NFSO: Holiday Pops

2020-2021

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

at Northwest Florida State College

Concert Season 34 Guest Keyboardists

Dr. Devin Stephenson & Joseph Greer Conductor Search Finalist

Holiday Pops

Kellen Gray

December 11 7:30 p.m. | Mainstage

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at Northwest Florida State College

100 COLLEGE BOULEVARD EAST | NICEVILLE FL 32578 Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit www.nwfsc.edu.

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2020-2021

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Stars of Tomorrow An Evening at the Opera

February 13 7:30 p.m. | Mainstage

at Northwest Florida State College

Concert Season 34

Guest Soloists

Skyler Covert Bevin Hill Evan Nicholson Kye Richardson

Tickets: $25 Adults, $16 Youth, FREE with NWFSC ID

Guest Conductor

Jeffrey Rink

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at Northwest Florida State College

100 COLLEGE BOULEVARD EAST | NICEVILLE FL 32578 Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit www.nwfsc.edu.

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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild is designed to support the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and their educational outreach programs. Organized in 1988 and incorporated as a Not for Profit Corporation in January 1990, for more than 30 years, the Guild has provided financial and other volunteer support to the NFSO and collateral programs. Among the programs supported by the Guild are: • Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra • Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra • An Endowed Teaching Chair in Orchestral Music at Northwest Florida State College • Annual John Leatherwood Concerto Competition • Annual Fifth Grade Orchestra Day and Fifth Grade Art Contest • Stars of Tomorrow Concert • A Symphony of Taste annual food and wine-tasting festival The Guild sponsors a monthly luncheon which often includes presentations on music theory and history by the conductors of upcoming concerts as well as musical performances by professional orchestra members, talented youth performers and Northwest Florida State College choir and musical groups. A quarterly newsletter, The Latest Note, provides advance information on upcoming concerts, guest conductors and performing artists.

Northwest Florida Symphony Guild Membership Family (2 members) Check # Name(s)

$35.00

Individual Cash

$25.00

Date Phone

Address City

State

Zip

E-mail Address Send form, with check payable to: The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild Attn: 100 College Blvd. E, Niceville, FL 32578 For further membership information contact: Jayna Gau email jgau758@aol.com or call 678-5315

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There would be no without you!

Music

Sponsorship Levels Platinum - $5,000+

• 6 season ticket subscriptions in seating of choice • Verbal recognition from stage before event • Logo projection in theatre before event • Full page ad in concert program (ad provided by sponsor) • Pre-concert reception for sponsor (if desired) • Sponsorship mention on NFSO social media account • All benefits in bronze level sponsorship

Gold - $2,500-$5,000

• 4 season ticket subscriptions in seating of choice • Verbal recognition from stage before event • Ad in concert program (ad provided by sponsor) • Sponsorship mention on NFSO social media account • All benefits in bronze level sponsorship

Silver - $1,000-$2,500

• 2 season ticket subscriptions in seating of choice • Sponsorship mention on NFSO social media account • All benefits in bronze level sponsorship

Bronze - $500-$1,000

• Company name listed on NFSO website • Recognition as sponsor in event program • An invitation for two to the President’s Holiday Pops Concert reception

Concerto - $250-$500

• Recognition as sponsor in event program • An invitation for two to the President’s Holiday Pops Concert reception

Friend’s Circle - $100-$250

• Recognition as sponsor in event program

Become a sponsor today at mattiekellyartscenter.org/nfso Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at Northwest Florida State College 1 0 0 C O L L E G E B O U L E VA R D E A S T | N I C E V I L L E F L 3 2 5 7 8 Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit www.nwfsc.edu.

Materiales de la Universidad son disponibles en Española llamando a la Oficina de Admisiones de Northwest Florida State College al 850-729-5205.

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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Welcome NFSO Supporters, We are thrilled to have you back in our beautiful Mattie Kelly Arts Center to enjoy symphonic music from all around the world as we celebrate our 34th Season.

You will note the stage looks different as our musicians are socially distanced, wearing masks when possible and staying partitioned from each other. The sound and the audience feel will be quite different as well as we strive to keep everyone safe.

This year is special in so many ways as we search for our new Conductor and Music Director. Four finalists will vie for the position of conductor of our amazing Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. Each of these finalists are outstanding in their field and will perform throughout the season: Christopher Confessore will lead the orchestra October 10th, Todd Craven will conduct for the October 24th concert, Kellen Gray in December and Glen Cortese will grace the stage in April.

