CSYO Fall Concert - program 10-21-23

FALL CONCERT October 21 Knight Theater

DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK charlottesymphony.org

CONTENTS

page 2

WHAT’S INSIDE...

A Message from the President & CEO 3 Concert Program 5 Conductor Bios 7 About the CSYO 10 Youth Philharmonic Roster 11 Youth Orchestra Roster 12 CSYO Supporters 15 About the CSO 17 2023-24 Musician Roster 18 Board of Directors & Trustees 20 Administration 21

join the musical dialogue What did you think of the performance?

@cltsymphony #cltsymphony

WELCOME

page 3

Welcome to our 2O23/24 Season!

The start of a new year is a moment filled with eager anticipation and the promise of unforgettable musical experiences! It represents the culmination of many months of musical preparation and artistic planning, all with the aim of presenting to you a diverse and captivating lineup of concerts that cater to a wide range of tastes.

Exhilarating music, experienced live, can be transformative..

There’s something truly magical about being just a few feet away from extraordinary musicians and feeling the power of the performance being created, just for you. The energy and the atmosphere – that’s something that only live music can offer.

Among the many highlights of this season, we are thrilled to present Verdi’s Requiem in collaboration with the Charlotte Master Chorale, a special celebration of the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, an electrifying evening of hot jazz with The Hot Sardines, holiday favorites for the whole family, and the unforgettable experience of movies in concert featuring classics like Beauty and the Beast and Jaws.

Offstage, our commitment to nurturing young talent remains steadfast. As the school year begins, hundreds of students are coming together to join our three youth orchestras, or to be inspired to pick up an instrument for the first time through our Project Harmony after-school program, in partnership with Arts+. Behind the scenes, we have even more ambitious plans to expand our community performances, forging even deeper connections across the City and County.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for your support of the Symphony, which allows us to continue to bring the gift of music to our region. This will be a season full of unforgettable performances not to be missed. I warmly welcome you to be with us throughout.

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 PROGR AM

page 5

FALL CONCERT Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY YOUTH PHILHARMONIC Katie Ebert, co-conductor Eric Thompson III, co-conductor TRADITIONAL

Patriotic Songs

arr. Del Borgio

JOHANN STRAUSS II

Emperor Waltz

arr. Applebaum /Ployhar

RANDALL D. STANDRIDGE

Frogs

(There will be a brief pause to reset the stage.)

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA Dr. Jungho Kim, guest conductor FELIX MENDELSSOHN ed. McAlister

MYROSLAV SKORYK FLORENCE PRICE orch. Still

War March of the Priests from Athalia, Op. 74 Melody Dances in the Canebrakes I. “Tropical Noon” Andantino II. “Silk Hat and Walking Cane” Moderato

concert duration: approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.

October 20 – 22 Knight Theater

CHRISTOPHER JAMES LEES conductor ORLI SHAHAM piano featuring

MAYER Faust Overture CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2 DVOŘÁK The Noonday Witch STILL Symphony No. 1 ("Afro-American")

ON SALE NOW!

box office: 704.972.2OOO

charlottesymphony.org

CONDUCTOR BIOS

page 7

Dr. Jungho Kim guest conductor

Dr. Jungho Kim has established an outstanding reputation over the past two decades for his superb musicality and leadership on the podium. He has conducted numerous orchestras around the world including the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Canada, Savaria Symphony Orchestra and Dohnanyi Orchestra Budafok in Hungary, Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, and Buffalo Philharmonic. After successfully leading the Augustana University Orchestra, Kim has served as the Director of Orchestra at the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University. Last spring, he was named Associate Professor of Conducting and Director of Orchestras at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Following his first professional three-year position as a section violinist at Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra in Korea, Kim went on to earn two master’s degrees in violin performance and orchestral conducting from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. It was the renowned conductor Maestra Xian Zhang—Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and La Verdi Orchestra Sinfonica in Milan, Italy—who offered Kim the position as Associate Conductor of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.

