Welcome, and thanks for being here. If this is your first time at one of our concerts, you picked a great time to show up.
One of the best things about this time of year is how different these last few shows are from each other. A Harry Potter concert for families, a Latin pop party with the Utah Symphony, one of the most demanding piano concertos ever written, and a string quintet that covers everything from Radiohead to Coltrane to Piazzolla.
As this season wraps up, we’re already announcing next season’s lineup. If you liked what you heard this year, I think you’re going to be excited about what’s coming. Subscriptions go on sale in May, and they’re the best way to lock in the seats you want, save on tickets, and give yourself the flexibility to exchange if life gets in the way. If you’re already a Masterworks or Pops in Ogden subscriber, we’ve got your seats saved. Just give us a call to renew. And if tonight’s your first time, a flexible “Choose Your Own Subscription” is a pretty good way to make this a regular thing.
It’s been a really good year. If you’re here tonight, you’re among the last of some 25,000 people who attended a concert, participated in a workshop, welcomed an artist into their classroom, or experienced a student matinee this season. We’ve tried some new things, welcomed a lot of new faces, and put a lot of great music on stages across Ogden. Last month, the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce named us their Nonprofit of the Year! This was a genuinely nice moment for our board and staff, but really belongs to everyone who shows up, buys a ticket, and makes this whole thing possible.
Thanks for spending your evening with us. Enjoy the show.
Utah Symphony | The Music of Phil Collins & Genesis
Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 7:30PM
Rakish
Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 7:30PM
The Doo Wop Project Friday, October 17, 2025 at 7:30PM
Eternamente: A Día de los Muertos Spectacular
Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 7:30PM
Cirque Kalabanté
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 7:30PM
Utah Symphony | Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6
Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7:30PM
National Geographic Live: The Rise of T-Rex Friday, November 7, 2025 at 7:30PM
Grupo Bella Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 7:30PM
Ballet West’s The Nutcracker Friday, November 28, 2025 at 2:00PM & 7:00PM Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 2:00PM & 7:00PM Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 12:00PM
Mariachi Herencia de México Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 7:30PM
Utah Symphony | Holiday Pops Extravaganza
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7:30PM
The Second City Friday, January 16, 2026 at 7:30PM
BYU Young Ambassadors Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:30PM
Peppa Pig: My First Concert
Wednesday, February 25, at 6:00PM
LP And The Vinyl Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:30PM
International Guitar Night Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 7:30PM
Voctave Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7:30PM
Barron Ryan Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:30PM
Women of Americana Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 7:30PM
Tonality Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7:30PM
Utah Symphony | The Music of Harry Potter Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:00PM
Utah Symphony | La Vida Loca Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 7:30PM
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:30PM
Sybarite5 Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30PM
Val A. Browning Charitable Foundation
The Onstage Ogden’s 2025–2026 season is funded in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, Weber County Recreation, Arts, Museums, and Parks (RAMP) program, Stewart Education Foundation, and Val A. Browning Charitable Foundation.
Board & Staff
ONSTAGE OGDEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christina Myers
President
Danielle Bendinelli
President-Elect
Pam Higginson Vice President
Wendy Roberts
Secretary
Jennifer Webb
Treasurer
FOUNDATION
Russel King Chair
Meg Naisbitt Vice Chair
Marti M. Clayson Secretary
STAFF
James Fredrick Executive Director
Andrew Barrett Watson Outreach & Events Manager
Rebecca Robley Patron Services Associate
Mills Publishing, Inc.
Franco Cirillo
Kate Holbrook Clark
Alex Crowley
Rosemary Lesser
Flor López
Clairesse Miljour
Deborah Uman
Jean Vaniman
Dotty Steimke Treasurer
Dr. Robert Fudge
Michael S. Malmborg
Dr. Judith Mitchell
Carolyn N. Rasmussen
Nikki Thon
Sarah Lorna Bailey Development Coordinator
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Dan Miller, President; Cynthia Bell Snow, Office Administrator; Jackie Medina, Art Director; Ken Magleby, Graphic Design; Patrick Witmer, Graphic Design/Web Developer; Paula Bell, Dan Miller Advertising Representatives
Onstage Ogden is published by Mills Publishing, Inc., 772 East 3300 South, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 Phone: 801.467.8833 Email: advertising@millspub.com Website: millspub.com Mills Publishing produces playbills for many performing arts groups. Advertisers do not necessarily agree or disagree with content or views expressed on stage. Please contact us for playbill advertising opportunities. Copyright 2026.
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BROWNING CENTER AT WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY, AUSTAD AUDITORIUM
ENRICO LOPEZ-YAÑEZ, conductor UTAH SYMPHONY
WILLIAMS
HOOPER
ARR. JERRY BRUBAKER
WILLIAMS WILLIAMS
WILLIAMS
WILLIAMS
WILLIAMS
DOYLE
WILLIAMS
Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“The Weasley Stomp” from Concert Suite from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
“Nimbus 2000” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“Witches, Wands and Wizards” from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
“Children’s Suite” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“Aunt Marge’s Waltz” from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Concert Suite
“Harry’s Wondrous World” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Please see Enrico Lopez-Yañez’s bio on page 12.
