houston symphony magazine september 2011

� www.houstonsymphony.org

Official Program Magazine of the Houston Symphony615 Louisiana, Suite 102, Houston, Texas 77002(713) 224-4240 • www.houstonsymphony.orgContents ••

September • 2011

Programs1� September 2-4

14 September 8-10�� September 11

�4 September 16-18�7 September 22-25

On Stage and Off30 Chorus

4 Credits3�-39 Donors

9 From the Orchestra7 Hans Graf

11 Letter to Patrons10 Orchestra and Staff

31 Symphony Society

Features40 Backstage Pass

6 Celebrate the Symphony�0 Upcoming Performances

8 With Gratitude

Cover photo by Leah Polkowske. Musicians on the cover: Eric Larson, Kevin Dvorak, Kiju Joh

For advertising contact New Leaf Publishing at (713) 523-5323 [email protected] • www.newleafinc.com • 2006 Huldy, Houston, Texas 77019

15 27Hans Graf celebrates the begin-ning of the season with an Opening Night performance of Beethoven’s resounding Symphony No. 9.

Brilliant Russian pianist Olga Kern returns to Jones Hall in a breathtaking performance of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

6 Don’t miss out on the Symphony’s joyous celebrations this season. Turn to page 6 for the full events calendar.

4 www.houstonsymphony.org

Credits...........................

www.newleafinc.com (713) 5�3-53�3

Mark C. Hanson Executive Director/CEOHolly Cassard EditorCarl Cunningham Program AnnotatorElaine Reeder Mayo Editorial Consultant

Janet Meyer [email protected] Gumney Art [email protected] Greenberg Projects [email protected] Powell Account [email protected] Clark CC Catalyst CommunicationsMarlene Walker Walker Media LLCSarah Hill InternAnn Zhu InternThe activities and projects of the Houston Symphony are funded in part by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Houston.

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at The Woodlands is the Summer Home of the Houston Symphony.

Digital pre-media services by Vertis APS Houston

Contents copyright © 2011 by the Houston Symphony

LATE SEATING In consideration of audience mem-bers, the Houston Symphony makes every effort to begin concerts on time. Ushers will assist with late seating at pre-designated intervals. You may be asked to sit in a location other than your ticketed seat until the end of that portion of the concert. You will be able to move to your ticketed seat at the concert break.

CHILDREN AT CONCERTS In consideration of our patrons, we ask that children be 6 years and older to attend Houston Symphony concerts. Children of all ages, including infants, are admitted to Weatherford Family Concerts. Any child over age 1 must have a ticket for those performances.

CAMERAS, RECORDERS, CELL PHONES & PAGERS Cameras and recorders are not permitted in the hall. Patrons may not use any device to record or pho-tograph performances. Please silence cell phones, pagers and alarm watches and refrain from texting during performances.


Celebrate the Symphony!.................................................................................

Join us for these joyful celebrations

throughout the year!SAVE THE DATES

Opening Night GalaSaturday, September 10, 2011

Vintage VirtuosoThursday, December 1, 2011

Magical Musical MorningSunday, December 4, 2011

Houston Symphony BallFriday, March 23, 2012

Children’s Fashion Show and LuncheonSaturday, April 21, 2012

Maestro’s Wine DinnerSunday, May 20, 2012

For information on any of these special events that provide important support for the

Houston Symphony, contact our Special Events Team at: (713) 238-1485 or [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JENN

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DAvENPORT AN

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Exclusive Media Sponsor, Events

September 2011 7

Hans Graf Biography..........................................................................................

Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, distinguished Austrian conductor Hans Graf—the Houston Symphony’s 15th Music Director—is one of today’s most highly respected musicians. He began his tenure here on Opening Night of the 2001-2002 season.

Prior to his appointment in Houston, he was music director of the Calgary Philharmonic, the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra and the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra.

A frequent guest with all of the major North American orchestras, Graf has developed a close relationship with the Boston Symphony and appears regularly with the orchestra during the subscription season and at the Tanglewood Music Festival.

He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Houston Symphony in January 2006 and returned leading the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in March 2007. He and the Houston Symphony were invited to appear at Carnegie Hall in January 2010 to present the New York premiere of The Planets—An HD Odyssey and will return in May 2012 to

participate in Carnegie’s Spring for Music Festival. Internationally, Graf conducts in the foremost concert halls of Europe, Japan and Australia. In October 2010, he

led the Houston Symphony on a tour of the UK to present the international premiere of The Planets—An HD Odyssey. He has participated in the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Bregenz, Aix en Provence and Salzburg Festivals. His recent

U.S. festival appearances include Tanglewood, Blossom Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival and the Grant Park Music Festival in downtown Chicago.

An experienced opera conductor, Graf first conducted the vienna State Opera in 1981 and has since led productions in the opera houses of Berlin, Munich, Paris and Rome, including several world premieres. Recent engagements include

Parsifal at the zurich Opera and Boris Godunov at the Opera National du Rhin in Strasbourg. Born in 1949 near Linz, Graf studied violin and piano as a child. He earned diplomas in piano and conducting from

the Musikhochschule in Graz and continued his studies with Franco Ferrara, Sergiu Celibidache and Arvid Jansons.His career was launched in 1979 when he was awarded first prize at the Karl Böhm Competition. His extensive

discography includes recordings with the Houston Symphony, available through houstonsymphony.org: works by Bartók and Stravinsky, zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony, Berg’s Three Pieces from the Lyric Suite and a DvD of The Planets—An HD Odyssey.

Graf has been awarded the Chevalier de l’ordre de la Legion d’Honneur by the French government for championing French music around the world and the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria. Hans and Margarita Graf have homes in Salzburg and Houston. They have one daughter, Anna, who lives in vienna.

PHOTO BY SANDY LAN

KFORD


With Gratitude...................................................................................................

“More than 1,200 people made first-time gifts to

the Houston Symphony’s Annual Fund and joined more than 3,000 renew-

ing donors in contributing a record $8.4 million and qualifying the Symphony

for an extra $1 million gift from Houston

Endowment.

I echo the praise from the Houston Chronicle’s

Editorial Board.

Thank you, Houston!” – Mark C. Hanson,

Executive Director & CEO

September 2011 9

From the Orchestra............................................................................................

PHOTO BY SANDY LAN

KFORD

Welcome! As we celebrate Maestro Graf’s penultimate season, we also welcome some of the best new conducting talents in the world as we continue the search for his successor. Add to this, visits from many of the world’s top soloists, a season full of the greatest music ever written, a world premiere, a visit from former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach and a return engagement at Carnegie Hall next spring, and you can see why we are so eager to share this season with you!

The beginning of our season coincides with the start of the school year and a time when many children consider learning a musical instrument. There are a growing number of studies showing the broad benefits children gain from studying an instrument: everything from improved spatial perception and concentration to improved self-confidence and self-expression, before even beginning to consider the cultural value music adds to the child’s life.

venezuela’s El Sistema program takes at-risk children off the streets and trains them to play classical instruments. Some go on to become professional musicians, but the discipline and devotion they learn in the study of classical music helps them all become successful adults. Indeed, the more the evidence mounts of the broad-ranging beneficial effects of musical study, the more it seems wrong that not every child has a chance to learn. The Houston Symphony partnered with Fidelity Investments and began a new program to help restore and enhance music programs to as many schools as we can reach, but for those fortunate enough to have the opportunity, nothing replaces private study with an instructor.

Many of my friends tell me “my child took lessons, but he didn’t like it” or “she didn’t show any great talent and didn’t like practicing, so we stopped.” I could never imagine the same parents saying “my child

tried reading, but didn’t really like it, so we stopped.” I promise you that every person onstage tonight had times when they didn’t like it and fought against practicing. Practicing is hard, and not always fun, but it is precisely because we try something difficult, and slowly learn to master it, that music builds our confidence and our brains. Today we are conditioned by the myth of genius to feel that if our children don’t show instant talent or passion for something, we should look for some area where they can excel with less effort. But the notion that most successes are Mozart-like prodigies is just wrong. Even Mozart didn’t write his greatest works until he was in his thirties, and virtually every musician is more the product of hard work than inherent gifts. The greatest benefit of music study is not for those for whom it is easy, but for those for whom it is hard.

I teach my daughter music not because I want her to become a musician, but because I want her to know that with persistence and consistent work she can master any challenge in her life. I hope all of you will consider giving your children and grandchildren the gift of music education—the benefits are truly life-changing. Enjoy the concert!

Brinton Averil SmithPrincipal Cello


Hans Graf, Music DirectorRoy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Michael Krajewski, Principal Pops Conductor

Sponsor, Cameron Management

Robert Franz, Associate Conductor

Sponsor, Madison Charitable Foundation

FIRST VIOLIN:Frank Huang, Concertmaster Max Levine ChairEric Halen, Associate Concertmaster

Ellen E. Kelley ChairAssia Dulgerska, Assistant Concertmaster

Cornelia and Meredith Long ChairQi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster Fondren Foundation ChairMarina Brubaker, Hewlett-Packard Company ChairAlexandra AdkinsMiHee ChungSophia SilivosRodica GonzalezFerenc IllenyiSi-Yang LaoKurt JohnsonChristopher NealSergei Galperin

SECOND VIOLIN:Jennifer Owen, PrincipalHitai Lee, Acting Associate PrincipalKiju JohMihaela Oancea-FrusinaRuth zeger Margaret BraggMartha ChapmanKevin KellyChristine PastorekAmy TeareSarah Ludwig*Emily Herdeman*

VIOLA:Wayne Brooks, PrincipalJoan DerHovsepian, Associate

PrincipalGeorge Pascal, Assistant PrincipalWei JiangLinda GoldsteinSheldon PersonFay ShapiroDaniel Strba Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor ChairThomas MolloyPhyllis Herdliska

CELLO:Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Janice and Thomas Barrow ChairChristopher French,

Associate PrincipalHaeri JuJeffrey ButlerKevin DvorakXiao WongMyung Soon LeeJames Denton Anthony Kitai

DOuBLE BASS:David Malone, Acting PrincipalMark Shapiro, Acting Associate

PrincipalEric LarsonRobert PastorekBurke ShawDonald HoweyMichael McMurray

FLuTE:Aralee Dorough, Principal

General Maurice Hirsch ChairJohn Thorne, Associate PrincipalJudy DinesAllison Jewett**

PICCOLO:Allison Jewett**

OBOE:Anne Leek, Acting Principal

Lucy Binyon Stude Chair Xiaodi Liu, Acting Associate Principal Colin GatwoodAdam Dinitz

ENGLISH HORN:Adam Dinitz

CLARINET:David Peck, PrincipalThomas LeGrand, Associate

PrincipalChristian SchubertAlexander Potiomkin***

E-FLAT CLARINET:Thomas LeGrand

BASS CLARINET:Alexander Potiomkin***

Tassie and Constantine S. Nicandros Chair

BASSOON:Rian Craypo, Principal** Stewart Orton ChairEric Arbiter, Acting Principal American General ChairJ. Jeff Robinson, Acting Associate PrincipalElise Wagner

CONTRABASSOON:J. Jeff Robinson

HORN:William verMeulen, PrincipalJacek Muzyk, Associate PrincipalBrian Thomas

Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Chair

Nancy GoodearlPhilip StantonJulie Thayer

TRuMPET:Mark Hughes, Principal

George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair

John DeWitt, Associate Principal Robert Walp, Assistant PrincipalAnthony Prisk

Speros P. Martel Chair

TROMBONE:Allen Barnhill, PrincipalBradley White, Associate PrincipalPhillip Freeman

BASS TROMBONE:Phillip Freeman

TuBA:Dave Kirk, Principal

TIMPANI:Ronald Holdman, PrincipalBrian Del Signore, Associate Principal

PERCuSSION:Brian Del Signore, PrincipalMark GriffithMatthew Strauss

HARP:Paula Page, Principal

KEyBOARD:Scott Holshouser, Principal

Neva Watkins West Chair

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER:

Steve Wenig

ASSISTANT ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER:

Michael Gorman

LIBRARIAN:Thomas Takaro

ASSISTANT LIBRARIANS:Erik GronforMichael McMurray

STAGE MANAGER:Donald Ray Jackson

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER:Kelly Morgan

STAGE TECHNICIAN:Toby Bluntzoltan FabryCory Grant

*Contracted Substitute**Leave of Absence***Regular Substitute

Steinway is the official piano of the Houston Symphony. James B. Kozak, Piano Technician. Local assistance is provided by Forshey Piano Co.

The Houston Symphony’s concert piano is a gift of Mrs. Helen B. Rosenbaum.

Orchestra and Staff............................................................................................Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/CEOMartha García, Assistant to the Executive DirectorMeg Philpot, Director of Human ResourcesAmanda Tozzi, Director, Executive Operations

steven Brosvik, General ManagerRoger Daily, Director, Music Matters!Kristin L. Johnson, Director, Operations and ProductionSteve Wenig, Orchestra Personnel ManagerMichael Gorman, Assistant Orchestra Personnel ManagerDonald Ray Jackson, Stage ManagerKelly Morgan, Assistant Stage ManagerMeredith Williams, Operations AssistantCarol Wilson, Manager, Music Matters!

MiCHael D. Pawson, Chief Financial OfficerSally Brassow, ControllerPhilip Gulla, Director, TechnologyAmed Hamila, Director, Database SupportHeather Fails, Manager, Ticketing DatabaseJanis Pease LaRocque, Manager, Patron DatabaseKay Middleton, ReceptionistMaria Ross, Payroll ManagerArmin (A.J.) Salge, Network Systems EngineerChris Westerfelt, Manager, Accounts Payable and

Special Projects

aurelie DesMarais, Senior Director, Artistic PlanningMerle N. Bratlie, Director, Artist ServicesLesley Sabol, Manager, Popular ProgrammingThomas Takaro, Librarian Erik Gronfor, Assistant LibrarianMichael McMurray, Assistant LibrarianRebecca zabinski, Artistic Associate

Glenn taylor, Senior Director, MarketingAllison Gilbert, Director of Marketing, Subscription &

Group SalesMelissa H. Lopez, Director of Marketing, Special ProjectsCarlos Vicente, Director of Marketing, Single TicketsJenny Zuniga, Director, Patron ServicesNatalie Ferguson, Graphic DesignerJeff Gilmer, Group Representative, Inside SalesJason Landry, Senior Manager, Patron ServicesErin Mushalla, Marketing AssistantMelissa Pate, Assistant Manager, Patron Services

RepresentativesDerrick Rose, Group Representative, Outside SalesMelissa Seuffert, Marketing Manager, Digital Media/

Young Audience Engagement

Jennifer r. Mire, Senior Director, CommunicationsHolly Cassard, Manager, CommunicationsClair Studdard, Assistant, Communications

Tara BlaCk, Director, Major and Individual GivingStePHanie Jones, Director, EventsVickie Hamley, Director, volunteer ServicesBrandon VanWaeyenberghe, Director, Corporate

RelationsPeter yenne, Director, Foundation Relations and

Development CommunicationsJessica Ford, Gifts OfficerSamantha Gonzalez, Manager, EventsRobin Lewis, Development Assistant, Gifts and RecordsSarah Slemmons, Development Associate, Administrative

ServicesLena Streetman, Manager, Prospect ResearchConductor

....Clarinets.

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.......Flutes.

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....Cello

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....Bassoons.

......Oboes.

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.........Violas.

Second.Violins.

Firs

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lins.

