Stephanie Rhodes Russell, conductor Inon Barnatan, piano
April 10 & 11
BELK THEATER
Charlotte Master Chorale
A Message from the President & CEO
April brings two compelling programs to the Belk Theater, each reflecting the many ways in which music expresses the human experience.
Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto anchors our first program, with pianist Inon Barnatan and conductor Stephanie Rhodes Russell, alongside the U.S. Premiere of Anna Clyne’s The Years — a reflection on the isolation of the pandemic — with the Charlotte Master Chorale. At the Saturday performance, we recognize the women shaping the future of music education in our region, placing purple batons in the hands of CharlotteMecklenburg Schools band and orchestra directors as part of a global initiative championing greater representation for women on the podium.
On April 24 & 25, Music Director Kwamé Ryan returns to lead a program of works by Gershwin and Bernstein — music that traces the stories of love against the odds through two of the most defining voices in American orchestral tradition.
But the work of the CSO this month extends far beyond these two programs. In April alone, more than 2,100 students will fill the theater for our “One Musical Family” education concert — bringing the total to more than 10,000 students from across the region this season.
Throughout Charlotte, our musicians are present every week in ways that rarely
appear under concert lights, but are central to our mission: coaching young artists in Youth Orchestra rehearsals, working directly with students at Northwest School of the Arts, performing for patients at Atrium Health’s Carolinas Rehabilitation and Levine Children’s Hospital, and sharing music during lunch service at Roof Above’s Day Services Center.
In partnership with Roof Above, we are also preparing for performances of Gabriel Kahane’s emergency shelter intake form on May 15 & 16, including the creation of a choir comprised of individuals affected by housing insecurity. This work explores homelessness from multiple perspectives, offering a deeply personal reflection on the meaning of home, with moments of unexpected wit and unvarnished humanity.
These moments may not always take place in front of an audience, but they are essential to who we are and why we exist.
Thank you for joining us today, and for making all of our work possible.
David Fisk
President & CEO
Your Charlotte Symphony Experience
Whether this is your first concert or you’ve been enjoying the Symphony for years, we’re glad you’re here. Below are a few things to know to help you feel right at home.
Food & Drink
A full bar, beverages, and snacks are available both before the concert and during intermission in the lobby.
Photography
We welcome and encourage you to capture and share photos before and after the concert or during intermission. Feel free to use your cell phone for photography without flash during the performance, but please refrain from video or audio recording.
Applause
You’ll notice that audiences applaud to welcome the concertmaster, conductor, and featured artists on stage. Some works may have several sections, or movements, separated by brief silent pauses. It is tradition to hold applause until after the last movement. If you are unsure, wait for the conductor to face the audience. But if you feel truly inspired, don’t be afraid to show your appreciation.
Need help or have questions?
Our ushers and staff are happy to assist — just ask!
THE NINETY-FOURTH SEASON
Friday, April 10, 2026, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 7:30 pm
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Stephanie Rhodes Russell, conductor
Inon Barnatan, piano
Charlotte Master Chorale · Kenney Potter, artistic director
Sinfonia in C major
(1744-1812)
I. Allegro con spirito
II. Andante ma non troppo
III. Allegro spiritoso
CLYNE (b. 1980)
VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
The Years (U.S. Premiere)
Text by Stephanie Fleischmann Charlotte Master Chorale
INTERMISSION
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, “Emperor”
I. Allegro
II. Adagio un poco mosso
III. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Inon Barnatan, piano
CONCERT DURATION: approx. 2 hours, including one 20-minute intermission.
This concert is made possible in part by the generous support of Douglas Young
LUDWIG
MARIANNA MARTINES
ANNA
Stephanie Rhodes Russell conductor
Stephanie Rhodes Russell is an alum of the Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors, the Houston Grand Opera Studio, and the Merola Opera Program. She was a Conducting Fellow with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra from 2019–21, where she appeared regularly with the ensemble, leading education, family, and community concerts while serving as cover conductor for the symphonic subscription series. She is also the recipient of a 2019 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, designed to aid outstanding young conductors in developing their talents and careers.
For the 2025–26 season, Rhodes Russell returns to the Fort Worth Symphony, serving as the season’s Resident Conductor and leading a range of programs. She makes her Charlotte Symphony Orchestra debut, with a program that includes Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto, the U.S. premiere of Anna Clyne’s The Years, and Martines’s Sinfonia in C major. She leads the world premiere of Everlasting Faint at Madison Opera, conducts La tragédie de Carmen for Merola Opera Program, and returns to the National Symphony Orchestra, assisting Gianandrea Noseda on Il trittico. Next season, she collaborates with Arizona Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Madison Opera.
