Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto
January 31 & February 1
KNIGHT THEATER
Happy New Year!
As we step confidently into 2025, we are energized by the many incredible events and opportunities that lie ahead at the Charlotte Symphony. From immersive performances to milestone celebrations, and the exciting culmination of the Symphony’s $50M comprehensive campaign that will play a pivotal role in shaping our future, 2025 promises to be a year of growth and inspiration.
One of the most anticipated events this February 28 and March 1 is Become Ocean , a 360-degree immersive audio experience at Blumenthal Arts’s new venue, Blume Studios. With its spatial audio and immersive lighting, you’ll be surrounded by John Luther Adams’s captivating soundscape, inspired by the waters of the Pacific Northwest. It promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience.
Looking ahead, Music Director Kwamé Ryan returns March 7 & 8 to lead Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Louis Schwizgebel. Later in the month, we’re delighted to welcome back former Music Director Christoph Perick to conduct orchestral highlights from Wagner’s most beloved operas on March 21 & 22.
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Charlotte Symphony. We can’t wait to share these extraordinary moments with you.
David Fisk President & CEO
Your Charlotte Symphony Experience
Whether you’re attending your first Symphony performance, or you’re a longtime subscriber, we’d like to extend to you a warm and inclusive welcome! Below is some helpful information to ensure you make the most of your Charlotte Symphony experience.
What should I wear?
The Charlotte Symphony has no specific dress code. We encourage you to be comfortable and come as yourself in a style of your choice.
When do I applaud?
Audiences applaud to welcome the concertmaster, conductor, and featured artists onstage. Some works may have several sections, or movements, separated by a brief silent pause. It is tradition to hold applause until the last movement. If you are unsure, wait for the conductor to face the audience. But if you feel truly inspired, do not be afraid to applaud!
Can I take photos?
Certainly! We welcome and encourage you to capture and share photos before and after the concert, as well as during intermission. Feel free to use your cell phone for photography without flash during the performance, but please refrain from video or audio recording.
Concert Program
THE NINETY-THIRD SEASON
Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto
Akiko Fujimoto, conductor
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, violin Phillip Bush, piano
Friday, January 31, 2025, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 7:30 pm
Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts
LOUISE FARRENC (1804-1875)
Overture No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 24
FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Concerto for Violin & Piano in D Minor
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro molto
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, violin
Phillip Bush, piano
- INTERMISSION -
ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38 (“Spring”)
I. Andante un poco maestoso; Allegro molto vivace
II. Larghetto
III. Scherzo: Molto vivace
IV. Allegro animato e grazioso
CONCERT DURATION: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, with one 20-minute intermission. This concert is made possible in part by the generous support of Maria & John Huson
Akiko Fujimoto guest conductor
With expressive style, meticulous preparation, and a gift for connecting with ensembles, Japanese conductor Akiko Fujimoto is known for evoking dynamic performances wherever she conducts, inspiring praise for her “powerhouse performance” from the San Francisco Chronicle . Fujimoto is currently Music Director of the MidTexas Symphony. She has held titled conducting positions with the Minnesota Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, and Virginia Symphony, and made conducting appearances with numerous other U.S. orchestras including San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony, Houston Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, and Florida Orchestra. Highlights from recent seasons include her debuts with the Interlochen Philharmonic, Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra, and the San Antonio Philharmonic. Upcoming engagements include her debut with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, leading a North Carolina premiere of Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto for Violin and Piano.
The 2024–25 season marks Fujimoto’s sixth season as Music Director of the Mid-Texas Symphony, where she has guided the ensemble through the pandemic, spearheaded a period of unprecedented growth, and led the ensemble into its watershed 45th anniversary season. Recent projects include a Texas premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue and the world premiere of Grace Xu Schott’s Hill Country Piano Concerto .
At the Minnesota Orchestra, Fujimoto held the title of Associate Conductor. Working closely with Music Director Osmo Vänskä, she conducted concerts in a range of genres and formats including Sommerfest, pops, and educational programming. She also previously worked with Esa-Pekka Salonen, Zubin Mehta, and Susanna Mälkki as a cover conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. As Conducting Associate of the Virginia Symphony, Fujimoto conducted a variety of subscription, educational, and community concerts, and worked closely with Music Director JoAnn Falletta.
In her time as Associate Conductor at the San Antonio Symphony, Fujimoto’s highlights included a gala concert featuring violinist Gil Shaham and fully staged ballet productions of Prokofiev’s R omeo and Juliet and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker . She was widely appreciated for connecting with audiences through her on-stage presentations and weekly pre-concert lectures, and for her successful collaborations with organizations including Mariachi Campanas de America, Guadalupe Dance Company, U.S. Air Force Band of the West, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass Choir.
Fujimoto holds a bachelor’s degree in music and psychology from Stanford University and Master of Music degrees in conducting from Eastman School of Music and Boston University. She began her career with conducting roles at Harvard University and Stanford University, later serving as Director of Orchestras at the College of William & Mary and Music Director of the Williamsburg Youth Orchestras.