LA VIDA LOCA: LATIN POP HITS
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 / 7:30 PM
BROWNING CENTER AT WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY, AUSTAD AUDITORIUM
ENRICO LOPEZ-YAÑEZ, conductor
ENDER THOMAS, vocals
JACKIE MENDEZ, vocals
JOSÉ SIBAJA, trumpet
LUISITO QUINTERO, percussion
UTAH SYMPHONY
CASAS, OSTWALD, & DEFARIA
AS RECORDED BY GLORIA ESTEFAN
ESTEFAN & SANTANDER AS RECORDED BY JENNIFER LOPEZ
TAYLOR & BARRY
AS RECORDED BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
TAYLOR, IGLESIAS, & BARRY
AS RECORDED BY ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
GARDEL & LE PERA
AS RECORDED BY LUIS MIGUEL
MARTÍ, DIAZ, CEPEDA, & DANIEL
AS RECORDED BY CELIA CRUZ
ROONEY, ANTHONY, JANNUSI, et al. AS RECORDED BY MARC ANTHONY
MUÑIZ, DELGADO, MONGE, et al. AS RECORDED BY LOS DEL RIO
SHAKIRA, MITCHELL, & ESTEFAN AS RECORDED BY SHAKIRA
PAUL JABARA & PAUL SHAFER
AS RECORDED BY CARLOS SANTANA
ASTUDILLO & QUINTANILLA AS RECORDED BY SELENA
RIO
AS RECORDED BY THE CHAMPS
ENDER, AYALA, & FONSI
AS RECORDED BY LUIS FONSI
ROSA, AFANASIEFF, CHILD, ESCOLAR, & PORTER
AS RECORDED BY RICKY MARTIN
“Get on Your Feet”
“Let’s Get Loud”
“Bailamos”
“Hero”
“El Día Que Me Quieras”
“Celia Cruz Medley”
“I Need to Vivir”
“Mas Macarena”
INTERMISSION
“Whenever Wherever”
“Symphonic Santana”
“Como La Flor”
“Tequila”
“Despacito”
“Ricky Martin Medley”
Artists’ Profile
Enrico
Lopez-Yañez has quickly established himself as one of the nation’s leading conductors of popular music and become known for his unique style of audience engagement. Lopez-Yañez holds the titled positions of Principal Pops Conductor of the Detroit and Pacific Symphonies, Principal Conductor of Dallas Symphony Presents, and Principal Guest Conductor of Pops at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as Principal Pops Conductor of the Nashville Symphony for eight seasons.
Lopez-Yañez was the recipient of the 2023 “Mexicanos Distinguidos” Award by the Mexican government, an award granted to Mexican citizens living abroad for outstanding career accomplishments in their field. As an advocate for Latin music, he has arranged and produced shows for Latin Fire, Mariachi Los Camperos, The Three Mexican Tenors, and collaborated with artists including Aida Cuevas, Arturo Sandoval and Lila Downs.
ENDER THOMAS
Vocalist
EnderThomas is a Venezuelan vocalist renowned for his powerful voice and dynamic stage presence. Born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, he developed a passion for music at a young age, influenced by his Latin roots and the rich cultural traditions of his homeland. Thomas’ vocal style is characterized by its emotional depth and versatility, allowing him to seamlessly blend genres such as Latin pop, rock, and world music.
Thomas’ career is marked by collaborations with various artists, as well as his solo work, where he continues to explore new musical horizons. His performances are noted for their intensity and his ability to convey deep emotion, making him a standout figure in the world of Latin and world music. With a career that continues to evolve, Ender Thomas remains a captivating and influential voice in the music industry.
ENRICO LOPEZ-YAÑEZ
Conductor
Jackie Mendez is a native Miami singer-songwriter and producer of Cuban and Lebanese descent. She started singing professionally at the young age of 17 when she was signed to Warner Brothers’ Electra Records her senior year of high school back in 2001. She began writing with the music industry’s top artists and songwriters as well as joining several world tours and special appearances throughout the years with artists like Ricky Martin, J. Lo, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes, Ricardo Montaner, and more recently on Camila Cabello’s “Tiny Desk” performance. As an accredited artist with the Latin Grammy Recording Association, you can find her on five Latin Grammywinning albums singing along with Franco de Vita, Ricky Martin, David Bisbal, and Alejandro Sanz. Mendez’s voice is a layered sound full of texture, rasp, and soul. She captures all the emotions in the world of funk, soul, rock, and pop.
José Sibaja is one of the most highly acclaimed Costa Rican trumpet players of his generation with worldwide audiences and broadcast media in the classical, Latin, jazz, and pop musical genres. His career ranges from international appearances as an orchestral soloist with Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, to worldwide tours with Ricky Martin for the Vuelve and Living la Vida Loca tours. Currently, Sibaja plays lead trumpet with the world renowned Boston Brass.
Receiving his musical training at the New World School of the Arts and the University of Miami, Sibaja’s vast musical repertoire and his masterful artistry make him a prominent figure in a new generation of musicians. He has held positions as principal trumpet with the Miami Symphony, the Sinfonieta de Caracas and Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela, as well as a position with the Dallas Brass.
