In this issue of the Symphony’s newsletter, we speak with phenom pianist Joyce Yang about the celebrated David M. Hicks Piano Series. We also spotlight the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, musician Mark Knowles who has his last performance after 40 years with the Symphony and our very first Usher Scholarship recipients. We also have a behind-the-scenes look at the Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker and all the holiday fun in store this season!
Under the Spotlight
Joyce Yang Returns for the David M. Hicks Piano Series
Behind the Bows
Thank You Mark Knowles!
Above the Stage
Q&A With the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus
Along for Every Song
Meet Our First Usher Scholarship Recipients
Inside the Ballet
The Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker
Under the Spotlight
Joyce Yang Returns for the David M. Hicks Piano Series
It has been two years since President & CEO Steven B. Libman, Music Director Courtney Lewis and Vice President & Artistic Administrator Tony Nickle traveled to New York City, joined by award-winning pianist Natasha Paremski, to pick out the new David M. Hicks Steinway concert grand piano. The piano purchase was the first since Jacoby Symphony Hall opened in 1997, made possible by donor Ann Hicks, who also sponsors the David M. Hicks Piano Series.
The robust history of Steinway & Sons stretches back to 1853. With one factory in Hamburg, Germany, and another in Queens, New York, their pianos are among the most exquisite in the world. In an article about the exciting journey behind selecting the David M. Hicks Steinway, Lewis wrote, “their nine-foot Model D is the industry standard in classical music, powerful enough to soar above an orchestra without any amplification. Model Ds can be found in more than 90 percent of concert halls worldwide. Meticulously built by hand, each piano has a unique voice, and finding one that complements a particular hall can be tricky.”
After seeing firsthand how these breathtaking pianos are made and the masterful workmanship involved, then came the time for testing the instruments themselves. While they each shined with unique musical capabilities, there was one that stood out from the rest. “In the relatively small showroom, we could feel its resonant bass notes through our feet, its treble notes seemed to sing forever, and the middle range was powerful but also beautiful, with a special personality that intrigued us. It turned out this was the piano Natasha had chosen from the very start,” said Lewis.
And so, the Jacksonville Symphony’s centerpiece of the stage was chosen. Arriving to Jacoby Symphony Hall just a few weeks later, the piano settled into its new home just in time for the 2021/22 Season and the premiere of the David M. Hicks Mozart Piano Series. A world-class roster of soloists joined the Symphony for five programs featuring Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s greatest piano works, including Daniel Hsu, Alessio Bax, Conrad Tao, Jonathan Biss and Simone Dinnerstein.
The awe-inspiring display of talent on the piano continued in the 2022/23 Season with pieces from various, colossal composers. Alessio Bax opened the season with Johannes Brahms’ First Piano Concerto; Tianxu An brought his virtuosity to Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto; Natasha Paremski returned for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; and Conrad Tao concluded the season with the fiery finale of Sergei Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto.
This season of the David M. Hicks Piano Series promises more unforgettable moments with award-winning pianists Simone Dinnerstein, Joyce Yang and Conrad Tao joining the Symphony for three riveting masterpieces. In October, Dinnerstein left audiences dazzled when she performed Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto. Next up is returning pianist Joyce Yang who will be performing Samuel Barber’s lyrical and rich Piano Concerto on December 1 and 2.
Praised for her “poetic and sensitive pianism” (Washington Post) and a “wondrous sense of color” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Yang first came to international attention in 2005 when she won the silver medal at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The youngest contestant at 19 years old, she took home two additional awards: Best Performance of Chamber Music (with the Takàcs Quartet) and Best Performance of a New Work. In 2006, Yang made her celebrated New York Philharmonic debut alongside Lorin Maazel at Avery Fisher Hall. In the last decade, she has showcased her colorful musical personality in solo recitals and collaborations with the world’s top orchestras and chamber musicians through more than 1,000 debuts and re-engagements. She received the 2010 Avery Fisher Career Grant and earned her first GRAMMY® nomination, Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, for her recording of Franck, Kurtág, Previn & Schumann with violinist Augustin Hadelich. Yang also appears in the film In the Heart of Music, a documentary about the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She is a Steinway artist.
