Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Irvine Barclay Theatre Presents

ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Branford Marsalis, saxophone
Saturday, January 15, 2022 | 8pm 

Part of Distinctive Experiences Co-presented by Irvine Barclay Theatre

Presenting Sponsor
Bill and Carolyn Klein

Artist Sponsor
BNY Mellon

This performance will include one 15-minute intermission.

All dates, times, artists, programs and prices are subject to change. Photographing or recording this performance without permission is prohibited. Kindly disable pagers, cellular phones and other audible devices.

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Overture to The Barber of Seville

Courtney BRYAN (b. 1982)
Carmen, Jazz suite on themes by Bizet (Orpheus Commission)

Reimagining Carmen: Courtney Bryan’s Carmen Jazz Suite on Themes by Bizet was supported by New Music USA, made possible by annual program support and/or endowment gifts from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts, Fidelity Foundation, The Rogers & Hammerstein Foundation, Anonymous.

Joaquín TURINA (1882-1949)
La Oración del Torero (The Bullfighter’s Prayer), Op. 34

INTERMISSION

Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

Jacques IBERT (1890-1962)
Concertino da Camera

Allegro con molto
Larghetto
Animato molto

From the moment of its premiere in Rome on February 20, 1816, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville has been an audience favorite. The opera is one of the finest examples of opera buffa, full of witty music and comic intrigue in the battle of the sexes, and one of the most popular parts of The Barber has always been its overture, which sets exactly the right mood for all the fun to follow.

Yet this overture had originally been composed three years earlier as the introduction to a tragic opera, Aureliano in Palmira. And, two years later, Rossini used it again as the overture to his historical opera about Queen Elizabeth I, Elisabetta, Regina d’Inghilterra. Finally, in 1816, it became the overture to The Barber of Seville. It seems hard to believe that an overture composed for a tragic opera could function so perfectly as the introduction to a comic tale, yet
it does, and—on the stage or in the concert hall— this music continues to work its charm.

In modified sonata-form, the overture is scored for Mozart’s orchestra (pairs of winds, plus timpani and strings) with the addition of one very non-classical instrument, a bass drum. The overture begins with a slow introduction marked Andante maestoso, which features crashing chords, gathering energy, and a beautifully- poised melody for violins. The music rushes ahead at the Allegro con brio, with its famous “laughing” main theme, full of point and expectancy. Solo oboe introduces the second theme-group, marked dolce, and this alternates with the main violin theme. Along the way are several of the lengthy crescendos that were a virtual Rossini trademark (his nickname was “Monsieur Crescendo”), and one of these drives this sparkling music home in a great blast of energy.

by Courtney Bryan

Carmen Jazz Suite on Themes by Bizet, written for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra featuring Branford Marsalis, is a contemporary take on Bizet’s classic 1875 opera, Carmen. In this version of the timeless story, Carmen’s voice is centered, as portrayed by Branford Marsalis. The music features her freedom, love, and fearlessness, celebrating an imagined world in which Carmen lives and wins.

The suite begins with Carmen’s Freedom. Carmen is free and unbound. Following an improvised introduction by Marsalis, the celli enter with Bizet’s iconic ostinato from “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle,” which is based on the Cuban rhythm, habañera. In honor of the historical music of Congo Square of New Orleans, the hometown of Branford Marsalis and myself, the string section layers entrances with figures based on various African-derived rhythmic cells (by West Africa, often by way of Haiti and Cuba) that would have been heard at Congo Square—the habañera, tresillo or bamboula, cinquillo, and a 3-2 clave. Bizet’s melody is played by Marsalis with responses from the orchestra and continues into an improvisation on the themes.

