Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Irvine Barclay Theatre Presents

Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Gautier Capuçon

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | 8pm 

Part of the Distinctive Experiences Series

This performance will include one 20-minute intermission.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet: piano
Gautier Capuçon: cello

Photographing or recording this performance without permission is prohibited. Kindly disable pagers, cellular phones and other audible devices.

SCHUMANN     
Fantasiestücke, Opus 73
Zart und mit Ausdruck
Lebhaft, leicht
Rasch und mit Feuer

BRAHMS 
Sonata for Cello and Piano in E Minor, Opus 38
Allegro non troppo
Allegretto quasi Menuetto
Allegro

INTERMISSION

DEBUSSY         
Sonata in D Minor for Cello and Piano
Prologue: Lent
Sérénade:Modérément animé
Finale: Animé

SHOSTAKOVICH  
Sonata in D Minor for Cello and Piano, Opus 40
Allegro non troppo
Allegro
Largo
Allegro

ROBERT SCHUMANN
Born June 8, 1810, Zwickau
Died July 29, 1856, Endenich

The Fantasiestücke (or Fantasy Pieces, a title denoting short and expressive pieces without specified form) were originally written for clarinet and piano; Schumann later made arrangements for cello and for violin. This music was composed with incredible speed, being completed in two days: February 11-12, 1849. This was the period of revolution throughout Germany and all of Europe, and Schumann was alternately fired with revolutionary passion and appalled by the breakdown in order–in May of 1849 he and his wife fled Dresden to escape the unrest. Perhaps some of the fervor of this period makes itself felt in the Fantasiestücke; perhaps not.  In any case, one should be careful of taking the free-form aspect of fantasies too seriously here–as he often did in his chamber works, Schumann makes subtle links (in this case, rhythmic links) between the movements.

The first movement (“Tender and with expression”) features a soaring cello melody and comes to a quiet close.  In the second (“Lively, happy”), the instruments take turns leading.  In the outer sections, the piano leads and is joined in mid-phrase by the cello; in the center section the cello dominates. The final piece (“Quick and with fire”) opens with a violent outburst from the cello, which quickly turns lyric. The gentle middle section–haunting, dark, yearning–is Schumann at his finest.

JOHANNES BRAHMS
Born May 7, 1833, Hamburg
Died April 3, 1897, Vienna

Born in the slums of Hamburg, Brahms rose from that grim setting to become a brilliant success: the young man’s piano-playing and compositions were quickly hailed throughout the German-speaking countries. Brahms had always assumed that he would make his career in Hamburg, and one achievement in particular would crown his rise from so modest a past to shining success–he wanted to be named conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic.

But it was not to be, and several events combined to change the direction of Brahms’ life and career. The first came early in 1862, when the 29-year-old composer visited Vienna for the first time. He was enthralled to walk the streets where Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, and so many others had lived and worked, and he quickly extended what had been planned as a short visit to that fabled city. The second event was devastating–while in Vienna, Brahms learned that the post with the Hamburg Philharmonic had gone to someone else.  He was crushed, and even as an old man the memory of that rejection would haunt him.  It was also a life-changer: Brahms gave up any thought of making his career in Hamburg and decided to move to Vienna.

He would remain there for the final thirty-five years of his life and come to love that city, but his entry took place only gradually.  A number of his new Viennese friends encouraged the move, and one of them in particular–the cellist Josef Gänsbacher–helped arrange his appointment as conductor of the Singakademie, a choral society in Vienna. Once established in this position in his new city, Brahms wrote several compositions that he hoped would help establish his reputation there.

The Cello Sonata in E Minor was one of these new works, and it comes as no surprise that he dedicated it to Gänsbacher, who would remain a lifelong friend.  Brahms began this sonata in 1862, during his first months to Vienna, and quickly completed three movements.  But he then set it aside for three years, and when he returned to it in 1865, he cut one of those movements (an Adagio) and composed a new finale. Doubtless Gänsbacher played the sonata privately in Vienna before its publication in 1866.

The Sonata in E Minor was the first of Brahms’ seven duo-sonatas, and it brought the eternal problem of trying to balance one stringed instrument against the massive tonal resources of the piano. Brahms compounds that problem in this sonata by keeping the cello for the most part in its lower register. This may challenge the performers, but it gives the music its wonderful dark, rich sound.