JACKIE MENDEZ Vocalist
JOSÉ SIBAJA Trumpet
Artists’ Profile
Luis
Ernesto Quintero Vegas, known as Luisito Quintero, was born in the populous Caracas, Venezuela neighborhood of San Agustín on August 24, 1967. Quintero, a child music prodigy, hails from a lineage of distinguished musicians and singers.
Quintero brings technical wizardry and musicality to every performance and recording. He has participated in more than 700 musical productions spanning a variety of music genres and between Grammys and Latin Grammys, Quintero has more than 60 Grammy Awards to his credit. His most recent Grammys were in 2019 with Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band for the Best Latin Jazz Album and in 2018 with Spanish Harlem Orchestra for the Best Tropical Latin Album. In August 2020, Quintero released the second production of his Grammy-nominated band (co-founded with his cousin, percussionist Roberto Quintero), Quintero’s Salsa Project, Tributo a La Dimensión Latina
LUISITO QUINTERO Percussion
PROKOFIEV’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026 / 7:30 PM
BROWNING CENTER AT WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY, AUSTAD AUDITORIUM
ANDREW MANZE, conductor* SIMON TRPČESKI, piano UTAH SYMPHONY
PROKOFIEV
Concerto No. 3 in C Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 26 (28’)
I. Andante - Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Allegro ma non troppo
INTERMISSION
ELGAR
Symphony No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 63 (54’)
I. Allegro vivace e nobilmente
II. Larghetto
III. Rondo
IV. Moderato e maestoso
*Utah Symphony debut
CONCERT SPONSOR
Robert & Marcia Harris
Artists’ Profile
AndrewManze is widely celebrated as one of the most stimulating and inspirational conductors of his generation. His extensive and scholarly knowledge of the repertoire, together with his boundless energy and warmth, mark him out. He held the position of Chief Conductor of the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hannover from 2014 until 2023. Since 2018, he has been Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In April 2024, he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, starting in September of that year.
Manze is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, Visiting Professor at the Oslo Academy, and has contributed to new editions of sonatas and concerti by Bach and Mozart, published by Bärenreiter and Breitkopf & Härtel. He also teaches, writes about, and edits music, as well as broadcasting regularly on radio and television. In November 2011, Andrew Manze received the prestigious Rolf Schock Prize in Stockholm.
Praised
as much for his powerful virtuosity and deeply expressive approach as for his charismatic stage presence, Simon Trpčeski has captivated audiences worldwide for over two decades. Launched onto the international scene as a BBC New Generation Artist, he has collaborated with more than 100 orchestras across four continents, including the London Symphony and Philharmonia Orchestras; Orchestre National de France; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich; Royal Stockholm, Oslo, and Helsinki Philharmonics; Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; RundfunkSinfonieorchester Berlin; NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra; the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics; and The Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras; as well as the Seoul Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, Sydney and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras. A much sought-after soloist, he has worked with many of today’s most prominent conductors, earning a reputation as one of the most distinctive and compelling pianists of his generation.
ANDREW MANZE Conductor
SIMON TRPČESKI Piano
About the Music
BY NOEL MORRIS
Key Notes
Like the vivid character portraits of his famous Enigma Variations, Edward Elgar associated people, places, and ideas with music and drew on those associations to fuel his Second Symphony.
Elgar was a self-taught musician and composer.
Sergei Prokofiev was a monster pianist who wrote concertos for his own (very long!) fingers to play.
What to Listen for
Prokofiev shared a love of machines with his friend Cyrus McCormick (inventor of the mechanical reaper) and incorporated machine-like propulsion into his Third Piano Concerto.
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
born April 23, 1891, in Sontsivka, Ukraine died March 5, 1953, in Moscow, USSR
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
composed 1917–1921 premiered in Chicago, Illinois, in 1921 last performed by the Utah Symphony in June 2024 with conductor Conner Gray Covington and pianist Youl Sun as part of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation’s 2024 International Artists Competition
The Backstory 1917 proved to be among the most consequential years of the 20th century. As the Russian people rang in the new year, the Tsar’s empire spanned nearly 9,000,000 square miles. His armed forces racked up terrible losses in World War I, and bread and coal were scarce in the cities. In the ensuing months, demonstrations and work stoppages became daily occurrences. Workers organized into soviets. In March, the Romanov dynasty fell, ceding power to a provisional government. In April, Vladimir Lenin returned from exile to build a coalition among workers, leading to a second revolution in October that established the Soviet Union.
Not a political creature, Sergei Prokofiev went on with his life. In early 1917, his new opera The Gambler went into rehearsal at the famed Mariinsky Theater in Petrograd. For much of that year, he avoided the unrest and retreated into nature. He took a river cruise and made an extended stay at a resort town in the Caucasus Mountains (in fact, he got stranded there as the ravages of war and revolution made returning to the city untenable). Throughout that historic year, new works poured out of him.
In June 1917, the Chicago industrialist Cyrus McCormick joined a diplomatic delegation to Russia, where he befriended the 26-yearold Prokofiev. McCormick had made his fortune through International Harvester, but served on the board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He and the composer shared an endless fascination for both music and machinery, prompting McCormick to invite Prokofiev to Chicago. History gave the composer a nudge. With violence erupting within Russian cities, concerts became impossible, if not inappropriate. And Russia hemorrhaged its greatest talent, including Sergei
Rachmaninoff, Wassily Kandinsky, and Vladimir Horowitz. Like many, Prokofiev packed his bags, thinking he’d be gone a few months, and boarded one of the last trains of the Trans-Siberian railway to journey toward America.