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu violin
Born in Timisoara, Romania, violinist Calin Ovidiu Lupanu is the Concertmaster of the Charlotte Symphony. Lupanu completed his undergraduate studies at the Music Academy in Bucharest, where he served as Concertmaster of the conservatory’s Chamber Orchestra. During his summers as a student, Lupanu performed in festival orchestras in Lanciano, Italy as Assistant Concertmaster and the Young Soloists Orchestra “Fiori Rari” in Lugano, Switzerland as Concertmaster. Upon graduation, he was appointed Violin Professor at the Music Academy.
While in Bucharest, Lupanu joined the newly formed Lipatti String Quartet as first violin, continuing in that capacity for ten years. In 1995, the ensemble was named Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, where Lupanu earned a Performance Certificate in Chamber Music, studying with Ralph Evans, Efim Boico, and the members of the Fine Arts String Quartet. During its studies at UWM, the quartet was featured as Ensemble-in-Residence with the Pabst Theater. Prize winners at the London International String Quartet Competition, the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and the Dmitri Shostakovich Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Lipatti Quartet was invited by the Dmitri Shostakovich Foundation to participate in the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the composer’s birth with a performance at the Opéra Comique in Paris, France. In 1997, the Quartet became Quartet-in-Residence at Northern Illinois University, working with the renowned Vermeer Quartet. While there, Lupanu completed his master’s degree and earned a performance certificate, studying with Shmuel Ashkenasi and Mathias Tacke. Additionally, the Lipatti Quartet has performed in master classes with many of the world’s most respected chamber ensembles, including the Amadeus, American, Borodin, Cleveland, Emerson, Guarneri, Juilliard, Orion, Takacs, and Tokyo String Quartets. The Lipatti Quartet toured extensively in the USA, Germany, Great Britain, France, and Romania.
Lupanu’s awards as a soloist include the First Prizes of the International Violin Competition in Stresa, Italy, and the National Violin Competition in Suceava, Romania. Prior to winning the national audition for the Charlotte Symphony position, Lupanu served as Associate Concertmaster of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Evansville Philharmonic, Principal of the Alabama Symphony, and Concertmaster of the West Virginia Symphony, as well as first violinist of the Montclaire Quartet. In addition to his seasonlong responsibilities in Charlotte, Lupanu maintains a busy summer schedule, participating in such festivals as Bach and Beyond, Aspen, Lower Saxony, Strings in the Mountains, and the Colorado Music Festival, the latter of which he has been a member since 1998 and served as Concertmaster from 2004 until 2022, being the longest serving Concertmaster in the history of the Colorado Music Festival.
A very active chamber musician, Lupanu has collaborated with the Fine Arts Quartet, Angela Cheng, Jon Nakamatsu, Christopher Taylor, Orion Weiss, Andres Cardenes, Lynn Harrell, Desmond Hoebig, José Feghali, Olga Kern, Joshua Roman, Phillip Bush, and was featured as a soloist with the Evansville Philharmonic, Alabama Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra.
A dedicated teacher, Lupanu maintains an active teaching studio in Charlotte and served as Lecturer in Strings at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Since 2016, Calin Lupanu and his wife, Monica Boboc, have started the non-profit ensemble and series, Chamber Music for All, committed to providing high-quality chamber music performances and educational projects, accessible to both younger audiences and experienced listeners. Chamber Music for All performs concerts throughout the Charlotte greater area.
Mr. Lupanu plays a violin made by Pierre Silvestre in Lyon, France in 1857.
Phillip Bush piano
Acclaimed as “a pianist of poetry, elegance, and power” (American Record Guide), “a pianist of exceptional, cherishable finesse” (Los Angeles Times), and “one of those rare pianists who combine structural intelligence with a hundred color gradations” (Village Voice), Phillip Bush has established a performing career over the past three decades that is noted for its remarkable versatility and eclecticism, with a repertoire extending from the 16th century to the 21st. Since the launch of his career upon winning the American Pianists Association Fellowship Award and subsequent New York recital debut at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1984, Bush has appeared as a recitalist throughout North America as well as in Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. His Carnegie Hall concerto debut with Oliver Knussen and the London Sinfonietta was hailed by The New York Times for its “impressive last-minute heroics,” as he substituted for an ailing Peter Serkin on short notice in concerti by Stravinsky and Alexander Goehr. Bush has also appeared as soloist with the Osaka Century Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Houston Symphony, and a number of other orchestras, in repertoire ranging from the Beethoven concerti to the American premiere of Michael Nyman’s Concerto for Harpsichord. Bush is widely acknowledged as one of the most experienced American chamber music pianists of his generation, with the Kansas City Star referring to him as “the ideal chamber musician.” He has performed and recorded with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, appeared innumerable times on Brooklyn’s Bargemusic series, and has performed at the Grand Canyon Music Festival, Newport Music Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Strings in the Mountains (Colorado), Sitka Music Festival (Alaska), St. Bart’s Music Festival, Music at Blair Atholl (Scotland), Cape May Music Festival, and at many other festivals. He has collaborated in recital and chamber music with concertmasters and principal players of many of the world’s great orchestras, including Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, and Houston. Bush has also made guest appearances
with the Kronos, Miami, Parker, Jupiter, Lułoslawski, and Carpe Diem string quartets, and has performed with members of the Emerson, Guarneri, Tokyo, Orion, and St. Lawrence quartets.
