2 WWW.JAXSYMPHONY.ORG – NOVEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 WELCOME! Dear Friends, Welcome to Jacoby Symphony Hall. As we enter into the most joyous time of the year, let me be the first to wish you happy and healthy holidays. This time of year is particularly joyous for the Jacksonville Symphony as we have the opportunity to share the music of the holidays with you. This time of year, the Symphony is steeped in holiday tradition. It wouldn’t be December at the Symphony without the First Coast Nutcracker, Holiday Pops and Handel’s Messiah. Jacoby Symphony Hall is decked with holiday cheer and there are plenty of places for family photos in the lobby with the towering Nutcracker tree. There is also a very special treat this © Renee Parenteau holiday season; the return of Nathan Aspinall to the Jacoby Symphony Hall podium. Nathan will lead the orchestra in a holiday-themed Masterworks concert featuring Haydn’s “Surprise Symphony,” Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve Suite and Rachmaninoff’s exciting Symphonic Dances. As we close out the holiday season and prepare to celebrate the New Year, the Symphony is preparing to throw the best party in town. This year Courtney Lewis brings you The Jazz Age: a celebration of the music of the Roarin’ Twenties in a Gatsby-esque fashion. After a rousing performance by the orchestra, it’s out to the Uible Gallery for dessert, champagne and dancing to the Chris Thomas Band. At midnight we will all head out the back doors to watch the spectacular fireworks from the best viewing location in Jacksonville. I can’t think of a better way to ring in 2020! And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another concert that is perfect for the entire family. To celebrate Thanksgiving, we’re excited to present a heartwarming presentation of Disney and Pixar’s UP. We show this animated movie on the big screen while the orchestra plays the incredible score live to Tickets: the picture. Bring the kids and grandkids to this special family kick-off to the 904.354.5547 holidays on November 30 and December 1. Contributions: 904.354.5477 Administration: 904.354.5479 As the end of 2019 approaches, I know many of you are considering your year- JaxSymphony.org end charitable giving. We always want to share the impact that your giving has on not only the Symphony, but our greater Jacksonville community. It is through Encore Production your generous contributions that we are able to touch over 350 students in Publisher – our Youth Orchestras program, bring free concerts and cheer to Mayo Clinic Onstage Publications patients during the holiday season, and provide complimentary admission to Editor – Sydney Schless Young People’s Concerts for students at Title I schools who may otherwise be Graphic Designer – Ken Shade unable to hear a live symphony orchestra. Photography – Tiffany Manning, Renee Parenteau, Fran Ruchalski Once again, on behalf of Courtney Lewis and the musicians and staff of the Program Notes – Jacksonville Symphony I’d like to wish you and yours a most joyous Laurie Shulman holiday season. ©Jacksonville Symphony Association 300 Water Street, Suite 200 | Jacksonville, FL 32202 Sincerely, follow us /jaxsymphony - @jaxsymphony - /jaxsymphony - #jaxsymphony David Strickland STEINWAY & SONS Chair of the Board Is the official piano of the Jacksonville Symphony ENCORE 3 4 WWW.JAXSYMPHONY.ORG – NOVEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 ENCORE THE MAGAZIINE OF THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY 2019 - 2020 SEASON VOLUME 26 – EDITION 2 EVENTS 25 EHNES PLAYS ELGAR FLORIDA BLUE MASTERWORKS SERIES November 15 & 16 29 BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH REGENCY CENTERS SYMPHONY IN 60 SERIES RAYMOND JAMES COFFEE SERIES November 21 & 22 25 33 DISNEY AND PIXAR’S UP SYMPHONIC NIGHT AT THE MOVIES SERIES November 30 & December 1 35 HOLIDAY POPS FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL POPS SERIES December 5, 6, 7 & 8 40 JSYO HOLIDAY CONCERT YOUTH ORCHESTRAS SERIES 33 December 9 44 HANDEL’S MESSIAH SPECIAL PRESENTATION December 14 & 15 49 SYMPHONIC DANCES REGENCY CENTERS SYMPHONY IN 60 SERIES FLORIDA BLUE MASTERWORKS SERIES December 19, 20 & 21 53 NEW YEAR’S EVE: THE JAZZ AGE 53 SPECIAL PRESENTATION December 31 57 THE ORGAN SYMPHONY RAYMOND JAMES COFFEE SERIES January 3 57 DEPARTMENTS 3 Welcome 7 Music Director Courtney Lewis 8 Symphony Association Board 9, 63-65, 67 Thank You, Supporters 11 About the Symphony 12-13 Jacksonville Symphony Musicians 23 Volunteer Activities and Events 60 Sound Investment Program 62 The Cadenza Society 68 Jacksonville Symphony Administration ENCORE 5 SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers David M. Strickland, Chair Don Baldwin, Vice Chair Michael R. Imbriani, Treasurer Hon. Gwendolyn Yates, Secretary Board of Directors Akin Agar Elizabeth L. Colledge, Charles S. Joseph, Greg Anderson Programming Committee Chair Governance Committee Chair Martha Barrett Tyler Dann Kiki Karpen Gilchrist B. Berg, Barbara Darby Ross T. Krueger Vision 2020 Campaign Co-Chair Stacy B. Derr Trevor Lee Farrukh A. Bezar Jack Dickison