The Music
As promised, McCormick introduced Prokofiev to Frederick Stock of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the composer performed his Piano Concerto No. 1 in 1918. One reviewer wrote, “Russian Genius Displays Weird Harmonies,” but went on to describe a “thunderous ovation.” Still in exile, Prokofiev returned to Chicago to debut his Piano Concerto No. 3 in 1921.
According to the composer, he wrote some of the material as early as 1911, while a student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. But for all practical purposes, he composed the piece in St. Brevin, France, where the Loire Valley meets the Atlantic. Although he was on vacation, he kept a strict schedule: hot chocolate, composition, lunch, chess, swimming, newspapers and tea, piano practice, etc.
“My Third Concerto has turned out to be devilishly difficult,” he wrote. “I’m nervous, and I’m practicing hard three hours a day.” After a 1922 Paris performance, the work entered the repertoire and became one of the most popular piano concertos of the 20th century.
The Prokofiev Third opens with a poignant clarinet melody that quickly turns backwards in the hands of the pianist. Motoric rhythms undergird this piece, pointing to the composer’s love of machines and futurism. Yet he still wrote melodies that put a catch in your throat.
The middle movement is a Baroque dance called a gavotte, which conjures images of chandeliers and ball gowns. But Prokofiev perverts his gavotte in a set of variations,
About the Music
making it piquant, like a strong cheese. In the finale, he whips up a battle between piano and orchestra until sweeping melodies and red-hot virtuosity win the day.
SIR EDWARD ELGAR
born June 2, 1857, in Broadheath, United Kingdom died February 23, 1924, in Worcester
Symphony No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 63
composed 1909–1911 premiered in London, in 1911 last performed by the Utah Symphony in March 2010 with conductor Christopher Seaman
The Backstory
Sir Edward Elgar was one of seven children born to a multi-talented father who was a violinist, shopkeeper, and piano tuner. His father couldn’t afford music lessons, let alone a conservatory. So little Edward taught himself the various instruments in his father’s music shop.
Living in Victorian England, Edward’s talent took him far beyond his station in society, but he never forgot where he came from. As late as 1897, he declined a luncheon, stating, “You would not wish your board to be disgraced by the presence of a pianotuner’s son and his wife.”
In his uneasy way, Elgar rose among the ranks to become the most sought-after composer in England, until he knelt before Edward VII to receive a knighthood.
When it comes to writing symphonies, Elgar bloomed later than most. He issued his first in 1908 at 51, but its success is legendary. In its first year, Elgar’s Symphony No. 1 received more than 100 performances worldwide. Naturally, he started his Symphony No. 2 almost immediately.
About the Music
The Music
The United Kingdom had settled into a new age after the 1901 death of Queen Victoria. Unlike his stolid mom, King Edward VII was charming and outgoing. He loved the arts and relaxed the moral codes that had constrained Victorian creatives, leading to a flowering of theater and literature. He also saw the rise of suffragettes, Irish separatists, and a liberal social agenda.
When Elgar began his Symphony No. 2, he had the king in mind, turbulence and all. According to the composer, the symphony evolved alongside the people and places that touched his life during its composition.
Indeed, it is a deeply personal piece, filled with private references. For example, a descending passage at the end echoes music that Elgar wrote as a child. An inscription on the last page, “Venice and Tintagel,” points to his travels and a bountiful inner life.
Across the top of the first page, the composer quoted lines from a poem by Percy Shelley: “Rarely, rarely, comest thou, Spirit of Delight,” leading scholars to identify the opening theme as the Spirit of Delight motive. From there, Elgar spun the opening movement with widely contrasting gestures, from joy to sadness, serenity to violence.
Inspiration for the second movement came from three events: the deaths of the composer’s friend Alfred Rodewald and King Edward VII (1910), and a trip to Italy in 1909. The Larghetto takes us inside St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, where a solemn scene gives way to an impressive funeral march.
For the third movement, Elgar takes us outside St. Mark’s to the sun-baked Piazza San Marco. To teleport his audience to the 16th-century arcades, he copied out a rhythm from “some itinerant musicians
who seemed to take a grave satisfaction in the broken accents of the first four bars.” Once again, Elgar hints at past compositions, adding enigma to this personal flight of fancy.
The meaning of the inscription “Tintagel,” written on the last page of his manuscript, is not so concrete (to us). But the Strausslike opulence of the symphony suggests a woman. Here’s what we know: Elgar maintained an intimate relationship with a beautiful young pianist who served as his muse for several works, including the Violin Concerto. He gave her a pet name, “Windflower,” and maintained a correspondence with her for the rest of his life, including many letters with windflowers pressed into them. Her daughter, Clare, destroyed her mother’s letters to the composer.
Alice “Windflower” Stuart-Wortley and her husband liked to vacation in Cornwall, near the dramatic, seaside ruins of Tintagel Castle. Elgar and his wife, also named Alice, visited them there in April 1910 while he was working on the Second Symphony.
