About the Maestro 4 Letter from the Maestro 5 History of the Brevard Philharmonic 6 Letter from the President 7 SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 9 AN AFTERNOON AT THE OPERA NOVEMBER 3, 2019 17 DUOS DECEMBER 15, 2019 25 CHRISTMASTIME IN BREVARD MARCH 15, 2020 27 SENSATIONAL STRINGS mission statement APRIL 5, 2020 33 The Mission of the Brevard BEETHOVEN, BOTTESINI, AND BASS Philharmonic is to inspire, educate, MAY 17, 2020 37 and enrich our audiences through POPS: STAGE, PAGE, AND SCREEN exceptional, professional musical Brevard Philharmonic Personnel 39 2019 Contributors 40 performances and community outreach. Sponsorships 42 Board of Directors 43 Music In the Schools 44 C Notes 46 Donate Your Instrument 47 House Concert 48 ADVERTISING Onstage Publications Advertising Department 937-424-0529 | 866-503-1966 e-mail: [email protected] www.onstagepublications.com This program is published in association with Onstage Publications, 1612 Prosser Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45409. This program may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Onstage Publications is a division of Just Business, Inc. Contents ©2019-20. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. www.brevardphilharmonic.org | brevard philharmonic 3 about the maestro JAMES FELLENBAUM ames Fellenbaum is in his second season as Artistic Director of the Brevard Philharmonic, and is truly excited to continue sharing this J musical journey with the Brevard community. He enjoys an extraordinarily diverse career as a conductor, equally at home with Symphonic music, Chamber Orchestra repertoire, Pops, Ballet, Opera, Choral-Orchestral, and Film with Live Orchestra. James is the Resident Conductor of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (KSO) having completed his 13th season with the organization. He conducts a variety of concerts with the KSO and has led the orchestra in a wide array of repertoire, ranging from the complete Brandenburg Concerti to orchestral music from Wagner’s The Ring Cycle. His performances on the Masterworks and Chamber Classics series have garnered such praise as “… a remarkable performance, one that was clean, focused, and razor-sharp in its control, yet passionate and warm in its display,” and “…it was one of the most compelling performances of a Orchestra was selected to compete in the Beethoven symphony I have yet heard in Knoxville.” National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, sponsored As a frequent conductor on the Knoxville News- by the American String Teachers Association, Sentinel Pops series, he has collaborated with where they won 1st Prize in the Youth Orchestra such renowned artists as Kenny G, Chris Botti, Division. The Youth Orchestra was also Blood, Sweat & Tears, Jim Witter, Ann Hampton awarded 3rd Prize in The American Prize Calloway, Steve Lippia, The Indigo Girls, and competition–Youth Orchestra division, for The Midtown Men, along with tributes to Bob their 2017-2018 season. James has been a guest Denver, The Beatles, Elvis, as well as the popular Music Director of the Symphony of the Cirque de la Symphonie. He also excels in Film Mountains Youth Orchestra and was previously with Live Orchestra concerts, including recent the Music Director of the Suburban Youth presentations of The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Symphony in Illinois. He has conducted the and Raiders of the Lost Ark. As part of the American Youth Philharmonic, Texas Honors KSO’s Education and Community Partnership Orchestra, and has led many regional and Program, James conducts performances all-state orchestras, as well as hundreds of throughout the city of Knoxville, as well as workshops and clinics. regional communities in east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. He also conducts the James is the Director of Orchestras at the educational programs, including Side-by- University of Tennessee (UT), a position he Side concerts with local high school orchestra has held since 2003. He oversees and conducts programs, and the KSO’s annual Young the Orchestra Program, which includes the People’s Concerts, which are seen by 10,000 Symphony Orchestra—the most prominent elementary students each year. collegiate ensemble in the state—the Chamber Orchestra founded in 2004, the Contemporary Since 2010, James is also the Music Director Music Ensemble founded in 2006 and of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra dedicated to music written since 1950, and Association. The KSYOA consists of sixUT Opera Theater where he oversees orchestral orchestras, led by the Youth Orchestra, which administration, and has conducted past he conducts. In March 2018, the Youth productions such as Don Giovanni, La Traviata, 4 brevard philharmonic | www.brevardphilharmonic.org about the maestro Il Barbiere di Siviglia, The Turn of the