Annual Report FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2013 September 3, 2013 To Our Patrons, Friends, Musicians, and Other Stakeholders: We are pleased to submit this Annual Report of the Society’s musical and financial activities during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. Particularly reflecting our new Joffrey affiliation, the number of orchestral performances in fiscal 2013 was about triple the level of fiscal 2012. This increased activity excited our musicians while challenging our modest staff resources. However, everyone came through with shining colors. Our other contracted orchestra services -- provided to such sponsors as Ravinia, Music Paradigm, Salute to Vienna, and the Lyric Opera -- also expanded and included a first time public performance in the Harris Theater. Last but not least, each of our four self-presented concerts in Pick-Staiger Hall was memorable and garnered standing applause and favorable critical comment. Audience count for our concerts increased and a survey informs us that our audience feels our programming is engaging and dependable. The foundation of our organization is our community of over two hundred musicians dedicated to the highest level of performance. One of our tasks is to develop work opportunities for this group and we are pleased to have dramatically expanded our musicians’ opportunities over the last few years. For the fiscal year, we also experienced success in the financial and funding area. We were especially gratified by the growth in foundation support received during the year. Toward year end, over $55,000 was raised to exceed the challenge match of two anonymous grantees of $25,000 each. As reported below in more detail, we finished the year with a surplus of $39,653 on revenues of $1,443,172. This was the third year in a row of achieving an operating surplus, which however modest has resulted in a positive equity account. We couldn’t have completed such an enlarged set of activities, audience growth, and positive financial results without the support of all our patrons, contributors, volunteers, dedicated musicians, and hardworking staff. Special thanks and congratulations to everyone involved! Paul R. Judy Donna Milanovich Chairman Executive Director 28 FALL 2013 | CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY Annual Report cont’d Our 2012-2013 Season Julia Gicha, violin II; Helen Hess, viola; and written tribute to Larry in his review stating, Bill Meyer, cello. “Rachleff deserves immense credit for Opening our symphonic subscription season having transformed a rather nondescript was the Brazilian consulate-sponsored Nordic Romance was the concept behind orchestra into the cohesive, well-blended, program Bravo Brazil! which was held on the conductorless program with Chicago fully engaged ensemble one heard Friday Sunday, September 30, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. Philharmonic’s own Concertmaster and night. Von Rhein also complemented Patrons were greeted as they entered Pick- virtuoso violinist David Perry as soloist and “the orchestra’s athletic strings and deftly Staiger Hall with the exciting experience of leader on Sunday, April 21, 2013, at 7:00 blended woodwinds in particular,” and costumed dancers and the thrilling rhythmic p.m. at Pick-Staiger Hall in Evanston. Scott commented that “Robert Morgan was a beat of the Evanston Escola de Samba, the Speck, whose appointment as Artistic model of articulate elegance in the solo ensemble-in-residence at the Music Institute Director had just been announced, graciously oboe passages of the second movement.” of Chicago. EEDS team leaders were Avo served as the commentator for the program (von Rhein, Chicago Tribune). A celebratory Randruut and Chris Hasselbring, Brazilian which included: Edvard Grieg’s Two Lyrical dinner in Rachleff’s honor was held at Quince percussion; Diane Berrios, samba dance; Pieces and Holberg Suite from Holberg’s restaurant in Evanston. The guest list also Marcos Oliveria, voice; and John Beard, Time; Jean Sibelius’ “En Saga”: A Recreation included his wife Susan Lorette Dunn and cavaquinho. Alex Klein, a native Brazilian of Original Version; Johann Svendsen’s son Sam. and well-known former principal oboist with Romance for Solo Violin and Strings, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1995- Opus 26 and Sinding’s Suite for Violin and A total of 102 Society musicians were 2004) now making his musical career as Orchestra in A Minor, Opus 10. Speck was involved in these 2012-1013 subscription a conductor, performed in a dual role as also featured on Chicago Tonight on WTTW concerts. conductor and oboe soloist. The program with CPS musicians promoting the concert. opened with Gomes’ Overture to the Opera Lastly, planning for the pending season Il Guarany, followed by the Lacerda Oboe Critic Gerald Fisher wrote, “Technically was of course a major activity during fiscal Concerto and Pitombeira’s Seresta No. 7 assured and impressively cohesive, a 2013. The details of the season, with three on the first half; then we experienced the conductorless Chicago Philharmonic served concerts at Pick-Staiger and two at Nichols masterful performance of Arnaldo Cohen on up a program