.....Horns.

.Trumpets.

..................Trombones. ....Tuba.

.........Percussion.

September 2011 11

Letter to Patrons.................................................................................................

Welcome back to Jones Hall for the start of our exciting 2011-12 season!We are launching our season with a viva Italia! weekend of Pops concerts and performances of

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony that feature both the Houston Symphony and Chorus. As always, our classical opening weekend is generously sponsored by ConocoPhillips, and Fidelity Investments returns as our Classical Series sponsor. BBVA Compass returns as the presenting sponsor of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pops Series. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony will also be the inaugural concert of our new Sugar Land Series on September 8, and the Symphony extends special thanks to Regions Bank for its help in launching this series.

We congratulate and thank Kathi and Bill Rovere for their tireless efforts as chairs of our Opening Night Gala “Ode to Joy” on Saturday, September 10. Honorees Helen and Jim Shaffer have been longtime patrons, and we look forward to saluting their years of support at the party! This year, we are delighted to extend a special Community Partner Award to another longtime supporter, The Methodist Hospital System, the official health-care provider of the Houston Symphony.

In addition to the spectacular start to the 2011-12 season, we invite you to experience all of the season’s offerings including the new Friday night ACCESS Series debuting in November; the three-week RachFest! in January; and Orbit—An HD Odyssey, the Earth-focused sequel to the hit Planets project, with its world premiere February 18, 2012.

As a non-profit organization, all of the Houston Symphony’s activities are made possible by the generous support of thousands of Houstonians along with numerous corporations, foundations and government agencies. In fact, donors contributed a record $8.4 million to our Annual Fund last year and helped us achieve the first mil-lion dollar challenge grant set forth by Houston Endowment. A second challenge is already underway, giving us another opportunity to qualify for an additional one million dollar grant during the 2011-12 season. The impact of meeting the Houston Endowment challenge has been affirming. It’s encouraging to know that more than 1,200 donors made first-time gifts to the Annual Fund and that the Houston Chronicle’s editorial board recognized this achievement and congratulated the community in their June 18 opinion piece for supporting the Symphony. We couldn’t agree more! Turn to page 8 to see a reprint of the column.

Key to our success has been the unwavering and strong support of our Board of Trustees, and we enthusi-astically welcome our newest members: Samuel Abraham, Marie Bosarge, Ralph Burch, Michael Doherty, Ryan Krogmeier, Billy McCartney, Kevin Meyers, Jim R. Smith and Cary P. Yates. We also recognize the continued and outstanding service of Jesse Tutor, current chairman, past president and lifetime trustee, and Bob Peiser, president-elect.

Bobby Tudor President

Mark C. Hanson Executive Director/CEO

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER PORTRAITS

PHOTO BY BRUCE BENN

ETT

Program

1� www.houstonsymphony.org

Krajewski

Biographies.............................................................................................................................................

Friday, September �, �011 8 pm

Saturday, September 3, �011 8 pm

Sunday, September 4, �011 7:30 pm

Jones Hall

Viva Italia!Michael Krajewski, conductor Poperazzi Janien Valentine George DeMott Cody Shawn Gay

Arr. R. Wendel Balli il Tarantella!

Verdi Libiamo, ne’lieti calici (Brindisi) from La Traviata

Puccini O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi

C. Bixio/J. Matthys Mamma, son tanto felice

Rossini/R. Nelson Largo al factotum from The Barber of Seville

Arr. Nelson Salute to the Italian Tenor

Sager-Foster/W. Ross The Prayer

Puccini Nessun dorma from Turandot

Denza/G. Chiaramello Funiculì-Funiculà

INTERMISSION

Arr. F. Barton That’s Volare!

yeston/J. Wasson Be Italian from Nine

M. Frangoulis/Matthys Sometimes I Dream

Rota/G. Prechel Music from The Godfather

Arr. T. Berens Sinatra Suite

Arr. Matthys Singing Italian Songs

B. Gaudio/S. Reineke Selections from Jersey Boys

Arr. Wasson Jump Jive Boogie Woogie

Presenting Sponsor

Appearances by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski are generously sponsored by Cameron Management.

The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Naxos. Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.

Michael Krajewski, conductorMuch in demand across the United States and Canada, Michael Krajewski delights con-certgoers with his imaginative and entertain-ing programs and his wry sense of humor. Audiences leave his concerts smiling, remem-bering the evening’s music and surprises.

Maestro Krajewski joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Pops Conductor in 2000. His fans especially enjoy his Star Spangled Salute at Miller Outdoor Theatre and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and the Houston holi-day tradition, very Merry Pops.

Krajewski also serves as principal pops conductor of the Jacksonville and Atlanta sym-phony orchestras. He previously held that posi-tion with the Long Beach, New Hampshire and New Mexico symphony orchestras.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL TAM

MAROPOPS

at Jones Hall

CynthiaWoods

Mitchell

At BBvA Compass, we work for a better future for people, understanding that we have a responsibility as a financial institu-tion to use our expertise and resources to benefit the communities where we live, work and play. Central to all communities are performing arts and arts education, and BBvA Compass is committed to supporting them across our footprint.

As an institution, BBvA Compass also strives to meet our clients’ needs through innovative products and services – with a strategic focus on providing customers with financial solutions that are simple, straightforward and built to address indi-vidual needs.

We understand a mutual depen-dence exists between business and society – healthy communities are good for busi-ness and strong businesses are the founda-tion of healthy communities. The Houston Symphony is a cultural and artistic cor-nerstone of the Houston community. BBvA Compass is proud to lend our support once again to this world-class orchestra.

For more information on BBvA Compass, visit www.bbvacompass.com.

September 2011 13

Biographies.............................................................................................................................................

As guest conductor, he has performed with the Boston Pops and the Hollywood Bowl orchestras, and with symphonies across the U.S., including those of Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Francisco and more. In Canada, he has led Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Edmonton and Winnipeg symphonies.

Krajewski has performed with an eclec-tic group of artists including Sir James Galway, Marilyn Horne, Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Al Hirt, Cab Calloway, The Kingston Trio, Ben E. King, Mary Wilson, Patti Austin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Pink Martini.

He conducts the upcoming video Silver Screen Serenade with violinist Jenny Oaks Baker that airs worldwide on BYU Broadcasting. He has led the Houston Symphony on two holi-day albums: Glad Tidings and Christmas Festival.

With degrees from Wayne State University and the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music, Krajewski furthered his training at the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Orchestra Musicians. He was a Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and later served as that orchestra’s assistant conductor.

Michael Krajewski lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Darcy.

PoperazziTenors George DeMott and Cody Shawn Gay and soprano Janien valentine make up the explosive trio, Poperazzi. Their performances are relevant to today’s Pop-Opera genre and groundbreaking in originality. Their show is delighting audiences across the United States and Canada and was recently featured on a PBS broadcast from Madison, Wisconsin.

Currently performing on the Las vegas Strip, Gay brings a diverse range of singing talents that have delivered him to destinations from Tokyo to Berlin. Gay studied vocal per-formance and musical theater at several U.S. universities and the University of Urbino, Italy, where his vocal capacity and acting diversity led him to title roles in Jekyll and Hyde and Phantom, among others.

Classically trained DeMott is a mix of classic masculinity and charm, capturing the essence of great singers from days gone by

Poperazzi

© TIFFAN

Y FONG

with his unique contemporary style. He has won several awards and competitions including the 1993 Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition’s regional finals and the National Italian-American Foundation’s Luciano Pavarotti Scholarship. DeMott has produced two albums: Serenade, a collection of Mario Lanza’s signa-ture songs and classic tenor serenades, and Two for My Baby, featuring pop-opera favorites, Broadway and jazz classics.

valentine, the beautiful ingénue of the trio, started her career at 16 by getting her first

recording contract with Amherst Records. She landed her first audition for the hit Las vegas show, Starlight Express. She has starred in three world premiere musicals: Notre Dame de Paris, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and, most recently, the title role of Carmen. valentine has been voted Best Female Singer and Thespian by the Las Vegas Review Journal and the Las Vegas Sun. Currently, she co-stars in PeepShow, the hit show at Planet Hollywood.

visit www.PoperazzivocalGroup.com.

By CARL CUNNINGHAMProgram


Thursday, September 8, �011 8 pm

Sugar Land Baptist Church

Beethoven 9: Ode to JoyHans Graf, conductor Jessica Rivera, soprano

*Sasha Cooke, mezzo-sopranoGordon Gietz, tenorNathan Berg, bass-baritone Houston Symphony Chorus Charles Hausmann, director

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125 (Choral) I Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso II Molto vivace III Adagio molto e cantabile—Andante moderato IV Presto—Allegro assai—Allegro assai vivace

There will be no intermission.

*Houston Symphony debut

Hans Graf’s biography appears on page 7.

Tonight’s performance is sponsored by

The printed music for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was donated by Tim and Katherine Pownell.


SyMPHONy NO. 9 IN D MINOR, OPuS 1�5 (Choral)Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Recording: Kurt Masur conducting the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Leipzig Radio Chorus, with Anna Tomowa-Simtow, Anneliese Burmeis-ter, Peter Schreier and Theo Adam as soloists (Pentatone)

Instrumentation: two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, percussion and strings

Could any experience bring a stronger mix of pity and joy than the sight of the deaf Beethoven being gently turned toward the audience, to be made aware of its wild applause at the pre-miere of an epic symphony he created but could not hear?

Several eyewitnesses, including mem-bers of the orchestra, recalled that event at the first performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on May 7, 1824, at vienna’s Kärntnertor Theater. By that point, the com-poser was profoundly deaf and, although he insisted upon standing next to the conductor, turning pages of his own score and beating time, the musicians were instructed to pay no attention to him. At one point, he fell so far behind the pace of the music that he was furiously turning pages and beating time to the second-movement Scherzo, well after the orchestra had begun the seraphic Adagio that forms the symphony’s third movement.

Anton Schindler, Beethoven’s loyal friend,

Notes.........................

Continued on page 16

Regions Financial Corporation, with $140 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 100 Index and one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities bro-kerage, mortgage and insurance products and services.

Regions has 27 locations in and around the Greater Houston area featur-ing full-service commercial banking, busi-ness banking and private banking lines of business. In addition, Regions also has a newly created energy group and closely partners with its investment and securi-ties brokerage trust and asset manage-ment division, Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., to serve its diverse customer base.

Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest and Texas and operates approximately 1,900 banking offices and 2,300 ATMs. For more information: www.regions.com.



Friday, September 9, �011 7:30 pm

Saturday, September 10, �011 7:30 pm

Jones Hall

Opening Night: Ode to JoyHans Graf, conductor Jessica Rivera, sopranoSasha Cooke, mezzo-sopranoGordon Gietz, tenorNathan Berg, bass-baritone Houston Symphony Chorus Charles Hausmann, director

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125 (Choral) I Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso II Molto vivace III Adagio molto e cantabile—Andante moderato IV Presto—Allegro assai—Allegro assai vivace

There will be no intermission.


Opening Night is sponsored by

The printed music for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was donated by Tim and Katherine Pownell.


Friday’s concert is being recorded for future broadcast and Saturday’s concert will be broadcast live on Classical 91.7 FM the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony.

ConocoPhillips has been a proud sponsor of the Houston Symphony for more than 25 years and commends the Symphony on its leadership in advancing Houston’s vibrant arts community. The Houston Symphony has enriched the lives of countless indi-viduals through the performance of excep-tional music.

Headquartered in Houston, ConocoPhillips is an integrated energy company with interests around the world. The company applauds the Symphony’s efforts to promote music education and cul-tural awareness in the Houston community.

helper, general secretary and first biographer, told a similar story of unexpectedly encounter-ing the deaf composer working on the Ninth Symphony’s companion piece, the Missa Solemnis, five years earlier. “In one of the living rooms, behind closed doors,” Schindler wrote, “we heard the master singing, howling and stamping his foot over the Credo fugue. We had listened for some time to the awful scene and were about to leave, when the door opened and Beethoven stood facing us with features so distorted as to fill one with alarm. He looked as though he had just survived a life-and-death battle with the whole host of contrapuntalists, his perpetual opponents.”

These anecdotes make one realize how firmly the door to the world of actual musi-cal sound had been closed upon Beethoven’s ears in the final years of his life. His music, sometimes Olympian, sometimes beatific, lived entirely within his mind. Unlike most compos-ers, he could not test his musical ideas out at the keyboard, nor could he revise the music or its orchestration after the first performance. Later generations of musicians have com-mented upon certain technically impracti-cal aspects of Beethoven’s late works, such as choral parts placed in terribly high voice registers in the finale of his Ninth Symphony. By and large, however, the work stands as a mighty testament to the keen accuracy of Beethoven’s interior hearing and the mastery he had achieved over his compositional craft.

As a musical document, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is not so much a summation of everything that came before, as a great cannon blast that set a precedent echoing throughout the entire 19th century. Symphonic compos-ers stood in awe of the work and attempted to duplicate Beethoven’s unique idea of using a choral finale, though few equaled its powerful thrust and huge scale. Two choral-orchestral

Notes continued from page 14..................................................................................................................................

September 2011 17

Notes continued from page 14..................................................................................................................................

symphonies by Berlioz, Mendelssohn’s Second Symphony (subtitled Song of Praise), Liszt’s Faust Symphony and at least three symphonies by Mahler all drew upon the choral example of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. And though they were purely instrumental works, the monumen-tal symphonies of Anton Bruckner’s mature years may have found their inspiration in the huge scale of the Beethoven symphony.

Musical statements of such importance and immensity do not spring suddenly from a composer’s imagination. Alexander Thayer, who wrote the first comprehensive 19th-cen-tury biography of Beethoven, indicated that the composer first considered setting to music Friedrich Schiller’s poem, the Ode to Joy, in 1793, some 40 years before he included sev-eral verses of the poem in the closing move-ment of the Ninth Symphony. Modern scholar Maynard Solomon finds hints of philosophical or musical ideas for the Ninth Symphony even earlier, in two 1790 cantatas Beethoven com-posed marking the death of Austrian Emperor Joseph II and the coronation of his succes-sor, Leopold II.

Beethoven’s Fantasia, Opus 80 for Solo Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, is a much more obvious preparatory study for the final choral movement of the Ninth Symphony. Composed in 1808, it is a curious blend of a piano concerto and a cantata, but it does contain a prototype of the famed melody that became the main theme of the Ode to Joy in the Ninth Symphony.

The Seventh and Eighth symphonies, the Emperor Concerto, the final version of Beethoven’s opera, Fidelio, and various instru-mental and/or keyboard sonatas were among the main works that intervened between the Fantasia and the Ninth Symphony. Beethoven also went through several years of psycholog-ical turmoil because of a brief, failed love affair and his protracted legal dispute with his sister-in-law over custody of his nephew. It was not until 1817 that he accepted a commission from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and began sketches for two new symphonies, one of which became the Ninth Symphony. Work on it was put aside until he completed another huge choral/orchestral work, the Missa Solemnis, in 1821. But the years 1822-23 and the first two months of 1824 were given over to the Ninth Symphony, along with other major works. Three more months were spent arranging for its premiere.

In certain aspects, the Ninth Symphony builds upon achievements of Beethoven’s ear-lier symphonies, while exploring new vistas. Its orchestration, adding piccolo, contrabas-soon, three trombones and extra percussion to the standard 18th-century ensemble, is an outgrowth of the orchestral ensembles found in the Fifth and Sixth symphonies. Its huge

Scherzo and Trio is prefigured in the scherzos from the Third through the Seventh sympho-nies. The long hesitant slow introduction to the first movement is a successor to the introduc-tions of the Fourth and Seventh symphonies, but also to the rather significant introduction to Beethoven’s First Symphony.

