RAGTIME KINGS
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021 | 8PM Filmed and recorded live from Meymandi Concert Hall Woolner Stage Raleigh
The North Carolina Symphony, in grateful acknowledgment of its generous grant-in-aid, performs under the auspices of the State of North Carolina, the Honorable Roy Cooper, Governor.
The North Carolina Symphony gratefully acknowledges financial support from Wake County, the City of Raleigh, and the Town of Cary.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT STREAMING MATINEE SERIES STREAMED TO YOUR HOME FROM MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL
PETER AND THE WOLF
THE MUSIC Will PLAY ON
PETER AND THE WOLF
SAT, MAY 1, 2021 | 3PM
Each performance is available on demand for 20 days following the live air date.
You’ll love Prokofiev’s delightful musical adventure, helping children identify the instruments of the orchestra while the story of Peter and his animal friends attempting to outsmart the big bad wolf captures the imagination.
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
SAT, JUNE 5, 2021 | 3PM Michelle Di Russo, conductor
This performance introduces little ones to the joys of the orchestra with The Carnival of the Animals, one of the best-known pieces by French composer Camille SaintSaëns, with each movement depicting a different animal—from the royal lion to the graceful swan. Truly a fantastic family experience for all ages!
CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE
SAT, JUNE 12, 2021 | 3PM Wesley Schulz, conductor SERIES SPONSOR
CONCERT SPONSORS
Cirque de la Symphonie returns for an all-new program with dazzling feats of strength and grace. Acrobats, aerial flyers, contortionists, and strongmen perform awe-inspiring choreography to orchestral favorites that will thrill audiences of all ages.
ncsymphony.org | 919.733.2750
DATES, PROGRAMS, ARTISTS, PRICES, & VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, PENDING CURRENT HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE
The greatest in classical, pops, and family-friendly music—in the comfort of your own home.
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Michelle Di Russo, conductor
RAGTIME KINGS
Saturday, April 24, 2021 | 8pm Filmed and recorded live from Meymandi Concert Hall Woolner Stage
Raleigh Wesley Schulz, conductor Samuel Almaguer, clarinet Paul Randall, trumpet Jonathan Randazzo, trombone Suzanne Polak, piano
Clarence Williams & Spencer Williams
Scott Joplin
Maple Leaf Rag
Scott Joplin
The Entertainer
Scott Joplin
Solace
Scott Joplin
Sunflower Slow Drag
James P. Johnson
Charleston
Jelly Roll Morton
King Porter Stomp
George Gershwin
Novelette in Fourths
Scott Joplin
Jelly Roll Morton
W.C. Handy
Jelly Roll Morton
Royal Garden Blues
Bethena Grandpa’s Spells St. Louis Blues Black Bottom Stomp
All arrangements by Jeff Tyzik
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY • 3
ABOUT THE ARTISTS Wesley Schulz, Associate Conductor The Lucy Moore Ruffin Chair Now in his fourth season as North Carolina Symphony Associate Conductor, Wesley Schulz is also Music Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra in Washington. Previously, he was a Conducting Fellow at the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra, and Education and Family Conductor for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Wesley has led concerts across North Carolina with the Symphony including programs in the classical and pops series, Friday Favorites, Holiday Pops, family and education concerts, and Summerfest performances at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, where NCS makes its summer home. As Music Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra, Wesley’s recent projects include visual art projects with local elementary schools, multiple commissions of new music, and expanding the orchestra’s offerings to include more diverse concert presentations at various local parks, breweries, and community spaces. He is also the former Music Director of Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and Seattle Festival Orchestra. Wesley graduated magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in percussion performance and music education from Ball State University, and doctoral and master’s degrees in orchestral conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. When not on the podium, he can be seen running outdoors or playing endless fetch with his two dogs, Chewbacca and Han Solo. Samuel Almaguer, clarinet The Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Walker, II Chair A native of San Antonio, Samuel Almaguer is Principal Clarinet of the North Carolina Symphony and previously played second clarinet with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His performances have been broadcast on WGBH Boston, WUNC, and on local television in Los Angeles. At a young age he was featured on National Public Radio’s From the Top with pianist Christopher O’Riley. Samuel’s appearances with the North Carolina Symphony as a featured artist include performing Copland’s Clarinet Concerto this season. He has also been featured as a guest artist with the Festival of Contemporary Music at Tanglewood and Wild Up! in Los Angeles. He received his undergraduate degree at The Colburn School in Los Angeles and attended Rice University for graduate studies. While in school, he was a fellow at both the Tanglewood Music Center and Music Academy of the West. He was a 2013 Vandoren Emerging Artist.