The cello sings the noble opening theme of the Allegro non troppo, rising quietly from the depths over steady chordal accompaniment. Brahms is quite explicit in his instructions to the performers, reminding them throughout this movement that their playing should be espressivo, legato, and dolce.  A second subject, announced first by the cello, is passionate and surging, and a lovely chorale for piano serves as a closing theme for the exposition.  The development and recapitulation in this massive movement are dramatic, and Brahms winds all this turbulence down beautifully by closing out the movement with the chorale theme.

The haunting Allegretto quasi Menuetto is poised and delicate music, with the melodic line moving easily between the two instruments. The piano’s first four notes, a sort of introductory tag, haunt the minuet and then–ingeniously–become the basis for the flowing trio section.

Many have felt the influence of Bach, one of Brahms’ favorite composers, on the finale.  It opens with a powerful fugue, and the fugue subject appears to have been derived from the Contrapunctus XIII of Bach’s The Art of the Fugue.  The piano has the first statement of this subject, which takes its energy from the powerful opening octave drop.  But the structure in this movement is ingenious: that fugal beginning is only the exposition of the first theme, and the appearance of a second theme group–announced by the cello–sets the movement in a sort of modified sonata form.  Much of the development, though, returns to the contrapuntal intricacies of the opening fugue, and this development is distinctive for its relentless logic and energy.  A Più presto coda drives the sonata to its thunderous conclusion.

CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Born August 22, 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Died March 25, 1918, Paris

Debussy’s final years were wretched. He developed colon cancer in 1909 and underwent a painful operation, radiation therapy, and drug treatment.  It was all to no avail, and the disease took its steady course. The onslaught of World War I in 1914 further depressed him, but it also sparked a wave of nationalistic fervor, and he set about writing a set of six sonatas for different combinations of instruments.  It may seem strange that the iconoclastic Debussy would return in his final years to so structured a form as the sonata, but he specified that his model was the French sonata of the eighteenth century and not the classical German sonata.  To make his point–and his nationalistic sympathies–even more clear, Debussy signed the scores of these works “Claude Debussy, musicien français.”

Debussy lived to complete only three of the projected six sonatas: a Cello Sonata (1915); a Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp (1916); and the Violin Sonata (1917).  The three sonatas that Debussy completed have never achieved the popularity of his earlier works, and the composer himself deprecated them with the self-irony that marked his painful final years. Of the Violin Sonata, he remarked: “This sonata will be interesting from a documentary viewpoint and as an example of what may be produced by a sick man in time of war.”  But this music has a power all its own, and listeners who put aside their preconceptions about what Debussy should sound like (and about what a sonata should be) will find this spare music moving and–in its austere way–painfully beautiful.

One of the most impressive things about the Cello Sonata is its concentration: it lasts less than twelve minutes. Further intensifying this music’s severity is Debussy’s refusal to develop–or even to use–themes in a traditional sense: this is music not of fully-developed themes but of thematic fragments appearing in various forms and shapes. The opening movement, Prologue–Lent, is only 51 measures long, but Debussy alters the tempo every few measures: the score is saturated with tempo changes and performance instructions. The piano’s opening three-measure phrase recurs throughout, contrasting with the cello’s agitato passages in the center section.  At the end, the cello winds gradually into its highest register and concludes hauntingly on the interval of a perfect fifth, played in harmonics.

The second and third movements are performed without pause. The second is marked Sérénade, but this is unlike any serenade one has heard before: there is nothing lyric about this song.  The cello snaps out grumbling pizzicatos (Debussy considered calling this movement Pierrot Angry at the Moon), and when the cello is finally given a bowed passage, it is marked ironique.  The finale–Animé–opens with three quick pizzicatos and then races ahead.  As in the first movement, there are frequent changes of tempo, a continuing refusal to announce or develop themes in traditional senses, and sudden changes of mood: at one point the performer is instructed to play a brief lyric passage con morbidezza, which means “gently,” yet another passage is marked arraché, or “ripped out.”  The sonata concludes on an abrupt pizzicato.

Such a description makes the sonata sound fierce, abstract, even mocking.  But beneath the surface austerity of this sonata lies music of haunting emotional power.