Kim completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music under the guidance of Maestro Neil Varon. He served as the assistant conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic and was awarded the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize during his doctoral studies. Along with the opportunities he has had to study with world famous artists, such as Maestro Kurt Masur and Pinchas Zukerman, his most meaningful successes in life have been meeting his wife, violinist Dr. Eunho Kim, and raising their two boys, Teo and Juno, as well as their dog, Kobi.

CONDUCTOR BIOS (continued)

page 8

Katie Ebert

co-conductor, CSYP

Katie Ebert is the Director of Bands at Cuthbertson Middle School in Waxhaw NC, having served in this capacity since the school’s opening in 2009. She is in her 19th year teaching public school, and each of her ensembles continues to experience success. The Cuthbertson Middle School concert bands have consistently earned superior ratings at local, district and regional music festivals. Under her baton, the middle school program has grown to a current enrollment of approximately 220 music students. Mrs. Ebert also serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Cuthbertson High School.

A graduate of Lassiter High School in Marietta GA, Mrs. Ebert holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Music Performance from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah GA, and a Master of Music Education from Western Carolina University. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and holds professional associations in the National Band Association, the National Association for Music Educators, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the American School Band Directors Association, the South-Central District Bandmasters Association, and the Union County Bandmasters Association. Mrs. Ebert is a three-time award recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and was recognized as Cuthbertson Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2016/17. She currently serves as a district representative on the state MPA committee and Solo and Ensemble chair.

Mrs. Ebert recently served as a guest clinician for the South Central and Northwestern All District Symphonic Honor Bands, and she continues to conduct both Distinct and County bands in the Southeast. She resides in Waxhaw, NC and team teaches the Cuthbertson band program alongside her husband Todd.

CONDUCTOR BIOS (continued)

page 9

Eric Thompson, III co-conductor, CSYP

Eric L. Thompson, III serves as the Conductor for the Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble and Co-Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Philharmonic. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2007 where he held the Robert Ehrman Fellowship. There he studied with Grammy Award Winning and MacArthur “Genius” Edgar Meyer and Harold Robinson, principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Upon graduation, Eric played full-time bass with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra prior to joining Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Mr. Thompson is the recipient of many awards-he is the first bassist to become a laureate of the Sphinx Competition, he was awarded second place in the ASTA National Solo Competition, and in 2002 he was awarded a musicians union scholarship from the American Federation of Musicians and the rank of Eagle Scout by the National Eagle Scout Association of Boy Scouts of America. As a soloist, he has played on live television broadcasts and has performed concertos twice with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Since 2013, Mr. Thompson has been teaching orchestra at the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. His students have participated in CMS All-District Honors Orchestra, Western Regional Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of Charlotte, All State Orchestra, NC Governor’s School, Interlochen Arts Camp, UNCG Summer Music Camp, and attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr. Thompson has been recognized many times as an educator, including the Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2019 by the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte and the Crowning Achievement Award in Music Education in 2020 by the Crown Jewels Chapter, The Links, Incorporated. Most recently he was voted as the 2023 CMS Orchestra Director of the Year and conducted CMS All-District Middle School Honors Orchestra.

ABOUT THE CSYO

page 10

The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra experience provides extraordinary music education in pursuit of musical excellence.

The program aims to inspire in our students a strong sense of character, discipline, commitment, and community.

The ensembles are inclusive, diverse, and accessible to all students, regardless of financial resources. High-quality ensemble training is led by Charlotte Symphony Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees, Youth Philharmonic Co-Conductor Katie Ebert, CSYE Conductor & CSYP CoConductor Eric Thompson III, and professional Charlotte Symphony musicians, who provide a nurturing environment through which young musicians create lasting bonds in music and friendship.

We offer regular performance opportunities throughout the city, including the Belk and Knight theaters, plus access to the Charlotte Symphony’s renowned Conductor Laureate & Music Adviser, Christopher Warren-Green, and international visiting artists, such as Joshua Bell.

