2024 SSMF Program Book

SEWANEE SUMMER

MUSIC FESTIVAL

June 16—July 14, 2024

Welcome to the 67th season of the

I am delighted to welcome you to the 67th year of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival on behalf of the faculty, staff, and students of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Music at the University of the South. We hope you enjoy your time on the Domain and feel at home while you are here.

The sound of trumpets that greet me in the early morning as I walk toward my office in Walsh-Ellett Hall are a good reminder of the energy and life that the SSMF breathes into our campus each summer. I look forward to hearing those trumpets, as well as all the other lovely instruments and voices that fill the air all around our campus. Where else can you stumble upon a trombone player who has discovered an acoustically perfect stairwell or be treated to a violin concerto as you stroll between buildings from one meeting to the next? Where else can you find such a collection of world-class musicians and up-and-coming musicians all in one place for four magical weeks in such a beautiful setting? The Sewanee Summer Music Festival is indeed special.

Let me take a moment to express our collective thanks to John Kilkenny for his stalwart leadership over the last seven years. We look forward to celebrating with him as he embarks on an exciting new chapter. John leaves behind an indelible legacy, but as he reminds me often, he will not be leaving Sewanee behind completely! It will be joyous to see him in the audience at many future SSMF events in the years to come. Please join me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to John. The entire Sewanee community is also grateful to each of you for the fellowship and musicianship that you bring to the Mountain each summer. We are a richer, more beautiful place with your presence.

I hope you enjoy all the Domain has to offer and that you have a wonderful SSMF experience this season. Welcome to the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and to the University of the South.

Betsy A. Sandlin

Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Professor of Spanish

The University of the South

Dear Students, Parents, and Patrons of the Sewanee Music Center,

Welcome to the 67th Sewanee Summer Music Festival! We are excited to have you join us for what promises to be an unforgettable season filled with exceptional performances and precious memories.

This summer, we are proud to present a season that will captivate and inspire. From Mussorgsky's monumental "Pictures at an Exhibition" to the majestic sounds of Price's 3rd Symphony, we are delighted to showcase the remarkable talents of our students and faculty. We are also thrilled to announce the debut of conductor Jonathan Rush and the triumphant return of Grammy winner JoAnn Falletta, alongside the Sewanee Symphony debut of Kathleen O'Mara, one of our esteemed OperaFest alums. Our faculty and students will perform at nearly 30 regional concerts, from MSSA and the Cowan Arts Center to our campus (perhaps even under a tree or two in the quad).

As we embark on this exciting season, I am filled with memories as this marks my final summer as SMC director. I began my journey with Sewanee in 1993 as a student and have been profoundly shaped by the transformative power of this program, this place, and its people over the years. Since becoming Director, I have endeavored to honor the legacy of those who came before me, from dear friends like Frank and Marian Shaffer to heroes and mentors like Bruce Dinkins. Along the way, I have been inspired by breathtaking performances from our faculty and memorable concerts by our young students.

Reflecting on my last seven years, I reviewed past welcome letters and found what I wrote in 2018. A section appears below:

"The influence of this festival reverberates throughout concert halls and teaching studios worldwide. From Beijing to San Jose, from Chattanooga to Paris, The Sewanee Summer Music Festival continues to impact the classical music world. For over 60 years, Sewanee has trained the next generation of performers, teachers, scholars, and lifelong musicians. Students arrive on the mountain (as I did in 1993) not fully aware of what they have in store for the summer, and they leave transformed, both as people and as musicians."

These last seven years have left me believing more fully in these words than ever.

While there are too many people to thank here, I want to take this opportunity to recognize Dr. Terry Papillion, former Dean of the College, who hired and trusted me to lead this extraordinary program. Terry, you are a tireless champion of the arts and one of the finest Deans I have had the good fortune to work with. Thank you for all you have done to support me, our faculty, and this extraordinary program.

So, for my final time as Director, I welcome you to Sewanee and our Summer Music Festival. May you be as inspired by our work as we are.

John Kilkenny Executive Director Sewanee Music Center

Executive

Director

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Bob Askew lives in Sewanee, Tennessee. He is a full-time artist known primarily for his landscape and realistic paintings of scenes from

the Sewanee area. Focusing on depth, light, and color, his watercolor and oil paintings depict honest and creative expressions of what he sees. Askew Art Gallery and Studio in downtown Sewanee features original paintings and gifts of prints, notecards, and embroidered items of his art.

Living and working in Sewanee, Bob Askew has the opportunity to observe the musicians of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival find their place on campus and in the community. Oftentimes, he finds musicians practicing outside among the glorious scenery and architecture that Sewanee enjoys. The cover art depicts Guerry Garth, a spot on campus where many students practice while at SSMF. Throughout this program book, you will find a few vignettes of common scenes on campus during the summertime.

We are grateful to Mr. Askew for donating his artwork to the festival. If you are interested to learn more about his artwork please visit askewart.com.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The University of the South is situated on land sacred to numerous Indigenous tribes. As part of its commitment to Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation, the University, through its Indigenous Engagement Initiative, is reaching out to tribal representatives to build a mutually respectful and sustainable community. Initial efforts have underscored the importance of deep listening and deference to tribes through a mindful and holistic process of exploring shared history and discovering common goals, including how tribes would prefer to be acknowledged. It is the University's goal that specific acknowledgment, in whatever form it takes, will ultimately comprise only a small part of a healing and shared future.

PERFORMANCE VENUE INFORMATION

The Sewanee Summer Music Festival performs in a range of venues across the Domain during our summer season. Our primary home is Guerry Auditorium on the campus of the University of the South. However, you can find many performances in St. Luke’s Chapel, The University Art Gallery, All Saints’ Chapel, Louis Rice Stage at Angel Park, and perhaps even under a tree on the Quad! Regardless, for all of our indoor venues, we ask that you follow the same guidelines.