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Born September 25, 1906, St. Petersburg
Died August 9, 1975, Moscow

Shostakovich began writing his Cello Sonata on August 15, 1934, and completed it on September 19, a week before his 28^th birthday. This was an unusually calm interlude in the often-tormented life of this composer. Earlier that year he had scored a triumph with the premiere of his opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, which was now headed for production in Buenos Aires, New York, Stockholm,  Zurich, and other cities. The infamous Pravda attack on the opera–an assault that nearly destroyed Shostakovich’s career–would not occur for another sixteen months.  Audiences normally think of Shostakovich’s music from this early period as brilliant, witty, and nose-thumbing, but already another of Shostakovich’s many styles had begun to appear: the neo-classical.  In 1933 he had written Twenty-Four Preludes for piano (with the model of Bach’s sets of twenty-four preludes clearly in mind), and the Cello Sonata–with its romantic melodies, conservative harmonic language, and fairly strict classical forms–is very much in the manner of the cello sonatas of Beethoven and Brahms.

Frequently performed and recorded, the Cello Sonata remains one of Shostakovich’s most approachable works, particularly for its broad lyricism and generally untroubled spirit. Viktor Lubatsky was cellist and Shostakovich the pianist at the premiere, which took place on Christmas Day 1934.  Shostakovich was a virtuoso pianist, and it is not surprising that the piano is given so prominent a role in this sonata: it introduces several themes, dominates textures, and is an extremely active participant.

The cello, however, has the lovely opening melody of the Allegro non troppo. The piano introduces the quiet second theme, and both are treated fully before the quiet close of this sonata-

form movement. Brisk cello arpeggios open the energetic Scherzo, with the piano singing the main idea high above; the piano also has the second subject over eerie, swooping swirls from the cello.  The Largo begins with a recitative-like passage from the cello in its deepest register; soon the piano enters, and the movement’s central theme is heard: a lyric, flowing passage for cello over steady piano accompaniment.  Dark and expressive, this Largo stands apart in its intensity from the other three movements of the sonata.

The concluding Allegro comes closest to the sardonic manner of Shostakovich’s early music. The piano has the abrupt main idea, and the cello’s restatement already brings a saucy variation.  The theme goes through several episodes, some of them humorous. At times the humor is almost too broad: one of the instruments will have the theme, played fairly straight, while in the background the other is going crazy with the most athletic accompaniment imaginable.  For all its humor, however, the music never turns to slapstick, and the final episode–for piano over pizzicato accompaniment–is lovely.

Those interested in this sonata should know that while it has had many fine recordings, the most interesting remains one made long ago (in monophonic sound), featuring the composer at the piano and a very young Mstislav Rostropovich as cellist.  This performance has reappeared on compact disc and is well worth knowing, despite its inevitable limitations of sound.

Program notes by Eric Bromberger

Harrison/Parrott Ltd.
South Wing
Somerset House
The Strand
London WC2R 1LA

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PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY

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 160,000 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 Education 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 and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation

Anonymous

Judith and Howard Jelinek/Jelinek Family Trust

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

Steven M. Sorenson MD and the IBEX Foundation

Philharmonic Circle ($100,000+)

The Committees of the Philharmonic Society

The William Gillespie Foundation

Donna L. Kendall and the Donna L. Kendall Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Jelinek/Jelinek Family Trust

Philharmonic Foundation

Mr. James J. Brophy

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Sam B. and Lyndie Ersan

Mr. and Mrs. William F. Podlich

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Margaret M. Gates- in memory of family

Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation

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Anonymous

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Mr. Gary Capata

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Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty

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ESTERHAZY PATRONS

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.

ESTERHAZY PATRONS

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

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The Dirk Family

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Duma

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Emery

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Margaret M. Gates—In memory of family

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Bobbitt and Bill Williams

Anonymous

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*

Mildred and James* 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.

THE FUND FOR MUSIC: PHILHARMONIC FORWARD CAMPAIGN

The Philharmonic Forward Campaign was introduced prior to the 2015-2016 season with a goal of raising $10 million to bolster the Philharmonic Society’s endowment. Thanks to several transformational gifts and commitments, we surpassed $16 million.

As a reminder, the campaign has three components:

• An endowment for artistic excellence and innovation will support the presentation of the world’s leading orchestras, classical soloists, and chamber ensembles while also allowing the Society to expand its eclectic programming, interdisciplinary projects, and new work offerings.