YOUTH PHILHARMONIC

page 11

Katie Ebert, co-conductor Eric Thompson III, co-conductor FIRST VIOLINS Aanya Bharadwaj Ethan Brainard Akshara Dasika Noel Fang Anish Ghosh Eden Gourdet-Bilancia Janelle Haywood Adelle Holderman Darina Kucherenko Emily Li Amrita Meda Elena Oh Annelle Okhotin Will Peterson Elena Poon Ariya Song Nidhi Ullagaddi Joyce Wang Connor Wilson Everett Wong Amrita Yarlagadda Meda Neil Zhu SECOND VIOLINS Ryan Ahn Ellie Allen Katherine Cen Louis Gao Timothy Gerlach McKenzie Hildebrandt Paige Holley Nicholas Johnson Landon Larson Sahasra Muchalapuri Lucy Murray Mya Nguyen Ishika Peter Ava Pinson Keshav Saravanan Purvi Selvaraj Alex Spurgeon Elina Tackson Vajra Thota Joy Wan Jane Wang Audrey Zhang Liana Zhang Ethan Zheng

VIOLAS Anya Goyal Darsh Goenka Grace Higham Tom Joseph CELLOS Virginia Bouknight JT Cobb-Curtis Benedict Imparato Nathan Keenan Anja Magi Ezra Okhotin Chloe Oh Adam Refaey Carson Rowe Caswell Taylor Melody Wei DOUBLE BASS Gavin Jones FLUTES Gabby Blye Janneke Ijkema Qianxun Cherrie L Angali Rao OBOES Charlotte Feldman Reva Khaire CLARINETS Hanna Choir William Thompson HORN Aramina Ebert TRUMPET Milo Schomp TROMBONES Valmond Aguilian Emily Li

YOUTH ORCHESTR A

page 12

Christopher James Lees, conductor FIRST VIOLINS Aayush Bharti Luke Castaneros Sai Meghana Chakka Sarah Chen Clara Choi Sean Collier Chloe Dai Mary Claire Davidson Lucy Frost Erin Hadiwidjaja Ethan He Hadley Hines Akshara Krishna Aliya Ling Julia Moy Joy Ni Anjali Reddy Kavya Sagunarthy Rithika Saravanan Levi Teague Sameeya Vasan Emunah Wang Rachel Wang SECOND VIOLINS Andres Batista Amisha Bharti Susan Carroll Campbell Carter Ian Cox Charlotte Dong Lillian Dong Amelia Fleury Emma Hew Kalen Jenkins Meha Khanna Cherith Kilstrom Brandon Lai Saiya Larsen Dhanvi Manivasagam Dhiya Manivasagam Aarthi Nelatoor Sydney Nguyen Chloe Phung Neal Rao Sumner Sick Mackenzie Sturgill Maximilian Wei Zhangkai Yang

VIOLAS Nicholas Feddersen Hailey Jeon Ella Kuzara Ellen Leahy Mia Lederer Kieran Lee Katherine Liu Claire Mitchell Jane Wieland CELLOS Katherine Chu Jade Diouri Clark Fan Charlotte Feddersen Lars Kaijser Bots Ryan Kim Christian Ko Joshua Miller Isaac Park Toprak Saklayici Josiah Shin Madeline Sturgill Addison Turner Ben Uslan DOUBLE BASSES Guy Gbossou FLUTES Kieran Betts Easton Green Irene Koh Justin Li Rebekah Switzer Aubry Wilhelm OBOES Andre Berard Rebecca Roberts CLARINETS Cecilia Chiu Grace Chiu Indira Ha Maxwell Tan Stella Taub Natalie Taylor

YOUTH ORCHESTR A (continued) BASSOON Delaney Davis Akosua Mensah HORNS Nicholas Garman Liliana Grajales Elliot Kreitman TRUMPETS August Aldrich Angello Cruz-Delgado Alex Munro TROMBONES Leon Baiye Macklin Balay Ryder Hutchinson Hannah Moore Daniel Paulauskas

page 13

TUBA Joshua Pascual PERCUSSION Mark Li Ethan Xu HARP Ella Higham Leigh Staten

* Denotes Principal String player.

Wind & Brass players rotate positions throughout the concert.