Carmen’s Loves begins with a 2-3 clave in the percussion. Carmen is still free and unbound and begins to contemplate her loves. While Marsalis plays Carmen’s seguidilla melody, “Près des remparts de Séville,” the clarinet and oboe later state Bizet’s theme of danger before the bassoon enters with a theme from Don José’s “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée.” Later in this section, the horn and trumpet alternate playing the theme from Escamillo’s toreador song, “Votre toast je peux pas le rendre,” supported by the string section figures from the initial Habañera theme. Carmen’s two loves serve as secondary themes, while her seguidilla melody remains the primary theme. Carmen’s Omen of Death is based on the card scene when Carmen sings of her impending fate in the original opera. This theme is a key part of the story, and here it is expanded upon including improvisation. There is a feeling of defiance and yet one of resignation. Yet, for the final section, in a twist on the original story, Carmen Defeats Death. This section is based on themes from Act IV, from the duet between Don José and Carmen, “C’est toi? C’est moi!” Particularly, inspiration comes from Carmen’s statement, “Jamais Carmen ne cédera! Libre elle est née, et libre elle mourra!” (“I won’t give in, this is goodbye! Free I was born, and free I shall die!”) Yet, Carmen escapes her expected fate. She lives and is heard rising towards freedom.

In 1925, Spanish composer Joaquin Turina was asked by the Aguilar family—a family of lutenists—to write a work for a quartet of lutes, and he responded with a brief work called La oración del torero: “The Bullfighter’s Prayer.” The Aguilars successfully took the new work on tours throughout Europe and the Americas, and Turina quickly arranged the music for string quartet and for string orchestra; this last version was first performed on January 7, 1927. This attractive music has subsequently appeared in many other forms, including an arrangement for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz.

Turina outlined the situation his music describes: it is the afternoon of a bullfight in Madrid, and a bullfighter ducks through a small door into a tiny chapel, where he offers a quiet prayer before entering the noisy bullring to confront death. But rather than trying to offer a literal depiction of these events, Turina instead writes a brief mood-piece that evokes that intense atmosphere. The music falls into a number of short sections: the muted beginning gives way to an expressive, almost sultry opening theme. There follow a number of brief episodes (Turina has noted that one of these is based on the

pasodoble, an old Spanish dance in duple time); the music rises to a climax, then the themes are recalled as this evocative music makes its way to the delicate (and peaceful) close.

—Program notes by Eric Bromberger

About 1895 Debussy received an unusual commission for a new piece. An American patron of the arts, Mrs. Elisa Hall of Boston, played the saxophone—still a relatively new instrument at that time—and was trying to create a repertory for it by commissioning new pieces. She commissioned a piece for saxophone and orchestra from Debussy and paid him for it; he promptly spent the money and forgot about the piece. Then, to his astonishment, Mrs. Hall showed up several years later in Paris, asking about her piece. Debussy’s biographer Leon Vallas describes what happened:

For the sake of her health this lady [Mrs. Hall] had devoted herself to an instrument which had not yet achieved the popularity it has since acquired, thanks to the triumph of jazz. Wishing, regardless of cost, to build up a special repertoire for herself, she had given various French composers orders for important compositions. Debussy was very dilatory in the matter; he was almost incapable of composing to order, and, besides, he knew very little about the technique of this solo instrument. On 8th June [1903] he wrote to Messager: ‘The Americans are proverbially tenacious. The saxophone lady landed in Paris at 58 Rue Cardinet, eight or ten days ago, and is inquiring about her piece. Of course I assured her that, with the exception of Rameses II, it is the only subject that occupies my thoughts. All the same, I have had to set to work on it. So here I am, searching desperately for novel combinations to show off this aquatic instrument...I have been working as hard as in the good old days of Pelléas...

The actual composition of the piece for Mrs.Hall was spread over several years, and it took some time to complete: Debussy appears to have worked on it from 1901 until 1908. At that point, he sent his version for saxophone and piano to her; the piano part was orchestrated in 1919, the year after Debussy’s death, by the French composer Jean Roger-Ducasse.

In the ten-minute Rhapsody Debussy seems not so interested in virtuosity as in exploring the sound and character of what was for him a new instrument. Everyone is struck by the exotic sound of this music: one observer hears “Spanish or Moorish associations” in this music. The delicate, evocative beginning certainly sounds exotic, and its atmosphere is intensified in the orchestral version by a subtle use of tambourine. This opening section, in 2/4, is rather free rhythmically, in the manner of a rhapsody, but the music eases ahead as it moves into 6/8, and in the closing pages Debussy finds some unexpected strength in this new instrument he knew so little about. 

