BLOSSOM NOTES NEWSLETTER OF BLOSSOM FRIENDS OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA Volume 3, Issue 1 January/February 2018 Message from Our President Blossom Friends Financial Happy New Year! Although the cold makes it hard to imagine that Support of The Cleveland 7 months from now we will be enjoying the music of The Cleveland Orchestra – A Brief History Orchestra while a warm summer breeze floats over us at Blossom Music Center, I wanted to share some exciting summer news! In honor of Blossom Music Center’s 50th Celebration, the Blossom Friends have planned an exciting fundraising event, A Symphony th of Food and Fine Wine on July 13 that will be held on the stage and orchestra pit of Blossom Music Center. This highly Perusing through my many cookbooks in anticipated affair will feature a fine wine auction, celebrity chef search of holiday recipes, I came across a prepared farm to table courses with wine pairings and the very worn copy of the Blossom Seasons beautiful music of The Cleveland Orchestra musicians, Joshua Cookbook (circa approximately 1980). In Smith, flute, Amy Lee Rosenwein, violin, Joanna Patterson the preface is a piece about the merits of the Zakany , viola, and Tanya Ell Wolfrey, cello. Blossom Women’s Committee (now known as Blossom Friends of The Cleveland Look for your Save the Date mailing later this month. To find out Orchestra). I found the section about how to get involved, or make a donation of wine please contact fundraising quite interesting and wanted to Lis Hugh, [email protected] or myself, share it with you as I think the sentiments [email protected] . We look forward to hearing from you! expressed then are still quite relevant today. Elizabeth McCormick, President “The main purpose of the Women’s Committee is to promote Blossom Music I N S I D E T H I S I SSUE Center and The Cleveland Orchestra through fundraising, audience development 1 Message from the President, Blossom Friends Financial and public relations. From 1968 to 1980 Support of The Cleveland Orchestra – A Brief History more than $1,720,000 was raised from the sale of coupon books to provide ‘up front’ Blossom Friends Financial Support continued, Smucker’s money for advance bookings. Now, the 2 Pledge $15 million, Blossom Chapter Contacts primary fundraising event is the Friends of 3 Chapter News Blossom Campaign held in the Spring of each year. More than $100,000 was raised 4 Martin Luther King Jr Concert, Orchestra News, Open in the first two campaigns.” Rehearsal Dates 5 Concert Calendar, WCCO Calendar Continued on Page 2 Blossom Friends Newsletter Page 1 Blossom Friends Financial Support of The Cleveland Orchestra – A Brief History continued Smucker’s Encourage Donors to Support The Cleveland Orchestra I think it is outstanding that the volunteers and Richard and Emily Smucker have pledged $15 community came together in such strong million to The Cleveland Orchestra in celebration financial support of the very special place we of the Orchestra’s 100th season and launch of its call Blossom Music Center. Second Century. Their gift will be used to fund artistic and education programs, with an Fifty years later, the passion and support the emphasis on programs for young people. A Blossom Friends volunteers have for The significant portion of their gift will also support Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music funds for the Orchestra’s future, including the Center continues to be strong. In honor of endowment. th Blossom Music Center’s 50 Celebration the chapters have come together for an exciting fundraising opportunity A Symphony of Food and Fine Wine, which combines a fine wine auction, celebrity chef prepared farm to table courses, music by The Cleveland Richard and Emily are designating $3 million of Orchestra musicians and the opportunity to their total pledge as challenge grants, which will enjoy all this while seated on the stage and be used to inspire the Northeast Ohio orchestra pit of Blossom Music Center. community to support the Orchestra as the ensemble enters its Second Century of musical Mark your calendars for this exciting excellence and community engagement. opportunity – July 13th, 2018! Look for your special Save the Date invitation in your January mail. Blossom Friends Chapter Presidents ❖ Akron - Danielle Dieterich, [email protected] ❖ Aurora - Kitchie McGrath, [email protected] ❖ Canton - Faye Heston, [email protected], and Liz McCormick, [email protected] ❖ Hudson - Connie Van Gilder, [email protected] For more information, ways to get involved, or ❖ Kent – Janet Sessions, how to make a wine donation (tax deductible!) [email protected], Rosanne please contact: Henderson, [email protected] ❖ Northeast – Lorraine Szabo, Lis Hugh, 330-840-8429, [email protected] [email protected], or Elizabeth McCormick at 330-704-8277, For more information about joining Blossom Friends please [email protected]. contact the Chapter President in your area. Blossom Friends Newsletter Page 2 The Aurora Chapter held a new member welcome, Holiday Cheers & Cookies on December 6th welcoming 9 new members, increasing