HARMONYMid-season 2013 Volume 4 – Edition 1

Tickets: 904.354.5547

Contributions: 904.354.1473

Online: JaxSymphony.org

J A C K S O N V I L L E S Y M P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A

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Dear Symphony Friends,

It is an honor to return to the Jacksonville Symphony as president. For nearly 25years, I have been deeply involved in bettering the quality of life for our community.

Coming full circle, I’m now backwhere I started,working to ensureJacksonville Symphony Orchestra’sposition as our premier performingarts organization.

Expanding the Symphony’s donorbase is one of my first priorities.To help achieve this ambitious goal,Stacy Ridenour has agreed to serveas a vice president for development

with a focus on major and individual gifts, planned giving, and our work with ourvalued partners.

At the forefront is our 2013 Florida Blue Community Challenge campaign,“It’sYourOrchestra!” (details inside).We are grateful to Florida Blue and several generousindividuals and corporations that have given $200,000 to help leverage new andincreased support from the community. Each new or increased gift will be matched ona dollar-for-dollar basis. The Jacksonville Symphony is one of our community’s greatestassets – a real treasure. I urge you to participate in this challenge with your new orincreased gift prior to May 31.

Thanks to your enthusiasm for great music, ticket sales, attendance and contributionsare on a positive trend.As we continue the process of selecting a new music director,the 2013-14 season will be an unparalleled musical journey, as eight stellar young guestconductors lead the orchestra.Your participation in this process is critical.

The recent contract agreement between the Symphony Association and the musicians’union is great news for all of us in the community.As we move forward,we thank you,our patrons. The musicians value your ongoing participation and deeply appreciateyour generous applause. Together,we have a bright future filled with exciting opportu-nities for our orchestra!

Sincerely,

David L. Pierson,President

Join the Conversation.

© 2013 Jacksonville Symphony Association

Applause for a Symphony of Donors!This season offered many opportunities for donors and patrons to get to knowthe Jacksonville Symphony a little more. We opened our doors for two openrehearsals and the Symphony 101 luncheons were a big hit. Conductor’s Clubmembers enjoyed a season preview and sit-on-stage luncheon.On May 21 at 7 p.m., the Symphony family of donors will be treated to a DonorAppreciation Concert. At the close of a most remarkable season, you continue toaffirm the Jacksonville Symphony’s commitment to enriching and uplifting thiscommunity. Call 904.354.1473 for more information.

Angela Sings AngelouSoprano Angela Brown (pictured) performedA Woman’s Life, a musical setting of Maya Angelou’spoems, composed by Richard Danielpour. The April

19 “Music andPoetry” concert,conductedby MichaelButterman,was an official“Cultural Fusion”event, fosteringracial under-standing, inpartnershipwith a varietyof Jacksonvillevenues.

Inside:JSYO

Festival of Stringsand more.

At the Open Rehearsal in April are Jay and Ellen Sherline,with Stacy Ridenour (center).

At the Sit-On-Stage Luncheon with patron Laurie DuBow(second from left) are JSYO student Claudia Beshears,Douglas Anderson orchestra director Brian Griffin andJSYM timpanist Ken Every.

2013 COMMUNITY CHALLENGESee page 2.

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Page 2 Mid-season 2013

S U P P O R T T H E S Y M P H O N Y

Dear Symphony Patrons,

Everywhere you turn, you hear the Jacksonville Symphony being described as a community treasure and vital to our quality of life.The time is now for all of us in the Jacksonville community to align our actions with our words. Our Orchestra’s future successhinges on the extent of support demonstrated by each of us who cares about our Symphony and our City.

“It’sYour Orchestra,” the 2013 Florida Blue Community Challenge campaign, launches this month.We are grateful to Florida Blueand several generous individuals and corporations that have given $200,000 as leverage for new and increased financial supportfor the Symphony.

If the Jacksonville Symphony is something you personally treasure and value as an essential community asset, please consider a newor increased gift prior to May 31st and double the impact of your support at this critical time!

Your gift is truly appreciated by our stellar musicians, by the 80,000 students touched each year by our education programs, by the350Youth Orchestra and Jump Start String students, and by all the community leaders and citizens like you who are working to-gether to build a great City anchored by our world-class Orchestra.

Yours truly,

Stacy RidenourStacy RidenourVice President for Development

It’s Your Orchestra!2013 COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

with additional support from

Roger L. and Rochelle S. Main Charitable Trust, Robert and Monica Jacoby,Josie Flaherty, Stein Mart, David and Elaine Strickland

will match any new or increased gift UP TO $200,000.