An affinity for wind instruments appears to be imprinted on the DNA of French musicians—when Francis Poulenc spoke rapturously of “the wind instruments I have loved from the moment I began composing,” he might have been speaking for the national musical consciousness. France has also produced some of the finest wind players in history, and French composers seem to delight in writing for them. This was particularly true of Jacques Ibert, who wrote for wind instruments across the span of his career: among his varied compositions are a Flute Concerto, a Woodwind Quintet, and numerous short pieces for clarinet, flute, oboe, trumpet, and many combinations of winds.

Ibert composed his Concertino da Camera—or “little chamber concerto”—in 1935 for the saxophonist Sigurd Rascher. Originally scored for saxophone and an eleven-piece orchestra, the Concertino is an extremely difficult work for the saxophonist, who must not only play at a blistering pace but also take the instrument into its highest register. Jazz was very much in the air in Paris in the 1930s, and listeners may sense that influence at moments in the Concertino. It is in three brief movements, the final two played without pause. The Allegro con molto is based on two themes: an opening idea full of non-stop motion and a more relaxed (and jazz-tinged) second subject; the first of these brings this movement to its sudden close. The Larghetto begins with a long saxophone solo, and the music turns into a quiet nocturne with the entrance of the accompaniment. This proceeds suddenly into the concluding Animato molto, jaunty and bubbly music somewhat in the manner of the opening movement. Ibert offers the soloist a brief cadenza just before the rush to the close.

In 1972, a group of young artists made history by creating an orchestra without a conductor in which musicians led themselves democratically. Since then, the Grammy award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra has recorded over 70 albums on all major classical labels, toured to 46 countries across four continents, and collaborated with hundreds of world-class soloists. 

Orpheus’ 34 member musicians work together as a collective and rotate leadership roles for all works performed, giving flight to unconventional interpretations. This democratic structure also extends to organizational functions including programming and governance: the orchestra elects three members to Artistic Director positions and three to the Board of Trustees. 

An essential part of New York City’s cultural landscape, Orpheus presents an annual series at Carnegie Hall. Orpheus tours to major international venues and has appeared regularly in Japan for 30 years; recent engagements include the Prague Spring and Dresden Music Festivals and a 12-concert tour of Asia. The orchestra’s extensive discography includes a June 2021 release on Nonesuch Records with pianist Fadi Kheir Brad Mehldau, and the monumental 55 CD box set of Orpheus’ complete recordings on Deutsche Grammophon released in August 2021. Orpheus has commissioned and premiered over 50 new works. 

Orpheus shares its collaborative model through education and community engagement initiatives that promote equity and access to the arts for listeners of all ages around the world. These include programs for K-12 students, opportunities for emerging professional musicians, and a music and wellness program for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. 

This concert is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Orpheus is represented by Dorn Music. Orpheus has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, EMI Classics, BMG/RCA Red Seal, Decca, Nonesuch, Verve, Avex Classics, and its own label, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Records.

New Orleans-born Branford Marsalis is an award- winning saxophonist, band leader, featured classical soloist, and a film and Broadway composer. In the process, he has become a multi award-winning artist with three Grammys, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master and an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence. 

A frequent soloist with classical ensembles, Branford has become increasingly sought after as a featured soloist with acclaimed orchestras around the world, performing works by composers such as Copeland, Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Rorem, Vaughan Williams, John Adams and Villa-Lobos. But the Branford Marsalis Quartet, formed in 1986, remains his primary means of expression. In its virtually uninterrupted three‐plus decades of existence, the Quartet has established a rare breadth of stylistic range as demonstrated on the band’s latest release: The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul. And his legendary guest performances with the Grateful Dead and collaborations with Sting have made him a fan favorite in the pop arena. 

