Concert Stories
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Symphony Nova Scotia Board of Directors 2015/16 Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’s Orchestra. Under the Executive inspirational leadership of Music Director Bernhard Gueller, David Hastings, Chair Symphony Nova Scotia enriches our lives through creative, Dennice Leahey, C.M, Past Chair professional performance of a broad spectrum of orchestral Gail Morris, Vice Chair music. Musicians, staff, and volunteers are committed to Peter MacAskill, Secretary/Treasurer contributing to your cultural life with the generous support Members Brian Leadbetter of our community. Thank you for your commitment to Nancy Barteaux Mary Lu MacDonald Symphony Nova Scotia! Margaret Caley Roddy Macdonald Catherine Campbell Grant Machum Dominic Desautels John MacLeod Music Director Cellos Mark Gosine Varqa Mirzaagha Bernhard Gueller Norman Adams, Principal Max Kasper Wendy Rees Shimon Walt, Asst. Principal Kerry Kavalo Tom Traves Principal Baroque Leader Hilary Brown Jeanne Lamon Benjamin Marmen Honorary Directors Associate Conductor Basses Dr. Richard Goldbloom, O.C. Martin MacDonald Max Kasper, Principal Norman Newman (1928–1993) Lena Turofsky, Asst. Principal Women for Music – President, Cathy Ross Pops Conductor Laureate Howard Cable (1920–2016) Flutes Honorary Patron Patricia Creighton, Principal Brigadier-General the Honourable J.J. Grant, CMM, First Violins Christine Feierabend (Piccolo) ONS, CD (Ret’d), Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Renaud Lapierre, Concertmaster Mark Lee, Asst. Concertmaster Oboes Jennifer Jones, Asst. Concertmaster Suzanne Lemieux, Principal Administration & Production Staff Celeste Jankowski Brian James (English Horn) Christopher Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer Karen Langille Louise Gallant, Contract Accountant Yi Lee Clarinets Heidi MacPhee, Director of Communications & Marketing Kirsty Money+ Dominic Desautels, Principal Janice Fuller, Communications Manager Joelle Kee* Eileen Walsh (Bass Clarinet) Anne Laybolt, Director of Development Peter Stryniak Jordan Fisher, Patron Relations Coordinator Bassoons Maris Hughes, Development Manager Second Violins Ivor Rothwell, Principal Rose Spicer, Legacy Giving Isabelle Fournier, Principal Christopher Palmer Eric Mathis, Director of Operations Simon-Philippe Allard, Asst. Principal+ Émilie Paré, Asst. Principal* Horns Jeremy VanSlyke, Production Manager Janet Dunsworth David Parker, Principal James Eager, Music Librarian Anita Gao Lee Mary Lee D’Arcy Gray, Education & Community Outreach Coordinator Ken Nogami Alex Kall, Director of Innovation Anne Simons Trumpets M.J. MacLeod, Technical Coordinator Richard Simoneau, Principal Violas Curtis Dietz *Thank you to our fantastic staff and student interns Susan Sayle, Principal who contributed their talents during the 2015/16 Kerry Kavalo, Asst. Principal Timpani and Percussion season: Camille Dubois-CrÔteau, Allan Gaskin, Yvonne DeRoller Michael Baker, Principal Catherine Hatt, Kevin Nicoll, and Lori Saunders. Binnie Brennan + on sabbatical for 2015/16 Season * temporary for 2015/16 Season Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra and a member of Orchestras Canada. Its members belong to the Canadian Federation of Musicians, Local 571. Symphony Nova Scotia is a non-profit charitable organization (Reg. #119207900RR0001). 2015 / 16 2015 / 16 Annual Report 2 David Hastings Christopher Wilkinson Board Chair Chief Executive Officer Chair’s Message CEO’s Report The 2015/16 season was an artistic success for Symphony Symphony Nova Scotia’s 2015/16 season was stellar. A wonderful Nova Scotia. Maestro Gueller and all of our musicians per- gift from Margaret and David Fountain enabled us to present the formed harmoniously. We continued our community outreach Vienna Boys Choir; those who attended the sold-out performance with Symphony Week, the Family Series, and concerts in the will attest to the brilliance of this very special collaboration. communities of Lunenburg and Wolfville. Programs such as Our beloved Music Director, Bernhard Gueller, extended his Musical Munchkins, the Library Series, Symphony 101, and Link contract with us to 2018. This gives us terrific artistic stability as Up introduced people of all ages to our wonderful we ramp up the search for a new Music Director. The Search Symphony Nova Scotia musicians. Committee has already reviewed approximately 200 applications. Financially, however, 2015/16 was a tough year. Although we Late in the season, we discovered an accounting anomaly which continue to exceed ticket sales targets year after year, we still caused us some distress. We have taken steps to review our struggle to achieve a balanced budget. Public sector funding budgeting processes to ensure no future issues. Thankfully, we from federal and provincial governments has not