• An endowment for education and community programs will strengthen youth music education and family programs, community engagement, and the Society’s on-campus presence at schools.

• A current needs capital funds program for organizational sustainability will provide working capital to secure the finest artists well in advance of upcoming seasons.

These funds will bolster the Society’s broad mission of supporting the tradition of Western classical music while allowing us to present diverse music from emerging artists. It will also allow us to expand music education programs for K-12 and college students, creating a new generation of people who value great music.

Campaign leadership has been provided by Co-Chairs Donna Kendall and Douglas Smith, joined by a deeply committed Executive Committee. With their energetic guidance, we are well-positioned to engage the entire Philharmonic family in support of this transformational initiative. For more information, contact Ron Dufault, VP of Development, at (949) 553-2422, ext. 202, or email Ron@PhilharmonicSociety.org.

SECURING THE FUTURE

The Philharmonic Society’s campaign is the first of its kind in the organization’s history. It will grow the Society’s endowment—providing greater opportunities for the presentation of the world’s leading orchestras and other musical per formances while expanding our 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 Society’s growth and provide a legacy of incomparable music and superb music education programs in perpetuity.

Donna L. Kendall and Douglas H. Smith
Co-Chairs

DONORS TO THE PHILHARMONIC FORWARD CAMPAIGN

$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

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Charles Mosmann

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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

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. 202 or visit: www.PhilharmonicSociety.org/SupportUs and click on Planned Giving.

OFFICERS
John Flemming, Chairman, CEO
Sabra Bordas, Vice Chair
Donna L. Kendall, Deputy Board 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

Season Sponsor

Venue Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors

Bob Romney, Chairman
Community Leader

Gary Fabian, Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer
Kind Lending

William Parker, Secretary
Professor Emeritus Physics and Astronomy
University of California, Irvine

DIRECTORS

Eugene Choi
Betty Martinez Franco
Harason Horowitz
Terry Jones
Mike Kerr
Jennifer Klein
Dr. Tiffany Ana López
Bonnie Lubock
James Mai
Sherry L. K. Main
Jerry Mandel, Ph.D.
Christopher Ramsey
Richard and Cheryll Ruszat
Kathleen Treseder, Ph.D.
Stuart Winston
Anu Worah

HONORARY

Larry Agran
Mayor, City of Irvine
 
Howard Gillman, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of California, Irvine

Public Partners
City of Irvine and UC Irvine

Official Health Care Partner
UCI Health

Corporate Sponsor
Haskell & White LLP

$50, 000+

Tom and Mayumi Adams

Paul and Bonnie Lubock

Thomas Rogers and Sally Anderson

Worah Family Foundation

$25, 000-$49, 999

Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation

The Hiland Foundation

Bill and Carolyn Klein

The Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund

Judy and Wes Whitmore

$10, 000 -$24,999

Gregory Bates and Joann Leatherby

Clifford and Jennifer Cheng

Eugene and Carol Choi

Paul and Anne Devore

Farhang Foundation

David and Trudi Gartley

Mike Gordon

Haskell & White LLP

Harason Horowitz

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation

Terry and Judy Jones

Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus

Liza Krassner

Jerry and Whitney Mandel

Goran Matijasevic

Dot and Rick Nelson

Mary Watson-Bruce

William and Janice Parker Family Fund

William and Pat Podlich

Robert E. Romney

Richard and Cheryll Ruszat – Montessori Schools of Irvine

Al Spector and Tatjana Soli

Greg Zaret

Charlie and Ling Zhang

$5, 000 - $9, 999

Stephen and Mary Auerbach

Robert and Lillyan Cendejas

Rohit Deshpande and Anita Watumull

Gary Fabian and Deb Solon

Chuck and Janet Henze

Eleanor Jaffy and Andrew Vollero

Jack and Joy Kayajanian

Robert Kazer and Jill Richter

Ken and Chantelle Labowe - Labowe Family Foundation

Josh Martin, Emerald Real Estate Partners, and Tom Politowski

James McGaugh

Natalie Miles

Tom Newmeyer

Andrei Olenicoff Memorial Foundation

James and Lynn Payne

Christopher and Lynne Ramsey

Salwa Rizkalla

Adreana Souleles

Craig and Kirsten Springer

Alexander and Sachiyo Stimpson

Ms. Renee Walter

Brian and Beth West

$2,500 - $4, 999

Terri Beber and Terry McDonald

Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker

Terry Causey

Albert and Anne Encinias

Arlene and Steven Fienberg

Douglas and Kathleen Forde

Greg and Sumie Haase

Michael and Charisse Lyseight

Patricia M. McIntyre Foundation Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation

Mark J. Nielsen

Marcia Novegrod

Arthur Ong and Ginger Sun

Bill and Joyce Perrone

Ron and Jan Redmond

Bob and Jo Anne Simon

Eric and Donna Stovner

Kurt and Ellen Youngs

Robert Zasa and Judy Amiano

$1,000 -$2,499

Beth and Michael Adler

Charlotte W. and Richard D. Alexander Charitable Foundation

Scott and Katherine Arbuckle

Diane and Dennis Baker

James Carter

Alice and Dennis Creighton

Brad Crosley

Gail Doe

Jeanne Egasse and Boyd Philpot

Francis and Ruby Foo

David and Judy Fukuda

Stanford Gertler

Gary Good and Jackie Charnley

Roger and Patt Grable

Geeta and Sanjiv Grover

Loren Hansen and Lorraine Caukin

Karen Kewell Jacoby

Dr. Elliott Kornhauser and Mr. Joe Baker

Rachel Levin

Lutz Moeckel

Janis and Dave Murray

James Pick and Rosalyn Laudati

Jill M. Prentice

Diana Putz

Joel B. Rothman

Debbie and Frank Rugani

Phil and Joy Ruggiero

Arkady and Ella Serebryannik

Sally Anne and Don Sheridan

Walter and Masami Stahr

Robert and Veronica Start

CarolAnn Tassios

$500 -$999

Dana and Angelika Aswad

John W. Ballantyne

Michelle Bentcliff and Ann Litke

Judy Bloomingdale

Wayne and Nancy Broadhag

Robert Cassidy

Esther Cervantes and Steve Rivero

Denise B. Chilcote

Michael and Melanie Cooper

Joan Donahue

Ann Donat

Nancy Eisenberg

Christine Fluor and Walter Scacchi

Margaret Gates, with gratitude for your education commitment

S. Glass Family

Gleicher / Chen Family Foundation

Marcus Hickerson

Melvin and Hazel Hoshiko

Kathleen Koch

Sally Kurnick

Holly Larsen

John LaRue

John Long and Tamara Taylor

Han Dinh and Martin Le

Patti Martinez

Dr. & Mrs. John Middlebrooks

Susan M. Mason

Kenneth Niedziela

Rey O'Day

Mike Peak

Arnold and Nancy Raymon

Bebe and Otto Reyer

Karen Rook

Kent Sentinella

Joe Simrell

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Sutton

Dr. Anthony Vasek

Fred and Patricia Viele

Emily Crean Vogler

Chuck and Marilyn Wright

$250 - $499

The Aber Group Inc

Mark Achong

Fredric and Lisa Albert

Mike Baginski and Kim Ling

Mrs. Kaui Balderston

Pat and Kate

George and Linda Bauer

Ms. Suzanne M. Becker

Bruce Beckman

Sally Bender

William and Annette Blaney

Ms. Nancy Braden

Peter and Kari Bretschger

Mr. Jelle Brons

David and Lisa Butler

Robert and Valerie Carter

Michael Casey

Luisa Cano

Eileen and Henry Cohen

Anahid Crecelius

Mike Davis

Myrtle Deakins

Mary Susan Denley

Don and Debra Drysdale

Kent and Irene Dunlap

Doug Elliott

Kelly YuehChun Feng

Joanne Fernbach

Ilone and Darin Gibson

Aimee Gromfin

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Hollingsworth

Haylee Homs

Harason Horowitz and Mark Chapin Johnson

Korey Jorgensen

Jessica Kaltman

Judy Kaufman

Kerry Krisher

Bruce Larson

Michael Lawler

Vicki and Richard Lee

Edward Luedke

Ramon Lugo

Capt. Kevin M. Mac Donnell

Dr. Frank and Mrs. Linda Meyskens

William D. Miller and Florence E. Miller

Daniel Morrison

Mr. Ramon Munoz

Ms. Maryellen Musgrave

Susan O'Brien

Cyrus Parker-Jeannette

Jorge Perez Valdes

Mr. and Mrs. Rivadeneyra

Josh and Carolyn Roberts

Dr. Stephen Rochford

Gary and Melanie Singer Charitable Fund

Kris and Geraldine Shah

Kim Smith

Dorothy J. Solinger

Tina Sommers-Bernhardt

Michael and Marilyn Staffieri

Daniel and Jeanne Stokols

Ingrid Strayer