Branford’s screen credits as a composer include original music for: Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks starring Oprah Winfrey, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman and the History Channel’s documentary Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre. The critically acclaimed Ma Rainey is the Netflix film adaptation of two‐time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s play, produced by Denzel Washington. He recently received a 2021 EMMY nomination for the original music he composed and produced for Tulsa Burning in the Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) category. His work on Broadway has garnered a Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination for the acclaimed revival of Fences. His previous Broadway efforts include music for the revivals of Children of a Lesser God and A Raisin in the Sun, as well as The Mountaintop which starred Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson. 

VIOLIN
Ronnie Bauch
Abigail Fayette
Laura Frautsch
Njioma Grevious
Liang-Ping How
Renée Jolles
Richard Rood

VIOLA
Christof Huebner
Nardo Poy
Dov Scheindlin

OBOE
James Austin Smith

CLARINET
Alan Kay

BASSOON
Gina Cuffari

HORN
Zohar Schondorf

TRUMPET
Carl Albach

TIMPANI/PERCUSSION
Maya Gunji

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County gratefully acknowledges the following donors for their generous support of the Fund for Music during the past twelve months. These contributions make up the difference between the income generated from ticket sales and the actual cost of bringing the world’s finest orchestras, soloists and chamber ensembles to Orange County and inspiring 100,000 K-12 students each year with quality music programs. Gifts range from $60 to more than $100,000, and each member of the Philharmonic Society plays a valuable role in furthering the mission of this organization.       

YOUTH MUSIC EDUCAATION PROGRAM SPONSORS

The Crean Foundation  •  Chapman University

The Davisson Family Fund For Youth Music Education  •  The William Gillespie Foundation

Thomas J. Madracki Memorial Endowment   •  Orange County Community Foundation

Pacific Life Foundation  •  Gail and Robert Sebring  •  U.S. Bank  •  Wells Fargo •  Anonymous

SEASON SPONSORS

Donna L. Kendall / Donna L. Kendall Foundation, Donna L. Kendall Classical Series

Anonymous

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek / Jelinek Family Trust, Eclectic Orange

The Segerstrom Foundation

SERIES SPONSORS

Donna L. Kendall Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek/Jelinek Family Trust, Eclectic Orange Series

Henry T. and Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation

PHILHARMONIC CIRCLE ($100,000+)

The Committees of the Philharmonic Society  •  Donna L. Kendall / Donna L. Kendall Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek  •  Philharmonic Foundation  •  Barbara Roberts

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith 

MAESTRO CIRCLE ($50,000+)

Sam B. and Lyndie Ersan  •  Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Kohl  •  National Endowment for the Arts

Mr. and Mrs. William F. Podlich  •  Gail and Robert Sebring  •  Ms. Dea Stanuszek

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($25,000+)

Colburn Foundation  •  The Crean Foundation

Mr. John D. Flemming and Mr. Mark Powell  •  Margaret M. Gates – In memory of family

Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation  •  Steven M. Sorenson MD and the IBEX Foundation  •  Anonymous

PRESIDENT’S CLUB ($10,000+)

Pete and Sabra Bordas

Mr. James J. Brophy

Mr. Gary Capata

Charitable Ventures of Orange County

CIBC

   Kimberly Dwan Bernatz           

Mr. Warren G. Coy

Marjorie and Roger Davisson

Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty

The Dirk Family

Karen and Don Evarts

Hung Fan and Michael Feldman

Mrs. Joanne C. Fernbach

Walter Fidler

Joan Halvajian

Maralou and Jerry M. Harrington

Milli and Jim Hill

Valerie and Hans Imhof

Carole Innes-Owens

Helen and Fritz Lin

Haydee and Carlos A. Mollura

The Isidore & Penny Myers Foundation

Elaine and Carl Neuss

Pacific Life Foundation

Lauren and Richard Packard

Richard and Deborah Polonsky

Dr. and Mrs. Chase Roh

The Shillman Foundation

South Coast Plaza

Mr. and Mrs. David Troob

U.S. Bank

     Mr. Stephen Amendt

Dr. Gayle Widyolar

PLATINUM BATON ($6,000+)

Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Campbell

Suzanne and David Chonette

Frome Family Foundation

GOLDEN BATON ($3,000+)

Mr. and Mrs. James Alexiou

Argyros Family Foundation

Diane and John Chimo Arnold

John W. Benecke and Lee Marino

Marjorie Davis

Mr. Roger Duplessis

The William Gillespie Foundation

Richard Goodman

Carl and Kathy Greenwood

Elizabeth F. Hayward and Robert M. Carmichael

Gary and Betsy Jenkins

Ms. Elizabeth Jones

Cheryl Hill Oakes

Orange County Community Foundation

    The Robert J. and Doreen D. Marshall Fund

Mr. Patrick Paddon

Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Phillips

Chris Quilter

Marcia Kay and Ron Radelet

Elizabeth Reinhold

Mr. and Mrs. James G. Reynolds

Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Ridout

Ms. Harriet Roop

Mr. and Mrs. David Seigle

Ellen and Vasily I. Semeniuta

Dr. Emmanuel Sharef

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Stahr

Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund

Diane and Michael Stephens

Dr. and Mrs. David Stephenson

Dr. and Mrs. Fritz C. Westerhout

Bobbitt and Bill Williams

SILVER BATON ($1,200+)

Dr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Abbott

Dr. Donald Abrahm

David and Frances Nitta Barnes

Ada and Berislav Bosnjak Charitable Fund

Dr. and Mrs. David Casey

Mrs. Linda Lipman Cassuto

Dr. and Mrs. Shigeru Chino 

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart A. Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clemmer

Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles

Dr. Frank A. D’Accone

Helen Dell-Imagine

Dr. and Mrs. Sidney A. Field

Dan Folwell

Mr. and Mrs. Donald French

Petrina Friede

Philip Friedel

JoAnn and Peter Fuerbringer

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gold

Dr. Anna Gonosova

Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Gordon

Shell Grossman

Mr. Robert Hall

Ellen Pickler Harris and Ron Harris

Sigrid Hecht

Anne Johnson - in memory of Tom

Dr. and Mrs. Tae S. Kim

Carolyn and Bill Klein

Hank and Bonnie Landsberg

Vicki and Richard Lee

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Malcolm  

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mastrangelo

Elizabeth and John Middleton

Patricia and Ken Morgan

Morgan Stanley Stephanie and Don Harrell

Mr. Carl Neisser

Richard and Dot Nelson

Marlene and Chris Nielsen

Susan Qaqundah

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rados

Mr. and Mrs. Glen L. Reeves

Eva and Fred Schneider

Dr. Ellis Schwied

Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sobel

Vina Spiehler

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence S. Spitz

Walter and Masami Stahr

Ann Stephens

Dr. Nancy E. Van Deusen

Kathryn and David Wopschall

Anonymous

CONCERTO ($600+)

Janet Lee Aengst

Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaos Alexopoulos

Kevin and Roan Alombro

Brien Amspoker and Ellen Breitman

Eric S. Blum

Mr. James Carter

Mrs. V. de Reynal

Deborah and Cody Engle

Mr. and Mrs. David Erikson

Mrs. John Felder

Ms. Barbara Hamkalo

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Hartmann

Dr. Daniel E. Haspert and Mr. Gerard Curtin

Ms. Arlene Holtzman

Jean and Shingchi Hsu

Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Ivey

Ms. Sumie Jossi

Kari Kerr

Dr. Nancy L. Kidder

Barbara Klein

Lauren Klein

Ms. Barbara Macgillivray

Katharine Mallin

Dr. Lani Martin and Mr. Dave Martin

Elizabeth Morse

Music 4 Kids

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Niedringhaus

Dr. and Mrs. Eliezer Nussbaum

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pinto

Ms. Janet Portolan and Ms. Lois Powers

Mr. and Mrs. John Prange

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rapport

Les Redpath

Richard and Diane Reynolds

Christa Schar

Carol Schwab

Ms. Barbara Sentell

Ms. Diane Stovall

Robert A. and Sandra E. Teitsworth

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Theodorson

Dr. and Mrs. Harvey S. Triebwasser

Sally Westrom

Dag Wilkinson and Caroline Beeson

Mrs. Vina Williams and Mr. Tom Slattery

Ivy Yan

Joanne Yoon

Katharine and Robert Young

Anonymous

SONATA ($300+)