LATECOMER SEATING

Latecomer seating will be allowed at an appropriate pause in the performances. The usher will open the doors for entry at that time. Please take your seat as quickly as possible to minimize any delays in the concert.

SMOKE-FREE CAMPUS

Smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of any campus building. Prohibited tobacco products include but are not limited to cigarettes, cigarillos, pipes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes.

RECORDING

Recording is not allowed during any SSMF performance. Professional quality recordings are made during student and faculty performances and most are available online after the festival concludes.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is limited to non-flash still photos of student performances only.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Please silence all electronic devices (pagers, cell phones, watch alarms, etc.) that could interrupt performances.

Week 1 Concerts

Sunday, June 16, 3:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Adrien Barthe (1828-1898)

Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)

Jorge Variego (b. 1975)

Edmund Rubbra (1901-1986)

Faculty Artist Series

Faculty Opening Chamber Concert

Passacaille 2'

Donna Shin, flute; Nermis Mieses, oboe; Mingzhe Wang, clarinet; Amy Pollard, bassoon; Jason Allison, horn

Duo for Violin and Cello 11'

Brittany MacWilliams, violin; Natasha Farny, cello

Fuego y Duende

Hillary Herndon, viola; Jorge Variego, bass clarinet

Sonata in C for Oboe and Piano, op.100 13' I. Con Moto II. Elegy-Lento III. Presto

Nermis Mieses, oboe; Xavier Suarez, piano

INTERMISSION

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Ivan Trevino (b. 1983)

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Kevin McKee (b. 1980)

Two Etudes - Tableaux

Op.33 No. 3 in E-flat minor

Op.39 No. 9 in D major

Steve Beck, piano

Wildings 5'

John Kilkenny, Phil O'Banion, percussion

Pièce en forme de habanera 7'

Jane Stewart, violin; Gaye LeBlanc, harp

Vuelta del Fuego

Peter Bond, Imani Duhe, trumpet; Caroline Kinsey, horn; Martin McCain, trombone; Eric Bubacz, tuba

Friday, June 21, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899)

Nkeiru Okoye (b. 1972)

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

Cumberland Orchestra

Ismael Sandoval, conductor

Overture from Die Fliedermaus, op.362 9'

Voices Shouting Out 5'

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, op.46 15'

Morning

Ase's Death

Anitra's Dance

Hall of the Mountain King

Saturday, June 22, 1:30 pm

Student Chamber Music Concerts

Guerry Auditorium, St. Luke's Chapel

Saturday, June 22, 4:00 pm

University Art Gallery

Composers Showcase Composition Program

Saturday, June 22, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)

Edward Gregson (b. 1945)

Faculty Artist Series

Between Tides 16'

Anna Reider, violin; Natasha Farny, cello; Steve Beck, piano

Quintet for Brass 15'

I. Andante sostenuto/Allegro

II. Scherzando

III. Allegro molto ritmico

Peter Bond, Imani Duhe, trumpet; Jason Allison, horn; Martin McCain, trombone; Eric Bubacz, tuba

INTERMISSION

Alyssa Morris (b. 1984)

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Mathematics 16'

I. Geometry

II. Trigonometry

III. Integral Calculus

Amy Pollard, bassoon; Megan Gale, piano

Quintet in G minor, op.39

I. Theme

II. Andante energico

III. Allegro sostenuto ma no brio

IV. Andante peasant

V. Allegro precipitato

VI. Andantino

Nermis Mieses, oboe; Mingzhe Wang, clarinet; Lin He, violin; Sheldon Person, viola; Sam Suggs, double bass

Sunday, June 23, 3:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Johann Strauss, Sr. (1804-1849)

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899)

Sewanee Symphony

Chelsea Gallo, conductor

Academic Festival Overture, op.80 10'

Rosenkavalier Suite, op.59 22'

Radetzky march, op.228 3'

Hungarian March No. 5 3'

Trisch-Trasch Polka, op.214 3'

Tuesday, June 25, 7:00 pm

Cowan Arts Center

Chamber Music Concert Student Chamber Music

Tuesday, June 25, 7:45 pm

MSSA

Friday, June 28, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962)

Gabriel Fuare (1845-1924)

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Chamber Music Concert Monteagle Sunday School Assembly

Saturday, June 29, 1:30 pm

Cumberland Orchestra Christopher Cicconi, conductor

Machine 2'

Pavane, op.50 7'

Samson et Delilah: Bacchanale 8'

Capriccio espagnole, op.34 15'

Alborado

Variazioni

Alborado

Scene e canto gitano Fandango asturiano

Student Chamber Music Concerts

Guerry Auditorium, Art Gallery, St. Luke's Chapel

Week 2 Concerts

Saturday, June 29, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Faculty Artist Series

Pastorale for Violin and Wind Quartet 6'

Mari-Liis Päkk, violin; Nermis Mieses, oboe; Jessica Smithorn, English horn; Mingzhe Wang, clarinet; Amy Pollard, bassoon

Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor 25'

I. Allegro molto moderato

II. Scherzo

III. Adagio

IV. Allegro molto

Lin He, violin; Hillary Herndon, viola; Natasha Farny, cello; Steve Beck, piano

INTERMISSION

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Horn Quintet in E-flat Major, K 407 15'

I. Allegro

II. Andante

III. Rondo

Caroline Kinsey, horn; Jane Stewart, violin; Hillary Herndon, Jennifer Puckett, viola; Meghan Berindean, cello

Quartet in F Major, op.18 No. 1 26'

I. Allegro con brio

II. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato

III. Allegro molto

IV. Allegro

Anna Reider, Brittany MacWilliams, violin; Sheldon Person, viola; Meghan Berindean, cello

Sunday, June 30, 3:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Gabriela Lena Frank (b. 1972)

Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Sewanee Symphony

Jeffrey Grogan, conductor

Escaramuza 8'

Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op.47 44'

I. Moderato 15'

II. Allegretto 5'

III. Largo 14'

IV. Allegro non troppo 10'

*Escarmuza by Gabriela Lena Frank presented under license from G. Schirmer Inc. and Associate Music Publishers, copyright owners.