But the hollow, primordial character of the introduction to the Ninth Symphony her-alds a new, larger and more significant archi-tectural scale than that found in any previous Beethoven symphony. The sonata form that evolves from it is an immense, imposing move-ment that wrestles heroically with its themes.

The Scherzo that follows is equally large in its design and is unprecedented in Beethoven’s music in several respects. It is his first sym-phonic scherzo to precede, rather than follow the slow movement, and it is famous for numerous little timpani strokes that punctuate the music throughout the movement. It also combines elements of fugue and sonata form with the typical scherzo plan and changes the meter to a broad, sharply contrasting 4/4 time signature in the Trio section.

The Adagio is one of Beethoven’s most sublime movements, comparable to the great slow movements of his late string quartets and


Notes continued.......................................................................................................

Biographies.................

Jessica Rivera, sopranoJessica Rivera has garnered artistic collabo-rations with many of today’s most celebrated composers and conductors. She was heralded for her performance as Kumudha in the world premiere of John Adams’ A Flowering Tree at the New Crowned Hope Festival in vienna. Her European operatic debut, with the Netherlands Opera performing Kitty Oppenheimer in John Adams’ Doctor Atomic, led to debuts with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as con-cert performances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; performances in Amsterdam are available on the BBC/Opus Arte label. San Francisco Performances welcomed her to its artist residency program in 2010-11, where she conducted workshops for young people. Committed to the art of recital, she did a concert tour of North America which supported a recital disc (Urtext Records) that examined works for soprano, clarinet and piano. She gave a recital program at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and received a commission from Carnegie Hall for the world premiere of a song cycle by Nico Muhly, The Adulteress. As a member of the Los Angeles Opera Resident Artist Program, she received critical acclaim from the New York Times for creating the role of Anastasia in the world premiere of Deborah Drattell’s Nicholas and Alexandra.

Sasha Cooke, mezzo-sopranoRadiant American mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke caused a sensation as Kitty Oppenheimer in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic. The New Yorker praised her “fresh, vital portrayal, bringing a luminous tone, a generously supported musical line, a keen sense of verbal nuance, and a flair for seduction.”

Cooke has performed with leading con-ductors and orchestras. A former member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she has per-formed in the Met’s Doctor Atomic, which was broadcast live in high definition to cinemas around the world. In 2010, she was awarded First Place and the American Prize in the José Iturbi International Music Competition, Top Prize in the Gerda Lissner Competition and the Kennedy Center’s Marian Anderson Award.

A graduate of Rice University and The Juilliard School, Sasha Cooke also attended the Music Academy of the West, the Aspen Music Festival, Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute, the Wolf Trap Foundation, the Marlboro Music Festival and Central City Opera’s Young Artist Training Program.

Gordon Gietz, tenorGordon Gietz’s career is focused equally on operatic and concert repertoire, encompassing a wide range of musical styles.

Gietz opened the 2010-2011 season with a performance of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the Toronto Summer Music Festival. Other concert performances included Messiah with the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as Stravinsky’s Les Noces and the world premiere

Cooke

© N

ICK GRANITO

Gietz

© PETER HURLEY

Rivera

© KEN

HOWARD

piano sonatas. It is a free variation form, built upon two long-spun melodies that become more florid as the movement progresses. The vocal/choral/orchestral finale, rejoicing in Beethoven’s lifelong philosophy of freedom and human solidarity, is a sprawling movement that embraces several kinds of musical struc-tures. Essentially, it is a vast cantata blending vocal elements of recitative, aria, duet, solo and choral ensembles with the instrumental forms of variation, fugue and rondo. Beethoven’s sketches indicate that he expended enormous amounts of time, labor and energy in shaping the finale into a towering capstone of his sym-phonic career.

©2011 Carl R. Cunningham

September 2011 19

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of Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

He has performed the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Heinrich in Tannhäuser, Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites, Kudrjas in Katya Kabanová (Houston Grand Opera), Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Gietz created the role of Camille Raquin in Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin.

His concert experience includes Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with this orchestra, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach. He has worked with Maestro Graf leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Gietz has performed with the Boston Baroque, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He made his London debut with John Eliot Gardiner in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the BBC Proms Concerts.

Nathan Berg, bass-baritone Nathan Berg’s career balances concert, recital and operatic performances, ranging from Bach and Handel to Mahler and verdi.

This season, his performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony will be recorded with the San Francisco Symphony. He tours Europe with Le Concert Spirituel in Theodora with stops in Paris, Metz, Brussels and vienna.

2010-2011 included the role of zoroastro in Handel’s Orlando, presented by Opéra de Lille, Opéra de Dijon and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées; Dvorák’s Te Deum with Cleveland Orchestra; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mozart Requiem at San Francisco Symphony, among others.

His discography includes Handel’s Messiah and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (Harmonia Mundi), Mozart’s Requiem (Erato), Dvorák‘s Stabat Mater with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Bach’s Mass in B Minor with Boston Baroque.

Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, Juno award-winning Nathan Berg studied in Canada, the U.S., France and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he won the Gold Medal for Singers. He has won prizes in the Royal Over-Seas League, Peter Pears, Kathleen Ferrier and Walther Gruner Lieder competitions.

Berg

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Watts Plays Beethoven’s EmperorSeptember 30, October 1, �, �011David Afkham, conductorAndré Watts, pianoBeethoven: Coriolan OvertureSchubert: Symphony No. 8, UnfinishedBeethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, EmperorStriking in manner, Beethoven’s brilliant Emperor concerto opens with a shining piano cadenza. Get ready to experience a work as original and exciting as anything Beethoven ever wrote. At the keyboard, we welcome back legendary American pianist, André Watts.

Tickets from: $25

family concert Once Upon a Dream: Princes & PrincessesOctober 15, �011Robert Franz, conductorRoyalty doesn’t only live in castles! Princes and princesses have always lived in the hearts and imaginations of composers, whose music has brought their heroic stories to life. Hear music you know and love, tell the tales of your favorite princes and princesses. Dress in character!

Tickets from: Child $14; Adult $22

pops concert Idina MenzelOctober 14, 15, 16, �011The star of rent, Wicked and Glee debuts with the Houston Symphony! This Tony® Award-winning Broadway powerhouse and star of Glee joins your Houston Symphony to dazzle you with hits from her starring roles in Wicked as Elphaba and in Rent as Maureen, songs from her album I Stand and more. This exciting performance will demonstrate why Menzel is selling out concert halls across the country!

Tickets from: $35

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Ravel’s Daphnis and ChloeOctober �0, ��, �3, �011 Gilbert Varga, conductorDaniel Mueller-Schott, celloHaydn: Symphony No. 49, La PassioneHaydn: Cello Concerto in D majorRavel: Suite from Mother GooseRavel: Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and ChloePoetic and ethereal, Daphnis and Chloe evokes a meadow of nymphs on a spring afternoon. Come hear some of Ravel’s most splendorous, colorful music.

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Sunday, September 11, �011 6 pm

Jones Hall

Chevron Fiesta Sinfóníca Familiar*Jaime Morales-Matos, conductor*Rolando Morales-Matos, percussion*Mariano Morales, piano

Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio espagnol, Opus 34 I Alborada: Vivo e strepitoso— II Variazioni: Andante con moto— III Alborada: Vivo e strepitoso— IV Scena e Canto gitano: Allegretto— V Fandango asturiano

Piazzolla Tangazo

Falla Three Dances from El Sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat ) III Final Dance (Jota): Poco mosso—Allegro ritmico, molto moderato e pesante

INTERMISSION

Ginastera Danzas del Ballet Estancia, Opus 8a I Los trabajadores agrícolas (The Land Workers): Tempo giusto II Danza del trigo (Wheat Dance): Tranquillo III Los peones de hacienda (The Cattlemen): Mosso e rúvido IV Danza final (Malambo): Allegro

A. Castillo-Olivari Elegy for String Orchestra

M. Morales Cha-Cha-Chá Dulzón

M. Morales Saturday Night

*Houston Symphony debut

Fiesta Sinfóníca Familiar is sponsored by

Media Sponsor: univision Channel 45

The printed music for Falla’s Three Dances was donated by Mr. Randall Spalinger.


This concert is being recorded for future broadcast on Classical 91.7 FM, the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony and Classical Season Media Sponsor.

The Houston Symphony wishes to thank Chevron, sole sponsor of its Fiesta Sinfóníca and Lunada concerts. These free performances celebrate the music and culture of Latin America and entertain thousands of Houstonians each year.

Chevron is one of the world’s lead-ing integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business world-wide. The company is involved in virtu-ally every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and trans-ports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels. Chevron has more than 9,000 employees and contrac-tors in the Greater Houston area.

More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Biographies.............................................................................................................................................

Jaime Morales-Matos, conductorBorn in Puerto Rico, conductor Jaime Morales-Matos graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in music and an artist diploma in trombone, the first such award granted to a brass player. He received a master’s degree in music from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied with Sergiu Celibidache in Munich, Harold Farberman in Bulgaria and Hans Graf in vienna, where he received a diploma in conducting.

Morales-Matos has conducted in the United States, Germany, Spain, Austria, Bulgaria, Ecuador, venezuela and the Dominican Republic, as well as in his native Puerto Rico. He made his conducting debut at the presti-gious Casals Festival (2003); the concert was recorded and broadcast on public television.

In 2007, he was selected by the American

J. Morales-M

atos

September 2011 �3

Biographies.............................................................................................................................................

Symphony Orchestra League as one of the most promising young conductors and participated in the Bruno Walter Conductor Preview with Florida’s Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

Morales-Matos was appointed music director of the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra in 2002 and has enjoyed great suc-cess in a broad range of programming. In 2008, he became music director of the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra. Previously, he served as music director of the Miami University Symphony Orchestra and cover conductor with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a trombonist, Morales-Matos, has per-formed with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic and the New World Symphony, and with the Granada Orchestra and the Asturias and Galicia Symphony Orchestras in Spain. He is very active in chamber music with the Gabrieli Brass Quintet, Top Brass and the Upbeat Brass. He has premiered works written especially for him.

Morales-Matos is a composer and arranger of popular music, including music for Puerto Rico, an Omni vision film presented at the World Expo’92.

Rolando Morales-Matos, percussionBorn and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rolando Morales-Matos began his musical studies at the prestigious performing arts high school Escuela Libre de Música. He received his B.F.A. in music from Carnegie Mellon University, his M.A. from Duquesne University and a cer-tificate of professional studies from Temple University. He is a percussionist and assistant conductor with Disney’s Lion King and performs and records regularly in New York City with var-ious Latin jazz groups and chamber orchestras.

He has recorded soundtracks for the films Failure to Launch and The Pink Panther and performed onscreen in Enchanted. Morales-Matos is a member of Ron Carter Foursight Jazz Quartet and is an extra percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra. Traveling all over the world, from Spain to New zealand, he has held principal timpani and percussion positions with state orchestras. He is the recipient of the 2006 Drum Magazine world beat percussionist-of-the-year award.

Morales-Matos joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 2001 and also teaches at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York.

Mariano Morales, pianoThe artistic life of Puerto Rican composer, pianist and violinist Mariano Morales encom-passes a wide spectrum of activities. He has received numerous commissions, and his works

have been performed throughout the U.S. and Europe. His broad background in classical, pop-ular and folk music has distinguished him for his versatility of style and genre.

Morales has been recognized for achieve-ments as an educator, performer, musical director for various ensembles and guest lec-turer. He conducts masterclasses in composi-tion, jazz composition and arranging. Morales has served on juries and panels for a number of competitions and governmental programs including The Indiana Arts Commission and

the American Composer’s Orchestra Forum in New York, among others. A former professor at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, the University of Puerto Rico and the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, he has taught at the Escuela Libre de Música for the Department of Education of Puerto Rico since 1995.

Mariano Morales holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz composition and arranging from Berklee College of Music and master and doc-torate degrees in music composition from Indiana University.



Fidelity Investments Classical Series

Friday, September 16, �011 8 pm

Saturday, September 17, �011 8 pm

Sunday, September 18, �011 2:30 pm

Jones Hall

Brahms’ Violin ConcertoHans Graf, conductor James Ehnes, violin

P. Jalbert *Shades of Memory

Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Opus 77 I Allegro non troppo II Adagio III Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

INTERMISSION

Dvorák Symphony No. 6 in D major, Opus 60 I Allegro non tanto II Adagio III Scherzo (Furiant) and Trio: Presto—Poco meno mosso IV Finale: Allegro con spirito

*World premiere, Houston Symphony commission


Shell Favorite Masters Series

James Ehnes is this season’s Fayez Sarofim Guest Violinist endowed by The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts.

This weekend’s concerts are generously sponsored by Drs. M.S. and Marie-Luise Kalsi.

The printed music for Dvorák’s Symphony No. 6 was donated by Mr. Philip Booth.

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.


These concerts are being recorded for future broadcast on Classical 91.7 FM, the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony and Classical Season Media Sponsor.

SHADES OF MEMORy (WORLD PREMIERE) Pierre Jalbert (1967- )

Recording: none available

Instrumentation: three flutes (two doubling piccolo), three oboes, three clarinets (one doubling E-flat clarinet), two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, celesta doubling piano and strings

Pierre Jalbert, professor of composition at Rice University, has provided the following program note for his newly-commissioned Shades of Memory, composed this year. This is his second Houston Symphony commission and his third work performed by the orchestra.

“A few months after 9/11, I remember being in New York, riding the subway past the World Trade Center station, and I overheard a woman comment: ‘I don’t want to stop there—get me away from this place…’ Now 10 years out, the memory is still raw, if somewhat darkly muted by time. When I think about that day, what comes to mind are the individuals who lost loved ones and the individuals who sacrificed themselves to help others. “My musical starting point for this work was two Gregorian Chants: Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) and Agnus Dei which ends with the line, ‘Grant us Peace.’ These chants are not literally quoted, but simply used as points of departure for melodic development. The beginning and ending of the piece make use of two sets of chimes, placed on opposite sides of the stage to sound like antiphonal bells. A solo trombone played from offstage as a lone voice heard from afar, sounds against a clus-ter of soft strings providing a suspended back-ground. “In the middle section of the work, we build a monument. The brass and percussion come to the fore and the chimes toll forcefully. Parts of the opening section return to com-plete the arch-like form of this elegiac work, and the chimes, which played fragments of the Dies Irae at the opening, now play fragments of the Agnus Dei chant.”

VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OPuS 77Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Recording: Violinist Joshua Bell, with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Cleveland Orchestra (Decca)

Instrumentation: pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings

Brahms’ violin Concerto is often paired with his Second Symphony as an expression of the broad, sunny side of the composer’s nature. It was composed in 1878, a year after the sym-phony, and the two works share the same

Notes...........................................................................

