Fall Concert November 23, 2024 3:00 pm · Belk Theater
Welcome Back to the Symphony!
Welcome to the Belk Theater! We are so glad to have you with us for this special performance by the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras. Today, we come together to celebrate the incredible talent, dedication, and passion of our young musicians — the future of our musical community.
At the Charlotte Symphony, we are deeply committed to inspiring the next generation through the transformative power of music. Each year, we connect with around 15,000 students through our Youth Orchestras, school partnership programs, and Project Harmony. Our Youth Orchestra program stands out as a place where aspiring musicians not only hone their craft, but also build lifelong friendships, a spirit of teamwork, and a sense of community.
Today’s program showcases the breadth of their musical growth. You’ll hear works by Holst, Schubert, Bach, and a newly commissioned piece by Roger Zare — a piece brought to life for the very first time by these talented musicians.
We are incredibly proud of the dedication our young musicians have shown in preparing for this performance. Your support plays a vital role in nurturing their growth and ensuring that the joy of music continues to thrive in Charlotte. Thank you for being here and for championing the future of music in our community. Enjoy the performance!
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.
Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras
Fall Concert
Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 3:00 pm
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Arts
Youth Philharmonic Katie Ebert, conductor
WILLIAM OWENS (b. 1963)
Haymaker Hoedown
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) arr. Gruselle Danse macabre
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (b. 1948) arr. Moore Selections from Phantom of the Opera
MYKOLA LEONTOVYCH (1877-1921) arr. Sandra Dackow Ukrainian Bell Carol
P. I. TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) arr. Isaac “March of the Nutcracker” from The Nutcracker Ballet
Youth Camerata Ian Passmore, conductor
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Turkish March from The Ruins of Athens
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) orch. Foster Rhosymedre
J.S. BACH (1685-1750) arr. Cailliet Fugue in G minor
Youth Symphony Ian Passmore, conductor
ROGER ZARE (b. 1985)
Deep Underground
I. PIP-II II. Dune
FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, “Unfinished” I. Allegro moderato
GUSTAV HOLST (1874-1934)
“Jupiter” from The Planets
Katie Ebert co-conductor, Youth Philharmonic
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 21st 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 330 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.
Ian Passmore
conductor, Youth Camerata interim conductor, Youth Symphony
Known for adventurous musicality and a captivating stage presence, Filipino-American conductor Ian Passmore enjoys a rich career as an orchestral leader and pedagogue. Hailed as “a rising young conductor” by New York Arts, his unapologetically Romantic performances of the standard repertoire harken back to a bygone generation of conductors.
Following two seasons as the Omaha Symphony’s Assistant Conductor, in 2019 the orchestra named Mr. Passmore its Associate Conductor — a position never before created in its 100-year history. Ian has also led programs with the Buffalo and Louisiana philharmonics, the orchestras of Charlotte, Greensboro, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Lincoln, North Carolina, Oak Ridge and Winston-Salem, the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and Vietnam’s Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra. His current season is highlighted by performances with the Anderson, Delaware and Salisbury symphony orchestras and an appointment as Interim Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and Charlotte Symphony Youth Camerata. Ian also leads the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s holiday performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, with Charlotte Ballet.
Ian holds three academic degrees: a Doctor of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Delaware; a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Additional conducting studies were completed at UNC Chapel Hill.
Ian and his wife, Dianna Fiore, reside in North Carolina, in a home ruled over by four dogs — Beethoven, Charlie, Belle, and Heidi. When not on the podium, Ian can be found enjoying local restaurants and craft beers, cooking, traveling, road biking and CrossFit. He is the creator of the podcast “Symphonic Shorts,” which seeks to remove the walls of formality that often surround classical music, making it more accessible to everyone.