Tuesday, July 2, 4:00 pm

St. Luke's Chapel

Thursday, July 4, 7:30 am

Abbo's Alley

Thursday, July 4, 7:00 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Thursday, July 4 MSSA

Friday, July 5, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Louise Farrenc (1804-1875)

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

Aria Showcase OperaFest Sewanee

A Musical 4th of July

Flag Raising Ceremony July 4th in Sewanee

Patriotic Celebration

Christopher Cicconi, conductor

Dugg McDonough, Master of Ceremonies

Patriotic Brass Quintet

Monteagle Sunday School Assembly

Ottorini Respighi (1872-1936)

Cumberland Orchestra

Helen H. Cha-Pyo, conductor

Overture No. 1 in E minor, op.23 7'

Serenade in D minor, op.44 18'

I. Moderato quasi marcia

III. Andante con moto

IV. Finale: Allegro molto

Pines of Rome 23'

The Pines of the Villa Borghese

Pines near a Catacomb

The Pines of the Janiculum

The Pines of the Appian Way

Saturday, July 6, 1:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Concerto Lab Concert

Week 3 Concerts

Saturday, July 6, 5:00 pm

Angel Park

Saturday, July 6, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Arthur Foote (1953-1937)

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1952)

Christopher Farrell

Opera's Greatest Hits

OperaFest Sewanee

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Sunday, July 7, 3:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Carlos Simon (b. 1986)

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Faculty Artist Series

At Dusk 6'

Donna Shin, flute; Meghan Berindean, cello; Gaye LeBlanc, harp

Overture on Hebrew Themes 9'

Cecilia Kang, clarinet; Andrii Isakov, Jessica Dan Fan, violin; Natasha Farny, cello; Steve Beck, piano

Trio for Flute, Viola, and Double Bass 10'

Donna Shin, flute; Hillary Herndon, viola; Tim Pearson, double bass

INTERMISSION

Piano Trio in E-flat major 40'

I. Allegro

II. Andante con moto

III. Scherzo

IV. Allegro moderato

Mari-Liis Päkk, violin; Jason Calloway, cello; Steve Beck, piano

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Sewanee Symphony

Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor

This Land 10'

Knoxville: Summer of 1915, op.24 16'

Kathleen O'Mara, soprano

INTERMISSION

Symphony No. 1 in E minor 38'

I. Allegro ma non troppo 16'

II. Largo, maestoso 13'

III. Juba Dance: Allwgro 4'

IV. Finale: Presto 5'

*Knoxville: Summer of 1915 by Samuel Barber and Symphony No. 1 by Florence Price presented under licence from G. Schirmer Inc. and Associate Music Publishers, copyright owners.

Tuesday, July 9, 4:00 pm

St. Luke's Chapel

Aria Showcase OperaFest Sewanee

Wednesday, July 10, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

An Operatic Travelog OperaFest Sewanee

Thursday, July 11, 4:00 pm

St. Luke's Chapel

Aria Showcase OperaFest Sewanee

Thursday, July 11, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition Winners JoAnn Falletta, conductor

Saturday, July 13, 1:30 pm

Student Chamber Music Concerts

Guerry Auditorium, Art Gallery, St. Luke's Chapel

Saturday, July 13, 4:00 pm

University Art Gallery

Composers Showcase Composition Program

Week 4 Concerts

Saturday, July 13, 7:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Kenji Bunch (b. 1973)

York Bowen (1884-1961)

Faculty Artist Series

Megalopolis 12'

Brittany MacWilliams, Lin He, violin; Hillary Herndon, viola; Jason Calloway, cello; John Kilkenny, percussion

Phantasy in F major for viola and piano 15'

Sheldon Person, viola; Steve Beck, piano

INTERMISSION

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Ellen Taafe Zwilich (b. 1939)

Saturday, July 13, 10:05 pm

All Saints' Chapel

Quartet Movement in A minor 11' I. Nicht zu schnell II. Scherzo

Andrii Isakov, violin; Philippe Chao, viola; Jason Calloway, cello; Steve Beck, piano

Quintet for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Contrabass 24'

Jessica Dan Fan, violin; Philippe Chao, viola; Meghan Berindean, cello; Tim Pearson, double bass; Steve Beck, piano

Festival Brass Concert

Sunday, July 14, 2:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Arturo Marquez (b. 1950)

Steven Bryant (b. 1972)

Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)

Sunday, July 14, 3:30 pm

Guerry Auditorium

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Cumberland Orchestra

Gene Moon, conductor

The John G. Bratton Concert

La damnation de Faust: March hongrois, op.24 5'

Danzon No. 8 7'

Dusk 5'

Estancia: Four Dances, op. 8a 13'

The Land Worker

Wheat Dance

The Cattlemen

Finale: Malambo

Sewanee Symphony

JoAnn Falletta, conductor

The Martha McCrory Concert

The Tender Land: Suite 19'

I. Introduction and Love Music

II. Party Scene

III. Finale: The Promise of Living

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881)

Concerto for Violoncello No. 1 in A minor, op.33 19'

I. Allegro non troppo

II. Allegretto con moto

III. Allegro non troppo

Natasha Farny, violoncello

INTERMISSION

Pictures at an Exhibition, arr. Ravel 35'

Promenade

Gnomes - Promenade

The Old Castle - Promenade

Tulleries

Bydlo - Promenade

Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells

Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle

Limoges

Catacombs, cum motuis in lingua mortua

The Hut on Fowl's Legs

The Great Gate of Kiev

Conductor Biographies

ISMAEL SANDOVAL

Cumberland Orchestra Week 1

Ismael Sandoval is a Mexican-American conductor based in Chattanooga, TN. As a conductor, Ismael has directed several ensembles across the East Coast, all invested in the pursuit of bringing people together in the beauty and power of music. Ismael is currently the assistant conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (CSO), the music director of the CSO Youth Symphony, music director at First Christian Church of Chattanooga, and music director of the Chattanooga Women’s Chorus.