Your gift must be received by May 31, 2013 to be eligible for this match!

Call 904.354.1473 or donate online at JaxSymphony.org.

B.Rabinowitz

JSYO Festival Finale!In March, more than 300 students assembled forthe grand finale of the JSYO Festival of Strings.This showcase event included the JacksonvilleSymphony Youth Orchestra’s Overture, Foundation,Encore and Premiere string ensembles with theJSYO Philharmonic Strings. Our Jump Start Stringsstudents also performed, as well as ensembles fromLaVilla School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson.JSYO standouts Andrew Blocker and Maia Delegalwere featured with Philip Pan and Chris Chappellfrom the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra inVivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins.In celebration of the Jacksonville Symphony YouthOrchestra’s 20th anniversary season, the event waspart of the Publix Super Markets Charities JSYOConcert Series and sponsored by DouglasAnderson School of the Arts.

Amazing Year for Jump Start StringsThis season, our Jump Start Strings studentsrehearsed as one full ensemble to prepare for theirbig year-end performance at the Festival of Strings.Based at six different Communities In Schools“Team Up” after-school sites, the students haveweekly violin, cello and bass lessons from aJacksonville Symphony musician and twice-weeklysupervised practicesessions. Following theconcert, Jump StartStrings Coordinator PeggyToussant (pictured center)said, “Their performancesurpassed our highestexpectations. The hardwork and practice reallypaid off.”

Photos by Steve Patrick.

Page 3 Mid-season 2013

S Y M P H O N Y S P O T L I G H T

Music and Childhood Literacy

Early childhood development is critical in establishing a foundation for learning and reading. For the third straightyear, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Jacksonville Children’s Commission have collaborated on“Musical Storybooks,” a program for the very youngest in our community.Led by a narrator with a Jacksonville Symphony string quartet, this interactive musical program for preschoolersis designed to foster a love of reading. The featured storybook, Mole Music by David McPhails, teaches vocabulary,listening skills, math, art and more, as the story is interwoven with classical music.

Preschoolers at the Jacksonville Children’s Commission actively participated in “Mole Music”with violin cardboard cutouts and drinking straws as bows.

National Spotlight on JSYM

In March, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra hostedthe 2013 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, theLeague of American Orchestra’s biennial conductingshowcase. The event featured six highly talented emergingconductors in a working rehearsal setting with theorchestra. Leaders from several orchestras around thecountry were in attendance. Our own subscribers anddonors also enjoyed the opportunity to observe.

Sameer Patel (above) and Keitaro Haradawere among the six promising youngconductors leading the JacksonvilleSymphony Orchestra. Photos by Bassel Jadaa.

Jacksonville Symphony EarnsGlowing PraiseJacksonville Symphony shows Palm Beachwhat it’s missing without its own orchestra

Your Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, conductedby Fabio Mechetti, earned a stellar review following itsperformance in February at the Kravis Center in WestPalm Beach. We’ve printed an excerpt from the reviewby Marcio Bezerra for the Palm Beach Daily News.“In fact, Mechetti’s conscious choices were madeclear not only to the orchestra, but to the audience.He is a discreet conductor who has confidence in hismusicians and is not afraid to share the spotlight withthem… All in all, this was a most satisfying evening ofglorious orchestral music. May envy turn into action forwe surely deserve and need to have a full time orchestraamong us. We can only hope that it would be as goodas the Jacksonville Symphony.”This complete article and many more can be viewedat JaxSymphony.org. Click “News” and scroll down.While you’re there check out our blog, dashboard,Symphony Notes, videos, photos and more.

Season Highlights

At every event, JacksonvilleSymphony patrons and donors arecentral to the Orchestraʼs success.Thanks to your participation andsupport, subscriptions have beenon an upward trend for the past twoyears and single ticket sales haveshown remarkable growth in key areas.As you share the excitement of yourSymphony experience with others, youare helping to broaden our patron basethroughout North Florida.

SponsorshipBackstage with ConductorFabio Mechetti areEd and Julie McCarthy,trustees of the Jess andBrewster J. Durkee Foun-dation, which sponsoredthat evening’s concert.

Open RehearsalIn October and April,

subscribers and donors wereinvited to free Open

Rehearsals. Pictured duringpre-rehearsal coffee areEd and Beryl Johnson.