September 2011 �5

tonality and similar thematic materials The concerto was a product of Brahms’ early association and long friendship with violinist Joseph Joachim, for whom he had served as piano accompanist during their shared tours in the early 1850s. It is the most noteworthy of several 19th-century concertos Joachim helped to shape, advising the com-poser of each one on the technical feasibil-ity of certain passages. Joachim composed the solo cadenza, and it remains the standard cadenza heard today. Technically, the Brahms violin Concerto is more difficult than showy. While brilliant virtuoso passages are kept to a minimum, the solo part is full of wide leaps and chordal pas-sages requiring the bow to play on several strings simultaneously. It is also pitted against a typically thick Brahmsian orchestration, pre-senting the soloist a considerable challenge in keeping his or her tone afloat. Though the work was composed rather late in the 19th century, Brahms reverted to the old Classical-era precept of a double exposition, with the orchestra presenting the first group of themes before the violin enters, presenting them again before going on to the ravishing waltz-like second theme. In typical Brahms fashion, the development is long and rigorous, finally leading to a climactic recapit-ulation and solo cadenza. Originally, Brahms planned a four-move-ment concerto, after the manner of a sym-phony. However, he deleted the second-move-ment Scherzo at the last minute and composed a new Adagio as the song-like centerpiece of the three-movement concerto that exists today. The finale is a zestful Hungarian rondo, one of many musical tributes to Brahms’ asso-ciation with the Hungarian-born Joachim and his youthful introduction to Hungarian music.

SyMPHONy NO. 6 IN D MAJOR, OPuS 60Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904)

Recording: Neeme Järvi conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Chandos)

Instrumentation: two flutes (one doubling piccolo), oboes, clarinets and bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani and strings

Being a Czech musician in the 19th-century Austrian empire was no cultural privilege. German was the prevailing official language, and it was not until late in life that Dvorák per-suaded his publisher to print the titles of his works in Czech. Although the Sixth Symphony had been requested by none other than its dedicatee, Hans Richter, for the vienna Philharmonic, biographer John Clapham cited opposition within the vienna Philharmonic Society as the cause for repeated delays in scheduling its premiere following the work’s

Notes...........................................................................


completion in October 1880. Finally, Dvorák awarded the premiere to Adolf Cech in Prague, where it was brought to life on March 25, 1881. It was the first of Dvorák’s symphonies to be published and soon gained a performance in Leipzig, two in London and finally one in vienna by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in 1883. Over the next decade, Dvorák himself conducted several performances of the Sixth Symphony during visits to England, St. Petersburg and with the New York Philharmonic in 1893, at the beginning of his three-year stay in America. Dvorák scholars have frequently com-mented upon similarities between this sym-phony and the Brahms Second Symphony, composed two years earlier. Not only have they cited the tonal identity (both were com-posed in the key of D major), but the similarly buoyant spirit that pervades both symphonies. Though this aspect of the Sixth Symphony has been discounted by leading Dvorák scholar Otakar Šourek, there is some truth to the claim. One hears little traits of Brahms’ musi-cal profile in the orchestral colorings, his turns of phrase and some of his frowning counter-point from time to time in the first movement, and again in the hushed opening theme of the final movement, first stated by the strings, then followed by a sudden brassy outburst. But the rustic character of Dvorák’s dance-like themes keeps bubbling to the surface in these movements, revealing the signature of his inherent musical style. And remembering the influence of other compos-ers on Dvorák’s youthful works, one must think back just two symphonies earlier, to the slow movement of the Fourth Symphony where the music reminds one very strongly of the overtures to Wagner’s Tannhäuser. Considered on its own merits, the Sixth Symphony is most significant for the forward progress Dvorák made in reconciling his penchant for dance music with the organic developmental processes required in large symphonic forms. Its two outer movements are big sonata-form structures, full of energy and enhanced by appealing folk-flavored themes. A quiet lyrical mood dominates the pensive slow movement, while the third-movement Scherzo exudes the lusty spirit of a Czech Furiant. It is Dvorák’s first symphonic use of this ethnic dance rhythm and a favorite piece among his examples of the form.

©2011, Carl R. Cunningham

Biography...................James Ehnes, violinviolinist James Ehnes, hailed as “the Jascha Heifetz of our day” (Globe and Mail ), has

Notes continued................

Continued on page 29


September 2011 �7

Fidelity Investments Classical Series

Thursday, September ��, �011 8 pm

Saturday, September �4, �011 8 pm

Sunday, September �5, �011 2:30 pm

Jones Hall

Richard Strauss’ A Hero’s LifeHans Graf, conductor Olga Kern, piano

C. Floyd Flourishes

C. Rouse Odna Zhizn (A Life)

Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major

INTERMISSION

R. Strauss Ein Heldenleben, Opus 40


TOTAL Gold Classics Series

The SoundPlusVision series is sponsored by the Alkek & Williams Foundation and supported in part by an endowed fund from The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Fund for Creative Initiatives.

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.

The printed music for Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 was donated by J.R. & Aline Deming.

The printed music for R. Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben was donated by Dr. & Mrs. Gage VanHorn.


These concerts are being recorded for future broadcast on Classical 91.7 FM, the Radio Voice of the Houston Symphony and Classical Season Media Sponsor.

FLOuRISHES Carlisle Floyd (1926- )

Recording: none commercially available

Instrumentation: two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, three clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, piano and strings

Although Carlisle Floyd is primarily regarded as a composer of significant American operas, his limited number of non-operatic works show him to be a highly skilled composer in other musi-cal media, as well. His festive orchestral fan-fare, Flourishes, was written for the Houston Symphony’s celebration of the City of Houston’s sesquicentennial. Guest conductor Sir Neville Marriner gave the world premiere of the piece on February 14, 1987.

The four-minute fanfare begins as a rous-ing but melodically jagged duet between high and low brass soloists, and proceeds in a simi-lar manner through all the major instrumental colors in the orchestra—including the timpani!

With this performance, Music Director Hans Graf and the orchestra have now revived more than a third of the 21 fanfares commis-sioned for the Houston sesquicentennial.

ODNA ZHIZN (A LIFE)Christopher Rouse (1949- )

Recording: none commercially available

Instrumentation: three flutes (third doubling piccolo), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, celesta and strings

“Odna zhizn” is a Russian term meaning “a life,” Christopher Rouse tells us at the begin-ning of a cryptic commentary on his recent tone poem, premiered by the New York Philharmonic two seasons ago. The piece is dedicated to “Natasha,” and he composed it in 2008 “in homage of a person of Russian ancestry who is very dear to me. Her life has not been an easy one, and the struggles she has faced are reflected in the sometimes peri-patetic nature of the music.”

“While quite a few of my scores have symbolically translated various words into notes and rhythms, this process has been car-ried to an extreme degree in ‘zhizn,’” Rouse states. “virtually all the music is focused on the spelling of names and other phrases, and it was an enormous challenge for me to fash-ion these materials into what I hoped would be a satisfying musical experience that functions both as the public portrayal of an extraordinary life, as well as a private love letter.”

Like several of Rouse’s earlier tone poems performed here, Odna Zhizn is an intensely

Notes..........................


them—at least for another 100 measures. The surging arpeggiated hero’s theme

heard at the outset of Ein Heldenleben ushers in the recapitulation in the movement’s origi-nal key of E-flat major, this time appended by a brilliant victory motive, bouncing off the full orchestra like a thunderclap. This introduces the fifth section, “The Hero’s Works of Peace.” Here, Strauss combines 31 thematic excerpts from his six previous tone poems, his early opera, Guntram, and two of his early songs—all mixed together in a splendid contrapuntal pot-pourri that has delighted every theme detective since the work’s premiere.

However, a feeling of dejection overtakes the hero, and the carping critic themes indi-cate that his adversaries have not been perma-nently silenced. The sixth section, “The Hero’s Retirement from the World,” brings the 45-minute symphonic poem to a close in a typically extended, but quietly shimmering, Straussian epilogue.

©2011, Carl R. Cunningham

dissonant piece employing a large, colorful orchestra. It begins and ends softly with long-held chords supporting passages of fluttering flutes and other woodwinds. At the center of this 15-minute work, the music turns ominous and explosive, with a characteristic empha-sis upon the percussion instruments, strong rhythms and virtuosic orchestral gestures favored in many a Rouse score.

PIANO CONCERTO NO. � IN A MAJOR Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Recording: Pianist Nelson Freire, with Michel Plasson conducting the Dresden Philharmonic (Brilliant Classics)

Instrumentation: three flutes (third doubling piccolo), pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns and trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings

Franz Liszt’s A major Piano Concerto has some-times been called “the adventures of a theme.” That is a slight exaggeration, since the work does have a contrasting secondary theme, but the subtitle describes the remarkable continu-ity and concentration of musical ideas Liszt achieved in the concerto.

Building upon the experiments under-taken in his earlier E-flat Concerto, Liszt con-structed the A major Concerto in a single continuous movement. But he obscured the traditional structure of the concerto form to a greater degree than in the earlier work, so that the sequence of a sonata-allegro, slow move-ment, scherzo and finale imbedded in the E-flat Concerto is set aside in the A major Concerto. Instead, one hears a free alternation of slow and fast sections within the 20-minute time span of the piece. One might call it a tone poem for piano and orchestra.

The poetic, rather than the exhibitionistic side of Liszt’s talent shows itself at the outset, as the clarinets and bassoons present the main theme in a simple, chorale-style setting. It is a beautiful, if plaintive melody, delicately tinted with chromatic inflections that lend a tinge of sadness to the music. The piano joins in, deco-rating the musical texture with a broken-chord accompaniment while maintaining the sweet-sad mood of the work.

However, a series of pianistic flourishes leads to a gruff, militant episode that eventually brings on a new theme, urgently stated by most of the orchestra over a brassy fanfare. After being thoroughly explored, this theme gradually dissolves into a lyrical restatement of the open-ing theme, this time featuring a solo cello. More pianistic display leads to a militant restatement of the second theme and, after considerable development, a martial transformation of the opening theme. Another lyrical, highly deco-rated statement of the theme in the piano brings on a short solo cadenza and coda.

Liszt initially composed the concerto in 1839, and then revised it at least four times before it was published in its final form in 1861.

EIN HELDENLEBEN, OPuS 40 Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Recording: Daniel Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Apex)

Instrumentation: three flutes, piccolo, four oboes (one doubling English horn), two clarinets, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, three bassoons, contrabas-soon, eight horns, five trumpets, three trombones, tenor and bass tubas, timpani, percussion, two harps, three offstage trumpets and strings

Depending upon one’s point of view, Strauss’ seventh symphonic poem is either considered the summit of his art in that medium, or the work one meets on the way down from the artistic crest Strauss reached in his preceding orches-tral character study, Don Quixote.

Most of Strauss’ previous symphonic poems had been based on independent literary sources and many of them were full of those human sentiments that sparked Strauss’ imagi-nation when it came to bringing a musical per-sonality to life. But the quasi-autobiographical personality represented in Ein Heldenleben was a product of his own creation and turned out to be a far less colorful, multi-faceted character than Don Juan, Don Quixote and Till Eulenspiegel. With the possible exception of Strauss’ Alpine Symphony, the piece is unequaled in the size of the orchestral ensemble and the complexity of its thematic interplay. But, in keeping with the careful public image heroes must maintain, it displays a narrower musical personality than many of Strauss’ earlier symphonic poems.

The work, composed in 1897-98, is a very large, freely designed sonata form in six sec-tions, three of which occur in the exposition of the movement. The opening section, titled “The Hero,” sets forth his character in five different thematic motives. A transition, given over to the chatter of several mean-spirited woodwind themes representing “The Hero’s Adversaries” (in this case, the critics), seems insignificant at this point. However, it periodically interrupts the thematic progress later in the exposition and becomes crucial in the development section.

“The Hero’s Companion” (evidently Strauss’ wife, Pauline) is introduced as a capri-cious, temperamentally volatile woman by means of an extraordinarily long, demanding violin solo played by the concertmaster. Unable to tame her personality, the hero goes his own way, and she soon joins him in a long, sweetly sentimental Straussian episode of wedded bliss. But the hero is abruptly roused from his marital bed by those carping critic themes and “The Hero’s Deeds of War” forms a bombastic development section in which Strauss’ protag-onist unsheathes his sword and finally banishes

Notes continued............................................................................................................................................

Biography...................

Olga Kern, pianoOlga Kern’s career began with her gold-medal performance at the 11th van Cliburn International Piano Competition (2001). Her second catapulting triumph came in 2004, with a recital debut at Carnegie Hall and an unprec-edented invitation to return eight days later.

This season, Kern debuts with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, and makes this return to Houston, as well as Saint Louis, Colorado, Phoenix and Ottawa. In 2012, she will make an extensive North American recital tour with violinist vladimir Spivakov, their first chamber music collaboration out-side Europe.

The past season included performances with leading orchestras; a co-presentation by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the van Cliburn Foundation; recitals at Drake University and Longwood Gardens, Sanibel and Winter Park Music Festivals; and her debut at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. At Lincoln Center, she performed for Chopin’s

Kern

September 2011 �9

Notes continued............................................................................................................................................

200th Anniversary Celebration.Kern first toured South Africa in 2002

and returned in 2005, performing all four Rachmaninoff piano concertos and Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, with her brother, vladimir Kern, conducting. She is now artis-tic director of the Cape Town Festival in South Africa and returns there annually.

Kern is from a family of musicians with direct links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff and began studying piano at 5 years old. She won the first Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition at 17, is a laureate of 11 interna-tional competitions and has toured through-out her native Russia, Europe, North and South America, as well as in Japan, South Africa and South Korea. A member of Russia’s International Academy of Arts, she trained at the Moscow Central School, continued at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and stud-ied at the Accademia Pianistica Incontri col Maestro in Imola, Italy.

Olga Kern appearances are courtesy of Columbia Artists Management LLC, R. Douglas Sheldon/Denise A. Pineau, 1790 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. She records exclusively for harmonia mundi. Her dresses are designed by Harry Robles.

Biography...................

performed in more than 30 countries on five con-tinents, appearing regularly with many of the world’s most well-known orchestras and con-ductors. Last season featured a challenging bal-ance of concerto concerts, chamber music and recitals in Australia, New zealand, Malaysia, Europe, the UK and North and South America. This season is equally full.

Ehnes will add to his extensive discography of more than 25 recordings with a disc of Bartok’s violin Concertos and the viola Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic (Chandos) and Tchaikovsky’s violin Concerto with the Sydney Symphony (Onyx). His most recent release, featuring the Mendelssohn violin Concerto and Octet (Onyx), has earned raves worldwide.

His recordings have received many awards, including a Grammy®, a Gramophone® and six Juno awards. James Ehnes was born in 1976 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. He began violin studies at age 4; at age 13, he made his orchestral debut with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. He studied at the Meadowmount School of Music and The Juilliard School, where he won the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music. Ehnes has won many prestigious awards, including Grand Prize in Strings at the Canadian

Ehnes

© BEN

JAMIN

EALOvEGA

continued from page 26

Music Competition (1987), First Prize in Strings at the Canadian Music Festival (1988), the first Ivan Galamian Memorial Award, the Canada Council for the Arts’ virginia Parker Prize and an Avery Fisher Career Grant (2005). He was honored by Brandon University (2005) with a Doctor of Music degree, and he was the youngest person elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society of Canada (2007). The Governor General of Canada appointed Ehnes a Member of the Order of Canada (2010). James Ehnes plays the 1715 “Marsick” Stradivarius. He currently lives in Bradenton, Florida with his wife, Kate.

Biography continued from page 26....................................


Houston Symphony Chorus..............................................................................