Ismael is a collaborator and a bridge builder between various organizations and his efforts span across many disciplines and genres. In his efforts to give back to his community and promote the profound impact that music can have on people, Ismael frequently brings music to life in unorthodox performance venues such as homeless shelters, assisted living facilities, hospitals, parks, and anywhere else where music might be needed.

Ismael was the first Artistic Director/Conductor of the Boston Women’s Chorus and is currently the founder and Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Women’s Chorus, two ensembles that connect women experiencing poverty and homelessness with the healing power of music. Ismael has also previously served as the assistant conductor for both the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and Eureka Ensemble. In the 2017-2018 season Ismael served as a conducting fellow with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra with Diane Wittry. In the same year, Ismael also won the College Orchestra Directors Association National Conference Conducting Competition and Workshop.

As a champion of new music, Ismael frequently premieres works by composers from all around the country in several different styles and genres. Ismael also believes in expanding the traditional canon of repertoire to include more representation from diverse composers of all walks of life and has programmed unique concerts that tastefully balance pieces from the classical canon with these new and exciting works.

Ismael is also passionate about opera and has served as music director for several productions with various opera companies in Boston. Ismael’s work as an arranger and orchestrator was showcased in the 2019 season with a highly acclaimed arrangement and interpretation of Bellini’s La Sonnambula (Promenade Opera Project). Ismael also ventured into the digital music making medium during the COVID-19 lockdown by music directing an entirely online performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio (Promenade Opera Project), as well as producing several virtual choir projects.

Ismael’s recent engagements include working with the Venice Symphony, Lee University Orchestra (Interim Orchestra Director ‘22-’23), Corsara Artists (Menotti’s The Medium), Commonwealth Lyric Theater Opera (Bizet’s Carmen), the Boston Philharmonic, Eureka Ensemble, MassOpera (Strauss’ Die Fledermaus), the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra (Lawrenceville, GA), the Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island (Langley, WA), the Medomak Festival Orchestra (Washington, ME), and the College Orchestra Directors Association National Conference Orchestra. Ismael received his Masters of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, under the tutelage of Bruce Hangen, and received his B.M. in Music Education and B.M. in Composition from the University of Florida.

CHELSEA GALLO

Sewanee Symphony Week 1

Labeled a “rising star” within the conducting world (Anwar Nasir, Associated Press), Conductor Chelsea Gallo has been praised for her ability to “lead the orchestra with grace and fiery command” (Schubring, Michigan Daily.) Her conducting style has been described as “fully in control… stylish, skillful and attentive” (Scott Cantrell, Dallas News.)

For the 2023-25 seasons, Gallo will be Resident Conductor of The Florida Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and a Cover Conductor with the New York Philharmonic. Past positions include Assistant Conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic, Conducting Fellow with the Dallas Opera, and Conducting Staff for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor, Gallo has conducted the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Missouri Symphony, Bridgeport Symphony, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, the Hartford Opera, Opera Orlando, Marigny Opera, Opera Orlando, Slovak Sinfonietta, amongst others. 2023-24 debuts include the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, Sewanee Music Festival, and Catapult Opera (NYC). She is a 2022 Award Recipient of the prestigious George Solti Foundation USA Career Fellowship.

An advocate of music by living composers, Gallo gave the Michigan premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Helix, the American premiere of Michael Gordon’s Bassoon Concerto, and the world premiere of the ballet A Streetcar Named Desire by Tucker Fuller. She has also conducted works by Adolphus Hailstork, Carlos Simon, Courtney Bryant, Jessie Montgomery, Jennifer Higdon, Clarice Assad, and more. As an opera conductor, she has conducted productions of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Giuseppi Verdi’s La Traviata, and Shuying Li’s Who Married Star Husbands.

Devoted to expanding the reach of Classical Music, Gallo has collaborated with a variety of organizations, businesses, and companies. Some of these entities include The Walt Disney Company™, The New York Yankees™, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Lincoln Motor Company™, amongst others. Gallo has described her conducting pursuits as “a devotion to sharing the relevancy and humanity within Classical Music.”

Gallo studied conducting in Vienna, Prague, and Banská Štiavnica with Leoš Svárovský and the late Maksimilijan Cenčić. In Vienna, she studied piano with Giorgi Latsabidze and violin with Barbara Gorzynska. Gallo holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan where she was awarded the Helen Wu Graduate Fellowship in Conducting studying with Kenneth Kiesler. Furthering her conducting education, she has attended festivals and masterclasses with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Daniel Barenboim.

Conductor Biographies

CHRISTOPHER CICCONI

Cumberland Orchestra Week 2

July 4th Band

Recently appointed Director of Bands at James Madison University, Christopher M. Cicconi was for several years director of bands and orchestras at Towson University. He also serves as director of the Baltimore Youth Symphony.

Under his direction, the Towsin University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have been invited on numerous occasions to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Regional Conference and the Maryland Music Educators Association Annual State In-Service Conferences. Prior to his arrival in Maryland, Cicconi earned a Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Miami, where he was awarded a Henry Mancini Fellowship and was a student of Mr. Gary D. Green.