Over a ten-year period, Bush performed over 250 concerts in Japan with the piano quartet Typhoon, including several sold-out performances at Osaka Symphony Hall and Tokyo’s Bunkamura Orchard Hall. He recorded five CDs with the quartet for Epic/Sony, all of which reached the top of the Japanese classical charts. From 2007 to 2015, he served as Artistic Director of the Bennington Chamber Music Conference in Vermont, the largest and oldest institute for amateur chamber musicians to study with professional concert artists.
A devoted advocate for contemporary music, Bush performed worldwide for 20 years with the Philip Glass Ensemble and Steve Reich and Musicians in venues ranging from the Sydney Opera House to the Acropolis in Athens. He has also worked directly with many of the most significant American composers of our time, from John Adams to Charles Wuorinen. The New York Times has said, “Mr. Bush may be one of the few pianists who can play both Elliott Carter’s music and Philip Glass’ with equal persuasiveness.” Bush’s efforts on behalf of contemporary music have earned him grants and awards from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the Aaron Copland Fund, ASCAP, Chamber Music America, and the National Endowment for the Arts. His discography as soloist and chamber musician has now reached over 45 recordings on labels such as Sony, Virgin Classics, Koch International, ASV, New World Records, Denon, Cedille, and many others. Recent recordings include the Charles Ives “Concord” Sonata, the complete Beethoven violin sonatas with Aaron Berofsky, and two discs of 20th-century works for oboe and piano with Alex Klein. Bush grew up in Charlotte, where he studied piano with John Whitaker at Southern Park Music School. Following his graduation from East Mecklenburg High School he went to Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with Leon Fleisher. From 2000 to 2004, Bush taught piano and chamber music at the University of Michigan, and has also served as Visiting Faculty at the University of North Carolina. Since 2012, Bush has been Professor of Piano and Chamber Music at the University of South Carolina School of Music.
Christopher James Lees
Resident Conductor
Christopher Warren-Green Conductor Laureate
2024 · 2025 MUSICIAN ROSTER
FIRST VIOLINS
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, Concertmaster
The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair
Joseph Meyer,* Associate Concertmaster
Kari Giles, Acting Associate Concertmaster
Dustin Wilkes-Kim,
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Susan Blumberg°°
Jane Hart Brendle
Cynthia Burton
Ayako Gamo
David Horak†
Lenora Leggatt
Jenny Topilow
Angela Watson†
Hanna Zhdan
SECOND VIOLINS
Oliver Kot, Principal
The Wolfgang Roth Chair
Kathleen Jarrell, Assistant Principal
The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair
Carlos Tarazona°
Monica Boboc
Martha Geissler
Sakira Harley
Tatiana Karpova
Ellyn Stuart
VIOLAS
Benjamin Geller, Principal
The Zoe Bunten Merrillt Principal Viola Chair
Kirsten Swanson†
Acting Assistant Principal
Matthew Darsey†
Ellen Ferdon
Wenlong Huang
Viara Stefanova
Ning Zhao
CELLOS
Jon Lewis, Principal
The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair
Allison Drenkow, Assistant Principal
Alan Black, Principal Emeritus
Marlene Ballena
Jeremy Lamb
Sarah Markle
Oksana McCarthy†
DOUBLE BASSES
Jason McNeel, Acting Principal
Judson Baines, Assistant Principal
Justin Cheesman†
Jeffrey Ferdon
° Non-revolving position
°° Alternates between first and second violins
† Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony
‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc.
* On leave
This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians on stage varies depending on the piece being performed.
HARP
Andrea Mumm Trammell, Principal
The Dr. Billy Graham Chair
FLUTES
Victor Wang, Principal
The Blumenthal Foundation Chair
Amy Orsinger Whitehead
Erinn Frechette
PICCOLO
Erinn Frechette
OBOES
Timothy Swanson, Principal
The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡
Erica Cice
Jamison Hillian†
Terry Maskin*
ENGLISH HORN
Erica Cice
CLARINETS
Taylor Marino, Principal
The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair
Samuel Sparrow
Allan Rosenfeld
E ♭ CLARINET
Samuel Sparrow
BASS CLARINET
Allan Rosenfeld
BASSOONS
AJ Neubert, Principal
Joshua Hood
Nicholas Ritter
CONTRABASSOON
Nicholas Ritter
HORNS
Byron Johns, Principal
The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair
Andrew Fierova
Bradley Burford
The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair
Richard Goldfaden
Paige Quillen
TRUMPETS
Alex Wilborn, Principal
The Betty J. Livingstone Chair
Jonathan Kaplan*
Peter Stammer†
Gabriel Slesinger, Associate Principal
The Marcus T. Hickman Chair
TROMBONES
John Bartlett, Principal
Thomas Burge
BASS TROMBONE
Scott Hartman, Principal
TUBA
Colin Benton, Principal
The Governor James G. Martin Chair
TIMPANI
Jacob Lipham, Principal
The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair
PERCUSSION
Brice Burton, Principal
The CSO is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.
Cynthia Burton
Musician Spotlight Violin
Member of the CSO since Sept. 2023 · Received tenure Nov. 2024
HOMETOWN: Banner Elk, North Carolina
Fun Facts
• Cynthia nearly went to school for engineering, but chose music instead.
• A native of Western NC, she enjoys hiking and exploring new trails wherever she travels.