The 2024–25 season brought a number of significant returns for Maestro Rhodes Russell: Utah Opera, for Hänsel und Gretel; Arizona Opera, for her first career performances of Aïda; and Washington National Opera, for the orchestrated world premiere of Jungle Book by Kamala Sankaram (composer) and Kelley Rourke (librettist). She also made her orchestral debut with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, conducting works by Prokofiev and Stravinsky, and returned to the National Symphony Orchestra, assisting conductors Gianandrea Noseda and Marin Alsop.
Inon Barnatan piano
“One of the most admired pianists of his generation” (The New York Times), Inon Barnatan has established a uniquely varied career, celebrated as a soloist, curator, and collaborator.
As a soloist, Barnatan performs regularly with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide. He was the inaugural Artist-in-Association of the New York Philharmonic and has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago and Boston symphonies, and most major U.S. ensembles, as well as the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Zurich Tonhalle, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, and the London, Hong Kong, and Royal Stockholm philharmonics.
In the 2025–26 season, he performs with the Baltimore, Dallas, and Minnesota symphonies, gives solo recitals at Tippet Rise Art Center and Wigmore Hall, and takes part in the Complete Etudes of Philip Glass project at the Krannert Center and the University Musical Society.
As curator and chamber musician, Barnatan is Music Director of La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest in California — one of the country’s leading music festivals — with his contract now extended through 2030. This season he continues his close partnerships with
cellist Alisa Weilerstein in duo recitals at Ravinia, Spivey Hall, and the McCallum Theatre; and with soprano Renée Fleming at Cal Performances, Schubert Club, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
His latest solo album, Rachmaninoff Reflections, features some of the composer’s most cherished piano works alongside Barnatan’s new solo arrangement of the Symphonic Dances, published by Boosey & Hawkes.
Born in 1979, Barnatan began piano at three and made his orchestral debut at eleven. His most influential teachers and mentors included Victor Derevianko, Christopher Elton, Maria Curcio, and Leon Fleisher. He is a recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award, and is an alum of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program
Go for Baroque
From Brandenburg to Today
Friday, May 1 at 7:30 pm
CAROLINA THEATRE AT BELK PLACE
Bach’s “Brandenburgs,” Handel’s Water Music, and contemporary works bring Baroque brilliance and clarity to the present.
BACH Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 3 & 5
Caroline SHAW entr’acte
HANDEL Water Music Suite No. 1
Christopher James Lees, conductor
Kari Giles, violin
Victor Wang, flute
Emily Urbanek, harpsichord
Kenney Potter, Artistic Director
Philip Biedenbender, Managing Director, Asst. Conductor & Pianist
Christine Starnes, Chorus Manager
Samantha Balsam
Rachel Barber
Sarah Barton Thomas
Madelyn Brannan
Katie Colgate
Megan Crosson
Allie Crosswhite
Sarah Edwards
Sarah L. Fink
Bonnie Autry
Carin Bissiere-Grote
Brett Blumenthal
Megan Cummings
Alexandra Eliasek
Brooke Haney
Kathleen Hartung
SOPRANO TENOR
Miles Caraballo
Rajah Chacko
Lamar Davis
James Franger
David Christopher Herring
Tommy Ballard
Bennett Billard
Aj Calpo
Evan Gray
Thomas Griffin
Caroline Goforth
Angela Gwinn
Janet Hall
Holly Hauser
Shelby Jackloski
Kate Kumar
Hanna Kim Loftus
Tricia McCord
Frances Morrison
Hailey Hodges
Hailey Hong
Emily Johnson
Anna Judge
Sydney Kopera
Marcella La Barrie
Payton Lark
Robert Hochberg
Adam Krahn
Greyson Lehman
Thomas Moncrief
Ryan Moran
Trevor Hagan
Adam Kerns
Sam Mayo-Tinoco
Chris Nolan
Aden Peters
Junghee Park
Kathryn Schroder
Lucy Singletary
Rebecca Smith
Kara Joy Stewart
Mary Theisen
Mikalah Watson
Victoria Wojciechowski
Rebecca Zairo
Susan McConnell
Katie Porier
Meg Ricci
Donarah Sheppard
Paige Sisk
Cricket Weston
Zion "Paul" Morgan
Andreas Schuhmacher
Philip Tate
Daniel J. Wynkoop
Michael Stoudmire
Jason Sykes
Ray Trogdon
Matt Wetmore
Kwamé Ryan · Music Director
Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor Christopher Warren-Green, Conductor Laureate
MUSICIAN ROSTER
FIRST VIOLINS
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu Concertmaster
The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair
Joseph Meyer* Associate Concertmaster
Kari Giles
Acting Associate Concertmaster
Hanna Zhdan
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Susan Blumberg°°
Jane Hart Brendle
Cynthia Burton
Fengwan Chen†
Ayako Gamo
David Horak†
Oliver Kot°°
Lenora Leggatt
Jenny Topilow
Dustin Wilkes-Kim*
SECOND VIOLINS
Kathleen Jarrell, Acting Principal
The Wolfgang Roth Chair
Carlos Tarazona°
Acting Assistant Principal
The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair
Monica Boboc
Martha Geissler
Sakira Harley
Laura Herrera†
Tatiana Karpova
Ellyn Stuart
VIOLAS
Benjamin Geller, Principal
The Zoe Bunten Merrillt Principal Viola Chair
Pin-Hao Liao
Assistant Principal
Ellen Ferdon
Wenlong Huang
Pedro Mendez
Viara Stefanova
Ning Zhao
CELLOS
Jon Lewis, Principal
The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair
Allison Drenkow
Assistant Principal
Marlene Ballena
Jeremy Lamb
Sarah Markle
Nicco Mazziotto
David Olson
DOUBLE BASSES
Jason McNeel, Acting Principal
Judson Baines, Assistant Principal
Jeffrey Ferdon
Eric Thompson†
HARP
Andrea Mumm Trammell
Principal
The Dr. Billy Graham Chair
FLUTES
Victor Wang, Principal
The Blumenthal Foundation Chair
Amy Orsinger Whitehead
Erinn Frechette
PICCOLO
Erinn Frechette
This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians on stage varies depending on the piece being performed.