As a strong advocate for music education and community outreach, Cicconi is in demand throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and is a sought-after guest conductor, clinician, and guest speaker. Upon his arrival in Maryland, he has appeared as a band and orchestra clinician in well over 100 public and private institutions. As a guest conductor, Cicconi has appeared with All-State, All-Region, and All-County Bands and Orchestras in numerous states around the country. Currently, Cicconi also serves as the Principal Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Music Director of the Towson Wind Symphony, and serves on the conducting staff for the United States Naval Academy. He also is a frequent guest conductor for the acclaimed Sewanee Music Festival and the New England Music Camp.

As an active scholar, Cicconi’s agenda includes wind repertoire and other current music education topics such as score study, conducting, and arranging. His most recent publication, ‘The Band Music Handbook, A Catalog of Emerging Band Repertoire,’ has proved to be a valuable resource and essential tool for wind band directors worldwide. As an arranger, Cicconi premiered his transcription of Jonathan Leshnoff’s ‘Rush’ in the Fall of 2018 with the Towson University Symphonic Band, which was subsequently published by Theodore Presser Company. Since then, it has received numerous performances nationwide in university and conference settings, including a performance at the college Band Directors National Association Southwest Regional Conference.

Cicconi completed a Master of Music Education Degree, with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting, from Arizona State University and earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Youngstown State University. He is a member of College Band Directors National Association, Florida Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

JEFFREY GROGAN

Sewanee Symphony Week 2

Jeffrey Grogan is an internationally-known conductor and teacher who has spent over 25 years dedicated to the pursuit of his craft and the nurturing of young talent. Mr. Grogan has served as adjudicator, conductor, and clinician for many prestigious national and international festivals including the Honor Orchestra of America sponsored by Music for All; the Association for Music in International Schools Orchestra (Singapore); the National Orchestra Cup at Lincoln Center; and the Honors Performance Series Orchestra and Band at Carnegie Hall. Upcoming international festival appearances include conducting at the Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland; in Bangkok, Thailand; and at Australia’s Sydney Opera House. Mr. Grogan has also conducted numerous all-state orchestras and bands throughout the U.S. including his home state of Texas, among others.

Grogan serves as Education and Community Engagement Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conductor and Artistic Director of the NJSO Youth Orchestras, the InterSchool Orchestras of New York and the New Jersey Youth Symphony. His youth orchestras have performed to capacity crowds at some of the greatest concert halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein in Vienna. He has appeared as a guest conductor at the University of Georgia, Indiana University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Mannes School of Music Pre-College Division. He has also conducted performances with the Little Orchestra Society of New York, the Reno Philharmonic, Adelphi Chamber Orchestra and the New York Concerti Sinfonietta.

In addition, Mr. Grogan is Artistic Director of an El Sistema inspired music program, the Paterson Music Project (PMP) in Paterson, New Jersey. He is also Artistic Advisor to the NJSO CHAMPs (Character, Achievement and Music Project) in Newark, New Jersey.

Grogan’s prior experience includes teaching for over a decade at the University of Michigan, Ithaca College and Baylor University where he taught conducting and trained future music educators. He is also the former Associate Director of Bands and Marching Band Director at the University of Michigan and Baylor University.

Conductor Biographies

HELEN H. CHA-PYO

Cumberland Orchestra Week 3

Helen H. Cha-Pyo is currently in her sixth season as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts, New Jersey’s largest independent performing arts education organization, comprising four programs. Under her leadership, Wharton Arts serves close to 2,000 students from 12 different New Jersey counties through a range of private lessons and group classes at the Wharton Performing Arts School, 15 performing ensembles at the New Jersey Youth Symphony, 5 performing ensembles at the New Jersey Youth Chorus, and the Paterson Music Project, an El Sistema-inspired program that provides free after-school instrumental music instruction to over 450 children in Paterson, NJ.

For 16 years as Music Director and Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Cha-Pyo inspired hundreds of young musicians to perform at the highest levels, resulting in ESYO being recognized as one of the nation’s premier music organizations for youth musicians. She led the orchestra on three international tours: Europe in 2008, China and South Korea in 2012, and Portugal in 2016, and won the ASCAP’s Adventurous Programming Awards for championing music by American composers. Cha-Pyo’s vision was instrumental in the founding of ESYO CHIME in 2015, a music education program dedicated to serving underprivileged youth of Schenectady and Troy, NY. In 2018, ESYO established the Helen Cha-Pyo Golden Baton Award and Scholarships for students who embody her passionate commitment to music as a means to uplift and enrich communities.

For her stature as an accomplished musician who inspires young people around the world, Cha-Pyo received The Dove Leadership Award from the David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund in 2019. She is also the recipient of the 2022 Angelos Artist Award from the Angelos Mission Ensemble, where she was honored for her passionate leadership and commitment to using music as a vehicle for social change. In 2022, Cha-Pyo also received the Eastman Centennial Award from Eastman School of Music, which is given to those who exemplify the school’s mission and legacy through their commitment to artistry, scholarship, leadership, community engagement, and/or philanthropy.

From 1996 to 2002, Cha-Pyo served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Riverside Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, as well as Associate Director of Music at The Riverside Church in New York City. She released three recordings with the Riverside Choir. (JAV Recordings)

Born in Seoul, Cha-Pyo immigrated to the US when she was 12. She studied piano and organ at the Pre-College Program at The Juilliard School. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music in Conducting and Organ Performance from the Eastman School of Music. Cha-Pyo is a frequent guest conductor and clinician for All-State and Regional Festival Orchestras throughout the country. She served as Visiting Associate Professor of Conducting at the John J. Cali School of Music, Montclair State University (NJ) and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (NJ). She currently serves as a board member for the Youth Orchestra Division and is also a committee member of the Conductors Constituency Leadership of the League of American Orchestras. Cha-Pyo is the life partner of Dr. Daniel J. Pyo and a proud parent of their two sons. Read more at helenchapyo.com.