“I am so looking forward to returning to Jacksonville to play a great American piano concerto. The Barber Piano Concerto has all the drama, passion and lyricism of a great romantic piano concerto combined with mid 20th-century innovation. The outer movements are filled with grandeur and momentum. There are exciting soundscapes to be heard like a rollercoaster with jagged turns. The middle movement explores a poetic world through melancholic melody,” said Yang.
To experience the second performance in the David M. Hicks Piano Series and Yang’s exceptional talent, reserve your tickets today by visiting JaxSymphony.org.
Behind the Bows
Thank you Mark Knowles!
The Jacksonville Symphony pays a fond farewell to Mark Knowles, Fourth Horn, who has been a world-class member of the Symphony for over 40 years and is now retiring from his illustrious career. Knowles’ final performance will be on December 1 and 2 for the Tchaikovsky & Barber performances. Join us in saying thank you to Knowles for playing an integral part in the Symphony.Above the Stage
Q&A With the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus
Featuring some of the region's most talented vocalists, members of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus come from diverse backgrounds and all across the city to share a deep passion for performing choral music. The tradition of collaborating with the Jacksonville Symphony to create extraordinary music began in 1985, boasting a roster that included both professional musicians and highly skilled amateur artists. Four current members have been singing with the Chorus since it was first formed: Carole Vanderhoef Banks, Deborrah Hoag, Libby Montgomery and Billy Ware. Since 2012, the Chorus has been led by the distinguished choral director and composer, Donald McCullough.
In November 2014, the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus marked its 30th season with a memorable performance at Lincoln Center. Singers from the Chorus traveled to New York to form the core of a 120-member ensemble under the expert guidance of McCullough, presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY).
This all-volunteer ensemble has graced numerous, significant Symphony events. Notable performances include their rendition of Gustav Mahler's "Resurrection" Symphony for the 10th anniversary celebration of Jacoby Symphony Hall and their participation in the recording of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," which marked the Jacksonville Symphony's very first commercial recording. Additionally, the Chorus has been a prominent part of each of the Jacksonville Symphony's annual grand opera productions.
This December, the Chorus will shine under the spotlight in the Symphony's cherished holiday performances, which include Home Alone in Concert on November 17 and 18, Holiday Pops on December 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Handel's Messiah on December 16 and 17.
Chorus Manager Jill Weisblatt and members of the Chorus share their favorite aspects of these performances, offering a glimpse into the enchanting holiday season awaiting audiences at Jacoby Symphony Hall.
What makes the Symphony’s holiday performances so special and beloved in the Jacksonville community?
“I think music has an incredible ability to voice the overall spirit of the holiday season, becoming an integral element of that time of year. I believe coming to these performances is a way for audiences to tap into the joy, the love and the meaning of the season in their hearts. The great cultural impact of holiday music is a major driving force for music lovers” (Ian Bula, Tenor).
“Part of what makes the holiday season so special are the treasured traditions that we look forward to year after year. The holiday performances at the Symphony are one of those treasured traditions. Dressing up in holiday best, feeling the emotion in the music, hearing what is both familiar and new to us, it is an experience we can see, hear, touch and taste. Not many other experiences are so immersive and fulfilling” (Caitlin Regan, Alto).
“Many people see the holiday performances as the beginning of a season of celebrating and sharing. Joining with so many others in a festive atmosphere with live music and joy is a feeling that transcends us to an even stronger desire to go out and spread that feeling everywhere we go” (Kathy Hunt, Soprano).
How would you describe the unique experience of seeing Home Alone in Concert while the Symphony and Chorus perform the score live?
“This is my second time performing Home Alone in Concert as a chorus member with the Jacksonville Symphony, and I can't wait for this performance! Any music by John Williams is breathtaking but to listen to a live orchestra and chorus brings in a whole new experience. The movie is funny, the Chorus is engaging and the songs are memorable. It will be a night everyone remembers” (Amy Quinn, Soprano).
“There’s an element of nostalgia with the score John Williams composed for this film. Audiences can come and have an especially immersive experience through this performance in which the Chorus plays a major role inviting listeners back to that nostalgia” (Ian Bula, Tenor).