Youth Philharmonic
Katie Ebert, co-conductor
Eric Thompson, III, co-conductor
FIRST VIOLINS
Ellie Allen
Katherine Cen
Abby Fan
Eden Gourdet-Bilancia
Seff Khan
Darina Kucherenko
Davis Pak-lin
Jason Phung
Elena Poon
Ariya Song
Morgan Taylor
Joy Wan
Jane Wang
Everett Wong
Serena Yang
Liana Zhang**
SECOND VIOLINS
Blessing Akinuli
Matin Ayoubzadeh
Akhil Chilukuri
Andre Fleury
Alexander Glasscock
Nikitha Hegde
Paige Holley
Nicholas Johnson
Eloise Koert
Gwen Martin
Isabel Moore
Sahasra Muchalapuri
Ishika Peter
Jordyn Smith
Vajra Thota
Elliot Wong
Avery Yang*
VIOLAS
Pranav Bodavula*
Tom Joseph
Emerson Lawrence
Ryan Medas
Chloe Pinter
CELLOS
Gaddiel Brewer
Benedict Imparato
Declan Johnson
Adam Refaey
Carson Rowe*
Ishan Sundaram
Nathan Tackson
Caswell Taylor
DOUBLE BASSES
Christopher Carter
FLUTES
Gabby Blye
Gabriella Idhaya
Gwendolyn Johnson
Kamilah Ochoa
Aathmika Thanigai
Avanthika Thanigai
CLARINETS
Suman Siripurapu
William Thompson
HORNS
Aramina Ebert
Eilidh Kennedy
** Concertmaster
*Principal
Wind and Brass players rotate positions throughout the concert.
Youth Camerata
Ian Passmore, conductor
FIRST VIOLINS
Ryan Ahn
Aanya Bharadwaj
Ethan Brainard**
Akshara Dasika
Emily Li
Elena Oh
Adithi Somee
Svetha Sundar
Audrey Zhang
SECOND VIOLINS
Audrey Chen
Ryan Chow
Caroline Jenkins
Lucy Murray
Badra Nair
Mya Ngyuen
Purvi Selvaraj*
Connor Wilson
Sonya Zhang
VIOLAS
Anya Goyal
Grace Higham
Harshita Sharma*
CELLOS
Virginia Bouknight
Nathan Keenan
Christian Ko*
Kyler May
Brian Garcia Mejia
Nolan Pratt
Isabella Ruz
DOUBLE BASSES
Nate Dyer*
Abagail Murray
FLUTES
Cherrie Li
Justin Li
OBOES
Charlotte Feldman
Davis Hubbard
Reva Khaire
CLARINETS
Grace Chiu
Aanya Shukla
BASSOON
Beckett Jackson
HORNS
Titus Bonnema
Alaina Cook
Alex Fink
TRUMPETS
Levi Cook
Joe Joseph
TROMBONES
Ben Clancy
Risha Jangala
Eliah Keaton
TUBA
Nolan Rice
PERCUSSION
Xavier Lee
Emanya Sibu
Youth Symphony
Ian Passmore, interim conductor
FIRST VIOLINS
Sean Collier
Chloe Dai
Nethra Gopalakrishnan
Erin Hadiwidjaja
Ethan He
Hadley Hines
Meha Khanna
Aliya Ling
Dhanvi Manivasagam
Dhiya Manivasagam
Evan Morgan
Joy Ni
Sayuki Peterman**
Anjali Reddy
Kavya Sagunarthy
Rithika Saravanan
Levi Teague
Evelyn Tjahjadi
Sameeya Vasan
Emunah Wang
Zhangkai Yang
Ethan Zheng
Neil Zhu
SECOND VIOLINS
Amisha Bharti
Susan Carroll
Campbell Carter
Ian Cox
Charlotte Dong
Lillian Dong
Noel Fang
Amelia Fleury
Anish Ghosh
Emma Hew
Adelle Holderman
Saiya Larsen
Amrita Meda
Aarthi Nelatoor
Sydney Nguyen*
Will Peterson
Chloe Phung
Isabella Pierre
Neal Rao
Elina Tackson
Joyce Wang
Rachel Wang
VIOLAS
Darsh Goenka*
Ellen Leahy
Kieren Lee
Mahi Valiveti
Jane Wieland
CELLOS
Shwetanshu Chakraborthy
Joshika Chappidi
Bridget Cobb-Curtis
Clark Fan*
Charlotte Feddersen
Arielle Howard
Lars Kaijser Bots
Ryan Kim
Chloe Oh
Gabe Pierre
Josiah Shin
Lillian Song
Addison Turner
DOUBLE BASSES
Jamie Goodwin
Agastya Kumar
Jay Ponnada
Evan Thompson
Angela Yan*
Youth Symphony
FLUTES
Yusuf Davis
Easton Green
Irene Koh
Sadie Mitchell
Natsuko Peterman
Aubry Wilhelm OBOES
Gabe Eudy
Katharine Surber
CLARINETS
Hanna Choi
Indira Ha
Nicholas Smith
Stella Taub
BASSOONS
Randy Mayo-Rodriguez
Akosua Mensah
** Concertmaster
*Principal
Wind and Brass players rotate positions throughout the concert.
