Dear music lovers, curious listeners, and those of you who are only here because your friend/date/parents/etc. forced you to come with them: welcome.

I am so happy that this is how you chose to spend your time today, because this is what I love most in the world. Today, all of us musicians on stage—hundreds of us, in some cases— join forces to bring to you, thousands of audience members, a powerful embrace.

Every time I conduct a concert, I am overwhelmed by a sense of unity. All these hundreds of musicians and thousands of audience members (yes, you are a part of the performance, too!) create a fleeting yet powerful moment of shared beauty. For the next two hours, you have a believable excuse to turn off your notifications, not respond to any emails or text messages, and join us in the present moment to connect with your neighbors, friends, fellow audience members, and me. Once this moment is over—once the final chord of today’s concert rings out through the hall—it will never return. But my hope is that it will live on as an enduring impression in your life; as a moment when you felt connected—through joy, compassion, and love—to humanity. 

Where else can you bring thousands of people together in one collective creation of beauty? Orchestras have a unique power to bring communities together. As we near the end of yet another political cycle where it seems as if we are always growing farther apart, let us take these next two hours to contemplate how close we really are. For some reason, humanity has always been driven to draw closer. We relish our families, our friends, and our neighbors. We love to feel a sense of community.

Tonight is our night. Tonight, it does not matter what church you go to, who you vote for, or even if you are a Clemson or a University of South Carolina fan. No, tonight, all that matters is that we are together. As the choir shouts out in our season-opening concert of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony: “Be embraced, all you Millions! This kiss is for the entire world!” 

I cannot think of a better way to start my first season than this musical kiss for the entire world. Whenever you are with us, may you always feel embraced by our music.

Warmly,

Lee Mills
Music Director

Intermission

Fanfare for a New Beginning
Rodrigo Cicchelli Velloso (born 1966)

“This season is about unity, bringing the community together,” said Lee Mills, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra’s new music director. “It’s a season full of optimism and new beginnings.”

Accordingly, the orchestra’s 77^th season opens with Fanfare for a New Beginning by the Brazilian composer Rodrigo Cicchelli Velloso. This short piece for brass and percussion was written for Mills when he was affiliated with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra. 

During a 2017 economic crisis in Brazil, the orchestra was forced to go on hiatus for nine months, Mills said. Cicchelli, an associate professor of music at the UFRJ School of Music in Rio de Janeiro, wrote this fanfare to celebrate the orchestra’s return to the stage.

Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Continuing the season’s theme of optimism is Beethoven’s energetic and vividly orchestrated Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus. Beethoven wrote the Overture in 1801 for a ballet that celebrated Prometheus as a teacher of art and science.

Following a slow introduction, the main section of the Overture is vivacious, with scurrying figures in the violins. Woodwinds offer a lilting second theme. The piece never flags as it races toward an exuberant conclusion.

Symphony No. 9, “Choral”
Beethoven 

Perhaps no work is more ideal for a concert season focusing on unity than Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. With its famous choral ode “To Joy,” Beethoven’s last symphony embodies the themes of hope, happiness, and human solidarity.

“I can’t think of a more perfect piece to open the season,” music director Lee Mills said.  

The Ninth Symphony holds a special place in the hearts of classical music listeners. It also represents something of a miracle in the history of Western culture: a towering musical work composed by a man too deaf to hear its first performance in 1824. For many classical music enthusiasts, the Ninth Symphony ranks among the greatest orchestral works ever created.

The choral finale, using a poem by Friedrich Schiller, was a highly innovative addition to standard symphonic form. Beethoven was never more eager to experiment musically than in his final years. But the other three movements display new contributions to the symphonic form as well: with the striking harmonic ambiguities of the first movement, the rhythmic energy of the second movement and the expansive lyricism of the third. Beethoven bends traditional structure to fit his expressive needs.

The entire work, lasting more than an hour, was longer than most other symphonies composed up to that time. At its first performance on May 7, 1824, Beethoven famously sat in the middle of the orchestra with his back to the audience but was too deaf to hear the enthusiastic applause of the audience at the conclusion of the performance. The alto soloist gently turned the composer around so that he might witness the audience’s adulation.