° Non-revolving position
°° Alternates between first and second violins
† Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony
‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc.
* On leave
OBOES
Timothy Swanson, Principal
The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡
Erica Cice
Jamison Hillian†
ENGLISH HORN
Erica Cice
CLARINETS
Taylor Marino, Principal
The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair
Samuel Sparrow
Allan Rosenfeld
E ♭ CLARINET
Samuel Sparrow
BASS CLARINET
Allan Rosenfeld
BASSOONS
AJ Neubert, Principal
Joshua Hood
Nicholas Ritter
CONTRABASSOON
Nicholas Ritter
The CSO is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.
HORNS
Byron Johns, Principal
The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair
Andrew Fierova
Christopher Caudill†
The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair (acting)
Richard Goldfaden
Paige Quillen
TRUMPETS
Alex Wilborn, Principal
The Betty J. Livingstone Chair
Jesdelson Vasquez†
Gianluca Farina†
Acting Associate Principal
The Marcus T. Hickman Chair
Gabriel Slesinger*
TROMBONES
John Bartlett, Principal
Thomas Burge
BASS TROMBONE
Scott Hartman, Principal
TUBA
Colin Benton, Principal
The Governor James G. Martin Chair
TIMPANI
Denis Petrunin, Acting Principal†
The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair
PERCUSSION
Brice Burton, Principal
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is one of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas. As Charlotte’s most active performing arts group, the CSO presents around 150 concerts each season, reaching more than 150,000 music lovers.
The 2025–26 season marks the next chapter in the Charlotte Symphony’s artistic evolution under Music Director Kwamé Ryan. Framed by a season-long exploration of home — reflecting on belonging, identity, and place through a wide range of musical voices — the season offers bold new works, symphonic masterworks, and creative collaborations across the Classical, Pops, Movie, and Family series. Highlights include the debut of the CSO Spotlight Series, an everexpanding look at the work of this season’s CSO Spotlight Artist, Gabriel Kahane; performances of audience favorites like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Ravel’s Boléro; and more events that showcase the Orchestra’s breadth, from the music of Dolly Parton to Black Panther in Concert. Engaging with more than 15,000 students each year, the Charlotte Symphony nurtures the next generation of musicians and music lovers through its four diverse
youth orchestras, in-school education programs, instrument coaching, and Project Harmony, which offers free afterschool lessons in music and life skills to over 200 students in under-resourced areas. With its new mobile stage, CSO Roadshow, the Symphony extends its reach directly into neighborhoods, bringing live music to communities across the region.
Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra continues to play a vital cultural role in the region and remains committed to the belief that music, accessible to all, enriches and unites our community.
OUR MISSION
The Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of CharlotteMecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.
OUR VISION
Reaching out through the transformative power of live music, the Charlotte Symphony will be a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region.
For more information, visit us online at charlottesymphony.org
MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT
Erica Cice
OBOE AND ENGLISH HORN
CSO Member since September 2006
HOMETOWN: Natick, Massachusetts
Fun Facts
• Erica chose her instrument after hearing Peter and the Wolf — she liked the duck the best.
• Her pre-performance rituals include deep breathing and a mental pep talk.
• You might find cigarette rolling papers in her instrument case. Erica uses them to clean her oboe’s tone holes.
Marianna Martines
BORN: May 4, 1744 in Vienna, Austria
DIED: December 13, 1812 in Vienna, Austria
Sinfonia in C major (1770)
PREMIERE: 1947 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC
Approximate performance time is 12 minutes.