Sullivan Family

Kim Tang

Cindy Tyan

Alvin Umeda

Jeanne Villacorte

Beth Waterman

Nella Webster

Carl and Deborah Weinert

Mark and Lou-Ann Weltman

Hemantha and Sophie Wickramasinghe

Jim and Sandra Williams

Dexter and Gisele Winzey

Gary and Cathy Wyatt

Kelley Yasbek

Andy and Wendy Yurcho

$100-$249

Brian and Gloria Abrams

Susan Adleman

Hoku and Kalani Aichele

Lillian Aranda

Theresa Battel

Rosanne and William Beam

Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh

Chris Blank and Josie Badeaux

Paul Blank

Carol Boot-Storie

Kerry and Paul Boulian

Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer

William and Lindsay Brennan

Mr. Steven Brenneis

Gary and Wendy Bryan

Dawn Burdick

Mr. & Mr. Christopher Cabrera

Peggy Campbell

Patrick J. Chambers

Chara Orthodontics

Grace Chen

Jeff Corp

David Coscia and Mark Armstrong

Donna Cox

Vivian Daniel

Charles Davison

Matt and Jane Delorenzo

RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama

Rhea Dorn

Ernest Duarte

Ron and May Duff

Eduardo and Elise Espinosa

Jim and Diane Ewing

Aviva and Fred Forster

Ms. Ellen Fujikawa

Eileen Garbutt

Charles Gates

Mr. John Gibbs

Ian and Kari Gibson

Ben and Sandie Goelman

Michael and Kristina Golden

Kevin and Candice Gomez

Anna Gonosova

Ms. Judith Guffey

Patricia Hansen

Gayle and Phil Harp

Jennifer Hart

Fred and Cheryl Heinecke

Edwin Henderson

Richard and Jacqueline Heyendal

Julie Hill

Peter Holden and Angela Howley-Holden

Holmes Family

Rita B Hopper

Dr. Dena Hulbert

W. Itoga & Sons

Gary Jackson and Linda Globerman Jackson

Laurie Jacobs

Judy Jones

Audrey Kapelinski

John Keating

Angela Kraus

Arlene Kato and Mike Kurihara

Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami

Kenneth Keller

Lynne Koffler

Colin and Joan Koransky

Karen Kotake

Mr. Richard Krey

Jennifer and Robert Langer

Lorna Larson-Paugh

Robert and Karen Lechich

Paul E. Len

Cheryl and James Lewis

Amy Li

Anne Llewellyn

Willard and Bettina Loomis

Mr. Robert Lopez

Lorena Mague

Dr. Sari Mahon

Ms. Amira Mansour

Christine A. Marx

Robert Mashihara

Thomas and Glynett Mcteer

Erica Morikawa

Dr. and Mrs. John Mull

Elaine and Cameron Mummery

Tasha and Owen Naccarato

Richard Nakai and Cindy Wederich

Virginia Olson

Lisa Osako

Judy Oswald

Hon. Julie Owen

Lauren and Richard Packard

Tom and Diane Pardue

Gerald Parham

Thomas and Davida Parham

Ms. Julie Patterson

Karin S. Paul

Dr. Dolly Platt

Brian Paegel and Jeremy Pyle

Lois Rake

Paul Ramey

Elaine Ramsay

Brad Rawlins

Kenneth Reinhard and Julia Reinhard Lupton

Anita and Bruce Reisman

Dennis and Marie Richman

In Memory of Irene DeNoia

Paul Schmidhauser and Cindy Hughes

Paul and Kristen Schmidt

Jack and Katharine Schoellerman

Jill Sekiguchi, DDS

Michael Sheffield

George Sidorakis

Tom Slickelman

John L. Smith and Mary Anne Anthony-Smith

Karen R. Speros

Jack and Molly Spiegel

D. Stroebel

James and Nadine Turner

Joanne Vargas

Linda Venezia

Kathy Vickers and Jeremy Freimund

Elliot Vogelfanger

Michele and Irwin Walot

David and Renee Warren

Bruce and Susie White

Steven and Elizabeth White

Roxanne Wong

Henry and Yen Yang Wu

Susan Yee

$150+

Mark Achong
Nancy and Wayne Broadhag
Hoku and Mark Aichele
Mrs. Kaui Balderston