1. In the first movement, the slow, mysterious introduction suggests the epic breadth of the symphony. The primary theme emerges, bold and heroic, and marked by a vigorous syncopated rhythm. The development section explores the main themes through intricate counterpoint and a variety of emotional landscapes. The movement ends with a powerful coda.
2. A joyous rhythmic vitality propels the second movement. It opens with orchestral octaves and hammering timpani. A staccato theme begins in the second violins and is quickly taken up by the rest of the strings. This main theme develops into a rollicking episode for full orchestra. “The universe dances,” as critic Olin Downes described this music. A contrasting middle section is playful and pastoral. The opening music returns to conclude the movement.
3. The slow, songful third movement is cast in a theme-and-variations form. The two long-lined main themes are presented by the strings and shared with the woodwinds. This movement expresses nobility and profound depth of feeling through beautiful melodies and warm harmonies. The music provides a moment of introspection and calm before the triumphant finale.
4. It is here, in the fourth movement, that we reach Beethoven’s famous setting of Schiller’s ode “To Joy,” but not before a stormy introduction. Beethoven briefly recalls the main themes of the first three movements before introducing the new hymn-like melody — the one most everyone knows — that will dominate the movement. This main theme, almost like a folk song, is composed in a narrow vocal range. After the complexity that has preceded this movement, Beethoven finds beauty and profound meaning in the most hummable of melodies. We first hear the main theme softly intoned by basses and cellos. The melody is repeated with a playful bassoon descant. The entrance of the full string choir brings forth an ethereal glow. The trumpets then grandly take up the theme and the music grows evermore exuberant until a sudden dissonant outburst brings everything to a full stop — and a human voice is heard for the first time in the piece.

In words that Beethoven himself wrote, the bass soloist cries out against the last discordant measures: “O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!” (“O friends, not these sounds!”). Calling for more joyous tones, the bass leads the way, singing the words of Schiller’s ode. The chorus joins in, with a classical call-and-response between soloists and chorus. The chorus and orchestra reach a tremendously powerful but unresolved chord, bringing everything again to a full stop.

Beethoven next offers a jubilant march for tenor soloist and male chorus. The variations that follow include an orchestral fugue, an expansive double fugue for chorus, and an ecstatic coda, concluding the work with a vision of transcendence. Summing it up, music commentator Edward Downes said, “Altogether the finale is a structure of emotional depth and intensity, and musical splendor, past description. The symphony ranks as one of the great achievements of the human spirit.”

Paul Hyde, a longtime Upstate journalist, is an English instructor at Tri-County Technical College. He writes regularly for the Greenville Journal, the S.C. Daily Gazette, EarRelevant, ArtsATL, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Text by Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805)

Concert Hall Series
Saturday performances at 7:30 pm 
Sunday at 3:00 pm

Opening Night: Beethoven’s Ninth
October 5 & 6 

Grieg’s Piano Concerto
November 23 & 24

Tchivzhel Conducts Tchaik 4
January 25 & 26

Duke Ellington’s The River
March 1 & 2

Jacqueline Tso plays 
Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy
April 5 & 6 

Beethoven and Brazil
May 10 & 11

Gunter Theatre Series
Performance start times vary

Peter and the Wolf
November 9 & 10

The Marriage of Figaro
February 15 & 16

Movers, Shakers, and Noise-Makers
March 22 & 23

Bach-Inspired with Violist Kathryn Dey
May 24 & 25

Special Events
Peace Concert Hall

Holiday at Peace
December 6 at 7:00 pm
December 7 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm
December 8 at 2:00 pm

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in concert
January 11 at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm
January 12 at 2:00 pm

Music at Hotel Hartness
A luxe chamber music experience in a beautiful space.
Performances at 7:00 pm

Dracula! with Special Guest Dacre Stoker
October 23

Music for a Spring Evening
April 23

Music in the Gray Loft
Enjoy lunch or wine with a friendly, casual chamber music experience.
Performances at 12:00 and 5:30 pm

Dracula! with Special Guest Dacre Stoker
October 24

Music for a Spring Afternoon
April 24

Details and tickets available at greenvillesymphony.org

Welcome to the Greenville Symphony’s 77^th season of music!  