Charles Hausmann, Director

Paulo GomesAssistant Director

Scott HolshouserAccompanist

Tony SessionsLibrarian

First SopranoRamona AlmsAlice BeckstromRobyn BranningMonica M. DavisKathleen ForbesClarice GatlinMarta GilesElizabeth GoodAmanda HarrisSophia HouAllison JewettSarah KeiferGillian Kruseveronica Lorine

* •Pamela MagnusonLydia MusherTheresa OlinMegan OwenKaren RennarWendy RidingsRhonda RyanJennifer Klein SalyerHeidi SandersBeth SlaughterDeborah SpencerAnnie TrevertonLisa TrewinTania van DongenBeth Anne WeidlerMegan WelchNatalyn WhitisJessica L. Williams

Second Soprano Yoset AltamiranoLisa AndersLaura Bohlmann

• Nancy BraticAnne CampbellDebby Cutlervickie DavisCorita DuboseKaren Fess-UeckerKellie GardenLorraine HammondDebbie HannahAlexis Hazel

• Megan HenrySylvia HysongYukiko IwataNatalia Kalitynska

•Carol OstlindLinda PetersSusan Scarrowvicki SeldonPaige Sommerveronica A. StevensCecilia SunCaryssa Treider

Megan TruelsonNancy vernauJennifer Young

First AltoKrista BorstellJami BrunsPatricia BumpusBarbara BushThea ChapmanNancy

ChristophersonRobin ClarksonChristine EconomidesMary Gahr

• Susan HallJudy HillKristin HurterBerma KinseyJoyce Lewis

* •Mary LopushanskyAshley MaackHeather Maclaughlin

GarbesLisa MorfinCynthia MulderJennifer L. PhanLinda RennerLinda RichardsonCarolyn RoganHolly RubboJune RussellMaria SchoenAndrea Slackvicki WestbrookPatsy WilsonShelby Wilson

Second AltoMelissa Bailey

Adams• Sarah Wilson ClarkM. Evelyn CliftRochella CooperAndrea CreathRobin DunnHolly EatonRachel El-SalehThi HaJuli HerbertDenise HolmesCatherine HowardLois Howell

* •Crystal MeadowsLynne MoneypennyNina PeropoulosLaurie ReynoldsHolly SoehngeMary voigtKaye Windel-Garza

First TenorRobert BrowningJames R. CarazolaPatrick DrakeRichard Field

• Robert GomezJames Patrick

HanleySteven HazelDonald HowieFrancisco J. IzaguirreFrank LopezChristopher LundDarrell Mayon

* •Jim MoorePeter PeropoulosDouglas

RodenbergerDavid SchoenTony SessionsCharles ThornburgAaron verber

Second TenorBob AlbanRandy BoatrightHarvey BongersWilliam ColeDonn DuboisJorge FandinoMark FerringJoseph FrybertJohn GradyCraig HillPhilip LewisWilliam L. MizeDave NussmannGreg RailsbackRick SelbyLesley C. SommerDewell SpringerTony vazquezLeonardo veletzuy

* •Lee Williams

First BassJoe AnzalduaGreg BarraJustin BeckerClaude BitnerJohn BondBruce BoyleChristopher BurrisPeter ChristianSteve DukesLeigh FernauTaylor HarperScott HassettStephen M. James

* •Jay LopezClemente MathisWilliam McCallumChris MingMatt NeufeldKevin NewmanGary ScullinStephen ShadleMark StandridgeSam StenglerPaul van DornJoe villarrealKevin Wallace

Second BassSteve Abercia

* •Wilton T. AdamsBill CheadleJohn ColsonRoger CutlerPaul EhrsamTom EverageChris FairIan FetterleyDavid M. FoxYevgeny GeninMichael GilbertMatt HendersonTerry HendersonGeorge HoweChuck IzzoCletus JohnsonNobuhide KoboriAlan MacAdams

• Ken MathewsScott MermelsteinClyde L. MinerGreg NelsonBill ParkerJohn Proffitt

• Robert ReynoldsDaniel RobertsonDoug SandersRichard White

* Section Leader • Council Member

As of July 20, 2011

Hausmann

PHOTO BY JEFF FITLOW

Charles Hausmann, directorDr. Charles S. Hausmann was named direc-tor of the Houston Symphony Chorus in 1986 and is celebrating his 25th anniversary in the 2011-12 season. He has prepared the group for more than 600 concerts, led them on numerous tours to Mexico and Europe, and worked with more than 40 acclaimed conductors including Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, Claus Peter Flor and Robert Shaw. His extensive repertoire includes most of the major choral/orchestral masterworks.

As director of graduate choral studies and professor of conducting at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music since 1985, Hausmann supervises the master’s and doc-toral programs in choral conducting, teaches choral conducting and literature and conducts the Moores School Choral Artists—a graduate chamber choir.

An active church musician, he has con-ducted church choirs in Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey and Texas. He currently serves as Director of Choral Music at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston where he led the Houston Symphony and Chorus in a perfor-mance of Mendelssohn’s St. Paul (spring 2008).

Hausmann frequently appears as a guest conductor, lecturer, clinician and soloist. He led the Chorus on its fourth European tour in 2007, appearing as guest conductor during the Prague Spring Festival. He and the Chorus share a 24-year collaboration with Mexico City’s Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, recently performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah with former Houston Symphony Associate Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto.

This season, Hausmann prepares the Chorus for Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, A very Merry Pops, Handel’s Messiah and Orff’s Carmina Burana, among others.

Support the Houston Symphony Chorus EndowmentThe Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment supports activities that enrich Houston’s musi-cal life and enhance the high professional stan-dards of the all-volunteer Chorus.

For more on how you can help ensure the artistic future of the Chorus, call the Symphony’s Development office at (713) 337-8528 or visit hschorus.org.

Paul & vickie DavisExxonMobilDavid & Joyce Fox

Robert Lee GomezPhilip & Audrey LewisMr. Dave B. Nussmann

Susan Scarrow

Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment Donors.........................

$1,000 or more

September 2011 31

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOuSTON SyMPHONy SOCIETy

Mrs. Edwin B. ParkerMiss Ima HoggMrs. H. M. GarwoodJoseph A. Mullen, M.D.Joseph S. SmithWalter H. WalneH. R. CullenGen. Maurice HirschCharles F. JonesFayez SarofimJohn T. CaterRichard G. MerrillEllen Elizardi KelleyJohn D. PlattE. C. vandagrift Jr.

J. Hugh Roff Jr.Robert M. HermanceGene McDavidJanice H. BarrowBarry C. BurkholderRodney H. MargolisJeffrey B. EarlyMichael E. ShannonEd WulfeJesse B. Tutor

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOuSTON SyMPHONy LEAGuE

Miss Ima HoggMrs. John F. GrantMrs. J. R. PartenMrs. Andrew E. Rutter

Mrs. Aubrey Leon CarterMrs. Stuart SherarMrs. Julian BurrowsMs. Hazel LedbetterMrs. Albert P. JonesMrs. Ben A. CalhounMrs. James Griffith LawhonMrs. Olaf La Cour OlsenMrs. Ralph Ellis GunnMrs. Leon JaworskiMrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr.Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr.Mrs. Thompson McClearyMrs. Theodore W. CooperMrs. Allen H. Carruth

Mrs. David Hannah Jr.Mary Louis KisterEllen Elizardi KelleyMrs. John W. HerndonMrs. Charles FranzenMrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr.Mrs. Edward H. SoderstromMrs. Lilly Kucera AndressMs. Marilou BonnerMrs. W. Harold SellersMrs. Harry H. GendelMrs. Robert M. EuryMrs. E. C. vandagrift Jr.Mrs. J. Stephen MarksTerry Ann BrownNancy Strohmer

Mary Ann McKeithanAnn CavanaughMrs. James A. ShafferLucy H. LewisCatherine McNamaraShirley McGregor PearsonPaula JarrettCora Sue MachKathi RovereNorma Jean BrownBarbara McCelveyLori SorcicNancy WillersonJane ClarkNancy Littlejohn

Symphony Society Board...................................................................................

Governing Directors.....................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

PresidentRobert B. Tudor III

Chairman of the Board Jesse B. Tutor

Executive Director/CEOMark C. Hanson

President-elect and vice President, FinanceRobert A. Peiser

Chairman Emeritus Mike Stude

* Janice Barrow Darlene Bisso Marie Bosarge Terry Ann Brown Ralph Burch Prentiss Burt Brett Busby * John T. Cater Janet Clark Michael H. Clark Scott Cutler Lorraine Dell viviana Denechaud Gene Dewhurst Michael Doherty Susanna Dokupil Kelli Cohen Fein

Julia Frankel David Frankfort Allen Gelwick Stephen Glenn Susan Hansen Gary L. Hollingsworth Ryan Krogmeier Ulyesse LeGrange Rochelle Levit Nancy Littlejohn April Lykos Cora Sue Mach Steven P. Mach Beth Madison Rodney Margolis Jay Marks Mary Lynn Marks

Jackie Wolens Mazow Billy McCartney Barbara McCelvey Gene McDavid * Alexander K. McLanahan Kevin Meyers Paul Morico Arthur Newman Robert A. Peiser Fran Fawcett Peterson Geoffroy Petit David Pruner Stephen Pryor Gloria Pryzant Kathi Rovere John Rydman Manolo Sanchez

Helen Shaffer Jerome Simon Jim R. Smith David Steakley Mike Stude Robert B. Tudor III * Betty Tutor * Jesse B. Tutor Margaret Waisman Fredric A. Weber vicki West Margaret Alkek Williams * Ed Wulfe David Wuthrich Cary P. Yates Robert A. Yekovich

Trustees................................................................................................................... Samuel Abraham Philip Bahr Meherwan Boyce Walter Bratic Nancy Bumgarner Lynn Caruso Brandon Cochran Louis Delone Tom Fitzpatrick Craig A. Fox Kathleen Hayes

Brian James Joan Kaplan I. Ray Kirk Carolyn Mann Paul M. Mann Judy Margolis Elisabeth McCabe Marilyn Miles Tassie Nicandros Scott Nyquist Edward Osterberg Jr.

J. Hugh Roff Jr. Michael E. Shannon Jule Smith Michael Tenzer L. Proctor (Terry) Thomas Stephen G. Tipps Mrs. S. Conrad Weil David Ashley White James T. Willerson Steven J. Williams

Ex-Officio Martha García Mark C. Hanson Mark Hughes Susan Osterberg Donna Shen Glenda Toole Burke Shaw Brinton Averil Smith

* Life Trustee

vice President, Artistic and Orchestra AffairsBrett Busby

vice President, Popular ProgrammingAllen Gelwick

vice President, Audience Development and Marketing

Gloria Pryzant

President, EndowmentGene Dewhurst

vice President Board Governance, and SecretarySteven P. Mach

vice President, EducationCora Sue Mach

General CounselPaul R. Morico

At-Large Membersulyesse LeGrange

Jay MarksHelen Shaffer

vice President, volunteersBarbara McCelvey

vice President, DevelopmentDavid Wuthrich

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSMartha García, Assistant Secretary

Mark Hughes, Orchestra RepresentativeRodney Margolis

Burke Shaw, Orchestra RepresentativeDonna Shen, President, Houston Symphony League

Brinton Averil Smith, Orchestra RepresentativeEd Wulfe, Immediate Past Chair

Executive Committee...............................................................................................

3� www.houstonsymphony.org

Annual Campaign Donors.................................................................................

The Houston Symphony gratefully acknowledges those who support our artistic, educational and commu-nity engagement programs through their generosity to our Annual Fund and our Special Events. Donors receive a wide array of benefits for the current season and recognition for the 12 months following the date of their gifts. Below you will find a listing of those who have so generously given within the past 12 months. The $8.4 million raised for our Annual Fund was a record and topped the previous year’s total by nearly $2.2 mil-lion. We are honored to count these donors among our closest Houston Symphony friends, and we invite you to consider becoming a member of one of our giving societies, if you have not joined in the past. For more information, please contact our Development Department at: (713) 337-8500.

Ima Hogg Society – $150,000 or MoreAnonymous (1)

Dr. & Mrs. W. E. BosargeLieutenant Governor David H. Dewhurst

Mr. Alfred C. Glassell IIIMs. Beth Madison

Madison Benefits Group Inc.Mr. M. S. Stude

Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Tudor IIIMr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

President’s Society – $75,000 - $99,999Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kaplan

Maestro’s Society – $50,000 - $74,999Gene & Linda Dewhurst

Maestro Hans Graf & Mrs. GrafMrs. Margaret Alkek Williams

Concertmaster’s Society – $�5,000 - $49,999Anonymous (2)Janice Barrow

Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Russell M. Frankel

Ms. Sharin Shafer GailleMrs. Alfred C. Glassell Jr.

Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken HydeDrs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi

Mr. & Mrs. Ulyesse J. LeGrangeRochelle & Max Levit

Joella & Steven P. MachJay & Shirley Marks

Barbara & Pat McCelveyMr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan

Nancy & Robert PeiserMr. & Mrs. David R. Pruner

Mrs. Sybil F. RoosMr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith

Leadership Gifts

September 2011 33

Principal Musician’s Society $15,000 - $�4,999

Patron Donors

Captain & Mrs. W. A. “Cappy” Bisso IIIMr. & Mrs. J. Brett BusbyJanet F. ClarkLeslie Barry Davidson & W. Robins BriceAngel & Craig FoxAllen & Almira Gelwick - Lockton CompaniesCora Sue & Harry MachMr. & Mrs. Rodney H. MargolisMr. & Mrs. Billy McCartney

Ann & Hugh RoffMr. & Mrs. Clive RunnellsMr. & Mrs. James A. ShafferLaura & Michael ShannonMr. Louis H. Skidmore Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Springob, Laredo Construction, Inc.Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. WeberDede & Connie WeilMr. & Mrs. Steven Jay Williams

Artist/Conductor’s Society $10,000 - $14,999Anonymous (2)Marian & Gary BeauchampMr. & Mrs. W. T. Carter IvMr. & Mrs. Gerald F. ClarkMr. & Mrs. Brandon CochranMs. Jan CohenDr. Scott CutlerMr. Richard DanforthDr. & Mrs. Alexander DellMrs. William EstradaMr. S. David FrankfortMr. & Mrs. Richard D. HansenMr. Brian JamesDr. & Mrs. I. Ray KirkMr. & Mrs. Meredith J. LongDr. & Mrs. Michael MannMr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm L. MazowBetty & Gene McDavidStephen & Marilyn MilesMr. & Mrs. Steven OwsleyGloria & Joe PryzantMr. & Mrs. William J. Rovere Jr.Mrs. Maryjane ScherrMr. & Mrs. Haag ShermanDavid & Paula SteakleyPaul Strand ThomasAlice & Terry ThomasStephen & Pamalah TippsMargaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D.vicki & Paul WestCyvia & Melvyn WolffMr. & Mrs. Ed Wulfe

Musician’s Society $7,500 - $9,999Anonymous (1)Mr. & Mrs. Philip A. BahrMr. & Mrs. Charles G. Black IIIDr. & Mrs. Meherwan P. BoyceMr. & Mrs. Walter v. BoyleMr. & Mrs. Walter BraticMs. Terry A. BrownThe Robert & Jane Cizik FoundationRoger & Debby CutlerMr. & Mrs. Michael DokupilStephen & Mariglyn GlennMr. & Mrs. Fred L. GormanJo A. & Billie Jo GravesChristina & Mark HansonDr. & Mrs. Bernard KatzMr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Lykos Jr.Dr. & Mrs. Paul M. MannMiss Catherine Jane MerchantMr. & Mrs. Kevin O. MeyersDr. & Mrs. Robert M. Mihalo