We hope you will attend each of these concerts and meet each of these distinguished conductors. Find all four conductors’ full bios online at www. mattikellyartscenter.org. We invite you to be part of the selection process of our future music director.

You will not want to miss our January Pops Concert, “Almost Elton: Remember When Rock was Young” and “Stars of Tomorrow” in February featuring our concerto competition winners.

Thank you for your trust in us, your continued patronage and support.

We could not do what we do without you.

Jeanette Shires, Director Mattie Kelly Arts Center

NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

Board of Trustees

Brian S. Pennington, Chair • Lori Kelley, Vice-Chair Shane Abbott • Craig Barker • Charlotte Flynt Reynolds Henderson • Major General Don Litke, USAF Ret. Major General Thomas “Rudy” Wright, USAF Ret. Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

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NFSO

Grand Underwriters

The NFSO would like to thank our Grand Underwriters who provided contributions since March 1, 2019- Sept. 2, 2020 NFSO Visionary Society

James H. Taraldson Kathleen “Taty” Saunders

Mattie M. Kelly Northwest Florida Symphony Guild

Don Litke Laura Miles, in honor of Carolyn Miles Charlie Myers Dolores and Joseph Purka Roxanne Ruckdeschel Margaret and Tom Stanton City of Niceville

Platinum Level $5,000+ Fred R. Semasko, Jr. and Annette Semasko ERA American Real Estate Northwest Florida Symphony Guild Gold Level $2,500+ Anonymous Judy-ann Zoghby

Concerto Circle ($250-$499) Lars Runar Jeanette and Steve Shires Emerald Coast ENT & Allergies, PA

Silver Level $1,000+ Jennifer Boxen and Ryan Aycock Bo Burns Donna and Dick Schoditsch Emerald Coast Association of Realtors Bronze Level $500+ Deborah and Sergio Cafarelli Bob Garcia Stacy and Bill Head

Friend’s Circle <$249 Nabanita and Jnanodoy Bhattacharya Charles and Hazel Heifner Tracy Mank Daniel Sluka Martha and Timothy Van Dam Coastal Periodontics, PA

Serving the Emerald Coast

Since 1965!

Katie's House of Flowers

850.678.7811

402 Bayshore Dr. Niceville, FL 32578 www.NicevilleFlowers.com

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Dear Patrons, We welcome you back with great enthusiasm for the Mattie Kelly Arts Center’s 2020-2021 season! Our primary goal is the health and well-being of our guests, staff and artists. As a result, we are adopting the below safety measures at all of our venues for as long as necessary in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

• All patrons and guests of the MKAC will be screened when entering the college campus.

• Face coverings must be worn by all patrons and staff when entering the buildings (one will be provided if needed).

• All structures, especially high-touch areas, are being regularly disinfected and sanitized.

• Extra personnel have been added to staff the restrooms to ensure high standards of cleanliness.

• Social distancing practices will be mandated inside the theater; please follow direction of MKAC ushers for seating assignments.

• Hand sanitizer stations are located at the entrance of the theater.

• Plexi-glass partitions have been added to the bar area and concession stands.

• Our HVAC unit functions as a high-quality filtration system for quality, clean airflow and undergoes frequent preventative maintenance.

Thank you for trusting us and continuing your patronage to the

Stay safe and enjoy the 2020-2021 season!

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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

1st Violins Ingrid Roberts, Acting Concertmaster Yasya Brown Deborah Cafarelli Nicholas Hatt Burcu Goker James Watts Michael Yusko

2nd Violins

Hannah MacLean, Principal Anna Francis Michelle Hamilton Allen Knight Benjamin Maynard

Violas

Rossana Cauti, Acting Principal Brian Brown Sharon Fugate Oana Potur Allyson Royal