• If she could meet any composer, it would be Haydn, to see if his personality matches the humor in his music.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is one of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas. As Charlotte’s most active performing arts group, the CSO presents around 150 concerts each season, reaching more than 130,000 music lovers.
The 2024-25 season marks a transformative era under the dynamic leadership of newly appointed Music Director Kwamé Ryan. With 65 full-time musicians, the Symphony performs throughout the community in a variety of venues, from the Belk and Knight theaters to parks, breweries, community centers, schools, senior care centers, and places of worship. With its new mobile stage, CSO Roadshow, the Symphony extends its reach directly into neighborhoods, bringing live music to communities across the region.
Engaging with more than 10,000 students each year, the Charlotte Symphony nurtures the next generation of musicians and music lovers through its four diverse youth orchestras, in-school education programs, instrument coaching, and Project Harmony — which offers free after-school lessons in music and life skills to over 200 students in under-resourced areas.
OUR MISSION
The Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.
OUR VISION
Reaching out through the transformative power of live music, the Charlotte Symphony will be a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region.
Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra continues to play a vital cultural role in the region and remains committed to the belief that music, accessible to all, enriches and unites our community. For more information, visit us online at charlottesymphony.org
Louise Farrenc
BORN: May 31, 1804 in Paris, France
DIED: September 15, 1875 in Paris, France
Overture No. 2 in E-flat Major
Opus 24 (1834)
Approximate performance time is 7 minutes.
In recent years, the music of Louise Farrenc has undergone a most welcome renaissance, both in live performances and recordings. Born Jeanne-Louise Dumont, Louise Farrenc was a member of an artistic family; both her father and brother were celebrated sculptors. Louise studied piano with Cécile Soria, Ignaz Moscheles, and Johann Nepomuk Hummel, and composition with Anton Reicha. At the Paris Conservatoire, she met flutist Aristide Farrenc. The two married in 1821, and concertized together throughout France. The Farrencs returned to Paris, where they founded the successful publishing company, Éditions Farrenc. Louise and Aristide Farrenc co-edited Le Trésor des pianists (The Pianists’ Treasure) , a 23-volume collection of early period works for piano and harpsichord.
Louise Farrenc’s career as a composer began in the early 1820s with pieces for solo piano. In the 1830s, Farrenc began to expand her compositional repertoire to include chamber and orchestral works. Farrenc was highly respected as a composer, earning the praise of such discerning composers/critics as Robert Schumann and Hector Berlioz. The Académie des Beaux-Arts bestowed its Prix Chartier upon Farrenc in both 1861 and 1869.
In 1834, Louise Farrenc completed two concert Overtures for orchestra, No. 1 in E Minor, Opus 23, and No. 2 in E-flat Major, Opus 24. Overture No. 2 begins with a slow-tempo introduction; ominous, and in the minor key. The principal E-flat Major quick-tempo portion features two central themes that undergo the traditional development and restatement, leading to the invigorating concluding bars.
Felix Mendelssohn
BORN: February 3, 1809 in Hamburg, Germany
DIED: November 4, 1847 in Leipzig, Germany
Concerto for Violin and Piano in D Minor MWV O4 (1823)
PREMIERE: July 3, 1825 at the Berlin Schauspielhaus
Approximate performance time is 37 minutes.
Like Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn was a brilliant child prodigy. Mendelssohn began his music studies at the age of seven. Two years later, Mendelssohn made his public debut as a pianist in a chamber concert. In 1820, Mendelssohn composed his first musical work — an impressive number of compositions soon followed.
In 1822, the German singer and actor Eduard Devrient met Felix Mendelssohn for the first time. At the Mendelssohns’ Berlin home, Devrient watched Felix, thirteen years old, rehearse singers in one of the young composer’s operettas:
The singers sat ‘round the big dining table, near the grand piano at which Felix, perched on a stool provided with a thick cushion, conducted and controlled us without a trace of shyness, earnestly and eagerly and with as little ado as if he had been playing games with a handful of his playmates. That so many adults were giving time and trouble to his compositions seemed no more to make him conceited than did the fact that he had already written his third little opera and was hard at work on a bigger one.
In 1823, Mendelssohn composed numerous works, including his Concerto in D Minor for Violin, Piano, and String Orchestra. Mendelssohn completed the score on May 6. The premiere took place in the Mendelssohns’ Berlin home on May 25, 1823, part of the family’s regular Sunday morning concerts. The audience for these concerts often included some of the most prominent figures of the time
(Mendelssohn’s father, Abraham, was a prominent banker and the son of the great German philosopher, Moses Mendelssohn). The private performance of the concerto featured a scoring of solo violin and piano with string orchestra. Mendelssohn was the pianist. The other soloist was Mendelssohn’s teacher and dear friend, violinist Eduard Rietz. The first public performance of the concerto was at the Berlin Schauspielhaus on July 3, 1825. Rietz and Mendelssohn were once again the soloists. It’s possible that the Schauspielhaus performance featured Mendelssohn’s version of the concerto that included a full orchestral complement of winds, brass, timpani, and strings. The concerto is in three movements. The first (Allegro) is in traditional concerto sonata form, with the orchestra presenting the movement’s central themes prior to the entrance of the soloists. The writing for the solo violin and piano is notable both for its bravura passagework and close interaction between the soloists. A lengthy cadenza for the soloists precedes the terse closing measures. The strings are muted for the concerto’s tender, lyrical slow-tempo movement (Adagio). The finale (Allegro molto) provides the concerto’s fiery conclusion.