Our orchestra’s mission is to offer the highest quality artistry, educate and enrich, and bring joy and inspiration to our region.  As I enter my second term as president, I have never been prouder of the way we are fulfilling that mission and expanding on it to meet the needs of our growing community. 

I am thrilled to welcome our 6^th Music Director, Lee Mills. Many of you were part of the process to select him and have had the chance to learn a bit about his impressive accolades, his extensive experience, and his energizing approach to music.  He brings all that and more to the podium this season, as he gets to know our community and begins to understand the core of who we are.  As we spend this first season together, take every opportunity to introduce yourself and share your story with Lee. He is anxious to meet each of you and to serve our community by sharing the unifying power of music.  Lee’s partnerships with Executive Director Jessica Satava and our extraordinary musicians promise to be strong and effective as we begin a new era for the orchestra.

My gratitude for our musicians, board, and staff whose hard work has made this incredible season possible is unending. 

On behalf of the Greenville Symphony Association, I thank each of you for choosing to participate in music with us.  Through attending the concerts, telling friends about our performances, offering feedback, investing as donors, opening your home as part of the Musician Host Program, and volunteering your time, you have made this orchestra the cornerstone of the arts in the Upstate.  Strong, creative, and always growing, just like our beloved Greenville.

Enjoy the performance!

Yours,

Cathy Jones, President
Greenville Symphony Association Board of Directors

2024-2025

OFFICERS

Cathy Jones – President
 Matthew W. Couvillion – Vice President
 Kasel Kennerly Knight – Secretary
 Susan J. Bichel – Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERS

Rick Blackwell
 Rececca Bowne
 Robert Carter
 Sean Dogan
 Sue Fisher
 George W. Fletcher
 Allison Foy
 Gene Gibson
 Margaret Jenkins
 Dr. Mimi Jenko
 Mary Burnet Johnston
 Yoshi Kirsch
 Matt Madden
 Kristin Maguire
 Debbie Paden Mobley
 Joanna Mulfinger
 Christopher Nicholas
 Diane Perlmutter
 Susan C. Priester
 Gary Robinson
 XiaoLi Saliny
 Jeff Schmersal
 Jocelyn Thomas
 Kurt Wallenborn
 John Warner
 Burl F. Williams
 Deborah York

STAFF

Ashley Addison, Production Manger
Grace Butler, Donor Relations Coordinator
Derek Eilert, Orchestra Librarian and Operations Associate
Angie Jones, Orchestra Operations and Personnel Director
Taylor Keeter, Marketing and Communications Manager
Lieshe Lane, Director of Development
Jennifer Mullins, Office Manager and Board Liaison
Jessica Satava, Executive Director
Natasia Simmons, Artistic Operations Intern
Anneka Zuehlke-King, Education and Community Programs Manager

“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.” — Aretha Franklin

I’m so glad you are here. 

We open the season with an “ode to joy!” We present Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 joined by the choirs of Bob Jones, Furman, and North Greenville Universities. This collaboration underscores the importance of these programs and others like them to the musical eco-system that makes the Greenville Symphony the excellent ensemble it is, and perfectly illustrates the unifying message of the piece itself.  It’s especially joyful to see the excitement and promise of the young musicians onstage who might someday be the leaders of our arts community.

Speaking of joy, I’m OVERjoyed to welcome my partner, the 6th Music Director of the Greenville Symphony, Lee Mills. His energy is contagious and I’m enthusiastic about our work together as we plan more innovative and exciting experiences for our community. 

Each program this season is designed to take well-loved works and make them newly joyful for you—our collaboration with acclaimed actor Mimi Wyche and writer/director Mark Waldrop to create a Carolina-centered narrative for Peter and the Wolf is a great example!  Holiday at Peace highlights local excellence with the choir of Long Branch Baptist Church, Siri Howard, International Ballet and a corps of tap dancers we chose in a public dance call! Get excited for our third in our sold-out series: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and stay tuned for more movie announcements!  As we expand the symphony’s footprint in the county, we’ve begun two new series: Music at Hotel Hartness and Music in the Grey Loft: two distinctly different ways to experience our principal musicians and their artistry up close!  And thanks to you, we’re offering the gift of more free performances than ever before through our education programs and Pop-Up Music!