JONATHAN TAYLOR RUSH

Sewanee Symphony Week 3

Jonathan Taylor Rush is an accomplished and visionary conductor hailing from Windsor, CT. His musical journey is a testament to the transformative power of music and its ability to inspire joy and hope in the hearts of others.

Rush draws inspiration from the profound emotions evoked by the enthusiastic audiences that gather to experience his performances. Fueled by a deep passion for music, his mission is two-fold: to cure someone's bad day through the power of music and to ignite a passion among younger generations of musicians and creators, who may doubt the possibility of realizing their dreams.

Rooted in his musical upbringing within the church, Rush's approach to conducting is imbused with elements of gospel and soul music. Rooted in his musical upbringing within the church, Rush's approach to conducting is imbued with elements of gospel and soul music. He fearlessly infuses his performances with soul and passion, breathing new life into the classical masterworks. An ardent advocate for living and underrepresented composers, Rush is committed to programming their music in the concerts he conducts. His dedication to inclusivity and representation shines through in every performance he leads.

Among his many achievements, Rush was named Assistant Conductor, and was later promoted to Associate Conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 2020 to 2023. At the Baltimore Symphony, he curated the orchestra's inaugural Gospel Fest, a groundbreaking event featuring the legendary gospel artist Karen Clark Sheard. While with the Baltimore Symphony, Rush also served as Artistic Director of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras. As Artistic Director, Rush led the ensemble on its first-ever international tour through Europe, showcasing their talents at renowned venues such as Dvořák Hall in Prague.

Rush's conducting prowess has graced esteemed stages both nationally and internationally. He has made captivating debuts with renowned ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Nairobi Philharmonic, and many more including his opera debut with the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center. His academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Jonathan’s Mentors and teachers of conducting are Joseph Young, Mei-Ann Chen, and Marin Alsop.

Conductor Biographies

GENE MOON

Cumberland Orchestra Week 4

Conducting all around the world, maestro Gene Moon has graced the podium of orchestras on four continents over the course of his career. Dr. Moon’s career has led him conducting appearances throughout the United States and overseas in Asia and South America. Sought after, nationally and internationally, maestro Moon has led performances with orchestras including the Nacional Orquestra in the Dominican Republic, Saigon Philharmonic in Ho Chi Minh City, Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín, Gangnam Symphony Orchestra and All-State orchestras in Arkansas and Louisiana along with orchestras of the University of Macau Orchestra and Hong Kong Baptist University and many region honor orchestras and festivals around the United States.

Beginning the fall of 2018, Dr. Moon joined the faculty of California Baptist University serving as Director of Orchestral Studies. Now he also serves as Associate Dean of Outreach and Community Engagement. He is on faculty with the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and works with hundreds of young musicians from all around the world each summer. An avid champion of music education, he dedicates his work to inspire and train future musicians, seen through his countless work with school instrumental programs and youth orchestras, such as the East Texas Youth Orchestra program, which grew from 22 members to 120 members over the coarse of three years under his artistic direction. Currently, as music director of the Riverside Arts Academy, he oversees a team of instructors and staff that implement music education in the schools amongst a reign with a population of 300,000 people.

Dr. Moon's previous posts include the faculties at the University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond, OK), University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK), the Mid-Del school district, and as music director and conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies. HIs recent posts have included Director of Orchestral Activities at Steven F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX), Artistic Director of the East Texas Youth Orchestras (Tyler, TX), and Music Director and Conductor of the Longview Symphony Orchestra (Longview, TX).

An avid instrumentalist, Moon actively performs as pianist and violist in the collaborative settings of chamber and orchestral music. He holds degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma, New York University, and the University of Oklahoma. THe list of distinguished conductors Moon has studied with include Jonathan Shames, John Jeter, and, in masterclass, with world-renown conductor Sergiu Comissiona. His piano studies have been guided by Jan Pokorny Steele, Lee Dai Wook, Dierdre O'Donohue, Ed Gates, and noted Van Cliburn medalist Valery Kuleshov while his viola studies have been with Ralph Morris and Matthew Dane.

JOANN FALLETTA

Sewanee Symphony Week 4

Festival Orchestra, Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition

Multiple GRAMMY Award-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta serves as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Connie and Marc Jacobson Music Director Laureate of the Virginia Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center, and Conductor Laureate of the Hawaii Symphony. She was recently named one of the “Fifty Great Conductors,” past and present, by Gramophone Magazine, and is hailed for her work as a conductor, recording artist, audience builder, and champion of American composers.

As Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Falletta became the first woman to lead a major American orchestra, and has been credited with bringing the Philharmonic to an unprecedented level of national and international prominence. The Buffalo Philharmonic has become one of the leading recording orchestras for Naxos, with two GRAMMY Award-winning recordings.

Internationally, Falletta has conducted many of the most prominent orchestras in Europe, Asia, and South America. Her recent and upcoming North American guest conducting includes the National Symphony, the orchestras of Boston, Baltimore, Nashville, Indianapolis, Houston, Toronto, Quebec, and a concert at Alice Tully Hall with her alma mater, The Juilliard Orchestra. In 2022, she led the National Symphony in two PBS televised specials for New Year’s Eve and the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center, and made her Boston Symphony Orchestra debut at the Tanglewood Music Center.

