THE 47TH ANNUAL FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION Thursday, May 7 – Saturday, May 9, 2020 TheFischoff fischoffchambermusic Fischoff FischoffNCMC Fischoff.org THE 47TH ANNUAL WELCOME TO THE FISCHOFF Elected Officials Letters ................................ 3 Fischoff President Letter & Board of Directors ............. 4 Letter from the Artistic Director. .5 Letter from the University President. 6 Thursday, May 7 – Saturday, May 9, 2020 THE FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC ASSOCIATION Staff ................................................8 National Advisory Council ..............................10 2020 Competition Fast Facts ...........................11 History of The Fischoff .................................12 History of The Competition .............................13 Double Gold Tours .................................14–15 Peer Ambassadors for Chamber Music (PACMan) ..........17 Soirées ..............................................17 Fischoff Chamber Music Academy .......................18 Fischoff Welcomes New Executive Director. 19 THE 47TH ANNUAL FISCHOFF COMPETITION Screening Committees .................................21 Junior Division Jurors ..............................22–23 Senior Division Jurors .............................24–25 Medal and Prize Sponsors ..........................26–27 A NOTE OF THANKS Emilia Romagna Festival ..............................28 The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Competition Schedule of Events .................... 30–31 Board of Directors and Staff gratefully acknowledge the contributions of: Junior String Division Repertoire ....................33–35 Junior Wind Division Repertoire .....................37–39 The University of Notre Dame for providing office space and general assistance. Senior String Division Repertoire. 41–45 RHB/The Agency for poster design and marketing collateral. Senior Wind Division Repertoire .....................47–51 History of Fischoff Winners .........................52–53 Cover sculpture, Angel of Music, by Tuck Langland, from the private collection of Ida & Perry Watson. SUPPORTING THE FISCHOFF Michael Murphy for program design and layout. Winter Gala ......................................54–55 Mark Kelley, our Master of Ceremonies for the 2020 Fischoff Annual Donors ...................................56–57 Virtual Awards Ceremony. Corporate and Foundation Donors .....................58 Visit South Bend Mishawaka for competition marketing support. WNIT Public Television as media sponsor for the competition. FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Letter & Upcoming Events .............................60 David Lemanski for office technical support. Share and follow The Fischoff Competition on social media using #fischoff2020. Fischoff National Chamber Music Association 119 Haggar Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 :: 574-631-0984 :: [email protected] TheFischoff fischoffchambermusic Fischoff FischoffNCMC Fischoff.org WELCOME TO THE FISCHOFF Welcome competitors, jurors, guests, and friends... TheFischoff fischoffchambermusic Fischoff FischoffNCMC Fischoff.org :: 3 FROM THE FISCHOFF PRESIDENT A year ago when the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was a virtual competition. He explained that our respected jurors engulfed in flames, almost destroying one of the world’s most are highly experienced in judging musicians virtually for beloved sites, there was a visceral response from musicians. festivals, competitions and music schools. When polled As the world watched, string ensembles spontaneously came our jurors emphatically and unanimously said that the Fischoff to the Cathedral’s plaza and began playing music which competition should continue in 2020 — virtually. reflected the sorrow, mourning and hope of those gathered. Tom and our jurors have collaborated to provide as many We now find ourselves in another, more personally “Fischoff moments” as possible this year including the highly- frightening, moment in history as a world-wide pandemic valued juror feedback to ensembles. We will be awarding Gold, upends plans, events, daily life itself. It also disrupts the Silver and Bronze medals in the Junior and Senior Strings Fischoff competition this year. When the University of Notre and Winds Divisions. For our Junior ensembles, we hope to Dame made the decision that it was no longer safe to hold recognize excellence and facilitate growth, both personally events on campus, we were faced with a critical decision. and as musicians. For our Senior ensembles, we recognize There could be no three day gathering in South Bend of the that winning a Fischoff medal launches careers and changes world’s finest young musicians and renowned jurors. No live professional lives. performances, no community soirees, no sending ensembles We are also