Cellos

Jordan Galvarino, Acting Principal Ayla Green Pono Santos Ryan Snapp

Basses

John Palensky, Acting Principal Maurice Belle David Goldflies

Bass Guitar David Goldflies

Flutes Sarah Jane Young, Acting Principal Yoana Hilt Elisa Lyle, Piccolo

Oboes

Matt Fossa, Principal Tina Nutt Rebecca Mindock, English Horn

Clarinets

Richard Jernigan, Principal Newell Hutchinson Kip Franklin

Saxaphones

David Camwell Cameron Duncan

Bassoons

Mark Lauer, Principal Robert Root Shawn Karson

Horns

Stuart Kinney, Principal Sam Gowen Libbie Lawson Robert Malone

Trumpets

Johnny Brewer, Acting Principal Ross Mitchell Christopher Snyder

Trombones Tim Van Dam, Principal Josh Bledsoe Jason Sulliman

Tuba

William Morris, Principal

Timpani

T. Adam Blackstock, Principal

Percussion

Jordan Hale, Acting Principal Ryan Boehme Robert Clayson Peter Krostag

Drum Set Ryan Boehme

Piano/Celeste Lois Henry, Principal

Organ

Joseph Greer

Harp Rebekah Atkinson, Acting Principal

NFSO Staff Executive Director: Jeanette Shires Operations Manager/ Director of Education and Outreach: Lynne Fehrenbach Personnel Manager/ Librarian: Matt Fossa

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Holiday Pops

Christmas Through Stories Friday, December 11, 2020 - 7:30 p.m.

Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center Dr. Devin Stephenson, piano • Carter Caywood, narrator Kellen Gray, guest conductor/conductor search finalist Please enjoy pre-concert music by Dr. Devin Stephenson, Joseph Greer and the Voices of Northwest Florida

March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland Victor Herbert

Suite from The Polar Express Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard

arr. Jerry Brubaker You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague

orchestrated and arranged by Trey Ivey

Three Holiday Songs from Home Alone John Williams

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Johnny Marks

arr. James Ployhar White Christmas

Irving Berlin arr. Robert Russell Bennett

Sounds of the Holiday Season arr. Trey Ivey Dr. Devin Stephenson and Joseph Greer. Keyboards Selections from The Nutcracker Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

I. Overture miniature

II. Danses caractéristiques: (a) Marche (b) Danse de la fée-dragée (c) Danse russe trepak (d) Danse arabe (e) Danse chinoise (f) Danse des mirlitons

III. Valse des fleurs

Patrons, we ask that you please wear a

mask while in the auditorium to ensure our show will go on.

Thank you

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T H E G A L L E R I E S AT M AT T I E K E L LY A R T S C E N T E R

UPCOMING GALLERY EVENTS 2020-2021

November 7- December 15, 2020 Holiday Spotlight

January 22- March 5, 2021

Artist Sarah Knobel: Synthetic Nature

March 26- May 3, 2021

Arnie Hart Juried Student Exhibition and Arts Faculty Exhibition

The galleries are open to personal visitation in low numbers. The artwork has been spaced further apart than usual to encourage physical distancing.

Appointments are recommended but not required. Guests will wear masks.

We have a limit of five persons per gallery, or fifteen persons in the building at a time. To make an appointment, please call 850-729-6044 or email artgalleries@nwfsc.edu. Entry is free and everyone is welcome!

www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org | (850) 729-6044 | artgalleries@nwfsc.edu

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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Kellen Gray - Conductor Kellen Gray has earned a reputation as a versatile and imaginative conductor through his enthusiasm for traditional, experimental, and integrative multimedia art programs. Presently, he serves as Assistant Conductor at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Before his Charleston appointment, Kellen was a Project Inclusion Freeman Conducting Fellow, and later, Assistant Conductor at Chicago Sinfonietta, under Music Director, Mei-Ann Chen..

Before leaving Chicago, Kellen made his Chicago Symphony Center debut, which Chicago’s Picture This Post described him as having, “...laser-like focus that allowed the entire orchestra to seem to become one organism.” The Classical Voice of North Carolina referred to Kellen’s gestures as “... so smooth and polished they’re almost choreography.”

From 2014-16, Kellen was Assistant Conductor at the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra under Music Director, Howard Hsu; and one of eight Conducting Fellows selected to study at Eastern Music Festival, under Gerard Schwarz, Grant Cooper, and Jose-Luis Novo.

At the 2018 League of American Orchestras conference, Kellen was a discussion panelist on the value of leadership pipelines in classical music based on diversity, inclusion, and equity. At a 2017 festival celebrating the 100th birthday of Georgia-born author, Carson McCullers, he was awarded the honor of guest-conducting a collaboration of the music of David Diamond and the premiere of Karen Allen’s debut film, “A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud.”