their membership to 70 members. Pictured above, left to right, Kent Chapter members Betty Hejma-Sweet, Roberta Ewbank, Christine Bhargava, Gerry Orr, and Donna Hajek. Pictured above, Aurora Chapter members enjoy fellowship and Pictured right, desserts. Below, left to right, Sonja Koning, Eileen Rini, Monica Kent Chapter Zellis and Donna Sadd. members Saroj Sutaria and Germaine Williams The Northeast Chapter held their annual Christmas Social on a cold, snowy evening December 12th at the Cabin Restaurant in Willowick. Fifty-two attendees braved the cold to enjoy a lovely social hour, dinner, and a The Kent Chapter finished their year with a musical program. Also, several members lovely holiday dinner and music provided by attended the program Beethoven and the Efferus String Quartet at The Overlook. Prometheus: The Hero’s Journey, a collaboration The quartet is a graduate quartet in residence between The Cleveland Orchestra and at Kent State University and is comprised of Cleveland School of the Arts at the Lakeland Paula Casteñada, Irene Guerra, Maria Flórez, Community College on November 9th, and were and Cristian Diaz (pictured below). thrilled to host Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in their own backyard. The concert was attended by approximately 1,000 Lake County students. Blossom Friends Newsletter Page 3 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr Leadership and Annual Giving Celebration Concert Moneeb Iqbal, Annual Fund Giving Officer joins Em Ezell and Brian Deeds on the Leadership and This Education Concert, “Civil Rights: Annual Giving team headed by Elizabeth Arnett, Remembering MLK Jr.” uses music and Director of Annual Giving. dramatic vignettes (in between orchestral Mr. Moneeb recently finished pieces), to trace the life journey of MLK Jr. a summer internship at the through major events of the Civil Rights Aspen Music Festival where he performed a variety of Movement: celebrating his victories, emphasizing his philosophy of non-violence, functions from maintaining the reflecting on his untimely death, and asking guest artist database and ArtsVision as well as working with guest artists during the festival. Last what we can do now to honor and fulfill his spring he served as The Cleveland Orchestra’s Arts legacy. Administration Intern. The orchestral repertoire includes music Moneeb will be working closely with the Annual directly related to the life of Dr. King, as well Giving Team to implement a strategic approach to increase the donor base and build a robust pipeline as music symbolic of peaceful revolution for annual support for the Orchestra. from other periods in history, demonstrating the timeless nature of the need for social justice and unity. The Cleveland Orchestra On January 23rd and 24th The Cleveland Orchestra This free concert, conducted by Music makes its 223rd and 224th appearances at Carnegie Director Franz Welser-Möst, takes place at Hall. The Orchestra first performed at Carnegie Severance Hall on Sunday, January 14th at Hall in 1922 and last performed in Stern Auditorium 7:00 pm. The concert is free, however tickets in 2016. The January 23rd performance features the are required and can be obtained by visiting New York premiere of Johannes Maria www.clevelandorchestra.com. This concert is Staud’s Stromab, which was co-commissioned by sponsored by KeyBank and supported by a Carnegie Hall as well as Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. On January 24th the Orchestra performs grant from the Paul M. Angell Family Haydn’s The Seasons with the Cleveland Orchestra Foundation. Chorus, soprano Golda Schultz, tenor Maximilian Schmitt, and baritone Thomas Hampson. Open Rehearsals with The Cleveland Orchestra Plan to attend the Open Rehearsals on January 16th and February 21st at Severance Hall from 7:30 – 10 pm. RSVP to Sarah Jessie, [email protected]. Rehearsals include selections from the weekend’s program at the conductor’s discretion. Tickets are required and are available for pick-up at the check-in table prior to the rehearsal. Blossom Friends Newsletter Page 4 2018 Cleveland Orchestra & Severance Hall Events: (visit clevelandorchestra.com for tickets and additional information) March 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th – Bronfman Plays Beethoven’s Emperor, Nikolaj Znaider, conductor, with Yefim Bronfman, piano. Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”), and Elgar Symphony No. 2 featured. April 5th and 7th – Brahms Violin Concerto, Jakub Hruša, conductor, with Sergey Khachatryan, violin. Brahms Violin Concerto and Suk Symphony No. 2 (“Asrael”) featured. Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra will host a Meet The Artist on Friday, February 23rd. Featuring Kathleen Collins, violinist with The Cleveland Orchestra, and moderated by Joan Katz Napoli, Senior Director of Return Address BUILD RATE Education and Community Programs, The Cleveland Orchestra. Street Number and Name US POSTAGE City, State 98765-4321 Mayfield Sand Ridge Club, South Euclid PAID 11:30 patron reception, 12 noon lunch, $40 WCCO member & $50 non-member PERMIT NO.