Edward Elgar conducted the premiere on May 24, 1911, with the following lines:
Dedicated to the memory of His late Majesty King Edward VII. This Symphony, designed early in 1910 to be a loyal tribute, bears its present dedication with the gracious approval of His Majesty the King.
By this time, Edward VII lay in his tomb, and the national mood looked toward the coronation of George V. The symphony’s lack of timeliness, coupled with the quietude of its final pages, couldn’t deliver the riotous ovations of the First Symphony, prompting a mixed reception.
Yet it’s said that Elgar had a very different perspective, describing the work as “the passionate pilgrimage of a soul.”
Markus Poschner
Music Director Designate
The Maurice Abravanel Chair, endowed by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Thierry Fischer Music Director Emeritus
David Robertson Creative Partner
Jessica Rivero Altarriba Assistant Conductor
Austin McWilliams
Chorus Director & Opera Assistant Conductor
The Sandefur Schmidt Chair
VIOLIN*
Madeline Adkins Concertmaster
The Jon M. & Karen Huntsman Chair, in honor of Wendell J. & Belva B. Ashton
Kathryn Eberle Associate Concertmaster
The Richard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway Chair
Laura Ha 2nd Associate Concertmaster
Claude Halter Principal Second
Evgenia Zharzhavskaya Acting Associate Principal Second
Karen Wyatt
Acting Assistant Principal Second
Sara Bauman~
Erin David
Emily Day-Shumway~
Joseph Evans
Wen Flatt
Lun Jiang
Rebekah Johnson
Tina Johnson~
Alison Kim
Amanda Kofoed~
Jennifer Kozbial Posadas~
David Langr
Hannah Linz
Yuki MacQueen
Alexander Martin
Rebecca Moench
Suni Norman~
Hugh Palmer
David Porter
Lynn Maxine Rosen#
Elina Rubio
Barbara Ann Scowcroft
Ju Hyung Shin
Bonnie Terry
Julie Wunderle
VIOLA*
Brant Bayless
Principal
The John C. Kish Chair
Yuan Qi
Associate Principal
Julie Edwards
Joel Gibbs
Carl Johansen
Scott Lewis
John Posadas
Leslie Richards~ Whittney Sjogren
CELLO*
Matthew Johnson
Acting Principal
The J. Ryan Selberg Memorial Chair
Andrew Larson
Acting Associate Principal
John Eckstein
Walter Haman
Anne Lee
Louis-Philippe Robillard
Kevin Shumway
Hannah Thomas-Hollands~
Pegsoon Whang
BASS*
David Yavornitzky Principal
Corbin Johnston**
Associate Principal
Andrew Keller
Edward Merritt
Masaru Podgorny~
James Stroup~
Jens Tenbroek
Thomas Zera
HARP
Louise Vickerman** Principal
FLUTE
Mercedes Smith
Principal
The Val A. Browning Chair
Lisa Byrnes
Associate Principal
Caitlyn Valovick Moore
PICCOLO
Caitlyn Valovick Moore
OBOE
Zachary Hammond Principal
The Gerald B. & Barbara F. Stringfellow Chair
James Hall
Associate Principal Lissa Stolz
ENGLISH HORN
Lissa Stolz
CLARINET
Tad Calcara Principal
Utah Symphony
The Norman C. & Barbara Lindquist Tanner Chair, in memory of Jean Lindquist Pell
Erin Svoboda-Scott Associate Principal
The Shane & Stacey Stowell Chair
Lee Livengood
BASS CLARINET
Lee Livengood
E-FLAT CLARINET
Erin Svoboda-Scott
BASSOON
Lori Wike
Principal
The Edward & Barbara Moreton Chair
Leon Chodos# Associate Principal
Jennifer Rhodes Acting Associate Principal Jaquain Sloan~
CONTRABASSOON
Leon Chodos# Jaquain Sloan~
HORN
Jessica Danz Principal
The Marcia JS Richards Chair
Edmund Rollett** Associate Principal
Lauren Robinson~ Acting Associate Principal
Jonathan Chiou
Julia Pilant~ Stephen Proser
TRUMPET
Travis Peterson** Principal
Alex Mayon~ Acting Principal
Jeff Luke
Associate Principal
Seretta Hart~ Paul Torrisi
TROMBONE
Mark Davidson
Principal
The Nathan & Shannon
Savage Chair
In Memory of Neal Savage
Sam Elliot
Associate Principal/Second Trombone
BASS TROMBONE
Graeme Mutchler
TUBA
Alexander Purdy Principal
TIMPANI
Micah Harrow~ Acting Principal
Eric Hopkins
Associate Principal
The Theodore & Elizabeth Schmidt Family Foundation Chair
PERCUSSION
Keith Carrick Principal
Eric Hopkins
Michael Pape
KEYBOARD
Jason Hardink Principal
LIBRARIANS
Clovis Lark Principal
Anna Thompson~ Acting Associate Principal Librarian
ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL
Ebner Sobalvarro Director of Orchestra Personnel
* String Seating Rotates
** On Leave
# Sabbatical
~ Substitute Member
Onstage Ogden
SYBARITE5
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026 / 7:30 PM
Equal parts passion, grit, and musical ecstasy, Sybarite5 is an intoxicating cocktail of genre-breaking artistry expressed through the virtuosity of violinists Simone Porter & Ariel Horowitz; violist Jessica Meyer; cellist Amanda Gookin; and double bassist Sam Suggs. It’s the first ensemble of its kind to win the prestigious Concert Artists Guild competition and the group is constantly evolving, defying categorization, and keeping audiences on their toes.