Mr. Cameron MitchellSue A. MorrisonBobbie & Arthur NewmanMs. Peggy Overly & Mr. John BarlowMr. & Mrs. Jonathan E. ParkerKathryn & Richard RabinowMr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr.Mr. Glen A. RosenbaumMs. Amanda SavoDonna & Tim ShenMr. & Mrs. Tad SmithJulia & Albert Smith FoundationDr. Alana R. Spiwak & Sam StolbunMr. Stephen C. TarryAnn & Joel WahlbergDr. Jim T. WillersonIsabel B. & Wallace S. WilsonMr. & Mrs. C. Clifford WrightNina & Michael zilkha



Conductor’s Circle $5,000 - $7,499Anonymous (1)Mrs. Bonnie BauerMr. & Mrs. Karl H. BeckerDr. Alan Bentz & Ms. Sallymoon S. BenzRuth White BrodskyMrs. George L. Brundrett Jr.Marilyn & Coleman CaplovitzDavid & Nona CarmichaelMrs. Lily CarriganMargot & John CaterMr. Michael H. Clark & Ms. Sallie MorianMr. & Mrs. Rodney CutsingerMr. & Mrs. James D. DannenbaumJudge & Mrs. Harold DeMoss Jr.Mr. & Mrs. David DenechaudMs. Sara J. DevineMr. & Mrs. Paul F. Egner Jr.Mr. Roger EichhornAubrey & Sylvia FarbDiane Lokey FarbMary Ann & Larry FaulknerMr. George B. GearyMrs. Aileen GordonWilliam A. Grieves &

Dorothy McDonnell GrievesMr. & Mrs. W. R. HayesMr. & Mrs. Frank HerzogMr. & Mrs. David v. Hudson Jr.Debbie & Frank JonesDrs. Blair & Rita JusticeMr. & Mrs. Richard D. KinderMary Louis KisterMr. & Mrs. Alfred Lasher IIIDr. & Mrs. Fred R. Lummis Jr.Mr. & Mrs. George McCulloughMrs. Beverly T. McDonaldMr. Robert McNairSidney & Ione MoranPaul & Rita MoricoMr. & Mrs. Lucian L. Morrison Jr.Mary & Terry MurphreeMr. & Mrs. Robert E. NelsonMr. & Mrs. Edward C. Osterberg Jr.Mr. John M. PetroskyMr. Howard PieperMr. Robert J. PileggeMrs. Lila RauchMr. & Mrs. Ken N. RobertsonMr. & Mrs. Manolo SanchezMr. & Mrs. Mark R. SmithMr. & Mrs. Antonio M. SzaboAnn TrammellStephen & Kristine WallaceMr. & Mrs. Benjamin WarrenRobert G. WeinerMs. Jennifer R. WittmanWoodell Family FoundationMr. & Mrs. David J. WuthrichWinthrop A. Wyman & Beverly JohnsonDr. & Mrs. Robert YekovichErla & Harry zuber

Grand Patron’s Circle$�,500 - $4,999Anonymous (1)Eric S. Anderson & R. Dennis AndersonDr. & Mrs. Jeffrey B. AronMr. Richard C. BaileyDr. & Mrs. Devinder BhatiaMs. Dianne BowmanMr. & Mrs. James D. BozemanMrs. Catherine Campbell Brock &

Dr. Gary BrockMr. & Mrs. Sean BumgarnerMr. Ralph BurchAlan & Toba BuxbaumMr. & Mrs. Thierry CarusoMr. William E. ColburnLois & David CoyleMr. & Mrs. Louis F. DeLoneJ.R. & Aline DemingMr. James DentonMr. & Mrs. Michael DohertyMr. William Elbel & Ms. Mary J. SchroederMr. Parrish N. Erwin Jr.Mr. & Mrs. J. Thomas EubankMr. & Mrs. Donald Faust Sr.Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein & Martin J. FeinMr. & Mrs. Bruce FerenceMrs. Arvia FewRon & Tricia FredmanMr. Edwin C. Friedrichs & Ms. Darlene ClarkThomas & Patricia GeddyMrs. Lila-Gene GeorgeMr. & Mrs. Thomas W. GlanvilleMr. & Mrs. Michael J. HayesMr. & Mrs. James E. HooksMr. & Mrs. Francis S. KalmanMr. & Mrs. Richard P. KeetonMr. & Mrs. Gary KenneyWilliam & Cynthia KochMr. & Mrs. Ryan KrogmeierMrs. Margaret H. LeyMr. James LokayMr. & Mrs. Stevens MafrigeMr. & Mrs. William B. McNamaraMr. & Mrs. Pershant MehtaMr. & Mrs. Richard MithoffMr. & Mrs. Richard P. MoynihanEdward OppenheimerMr. & Mrs. Gary PetersenMr. Michael H. PriceMr. & Mrs. Stephen PryorMr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Reckling IIIMichael & vicky RichkerDrs. Alejandro & Lynn RosasDr. Philip D. Scott & Dr. Susan E. GardnerMr. & Mrs. Jerry SimonMr. & Mrs. Louis J. SnyderJoel v. & Mary M. StaffDr. & Mrs. C. Richard StasneyMr. & Mrs. Keith StevensonMr. & Mrs. Leland TateMr. & Mrs. Gene van DykeMr. & Mrs. Wil vanLohC. Harold & Lorine WallaceMr. & Mrs. Jeff WrayEdith & Robert zinn

Sustaining Patron’s Circle $1,000 - $�,499Anonymous (6)Mr. & Mrs. Samuel AbrahamMr. & Mrs. Elliot AbramsonMr. & Mrs. Edgar D. AckermanMrs. Harold J. AdamJoan & Stanford AlexanderMrs. Nancy C. Allen, President Greentree FundFrances & Ira AndersonJohn & Pat AndersonMr. & Mrs. William J. AndersonMr. & Mrs. Anthony P. ApolloMr. Maurice J. ArestyMr. & Mrs. John M. ArnspargerMr. Alan AronsteinMr. Jeff AutorMrs. Nancy BaileyStanley & Martha BairMr. & Mrs. John A. BarrettMs. Deborah S. BautchDr. & Mrs. Arthur L. BeaudetDrs. Henry & Louise BetheaMs. Joan H. BitarMrs. Thomas W. BlakeMr. Teodoro BosquezMr. & Mrs. Robert BrayJoe BrazzattiMr. & Mrs. John B. BrentMr. & Mrs. Maurice BresenhanKatherine M. BriggsSteve & Diana BrownThe Honorable & Mrs. Peter BrownMr. & Ms. Bruce BuhlerLilia Khakinova & C. Robert BunchMrs. Anne H. BushmanDr. & Mrs. William T. ButlerMs. Marjorie Carter CainMr. William CaudillMr. & Mrs. Paul D. ChapmanMr. & Mrs. Allen ClamenMr. & Mrs. Robert L. ClarkeMr. & Mrs. James G. CoatsworthMr. Mark C. ConradDr. & Mrs. James D. CoxMr. & Mrs. Robert CreagerSylvia & Andre CrispinMr. & Mrs. T. N. CrookMr. & Mrs. James W. CrownoverMr. & Mrs. Harry H. Cullen Jr.Mr. Carl CunninghamMr. & Mrs. Jeremy DavisDr. & Mrs. Clotaire D. DeleryMr. & Mrs. Mark DiehlMr. & Mrs. Carr P. DishroonMr. & Mrs. Jack N. DohertyMr. & Mrs. James P. DornDrs. Gary & Roz DworkinMr. & Mrs. Edward N. EarleMrs. Carolyn Grant FayJerry E. & Nanette B. FingerDr. & Mrs. Ronald FischerJohn C. FitchMr. & Mrs. Tom FitzpatrickMr. Jeff FortMs. Beth FreemanPaula & Alfred FriedlanderMr. Douglas GarrisonMr. John GeeMr. Michael B. GeorgeMrs. Joan M. GieseDr. & Mrs. Jack GillWalter Gilmore

Annual Campaign Donors...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

September 2011 35


Mr. Mauro Gimenez & Ms. Connie Coulomb

Mr. & Mrs. Morris GlesbyGary & Marion GloberMr. & Mrs. Bert H. GoldingHelen B. Wils & Leonard GoldsteinRobert & Michelle GoodmarkMr. Robert GrantMs. Joyce z. GreenbergMary & Paul GregoryMr. Charles H. GregoryMr. & Mrs. Robert M. GriswoldMr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Hafner Jr.Mr. Michael HaighMrs. Thalia HalenDr. & Mrs. Carlos R. HamiltonMr. & Mrs. Bob HammannMr. & Mrs. Paul HansonMarion & Jim HargroveMr. & Judge Frank Harmon IIIMs. Claudia HatcherDr. & Mrs. Eric J. HaufrectMr. & Mrs. David HemenwayMark & Ragna HenrichsMarilyn & Robert M. HermanceMr. & Mrs. Robert P. HerrmannMr. & Mrs. Doug R. HinzieMr. Tim HoganMrs. Holly HolmesMr. & Mrs. Alex HowardMr. & Mrs. Norman C. HoyerEileen & George HricikMr. Mark HughesMr. & Mrs. R. O. HuntonMr. Bradford IrelanDr. & Mrs. Joseph JankovicMr. & Mrs. John F. JoityMr. & Mrs. Harvey KatzSam & Cele KeeperLinda & Frank S. KelleyMr. & Mrs. Mavis Kelsey Jr.Ms. Deborah KosichMr. & Mrs. Kevin LaneMs. Joni LatimerMs. Barbara ListerMs. Nancey LobbMr. & Mrs. John LollarRobert & Gayle LongmireMr. & Mrs. Paul F. LongstrethMr. & Mrs. Michael L. MasonMr. & Mrs. J.A. Mawhinney Jr.Mr. & Mrs. William L. MaynardMr. & Mrs. James W. McCartneyMr. & Mrs. Andrew McFarlandMr. & Mrs. John M. McGillMr. & Mrs. Michael McGuireMr. & Mrs. Martin McIntyreMr. & Mrs. Lance McKnightBarnett & Diane McLaughlinAlice R. McPherson, M.D.Mr. & Mrs. David A. MireMr. & Mrs. Robert MitchellMr. & Mrs. John C. MolloyMs. Marsha L. MontemayorMr. & Mrs. Gerarld MoynierMr. & Mrs. Marvin MuellerMr. & Mrs. Stephen NewmanSteve & Sue OlsonMr. & Mrs. John S. OrtonMr. Austin M. O’Toole &

Ms. valerie SherlockMr. & Mrs. Robert PaciniMr. Robert PastorekMr. & Mrs. Raul Pavon

Michael & Shirley PearsonMr. & Mrs. James D. PennyMr. John PetzoldDr. & Mrs. Jorge PineraMr. James D. PitcockDr. & Dr. Eduardo PlantillaMrs. Dana PuddyDarla & Chip PurchaseMr. Dale Qualls &

Mrs. Melissa McWilliamsDr. & Mrs. Henry H. Rachford Jr.Mr. Thomas P. RandtAnne D. ReedMr. Charles M. ReimerMr. & Mrs. Allyn RisleyMs. Janice Robertson &

Mr. Douglas WilliamsMs. Regina J. RogersMs. Franelle RogersDr. & Mrs. Franklin RoseMr. Edward RossMr. Carlos RossiMr. Kent RutterMr. Barry SamuelsMr. & Mrs. David SapersteinMr. & Mrs. Raymond E. SawayaMr. & Mrs. Lawrence SchanzmeyerBeth & Lee SchlangerMr. Ed Schneider & Ms. Toni A. OpltDrs. Helene & Robert SchwartzMr. Ralph D. SikesMr. & Mrs. Steve SimsBarbara & Louis SklarMr. & Mrs. William T. Slick Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Wesley SmithMr. & Mrs. William A. SmithDean & Kay L. SniderCarol & Michael StamatedesRichard P. Steele & Mary J. McKerallMr. & Mrs. James R. StevensEmily C. SundtMrs. Mary SwaffordMs. Jeanine SwiftMr. & Mrs. Nicholas L. SwykaMr. & Mrs. Albert S. Tabor Jr.Mr. Mark TaylorMr. Jim Teague & Ms. Jane DiPaoloMr. & Mrs. Patrick ThielkeJean & Doug ThomasMr. & Mrs. Ralph B. ThomasMs. virginia TorresMr. & Mrs. Timothy J. UngerMr. & Mrs. Thomas valleeMr. & Mrs. William A. van WieMr. Danny Ward & Ms. Nancy AmesMr. & Mrs. Peter S. WareingMr. & Mrs. James D. WebbMr. & Mrs. Eden N. WenigMr. John Wetsel &

Mrs. Joanne Breihan-WetselMr. & Mrs. Patrick J. WhelanMr. David Ashley WhiteCarlton & Marty WildeDr. & Mrs. Rudy C. WildensteinNancy WillersonMr. & Mrs. Thomas H. WilsonMs. Elizabeth WolffDr. & Mrs. Jerry S. WolinskyMr. & Mrs. Kevin YankowskyMr. & Mrs. William A. YoungMr. & Mrs. Charles zabriskieMrs. Betsy I. zimmer

Composer’s Circle$500 - $999Anonymous (11)Wade & Mert AdamsMs. Henrietta K. AlexanderMr. & Mrs. Thurmon AndressCorbin & Char AslaksonMr. & Mrs. John C. AverettJulie Ann & Matthew BakerMr. & Mrs. David M. BalderstonMr. & Mrs. Carlos BarbieriDr. David BarryMr. Allen J. BeckerMs. Bernice BeckermanCarolyn & Arthur BernerMr. & Mrs. Thomas BolamMr. Edward P. BornetMs. Joan BossBob F. BoydstonMr. & Mrs. Richard H. BrackettMs. Sally BrassowMs. Lisa BrenskelleMr. Malcolm Brewer &

Mrs. Irina S. DudleyMr. & Mrs. Kevin BrophyMr. & Mrs. Jos C. BrownFred & Judy BrunkMr. & Mrs. Fred BuckwoldMr. Christopher Buehler &

Ms. Jill HutchisonMs. Cheryl ByingtonMr. & Mrs. Raul CaffesseMr. & Mrs. Charles CalleryMr. & Mrs. Joseph L. CampbellMr. & Mrs. Bruce Cantrell Jr.Mr. & Mrs. E. Thomas ChaneyMr. William H. Choice IIIvirginia A. ClarkMrs. Barbora ColeMr. & Mrs. Todd ColterMr. & Mrs. Robert A. ColtonMr. H. Talbot CooleyMr. & Mrs. Dave CoolidgeMichael T. CoppingerMs. Miguel A. CorrellMr. William S. &

Dr. Mary Alice CowanMr. & Mrs. Timothy J. CrullMs. Ann CurrensMs. Aurelie DesmaraisPaul & Debbie DoughartyMr. Paul DoughartyElizabeth H. DuerrMr. & Mrs. A. C. DumestreMs. Consuelo Duroc-DannerDr. Kenneth L EulerMr. & Mrs. William EvansRobert H. Fain Jr., M.D.Mr. Robert FisherRachel FrazierMs. Martha GarciaMartha & Gibson Gayle Jr.Ms. Lucy GebhartMr. & Mrs. Harry GendelMs. Carolyn Gibbs & Mr. Rick NelsonWilliam E. GipsonMr. & Mrs. Herbert I. GoodmanMs. Melissa GoodmanMr. Bert GordonDr. & Mrs. Harvey L. GordonMr. & Mrs. Nicholas GreenawDennis Griffith & Louise RichmanMr. Doug GrovesGaye Davis & Dennis B. Halpin