Richard Alexander

Arts Orange County

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Bauer

Marianne and Frank Beaz

Dr. Ruth Benca

Richard Bigelow

Ms. Michelle Brenner

Mr. Scott Brinkerhoff

Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Buccella

Mr. and Mrs. Tyke Camaras

Mary E. Chelius

Mr. and Mrs. Wil Chong

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Collier

Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Compton

Peter Conlon and Deborah Shaw

Susan and Kevin Daly

Reuben H. Fleet Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Fowler

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibson

Dr. Alan L. Goldin

Dr. and Mrs. Mark W. Gow

Bonnie and William S. Hall

Terry Hanna

Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Hay

Christian Heffelman

The Bryant Henry Family

Mrs. Marlene Hewitt

Ms. Grace Holdaway

Barbara and Don Howland

Eric Jao

Elizabeth M. and Donald P. Johnson

Albert C. Johnston III

Dr. Burton L. Karson

Patty Kiraly

Dr. and Mrs. William P. Klein

Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Kriz

Dr. and Mrs. Gary Lawrence

Dr. and Mrs. Craig Leonard

Elsie M. Little

Kevin and Iryna Kwan Loucks

Louise and John Ludutsky

Ms. Bethany Mendenhall

Dr. Kevin O’Grady and Mrs. Nella Webster O’Grady

Cathy Olinger

Mr. and Mrs. Gus Ordonez

Coralie Prince

Mrs. Margaret Richley

Peter Ridley

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ringwalt

Dr. Stephen Rochford

Dr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Romansky

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Rosenblum

Mr. Kenneth Rudolf

Mrs. Merilyn Sandahl

Suzanne Sandmeyer and Wes Hatfield

Mr. Paul A. Schmidhauser and Ms. Cindy R. Hughes

Hon. and Mrs. James Selna

Dr. James Shelburne

Sharon Silcock

Ms. Dorothy J. Solinger

Dr. Agnes Szekeres

David and Lois Tingler

Tisbest Philanthropy

Edie Tonkon

Marjorie Tussing

Cory Winter

Victor Wu

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Yates

Ms. Daren Zumberge

Frieda Belinfante, in memoriam

Jane K. Grier

John M. Rau

List current as of 11/22/2021

The Philharmonic Society deeply appreciates the support of its sponsors and donors, and makes every effort to ensure accurate and appropriate recognition. Contact the Development Department at (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, to make us aware of any error or omission in the foregoing list.

The Philharmonic Society’s campaign is the first of its kind in the organization’s history. It will grow the Philharmonic   Society’s endowment—providing greater opportunities for the presentation of the world’s leading orchestras and other musical performances while expandingour educational and community outreach—and also establish a current needs fund for organizational sustainability and flexibility. We are proud to recognize those who are helping secure the Society’s future with a gift to the Philharmonic Forward Campaign. We are grateful for their support, which will help fuel the Philharmonic Society’s growth and provide a legacy of incomparable music and superb music education programs in perpetuity.