Gregory Bates and Joann Leatherby
Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh
Paul Blank
Christopher Blank and Josie Badeaux
Laura Brandlin
David Coscia and Mark Armstrong
Charles and Maureen Davison
Susan Lindquist de la Parra
RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama
Mark and Kathi Denny
John Elwood
Eduardo and Elsie Espinosa
James Evans
Ian and Kari Gibson
Kevin and Candice Gomez
Roger and Patt Grable
Judith Guffey
Patricia Hansen
Gayle and Phil Harp
Arlene and Mike Kato
Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami
Kathleen Koch
Duane and Kathie Mauzey
Janis and Dave Murray
Hon. Julie A. C. Owen
Julie Patterson
Christopher and Lynne Ramsey
Brad and Susie Rawlins
Jill Sekiguchi
Tom Slickelman
T. Sommers-Bernhardt
Michael and Marilyn Staffieri
Cindy Thomas
Fred and Patricia Viele
David and Renee Warren
Roxanne Wong
Andrew and Wendy Yurcho

$10 monthly

Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer
Vivian Daniel
Karen Kotake
Traci Shirachi and Cory Chhiap

$75 month

As a partner in the annual National Choreographers Initiative, Irvine Barclay Theatre is also pleased to acknowledge all those who support this important contribution to American dance.

National Choreographers Initiative 2026
Molly Lynch, Artistic Director

Honorary Producer 

Bobbi Cox

Joanne and Dennis Keith

Barbara Roberts

Michelle Rohé

Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund

Choreographer Sponsor

Terry Causey

Sophie and Larry Cripe

Judi Gorski

Diane Silber

Dancer Sponsor

Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker

James Carter

Croul Family Foundation

Janet and Henry Eggers

Mary and Andrew Franklin

Artistic Sponsor

Alan Andrews and Molly Lynch

Betsy Andrews and Alex Moad

Diane Diefenderfer and David Hanlon

Gale Edelberg and Bob Butnik

Gillian Finley and Robert Labaree

Carol Hamilton

Nancy and Ned Kriz

Dr. Rosalyn Laudati and Dr. James Pick

Kathryn Lynch and Robert McDonnell

Rachelle Menaker and Eddie Schuller

Marica Pendjer and John Miller

Andrew Rose

Sally Anne and Don Sheridan

Paula Tomei and David Emmes

Lynn Weiser and Mike Tompkins

Patron Sponsor

Dr. Michael Bear

Stacie Brandt

Laurie and Bart Brown

Gail and Denis Kalscheur

David Carmichael

Joseph Herron and Dana Klein

Chuck Johnston

Margi and John Murray

Diana Putz

Kim Smith

Jenny Szabo

Karen and Gary Thorne

Barbara and Jack Tingley

Dance Shoe Sponsor

Diane and Dennis Baker

Darci Bodin

Bronny Daniels

Roberta Fox

Sharon McNalley

Ivar Roth, Concierge Podiatry & Spa

Katy and Jack Schoellerman

Ann and Richard Sim

Linda and Steve Weitz

Dance Partner

Ellen Fujikawa

Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus

Maurice and Alexandra Mandel

Edward McPherson

Rita Mitchell

Mitsuhiko and Reiko Nakano

Dr. Janice Gudde Plastino

Rosalind Russell

Joseph Sheridan

Dan & Jeanne Stokols

Robert Strang

Mary Vensel White

Update as of 7/14/26

DONATE TODAY

Please consider making a donation to support the work of the National Choreographers Initiative. We need your contributions to support the dancers and choreographers involved in the project. Be an angel to the arts-dance! Thank you!

Send your donation to: NCI 3334 E. Coast Hwy #276, Corona del Mar CA 92625