“Watching Home Alone is a family tradition in our house. My kids have watched it year after year, just like I did when it was first released! Seeing it with the power of a live symphony and chorus behind it brings a new dimension to the experience that you simply couldn't have at home or even in a movie theater” (Caitlin Regan, Alto).
How much choral practice goes into preparing for the holiday performances?
“The Chorus is a diverse group of volunteers who come from all over the area. There is nothing comparable to the commitment of a musician during the holidays. The Chorus will meet for 22 days from the week before Thanksgiving to December 17, preparing and performing Home Alone in Concert, Holiday Pops, Handel’s Messiah and a special holiday concert at an elementary school in MacClenny” (Jill Weisblatt, Soprano/Manager).
What makes Handel’s Messiah one of the most cherished and powerful works of all time, and how do you think it speaks to people?
“This piece speaks to me, not only for the story and the beautiful music but also because it was the very first piece I performed with the Chorus. It was the beginning of a childhood dream being fulfilled, so it has a special place in my heart. I think others also hear bits and pieces of the work throughout their lives, so the familiarity is comforting. It's also seen as the beginning of a season of celebration and sharing” (Kathy Hunt, Soprano).
“Messiah is a timeless work, allowing the thoughtful listener to appreciate the links between what is meaningful today and what was meaningful almost 300 years ago” (Grear Kimmel, Bass).
“Handel's Messiah speaks to each of us. It's a story of hope intertwined with passionate symphonic music. From the first-time observer to one who has heard this piece a thousand times, Handel's Messiah is timeless” (Amy Quinn, Soprano).
Are there any other upcoming performances that the Chorus is excited about?
“Carmen! The operas are so great. There are a lot of cities that aren't blessed with the opportunity to experience operas” (Tracy Davis, Soprano).
“I am truly looking forward to the January concert featuring Zadok the Priest and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's “Coronation Mass.” Majestic music! I also love performing Broadway Pops. It's so fun to sing a different genre of music” (Jane Taeger, Soprano).
“In addition to performing in Jacoby Symphony Hall each holiday season, several members of the Chorus volunteer extra time to come to the elementary school where I teach to share holiday spirit with our students. Not only do the students hear fun music, but they are also able to experience a concert atmosphere and see that people from all walks of life can come together to create something bigger than ourselves” (Kathy Hunt, Soprano).
What else would you like our audiences to know about the Chorus and the upcoming holiday performances?
“I would like audiences to know there's so much to love and appreciate from this music that both the Symphony and the Chorus are arduously working to bring to life throughout the season. Also, that tenors are welcome” (Ian Bula, Tenor).
“Those of us in the Symphony Chorus are all auditioned volunteers who love to sing and spend well over 100 hours in rehearsals and performances each season in addition to time on our own learning and perfecting this music. In fact, many of us feel unfulfilled without the opportunity to perform these masterworks with a chorus of this quality. One of the instrumental factors in my decision to relocate to the Jacksonville area was the potential to sing in the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus someday” (Sheri Van Orden, Alto).
“The Chorus, under the direction of Don McCullough, brings the holiday season to life! We love the pieces we sing, and it shows. So many performances, so many hours of practice, and we do it as volunteers because music is the universal language that brings our city together. If we can impact one life through the gift of choral music, the time and effort was well spent” (Amy Quinn, Soprano).
Along for Every Song
Meet Our First Usher Scholarship Recipients
The Jacksonville Symphony is proud to announce that five students have been awarded its first-ever Usher Scholarship opportunity. Chosen for their exceptional dedication to music and community engagement, these students will be seen volunteering at a variety of Jacksonville Symphony performances and events as part of our dedicated team of ushers. Join us in congratulating these stellar ushers!
Helen Zhang is an avid volunteer in the community and has previously dedicated much of her time to the Jacksonville Symphony, Brooks Rehabilitation, Ascension St. Vincent’s, Beach Clean-Up, World Changes and more! She also plays the piano, flute and violin and was a member of the JSYO last season.
Avery Grossman has been taking piano lessons at the Jacksonville School of Music for over 11 years and has frequently attended performances at the Jacksonville Symphony in her youth as a patron and a volunteer usher. She hopes to study Creative Writing or English in college and enter the publishing business.
