CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2017 IMPACT IN ACTION STUDENT PROFILE: What Makes a Great Gillian Hurst Performance Gillian’s musical career was Meet new Artistic Director Barry Shiffman sparked at a young age. ROCKPORT MUSIC WELCOMES Barry me, as if to be sure I heard what he heard. Shiffman as our new artistic director of the He really wanted me to “get it,” to hear the Rockport Chamber Music Festival and music and to respond to the sounds. THE SUCCESS OF ROCKPORT MUSIC can of course be quantified by its Hurst dove deep into classical and medieval voice in college (getting THE CAMPAIGN classical music. He is looking forward to his I think of this early introduction to music often. sustained and impressive growth over the years. Yet there are other her B. Mus. in Vocal Performance at Westminster Choir College as new role and brings a wealth of experience Like my Dad, when I hear music I like, I want TO ENSURE ways to define success as an arts organization, and those have more well as a M.Litt in Mediaeval Studies at the University of St. as both a musician and administrator. In his to share it. That is why the opportunity to work to do with its impact on people and its community. Gillian Hurst, a Andrews, U.K.), but credits Rockport Music with her exposure to new ROCKPORT MUSIC’S past roles, he has been one of the founders with Rockport Music is so exciting. Rockport musicologist who gave the pre-concert lecture at the recent Lorelei music. “In college I was still experimenting with my voice and where of the St. Lawrence String Quartet and Music has committed itself to sharing and indeed FUTURE Ensemble and Boston Camerata concerts, grew up going to Rockport it fit, and being exposed to new contemporary music through served in numerous roles with leading that has become a core value. One can see this in festivals, competitions and music schools. Chamber Music Festival events at the old Rockport Art Association. Rockport was really influential,” says Hurst. “I started going to the the excellent educational programming for young Coming from a music-loving family, her exposure to chamber and Shalin Liu Performance Center all the time, every time I was home He will maintain his current role as Dean people, the pre-concert lectures at the Shalin Liu classical music began early. “I remember when I was quite young, from college, mostly because of the beauty of the space, but I think of the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Performance Center, the extensive program notes, going to see a lot of the string quartet family concerts in the Rockport that it definitely influenced my passion for contemporary music.” Academy for Young Artists at the Royal and the selection of artists that possess an innate Art Association,” says Hurst. “They were very interactive! I remember Conservatory of Music in Toronto and as MESSAGE FROM THE artistic generosity that welcomes in the listener. vividly a Babar the Elephant production that was fantastic. I had this Hurst is now a musicologist who will be resuming her studies in the Executive Director of the Banff International CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS Indeed the entire effort to build the Shalin Liu green Rockport Chamber Music Festival shirt that I wore all the fall at the University of Cambridge (U.K.). She plans to pursue her String Competition. When he was first Performance Center was about “sharing,” and time, it was like my uniform in the summer.” Hurst began studying Ph.D in the future. As a vocalist, she has performed with the Boston Building on Excellence appointed, he outlined the three things he the results could not be more glorious. piano, viola, and later, classical voice. She credits Rockport Music Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, New York considers integral to a successful musical THE JOY AND ARTISTIC ENRICHMENT With its perfect combination of inspired space, with much of her exposure to this music and the untapped potential Philharmonic, and Vienna Chamber Orchestra, among others. experience—exceptional musicians, a that was in her. “It was wonderful to see what the end result of Gillian Hurst’s musical journey is quite the success story, and is a we receive from concerts at our curious listeners and exceptional artists, Rockport receptive audience, and an extraordinary practicing could be,” says Hurst. “We would hear lots of small bright example of the impact music can have on a person. stunning Shalin Liu Performance Music is set to grow and continue to serve the space. He shares a brief story about his ADIELLO Center is truly infectious and inspires T chamber music, and to be able to see what could become of my community. I look forward to building on this ON early musical inspiration and how he J scratching on the viola was really eye-opening.” us to share it with the world. As legacy, remembering well the lessons I learned © thinks Rockport Music is well-positioned the co-chairs of this campaign, we from my Dad. to be a