$1,000,000+

Mr. James J. Brophy

Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sebring

Anonymous

$500,000+

Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty

James and Judy Freimuth

$250,000+

The Davisson Family Fund for Youth Music Education

Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family

Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith

$100,000+

Pete and Sabra Bordas

David and Suzanne Chonette

Karen and Don Evarts

Milli and Jim Hill

Marlene and Chris Nielsen

Richard and Deborah Polonsky

Diane and Michael Stephens

Anonymous

$50,000+

Mr. Douglas T. Burch, Jr.*

Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Campbell

Erika E. Faust*

Mrs. Joanne C. Fernbach

Joan Halvajian

Elaine and Carl Neuss

Marcia Kay Radelet

Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Ridout

Ms. Dea Stanuszek

Dr. Daniel and Jeule Stein

$25,000+

Mr. William P. Conlin* and Mrs. Laila Conlin

Mr. and Mrs. Donald French 

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fuerbringer

Mr. and Mrs. Noel Hamilton

Dr. and Mrs. Chase Roh

Up to $24,999

Eleanor and Jim Anderson

John W. Benecke

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Burra

Ana and Ron Dufault

Hung Fan and Michael Feldman

First American Trust - Kimberly Dwan Bernatz

Mr. John D. Flemming and Mr. Mark Powell

Duke Funderburke

Carolyn and John Garrett

Karin Easter Gurwell

Maralou and Jerry M. Harrington

Mrs. Alice E. Hood

Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee - Marina Windjammer Group

Judith and Kevin Ivey

Ms. Lula Belle Jenkins

Doris and Jim Kollias

Mrs. Elizabeth C. Kramer

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lewis

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Madracki

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mastrangelo

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Michel

Charles Mosmann

Carl Neisser

Joan Rehnborg

Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sobel

Dr. and Mrs. Julio Taleisnik

Marti and Walter Unger

Gayle Widyolar, M.D.

Sandi Wright-Cordes

U.S. Bank

Anonymous

*Deceased

Estate gifts allow our long-time subscribers and donors to leave an enduring legacy that helps ensure the long-term financial strength of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Please consider including us in your will, as either a percentage of your estate or a fixed amount. Doing so will support our commitment of presenting world-class programming and music education that enriches the cultural life of Orange County for generations to come. For more information, please contact (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, or email support@philharmonicsociety.org.

LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS

Mr. and Mrs. James Alexiou

Dr. and Mrs. Julio Aljure

Diane and John Chimo Arnold

Estate of Edra E. Brophy*

Mr. James J. Brophy

Mr. Douglas T. Burch, Jr.*

Mr. William P. Conlin* and Mrs. Laila Conlin

Pamela Courtial*

Mr. Warren G. Coy

Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty

Mr. Ben Dolson*

Camille and Eric Durand Trust*

Karen and Don Evarts

Erika E. Faust*

James and Judy Freimuth

Ms. Carol Frobish*

The William Gillespie Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier, Jr.

Mr. Edward Halvajian*

Ms. Joan Halvajian

Ms. Marie Hiebsch*

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Hill

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hull

Mr. Leonard Jaffe

Judith and Howard Jelinek

Dr. Burton L. Karson

Donna L. Kendall

Hank and Bonnie Landsberg

Mrs. Carla Liggett

Dr. William Lycette

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Michel

Mr. and Mrs. Bart Morrow

Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Nadler

Eva Cebulski Olivier

Mrs. Frank M. Posch*

Marcia Kay Radelet

Marjorie Rawlins*

Mrs. Ladislaw Reday*

Elaine M. Redfield*

Mr. Richard M. Reinsch*

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sebring

Mr. H. Russell Smith*

Ms. Dea Stanuszek

Diane and Michael Stephens

Vas Nunes Family Trust*

Betty M. Williams*

Anonymous

*Deceased

Bold type indicates gifts of $50,000 or more.

Please call the Philharmonic Society Development Department if you have included either the Philharmonic Society or the separate Philharmonic Foundation in your will or trust so that we may honor you as a member of the Legacy Circle. For more information, call (949) 553-2422, ext. 233, or visit PhilharmonicSociety.org/Support and click on Secure the Future.     

The Philharmonic Society is proud to recognize our dedicated patrons who have made a multi-year Esterhazy Patron pledge.  We are grateful for their support, which has been largely responsible for enabling us to present the world’s most acclaimed symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists.

Mr. and Mrs. James Alexiou

Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Anderson

A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation

Mr. Gary N. Babick

Ms. Tricia Babick

Mrs. Alan Beimfohr

Mr. and Mrs. John Carson

Cheng Family Foundation

Mrs. William P. Conlin

Mr. Warren G. Coy

Marjorie and Roger Davisson

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Delman

The Dirk Family

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Duma

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Emery

Catherine Emmi

Sam and Lyndie Ersan

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Freedland

Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family

Mr. William J. Gillespie

Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Grier, Jr.