BEHIND THE MUSIC
Though her name may not be familiar to modern music lovers, Austrian composer, pianist, and singer Marianna Martines was an important musical presence in 18thcentury Vienna. The Martines family, of Spanish heritage, lived in an apartment building in Vienna that was also the residence of Franz Joseph Haydn, and the composer and voice teacher Nicola Porpora. The poet Metastasio lived with the Martines family for almost half a century. All three of these distinguished individuals were closely involved with Marianna Martines’s musical education. Over time, Martines established herself as an accomplished composer and performer of note. She often concertized for Empress Maria Theresa and hosted musical soirées in her home, at which Haydn and Mozart performed. Mozart frequently invited Marianna to play piano duets with him.
WHILE YOU LISTEN
• Typical of the era, the Sinfonia is cast in three movements: fast-slow-fast.
• The outer movements (Allegro con spirito and Allegro spiritoso) frame one of a more leisurely, lyrical pace (Andante ma non troppo).
• In the second movement, the oboes fall silent and are replaced by the flutes.
Composer, pianist, and singer Marianna Martines
Anna Clyne
BORN: March 9, 1980 in London, England
The Years, for Chorus and Orchestra
(2021) Text by Stephanie Fleischmann - U.S. Premiere
PREMIERE: May 5, 2022 at Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland
Approximate performance time is 20 minutes.
THE COMPOSER SPEAKS
I wrote The Years in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic — a period of enforced isolation. Reflecting on this unprecedented, shared experience, this music ranges from quiet solitude to the alarm of a system being fractured. My hope was to create music that resonates with that moment in time, but also with any moment in time — both in the past and future.
The Years was commissioned and premiered by The Scottish Chamber Orchestra during my tenure as Associate Composer from 2019–22. This work also provided an opportunity to bring two sound-worlds that I love writing for together — the orchestra and chorus. The music for The Years contrasts very serene passages with more turbulent and forceful moments to evoke the mood and imagery of the text written by Stephanie Fleischmann, a meditation on the mystery of time.
—ANNA CLYNE
THE LIBRETTIST SPEAKS
Time winds through this work on multiple levels and in multiple guises. Time is always a mystery — its fluctuations of speed, its propensity for layering, at moments, and at other moments looping back on itself. But time during this pandemic seemed to be almost another medium altogether — fluid and malleable yet static, moving slowly and quickly, simultaneously, in a way I’ve not previously experienced. My hope is that the piece conjures a sense of the passage of time, the ways time works on one, moves through a body and a soul. The voice feels solitary to me, and intimate — the you to whom it is speaking, the listener, feels very solitary too. But the declarative form speaks to a sense of communion that somehow makes sense to me in the context of a chorus.
—STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN
Ludwig van Beethoven
BAPTIZED: December 17, 1770 in Bonn, Germany
DIED: March 26, 1827 in Vienna, Austria
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major Opus 73, “Emperor” (1809)
PREMIERE: November 28, 1811 in Leipzig, Germany
Approximate performance time is 38 minutes.
BEHIND THE MUSIC
The “Emperor” Piano Concerto eloquently testifies to Beethoven’s power, through the sheer force of will and genius, to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Beethoven, a fiery virtuoso, had previously stunned Vienna with brilliant performances of his keyboard compositions, including four concertos for piano and orchestra. However, by the time Beethoven began work on the E-flat Concerto in 1808, his advancing deafness made public appearances all but impossible. The “Emperor” is the only one of Beethoven’s piano concertos not premiered by the composer himself. The concerto was completed in 1809, the year Napoleon invaded Vienna. In May, Napoleon’s forces bombarded the city. As Beethoven’s lodgings stood directly in the line of fire, he took refuge in the basement of another home. During the massive shelling, Beethoven tried to protect the last remnants of his hearing by covering his ears with pillows.
Through all of this turmoil and despair, Beethoven never lost his fierce sense of independence and rebellious spirit. There is an undeniable pride and heroism in his E-flat Concerto — music that refuses to capitulate to the misery Beethoven suffered during its composition.
Beethoven did not coin the nickname “Emperor” for his final piano concerto. In all likelihood, “Emperor” was first used in connection with the concerto after Beethoven’s death. The nickname refers to the majestic character of the music, not to any specific political figure (although the composer did dedicate the piece to his friend and patron, Archduke Rudolph of Austria). Beethoven would compose no more piano concertos during the remaining 18 years of his life. Nevertheless, the “Emperor” is as fitting a summation of the composer’s achievements in the realm of the piano concerto as is the immortal Ninth (“Choral”) in the symphonic repertoire.
WHILE YOU LISTEN
• The grand opening movement begins in dramatic fashion, as the orchestra’s noble, imposing chords are answered by the elaborate flourishes of the soloist.