Robert Schumann
BORN: June 8, 1810 in Zwickau, Germany
DIED: July 29, 1856 in Endenich, Germany
Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major (“Spring”) Opus 38 (1841)
PREMIERE: March 31, 1841 at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany
Approximate performance time is 30 minutes.
The early 1840s were joyous years for Robert Schumann. On September 12, 1840, the German composer wed his beloved Clara Wieck. The courtship had been a long stressful one, as Clara’s father, Friedrich Wieck, vehemently opposed his daughter marrying Schumann.
Robert’s marriage to Clara — a gifted pianist and composer — seemed to inspire his creative powers. In the year of their wedding, Robert Schumann composed some 150 songs, including the glorious cycles Frauenliebe und -leben (A Woman’s Love and Life) and Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love).
In 1841, Robert Schumann focused his energies on orchestral music. In the early portion of that year, Schumann completed his “Spring” Symphony (No. 1 in B-flat Major), Opus 38. Schumann then composed his Overture, Scherzo and Finale, Opus 52. In May, Schumann penned a single-movement Fantasy in A minor for piano and orchestra (four years later, Schumann added an Intermezzo and Allegro vivace, thereby transforming the Fantasy into the beloved three-movement A-minor Piano Concerto, Opus 54). In that same productive year of 1841, Schumann composed the original version of his Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Opus 120.
In a letter of November 23, 1842, Schumann wrote to his friend, composer Ludwig Spohr: “I composed the (First) symphony, so to speak, under the urge of spring which every year comes over men anew, even in full maturity.” A poem about spring, written by Adolf Böttger, provided further inspiration. That poem concludes with the following lines:
O wende, wende deinen Lauf, O turn, turn aside your course, — Im Tale blühet Frühling auf! — Spring is blossoming in the valley!
The premiere of the “Spring” Symphony took place at the Leipzig Gewandhaus on March 31, 1841. Schumann’s friend, Felix Mendelssohn, led the performance (on the concert program, Clara also performed as pianist). The premiere was a success, and the symphony received a glowing reception from the audience. With music as enticing and lifeaffirming as its subject, the “Spring” Symphony remains one of Robert Schumann’s most beloved compositions.
The “Spring” Symphony is in four movements. The first opens with a slow-tempo introduction (Andante un poco maestoso), and a fanfare for trumpets and horns. The eight-note fanfare is based on the final line of Böttger’s poem, reproduced below. The added bold type corresponds to the accents Schumann provides in the musical score:
“Im Ta -le blü-het Früh-ling auf!”
The fanfare becomes the basis for the first principal theme of the opening movement’s ensuing quick-tempo section (Allegro molto vivace). The slow-tempo second movement (Larghetto) showcases a radiant melody, introduced by the first violins. The melody returns in various guises, alternating with more agitated episodes. The thirdmovement Scherzo (Molto vivace) immediately follows. It is based upon a brusque melody, introduced by the strings. There are two intervening Trio sections. A mysterious coda leads directly to the finale (Allegro animato e grazioso), which brings the “Spring” Symphony to a bracing conclusion.
BENEFACTOR CIRCLE
$100,000+
Jacqueline B. Mars
$50,000 – $99,999
Jane & Hugh McColl* Douglas Young
$25,000 – $49,999
Anonymous
Joan & Mick Ankrom
Ruth & Richard Ault
Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman
Philanthropic Fund
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Roberta H. Cochran
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Linda & Bill Farthing Karen Fox
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Patricia & Thrus Morton
Patrick J. O’Leary
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$15,000 – $24,999
Anonymous (2)
Nicola & Emanuel Clark
Denise & Peter DeMaio
Ralph S. Grier
Sandra Levine
Tanya & Steve Makris
We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Annual Fund. This list reflects gifts received between July 1, 2023 through December 1, 2024. * The CSO recognizes donors of exceptional generosity whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million with the designation of Music Director Society.