Screw, Orchestra, Orange County Symphony (CA), Sweeney Todd, Susannah, Cosi fan tutte, Little American Youth Philharmonic, the Symphony Women, and more. Orchestral performances of the Mountains (TN), the Satu-Mare State at UT have grown in both size and quality Philharmonic and Sinfonia Bucharest Orchestra of performances, resulting in invitations to of Romania, and the Russe Philharmonic perform in state-wide and regional concerts and Vidin Philharmonic of Bulgaria. He was and receiving critical acclaim such as, “With invited to the 2006 First International Gennady the arrival of James Fellenbaum… the UT Rozhdestvensky Conductors Competition, where Symphony has developed at an amazing pace into he was one of 20 conductors chosen to compete an ensemble that rivals the professional orchestras out of 112 applicants from 26 countries around in many communities.” Additionally, the the world, and finished as a finalist—the only Orchestra Program has been chosen for two American to reach that round. different PBS recording projects, performing as the classical soundtrack for Appalachia: A History James Fellenbaum holds a Bachelor of Music of Mountains and People narrated by Sissy Spacek degree in violoncello performance from James and the coming The Truth about Trees. Madison University and holds a double Masters degree in violoncello performance and orchestral James has conducted orchestras nationally conducting from Northwestern University. His and internationally, including recent guest primary conducting teachers were Victor Yampolsky conducting engagements with the Amarillo and Cliff Colnot in Chicago, David Zinman and Symphony (TX), Brevard Philharmonic (NC), Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Summer Music Festival, Erie Philharmonic (PA), Springfield Symphony and Pinchas Zukerman and Jorma Panula as part Orchestra (MA), Asheville Symphony Orchestra of the Conductors Programme with the National (NC), the Portland Columbia Symphony Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada. Orchestra (OR), Indianapolis Chamber letter from the maestro Dear Friends, Again, I hope you will enjoy the variety of our concerts as it is my endeavor to present Welcome back to the concert hall, as the Brevard performances that are a little bit different than Philharmonic presents its 43rd season—my you are used to hearing and seeing. However, all second as Artistic Director. I immensely enjoyed of the aspects you’ve come to expect from the BP my first year with this wonderful organization, are still here: the outstanding musicians on stage, and I’m excited to share with you our next the thrilling music we enjoy playing, and truly chapter in music making. world-class solo artists. Thank you for coming this afternoon. I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy what you are about to hear on stage from your own orchestra, the Brevard Philharmonic. www.brevardphilharmonic.org | brevard philharmonic 5 history of the brevard philharmonic After Tillotson’s retirement in 2001, Vance Reese was named conductor and the orchestra became Brevard College’s Orchestra-in- Residence. However, the Board of Directors and Dr. Emerson Head joined resources to revive an independent orchestra in 2005, changing its name to the Brevard he predecessor of what is now the Philharmonic. Following Dr. Head, Maestro Brevard Philharmonic was founded Donald Portnoy led the Brevard Philharmonic in 1976 by Jackson Parkhurst. In for 10 years, transitioning it from a local Tcreating the Brevard Chamber Orchestra, volunteer ensemble to a regional professional Parkhurst gave outstanding local musicians orchestra drawing musicians from upstate the opportunity to make music together, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and at the same time further enhancing the western North Carolina—including many reputation of Brevard as a place known for its from Transylvania County. music-making. Entering its 43rd season, the Brevard Philharmonic has become a vital part The 2018–2019 season saw the beginning of of Transylvania County’s musical identity. a new chapter for the Brevard Philharmonic as Maestro James Fellenbaum ascended When Parkhurst left Brevard to join the the podium as our new Artistic Director/ North Carolina Symphony in 1980, Virginia Conductor. Jim’s energy and excitement are Tillotson, Chair of the Music Department at contagious, and he has been enthusiastically Brevard College, took over the leadership of welcomed by audiences and musicians. the orchestra. During her 21-year tenure as conductor, what began as a chamber ensemble The Brevard Philharmonic has the distinction playing in various community venues several of performing in Scott Concert Hall of times a year became a full orchestra presenting the Porter Center for the Performing Arts an annual series of concerts at Brevard College at Brevard College, which has earned