The group has performed in 44 states and counting, from the Library of Congress, (Washington DC) to Anchorage Concert Association, (Alaska) as well as concerts in Sybarite5’s home of New York City at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, Le Poisson Rouge, the Cell Theatre, and in late 2023, as part of Death of Classical’s “The Crypt Sessions” series. Sybarite5 has also appeared at festivals including Ravinia, Grand Teton, Aspen, Caramoor, Wolf Trap, Interlochen, Chautauqua and many others. International appearances include Canada’s Tuckamore Music Festival and ChamberFest Ottawa, the New Docta International Music Festival in Cordoba, Argentina, and the Osaka Festa in Osaka, Japan.
Dubbed “the millennial Kronos” (Theater Jones), Sybarite5 is chamber music’s most dynamic ensemble taking listeners on a musical journey of staggering breadth and depth with new works by living composers, such as Curtis Stewart, Paul Wiancko, Jessica Meyer, and Aleksandra Vrebalov, as well as the group’s favorite selections from Mahler, Radiohead, & Coltrane... but as Strings Magazine says “that doesn’t even begin to describe the range of their eclecticism or the depth of their repertoire. “
In October 2023 Sybarite5 released their latest studio recording Collective Wisdom which received global acclaim and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical
Charts. The ensemble’s discography includes four other critically-acclaimed recordings: Live from New York It’s Sybarite5 (2020); Outliers (2018); Everything in its Right Place (2012) and Disturb the Silence (2010).
INDIVIDUAL BIOS: SIMONE PORTER, violin
Violinist Simone Porter has been recognized as an emerging artist of impassioned energy, interpretive integrity, and vibrant communication. She has debuted with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle and Pittsburgh Symphonies and with a number of renowned conductors, including Stéphane Denève, Gustavo Dudamel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Nicholas McGegan, Ludovic Morlot, Donald Runnicles, David Robertson, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Manfred Honeck, Louis Langrée and David Danzmayr. Simone made her professional solo debut at age 10 with the Seattle Symphony and her international debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London at age 13. In March 2015, Simone was named a recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
ARIEL HOROWITZ, violin & composer
Hailed by The Washington Post as “Sweetly Lyrical,” violinist, composer/songwriter, and community organizer Ariel Horowitz cannot remember life before loving music.
In 2020, Ariel joined the Concert Artists Guild roster for North American management, and enjoys an active touring schedule as a soloist and as one-half of Vision
Artists’ Profile
Duo, an ensemble formed with fellow CAG artist Britton-René Collins in 2021. As a composer, songwriter, and avid improviser, Ariel’s original music centers themes of healing, community, and liberation. They have performed their compositions and songs around the world, including at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
JESSICA MEYER, viola & composer
With playing that is “fierce and lyrical” and works that are “other-worldly” (The Strad) and “evocative” (New York Times), Jessica Meyer is an award-winning composer and violist whose passionate musicianship radiates accessibility and emotional clarity. Meyer’s first composer/ performer portrait album, Ring Out (Bright Shiny Things, 2019) debuted at #1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical Chart. Her second album I long and seek after is a collection of her vocal works that was recently released in March of 2024 on New Focus Recordings and was hailed by Musical America as “gorgeously scored.”
AMANDA GOOKIN, cello & activist
Praised for her “expert technical work” (The Strad), cellist Amanda Gookin champions the future of music through bold performances, the creation of new works, and a deep commitment to education, cultural equity, and community engagement. Her initiative Forward Music Project, “a premier example of feminist advocacy done right” (I Care If You Listen), commissions new multimedia works for solo cello that elevate stories of feminine empowerment through raw performances and educational initia-
tives. Since its inception in 2015, FMP has commissioned 18 new works by such composers as Pamela Z, Paola Prestini, Jessie Montgomery, Angélica Negrón, Jessica Meyer, Allison Loggins-Hull, Kamala Sankaram, and Nathalie Joachim. She has been presented by The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), The Wallis (Los Angeles), National Sawdust (New York City), OK Electric (Tulsa, OK), Forbes Center (Harrisonburg, VA) Park Avenue Armory (New York City), and deDoelen (Rotterdam, NL). Her first solo album, Forward Music Project 1.0 was listed in The 25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2020 by the New York Times. Her 2021 sophomore solo album, FMP 2.0: in this skin, was praised as “cello playing at its height; delivering art” by the WholeNote.
SAM SUGGS, double bass & composer
Praised by The Strad for “brilliant and compelling programming,” Sam Suggs blends composition, improvisation, and re-composition into fluid performances that dissolve boundaries between genres. Centered on the expressive range of the double bass and his own voice, his work moves seamlessly between old and new sound worlds. He is the first solo bassist in 36 years to join Concert Artists Guild and received the 2017 Bradetich Foundation Award for Extraordinary Creativity. A prizewinner at the International Society of Bassists Competition, he has appeared at major festivals and venues including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, while maintaining an active career as a performer, collaborator, and educator.