Rita & John HannahBruce Harkness & Alice BrownW. Russel Harp &

Maarit K. Savola-HarpMr. & Mrs. Robert S. HarrellDr. & Mrs. William S. HarwellMr. & Mrs. Brian HaufrectMs. Ann Lents & Mr. J. David HeaneyMs. Lynn HerbertMr. & Mrs. Fred D. HerringMr. & Mrs. John R. HeumannMr. & Mrs. W. Grady HicksAnn & Joe HightowerMr. & Mrs. Ross K. HillMr. John HodginMr. & Mrs. John HomierDr. Matthew Horsfield &

Dr. Michael KauthMr. Steve HulseyMr. & Mrs. Kenneth C. IshamMrs. Paula JarrettMr. & Mrs. Wesley A. JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Okey B. JohnsonDr. & Mrs. Robert E. JordonMs. Karen Juul-Nielsen &

Mr. Rick GarnettMr. Guido KanschatMs. Karen KelleyMr. & Mrs. Edward KelleyMr. John Kelsey & Ms. Gaye DavisMr. & Mrs. Tom KelseyDr. & Mrs. Sherwin KershmanLucy & victor KormeierMr. & Mrs. Wilfred M. KrenekMr. James LeatherbyMs. Golda K. LeonardMr. James C. LindseyLisle violin ShopMr. Kelly Bruce LobleyMrs. Sylvia LohkampMr. & Mrs. Robert MartinMs. B. Lynn Mathre &

Mr. Stewart O’DellMr. & Mrs. Rod McAdamsMr. & Mrs. James McBrideLawrence McCullough &

Linda Jean QuintanillaDr. A. McDermott & Dr. A. GlasserWilliam E. Joor III &

Rose Ann MedlinMrs. Diane MerrillMr. Ronald A. MikitaMr. & Mrs. Arnold M. MillerMs. Kristen MillerMr. & Mrs. Herbert G. MillsMr. Willis B. MitchellJohn & Ann MontgomeryMs. Deborah MoranMr. & Mrs. Richard MurphyDaniel & Karol MusherAlan & Elaine MutMs. Jennifer NaaeMr. Robert NicholsNils & Stephanie NormannMr. & Mrs. D. D. OldhamMr. & Mrs. Rufus W. Oliver IIIKaty OptiksMr. & Mrs. Morris OrocofskyMr. & Mrs. Enrique OspinaMrs. Caroline OsteenJane & Kenneth OwenMr. Patrick C. OxfordMr. & Mrs. Robert PageMr. Jonathan Palmer


Rachel & Michael PawsonMr. & Mrs. James L. PayneMrs. Preston A. PeakDr. & Mrs. Joseph PennMs. Glena PfenningGrace & Carroll PhillipsMs. Meg PhilpotMr. Carmelo PieriMr. Robert W. PowellMr. Arthur PreisingerElias & Carole QumsiehMr. & Mrs. Dwain ReevesDr. Alexander P. Remenchik &

Ms. Frances BurfordMrs. Constance RhebergenHilda & Hershel RichMrs. Barbara RiddellMr. & Mrs. Charles E. RinehartDrs. Herbert & Manuela RoellerMr. & Mrs. Keith A. RogersMr. & Mrs. Joseph RubboBrittany SakowitzCharles & Andrea SeayMr. & Mrs. vic ShainockMs. Marcia SmartMr. & Mrs. William SmithMr. Hilary SmithMr. Brinton A. Smith &

Ms. Evelyn ChenMr. Marcus B. SmithMrs. Lynn SnyderMr. Nicholas SollenneMrs. Donna SprudzsMr. Myron F. StevesMrs. Louise SuttonMr. & Mrs. George TallichetMrs. Nina P. TateMr. & Mrs. Glenn TaylorMr. Kerry TaylorMs. Betsy Mims &

Mr. Howard D. ThamesJacob & Elizabeth ThomasMr. & Mrs. Tom ThweattMs. Cathleen J. TrechterMr. & Mrs. Robert A. TremantMr. Gerard TrioneMr. & Mrs. D.E. UtechtDr. & Mrs. Gage vanHornMs. Jana vander LeeMr. Earl vanzantDean B. WalkerBetty & Bill WalkerMr. & Mrs. David WardMr. & Mrs. William B. WareingMr. Kenneth W. WarrenMr. & Mrs. James A. WattDrs. A. & J. WerchMr. Burt WilsonMs. Laura WoodsMr. Randall WrightMr. & Mrs. Emil Wulfe

Patron’s Circle $�50 - $499Anonymous (19)William & Nancy AkersMr. & Mrs. Edward AllenMr. & Mrs. Steve AmeenMr. & Mrs. Les AntalffyDr. & Mrs. Roy AruffoMr. John B. AshmunMr. & Mrs. Gabriel BaizanThe Honorable &

Mrs. James A. Baker III

Mr. & Mrs. Saul BalaguraMs. virginia C. BallardMr. & Mrs. Don BarnhillMr. & Mrs. Seth BarrettMr. Daniel BarrettoMr. A. Greer Barriault &

Ms. Clarruth A. SeatonDr. & Mrs. Robert C. Bast Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Joshua L. BatchelorAnn B. BeaudetteFather Albert J. BeckBarbara & Jim BeckerMs. Roberta BensonMr. & Mrs. Matthew BeshearsMr. & Mrs. Randall BesteMr. & Mrs. Ed BillingsMr. & Mrs. George BoergerMr. Arno S. BommerMr. Philip BoothMs. Suzie BoydDr. Arthur W. BraceyMs. Cynthia BrenemanMrs. Barbara BrittMr. Chester Brooke &

Mrs. Nancy PoindexterMr. & Mrs. Steven BrosvikMr. J. W. BrougherSally & Laurence BrownJoan K. Bruchas & H. Philip CowdinMr. Frank BryanMs. Courtney BrynesMr. & Mrs. William BumpusMrs. Shirley BurgherMr. Gary Cacciatorevirginia & William CamfieldMr. Carlos CampoMrs. Marjorie H. CapshawMr. Petros CarvounisMr. & Mrs. Kevin J. CaseyK.D. Charalampous, M.D.Dr. Diana S. ChowJim R. & Lynn CoeMr. & Mrs. Clayton A. ComptonMr. & Mrs. Michael F. CookMr. David CorderMs. Jeanne A. CoxNigel CurtletMr. Michael DeaversMs. Caroline DeetjenMr. & Mrs. Rene DegreveMr. & Mrs. Joseph DemeterMs. Kay S. DerryMr. & Mrs. Joseph B. DerzapfMr. John A. DickinsonMs. Dora DillistoneMs. Judy DinesMr. & Mrs. Ira DinitzMr. & Mrs. Malcolm DittoMr. & Mrs. Clifford C. DukesMr. Kevin F. DvorakMr. & Mrs. Alfred H. Ebert Jr.Mrs. Karen A. EdgmonMr. & Mrs. William J. EgglestonMr. Paul EhrsamMr. & Mrs. Dean EicherMr. Ramsay M. ElderMs. Leslie ElkinsMildred & Richard EllisMr. & Mrs. Peter EricksonDr. Lillian R. Eriksen &

Dr. James TurleyMr. Mike EzzellMr. & Mrs. John R. FarinaMs. Ann S. Farrell

Ms. Ursula H. FelmetMr. & Mrs. Theodore C. FlickMr. James B. Flodine &

Ms. Lynne LiberatoMrs. Lisa Forgan DewittsMr. & Mrs. John M. ForneyMs. Johnella v. FranklinMs. Diane L. FreemanRobert A. Furse, M.D.Dr. Abdel K. FustokMr. & Mrs. Mike GallagherMrs. Holly GarnerMr. & Mrs. Neil GaynorMr. & Mrs. Duane v. GeisMr. Glen GettemyDebbie & Kyle GibsonMr. & Mrs. Peter GilletteMr. Charles J. GillmanMs. Heidi GoodMr. Ned GraberMrs. Howard GrekelMr. Steve K. GrimsleyMs. Jo Ann C. GuilloryDr. & Mrs. Howard Gutsteinzahava HaenoshMr. Teruhiko HagiwaraMr. & Mrs. Curtis D. HainesMs. vickie HamleyMr. & Mrs. vernon C. HammersleyMr. Jeff Hansen & Mrs. Kelly MartsMichael D. HardinMr. & Mrs. Tod P. HardingMs. Karen HardingMr. Paul HarmonMr. & Mrs. William HaskinsMs. Anna K. Hathaway-McKeeMr. & Ms. Malcolm HawkWilliam & Lana HazlettMr. & Mrs. Walter A. HechtMr. David T. Hedges Jr.Mr. John HeinyMr. & Mrs. Dean HenningsMs. Hilda R. HerzfeldMs. Constance HoldererJacque HollandS.y. & Y.j. Kim HongMs. Denene HooperMr. & Mrs. Aaron HowesMrs. Patricia P. HubbardMs. vicki HuffMr. & Mrs. Dean HuffmanMr. & Mrs. James R. HuttonMs. Jennifer IsadoreMr. Joseph IveyMs. Ariel JamesMr. & Mrs. Edwin R. JanesMr. & Mrs. Mark JohnsonMr. & Mrs. John W. JohnsonMr. Robert E. JohnsonMr. Raymond JonesDr. & Mrs. Andrew P. KantMr. & Mrs. Kenneth KantorDr. & Mrs. Ira Kaufman, M.D.Mr. & Mrs. Curtis R. KayemMs. Arlette KeeneMr. & Mrs. James A. KellerMr. & Mrs. David KendallMr. & Mrs. Hermen KeyMs. Malgorzata Kloc-StepkowskaMr. & Mrs. John KlugDr. & Mrs. Michael KoehlMr. & Mrs. Thomas KoskiMr. & Mrs. Sam KosterMr. & Mrs. William J. Kretlow

Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Krezer Jr.Mr. Quin KrollSuzanne A. & Dan D. KubinMr. vijay KusnoorMr. Tom KvintaMr. Kent LacyMr. & Mrs. James C. LamoreuxMr. Doug LawingMr. & Mrs. William LeightonDr. & Mrs. William R. Leighton Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Robert LeonardMr. & Mrs. Earl L. Lester Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Philip LewisSharon Lipsky, M.D.Mr. William LooserMr. Carlos J. LopezLouise & Oscar LuiMr. & Mrs. Peter MacGregorTom & Kathleen MachMr. & Mrs. N. K. Maer Jr.Mr. John MaguireMrs. D.B. MarchantMs. Renee MargolinDr. & Dr. A. J. MarianMr. Mark MatovichDr. Toshimatsu MatsumotoMs. Suzanne McCarthyBill & Karinne Mc CulloughMr. & Mrs. Edward McCulloughMr. & Mrs. Lawrence McManusMr. & Mrs. James L. McNettMrs. Dorri MelvinMr. & Mrs. Thomas J. MirelesMr. & Mrs. Michael MithoffMr. & Mrs. John H. Monroe Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Jess R. MooreMs. Lauren MorganMr. & Mrs. Ryan MossMr. & Mrs. Robert N. MurrayMr. Arturo NarroMr. & Mrs. Geoffrey B. NewtonMarjory & Barry OkinMr. & Mrs. Sheldon I. OsterMs. Jennifer OwenMs. Linda PetersonMr. & Mrs. W. Hugh Phillips IIIMark H. & Lynn K. PickettMr. Timothy N. Pitts &

Mrs. Kathleen WinklerMr. Warren B. Pond Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Roland W. PringleMr. & Mrs. Larry & Nita PyleMr. & Mrs. Paul RamirezMr. & Mrs. venu RaoMs. Joanna RaynesLoreta & Ronald ReaMr. & Mrs. John Q. ReansRalph & Becky ReedRobert & Anne ReedMr. & Mrs. Norman T. ReynoldsMr. & Mrs. Walter RhodesMr. & Mrs. Claud D. RiddlesMr. & Mrs. William F. RikeMr. James L. RobertsonMs. Shari RochenMr. Daniel J. RomeroMs. Charlotte A. RothwellMr. & Mrs. John E. RyallMr. & Mrs. Kent SavageMr. Donald SchmuckMrs. Jill SchroederMr. & Mrs. Douglas SchwaabJonathan & Marcia ShearPamela & Richard Sherry


September 2011 37

Annual Campaign Donors...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................Mr. & Mrs. Charles C. ShumakerMr. Barrett SidesMr. & Mrs. Richard SmithMr. & Mrs. Tom SmithMrs. Josephine SmithHans C. SonnebornMs. Georgiana StanleyMs. Blanche StastnyMr. & Mrs. Donald K. SteinmanWilliam F. SternCassie B. Stinson & Dr. R. Barry HoltzMr. & Mrs. James W. StovallMr. & Mrs. William G. StraightMr. & Mrs. Hans StrohmerDr. & Mrs. David Sufian

Ms. Lori SummaMr. & Mrs. John L. SutterbyMs. Barbara SwartzMs. Rhonda J. SweeneyMs. Jessica TaylorMs. Susan L. ThompsonDavid & Ann TomatzMr. Tom TomlinsonMr. & Mrs. Louis E. TooleDr. & Mrs. Karl TornyosMr. Jon D. TotzMr. Herbert TowningDr. Robert Ulrich &

Ms. June R. RussellDr. & Mrs. Brad Urquhart

Mr. & Mrs. Dixon van HofwegenDr. Allen R. vogtJan & Don WagnerMr. William WalkerMr. & Mrs. Bill WarburtonMs. Sandria WardLeone Buyse & Michael WebsterMr. Paul WehnerMr. & Mrs. Kane C. WeinerMs. Bryony Jane WelshMr. Richard WhiteMrs. Amber WilbanksMr. Patrick WilsonMiriam & Marcos WittMr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Wood

Miss Susan WoodMrs. Michael WoolcockMs. Kristi WrightMrs. Peggy J. WylieMr. Le Roy YeagerMr. Ray YoungMs. Carmen zatorski

As of August 1, 2011

In Kind Donors......................................................................................................... As of August 1, 2011

Alexander’s Fine Portrait DesignBaker Botts Bergner & JohnsonBKD, LLPBright StarClassical 91.7 FMCogneticMr. Carl R. CunninghamDarryl & Co.Deville Fine Jewelry

DocuData SolutionsThe Events Company Foster Quan LLPHilton Americas - HoustonHouston ChronicleJackson and CompanyJim Benton of Houston LLCThe Lancaster Hotel Limb DesignMusic & ArtsNeiman Marcus

New Leaf Publishing, Inc.Nos Caves vinPaperCityPro/SoundSaint Arnold’s BreweryShecky’s Media, Inc.Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer FoodsUnited Airlinesvalobra Jewelry & AntiquesJohn Wright/Texprint

Principal Pops Conductor’s Circle $5,000 or MoreMr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr.Ms. Sara J. DevineAllen & Almira Gelwick -

Lockton CompaniesMr. & Mrs. Fred L. GormanDr. & Mrs. Bernard KatzDr. & Mrs. Paul M. MannPaul & Rita MoricoMary & Terry MurphreeMr. Robert J. PileggeMr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Ken N. RobertsonMrs. Sybil F. RoosMrs. Maryjane ScherrDavid & Paula Steakley

