As the first notes of Huanzhi Li’s Spring Festival Overture ring out, the audience is transported to the lively and celebratory spirit of the Lunar New Year. Composed in 1955–1956, this overture is infused with folk melodies from China’s Shanbei region, blending traditional Chinese sounds with Western orchestration. The energetic and jubilant themes evoke images of firecrackers, lanterns, and joyful gatherings, setting an auspicious tone for the evening.

The celebration continues with Ali Mountain Evergreen, arranged by Yuan-kai Bao. This beloved Taiwanese melody pays homage to the indigenous legend of Ali Mountain, a place of natural beauty and cultural significance. The music, bright and lyrical, captures the resilience and harmony of the indigenous people, symbolizing enduring love and the magnificence of nature.

From Taiwan, we move to Vietnam with Bèo dạt mây trôi, a traditional folk song arranged by Ngo Hoang Quan. This poignant melody speaks of longing and separation, with lyrics imploring the wind and clouds to carry messages of love across vast distances.

The first half concludes with one of China’s most beloved musical narratives, Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao. This masterpiece, composed in 1959, adapts the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai—often called the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. The solo violin soars with expressive melodies, symbolizing Zhu Yingtai’s voice, while the orchestra provides a lush and dramatic backdrop. The concerto’s fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions, including the use of a pentatonic scale and Yue Opera influences, creates an evocative and deeply moving experience, culminating in the lovers’ transformation into butterflies, a poignant symbol of eternal love.

Following the intermission, we turn to Western depictions of love and tragedy, beginning with Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture: Romeo and Juliet. First composed in 1869 and revised in 1880, this symphonic work captures the essence of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy. The piece opens with a solemn chorale representing Friar Laurence, followed by turbulent passages depicting the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. The famous love theme emerges, a sweeping and passionate melody symbolizing the doomed romance of Romeo and Juliet. The music builds to moments of dramatic intensity before resolving into a mournful yet transcendent conclusion, reflecting the lovers’ fate.

The evening concludes with Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, an orchestral suite extracted from his groundbreaking 1957 musical. Fusing classical techniques with jazz, Latin rhythms, and American musical theater elements, Bernstein reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy in the streets of New York City. The suite captures the vibrancy and tension of the rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, while also presenting the tender love story between Tony and Maria. From the energetic Mambo to the haunting strains of Somewhere, Bernstein’s music conveys the full emotional spectrum of love, hope, and loss.

Through the journey from ancient legends of Asia to Shakespearean romance and modern American storytelling, Harmony of Love invites the audience to experience love in its many forms—joyful, passionate, and heartbreaking.

Praised for her dynamic, passionate conducting style, Taiwanese American conductor Mei-Ann Chen is acclaimed for infusing orchestras with enthusiasm and high-level music-making, galvanizing audiences and communities alike. Newly named Artistic Advisor for Springfield Symphony Orchestra beginning fall 2024, since 2011 she has served as Music Director of the MacArthur Award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta; her contract has been extended through the end of the 2028-2029 season. Chen has been Chief Conductor of Austria’s Recreation – Grosses Orchester Graz at Styriarte since fall 2021 following two seasons as the orchestra’s first-ever Principal Guest Conductor, making her the first female Asian conductor to hold this position with an Austrian orchestra. She has served as the first-ever Artistic Partner of Houston’s ROCO since 2019, and since 2022, as an Artistic Partner with Northwest Sinfonietta (WA).

Highly regarded as a compelling communicator and an innovative leader both on and off the podium she has appeared with distinguished orchestras throughout the Americas, Europe, Taiwan, The United Kingdom, and Scandinavia, and continues to expand her relationships with orchestras worldwide (over 150 orchestras to date). Honors include being named one of the 2015 Top 30 Influencers by Musical America; the 2012 Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras; the 2007 Taki Concordia Fellowship founded by Marin Alsop; and 2005 First Prize Winner of the Malko Competition (she remains as the only woman in the competition history since 1965 to have won First Prize), and ASCAP awards for innovative programming.

Emma Carvalho is a 15-year-old polymath and is resolutely focused on achieving the lofty goals that she sets out. To this end she has a practice streak of 7 years on her violin and is determined to practice purposefully every single day without fail.  At age 4, Emma started her violin studies at the Danish Suzuki Institute in Denmark, and since moving back to the US she has been a student at The Gifted Music School in Salt Lake City, and The Hartt School of Music in West Hartford.  She is currently a student of Sarah Briggs.  Emma also plays chamber music and she is the assistant concertmaster with the SSYO.

Additionally, she has achieved excellence in her academics as she has attained an honors average in the university courses that she has completed in math, biology, and english. Emma is also a great athlete across many different sports and is a certified ski and Taekwondo instructor. She is an inspirational role model for her brothers and she is always full of joy and laughter.