Friends of Onstage Ogden
Onstage Ogden is grateful for the individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies who have made a charitable contribution in support of the performing arts in our community. Donors listed made their contributions between January 1, 2025, and March 15, 2026.
SPONSORS ($10,000+)
Lawrence T. Dee and Janet T. Dee Foundation
Marriner S. Eccles Foundation
The Franzen Family
Alan and Jeanne Hall
Robert & Marcia Harris
Richard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
PROTECTOR ($5,000–$9,999)
Better Being
George S and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation
Rosemary & Dave Lesser ●
PARTNER ($2,500–$4,999)
Bank of Utah
Marti M. Clayson ● CreativeWest
Alex Crowley ● ● ●
BENEFACTOR ($1,000–$2,499)
Diana Allison
Lisa Bailey ●
Danielle Bendinelli ●
Brian & Vicky Boyle
Geraldine and Evan Christensen
Dr. Rosemary Conover
Brent and Vicki Cox
Justin and Betsy Crowley ●
Dr. Val Johnson
Stewart Education Foundation
Norman C. & Barbara L. Tanner
Charitable Support Trust
Utah Division Of Arts and Museums
Weber County RAMP
Christina & Shaun Myers ●
Beaver Creek Foundation
Ogden City Arts
Daniel Neumann
Marty and Carolyn Rasmussen ●
Harry and Becky Senekjian
Glenn and Connie Wimer
Rick and Karen Fairbanks
Doug and Shelley Felt
Lucio Casillas and Cirilo
Franco ● ●
James & Nicole
Fredrick ● ● ●
Dr. Robert Fudge and
Sylvia Newman ●
William and Deborah Hackett
Pam and Rob Higginson ● ●
Catherine Holbrook
Clark ● ●
Beth A. Mannino & Paul E.
Schick
Willis McCree
MSL Family Foundation
Friends of Onstage Ogden
Dr. Judith Mitchell ●
Meg and Mark Naisbitt ●
Robert and Sally Neil
Ralph Nye Charitable Foundation
PATRON
($500–$999)
Joan Alf
Raymond and Betty Christian
David Olmsted and Barb Crosbie
Tim and Candace Dee
Allan & Kellie Diersman
Diana & Ralph Dunkley
Steven Ewert
Holly and Stephen Handy
ADVOCATE
($250–$499)
Tom and Carolyn Austad
Paul Bordelon
Jeffry and Linda Burton
Dr. Ann Ellis
Steve & Shellie Ericson
Scott and Deborah Greenwell ●
Becky & Kim Hale
DONOR ($100–$249)
Kathy & Craig Adams
Anonymous
Peggie Ambrey
Zana Anderson
Clyde Baker
Gracemarie Belvedere
Phil and Melanee Berger
John Binder
Jean Branch
Michelle Branson
Frank and Laurie Brown
Mr. Randy and Mrs. Laura
Browne
Yaeko Bryner
Arthur & Marian Budge
Brenley and Spencer Burton
Edwin Cannon
Scott and Pam Parkinson
Carolyn Rich-Denson
Jonathan and Beverly
Souder
Holly Tensmeyer
Jean A. Vaniman & Harry P. Schoen ●
Jennifer & Michael Webb ●
Kay Hoogland & James O’Brien
Marlin & Kathleen Jensen
Michelle and Grant Ley ●
Flor Lopez ●
Frank and Sharon Markos
Paul and Sandra Perkin
Laurie & Greg Rives
Wendy and Cary Roberts ●
Eileen & Steve Santella ●
Sandra S. Sowerby
Ned and Sheila Stephens
Joyce and Robert Stillwell
Deborah Uman and Michael Sander
Janice and Sheldon Ward
Korryn Wiese
Gabe and Desiree Johns
In Memory of Renee L. Ries
James & Deborah Lindstrom
Sandy and Phillip Maxwell
Madeline & Alex McDonald
Robert Miller
Dawn Rysavy
Kathy Sedgwick & Ron Tymcio
Keith and Marlys Sorbo
Dorothy & Dan Steimke
In Memory of Sherm Smith
Barbara West
Aloha Whitney
ShaRon Williams
Carl and Helgard Wolfram
Douglas & Karen Yonemura
Brad and Lynn Carroll
Allison Chouinard
Dr. Allen and Janis Christensen
LaDawn and Kent Coburn
Phillip I Coleman
Lynn and Natalie Dearden
Robert and Verlie Delange
Karla and Fred DuVal
David and Lisa Edwards
Lee Farster
James and Bonnie Fronk
Pat Fuller
Dixie Funk
David and Ruth Ann Gladwell
Dennis & Katherine Gladwell
Greg and Caitlin Gochnour
Cliff and Elizabeth Goff
Janice Grajek
Terry Hartman-Smith
The Hearn Family
Linda Hearn
Tina and Robert Herman
Anthony Hirst
Grover and Carol Hoopes
Carol Jackson
Matthew Janzen
Alisa Jenney
Earl Johnson
Russel R. and Jane T. King ●
Melba and Denis Kirby
Marilyn Konieczny
Paul Kriekard
Walter and Karen Kunz
William and Sarah Lindsay
Eugene and Pat Low
Lexie Lunt
Rand and Cynthia Mattson
Andy and Susan McCrady
James and Jennifer McGregor
Greg Montgomery
Inga Newton
Claude & Barbara Nix
Jean Norman
Ogden Chapter of MacDowell
Ensemble
Cheryl Orme
Dr. Michael & Cindy Palumbo
Donald Pantone
MEMBER ($50–99)
Olga Alvarado
Amy Alvord
Jerome Andersen
Marsha Ashby
Janet Asmus
Grant Baer
Daniel Bedford
Cathay Christiansen
Debra Davis
Kirk Dexter
Michael and Susan Deyoung
Friends of Onstage Ogden
Suzy Patterson
Jeff and Pam Paulson
Bobbie Ramer
Ralph Rowley
Rema Sadak
Shane & Pamela Schvaneveldt
Sempre Musical Society In