catalyst for such experiences. have found that the beauty of the Rockport Music I remember hearing the sounds of the Bach venue and musical excellence of the Gavotte that my Dad, an amateur violinist, “With its perfect combination of inspired space, curious listeners programming touches us all. Where Announces played for me when I was a very young boy. Campaign Summary PROGRAM else would a music lover find such a I was glued to his every note. Something just and exceptional artists, Rockport Music is set to grow and EXCELLENCE magical space for live performances made me listen. When he played certain continue to serve the community.” CAMPAIGN INITIATIVES $5,000,000 of all genres? However, in order $12 Million dissonant chords his face would wince and BARRY SHIFFMAN The In Concert with You campaign incorporates the following major initiatives: to continue building on our past he would lean the scroll of his violin over to ROCKPORT MUSIC ARTISTIC DIRECTOR THE ARTISTIC PROGRAM EXCELLENCE ENDOWMENT funds will ensure our ability successes and properly plan for the Campaign ARTISTIC & to continue to advance programmatic excellence in presenting exceptional live future, we need to establish funding EXECUTIVE music in all genres, as well as to augment our education and outreach programs. that enables Rockport Music to 1. Jeff and Naomi Stonberg enjoying the reception in LEADERSHIP Millbrook Meadow. continue presenting the finest On June 2, 2017, at the Opening Night Gala of the 36th THE ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ENDOWMENT funds will enable 2. Trustee Chair Susanne Guyer and Eileen Mueller $3,000,000 artists available, retain and attract Rockport Music to attract and retain key leaders who are passionate, innovative, prior to the concert. the most effective leaders, and Annual Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Rockport and essential to shaping our vision of musical excellence and preserving Rockport 3. Gala Co-Chairs celebrate with the Artistic Director ensure that the performance center (left to right): Alec Dingee with wife Susan Gray (Trustee Music’s high standards. BUILDING Music’s Board of Trustees Chair Susanne Guyer Emerita), Eve Cutter, Artistic Director David Deveau, PRESERVATION that we worked so hard to build will Dianne Anderson and Trustee Phil Cutter. announced the launch of its $12 million campaign The SHALIN LIU PERFORMANCE CENTER PRESERVATION FUND and the FUND stand for generations. 4. Corinna and Cornelius Waud with Anne and Bill SHALIN LIU PERFORMANCE CENTER ENDOWMENT FUND, established by a entitled In Concert with You. Kniesel having a great time at the gala. generous gift by Shalin Liu, will support the maintenance and care of our $4,000,000 The extensive education and outreach 5. From the left: John Byrnes with world-renowned beautiful concert hall. programs currently in existence will violinist Joshua Bell, Trustee Emerita Mollie Byrnes, MS. GUYER ANNOUNCED THAT ROCKPORT Ms. Guyer also expressed her great and pianist Alessio Bax. also be strengthened and broadened SPECIAL INITIATIVE Music’s Campaign Committee—led by Stephen appreciation to the campaign’s principal Rockport Music’s Opening 6. Matt Beach with Chris and Jim Barker (Trustee TOTAL through these funds, positively Bell, Joe Mueller, and Garth Greimann—has donors for their extraordinary generosity, Night Gala was a grand Emeritus) at the pre-concert reception. $1 MILLION CHALLENGE In a bold statement of commitment to Rockport Music, $12,000,000 impacting students and adults already raised over $9 million towards this including Susan Gray and Alec Dingee, 7. Trustee and Campaign Committee member Margaret two generous donors have together committed $1,000,000, conditional upon throughout the North Shore. ambitious goal to ensure the ongoing artistic Margaretta and Jerry Hausman, Mollie celebration with a Ziering, Lindsay Greimann and Eleanor Rogers having a Rockport Music raising a matching $1,000,000 from other donors. wonderful visit prior to the concert. excellence in programming, to endow key and John Byrnes, and Shalin Liu. She performance by Our vision is to establish Rockport leadership positions, and to create dedicated gave a special thank you to Shalin Liu, Music as one of the most dynamic funds for the beautiful Shalin Liu Performance who has completed the funding goal for world-renowned GIFTS AMOUNT [# NEEDED] music presenters in the country, violinist Joshua Bell. NEEDED Center. Explaining that the work was not the building component of this campaign 5 consistently featuring artists of the finished and that the campaign will continue and has gone on to provide the seed gift $1,500,000+ [2] IN CONCERT WITH YOU GIFTS highest caliber while reaching an even for the next two years, Susanne Guyer for a permanent endowment fund for the RECEIVED Scale of Gifts Needed greater number of people through our expressed her appreciation for the outstanding building—the Shalin Liu Performance to Raise $12,000,000 concerts and educational programs.