• Toward the conclusion of the second movement, one of several masterstrokes in this work creates a moment of incomparable magic. Following an unexpected change of key, the soloist quietly entices the listener with fragments of the principal theme of the spirited finale, which follows without pause.
• The concluding movement is one of Beethoven’s most spirited, joyous creations.
THE COMPOSER SPEAKS
During the occupation, a friend spied Beethoven in a café. The composer stood behind a French officer, shaking his fist and proclaiming: “If I were a general and knew as much about strategy as I do counterpoint, I’d give you fellows something to think about.”
Beethoven's patron, Archduke Rudolf; portrait by Johann Baptist von Lampi
Annual Fund
We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Annual Fund. This list reflects gifts received through February 5, 2026.
BENEFACTOR CIRCLE
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Melinda & David Snyder
* The CSO recognizes donors of exceptional generosity whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million with the designation of Music Director Society.
For more information, please contact Mary Nell Johnson at 704.714.5137
Annual Fund Supporters
$10,000 – $14,999
Kristen & Paul Anderson
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VIRTUOSO CIRCLE
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$5,000 – $9,999 (continued)
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Emerson Bell
Shirley W. Benfield
Samuel Blackmon
Sara & Ethan Blumenthal
Marilyn & Herb Bonkovsky
Jodie & Erik Bowen
In Memory of Kyden Justice Brown
Joyce Cadesca
Jane & Larry Cain
Jennifer & Daniel Callahan
Amanda & Kevin Chheda
Rebecca & D. Mark Cody
Ann Thomas Colley
Dorothy & Mike Connor
Dr. & Mrs. Charles E. Cook
Dr. Kilian Cooley
Kathleen Goldammer-Copeland & Mark Copeland
Ann F. Copeland
Larry J. Dagenhart
Heather & Gray Dyer
Caroline & Jed Dyson
Judy & Bob Erb
Heather & Thomas Finke
Kate & Trae Fletcher
Karen Geiger
Jenn & Taylor Gherardi
Carol & Joseph Gigler
Audean & Berkley Godehn
William & Patricia Gorelick Family Foundation
Judith Greene
Joyce & Ed Hamilton
Juliet & Brian Hirsch
Linda & Paul Ibsen
Jennie & Don Johnson
Lea & Stuart Johnson
Priscilla & Michael Johnson
Vickie & Eugene Johnson
Dr. Valerie Kinloch & Mr. Thomas A'Hearn
Joan Kirschner
Marilyn Kroll
Leigh & Bruce Marsh
Holly & Christopher Maurer
Anna & John McCoy
Arrington Mixon
Sue Lin Tan & Rama Narayanan
Eleanor W. Neal
Mr. & Mrs. E. O. Oakley
Caroline Olzinski
Patricia & James Petillo
Catherine Philpott
Dr. William G. Porter
Susanne & Mark Rascio Family
Joan Rasmussen & Morry Alter
Cynthia & Joseph Riedl
Jennifer & Manley Roberts
Rita & Thomas Robinson
Sally Robinson
Linda Rosenfeld & Fred Krosner
Elizabeth & Robert Rostan
Anjan Shah
Sandra Shuster
Birte & Roman Streitberger
Scott Smith
Tamara & Cassiel Smith
Jennifer & Philip Stafford
Alice & Al Sudduth
Ann & Wellford Tabor
Annette & Eric Telljohann
Catherine Thompson
Libby & Vint Tilson
Tim Timson
Sarah S. Tull
Maureen Turner
Emily & Jeff Vaughan
Victoria & Mark Walker
Dr. & Mrs. Bill Chu & Jin Wang
Rebecca Waters
Linda & Craig Weisbruch
Jennie & Ry Winston
Lauren Wooden
Velva W. Woollen
Alanna & Richard Worrell
Sandy & John Yakob
Annual Fund Supporters
$500 – $999
Anonymous (2)
Lynda & Doug Abel
Daphne A. Banks
Cathy & Bob Becker
Natasha A. Bechtler
Dr. John L. Bennett & Mr. Eric T. Johnson
Mrs. Christine Bieri
Black Notes Project & The Sol Kitchen
Jeffrey Boghosian
James Broadstone
Nelle & Ken Brown
Aram Kim Bryan
Mary Lou & Greg Cagle
Nan & Brooks Carey
Janelle & Todd Collins
Thomas E. Collins, Jr.
Jack Cook
Dedee & Irv Cygler
In Loving Memory of Ruth Jernigan
Gaither & Robert Deaton
Dr. Roy E. DeMeo, Jr. & Ms. Linda A. Evanko
Margaret & George Dewey
Diane & Doug Doak
Dr. Kathleen A. Doman
C. Thomas Fennimore & Gail H. Fennimore
Lucinda & Harvey Gantt
Dr. John & Eileen Gardella
Dr. & Mrs. Richard Gellar
Stacy & Pete Gherardi
Cyndy & Larry Goodgame
Linda & Dan Gordon
Cynthia Greenlee
Gloria Gunst
Johanne & Patrick Hawk
Dr. & Mrs. Michael D. Heafner
Maria Felisa San Andres & Stefan Heinzelmann
Ms. Yvonne DeBeauville & Mr. Roger Hill
Susan Keeble
John J. Kelly, Jr.