You have made all this possible with your presence and generosity. Thank you. Your investment in the value we bring to this region makes it possible for us to continue to expand our programs and grow. 

Enjoy the music!

With gratitude,

Jessica Satava, Executive Director
Greenville Symphony

Clifford B. Denison 1949-50

Jack Lee Dibble 1950-51

James B. Little 1951-52

Frank A. Marynell III 1952-53

J. Milton Williams 1953-55

Kenneth Beachboard 1955-56

William P. Barton 1956-58

Alfred F. Burgess 1958-59

J. Cranston Gray 1959-60

Sterling L. Smith 1960-62

Arthur Magill 1962-63

Thomas F. Hudgins, Jr. 1963-65

Alester G. Furman III 1965-66

Frank Wrenn 1966-68

Ernest Blakely, Jr. 1968-70

Junius H. Garrison, Jr. 1970-71

James C. Parham, Jr. 1971-72

Ben D. Weinstein 1972-74

Phillips Hungerford 1974-75

David L. Freeman 1975-76

William J. Rothfuss 1976-77

Wilson C. Wearn 1977-78

Robert W. Hassold 1978-79

Philip Southerland 1979-80

T. C. Cleveland, Jr. 1980-81

W. deBerniere Mebane 1981-82

Joseph T. Allmon 1982-83

Robert J. Alexander 1983-84

Carol S. Toth 1984-85

Rhea T. Eskew 1985-86

Henry L. Parr, Jr. 1986-87

George E. Tate 1987-88

Karen M. Lawton 1988-89

Bradford W. Wyche 1989-90

Joseph J. Blake, Jr. 1990-91

John J. Warner 1991-92

Edward H. Stall, Jr. 1992-93

Elizabeth S. Mills 1993-94

Wallace K. Lightsey 1994-95

William L. Carpenter 1995-97

Robert W. Hassold 1997-99

Mary Louise Mims 1999-01

Douglas J. Stevens 2001-02

Uwe Diestel 2002-02

John Redmond 2002-04

Mary Burnet Johnston 2004-06

Lillian W. Parr 2006-07

Susan C. Priester 2007-08

Andrew J. White, Jr. 2008-09

Jerry E. Dempsey 2009-10

William W. Kehl 2010-11

Kathleen G. Oxner, MD 2011-12

Donald H. Nickell, Jr. 2012-13

Flavia B. Harton 2013-14

A. Robert Nachman II 2014-15

Lee S. Dixon 2015-16

William P. Crawford 2016-17

Thomas F. Strange 2017-18

Richard W. Bradshaw 2018-19

C. Daniel Adams 2019-21

Brittany Timmons 2021-23

Cathy Jones 2023-Present

The Greenville Symphony is now in its 77^th year of service to the Upstate through music. The orchestra was born in 1948 when volunteer musicians came together to play two concerts in the Women’s Gymnasium on the old Furman University campus. Today, the orchestra has a roster of 67 professional musicians including 11 salaried principals, performs nearly 40 ticketed concerts, and dozens more free community events each year. 

This season the Greenville Symphony welcomes Lee Mills, 6^th Music Director. He opens the 2024-2025 season conducting Beethoven’s 9^th symphony in a historic collaboration with the choruses of Bob Jones, Furman, and North Greenville University.  These performances are the first in the six concerts offered on the Concert Hall Series. This series features large-scale symphonic music of living composers alongside names like Beethoven, Mary Lou Williams, Schumann, Amy Beach, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and Duke Ellington. 

The four-concert series in Gunter Theatre includes some of the best-loved music ever written. It begins with Peter and the Wolf with narration by Greenville native and nationally-recognized actor Mimi Wyche.  You’ll also find a vibrant collaboration with the award-winning Furman Percussion Ensemble, Mozart’s sparkling opera The Marriage of Figaro, and a creative Bach-inspired program featuring Principal Viola Kathryn Dey. 