CODY FRY LIVE IN CONCERT Friday, October 27 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

ONE NIGHT ONLY! Nashville-based singer/songwriter Cody Fry took the internet by storm with his viral TikTok sensation "I Hear a Symphony." Now the Grammynominated artist is bringing his fusion of popular songs and rich orchestration to the Charlotte Symphony!

Christopher James Lees, conductor Cody Fry, special guest

704.972.2000 | charlottesymphony.org

SUPPORTERS

page 15

The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor Chair is made possible by a generous gift from The Symphony Guild of Charlotte

The Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble Conductor Chair is made possible by a generous gift from

Debbie & Pat Phillips

This program is made possible in part through the support of

The Truist Charitable Fund is a donor-advised fund created by Truist and administered by The Winston-Salem Foundation

The Charlotte Symphony is supported, in part, by the Infusion Fund and its generous donors.

Visit our website for more information!

charlottesymphony.org/csyo

Sandr a & Leon Levine

"Simply phenomenal..." - The London Times

November 1O & 11 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

This edgy and endlessly entertaining ensemble offers a singular mix of standards and modern-day hits, all brought to life with brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano, and incredible vocals.

Ian Passmore, conductor The Hot Sardines, special guests

704.972.2000 | charlottesymphony.org

ABOUT THE CSO

page 17

One of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) connects with more than 100,000 music lovers each year through its lively season of concerts, broadcasts, community events, and robust educational programs. The CSO is committed to its mission of uplifting, entertaining, and educating the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.

The Charlotte Symphony upholds the highest artistic integrity and takes bold steps to engage with its community through music. Its 65 professional, full-time musicians perform throughout the region — from community parks and breweries, to places of worship and senior care centers — and offer significant educational support, aimed at serving the underresourced areas of our community.

The Charlotte Symphony is deeply committed to the notion that music, accessible to all and experienced in its many forms, enriches and unifies our community. The CSO believes in equity and inclusion and strives to be an industry leader in imaginative, relevant programming by intentionally seeking out women conductors, underrepresented in our industry, and conductors, composers, and guest artists of color.

Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony plays a leading cultural role in the Charlotte area and serves the community as a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region through the transformative power of live music.

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.

For more information, visit us online at

charlottesymphony.org

MUSICIAN ROSTER

page 18

YOUR CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY Christopher Warren-Green, Conductor Laureate & Music Adviser Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor FIRST VIOLINS Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, Concertmaster The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair Joseph Meyer, Associate Concertmaster Kari Giles, Assistant Concertmaster Susan Blumberg°° Jane Hart Brendle Cynthia Burton Emily Chatham°° Ayako Gamo Lenora Leggatt Jenny Topilow Dustin Wilkes-Kim 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 Merrill Principal Viola Chair Alaina Rea, Assistant Principal * Chihiro Tanaka, Acting Asst. Principal Ellen Ferdon Cynthia Frank Wenlong Huang Viara Stefanova Ning Zhao CELLOS Jonathan Lewis, Principal The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair Allison Drenkow, Acting Asst. Principal Alan Black, Principal Emeritus* Marlene Ballena Jeremy Lamb Amy Sunyoung Lee Sarah Markle Oksana McCarthy†

DOUBLE BASSES Kurt Riecken, Principal* Jason McNeel, Acting Principal Judson Baines, Assistant Principal* Justin Cheesman, Acting Asst. Principal Jeffrey Ferdon Luis Primera† FLUTES Victor Wang, Principal The Blumenthal Foundation Chair Amy Orsinger Whitehead Erinn Frechette PICCOLO Erinn Frechette OBOES Erica Cice, Acting Principal The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡ Teil Taliesin† Terry Maskin ENGLISH HORN Terry Maskin CLARINETS Taylor Marino, Principal The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair Samuel Sparrow Allan Rosenfeld E♭ CLARINET Samuel Sparrow BASS CLARINET Allan Rosenfeld BASSOONS Joseph Merchant, Principal Joshua Hood Nicholas Ritter CONTRABASSOON Nicholas Ritter