Mary & Steven Kesselman
Constance C. & George W. Knight
Linda & Norman Kramer
Maria Kurtz
Jonathan Lamb
Barbara & Jerome Levin
Dr. Elissa & Joshua Levine
John J. Locke
Katherine & Mark Love
Dr. & Mrs. William W. MacDonald
Allison Malter
Rosemarie Marshall & Lee Wilkins
Paula Goolkasian & Francis Martin
Wendy & Ed Matthews
Jill Maxwell
Rob Roy McGregor
Constance & Kiran Mehta
Amanda & Matthew Molbert
Sally Staub Moore
Kimbrel & Tripp Morris
Fran & Gary Morrison
Jennifer & Michael Neurohr
Mary Newsom
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Nitsch
Nancy Olah & Bill Pace
Ynez Olshausen
Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge
Lisa & Tom Phillips
Janet & Rick Pfeiffer
Barbara M. Pooley
Moira Quinn
Sabine & Haywood Rankin
Emily & Brian Reinicker
Joan & Albert Rodgers
Margaret Rogers & John R. Willis
Betty & Bill Seifert
Michael Silverman
Dr. & Mrs. Henry L. Smith II
Scott Smith
Julia J. Souther
Mary & Bill Staton
Kathryn Stewart, MD, MPH
Susan & Jet Taylor
Melanie & James Twyne
Aishwarya & Krishna Varanasi
Kathleen & Henry Ward
Debi Wayne
Signature Web Design
Lyman Welton
Peter White
Karen & Charles Wolff
Judith Wood
The Charlotte Symphony wishes to thank the following companies for matching their employee gifts in support of our Annual Fund Campaign:
Advocate Aurora Health
Albemarle Foundation
Ameriprise
Atrio Health Plans
Bank of America
Corning
Deloitte
Duke Energy
Elasticsearch
EY
Harris Foundation
Honeywell
Johnson Controls
JPMorgan Chase
Lincoln Financial Foundation
Microsoft
Premier Health
TIAA
Truist
Wells Fargo
Planned Giving
The Encore Society
The Encore Society includes individuals who have made provisions for the CSO in their estate plans. We are honored to recognize their support:
Anonymous (3)
Geraldine I. Anderson†
Michele & Ross Annable
Richard & Ruth Ault
Baldwin Family Trust
Barnhardt Thomas Trust
Lincoln A. Baxter & Helen M. Fowler
Annette Bedford†
Larry & Joyce Bennett†
Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman
Donald H.† & Barbara K. Bernstein
Mark & Louise Bernstein†
Sybil Bernstein†
Rosemary Blanchard†
Twig & Barbara Branch
Saul Brenner
Mike & Joan Brown†
Mrs. Joan & George Bruns†
Jan & Bob Busch
Dr. Helen G. Cappleman, Ph.D.†
Jim Cochran† & Robin Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor
Charles & Peggy Dickerson
Martin Ericson, Jr.
Linda & Bill Farthing
David J.L. Fisk & Anne P. O’Byrne
Sylvia T. Forsythe†
Nadine W. Fox†
Dorris H. Goodyear†
Peter & Ann† Guild
William G. & Marguerite K. Huey Fund
Dr. Nish Jamgotch, Jr.†
Lucille F. & Edwin L. Jones
Endowment for the Arts
Betty & Stanley Livingstone†
Polly and Don Kellam†
Jim Martin
Daphine Doster Mastroianni†
Nellie Rose McCrory†
Paula & Paul McIntosh
Jane Green McNeary†
M. Marie Mitchell†
Cricket Weston & David Molinaro
Joan & Richard† Morgan
Francis A. Mueller†
Don C. Niehus
Eva Nove
Dean O’Hare†
Richard J. Osborne
Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge
Gilbert Pirovano†
James Y. Preston†
Mrs. Clayton (Dusty) Pritchet
Sally A. Raines†
Ann & Fritz† Rehkopf
Elizabeth Waring Reinhard
Albert Rogat
James M. and Ellen L. Ross†
Nancy W. Rutledge
Mike Rutledge
Harriet Seabrook
Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert
Morris & Patricia Spearman
Bob & Maxine Stein
Robert Steppe†
Dr. Ben C. Taylor III
Mr. & Mrs. Hans Teich
Cordelia G. & Dr. Chandler† Thompson
Tim Timson
Jenny & Ken Tolson
Ms. Deborra Wood & Mr. Russell Propst
For more information, please contact Shayne Doty at 704.714.5104.