Kellen’s recent and upcoming conducting endeavors include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Ballet, Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Philharmonic, Northwest Florida Symphony, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Dr. Devin Stephenson - Pianist

An Alabama native, Dr. Stephenson has extensive experience in community college executive administration having served in President/CEO positions in Alabama, Missouri and Kentucky. He is currently the President of Northwest Florida State College, in Niceville, Florida. He serves as a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Board of Trustees and is a visiting committee chair and chair of one of four committees on compliance and reports with the Commission.

Additionally, he serves as a member of the Florida College System Council of Presidents’ Steering Committee. Stephenson is a noted speaker on leadership, organizational change and professional/personal development. He served as a member of the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Executive Committees of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County and Florida’s Great Northwest.

Stephenson led the development of the College’s 2017-2020 and 20202023 Strategic Plan that is characterized by an aggressive agenda to place the College at the forefront of regional transformation. He recently led the College through its successful decennial reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dr. Stephenson has led NWF State College to Silver Status in the Florida College System Performance Funding and to a Top 150 recognition in the 2019 Aspen Institute’s Community College Excellence Recognition Program.

Additionally, in concert with the local legislative delegation, Dr. Stephenson championed the passage of Florida HB75 allowing all 28 Florida College System institutions to waive fees for active duty military and provide access to higher education. He also established a grants development initiative that has led to a record number of external grant awards totaling approximately $23 million from 2017-2020.

He earned an Associate in Science from Walker Junior College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Birmingham-Southern College and both master’s and doctoral degrees in the Administration of Higher Education from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Stephenson and his wife, Judy, are the proud parents of two adult children, Jon and JuliAnne.

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2020-2021 SEASON CALENDAR 1/23/2021

Almost Elton: Remember When Rock Was Young

NFSO

2/13/2021

Stars of Tomorrow

NFSO

2/19/2021

Jeanne Robertson, Humorist

Artist

3/5/2021

Deborah Norville

3/30/2021

Menopause the Musical

4/10/2021

Just Another Variation

NFSO

4/29/2021

That Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody

Artist

SpeakerSeries Broadway

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! Also offering live streams for select events.

Call or Click for Tickets: (850) 729-6000 or MattieKellyArtsCenter.org

MATTIE KELLY Northwest Flo Florida St State Co College

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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Joseph Greer -

Pianist & Voices of Northwest FloridaCo-Director

Joseph Greer, a native of Dexter, Missouri, and a 2016 graduate of Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, is a pianist, Hammond B3 organist, songwriter, vocalist, and music producer who has performed with legendary organist Al Kooper, Tower of Power lead singer Ray Greene, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, renowned jazz bassist John Patitucci, Woodstock and album cover photographer and musician Henry Diltz, and Chinese pop star Wang Leehom at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Hall. Coming from a multicultural church background in traditional and contemporary black gospel music, Joseph has also accompanied gospel legends Rance Allen and Marvin Winans.

As a songwriter, Joseph received special recognition and scholarship from Berklee College of Music for his originals Offerings and Thank You for Everything and was selected to be on Berklee’s “Music Production and Engineering Projects 2017” album for his original Stacy. He continues to incorporate the Hammond B3 organ, piano, and his vocals in original music he produces.

Joseph is currently the Co-Director of Voices of Northwest Florida, music programmer, and collaborative pianist at Northwest Florida State College.

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Directors: Skylar Smith & Joseph Greer Chloé Grubbs • Amber Sticha Rajah Pound • Megan Fajardo Frederick Kozak • Ricardo Coley

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Voices of Northwest Florida is a vocal ensemble created to promote excellent musicianship and character and serves as a team of ambassadors in concert with the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office to advance the mission of the College. These outstanding students perform a variety of music from patriotic to inspirational to modern pop, and represent Northwest Florida State College on campus, in the community, and beyond. Each student receives a full tuition scholarship.

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Remember When

Rock

2020-2021

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

at Northwest Florida State College

Concert Season 34

Was Young January 23 7:30 p.m. | Mainstage

Tickets: $45

Guest Conductor

Jason Altieri Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at Northwest Florida State College

100 COLLEGE BOULEVARD EAST | NICEVILLE FL 32578 Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit www.nwfsc.edu.