developing an exciting, interactive online into schools throughout the region. Would there simply be program for schools to present chamber music to elementary no Fischoff competition this year? students. Yet, we have often heard from Fischoff musicians how Fischoff’s mission is to “inspire lives through breathtaking participating in the competition has been a goal, even a performances” — we will live that mission again this year, dream, for years. I have never forgotten a young Russian just in a different way. In the midst of this difficult time, we musician telling me that when he was in fifth grade, he are committed to bringing the music of remarkable young watched the Fischoff livestream in St. Petersburg. He decided musicians to the world stage again this year. then that he would do everything he could to one day play in the competition. He said, “My dream has come true.” That’s how much Fischoff means to our musicians. Our artistic director, Tom Rosenberg, came to us with the idea of Teresa Roberts President, Board of Directors 2019–2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Teresa Roberts, Randy Kelly, Mike Szymanski, Jeff Miller, Peter Holland, Brian Casey Lisa Casey Brian Davis Janet President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Immediate MacKay-Galbraith Past President Dean Goodwin Harriet Hamer Catherine Hill John Jessen Doug Osthimer Randy Rompola Kitty Rose Dennis Slade John Sejdinaj, Director Emeritus 4 :: THE 47TH ANNUAL FISCHOFF COMPETITION #fischoff2020 FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR — THOMAS ROSENBERG I’ve been at this a long time…40 years to be exact. This ensembles in both the Junior and year’s Fischoff has brought unprecedented challenges to the Senior Divisions to gain perspective organization. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced changes on your own playing, and by to nearly every aspect of life, and it became clear that the getting to know the playing of other Fischoff could not happen this year without a total re-tooling. musicians. Perhaps in the future Ultimately, we have decided to move forward, but in typical you will be playing with someone Fischoff fashion, we still are trying very hard to be make you first heard here. Ultimately, the Fischoff a unique and positive experience for all. Our you may or may not agree with new Executive Director Kara Kane calls it “The Fischoff the difficult decisions the jury must Experience.” So, even though everything will be conducted make. Remember that even in your with videos and no live gatherings, Kara and our incredible own ensembles you undoubtedly do not always agree with staff have made many plans to make the Competition seem to your colleagues. Winning an event like this involves two main the world as if it is happening May 7-9. This includes video ingredients: great playing and the good luck that your playing announcements of the semi-finals and awards, interviews connects with this particular jury. Every one of you play at a with musicians, virtual experiences in the classrooms of local very high level. Best of luck to all of you. elementary students and much more. We have all been put To our audience and supporters: I give my thanks for under unexpected stress by these events. The support of our your engaged involvement and a plea for your continued families has also been of critical importance. In particular, support to the wonderful people and organizations that help I want to thank my wife Sarah Morrissette and our two kids, fund the Fischoff, and especially to the amazing people on the Lydia and Will. Every year, they have made the trip to South Fischoff Board and staff. Bend to volunteer and in doing so have become part of the Forty years ago shortly after starting a residency here with Fischoff family that helps make The Fischoff a special event the Chester String Quartet, I was asked to become the Artistic for all. Sadly, none of us will be able to gather this year. Advisor of the small committee of volunteers, spearheaded Creative people will not stop creating during this or any by Joe Fischoff that ran a small and relatively unknown other emergency. In times of distress or joy, the Arts are called competition. The Fischoff has grown into an arts organization upon to bring us together. In that spirit, The Fischoff will not of both regional, national and growing international be kept down. We wish to celebrate the work of all the people importance that has been a key player in the huge growth of involved, be they an ensemble member, juror or staff member chamber music in pre-college, college and professional levels. of the Fischoff and continue our focus on education. As artists In addition, the Fischoff impacts thousands of local school and supporters of the arts, it is imperative that we make our children that experience dynamic and creative chamber music voices heard