increased balanced our operating budget with help from the Foundation. in the past ten-plus years in real or nominal terms. We are Over the past year, we have set up a Legacy Giving program to extremely grateful to have the Symphony Nova Scotia Foun- support the Symphony Nova Scotia Foundation, which continues dation that has graciously supplemented our yearly funding to be an extremely important part of our operations. Its continued to allow us to have a balanced budget this year. Without growth will ensure a healthy orchestra for the future. the Foundation, we would literally not be able to afford Our five-year Collective Agreement with the Atlantic Federation the Symphony here in Nova Scotia. of Musicians provided modest pay increases, improved health In spite of this fact, compared to many other symphonies in care co-pay, and a two-week summer season in 2017. Agreements Canada and the United States, we do still have a strong balance of this duration are rare, which is a testament to the positive and sheet. Add to this a world-class Maestro, excellent musicians, respectful relations within our organization. an active Board, dedicated staff, committed volunteers, and Two major sponsors extended their support to the Symphony: continued strong leadership from our CEO Chris Wilkinson as we signed a three-year contract with Air Canada to sponsor the he implements our long-term Strategic Plan, and it is clear that Masterworks and Symphonic Fusion Series, and RBC helped us we are truly blessed. create and support the RBC Composer in Residence position, I would like to thank you, our subscribers, donors, sponsors, filled by the award-winning Dinuk Wijeratne. and community partners, for your continued support of our Looking back on this great season, I wish to recognize the hard great Symphony. work of our musicians, staff, Board, and volunteers, and the incred- David Hastings, ible support of our donors, sponsors, foundations, and partners. Board Chair Christopher Wilkinson Chief Executive Officer 2015 / 16 2015 / 16 Annual Report 3 Bernhard Gueller Kerry Kavalo Music Director Chair, Symphony Nova Players’ Association From the Maestro Players’ Report Superlatives come too easily to mind when thinking back The 2015/16 season was one of great success both on and off on our 2015/16 season, but this has been a year when super- the concert stage. I’m proud to be a musician with Symphony latives are required. Nova Scotia, an orchestra that strives to reach out to and serve its community through music of the highest caliber. It was an excellent year for so many reasons: the Schubert songs sung so sublimely by Andrea Ludwig; Giora Schmidt’s Launching with Symphony Week, designated by Halifax glorious Sibelius; the remarkable English Festival featuring Mayor Mike Savage, musicians relished the many opportu- Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Enigma Variations, and Sea Pictures, nities to connect with audiences: more rehearsals open to plus The Planets by Holst. The Music of Queen and Sleeping the public, enthusiastic post-concert Q&As with artists, and Beauty brought in new audiences, our Baroque Series was increased participation in our Carnegie Hall Weill Institute popular as ever, and we won an East Coast Music Award Link Up program are just a few examples. Our free Family for the Tim Brady CD with soloists Robert Uchida and Series concerts, Musical Munchkins, and our in-school per- Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot. formances also continue to be in great demand. Of course, in spite of these wins, we also lost someone very Artistic highlights include Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with former beloved this season – the inimitable Howard Cable left us Concertmaster Robert Uchida, Brahms’ Symphony no. 3 and in March 2016 at the age of 95. Though sorely missed, his Piano Concerto no. 2, pops collaborations with Ben Caplan, memory and legacy will resound forever as we continue Buck 65, and Meaghan Smith, and of course the perfor- to perform the wonderful music that he shared with us. mances of Holst’s The Planets during our Festival in May. It is indisputable that Symphony Nova Scotia continues I am so proud of our musicians. My thanks go to them as al- to achieve performances of impeccable artistry. ways for playing this season with their accustomed panache, sheer enjoyment, and utter quality. I also wish to thank the Symphony Nova Scotia’s success is only possible thanks to administrative team for working so effectively to make our the tireless dedication and positivity of the Board, staff, musi- organization so impactful, the board for its ongoing hands-on cians, volunteers, supporters, partners, and of course, our attention, and the volunteers for their profound commitment. audiences – thank you! To the audience, thank you for being part of our family, and Kerry Kavalo,