4 • NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY
Paul Randall, trumpet The George Smedes Poyner Chair Paul Randall was appointed Principal Trumpet of the North Carolina Symphony in 1988. As a student, he attended both the Interlochen Music Camp in his native Michigan and Tanglewood Music Center in western Massachusetts. He won his first-ever audition and joined the New Orleans Symphony as Second Trumpet in 1973, aged 17. He became Principal Trumpet there four years later, and performed with them in such places as Paris, Vienna, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. His appearances include the Grand Teton Festival, the Chautauqua Festival, and the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. A frequent soloist throughout his career, he was featured in the premiere of a concerto written for him by Carl Roskott at the Eastern Musical Festival. In addition to performing as an orchestral soloist, he has toured with the Capital Brass, a group consisting of members of the NCS brass section. Jonathan Randazzo, trombone In October 2010, Jonathan Randazzo was appointed Assistant Principal Trombone of the North Carolina Symphony while completing his bachelor’s degree in performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. While in high school, he attended the pre-college division program at The Juilliard School. In August 2017, Jonathan was appointed Second Trombone of the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico, a 10-week summer festival. His first season with the opera was in 2018. Currently the adjunct professor teaching trombone at North Carolina State University, Jonathan also teaches privately. He has been hired as guest artist-clinician at UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and at East Carolina, GardnerWebb, and Appalachian State universities. During the 2017/18 season, Jonathan performed as Acting Principal Trombone for the North Carolina Symphony. He also freelances with a variety of musical ensembles and quintets. Suzanne Polak, piano Suzanne Polak has appeared as a soloist and as a substitute keyboardist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; as Acting Principal with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and Virginia Symphony Orchestra; and in concerts with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Appearances with the North Carolina include this season’s Music From the Movies program. She recently made her premiere with the Carolina Ballet, playing solo piano for a new work titled Dialogues.
Suzanne just completed her doctoral degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University. Formerly the organist and Music Director for Saint Maria Goretti Parish in Pittsburgh, she is now the pianist for Springfield Friends Meeting in High Point. As a composer, Suzanne’s many commissions include a new piece for the North Carolina Saxophone Ensemble. Her work has been featured at the Conference of the International Double Reed Society and in various events and theatre productions. She has released her first all-original CD, Unguarded Moments. Joseph Peters, host Joseph Peters has been North Carolina Symphony Associate Principal Oboe and English Horn since 2018, and previously held Principal Oboe chairs with the Minnesota Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. To his role as host for this season’s streaming concerts, Joseph brings a great love for teaching and communication. He has also conducted the Symphony twice, most recently for last month’s Music From the Movies concert.
Thank you to the North Carolina Symphony Society Board of Trustees, the North Carolina Symphony Foundation Board, the North Carolina Symphony Chapter Boards, and the many individuals, businesses, foundations, and community partners who support the North Carolina Symphony through contributions each season. Our performances this season, along with our extensive music education program and community service across the state, are made possible by your support. View North Carolina Symphony board members here and a list of our supporters here.
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY • 5
ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL Grant Llewellyn, Music Director Laureate The Maxine and Benjamin Swalin Chair
Janet Gayer Hall
Wesley Schulz, Associate Conductor The Lucy Moore Ruffin Chair
Anton Shelepov
VIOLIN I Brian Reagin, Concertmaster The Annabelle Lundy Fetterman Chair Dovid Friedlander, Associate Concertmaster** The Assad Meymandi and Family Chair Karen Strittmatter Galvin, Associate Concertmaster* To Be Filled, Assistant Concertmaster The Anne Heartt Gregory Chair
Oskar Ozolinch
Jeanine Wynton VIOLA Samuel Gold, Principal The Florence Spinks and Charles Jacob Cate and Alma Yondorf and Sylvan Hirschberg Chair Kurt Tseng, Associate Principal The Betty Ellen Madry Chair To Be Filled, Assistant Principal Petra Berényi
DOUBLE BASS Leonid Finkelshteyn, Principal The Martha and Peyton Woodson Chair Robert K. Anderson, Associate Principal The Dr. and Mrs. Preston H. Gada Chair Craig Brown The Mark W. McClure Foundation Chair Erik Dyke The Harllee H. and Pauline G. Jobe Chair Bruce Ridge The John C. and Margaret P. Parker Chair FLUTE Anne Whaley Laney, Principal The Mr. and Mrs. George M. Stephens Chair
Robert Anemone**
Paul Malcolm
Emily Rist Glover The Jessie Wyatt Ethridge Chair
Christine Martin
Mary E. Boone, Assistant Principal The Dr. and Mrs. Shaler Stidham, Jr. Chair
Amy Mason The J. Sidney Kirk Chair
Elizabeth Anderton Lunsford The Jack and Sing Boddie Chair