Grand Patron Pops $�,500-$4,999Rita & Geoffrey BaylissMr. & Mrs. Byron F. DyerMrs. Barry LewisMr. & Mrs. Allan QuiatMr. & Mrs. George A. Rizzo Jr.Linda & Jerry RubensteinMr. & Mrs. Leland TateMr. & Mrs. Lawrence D. WallaceSally & Denney Wrightt

Pops Patron $1,500-$�,499Jim & Ellen BoxMr. & Mrs. James E. DorsettCarol & Larry Fradkin

Mr. Robert GrantMr. & Mrs. Jerry L. HamakerMr. & Mrs. Mark S. RauchMr. & Mrs. Ben A. ReidShirley & Marvin RichDr. & Mr. Adrian D. ShelleyMs. Jody verwersMr. & Mrs. William B. Welte III

Headliner $1,000-$1,499Headliner $1,000-$1,499Ms. Tara BlackMrs. Alan GaylorMr. & Ms. Eric J. GongreMr. & Mrs. George A. HellandMichael & Darcy KrajewskiDr. & Mrs. Raghu NarayanRoman & Sally ReedMr. & Mrs. John T. RiordanMrs. Annetta RoseMr. Morris RubinMs. Amanda TozziMr. Roger Trandell

Producer $500-$999Rev. & Mrs. H. Eldon AkermanMr. John S. BeuryMs. Barbara A. BrooksMr. John CarmichaelMr. & Mrs. Warren J. CarrollBarbara DokellMr. & Mrs. Barry H. MargolisMr. & Mrs. Joe T. McMillan

Mr. Gerard & Mrs. Helga MeneillyW. R. PurifoyMs. Phyllis Schaffer

Director $�50-$499Mr. Jay T. BrownMr. & Mrs. Rick A. BurrisMarilyn & Tucker CoughlenJohn & Joyce EagleMr. & Mrs. Charles GrantMr. & Mrs. Jim GuntherMr. & Mrs. Robert L. HansenMr. & Mrs. Dale HardyJess Hines Jr.Mr. Larry JanuaryMr. & Mrs. Bill JohnstonMs. Mary KeathleyDr. George S. KnappCharles C. & Patricia KubinMs. Doris M. MageeMr. & Mrs. Carrol R. McGinnisMr. James MinerJudy & Bill PursellMr. Robert SchickMr. & Mrs. David K. SmithMs. Beth StegleMs. Jane B. ThompsonMr. & Mrs. Carl N. TongbergMr. Lam TranDr. Holly & Mr. Michael varnerDr. & Mrs. William C. WatkinsMr. & Mrs. Don Wilton


Houston Symphony Pops Patrons............................................................................................................




$100,000-$499,999 BBvA Compass Fidelity Investments United Airlines

$50,000-$99,999 * Cameron Chevron ConocoPhillips ExxonMobil Frost * GDF SUEz Energy North America Marathon Oil Corporation The Methodist Hospital System Shell Oil Company Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods TOTAL UBS * Weatherford International Ltd.

$�5,000-$49,999 American Express Andrews Kurth, LLP Baker Botts LLP Chubb Group of Insurance Companies Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. JPMorgan Chase KPMG LLP vinson & Elkins LLP

$10,000-$�4,999 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation * Bank of America * Boeing Bracewell & Giuliani LLP * CenterPoint Energy Cooper Industries, Inc. * Devon Energy Corporation Ernst & Young H. E. Butt Grocery Company Margolis, Phipps & Wright, P.C. Memorial Hermann Northern Trust The Rand Group, LLC SPIR STAR, Inc. Star Furniture

St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital USI Insurance Services LLC * vitol Inc. * Wells Fargo * Wood Group Management Services

$500-$9,999 Beck, Redden & Secrest, LLP * Bloomberg L.L.P. GEM Insurance Agencies, L.P. Intercontinental Exchange Ironshore Insurance Services, LLP Lockton Companies Neiman Marcus Oceaneering International, Inc. Porter & Hedges, LLP * Randalls Food Markets, Inc. Regions Bank Seyfarth Shaw LLP * Smith, Graham & Company Stewart Title Company * Swift Energy Company Texas Children’s Hospital Wortham Insurance & Risk Management

* Sponsors of Houston Symphony Education & Outreach Programs

Corporations.........................................................................................................


$1,000,000 & above * Houston Endowment, Inc. * Houston Symphony League The Wortham Foundation Inc.

$500,000-$999,999 * M. D. Anderson Foundation

$100,000-$499,999 The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation * The Brown Foundation The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation Madison Charitable Foundation * Spec’s Charitable Foundation

$50,000-$99,999 Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation

The Alkek & Williams Foundation * Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Educational Fund * John P. McGovern Foundation

$�5,000-$49,999 Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation The Humphreys Foundation * Sterling-Turner Foundation

$10,000-$�4,999 * Bauer Family Foundation Carleen & Alde Fridge Foundation * The Melbern G. & Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation * George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation * Houston Symphony League Bay Area * The Powell Foundation * vivian L. Smith Foundation The Schissler Foundation * vaughn Foundation Warren Family Foundation

$�,500-$9,999 Stanford & Joan Alexander Foundation * The Becker Family Foundation * Ray C. Fish Foundation William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust Huffington Foundation Leon Jaworski Foundation William S. & Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation * Robert W. & Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation Lubrizol Foundation * Kinder Morgan Foundation * Lynne Murray, Sr. Educational Foundation The Helmle Shaw Foundation Strake Foundation Susman Family Foundation

Government Donors * City of Houston National Endowment for the Arts State Employee Charitable Campaign * Texas Commission on the Arts

* Sponsors of Houston Symphony Education & Outreach Programs

Foundations........................................................................................................

Corporate Matching Gifts........................................................................................ AetnaAkzo NobelAT&TBank of AmericaBoeingCaterpillarChevronCoca-Cola

El Paso CorporationEli Lilly and CompanyExxonMobilFannie MaeGeneral ElectricGeneral MillsGoldman, Sachs & Co.Halliburton

Hewlett-PackardIBMING Financial Services CorporationJPMorgan ChaseKBRKirby CorporationOccidental PetroleumSMART Modular Technologies, Inc.

Spectra Energy

September 2011 39

Mr. Thomas D. BarrowW. P. BeardMrs. H. Raymond BrannonAnthony BrigandiLawrence E. Carlton, M.D.Mrs. Albert v. CaselliLee Allen ClarkJack EllisMrs. Robin A. ElversonFrank R. EylerHelen Bess Fariss FosterChristine E. George

Mrs. Marcella Levine HarrisGeneral & Mrs. Maurice HirschMiss Ima HoggBurke & Octavia HolmanMrs. L. F. McCollumJoan B. McKerleyMonroe L. Mendelsohn Jr.Mrs. Janet MoynihanConstantine S. NicandrosHanni OrtonStewart Orton, Legacy Society co-founderDr. Michael Papadopoulos

Miss Louise Pearl PerkinsWalter W. Sapp, Legacy Society co-founderJ. Fred & Alma Laws Lunsford SchultzMs. Jean R. SidesJohn K. & Fanny W. StoneDorothy Barton ThomasMrs. Harry C. WiessMrs. Edward Wilkerson

Legacy Society...................................................................................................

The Legacy Society honors those who have included the Houston Symphony in their long-term estate plans through bequests, life-income gifts or other deferred-giving arrangements. Members of the Legacy Society enjoy a variety of benefits, including an annual musical event, featuring a renowned guest artist. The Houston Symphony would like to extend its deepest thanks to the members of the Legacy Society – and with their permission, we are pleased to acknowl-edge them below. If you would like to learn more about ways to provide for the Houston Symphony in your estate plans, please contact our Development Department at: (713) 337-8500 or [email protected].

Anonymous (9)Mrs. Jan BarrowGeorge & Betty BashenDorothy B. BlackErmy Borlenghi BonfieldRonald C. BorschowAnneliese BosselerJoe Brazzattizu BroadwaterTerry Ann BrownDr. Joan K. Bruchas & H. Philip CowdinEugene R. BrunsSylvia J. CarrollWilliam J. Clayton & Margaret A. HughesLeslie Barry DavidsonHarrison R. T. DavisJudge & Mrs. Harold DeMoss Jr.Jean & sJack EllisThe Aubrey and Sylvia Farb FamilyGinny GarrettMichael B. GeorgeStephen & Mariglyn GlennMr. & Mrs. Keith E. GottRandolph Lee GroningerMarilyn & Robert M. HermanceDr. Gary L. HollingsworthDr. Edward J. & Mrs. Patti HurwitzKenneth HydeMr. Brian JamesDrs. Rita & Blair JusticeDr. & Mrs. Ira Kaufman, M.D.John S. W. KellettAnn Kennedy & Geoffrey WalkerDr. & Mrs. I. Ray KirkMr. & Mrs. Ulyesse LeGrange

Mrs. Frances E. LelandDr. Mary R. LewisE. W. Long Jr.Sandra MagersRodney H. MargolisMr. & Mrs. Jay MarksJames MatthewsDr. and Mrs. Malcolm MazowMr. & Mrs. Gene McDavidCharles E. McKerleyMr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahanMiss Catherine Jane MerchantDr. & Mrs. Robert M. MihaloRon MikitaKatherine Taylor MizeIone MoranSidney MoranSue A. Morrison and ChildrenMr. & Mrs. Richard P. MoynihanGretchen Anne MyersBobbie & Arthur NewmanMr. Dave B. NussmannEdward C. Osterberg Jr.Joan D. OsterweilImogen “Immy” PapadopoulosSara M. PetersonMr. Howard PieperGeraldine S. PriestDaniel F. ProsserGloria & Joe PryzantMrs. Dana PuddyWalter M. RossMr. & Mrs. Michael B. SandeenCharles K. SandersCharles King Sanders

Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Seay IIMr. & Mrs. James A. ShafferDr. & Mrs. Kazuo ShimadaJule & Albert SmithMr. & Mrs. Louis J. SnyderMike & sAnita StudeEmily H. & David K. TerryStephen G. TippsMr. & Mrs. Jesse B. TutorDr. Carlos vallbona & ChildrenMargaret Waisman, M.D. &

Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D.David M. Wax & Elaine Arden CaliRobert G. WeinerGeoffrey WestergaardJennifer R. WittmanMr. & Mrs. Bruce E. WoodsMr. & Mrs. David Wuthrich


sDeceased

We honor the memory of those who in life included the Houston Symphony in their estate plans. Their thoughtfulness and generosity will continue to inspire and enrich lives for generations to come!

In Memoriam.....................................................................................................


Backstage Pass...................................................................................................

Steven P. Mach, musician sponsor

Birthplace and Education: Houston; I am a fifth-generation Houstonian.St. Thomas High School, Houston; Trinity University, BA, San Antonio. I serve on the Board of Trustees of Trinity.

Joined the Houston Symphony: Became a Trustee in 2005; chair, Finance Committee, 2008-2011; chair, Board Governance and Leadership Committee & Board Secretary, 2010-present; Executive Committee, 2008-present; chair, CEO Search Committee, 2010.

Earliest musical memory: The most meaningful was learning to play the piano, attending weekly piano lessons. I also remem-ber attending concerts in Jones Hall as an elementary school student.

All in the family: My mother enjoys the piano, as does my brother, who also plays the guitar. I also played the clarinet. None of us are professional players.

Current listening: I have a diverse music selection on my iPod. I probably listen to Coldplay and Willie Nelson the most; how-ever, my most recent iTunes purchase was Aaron Copland and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Looking forward to in the �011-�01� season: A repeat of last season’s successful attainment of the goals set for the Houston Endowment Challenge, including a record Annual Fund and balanced budget. I am very proud of the work that everyone did in the past year—management, staff, the orchestra, Maestro Graf and the Board—to make sure that the Houston Symphony arrives in its 100th year stronger than ever and ready for the next 100 years.

Favorite Symphony experience: Interestingly enough, it’s all of the work we do as Board members behind the scenes, working with management, the staff and the orchestra to keep the Houston Symphony heading in the right direction. Like many of my fellow Board members, I actually spend far more time at Jones Hall in meetings than I do in my seats! I enjoy concerts, for sure, but I find my work on behalf of the Symphony the most rewarding. I believe that great cities need great arts organizations, and Houston and the Houston Symphony are no exception. I am proud to do my part to keep orchestral music thriving in our great city.

Pastime and good company: I volunteer my time serving on various boards, including those of Family Services of Greater Houston, The Good Samaritan Foundation, The Moores School of Music Society, The Men of Distinction Steering Committee and Trinity University. I also serve on the Board of River Oaks Baptist School, where all of my children attend, and I am presently serving as chair of the school’s endowment campaign.

Becoming a Musician Sponsor: I became a musician sponsor at least six years ago, and Eric was assigned to us when we started supporting the program. He and I recently did a photo shoot for the 2011-2012 season brochure. It was really fun!

Pass it on: I think that many of our patrons are not aware that the cost of a ticket for a performance only covers about half of the expenses, with much of the balance coming from the Annual Fund. Your support of the Annual Fund is critical, and we’re especially thankful for those who are able to participate as Musician Sponsors. It’s not only a great opportunity for patrons to be involved, but also of significant benefit to our operations as an orchestra.

Eric Larson, double bass

Birthplace and Education: Olympia, Washington. Bachelor’s in music performance from Boston University.

Joined the Houston Symphony: 1999

Looking forward to in the �011-�01� season: It’s going to be fantastic! I am really looking forward to performing Gustav Mahler’s 5th Symphony with Christoph Eschenbach, who was the Music Director of the Houston

Symphony when I won my job. I must admit, I am a Mahler junkie, and I love performing his music on the double bass. Mahler was both a composer and a conductor, so he knew how to specifically write for an orchestra. He had inti-mate knowledge of how each instrument worked, and more importantly, how to put all of the instruments together to create one powerful cohe-sive idea. If there is one concert this season that you should not miss, it would be this one.

Began studying my instrument: I started playing the double bass when I was 12. Many people ask why I chose to play such a large instrument, but the truth is that the instrument actually chose me. When I was in sixth grade, a man came to our class and asked everyone to raise their hands. He walked up and down the aisles inspecting each of our hands; he tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to follow him into the hall-way. I didn’t know who this man was and why he was removing me from the classroom—I thought I was in trouble! It turns out he was the music teacher and the school orchestra was in need of a bass player. I had the largest hands in my class, so he asked if I would be interested. At the time, I was playing the piano and not enjoying it, so I thought giving the bass a try would be fun. Twenty-five years later, I am still having fun and can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.

Discovering my vocation: When I was a kid, I always loved playing music; however, I had never really thought of it as an actual career. At age 15, I had the pleasure of attending the Boston University-Tanglewood Institute, a summer music program for high school students located at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony. I heard the Boston Symphony play Mahler Symphony No. 2 at the first concert of the summer, and it was after this performance that I knew playing music was the only thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Keeping it fresh: Teaching—it’s through my students that I continue to grow and learn.

Pastime and good company: Outside of work, my wife, Melissa, and I enjoy traveling to cities with great culinary offerings (NYC, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston). When we are not traveling, we are kept busy by Bert, a 2-year-old collie with LOTS of energy. I love to golf, and I really enjoy cooking, so when I am not cooking at home, I am exploring the many outstanding restaurants in Houston. I feel very lucky to live in a city with such a diverse culture. I have enjoyed getting to know Houston’s heritage and people through food.

© LEAH POLKOW

SKE

houston symphony magazine september 2011

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