The Greenville Symphony’s special events begin in December with Holiday at Peace. Greenville’s favorite family Christmas tradition is sponsored by United Community and is offered at Peace Concert Hall for four performances. The wizarding world tradition that began with sold-out houses in 2023 will return with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban^TM in concert. The performances, sponsored by Kyocera AVX, feature the original movie on a 40-foot screen onstage above the Greenville Symphony, skillfully playing the entire John Williams score live to picture.  Stay tuned for more symphonic cinema to be announced later this year!

To see the artists of the Greenville Symphony up close, audiences have the option of two venues offering distinct experiences. Choose a luxe evening out with Music at Hotel Hartness, or fit a casual hour of music into your day with lunch or wine at Music in the Grey Loft. Enjoy intimate small-ensemble programs like Philip Glass’s Dracula Suite with narration by South Carolina native and descendant of the legendary Bram Stoker, Dacre Stoker. 

Education and community engagement have been a central tenet of the Greenville Symphony’s mission since its first children’s concert in 1951. Every year, GSO musicians present free education programs appropriate for various age groups, mentor high school musicians, and perform in all 51 elementary schools in the Greenville County School District, providing access to great music for over 25,000 children annually. The musicians of the Greenville Symphony have a strong presence in the county library system as part of our Lollipops music and literacy programs sponsored by BMW.

With events like Pop-Up Music! sponsored by Prisma Health, and our summertime camp visits for kids brought to us by South Carolina Arts Commission, the Greenville Symphony takes pride in bringing the magic of music to unique places and spaces across the Upstate.  Symphony musicians are coming to a spot near you! 

Lee Mills, Music Director
Nsé Ekpo, Assistant Conductor
Edvard Tchivzhel, Music Director and Conductor Emeritus
Thomas A. and Shirley W. Roe Podium Fund

Violin
Jacqueline Tso
Concertmaster, Leila Cunningham Roe Concertmaster Chair
Mary Lee Taylor Kinosian
    – Assistant Concertmaster
Joanna Mulfinger
    – Principal Second Violin, Stuart P. Bowne Endowed Chair
Martha Gardner
    – Assistant Principal Second Violin

Kirsten Browning
Catherine Crowe
David Edwards
Robin Hague Els
Elizabeth Fee
Thiago Formiga
Catherine Hazan
James R. Johnston
Jana Kaminsky
Min Jung Kim
Sarah Land
David Parks
Mariya Potapova
Kathleen S. Robinson
Xiaoli Saliny
JP Brien-Slack
Chang Zhang

Viola                                                                                                                    
Kathryn Dey
   – Principal
Arthur Ross III
   – Assistant Principal
 Alvoy Bryan, Jr.
 Katie Bracewell
 Hannah Dara
 Zoe Harbison

Cello
Seth Russell
   – Principal, Guild of the Greenville Symphony Cello Chair
 Ismail Al-Falaqu Akbar
 Christopher Hutton
 Daria Janssen
 Ryan Knott
 David Saliny
 Jonathan Simmons

Double Bass
Tim Easter
   – Principal, Anonymous Endowed Chair
Ian Bracchitta
   – Assistant Principal
 Braxton Ballew
 Todd L. Beal
 Maurice Belle
 Levi Gable
 Jonathan McWilliams
 Rich Harbison

Flute
Caroline J. Ulrich
   – Principal, Alice and Jerry Lenz Endowed Chair
 Wendy Cohen

Piccolo
Jeana Melilli

Oboe
Virginia Metzger
   – Principal, Guild of the Greenville Symphony Oboe Chair
 Chelsea Russell

Clarinet
John Sadak
   – Principal, Harriet and Jerry Dempsey
 Endowed Chair
 Tony Negron
 Andrew Warwick

Saxophone
Clifford Leaman
   – Principal

Bassoon
Allen Jiang
   – Principal, Anonymous Endowed Chair
 Dominic Panunto

Contrabassoon
Stephanie Lipka

Horn
Anneka Zuehlke-King
 -Principal
 Elizabeth Regas
 Bill Tyler
 Christina Cornell

Trumpet
Kevin Lyons
    – Principal, Beverley and Jim Whitten Endowed Chair
 Phil Elkins
 Gary J. Malvern