Paul Goldsberry The Richard and Joy Cook Chair So Yun Kim The Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. Chair Marilyn Kouba The Phyllis (“Pat”) Conrad Wells Chair Eric McCracken The James C. Byrd and Family Chair Maria Meyer The Tom and Mary Mac Bradshaw Chair Eileen Wynne The Harvey At-Large Chair Erin Zehngut The J. Felix Arnold Chair VIOLIN II Jacqueline Saed Wolborsky, Principal The Nancy Finch Wallace Chair
Sandra Schwarcz The Samuel H. and Anne Latham Johnson Viola Chair CELLO Bonnie Thron, Principal The Herman and Marga Roberg Chair Elizabeth Beilman, Associate Principal The Sarah Carlyle Herbert Dorroh Chair Peng Li, Assistant Principal Anonymously Endowed Yewon Ahn Anonymously Endowed Sunrise Kim The William Charles Rankin Chair David Meyer The Nell Hirschberg Chair
PICCOLO Elizabeth Anderton Lunsford The Jean Dunn Williams Chair OBOE Melanie Wilsden, Principal The Hardison and Stoltze Chair Joseph Peters, Associate Principal The Lizette T. Dunham Chair Sandra Posch The Clarence and Alice Aycock Poe Chair ENGLISH HORN Joseph Peters The Bruce and Margaret King Chair
To Be Filled, Associate Principal The Blanche Martin Shaw Chair
Lisa Howard Shaughnessy The Sara Wilson Hodgkins Chair
CLARINET Samuel Almaguer, Principal The Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Walker, II Chair
David Kilbride, Assistant Principal
Nathaniel Yaffe The Secretary of Cultural Resources Betty Ray McCain Chair
To Be Filled, Assistant Principal The Kathryn Powell and Green Flavie Cooper Chair
Qi Cao
6 • NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY
BASSOON Aaron Apaza, Principal The Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald S. Hudson Chair Wenmin Zhang, Assistant Principal The Beethoven Chair FRENCH HORN Rebekah Daley, Principal The Mary T. McCurdy Chair Kimberly Van Pelt, Associate Principal The James Marion Poyner Chair Christopher Caudill The Roger Colson and Bobbi Lyon Hackett Chair Rachel Niketopoulos The Paul R. Villard and Gabriel Wolf Chair To Be Filled The Mary Susan Kirk Fulghum Chair TRUMPET Paul Randall, Principal The George Smedes Poyner Chair To Be Filled, Associate Principal The Henry and Martha Zaytoun and Family Chair Don Eagle Anonymously Endowed
TROMBONE John Ilika, Principal The Thomas Warwick Steed, Jr. Family Chair Jonathan Randazzo, Assistant Principal The Frances Armour Bryant Chair BASS TROMBONE Matthew Neff Anonymously Endowed TUBA Seth Horner, Principal The Governor and Mrs. James G. Martin, Jr. Chair HARP Anita Burroughs-Price Vonda Darr TIMPANI Colin Hartnett, Principal The Patricia R., Steven T. and George F. Hackney III Chair PERCUSSION Richard Motylinski, Principal The Margery and Earl Johnson, Jr. Chair Rajesh Prasad, Assistant Principal The Abram and Frances Pascher Kanof Chair
SHARE YOUR SYMPHONY EXPERIENCE
ORGAN To Be Filled The Albert and Susan Jenkins and Family Organ Chair LIBRARY Stephanie Wilson, Principal The Mary Colvert and Banks C. Talley Chair *Acting position **Leave of absence Named musician chairs are made possible through very meaningful gifts to the Symphony’s endowment. As such, these donor families are also members of the Lamar Stringfield Society. Learn more. All string players rotate stands on a periodic basis in each section with the exception of titled players: Principals, Associate Principals, and Assistant Principals. The North Carolina Symphony is a member of the League of American Orchestras and the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians. The North Carolina Master Chorale is the Resident Chorus of the North Carolina Symphony. The North Carolina Symphony Foundation gratefully acknowledges the generous gift of the Lupot violin from Arnold and Zena Lerman.
Show us how you’re spending Symphony night! Are you hosting a “watch party” with the family? Enjoying dinner with a friend beforehand? Mixing a special cocktail to accompany the music? Snuggled up with a pet as you listen?
Tag us in your posts! @ncsymphony #ncsymphony #TheMusicWillPlayOn NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY • 7
Thank you to the members of the Lamar Stringfield Society who support the future of your North Carolina Symphony with estate gifts and endowed funds. Their generosity will help the orchestra share the power of music for generations to come.
Want to make music part of your legacy? To learn more about including the Symphony in your estate plans, contact Rebecca Watkins, Director of Major Gifts & Planning Giving, rwatkins@ncsymphony.org or 919.789.5497
Please consider making a gift to the Annual Fund.
Your gift will count toward the 2020/21 State Challenge Grant, multiplying your generosity even more!
Click here to make a gift online or call 919.733.2750 or toll free 877.627.6724. We are re-imagining donor benefits for this unique time, including opportunities to meet our musicians and go behind the scenes virtually. Click here to learn more.
8 • NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY
SUPPORT STATEWIDE SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC
With creativity and innovation, your North Carolina Symphony remains committed to serving our state with inspiring music and meaningful music education programs.
CORPORATE SUPPORT 2020/21 SEASON The North Carolina Symphony is grateful for the generous support of the many corporations across the state that have partnered with us to sustain and advance the mission of the orchestra. With their help, the music WILL play on.
SUSTAINERS
BENEFACTORS
PARTNERS
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY • 9