April 2012

From The PresidentSamuel L. Kershaw

During the first month or so of each fiscal year, the newsletter editor establishes the deadline for articles to be available for publication. As each deadline approaches, the questions become, “What do I write about this time? What is of interest to guild members? What information should the president give to the guild?” This is my last newsletter article. After four years serving as guild president, my tenure ends June 30, 2014.

As with most activities in life, there are mixed emotions. It has been my privilege to work with so many dedicated, talented people both on the board of directors and outside the guild. Not much could have been accomplished without the dedicated teamwork that has occurred. So, I thank all the board members who have served over the past four years. Their hard work, experience, and talents have been greatly appreciated! But it is time to move on to new leadership, new thoughts, new ideas.

I believe the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur has in the past and continues now to fulfill its mission statement. A few years ago education was added to the

mission statement to provide more emphasis to that very important area of work. Youth music education is a must if symphonic music is to survive in the future.

Financially, the guild is in a very strong position which enables it to accomplish its mission. The strong financial position is the result of past and present board decisions

and the dedicated support of guild members over the past 40 years. Forty years is an important number to remember. Yes, hard as it is to

believe, but the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur was formed 40 years ago. And we are going to celebrate the event at the annual meeting on Friday evening, May 9. You will be receiving a formal invitation very soon. Plan to come to this historic event for food, music and just a little bit of necessary business!

Samuel Kershaw, PresidentSymphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur

2013-2014Board of DirectorsLinda Arends, Immediate Past-PresidentSam Kershaw, PresidentShirley Swarthout, President-ElectMary Anne Behnke, VP Funds DevelopmentMarilyn Mertz, VP EducationPaul Rosenberger, VP Guild DevelopmentKay Villarreal, VP Audience DevelopmentRuth Cortright, SecretaryMary Gendry, Asst. SecretaryJohn Benda, TreasurerCarol Sudduth, Asst. TreasurerJon French, AuditorMichael Luxner, Orchestra ConductorNatalie BeckKarin BetzerRamona BordersKathy BrownKathy CrouchMaya FombelleDee KellerAaron LargentDon MartinThelma MartinLarry WadeBetty WatkinsBetty Wheatley

May 9 Annual MeetingMarks Guild’s 40 Years

The Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur will celebrate its 40 years of supporting symphonic music at the 2014 annual meeting, set for May 9 at the Decatur Club.

All guild members are invited. The committee has made plans to make this year’s annual meeting extra special, complete with musical entertainment before and after the meeting.

Date: Friday, May 9

Location: Decatur Club

5:15 p.m. – social, with entertainment by Millikin woodwind ensemble

6 p.m. – dinner, followed by brief business meeting and entertainment by the Garni Trio

Cost: $20 per person

Reservations: Decatur Area ArtsCouncil,125 N. Water St.,Decatur, (217) 423-3189

P.O. Box 1541

Decatur,

Illinois

62525

217.423.3189

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDDecatur, IL

Permit No. 168

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

April 20142013-2014 Season, Issue 4

Mark Your Calendars for Next Season’s Performances

Sept. 1, 2014 – Labor Day Pops concert, Nelson Park

Sept. 27, 2014 – MDSO Opening Night, with soloist Tai Murray, violin Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia Sibelius Violin Concerto Franck Symphony in D Minor

Oct. 25, 2014 – MDSO Fall Concert, with soloist Silvan Negrutiu, piano Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat (“Emperor”) Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (“From the New World”)

Nov. 14, 15, 16, 2014 – Musical Theater – Peter Pan

Jan. 31, 2015 – MDSO Young Artists Concert Enescu Romanian Rhapsody No. 1

Concertos/Arias TBA

Feb. 28, 2015 – MDSO Concert with soloist Gabriel Cabezas, cello Mussorgsky “Dawn on the Moskva River” from Khovantchina Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 Fauré Pavane (with chorus) Debussy La Mer

April 18, 2015 – MDSO Spring Concert, with soloists William Gorton, tenor, and Randall Reyman, trumpet

Popular Italian arias and Neapolitan songs Pops trumpet arrangements from the American Songbook

“Now What?”

Once upon a time, if you were a patron of your local symphony orchestra, you could mark the dates of your season tickets into the calendar and know pretty much what to expect when a concert comes around: a snappy overture, some evergreen repertoire, maybe a featured soloist, and possibly a little something new and different (with emphasis on the “little”).

Not anymore, or at least not here in Decatur! At an MDSO event, just about anything can happen. Instead of heading off to the symphony expecting the tried and true, you might well find yourself asking, “Now what?”

It’s a good question, because a typical MDSO season is always full of surprises. We pride ourselves on stylistic flexibility, and engage with just about every type of musical experience and audience that you can imagine. And that’s especially true this spring. There are four more performances this year, two of them subscription events, yet none is a typical concert in a standard format, and each is in a different location.

First up is the musical, Legally Blonde, based on the delightful Reese Witherspoon film.