Anne Lufrano Douglas A. Booher R. Chris Doerr Sheila McLenaghan Karen Ann Bower, Thomas M. Galvin, Jr. Tracye A. Polson Marketing Committee Chair Margaret Gomez Bernard Reidy J.F. Bryan, IV Becky Grimes Ronald Rettner, Rafael Caldera Katheryn Hancock, ex officio Development Committee Co-Chair Katharine Caliendo, ex officio Randolph R. Johnson, Daniel Rios, ex officio Carl Cannon, Development Committee Co-Chair Brenda Wolchok Vision 2020 Campaign Co-Chair Timothy A. Woodward Chung-Hae Casler Douglas C. Worth Foundation Board Honorary Directors Margaret Gomez, Chair Ruth Conley Gilchrist B. Berg David W. Foerster Jeffrey E. Bernardo Preston H. Haskell R. Chris Doerr Anne H. Hopkins Peter Karpen Robert E. Jacoby Frances Bartlett Kinne Mary Carr Patton Robert T. Shircliff Mary Ellen Smith Jay Stein James Van Vleck James H. Winston † † designates deceased 8 WWW.JAXSYMPHONY.ORG – NOVEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 ENCORE 9 ABOUT THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY © Tiffany Manning As Music Director Courtney Lewis begins his fifth The Symphony is also the community’s leader in season on the conductor’s podium, the Jacksonville music education for children, serving four county Symphony celebrates the 2019-2020 season that school districts. In addition to offering free tickets to promises more weeks of music reaching more people children under the age of 18 for selected Florida Blue than ever before. Each season, the Symphony reaches Masterworks concerts, and other special youth pricing, more than 255,000 individuals through over there are several programs to foster music education. 300 performances. In June 2018, the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras embarked on its first national tour as The Jacksonville Symphony is one of Northeast one of only three student orchestras invited to Florida’s most important cultural institutions. Founded perform in the Los Angeles International Music Festival in 1949, the Symphony is ranked among the nation’s at Walt Disney Concert Hall. top regional orchestras. In March 2020, the orchestra will depart on a tour to Washington, D.C. as one of four Over the years, the Jacksonville Symphony has hosted orchestras selected from across the country for SHIFT: some of the most renowned artists of the music A Festival of American Orchestras. The Symphony’s world including Isaac Stern, Benny Goodman, Duke home, Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall, is considered Ellington, Marilyn Horne, Luciano Pavarotti, Itzhak to be an acoustic gem. Each year thousands enjoy the Perlman, Kathleen Battle, Mstislav Rostopovich, Audra Symphony’s performances both at Jacoby Symphony McDonald, Joshua Bell, Lang Lang, Alisa Weilerstein, Hall in the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts Branford Marsalis and Renée Fleming. and at venues located throughout the state of Florida. For more information about the Jacksonville Symphony, please visit JaxSymphony.org, like us on Facebook at Jacksonville Symphony, follow us on Twitter @JaxSymphony, and on Instagram at JaxSymphony. ENCORE 11 12 WWW.JAXSYMPHONY.ORG – NOVEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 ENCORE 13 FIRST TIME AT THE SYMPHONY? GET CUED IN! Welcome to the Jacksonville Symphony! Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time with us, we care a lot about every single person in the beautiful Jacoby Symphony Hall. The orchestra rehearses for hours each week, but the magic doesn’t happen until you’re here to enjoy it with us. So, if there is anything we can do to make you feel welcome, please feel free to speak with an usher or staff member. You can also tell us about your experience online at jaxsymphony.org/about/contact-us/. Here’s what to expect: French horns and tubas). The only percussion instrument (the drums and keyboards in the back) that 1. First Things First The concertmaster enters the is tuned is the timpani – spot the timpanist putting his stage – they are the principal, or leader, of the string ear close to the head of the drum as he tunes. section and sit to the left of the conductor. The string section includes – from smallest to largest – two 3. Conductor Enters A conductor’s most basic job sections of violins (the highest pitched strings), violas, is to use a baton to keep time and make sure the cellos and basses. orchestra starts and stops together, but the magic is in their gestures, which give the musicians cues as to 2. Tuning Note The concertmaster cues a note from how they should play the notes as a unit to express the principal oboe for the woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, the music. oboes and bassoons) and brass (trumpets, trombones, 4. Time for the Music! The best way to enjoy the music is to just listen and see where it takes you. It is perfectly natural for your mind to wonder, so don’t be discouraged or anxious about listening a certain way. This moment is for you. Here are a few insider tricks to make the most of it: • If you’re here for a Masterworks series concert, read the program notes (located after the program page) before the concert begins.