Shayaan Nesargi is a junior in high school who is passionately invested in his education. He has been ushering with the Jacksonville Symphony since his freshman year and also plays four instruments: guitar, piano, drums and trumpet.
Ian Rivera-Rosario currently plays for the Jacksonville University Symphony Orchestra and has performed in the Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival, the Jacksonville University Chamber Intensive and at Carnegie Hall with the J.U. Choir alongside C4 and Osceola County School for the Arts.
Richard Wilson is a student at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and began ushering at the Jacksonville Symphony last season. He plays the oboe and English Horn and will soon participate in the National Endowment for the Arts’ YoungArts Classical Music program.
Inside the Ballet
The Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker
The Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker, a cherished and much-anticipated festive tradition in Jacksonville, is making a triumphant return to the Moran Theater stage on December 15, 16 and 17. Proudly sponsored by VyStar Credit Union, this year's performance will dazzle audiences with new sets, costumes and choreography. It continues to impact numerous lives by fostering both education and the magic of the performing arts.
Last season marked a significant milestone for the Jacksonville Symphony with the 50th anniversary of this beloved production. The event had record-high attendance, drawing in 13,189 patrons and students. The Nutcracker has also broadened its accessibility, offering over 5,000 students the chance to attend special performances at reduced prices.
This mission remains as vibrant today as ever with more than 130 young community dance students sharing the stage with professional dancers. The Jacksonville Symphony is also a trailblazer, being the only major orchestra in the country to produce a fully staged professional “Nutcracker.”
There are several alumni who have performed in the First Coast Nutcracker as young students, have gone on to professional careers and have returned to perform with the Jacksonville Symphony. Amanda Gerhardt, Lead Snow and Dewdrop, attended numerous summer intensives with the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The School of American Ballet and later joined Carolina Ballet for multiple professional productions. Jennifer Essick, who plays the Arabian, held a dance and flying position on the Vision of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Her counterpart Arabian James Boyd was a guest artist for the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance and was recently in the semifinals on America’s Got Talent with the Bad Boys of Ballet.
Costume Designer and Executive Director of the First Coast Nutcracker, Linda Holmes, along with other directors, conduct auditions to cast the diverse roles in The Nutcracker and start preparations for the production starting in August. Once the cast is chosen, students engage in weekly rehearsals under the guidance of Choreographer and Artistic Director Rhonda Stampalia, along with her assistants, to master the choreography and refine their dance skills.
In this season's performance, audiences will be treated to a fresh stage design crafted by Set Designer and Stage Manager Johnny Pettegrew. This new set vividly portrays a candy-filled landscape during Act II's enchanting "Land of Sweets" scene.
Pettegrew first became involved in theatre production work in 1972 and has worked with the Continental Theatre Company, Pittsburgh Public Theatre and several other esteemed organizations. He has taught at Salisbury State College, Idaho State University, Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), where he developed a training program in Technical Theatre, an Associate in Science degree in Entertainment Technology. Pettegrew spent 28 years instructing at FSCJ, and he supervised the construction of the new Theatre Building at the Wilson Center for the Arts at FSCJ, South Campus. He got involved with the First Coast Nutcracker as a stagehand working the show in 1990. In 1993, Keith Klemmt turned over the stage management responsibilities to Pettegrew, and it has been an annual tradition for him ever since.
Pettegrew recalls the difference from the early sets built in 1996 versus those that will be seen in the 2023 production. “The difference between the 1996 ‘Land of Sweets’ and the 2023 ‘Sweets’ is very dramatic, and I can’t wait to see it completed on stage. The big, dramatic change is that the ’96 version was just four portals and a very simple design of columns with some ribbon candy and a single strawberry cluster in the center to signify ‘Sweets.’ The new design has much more detail, and a full array of ‘Sweet Treats’ upstage to give us a much more visually appealing representation of what the design should be. Additionally, we are including storage carts to help maintain all of this for many, many years beyond my being able to carry on with Nutcracker,” said Pettegrew.
In Act II's "Land of Sweets" scene, audiences can also expect to see new choreography and costumes for the “Chinese Tea” sequence.
To reserve tickets to the First Coast Nutcracker, visit JaxSymphony.org or call 904.354.5547.