With a discography of over 125 titles, Falletta is a leading recording artist for Naxos. She has won two individual GRAMMY Awards, including the 2021 GRAMMY Award for Best Choral Performance as conductor of the world premiere Naxos recording, Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua. In 2019, she won her first individual GRAMMY Award as conductor of the London Symphony in the Best Classical Compendium category for Spiritualist, her fifth world premiere recording of the music of Kenneth Fuchs. Her Naxos recording of John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan received two GRAMMYs in 2008. Her 2020 Naxos recording of orchestral music of Florent Schmitt with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra received the prestigious Diapason d’Or Award. Last season, Naxos released two highly praised albums with Falletta and the BPO, Alexander Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy and Symphony No. 2, and a recording of two concertos by award-winning American composers, Danny Elfman’s violin concerto Eleven Eleven performed by Sandy Cameron, and Adolphus Hailstork’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Stewart Goodyear.

Falletta is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has served by Presidential appointment as a Member of the National Council on the Arts. She has conducted over 1,600 orchestral works by more than 600 composers, including over 135 works by women composers, and over 150 premieres. After earning her bachelor’s degree at Mannes, Falletta received master’s and doctoral degrees from The Juilliard School.

Falletta has held the positions of Principal Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, Music Director of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Denver Chamber Orchestra and The Women’s Philharmonic. For more information, visit www.joannfalletta.com.

MUSIC FESTIVAL FACULTY

Strings

Mari-Liis Päkk, violin

Jessica Dan Fan*, violin

Lin He, violin

Andrii Isakov, violin

Brittany MacWilliams, violin

Anna Reider, violin

Jane Stewart*, violin

Philippe Chao, viola

Woodwinds

Donna Shin, flute

Jessica Dunnavant, flute

Nermis Mieses*, oboe

Cecilia Kang, clarinet

Mingzhe Wang, clarinet

Amy Pollard, bassoon

Maya Stone, bassoon

Jessica Smithorn, woodwind chamber coordinator

Piano

Steve Beck

Megan Gale

Xavier Suarez*

Harp

Gaye LeBlanc

Percussion

Phillip O’Banion

Pablo Rieppi

She-e Wu

John Kilkenny*

*Sewanee Summer Music Festival Alumnus

Hillary Herndon, viola

Sheldon Person, viola

Meghan Berindean, cello & string chamber coordinator

Jason Calloway, cello

Natasha Farny, cello

Tim Pearson*, double bass

Sam Suggs, double bass

Brass

Imani Duhe*, trumpet

Peter Bond, trumpet

Jason Allison, horn

Caroline Kinsey, horn

Brittany Lasch, trombone

Martin McCain, trombone

Eric Bubacz*, tuba

Composition

Jorge Variego, Composition program director

Vincent Oppido, film scoring

Mindfulness & Wellbeing

Eva Cappelletti Chao, Life Coach for Musicians

Robie Jackson, yoga

*Sewanee Summer Music Festival Alumnus

OperaFest

Laura Brooks Rice, OperaFest program director

Elena Kholodova, coach

Dugg McDonough, drama coach

Jordan Schreiner, coach

Jennifer Szeto, coach

William Woodward, coach

For full biographical information, please visit ssmf.sewanee.edu/people/faculty

JOHN KILKENNY, Executive Director

John Kilkenny, hailed as a "particularly fine timpanist" by The Washington Post, leads a dynamic 21st-century musical career that includes regular orchestral, solo, and chamber music performances worldwide. Over a nearly twenty-year career, he has been engaged by various performing arts organizations, from the National Symphony and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra to the New York Pops and New York City Ballet.

He tours regularly, presenting solo recitals and masterclasses at leading universities and conservatories, including The Eastman School of Music, Central Conservatory in Beijing, The China Conservatory, The National Institute of Music in San Jose, The University of Costa Rica, The University of Michigan, New York University, Rice, The Juilliard Pre-College, Interlochen, and many others. In 2015 and again in 2017, he led successful tours of Costa Rica, making his international conducting debut with the Banda Concertos in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Recent concerto highlights include multiple performances of Michael Daugherty's "Raise the Roof: Concerto for Timpani," The Philip Glass Concerto Fantasy for two Timpanists, and Viet Cuong's "Re(NEW)," among others.

John recently completed sixteen years as Director of Percussion Studies at George Mason University. During his long tenure, the Mason Percussion Group appeared at national and international conferences, including VMEA, NYSSMA, CMS regional and National Conferences, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. A named scholarship was also established for the former principal timpanist of the National Symphony, Fred Begun. In 2018, he was appointed Artistic and Executive Director of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival after several years of serving on the faculty.

His arrival at Sewanee has ushered in a new era of administrative and artistic growth, with a 25% increase in enrollment and new programs, including OperaFest Sewanee and Concerto Lab. Dynamic new programming at Sewanee has led to a significant increase in annual giving and multiple endowment gifts. From 2022 to 2024, he was Executive Director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, and he began his tenure with the Grammy Award-winning New York Youth Symphony in 2024.

SEWANEE MUSIC CENTER STAFF

Anna Burklin*** Manager of Marketing & Admissions

We gratefully acknowledge the hard work of Jesse-Katharine McKee and Robert Esposito in preparation for the 2024 Sewanee Summer Music Festival.