DeDe & Alex McKinnon
Ulrike & Alex Miles
Keith Oberkfell & Mica Post Oberkfell
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Janet M. Haack
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In Loving Memory of Lopez-Ibanez from Lina & Enrique Lopez-Ibanez
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Robert Norville
Kelli & Michael Richardson
Rosalind S. Richardson
Sherry & Thomas Skains
Drs. Jennifer Sullivan & Matthew Sullivan
Ann & Michael Tarwater
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VIRTUOSO CIRCLE
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In Loving Memory of Bernadette Zirkuli Biddlecome
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The Jack H. & Ruth C. Campbell Foundation
Glenda Colman & Floyd Wisner
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Dr. Robert A. Gaines & Toni Burke
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Sarah & Frank Gentry
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The Jenny Lillian Semans Koortbojian Trust in honor of Sally Trent Harris
Vivian & Robert Lamb
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Si & Michael Blake
Lee & Alan Blumenthal
Dr. & Mrs. O. Robert Boehm
Frances & Herbert Browne
Dr. William H. Carson
Brent Clevenger
Ann Thomas Colley
Dorothy & Mike Connor
Melissa Cornwell
Deborah J. Cox & Bob Szymkiewicz
Elizabeth & Christopher Daly in Memory of Betty Haggerty
Amy & Alfred Dawson
Peter De Arcangelis
Cheryl DeMaio
Peggy & Charles Dickerson
Elizabeth Betty Eaton
Kara & Timothy Gallagher
Billy L. Gerhart in memory of Judith Gerhart
Heather & Kevin Gottehrer
Andrea & Todd Griffith
Katherine G. Hall
Ivan Hinrichs
Christy & Ben Hume
Fran & Greg Hyde
Peggy & Jim Hynes
Shirley & Bob Ivey
Nina & James Jackson
David S. Jacobson
Martha & Bruce Karsh
Dr. & Mrs. Christ A. Koconis
Meghan & Luis Lluberas
James Lynch
Dottie & Jim Martin
$2,500 – $3,499 (continued)
Rob Roy McGregor
Richard I. McHenry & Cynthia L. Caldwell
Dee Dee McKay
Posey & Mark Mealy
Debbie Miller & Tim Black
Eleanor W. Neal
Holly & Jason Norvell
Pamela Pearson & Charles Peach
Dr. Reta R. Phifer
Marshelette & Milton Prime
Kathleen D. Prokay
Beth & Drew Quartapella
Lisa and Robert R. Rollins, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Mahesh Sardesai
Suzy & Robert Schulman
Glenn Sherrill, Jr.
In Honor of Robin Branstrom
Nancy E. Simpson
Hazel & Murray Somerville
Patricia & Morris Spearman
Aleca & Joseph Stamey
Dottie Stowe in Loving Memory of Dickson Stowe
Dr. Mark R. Swanson
Dr. John A. Thompson, Jr. & Dr. Lee Rocamora
Jenny & Ken Tolson
Mindy & Don Upton
Susan & Paul Vadnais
Mary Claire & Dan Wall
Deborra Wood & Russell Propst
PATRON CIRCLE
$1,500 – $2,499
Anonymous
Marcia Adams
Barbara & Dan Austell
Sharon Baker & Peter Moore
Merilyn & Craig Baldwin
Phillip J. Bischoff & Dawn Beatty-Batten
Drs. Iris Cheng & Daniel Uri
Rebecca & D. Mark Cody
Dorothy & Mike Connor
Jean E. Davis & Robert A. Metzger
Dr. Kandi & Gary Deitemeyer
Elizabeth Betty Eaton
Martin Ericson, Jr.
Jenn & Taylor Gherardi
Carol & Joseph Gigler
Judith Greene
Angela M. & Michael D. Helms
Maureen & Daniel Haggstrom
Megan & Brendan Hoffman
Martha D. Jones
Helen & Gene Katz
Ginger Kemp
Michael Lamach
Dr. & Mrs. Randolph Mahnesmith
Anna Marriott
Rosemarie Marshall & Lee Wilkins
Janet & Peter Nixon
Caroline Olzinski
Helen & Arvind Patil
Jeanine & Naeem Qasim
Dr. John & Susan Rae
Anne & Mark Riechmann
Audrey & Donald Schmidt
Dr. Stephen P. Schultz & Donna Dutton
Jane Perry Shoemaker
Rebecca & Eric Smith
Patricia & Morris Spearman
Ken Spielfogel & Richard Withem
Maxine & Robert Stein
Jean Summerville
Tillie S. Tice
James H. Trexler & Kelly Zellars
Vera Watson
Grant Webb
Linda & Craig Weisbruch
Pam West Cricket Weston & David Molinaro
Elizabeth & Stephan Willen Deems Wilson
Barbara Yarbrough
$1,000 – $1,499
Anonymous (5)
Michele & Ross Annable
Marc Aspesi & Paulette Isoldi
Dianne & Brian Bailey
Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln A. Baxter
Katherine & John Beltz
Shirley W. Benfield
Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation
Ethan Blumenthal & Sara Kidd
Cristina & James Bolling
Marilyn & Herb Bonkovsky
Jodie & Erik Bowen
Khary Brown
In Memory of Kyden Justice Brown
Jane & Larry Cain
Dr. & Mrs. Bill Chu & Jin Wang
John Colton
Dr. Kilian Cooley
Ann F. Copeland
Kathleen Goldammer-Copeland & Mark Copeland
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Couture
Larry J. Dagenhart
Gwin Dalton
Judy & Bob Erb
Heather & Thomas Finke
Melisa
Debbie
Lucy
Dr.
Sabine
Joan
Sally
Marsha
Alice
Libby
Sarah
Linda
Peter White
Bryan Wilhelm
Noni Williams
John Drew Witherington
Anonymous (5)
Atchison
Bell
John L. Bennett & Mr. Eric T. Johnson
Nancy & Sam Bernstein
Nicholas Bonevac
James Broadstone
Aram & Scott Bryan
Angie & Howard Bush
Barbara F. Caine
Judith Wood $500 – $999
Mary Lou & Greg Cagle
Catherine P. Carstarphen
Amanda & Kevin Chheda
Dr. W. Gerald Cochran & Mr. Timothy D. Gudger
Thomas E. Collins, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Charles E. Cook
Jack Cook
Margie & Alpo Crane
Ellen M. Crowley
Todd Croy
Libby & David Currier
Margaret & George Dewey
Diane & Doug Doak
Kris & Thomas Duffy
Heather & Gray Dyer
Kate & Trae Fletcher
Dr. John & Eileen Gardella
Jean & Stephen Geller
Stacy & Pete Gherardi
Walter H. Goodwin, Esq.