Symphony 101In April, the Symphony101 lunch, lecture andopen rehearsal featuredhusband-wife harpistsKayo Ishimaru of theJacksonville Symphonyand Dickie Fleisher of theNaples Philharmonic.

Sit-On-StageIn March,

Conductor’s ClubBronze members

enjoyed aSit-On-Stage luncheon

with the musicians.Pictured is Jon Ebacher,

with JSYM BassistPatrick Bilanchone.

THE SEARCH BEGINS!Experience Eight Acclaimed Guest Conductors on the Florida Blue Masterworks Series.

Be a part of this historic musical journey!As the Jacksonville Symphony begins the search for its next Music Director, you have a unique opportunity to experience the artistry of these acclaimed maestros.

ANDRÉ RAPHEL“Under his leadership, the orchestra was transparent, energized and full ofshadings that propelled the music…” The Philadelphia Inquirer

ROMEO AND JULIET – Feb. 13, 14 & 15, 2014André Raphel, conductor • Philippe Quint, violinPROKOFIEV Romeo and Juliet (Selections)MENDELSSOHN Violin ConcertoTCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 2 “Little Russian”

COURTNEY LEWIS“One of the most exciting and moving performances I’ve ever heard.Absolutelyriveting from beginning to end,with one insight, one revelation after another…”Boston Phoenix

WAGNER & RACHMANINOFF – Mar. 13, 14 & 15, 2014Courtney Lewis, conductor • Joyce Yang, pianoWAGNER Tristan und Isolde, Prelude and Liebestod • RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3DVOR

v

ÁK Symphony No. 7

ANDREW GRAMS“...Grams’ insightful and affectionate reading proved the biggest revelation.The conductor managed to evoke heart-stopping stillness and bracing vibrancy,sometimes at the same time…” The Salt Lake Tribune

VIRTUOSO LISZT – Apr. 3, 4 & 5, 2014Andrew Grams, conductor • William Wolfram, pianoBRAHMS Hungarian Dance No. 1 • LISZT Les PreludesDVOR

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ÁK Carnival Overture • LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody & PianoConcerto No. 1

SHIZUO Z KUWAHARA“He certainly has brought a newness to the symphony. I’m looking forward tothe bigger and better things to come…” The Augusta Chronicle

THE FIREBIRD – Apr. 25 & 26, 2014Shizuo ZKuwahara, conductor • Stewart Goodyear, pianoPROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3KHACHATURIAN Masquerade SuiteSTRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite (1919)

TEDDY ABRAMS“The 23-year old conductor is a greatly gifted musician who appears on theverge of a major podium career…” South Florida Classical Review

GERSHWIN & TCHAIKOVSKY – Oct. 3, 4 & 5, 2013Teddy Abrams, conductor & pianoGERSHWIN An American in ParisRAVEL Piano Concerto in GTCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

WARD STARE“He exudes charm as he bounds on stage and bows to the audience from thepodium.And once he picks up the baton, he’s all about the music…”Musical America

BRAHMS SYMPHONY No. 1 – Oct. 25 & 26, 2013Ward Stare, conductor • Susanna Phillips, sopranoHAYDN Symphony No. 96 “MiracleBARBER Knoxville: Summer of 1915BRAHMS Symphony No. 1

ROBERT MOODY“Robert Moody led his musicians with skill and authority, drawing precise andpassionate playing from them. You can come back anytime,Mr.Moody, so longas you keep bringing us music like this…” Charleston (SC) City Paper

BEETHOVEN’S “EROICA” – Nov. 21, 22 & 23, 2013Robert Moody, conductor • Christina Major, sopranoTroy Cook, baritone • Jacksonville Symphony ChorusBEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” • VAUGHANWILLIAMS Dona Nobis Pacem

CRISTIAN MACELARU“Under Macelaru’s finely detailed direction, the musicians delivered this scorewith clockwork precision…” Chicago Tribune

BRAHMS SYMPHONY No. 2 – Jan. 9, 10 & 11, 2014Cristian Macelaru, conductorBARBER Symphony No. 1BRITTEN Peter Grimes: Four Sea InterludesBRAHMS Symphony No. 2

The Julius N. FrankelFoundation

J. Wayne and DeloresBarr Weaver

The Roger L. andRochelle S. MainCharitable Trust

Ruth Conley

The DuBow FamilyFoundation

Special Gift in Honor of

The Jacksonville Symphony Association extends its sincerest thanks to some of our most important music makers.

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Subscribe or Renew TODAY! Call 904.354.5547 Info at JaxSymphony.org