Warm salutations,

Farewells are fraught with memories and emotions. Some goodbyes are temporary; others are permanent. The circumstances surrounding each adieu can be affirming or tragic, and rarely do we know for certain if our most recent personal interaction will be our last.

Much has been made of Gustav Mahler’s last completed work — his Symphony No. 9. In the shadow of losing his 4-year-old daughter, resigning his directorship in Vienna, being diagnosed with a fatal heart condition, a crumbling marriage, all while juggling new appointments in New York (at the Metropolitan Opera and the Philharmonic), was Mahler really saying goodbye to life in this symphony? Or was he, at age 50, simply saying auf Wiedersehen to youth and love? After all, he did write most of a 10th symphony.

So, rather than adding our own psychoanalysis, we’ve asked two poet laureates to listen to the piece, consider Mahler’s situation, and write a poem reflecting what they hear and know about perhaps the GOAT of composer-conductors and his last completed work.  

Enjoy the performance and the long goodbye.

James R. Cassidy,
Music Director

James Cassidy, conductor
7:30 p.m. January 29, 2022 
Greaves Concert Hall
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Tonight’s performance is sponsored by Central Bank.

The KSO is supported by the generosity
of the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund
of the Greenacres Foundation
and the R.C. Durr Foundation.

The KSO receives general operating ans season support from ArtsWave
and the Kentucky Arts Council.

James R. Cassidy, music director

Thomas Consolo, associate conductor

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra uses a system of rotating string seating. Section players after principals are listed in alphabetical order.

FIRST VIOLINS

Manami White, concertmistress
The John & Gloria Goering Memorial Chair

Johann Bast 
Cheng-Chia Chiu 
Jacquie Fennell
William Herzog
Eunbee Lee
Youjin Na 
Maggie Niekamp 
Yen-Ju Young
Yucheng Zeng

SECOND VIOLINS

Thomas Consolo,  principal
The Katie & Stephen Wolnitzek Chair

Ed Choi
Lesley Cissell
Luke Coan
Evan Hurley
Haejin Kim
Jude Jones
Lara Messerly
Alayne Wegner

VIOLAS

Lesley Dragan, acting principal

Jaehyuk Choi
Ryan De La Ree 
Cristian Diaz
Melissa Gray
Peter Gorak
Melissa Peraza
Susan Scheib 

CELLOS

Tom Guth, principal
The Fred Espenscheid Plumbing Chair

Kat Aguiar
Joshua Bermudez
Molly J. Castrucci
Caitlin Gross
Naomi Guth
Lucas Orth
Dan Ralescu

BASS

Luis Celis, principal

Nicholas Blackburn
Kaleb Collins
Robert Connatser

FLUTES

Jennifer King, principal
The Paul & Geneva Houston Chair

JinHee Hand
Annie Gordon
Julianna Eidle
Betty Douglas, piccolo

OBOES

Jacob Martin, acting principal

Laura Ruple
Courtney Sullivan 
Emily Van Niman

CLARINET

Christine Todey, principal

Kristin Welke  
Laura Sabo
Bryce Newcomer, E-flat clarinet  
Perry Bratcher, bass clarinet

BASSOONS

John Robken, acting principal

Chao Ju Lin
Albert Carter 
Zachary Elmore

FRENCH HORNS

Alexander Dick, acting principal
The Don & Sue Corken Chair

Rebecca Lorenz
Andrew Bass
Catherine Dowd
Anthony Stanley, assistant

TRUMPETS

Brian Buerkle, principal
The Wilbert & Ellen Hackman Ziegler Chair

Dan Grantham
Reynolds Martin

TROMBONES

David Dunevant, principal

Brandon Booth
Sean McGhee

TUBA

Michael Ebie

PERCUSSION

Brian Malone, acting principal

Kyle Lamb
Jack Anderson
Taft Hall

HARP

Joseph Rebman

KEYBOARD

Kimberly Russ
The Schultz Marketing Communications Chair