MUSICIAN ROSTER (continued) HORNS Byron Johns, Principal The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair Andrew Fierova Philip Brindise† The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair Richard Goldfaden Andrew Merideth† TRUMPETS Alex Wilborn, Principal The Betty J. Livingstone Chair Jonathan Kaplan Gabriel Slesinger, Associate Principal The Marcus T. Hickman Chair TROMBONES John Bartlett, Principal Thomas Burge

page 19

TIMPANI Jacob Lipham, Principal The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair PERCUSSION Brice Burton, Principal HARP Andrea Mumm Trammell, Principal The Dr. Billy Graham Chair

This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians onstage varies depending on the piece being performed.

BASS TROMBONE Scott Hartman, Principal TUBA Colin Benton, Principal The Governor James G. Martin Chair

° 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

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Michael Reichman, VP of Artistic Operations & General Manager Carrie Graham, Director of Artistic Planning Tim Pappas, Director of Operations Nixon Bustos, Principal Music Librarian Erin Eady, Personnel Manager Bradley Geneser, Associate Principal Librarian Claire Beiter, Operations Coordinator John Jarrell, Stage Manager

The Charlotte Symphony is a proud member of the League of American Ochestras.

LEADERSHIP

page 20

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Linda McFarland Farthing Chair Richard Krumdieck Vice Chair John Williams Vice Chair Mick Ankrom Treasurer Manny Clark Secretary David Fisk President & CEO Joye D. Blount Mike Butterworth Nick Clements

Catherine Connor Mary Delk* Denise DeMaio Sidney Fletcher Kevin Gottehrer Stephen Makris Alex McKinnon Ulrike W. Miles Ylida Scott Melinda Snyder Jennifer Sullivan Jenny Tolson* Jenny Topilow* Kevin Walker *ex officio

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Richard Osborne, Chair Ruth & Richard Ault Kat Belk Arlene & Milton Berkman Jason & Tiffany Bernd Mary & Charles Bowman Frank Bragg Robin & Bill Branstrom Derick & Sallie Close Robin Cochran Wilton Connor Jeanie & T. Thomas Cottingham III Brian Cromwell Alessandra & Pasquale De Martino Alvaro & Donna de Molina Peggy & Richard Dreher Lisa Hudson Evans Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle Todd Gorelick 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 George McLendon Mica Oberkfell Patrick J. O’Leary Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips Paul Reichs Nancy & Charles Robson Patricia A. Rodgers M.A. Rogers Dan & Sara Garces Roselli Laura & Mike Schulte Carolyn Shaw Emily & Zach Smith Bob & Marsha Stickler Adam Taylor Cynthia Tyson Braxton Winston Richard Worf Joan Zimmerman Albert Zue

ADMINISTR ATION

page 21

EXECUTIVE David J. L. Fisk, President & CEO Samantha Hackett, Executive Administrator ARTISTIC OPERATIONS (see p. 11) 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 FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Angel Adams, Vice President of Finance & Administration Chazin & Company, Financial Services Amy Hine, HR Coordinator & Office Administrator 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 Michaela Sciacca, Project Harmony Manager Gavin Fulker, Education & Community Programs Assistant Lily Moore, Youth Orchestras Assistant Jirah Montgomery, Youth Orchestras Program Assistant Bria Alexander, Learning & Community Engagement Assistant MARKETING Mical Hutson, Vice President of Marketing & Audience Development Deirdre Roddin, Director of Institutional Marketing & Communications Nicole Glaza, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing Chad Calvert, Visual Communications Manager Laura Thomas, Marketing Manager Meghan Starr, Patron Experience Manager Garrett Whiffen, Ticketing Manager

128 S. Tryon Street, Suite 350 Charlotte, NC 28202 tickets: 704.972.2000 office: 704.972.2003

charlottesymphony.org

November 17 & 18 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Kwamé Ryan, conductor Charlotte Master Chorale

Melinda Whittington soprano

Leann Sandel-Pantaleo mezzo-soprano

Cooper Nolan tenor

Robert Pomakov bass

704.972.2OOO | charlottesymphony.org