of Scandinavian sweets in Hall, were announced a few months ago. piano in the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto. their Spring outing at Pick-Staiger Concert Ticket sales are well underway. The season’s Hall Sunday night. Surprising in much of overarching theme -- The Romantic Impulse We had the good fortune to have Liduino this music was the technical and emotional -- will carry through all programming. The Pitombeira present in the audience and range presented by these short pieces, Society is developing innovations for our available for any questions concerning so seemingly simple and understated. programs, and each concert will include his work. The Chicago Classical Review This Scandinavian music beguiles the ear another art form serving as an educational wrote that Cohen’s performance of the and satisfies the intellect at the same enhancement to the music. These and Tchaikovsky “conveyed its full romantic time.” (Fisher, Chicago Classical Review). other details are laid out in our new Program sweep from the thunderous chords of the Award-winning Quartet Lumiere (Rebecca Book, produced by Performance Media, first all-encompassing first movement to Benjamin, violin; Gallia Kastner, violin; which includes the publication of this Annual the delicate, almost dreamy passagework of Mira Williams, viola; and Josiah Yoo, cello) Report. the second to the driving momentum of the from the Academy of the Music Institute finale. Klein and the orchestra provided solid of Chicago was our Next! program in the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players accompaniment, with some notable touches foyer which showcases new and upcoming The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players like Jean Berkenstock’s striking flute solo musical talent. A silent auction also presented a series of three concerts at Union at the beginning of the slow movement.” enlivened the atmosphere at the concert. Church in Hinsdale and three concerts at St. (MacMillan, Chicago Classical Review). On For a thematic treat, we passed out Swedish Luke’s Lutheran Church in Park Ridge. behalf of the concert and the orchestra Fish to concert-goers! Park Ridge Series Klein performed on and was interviewed by We said farewell to our esteemed conductor Park Ridge featured “Russian Masterworks” WGN, WTTW, WFMT, and taught master all extraordinary but lesser known piano and classes at Roosevelt University and Music of 23 years, Larry Rachleff, in the last subscription program of the season entitled string chamber compositions on Sunday, Institute of Chicago. Brazil’s Consul General, November 18, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. Works Ambassador Paulo Camargo, was present Rachleff’s Finale: Bernstein and Schubert specially chosen by Larry for his last concert performed were Anton Arensky’s Piano Trio in along with Vice Consul Camila Mandel D minor, Opus 32; Paul Juon’s Rhapsody for Burros and members of their staff. A festive as our Music Director on Friday, May 24, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. at Pick-Staiger Hall. Piano Quartet, Opus 37 and Sergei Taneyev’s dinner for the board and artists complete Piano Quartet in E Major. Performers with the Brazilian dessert “quindim” was Susan Lorette Dunn, soprano was the vocal soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony included Ann Palen, violin; Karl Davies, viola; graciously sponsored by the Brazilian Margaret Daly, cello; John Goodwin, piano; consulate. A lively evening was had by all. No. 1 “Jeremiah”. The foyer music for this concert which echoed this symphony’s and Wagner Campos, clarinet. Sunday, November 4, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., theme was provided by the Chicago The next concert, “Cafe Music,” took place our Beethoven and Mozart concert brought Klezmer Ensemble, a five-member kapelye on Sunday, January 20, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. our many-season favorite, Joel Smirnoff, starring the versatile talents of Director Kurt It featured Paul Schoenfield’s Cafe Music back to the Chicago Philharmonic Society as Bjorling, clarinet; Joshua Huppert, violin; Eve for Piano Trio, Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet conductor. Smirnoff, formerly the Juilliard Monzingo, tsimbl; and Joseph Spilberg, No. 1 in C minor, Opus 15, and a sizzling set string quartet principal violin and now contrabass. Intermission was followed by the of cabaret selections arranged by Benton Cleveland Institute of Music President, led powerful Symphony No. 9 “The Great” by Wedge, Chicago Philharmonic board member the orchestra in a warmly received program Franz Schubert. and violist. Performers included Sarah of Mozart’s Overture “The Impresario,” Hibbard, soprano; John Goodwin, piano; Ann K. 486, Beethoven’s Concerto in D Major A specially crafted collected book of memories including Rachleff’s first and Palen, violin; Stephen Boe, viola; and Judy for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 61 with Stone, cello. a fascinating interpretation by violinist last Chicago Philharmonic programs was Joan Kwuon, and Mozart’s Symphony presented from members of the orchestra Park Ridge’s season closed with “Brahms, No.