Linda & Dan Gordon
Cynthia Greenlee
Dr. & Mrs. Michael D. Heafner
Stefan Heinzelmann Priscilla & Michael Johnson
Mary & Steven Kesselman
Nancy H. Kiser
Dorothy & Theodore Kramer
Scott Kupersmit
Jonathan Lamb
Barbara & Jerome Levin
Megan Levine
John J. Locke
Katherine & Mark Love
Dr. & Mrs. William W. MacDonald
Allison Malter
Leigh & Bruce Marsh
Paula & Francis Martin
Wendy & Ed Matthews
Tammy & Steve Matula
Jill Maxwell
Katy
Constance
Valerie
Barbara
Sabine
Susanne
Shaiza
Emily
Michelle
Zelda
Sandy
The Encore Society
The Encore Society includes individuals who have made provisions for the CSO in their estate plans. We are honored to recognize their support:
Anonymous (3)
Geraldine I. Anderson†
Richard & Ruth Ault
Baldwin Family Trust
Barnhardt Thomas Trust
Lincoln A. Baxter & Helen M. Fowler
Larry & Joyce† Bennett
Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman
Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein
Mark & Louise Bernstein†
Rosemary Blanchard†
Twig & Barbara Branch
Saul Brenner
Mike & Joan Brown†
Mrs. Joan Bruns†
Jan & Bob Busch
Dr. Helen G. Cappleman, Ph.D.†
Jim Cochran† Robin Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor
Tom Covington
Charles & Peggy Dickerson
Mr. Martin Ericson, Jr.
David J.L. Fisk & Anne P. O’Byrne
Peter & Ann† Guild
William G. &
Marguerite K. Huey Fund†
Dr. Nish Jamgotch, Jr.
Betty & Stanley Livingstone†
Lucille & Edwin Jones
Paula & Paul McIntosh
Nellie McCrory†
M. Marie Mitchell†
Cricket Weston & David Molinaro
Joan & Richard Morgan
Don C. Niehus
Eva Nove
Richard J. Osborne
Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge
James Y. Preston†
Mrs. Clayton (Dusty) Pritchett
Ann & Fritz Rehkopf
Elizabeth Waring Reinhard
Nancy W. Rutledge
Mike Rutledge
Harriet Seabrook
Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert
Morris & Patricia Spearman
Bob & Maxine Stein
Dr. Ben C. Taylor III
Mr. & Mrs. Hans Teich
Cordelia G. Thompson
Tim Timson
Jenny & Ken Tolson
Ms. Deborra Wood & Mr. Russell Propst
† Deceased
Corporate Partners
Government & Foundations
We are grateful for the following outstanding foundation and government funders:
The Trexler Foundation
Dowd Foundation, Inc.
The Dickson Foundation
Cole Foundation
The Charlotte Assembly
The Jack H. & Ruth C. Campbell Foundation
The Mary Norris Preyer Fund
The George W. & Ruth R. Baxter Foundation
Barnhardt/Thomas Trust
For
Comprehensive Campaign
We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Comprehensive Campaign. This list reflects gifts received through January 1, 2025.
$10,000,000+ Ban k of America · The C.D. Spangler Foundation
$5,000,000 - $9,999,999
John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
$2,000,000 - $4,999,999
Jane & Hugh McColl · The Leon Levine Foundation
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999
Michele & Ross Annable · Atrium Health · Howard C. & Margaret G. Bissell Foundation Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. EY Contributions Associated with Falfurrias Capital Partners · Lynn & Brian Good · Julie & Howard Levine Loy & Susan McKeithen Novant Health
$500,000 - $999,99 9
Anony mous Arlene & Milton Berkman Robin & Bill Branstrom
Mary & Mike Lamach Rich Osborne Debbie & Pat Phillips M.A. Rogers
Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation · Trane Technologies · Truist Financial Corporation
$250,000 - $499,999
Cathy Bessant · The Dickson Foundation · The Gambrell Foundation Moore & Van Allen PLLC Janet Preyer Nelson
$100,000 - $249,000
Jeannette & Francisco Alvarado Joan & Mick Ankrom · Ruth & Richard Ault NCFI/Barnhardt Foundation Wilton & Catherine Connor Robin Cochran Denise & Peter DeMaio · The Dowd Foundation · Linda & Bill Farthing
Dr. Richard Krumdieck & Mrs. Sally Gregory Elizabeth & Jay Monge Steelfab, Inc. · Andromeda & John Williams
$50,000 - $99,999
Cresce nt Communities · Karen Fox · Ulrike & Alex Miles Chris & Jim Teat Lisa & Richard Worf
$10,000 - $49,999
Anonymous · Wedge & Debbie Abels · Mary Lou & Jim Babb · Tiffany & Jason Bernd Frank Bragg · Shirley & Mike Butterworth · Joye Blount & Jesse Knight, Jr. The Cato Corporation · Margarita & Nick Clements · Mary Delk
Caroline & Ben Dellinger III · Carlos & Lisa Evans · David Fisk & Anne O’Byrne
Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle · Michael Marsicano · Chan & Virginia Martin · Dede & Alex McKinnon · Posey & Mark Mealy · Larry & Dale Polsky