HORNS
Garrett Baker
Liliana Grajales
Carter McConnell
TRUMPETS
Levi Cook
Dylan Wroth
Braden Zubrod
TROMBONES
Leon Baiye
Daniel Paulauskas
TUBA
Billy Ratledge
PERCUSSION
Mark Li
Theodor Ottinger
HARP
Ella Higham
Leigh Staten
The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras experience provides extraordinary music education in pursuit of musical excellence. The programs aim 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 Camerata conductor Ian Passmore, Youth Philharmonic Co-Conductors Katie Ebert and Eric Thompson, Youth Ensemble Conductor Eric Thompson, 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 Music Director, Kwamé Ryan, and international visiting artists, such as Joshua Bell.
The Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble Conductor Chair is made possible by a generous gift from Debbie & Pat Phillips
The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor Chair is made possible by a generous gift from The Symphony Guild of Charlotte
This program is made possible in part through the support of
REHEARSAL AIDS
Felipe Batista
Wyatt Stocks
Kelvin Chirapornsuk
SPECIAL THANKS
We would like to thank the following individuals whose passion for Music Education and our Youth Orchestra programs helped make this season possible
The Mary Norris Preyer Fund
Judy Crozier
Park Road Baptist Church
Leslie Gipple
First Baptist Church West
Visit our website for more information! charlotte symphony .org/ csyo
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 around 15,000 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.
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.
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
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
Jonathan Lewis, Principal
The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair
Allison Drenkow, Assistant Principal
Alan Black, Principal Emeritus
Marlene Ballena
Jeremy Lamb
Amy Sunyoung Lee
Sarah Markle
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.
Join your CSO and GRAMMY�-nominated singer-songwriter Cody Fry for a very special Holiday Pops! With special appearances from Frosty, Rudolph, and maybe even Santa himself, the whole family will experience the magic of the holidays together, making memories to last a lifetime. December 5 – 7
Christopher James Lees, conductor Charlotte Master Chorale
Your gift brings music to our community.
Our mission is to uplift, entertain and educate the diverse communities in Charlotte and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.
Thank you for making this possible.
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2024-2025 OFFICERS
Richard Krumdieck, Chair
Ulrike Miles, Vice Chair
Melinda Snyder, Vice Chair
Linda McFarland Farthing, Immediate Past Chair
Kevin Walker, Treasurer
David Fisk, President & CEO
Kwamé Ryan, Music Director
2024-2025 DIRECTORS
Mick Ankrom
Joye D. Blount
Mike Butterworth
Nick Clements
Mary Delk*
Denise DeMaio
Sidney Fletcher
Kevin Gottehrer
Lucia Zapata Griffith
Byron Johns*
Valerie Kinloch
Stephen Makris
Alex McKinnon
Sara Garces Roselli
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
Andrea & Alexander Bierce
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
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
Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Mica Oberkfell
Patrick J. O’Leary
Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips
Paul Reichs
Nancy & Charles Robson
Patricia A. Rodgers
M.A. Rogers
Lindsay & Frank Schall
Laura & Mike Schulte
Carolyn Shaw
Emily & Zach Smith
Bob & Marsha Stickler
Kelly & Neal Taub
Adam Taylor 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
Megan 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
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