If you follow the Millikin Department of Theater and Dance, you know that this is exactly the kind of show that the young performers love

to do, and do very well. Their talent, energy, and charisma make it so entertaining that you take the

skill and artistry for granted. And the emphasis is again on youth the very next weekend, when we present the

third annual Family Concert at the Decatur Civic Center on Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m. Designed for families with children of elementary school age, this year’s concert will be fun for absolutely everyone, comprising the “orchestra’s greatest hits.” In just one hour, we’ll play 11 of the most popular and recognizable pieces that the symphony has to offer, from Hoe-Down and Trepak to the Can-Can and the William Tell Overture. And it’s free, including the parking!

Also free is the annual Lullaby Concert at the Decatur Public Library on Wednesday April 23 at 6:45 p.m., played by the MDSO’s student string ensemble. This one is really more about the audience than the music, as we collaborate with BabyTalk on a program for families with pre-school children, getting those young brains well-wired right from the start.

And then we complete the season on May 3 at the Avon Theater, with a live screening of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece, City Lights. If you were there for The Gold Rush in 2010, you’ll remember the incomparable thrill of combining cinematic genius with live orchestral music, and won’t want to miss this. But remember, all seats are unreserved (even your season ticket seat), so come early and grab some popcorn.

See you at the symphony!

Michael Luxner,Music Director and Conductor

Spring Concert Dates

The calendar says April, but this year’s concert season is far from over! You won’t want to miss these remaining concerts: April 4, 5, 6* – Musical Theater, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday – Legally Blonde

April 12 – MDSO Family Concert, Decatur Civic Center Auditorium, 2 p.m., free. Instrument “petting zoo” before concert, 1 p.m.

April 13 – Decatur Youth Symphony Orchestra and Junior Orchestra Concert, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, 2 p.m., free

April 23 – Lullaby Concert, Decatur Public Library, 6:45 p.m., free

May 3* – Silent Film with live music by MDSO, Avon Theater, 7:30 p.m., Chaplin’s City Lights

* Concert included in season ticket subscription. Single tickets available at Kirkland Box Office, (217) 424-6318

From The Podium

Instrument Petting Zoo, 1 p.m.Family Concert, 2 p.m.Saturday, April 12Decatur Civic Center Free Concert; Free Parking

To promote and support

symp honicmusic ,to encourage

educationalopportunities

that include all segments of our population,

and to provide an ever-increasing level of

artistry and audience appreciation.

O U R M I S S I O N :

Decatur area families are in for a treat the second Saturday in April, when the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Chamber Orchestra presents a free concert at the Decatur Civic Center. The concert will showcase some of classical music’s most popular pieces – many of which are familiar as background music from cartoons, TV shows and ads!

School-age children are invited to come at 1 p.m. for an instrument “petting zoo” – a hands-on opportunity to hold and play various orchestra instruments, under the guidance of Millikin music students.

The family concert is geared for families with children of elementary-school age, but will be enjoyed by all.

Guild Awards Scholarships for Private Lessons, Music CampsFollowing annual auditions the weekend of March 21-22, the symphony guild has awarded

17 scholarships for private music lessons and summer music camps. Jeannie Rade and Karen Neece served as audition judges for piano students; Gary Shaw and Dennis Streight were audition judges for band and string instruments.

Each year the guild awards scholarships of up to $600 for private lessons with a member of the Millikin music faculty, and scholarships of up to $500 each for summer music camp tuition. In addition to scholarships provided by the guild, the annual auditions also award scholarships given in honor or in memory of individuals who believed in the power of music in the lives of youth. This year’s winners are:

Guild First-Year Private Lesson Winners Ife Adeoye, trumpet, grade 10, MacArthur H.S.Matthew Clayton, violin, grade 5, Garfield Montessori SchoolBrooklyn Dillow, violin, grade 8, Mt. Zion Middle SchoolThomas Karunas, trumpet, grade 6, Johns Hill Magnet SchoolCoy Simmons, alto/tenor sax, grade 7, Argenta-Oreana School

Bob Jones Memorial Private Lesson WinnersJustin Dong, violin, grade 6, Muffley SchoolSarah Fink, violin, grade 7, Dennis SchoolMadelyn Kelm, clarinet, grade 5, Garfield Montessori School

Private Lesson Alternate: Luc Longcor, violin, grade 5, Johns Hill School

Marilyn Mertz Piano Scholarship WinnerGrace Brewster, piano, grade 8, Glendale Academy

Margaret Fassnacht Memorial Piano Scholarship WinnerPeggy Miller, piano, grade 11, home schooled

Guild Summer Music Camp WinnersCrimson Ball, marimba, grade 9, Mt. Zion H.S.Ireland Klaman, violin, grade 5, Garfield Montessori SchoolSavannah Shaffer, violin, grade 8, Johns Hill Magnet SchoolMarie Shaffer, percussion, grade 6, Johns Hill Magnet SchoolNick Tipsword, French horn, grade 10, Okaw Valley H.S.

David Behnke Memorial Camp Scholarship WinnerJosanee White, violin, grade 9, Faith Christian Home School

Dean and Dottie Butts Memorial Camp Scholarship WinnerAngelina Ariazi, flute, grade 8, Central A&M School

Camp Alternate: Stefan Woods, bassoon, grade 11, Mt. Zion H.S.

Pettiing Zoo, Family Concert Come to Civic Center April 12

A typical MDSO season is full of surprises.