Steve & Wanda Phifer · Judy & Derek Raghavan · Eric & Shannon Reichard
Sara & Daniel Roselli · Emily & Zach Smith · Melinda & David Snyder
Dr. John A. Thompson, Jr. & Dr. Lee Rocamora · Jill & Kevin Walker
$5,000 - $9,999
Brian S. Cromwell Toni Burke & Bob Gaines Sarah & Frank Gentry
Carol & Joseph Gigler Lucinda Nisbet Lucas · Dee Dee & William Maxwell
Melissa & Dennis McCrory · Cyndee Patterson · William & Betty Seifert
Peggy & Pope Shuford · Nancy E. Simpson · Drs. Jennifer & Matthew Sullivan
Martha Ann & Craig Wardlaw
2024-2025 OFFICERS
Richard Krumdieck, Chair
Ulrike Miles, Vice Chair
Melinda Snyder, Vice Chair
Linda McFarland Farthing, Immediate Past Chair
Kevin Walker, Treasurer
Denise DeMaio, Secretary
David Fisk, President & CEO
Kwamé Ryan, Music Director
2024-2025 DIRECTORS
Mick Ankrom
Joye D. Blount
Krisha Blanchard
Mike Butterworth
Nick Clements
Mary Delk*
Sidney Fletcher
Lucia Zapata Griffith
Byron Johns*
Valerie Kinloch
Stephen Makris
Alex McKinnon
Sara Garces Roselli
Lindsay Schall
Ylida Scott
Jennifer Sullivan
Brienne Tinder*
Andrea Mumm Trammell*
Ken Walker
*ex-officio
2024-2025 TRUSTEES
Richard Osborne, Chair
Paul Anderson
Ruth & Richard Ault
Arlene & Milton Berkman
Jason & Tiffany Bernd
Mary & Charles Bowman
Frank Bragg
Robin & Bill Branstrom
Dr. William Charles & Dr. Cynthia Nortey
Derick & Sallie Close
Robin Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor
Jeanie & T. Thomas Cottingham III
Brian Cromwell
Susan Cybulski
Alessandra & Pasquale De Martino
Alvaro & Donna de Molina
Peggy & Richard Dreher
Lisa Hudson Evans
Karen Fox
Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle
Ralph S. Grier
Laurie Guy
Janet Haack
Reginald B. Henderson, Esq.
Mark & Whitney Jerrell
Jeff Lee
Gov. James G. Martin
Jane & Hugh McColl
Susan & Loy McKeithen
Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Mica Oberkfell
Patrick J. O’Leary
Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips
Paul Reichs
Nancy & Charles Robson
Patricia A. Rodgers
M.A. Rogers
Laura & Mike Schulte
Carolyn Shaw
Emily & Zach Smith
Will Sparks
Bob & Marsha Stickler
Kelly & Neal Taub
Adam Taylor
Elizabeth & Steve Willen Braxton Winston
Richard Worf
Joan Zimmerman
Albert Zue
EXECUTIVE
David J. L. Fisk, President & CEO
Samantha Hackett, Executive Administrator
ARTISTIC OPERATIONS
Scott Freck, Vice President for Artistic Operations & General Manager
Carrie Graham, Senior Director of Artistic Planning
Tim Pappas, Director of Operations
Bart Dunn, Principal Music Librarian
Nixon Bustos, Senior Music Librarian
Emily Schaub, Assistant Music Librarian
Erin Eady, Senior Manager of Orchestra Personnel
Claire Beiter, Artistic Operations Manager
John Jarrell, Stage Manager
DEVELOPMENT
Shayne Doty, Vice President of Development
Mandy Vollrath, Director of Corporate & Institutional Relations
Libby Currier, Director of Individual Giving
Tammy Matula, Senior Manager of Development Operations
Jennifer Gherardi, Development Manager - Campaign & Special Events
Meghan Woolbright, Annual Fund Manager
Noel Kiss, Advancement Associate
Josh Bottoms, Institutional Giving Coordinator
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Christian Drake, Vice President of Finance & Administration
Chazin & Company, Financial Services
Amy Hine, HR Coordinator & Office Administrator
Channing Williams, Accounting Associate
HUMAN RESOURCES
Maribeth Baker, Human Resources Counselor
LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Aram Kim Bryan, Vice President of Learning & Community Engagement
Dylan Lloyd, Senior Manager of Youth Orchestras
Mark Rockwood, Education & Community Programs Manager
Michaela Sciacca, Project Harmony Manager
Gavin Fulker, Education & Community Programs Assistant
Lily Moore, Youth Orchestras Assistant
Bria Alexander, Learning & Community Engagement Assistant
MARKETING & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Frank Impelluso, Vice President of Marketing & Audience Development
Deirdre Roddin, Director of Institutional Marketing & Communications
Nicole Glaza, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing
Laura Thomas, Senior Manager of Marketing & Audience Development
Chad Calvert, Visual Communications Manager
Meghan Starr, Patron Experience Manager
Garrett Whiffen, Ticketing Manager