Comprehensive Campaign
We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Comprehensive Campaign. This list reflects gifts received through August 1, 2025.
$10,000,000+
Bank of America · The C.D. Spangler Foundation
$5,000,000 - $9,999,999
John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
$2,000,000 - $4,999,999
The Leon Levine Foundation · Jane & Hugh McColl
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999
Michele & Ross Annable · Atrium Health · Howard C. & Margaret G. Bissell Foundation Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. · EY · Contributions Associated with Falfurrias Capital Partners
Lynn & Brian Good · Julie & Howard Levine · Susan & Loy McKeithen · Novant Health
$500,000 - $999,999
Anonymous · Arlene & Milton Berkman · Robin & Bill Branstrom · Deloitte
Mary & Mike Lamach · Rich Osborne · Debbie & Pat Phillips · Pat Rodgers · M.A. Rogers
Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation · Trane Technologies · Truist Financial Corporation
$250,000 - $499,999
Cathy Bessant · The Dickson Foundation · The Gambrell Foundation
The Gorelick Family Foundation · Moore & Van Allen PLLC · Janet Preyer Nelson The Trexler Foundation · Ed Weisiger, Jr. & Betsy Fleming
$100,000 - $249,000
Anonymous · Jeannette & Francisco Alvarado · Joan & Mick Ankrom
Ruth & Richard Ault · NCFI/Barnhardt Foundation · Catherine & Wilton Connor
Robin Cochran · Denise & Peter DeMaio · The Dowd Foundation · Linda & Bill Farthing
Fran & Greg Hyde · Dr. Richard Krumdieck & Mrs. Sally Gregory · Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Patricia & Thruston Morton · Steelfab, Inc. · Linda & Craig Weisbruch
Andromeda & John Williams
Comprehensive Campaign
$50,000 - $99,999
Amy & Robert Brinkley · Crescent Communities · The Fox Family · Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle
Mariam & Robert Hayes Charitable Trust · Ulrike & Alex Miles · Dr. Ruth G. Shaw
Chris & Jim Teat · Rita & Bill Vandiver · Lisa & Richard Worf
$10,000 - $49,999
Anonymous Wedge & Debbie Abels · Mary Lou & Jim Babb · Tiffany & Jason Bernd
Frank Bragg · Shirley & Mike Butterworth · Joye Blount & Jesse Knight, Jr.
The Cato Corporation · Margarita & Nick Clements · Mary Delk
Caroline & Ben Dellinger III · Lisa & Carlos Evans · David Fisk & Anne O’Byrne
Averill, Johanna, & Lauren Harkey · Carol & Bill Lorenz · Leslie & Michael Marsicano
Virginia & Chan Martin · DeDe & Alex McKinnon · Posey & Mark Mealy ·
Wanda & Steve Phifer · Ridgely & John Phillips · Dale & Larry Polsky
Judy & Derek Raghavan · Shannon & Eric Reichard · Sara & Daniel Roselli · Lori & Eric Sklut
Emily & Zach Smith · Melinda & David Snyder · Dr. John A. Thompson, Jr. & Dr. Lee Rocamora
Jill & Kevin Walker · Jim Worrell
$5,000 - $9,999
Brian S. Cromwell · Toni Burke & Bob Gaines · Sarah & Frank Gentry · Carol & Joseph Gigler
Lucinda Nisbet Lucas · Dee Dee & William Maxwell · Melissa & Dennis McCrory
Cyndee Patterson · Betty & William Seifert · Peggy & Pope Shuford · Nancy E. Simpson
Drs. Jennifer & Matthew Sullivan · Mary Claire & Dan Wall · Martha Ann & Craig Wardlaw
Corporate Partners
We are grateful for the following outstanding corporate funders: For more information, please contact Tara Spil at 704.714.5138.
We are grateful for the following outstanding foundation and government funders:
Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation
Dowd Foundation, Inc.
The Trexler Foundation
The Dickson Foundation Cole Foundation
Maurer Family Foundation
Triad Foundation
Barnhardt/Thomas Trust
The George W. & Ruth R. Baxter Foundation
The Blumenthal Foundation
The Charlotte Assembly
Minor Foundation, Inc
Music Performance Trust Fund
The Mary Norris Preyer Fund
For more information, please contact Tara Spil at 704.714.5138.