Trombone
Stephen K. Wilson
   – Co-Principal
Michael Hosford
   – Co-Principal 

Bass Trombone
Richard deBondt

Tuba
Don Strand
   – Principal

Timpani
Daniel Kirkpatrick
– Principal, N. Stanton in honor of Sherwood Mobley Endowed Chair

Percussion
Wesley Strasser
   – Acting Principal
Edward Nagel
   – Assistant Principal
 Rick Blackwell
 James Leonard

Harp
John Wickey
 -Principal

Piano
Lisa Kiser
   – Principal

Music Librarian
Derek Eilert

Violin
Stephanie Allen
Allison Augustus
Miguel Calleja
Teresa M. Curan
Melissa Dant
Jessica DeMare
Charlotte Donelson
Chloe Groth
Felix Ferrar
Shawn Hurt
Deirdre N. Hutton
Abigail Inafuku
Brandon Ironside
Mary Irwin
Julia Jacobsen
Emily B. Kirkpatrick
Courtney LeBauer
Weiyi Li
Lisa Munoz
Andrea Pettigrew
Karen Pommerich
Inez Hullinger Redman
Emily Riesser
Essena Setaro
Caitlin Sparace
David Strassberg
Jonathan Urizar

Viola
Matthew Darsey
Jan Daugherty
Michael Holub
Bryan Johnson
Anna Joiner
Robbi Kenney
Amberley Lamphere
Gabrielle Malaniak
Wesley O’Brien
Morgan Owen
Kara Poorbaugh
Douglas Temples
Savannah York

Cello
Jean Beaudoin
Katie Hamilton
Derek Eilert
Miro Gomez
Emily Grissing
Meredith Keen
Yoonki Lee
Paul Maxwell
Cynthia Sulko
Dusan Vukajlovic

Bass
Tim Boykin
Jose Carrion
Gabriel Monticello
William Vaughan
Matthew Waid
Aaron Yackley

Flute
Mary Ann Archer
Lauren Watkins Vaughn
Esther Waite

Oboe
Leah Bedard
Teil Buck
Daniel Ellis
Julia Simpson
Patrea Warneck

Clarinet
Joseph Eller
Joelle La Rue-Gardner
Taylor Massey
John Warren
Kyra Krenitsky Zhang 

Bassoon
Jake Fowler
Reed Hanna
Patrick Herring
David Wells

Saxophone
Jack Murray
Matt Olson

Horn
Timothy Bedard
Travis Bennett
Michael Brubaker
Jordan Chase
Michael Daly
Christopher A. Griffin
Andrew Merideth
Anthony Parrish
Andrew Sehmann
Debra Sherrill-Ward
Andrew Tryon
Darian Washington

Trumpet
John Bryant
David Deshler
Chris Imhoff
Craig King
Anthony Marti
Paul Poovey
David Sayer

Trombone
Mark Britt
Eric Henson
Blake Lawson
Alexander van Duuren 

Tuba
Coleman Alexander
Christopher Sperace 

Percussion
Omar Carmenates
Todd Mueller
Gary A. Robinson

Keyboard
Jessica Elliot
Stephen M. Griner
Charlie Miller

Harp 
Rita Dunn
Ellen Foster 

Guitar
Matthew Dingledine
Steve Watson

Members are elected by GSO musicians to represent their opinions to the Board of Directors of the Greenville Symphony Association: Zoe Harbison, Michael Hosford, Allen Jiang, James Johnston, Joanna Mulfinger, Seth Russell

Alchemy Comedy Theater: Greenville’s best combination of weekly improv, stand up, and sketch comedy shows. http://alchemycomedy.com/

Artisphere: Founded in 2003, Artisphere’s mission is to create a nationally recognized Fine Arts Festival that enhances the quality of life and economic vitality in South Carolina. In 2009 special performance awards were inaugurated and underwritten by the Fred Collins Foundation, distributing $130,000 to arts groups participating in the Local Performing Arts Showcase. www.artisphere.org

Camperdown Plaza: Nestled in Downtown Greenville, Camperdown Plaza has become a beloved community hub for locals and visitors. Enjoy free Plaza events like Woofstock for dog enthusiasts and local studio-led workout classes. https://www.camperdowngreenville.com/