SEWANEE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASONAL STAFF

ARTISTIC

OPERATIONS

Michael Barranco Operations Coordinator

Robin Raisch* Sewanee Symphony Manager

Gabriel Stoelzel Cumberland Orchestra Manager

Zachary Raphael Student Chamber Coordinator

Nate Ben-Horin OperaFest Program Cooordinator

Allison Giltinan Music Librarian

Briana Hanson Digital Producer

Bruce Mangan* Director of Production

Sunny Bowers Production Assistant

Rielly Harris Production Assistant

Jackie Brettschneider** Operations / Front of House Assistant

Katherine Fair

Coordinator of Box office, Marketing, and Community Engagement

RESIDENCE LIFE

Daniel Perez Director of Residence Life

Olivia Stafford*** Conference Services Liaison

Kate Dossell** Resident Assistant

Jun Han Resident Assistant

Aidan Osias** Resident Assistant

Lauren Patton Resident Assistant

*SSMF Alumnus

**University of the South Student ***University of the South Alumnus

The Estate of John G. Bratton *as of May 7, 2024*

Leadership Circle

Director's Circle

Cheryl & Michael R. Hulsen

Dabney Moore

Dr. Stephanie C. & Mr. Richard L. Boeth

Elizabeth & Louis E. Koella

Ernest J. Moench

Jan and Joseph DeLozier, III

John M. Kilkenny

Joseph N. Pierce

Christopher N. Bellows

David N. Stone

Dugg McDonough

J. Truman Bidwell, Jr. and Ludmila S. Bidwell

Lydia Qiu

Margaret & Robert A. Ayres

Andrea W. and Andrew Dixon

Anne C. & R. Woodruff Deutsch

Anonymous

Barbara Jacksier

Carol & W. Harold Bigham

Christie & Stephen P. Carl

Gene H. Moon

James E. Sparks, Jr.

Jane and John Flynn

Joan Porte

John R. Furman

Joy H. McKee

Judith A. Kilkenny

Jun Cai & Jun Lu

Linda & Harlan Harber

Linda A. Monson

Luann & David M. Landon

Mary P. Priestley

Andrew Swers

Betsy E. Miller & Anne Metz

Brittany K. MacWilliams

David C. Clough, Jr.

Destiny S. Sewell

Elias H. Parker

Elise A. Kikis & Stephen Ray Miller

Erik Stafford Pittman

Jason L. Allison

Jean Porte

Laura & Edward J. Crawford III

Laura Brooks Rice

Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club

Pamela & Greg Maloof

Rogene Howard

Sue E. & Gus S. Hiller

Tansill & John S. Hille

The Very Reverend Bruce D. McMillan

Mary H. Hutmacher

Patricia & Tommy Sipes

Susan L. D. Peek

Trudy and Joel Cunningham

William B. Guenther

Supporter

Michelle Ouellet

Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Cotter

Neida Witherspoon & Bill Thompson

Phebe Hethcock

Rachel Lynch

Robert Marion Wilbanks, Jr.

S. Erin McGraw & Andrew L. Hudgins, Jr.

Sandra & Louis W. Rice III

Sarah M. Hubbard

Sewanee Woman's Club

Sidney & H. David Hickey, Jr.

Susan & Jack W. Steinmeyer

Sylviane & George W. Poe

Taylor A. Brown

The Rev. Scott C. Lee

Timothy E. Pearson

Tracy D. Ward

V. Eugene G. Ham

Friend

Jenny McHenry

Jesse-Katharine N. Owens

Melissa & Ernest R. Washburn IV

Mr. David R. Wilkes

Natasha H. Farny

Sandra L. Carr

Sherrie Taylor

Susanne & Anthony C. Sgueglia

Yolande & Robert R. Gottfried

Named Chairs

The Martha McCrory Principal Cello Chair of the Cumberland Orchestra and Sewanee Symphony Given by the family of Martha McCrory

The Dr. Stephanie Smith Principal Timpani Chair of the Sewanee Symphony Given by Dr. Stephanie Smith

Tansill & John S. Hille Faculty Flute Chair Given by Tansill & John S. Hille

Jaccqueline Avent SSMF Scholarship Prize Fund established by Walter E. Nance, M.D. & Mayna Avent Nance

Blaffer SSMF Endowment funded by the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation

The Frederick Hailey Croom, Jr. Cello Scholarship established by a gift of Dr. Henrietta Brown Croom in honor of her son

Dudley Fort SSMF Scholarship Fund established by Dr. Dudley Fort, Jr.

Endowments

Special Scholarships

Bruce Dinkins Alumni Scholarship

Grace Russell Scholarship

Rice Family Opera Scholarship

Martha McCrory Memorial Fund established through a bequest by Martha McCrory

Kathlyn B. Hays SSMF Scholarship Fund established through a bequest by Kathlyn Hays

Elmer & Katherine Ingram SSMF Scholarship Fund established through a bequest by Mr. & Mrs. Ingram

John G. Bratton Memorial Fund established by a bequest of John G. Bratton

In Memoriam

Neville

David and Lorraine Schlatter SSMF Fund established by Mr. and Mrs. Schlatter

Dortha Skelton Violin Scholarship Fund established by a bequest of Dortha Skelton

Martha Clark Dugan SSMF Artist-inResidence Fund established by the family of Martha Clark Dugan to bring workd class artists to SSMF

We would like to recognize our recently deceased longtime supporters. Their legacy lives on through the lives of each young musician who attends the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.

Henrietta B. Croom

John G. Bratton

Dolores Snowden

James M. Pierce

About the newly established John G. Bratton Memorial Fund:

This scholarship was established in memory of John Gass Bratton, C'51. Its purpose is to help promising young musicians attend the Sewanee Summer Music Festival (SSMF) and pursue their artistic goals at the Festival. In addition, there will be a dedicated John G. Bratton Memorial Concert each summer to recognize John's philanthropic work and honor his memory and legacy as a true friend and Gentleman of Sewanee.

During his lifetime, John attended nearly every concert of the SSMF/SSMC and SMC since the program's founding, either in person or online. He was involved in many ways, including leading the volunteer program, supporting faculty events, and contributing his time, energy, and resources. John was particularly proud of a recent addition to the Festival, OperaFest Sewanee.

George & Mamie Neville SSMF Scholsrhip Fund established by Holton C. Rush in memory of George and Mamie

For a full schedule of events, please visit ssmf.sewanee.edu/events

Please consider donating to the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Find more information at ssmf.sewanee.edu/support-us