Memory of Helen Smith Rabe and Renee Warner
Mr. Henry Thomas Sledge
Denise Sly
Charlene Smith
Jonathan and Beverly Souder
Katrina Stoliker
Rocky Stone & Judith Faulkner
Edna Stratford
Paula Weick and Carl Stuart
Michael and Janiell Taylor
Kelsy Thompson
Nikki and Mike Thon ●
Janet & Bob Tillotson
Patti Van Aarle
Kelly and Shelly Van Noy
Linda Watson
Jolene Zito
Terrie Doman
Randy Emery
Don Guthrie & Rebecca Robley ●
Paul & Susan Gutierrez
Mary Hargis
Sarah Kunz
Anne Ladd
Diane Luke
Rex Miller
Alice Mulder & Dan Bedford
Brian & Marsha Namba
Isabel Naylor
Joe & Rosalita T. Orozco
Jerry Paskins
Peggy Plyer
JoAn Powell
Jonathan Shurts
Gabriella Strebel
Andrew and Suzanne Wall
Korte Wamsley
Amy Winkel
Please contact Onstage Ogden Development Coordinator, Sarah Bailey, at 801.612.0757 or sarah@onstageogden.org, if you would like to make a donation or if your name has inadvertently been left off or is misspelled.
BEVERLY LUND & GINNY MATTHEI LEGACY CIRCLE
75 years ago, Beverly Lund and Ginny Matthei organized a concert by the Utah Symphony at Ogden High School. They did so believing in the power of live performance to elevate and connect a community. Over the decades their vision has evolved into what it is today, Onstage Ogden. To honor their legacy this 75th season, Onstage Ogden established The Beverly Lund & Ginny Matthei Legacy Circle. Recognizing those individuals and families who have included Onstage Ogden as a beneficiary in their estate plan.
Steven & Shellie Ericson
Connie Huggins*
Nancy Pinto-Orton*
Kent & Joann Smith*
*indicates donors being recognized posthumously
Jean Vaniman & Harry Schoen
Glenn & Connie Wimer
If you would like to join the Beverly Lund & Ginny Matthei Legacy Circle or have already included Onstage Ogden in your will, estate plan, or beneficiary arrangement, please let us know by calling Sarah Bailey at 801-399-9214 or by emailing sarah@onstageogden.org. Visit onstageogden.org/give for more information.
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS
Onstage Ogden gratefully accepts donations made through a DAF account, or Donor Advised Funds. It’s a great way to accomplish your philanthropic goals and easily manage your charitable giving. Giving through a DAF – which is like a charitable savings account – gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to Onstage Ogden. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts.
You can also create a lasting legacy by naming Onstage Ogden the beneficiary of the entire account or a percentage of the fund. With a percentage, you can create a family legacy of giving by naming your loved ones as your successor to continue recommending grants to charitable organizations. Contact your fund administrator for a beneficiary form.
EMPLOYEE MATCHING
The following local companies are known to match their employees’ charitable donations
Amazon Autoliv North America Bank of America
Delta Air Lines
Harley Davidson Inc.
Kimberly Clark WorldWide Northrop Grumman
Parker-Hannifin Control Systems
Target The Home Depot
Rocky Mountain Power
Sam’s Club State Farm Insurance Union Pacific Walmart
If you or your partner’s company has a matching gift program, please consider matching your donation to double your support and impact. For questions, or to submit an employee matching form, please contact sarah@onstageogden.org.
MARLENE BARNETT MUSIC EXCELLENCE ENDOWMENT FUND
Our dear friend Marlene Barnett—fondly known as the Symphony Lady—has been an extraordinary partner to Onstage Ogden for many years. Please join us in supporting the Marlene Barnett Music Excellence Endowment Fund at Weber State University.
Through the Marlene Barnett Music Excellence Endowment, your generosity will provide scholarships that empower aspiring musicians to follow in her footsteps, enriching their lives and uplifting our shared cultural heritage–reaching students in the Ogden and Weber School Districts as well as at Weber State University. It is a testament to Marlene’s vision and to your commitment that these opportunities will resonate for years to come. Your gift today will help carry that vision and commitment forward. Use the QR code below to make your contribution to the endowment.
Thank you again for your generosity in supporting Ogden’s own Symphony Lady through the Marlene Barnett Music Excellence Endowment Fund. You play a vital role in this shared vision with us, to elevate and connect our community through the transformative power of music.