Carolina Literacy Project: Carolina Literacy Project seeks to help immigrant and refugee children in South Carolina increase their English Literacy and diminish learning loss that happens during the summer. www.carolinaliteracyproject.org

Carolina Youth Symphony: Carolina Youth Symphony prides itself on creating a community for young musicians, their families and the people that support their passion for music. The Carolina Youth Symphony strives to encourage pride and self-esteem in young people from all cultural backgrounds through their individual musical achievement; create an atmosphere of discipline and appreciation of fine music; promote and enhance the cultural life of Upstate South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina through orchestral performance, community outreach programs, open rehearsals and recitals, and open music competitions.  www.carolinayouthsymphony.org

Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas: Fostering shared experiences of joy, creativity, and transcendence through world-class chamber music. https://www.cms-carolinas.com/

Fine Arts Center: The mission of the Fine Arts Center [South Carolina’s first Arts High School] is to prepare dedicated students for 21st century careers through rigorous, pre-professional arts training in a dynamic, inclusive, collaborate learning community. www.fineartscenter.net

Grateful Brew: Enjoy your choice of either artisan coffee or craft beer (or both!) from the same bar. Whether it’s a hot latte or a cold lager, we put equal attention into both, giving you a unique experience unlike anywhere else in Greenville, South Carolina. https://www.gratefulbrewgvl.com/

Greenville County Library System: The Greenville County Library System’s Mission is to champion literacy, inspire learning, and foster community connection. In 2022 over one million visits to a Greenville County Library were recorded. Many of those visits included a Greenville Symphony Orchestra Lollipops performance in partnership with the South Carolina Children's Theatre. Spread throughout the year, and the county, the GSO performs music with children’s books open to all ages. www.greenvillelibrary.org

Greenville County Museum of Art: The Greenville County Museum of Art is considered the premier American art museum in the South and is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by iconic American Artist Andrew Wyeth. GCMA also has an impressive collection of paintings and prints by contemporary artist Jasper Johns, the largest institutional collection of pottery by enslaved artisan David Drake, and the largest collection outside the Smithsonian of works by South Carolina-born artist William H. Johnson. Ranging from Federal portraits to contemporary abstractions, the GCMA’s acclaimed Southern Collection invites viewers to survey American art history through works with ties to the South. www.gcma.org

Greenville County Schools: The Greenville Symphony Orchestra visits all 51 Elementary Schools in Greenville County, introducing students to their instruments, music, and the life of a musician. https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/

Greenville County Youth Orchestras: Greenville County Youth Orchestras has been educating young musicians for over forty years. Their mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing a quality orchestral program that develops and educates young musicians in the art of performance and enhances their personal musicianship. They strive to make their programs available to all qualifying students, regardless of their socio-economic status. www.gcyo.net

Instruments of Praise: Instruments of Praise use the performing arts to motivate, mentor and mold youth into becoming more complete human beings, emphasizing critical thinking, and serving others. www.iopdance.com

M.Judsons Booksellers: Downtown Greenville’s independent local bookstore and thriving literary hub. https://mjudsonbooks.com/

Mosaic Educational and Arts Program: A 501c(3) non-profit in Greenville, SC serving youth and their families who speak English as a second language. https://www.mosaicgvl.org/

Other Lands Brewery and Cafe: A brewery, bar, coffee shop and kitchen. But more than anything, Other Lands is a place to slow down. A neighborhood café offering something for anyone who walks through our doors. https://www.otherlandsbrew.com/

Paris Mountain State Park: Paris Mountain State Park’s roots date as far back as the Great Depression, when it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This heritage can still be seen in the preserved stone and timber outside of the renovated bathhouse, now known as the Park Center. Inside, the center features historical exhibits and a classroom to teach young and old about the park’s ecology. The Greenville Symphony Orchestra is happy to perform on the Music in the Woods Series again this 2023 season.  www.southcarolinaparks.com/paris-mountain

Senior Action: Where aging is not a period at the end of a sentence, but an exclamation point! We want to encourage seniors to live life fully, surrounded by friends sharing the experience. https://www.senioraction.org/