2025-26 OFFICERS
Richard Krumdieck, Chair
Ulrike Miles, Vice Chair
Melinda Snyder, Vice Chair & Secretary
Denise DeMaio, Treasurer
David Fisk, President & CEO
Kwamé Ryan, Music Director
2025-26
DIRECTORS
Krisha Blanchard
Joye D. Blount
Mike Butterworth
Nick Clements
Sidney Fletcher
Craig Froelich
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Linda McFarland Farthing, Chair
Francisco & Jeannette Alvarado
Paul Anderson
Ruth & Richard Ault
Rachel Gogal Badillo
Arlene & Milton Berkman
Mary & Charles Bowman
Frank Bragg
Robin & Bill Branstrom
Paige & Steve Burgess
Dr. William Charles & Dr. Cynthia Nortey
Derick & Sallie Close
Robin Cochran
Catherine & Wilton Connor
Jeanie & T. Thomas Cottingham III
Brian Cromwell
Susan Cybulski
Marcia & Jason Daily
Alessandra & Pasquale De Martino
Alvaro & Donna de Molina
Peggy & Richard Dreher
Carrie Galloway
Lucia Zapata Griffith
Fran Hyde
Byron Johns*
Valerie Kinloch
Stephen Makris
Juliette Pryor
Manley Roberts*
Sara Garces Roselli
Lindsay Schall
Ylida Scott
Cameron Sherrill
Matthew Spanjers
Jennifer Sullivan
Brienne Tinder*
Andrea Mumm Trammell*
Ken Walker *ex-officio
Lisa Hudson Evans
Bill Farthing
Karen Fox
Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle
Ralph S. Grier
Laurie Guy
Janet Haack
Reginald B. Henderson, Esq.
Mark & Whitney Jerrell
Jeff Lee
Dee & Joe Marley
Gov. James G. Martin
Jane & Hugh McColl
Stacie McGinn
Susan & Loy McKeithen
Alex & DeDe McKinnon
Elizabeth & Jay Monge
Janet Preyer Nelson
Mica Oberkfell
Patrick J. O’Leary
Richard Osborne
Sarah Frances Peck
Daniel Peterson
Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips
Derek & Judy Raghavan
Paul Reichs
Nancy & Charles Robson
Patricia A. Rodgers
M.A. Rogers
Frank Schall
Laura & Mike Schulte
Carolyn Shaw
Emily Smith
Will Sparks
Elizabeth Connor Stewart
Bob & Marsha Stickler
Kelly & Neal Taub
Adam Taylor
Chris & Jim Teat
Kevin & Jill Walker
Elizabeth & Steve Willen
Braxton Winston
Richard Worf
Joan Zimmerman
Albert Zue
EXECUTIVE
David J. L. Fisk
President & CEO
Samantha Hackett
Manager of Executive Administration & Board Relations
ARTISTIC OPERATIONS
Scott Freck
Vice President for Artistic Operations & General Manager
Erin Eady
Director of Orchestra Personnel
Laura Lindsay
Director of Orchestra Operations
Claudia Schmitz
Director of Artistic Planning
Bart Dunn
Principal Music Librarian
Ana Faithe Allen
Operations Coordinator
John Jarrell
Stage Manager
Byron Johns
Senior Stage Technician
Ross Jarrell
Stage Technician
DEVELOPMENT
Shayne Doty
Vice President of Development
Richard Riedl
Associate Vice President of Development
Mary Nell Johnson
Senior Director of Individual Giving
Tara Spil
Director of Corporate & Institutional Giving
Tammy Matula
Director of Development Services
Josh Bottoms
Manager of Corporate & Institutional Giving
Jennifer Gherardi
Manager of Development Services & Events
James Popper
Manager of Individual Giving
HUMAN RESOURCES
Maribeth Baker
Human Resources Counselor
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Christian Drake
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Amy Hine
HR Coordinator & Office Administrator
Kensloe Norrington
Staff Accountant
Chazin & Company, Financial Services
LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Aram Kim Bryan
Vice President of Community Relations & Learning
Dylan Lloyd
Senior Manager of Youth Orchestras
Mark Rockwood
Senior Manager of Youth Education
Michaela Sciacca
Senior Manager of Youth Programs
Gavin Fulker
Education Programs Assistant
Bria Alexander Community Engagement Assistant
MA RKETING & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Frank Impelluso
Vice President of Marketing & Audience Development
Deirdre Roddin
Director of Institutional Marketing & Communications
Nicole Glaza
Senior Manager of Digital Marketing
Laura Thomas
Senior Manager of Marketing & Audience Development
Chad Calvert
Visual Communications Manager
Meghan Cole
Patron Experience Manager
Garrett Whiffen
Ticketing Manager
April 24 & 25 BELK THEATER
Conflict, romance, and drama unfold through musical storytelling in these classical tales of love against all odds.
Bach & Beyond
May 1 CAROLINA THEATRE
Bach’s “Brandenburgs,” Handel’s Water Music, and contemporary works bring Baroque brilliance and clarity to the present.
May 15 & 16 KNIGHT THEATER
Powerful, lyrical works by a trio of American composers deliver a moving reflection on the nature of home and community.