Maralou and Jerry M. Harrington

Dr. and Mrs. Howard J. Jelinek

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Chapin  Johnson

Drs. Siret and Jaak Jurison

Donna L. Kendall Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Venelin Khristov

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Kirwan

Capt. Steve Lutz and Shala Shashani Lutz

Professor Robert and Dr. Adeline Yen Mah

Mrs. Michael McNalley

Drs. Vahe and Armine Meghrouni

Mrs. Michael D. Nadler

Elaine and Carl Neuss

Mr. Thomas Nielsen

Milena and Milan Panic

Helen Reinsch

Barbara Roberts

Mrs. Michelle Rohé

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer

Elizabeth Segerstrom

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith

Mrs. Eugenia D. Thompson

Mrs. Elaine Weinberg

Mr. and Mrs. George Wentworth

Bobbitt and Bill Williams

Anonymous

OFFICERS
John Flemming, Chairman, CEO
Sabra Bordas, Vice Chair
Donna L. Kendall, Immediate Past Chair
Stephen Amendt, Secretary / Treasurer

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
John W. Benecke, Development
Sabra Bordas, Nominating
Hung Fan, Laguna Beach Music Festival
JoAnn Fuerbringer, Orange County Youth Symphony
Jane K. Grier, Member at Large
Elaine P. Neuss, Artistic and Marketing
Douglas H. Smith, Member at Large
Jean Felder, President, The Committees

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Brophy
Gary Capata
Margaret M. Gates
Barbara Roberts
Dr. Steven Sorenson
Kim Weddon
Kathryn Wopschall

PRESIDENT & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Tommy Phillips

DEVELOPMENT
Susan Totten, Interim Vice President of Development
Halim Kim, Senior Director of Development
Okairy Calderon, Patron Stewardship and Special Events Manager
Paige Frank, Development Associate

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Jean Hsu, COO / Vice President of Communications
Marie Songco-Torres, Senior Marketing & Public Relations Manager

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS
Drew Cady, Production Coordinator
Kathy Smith, Piano Technician

EDUCATION
Sarah Little, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement
Courtney McKinnon, Manager of Volunteer and Education Services
Jennifer Niedringhaus, Education and Operations Associate

FINANCE
Roan Alombro, Vice President of Finance
Jessica Cho, Finance Associate / HR Administrator

PATRON SERVICES
Jonathan Mariott, Director of Patron Services
Angelica Nicolas, Marketing & Patron Services Associate / Board Liaison
Randy Polevoi, Musical Concierge

Founded in 1954 as Orange County’s first music organization, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents national and international performances of the highest quality and provides dynamic and innovative music education programs for individuals of all ages to enhance the lives of Orange County audiences through music.                   

For more than 65 years the Philharmonic Society has evolved and grown with the county’s changing landscape, presenting artists and orchestras who set the standard for artistic achievement from Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others. In addition, the Philharmonic Society celebrates multi-disciplinary performances under its Eclectic Orange brand and embraces music from a wide range of countries with its World Music performances. Its celebrated family concerts introduce children to classical music with creative and inspiring performances, instilling music appreciation for future generations.    

The Philharmonic Society’s nationally recognized Youth Music Education Programs, offered free of charge, engage more than 100,000 students annually through curriculum-based music education programs that aim to inspire, expand imaginations, and encourage learning at all levels. These programs are made possible by the Committees of the Philharmonic Society comprised of 700 volunteer members who provide more than 90,000 hours of in-kind service each year.   

As a key youth program, the exceptional Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble provide top-tier training to the area’s most talented young musicians through multi-level ensemble instruction, leadership training, touring opportunities, challenging professional repertoire, and performances in world-class venues. The Philharmonic Society also promotes life-long learning by connecting with colleges and universities to conduct masterclasses and workshops and providing pre-concert lectures to introduce audiences to program selections.

 949.553.2422  |  PHILHARMONICSOCIETY.ORG

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