Sigal Music Museum: The Sigal Music Museum celebrates music through the ages by entertaining and informing audiences through interactive exhibits, educational programs and intimate concert performances. www.sigalmusicmuseum.org

South Carolina Children's Theatre: SCCT has impacted the lives of children and families in our community through theatre since 1987. SCCT produces high-quality, live theatrical performances for multigenerational audiences in the heart of downtown Greenville, SC. In addition to production, SCCT provides classes and camps in the theatre education for ages 3-18 and outreach to underestimated communities.  www.scchildrenstheatre.org

SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities: The SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities is a public magnet school serving the artistically talented high school students of South Carolina through programs of pre-professional instruction in an environment of artistic and academic excellence. The school is a resource for all teachers and students in South Carolina. www.scgsah.org

St. Giles Presbyterian Church: A warm-hearted community of friends seeking the Lord’s heart through Bible study, authentic worship, and love. Located conveniently on the east side of Greenville, we welcome all people and delight in sharing our diverse activities, children’s programs, community projects and inspiring music. https://www.stgilespres.org/

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate: The Children’s Museum of the Upstate in downtown Greenville offers 80,000 square feet dedicated to play-based learning. Exhibits and weekly programs encourage hands-on play, unique discoveries and intentional learning opportunities. https://tcmupstate.org/

Upstate Warriors Solution: A community-based, non-profit organization serving warriors and their families in the upstate of South Carolina. https://upstatewarriorsolution.org/

Your charitable bequest or other planned gift to the Greenville Symphony can make a significant impact by helping to ensure that our mission will thrive far into the future. Gifts of all sizes allow the Greenville Symphony to maintain our tradition of excellence and community service for generations to come. Thank you for your vision and generosity.

Making a charitable designation in your will allows your assets to be distributed according to your wishes. Just as importantly, it allows you to create an enduring legacy for the Upstate community.

In addition to making a gift in your will, there are other types of future gifts that could provide a benefit to you now. The options include a charitable gift, an annuity, a retirement account, donor advised fund, life insurance policy, real estate, and a charitable lead trust.

If you have questions or are interested in discussing planning giving and estate options or would like information about naming opportunities and other ways to contribute to the Greenville Symphony Endowment Fund,** please contact Lieshe Lane at 864-232-0344 extension 119.

Special thanks to the following individuals who have notified us of bequests to the Endowment of at least $25,000 and are therefore members of the Sustaining Notes Society.

**For legal or tax advice, please contact a financial advisor.

“To make a gift, please visit: 
Donate - Greenville Symphony Orchestra

“To learn more about benefits and recognition, please visit: 

Annual Fund - Greenville Symphony Orchestra - Greenville Symphony Orchestra

Concert Hall Series
Saturday performances at 7:30 pm 
Sunday at 3:00 pm

Opening Night: Beethoven’s Ninth
October 5 & 6 

Grieg’s Piano Concerto
November 23 & 24

Tchivzhel Conducts Tchaik 4
January 25 & 26

Duke Ellington’s The River
March 1 & 2

Jacqueline Tso plays 
Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy
April 5 & 6 

Beethoven and Brazil
May 10 & 11

Gunter Theatre Series
Performance start times vary

Peter and the Wolf
November 9 & 10

The Marriage of Figaro
February 15 & 16

Movers, Shakers, and Noise-Makers
March 22 & 23

Bach-Inspired with Violist Kathryn Dey
May 24 & 25

Special Events

Holiday at Peace
Peace Concert Hall
December 6 at 7:00 pm
December 7 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm
December 8 at 2:00 pm

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in concert
Peace Concert Hall
January 11 at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm
January 12 at 2:00 pm

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
May 4 at 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Music at Hotel Hartness
A luxe chamber music experience in a beautiful space.
Performances at 7:00 pm

Dracula! with Special Guest Dacre Stoker
October 23

Musical Landscapes
April 23

Music in the Gray Loft
Enjoy lunch or wine with a friendly, casual chamber music experience.
Performances at 12:00 and 5:30 pm

Dracula! with Special Guest Dacre Stoker
October 24

Musical Landscapes
April 24

Details and tickets available at greenvillesymphony.org