulting and Management Muskegon Business Improvement District Mike Muskovin Sand Products Corporation Tom Schaub & Mary Price Bruce & Margaret Spoelman F. Remington & Ginny Sprague Bernice Sydnor Judy Wilcox Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce Orchestra Andy & Beth Buelow Allan & Anne Dake Downtown Muskegon Now MaryAnn Gorman Hines Corporation John & Annette Jack Nancy McCarthy & Ed Hunt Bill & Kenna Loxterman Gary Neal & Chris McGuigan John & Sue Noling Frank & Emma Peterson Gary & Beth Post Duane & Susan Schecter Marty & Heidi Systema Ken & Marguerite Winter

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THE BOARDS WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY

THE BLOCK

Paul R Jackson • Chairperson Partner, Warner Norcross + Judd, LLP

Emma Davis Peterson • Chairperson Director of Philanthropy, Mercy Health

Jan L Deur • Treasurer Community Activist & Philanthropist

Jason Olthoff • Treasurer VP of Business Development & New Markets, Nichols

Peter Kurdziel • Secretary Music Director, Basilica of Saint Adalbert

Don Kalisz • Secretary Owner & Director, Kindred Marketing

Peter S Brown • Immediate Past President Community Activist & Philanthropist

Ryan W Bryker Tax Partner, BDO

Marquis Childers Business & Economic Prosperity Consultant

Susan Cloutier-Crain Community Activist & Philanthropist

Brian Leibrandt Attorney, DMK Development

Pat Donahue Retired, CEO & Chairman McDonald’s Holdings Co. (Japan) Ltd.

Kenneth Robison HR Manager, Scherdel Sales & Technology

Kevin B Even Shareholder, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Kimberly L Hammond, CFP, CIMA, C(k)P Senior Resident Director, Merrill Lynch Dr Dale Nesbary President, Muskegon Community College Michael Olthoff CEO, Nichols Mary L Price Community Activist & Philanthropist Suzanne Richards Faculty, Grand Valley State University Thomas Schaub Community Activist & Marketing Consultant Dr Alan Steinman Director, Annis Water Resources Institute

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April Jendrasiak Project Manager, Th3rd Coast Media

Josh Silvis Agent, Shoreline Insurance Agency Kerri Vanderhoff Executive Director Coalition for Community Development

ADMINISTRATION Andrew Buelow President/CEO Rhonda Bogner, CPA Chief Financial Officer Amanda Dykhouse Orchestra Librarian Kate McClure Patron Services Manager Perry Newson Director of Operations/Guest Artists Keely Payne Art Director & Marketing Manager Gabe Slimko Vice President of Operations/Personnel Manager Karen Vander Zanden Director of Education & Corporate Engagement

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CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION DONORS

GREATEST NEEDS FUND

Howmet Community Fund

at the Community Foundation for Muskegon County

Leonel L & Mary Loder Fund of the

Community Foundation for Muskegon County

SAMUEL L. WESTERMAN

FOUNDATION

Bank of America Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Comerica Eagle Alloy Gerber Foundation

Hung & Elsie Liang Fund of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF) Mercy Health Newkirk Electric North Bank Fund of the GHACF

Pratt & Whitney Component Solutions, Inc. Rotary Club of Grand Haven Sand Products Corporation Sparta Community Foundation Target

BLOCK UNDERWRITERS Pete & Sherry Brown Consumers Energy Jan Deur Grand Valley State University Huntington National Bank Lake Michigan Credit Union

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Lorin Industries Mercy Health Muskegon Community College Nichols Steve & Deb Olsen Parmenter Law

Tom Schaub & Mary Price Shoreline Insurance Agency Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Michael & Corina Soimar Warner Norcross + Judd