First Violin
Masako Yanagita, Concertmaster (Physicians’ Fund Chair)
Marsha Harbison, Assistant Concertmaster (Raymond E. & Mildred G. Clark Chair)
Robert Lawrence
Martha McAdams
Romina Kostare (Massachusetts Fire Technologies, Inc. Chair)
Ira Morris
Kathy Andrew
Mitsuko Suzuki
Miho Matsuno
Jennifer Hillaker
Yuko Naito-Gotay

Second Violin
Beth Welty, Assistant Principal
Julie Marden
Lori Everson
Amy Sims
Joyce Ryu
Jean Gress
Anne-Marie Chubet
Krzysztof Gadawski
Ani Gregorian Resnick
Lu Sun Friedman
Viktoria Tchertchian

Viola
Ronald Gorevic, Principal
Delores Thayer, Assistant Principal
Carol Hutter
James Gustafson
Elizabeth Rose
Dani Rimoni

Cello
Emily Taubl, Principal
Aron Zelkowicz, Assistant Principal
Richard Mickey
Karen Wilson
Joel Wolfe
Boris Kogan
Yoonhee Ko

Bass
Salvatore Macchia, Principal
Alexander Svensen, Assistant Principal
Joel Meginsky
Michael Gorajec
Julianne Russell

Flute
Ann Bobo, Principal
Ellen Redman

Piccolo
Ellen Redman

Oboe
Nancy Dimock, Principal
Karen Hosmer (Grace A. Kellogg Chair)
Grace Shryock

English Horn
Grace Shryock

Clarinet
Christopher Cullen, Principal
Lynn Sussman
John Friedrichs

Bass Clarinet
John Friedrichs

Saxophone
Lynn Klock, Principal

Bassoon
Yeh-Chi Wang, Principal
Shotaro Mori
Leo Kenen

Contrabassoon
Leo Kenen

Horn
Lauren Winter, Principal
Robert Hoyle
Sarah Sutherland
Matthew Muehl-Miller

Trumpet
Thomas Bergeron, Principal
Gerald Serfass
Dana Russian

Trombone
Brian Diehl, Principal
Paul Bellino
Glenn Mayer

Timpani
Martin Kluger, Principal

Percussion
Nathan Lassell, Principal
Robert McEwan

Co-Librarian
Jean Gress
Rocío Mora

Production Manager
Gregory Jones

Personnel Manager
Renato Wendel

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra would like to thank the following supporters for their generosity. These contributions not only bring people together to enjoy the power of music but also help us share this vibrant tapestry with the community. To update your name below or to learn more about investing in the future of music by contributing, contact Kati Hensel at khensel@springfieldsymphony.org or (413) 733-0636 x4.

FRIEND
$50 – $124
Anne M. & Ralph F. Abbott, Jr.
Carla Alves
Peter & Kathleen Andrew
Mark G. Auerbach
Samantha Bakker-Norton
Steve Balcanoff
Ruth R. Barney
Eric & Judy Bascom
Cynthia Beauregard
David & Iris Berkman
Kathleen Black
Francis & Mary Bogdanowicz
John & Nancy Brady
Lin Bredenfoerder
Dennis R. Bromery & Dr. Linda L. Marston
David P. & Carol Ann Brown
Kenneth Buck
Janet Burdewik
Joan & Robert Butler
Myrna B. Butler
James M. Cameron & Frances A. Cameron
Margaret F. Canning
Ann M. Carey
Bruce A. Chartier
Dennis Coffey & John Thomas
Lauren Cohen
Judi Crowell
Christopher S. Daly
Al & Ann DeMaio
The Reverend Michael F. DeVine & Mariana Bauman
James Dorschner
Judy & Bob Dowd
Jay R. Ducharme
Marjorie Dunehew
Seth Dunn
John & Janet Egelhofer
Therese & Peter Eiff
Eldercare Initiatives, Inc. Board of Directors
Helen Engeseth
Diane Fisher
Richard & Ellen Freyman
Helen K. Gallivan
S. J. Gamble
Elizabeth Gardner
Barbara Garvey
Wayne D. & Marilyn T. Gass
Galina Gertsenzon
Charles & Brenda Gibson
Jayne Gill
Jeanette W. Gilmartin
Betty A. Green
Dr. & Mrs. Vincent Guardione
Kristina Guerin
Roger & Dorothy Haley
Lois M. Hall
Richard S. Hart
Marsha S. Hassett
E. Virginia Hebert
Toni Hendrix
Gail Holt
Barbara Hughes & Alan Cohen
John Hurley
Nicole Illouz
Ted & Judy Ingis
Paula & Barry Izenstein
Bill Johnson
Elizabeth G. Johnson
David C. Jones & Jean E. Aldrich-Jones
The Kalmakis Family
Erik & Diane Kjeldsen
Martha Klein
Martin & Miriam Kluger
Elaine Korhonen
Richard Kowalski
Catherine W. Labine
Jane Landon
Peter & Peg Landon
Juan F. LaTorre, III
Ronald & Eileen Levine
Stephen & Joan Levine Family Fund
William Levine
Farnsworth Lobenstine
Cecilia Lopez
William J. Macanka
Bill & Fidele Malloy
Zach McGaugh
Margaret McLennan
Angelika I. Melien & David Giza
M. Elva Merry
Dr. Charlotte Miller
David H. & Arlene C. Miller
Martin & Brenda Miller
Susan Miller-Coulter
Tom & Elaine Mitchell
Stephen Moore
Michael Moran
Ira Morris & Pam Reit
Leo Morrissey
Grant Moss
James & Elke Mueller
Ronald & Ronnie Nadel
Sarah Nolan
Sandra J. Noonan
Marilyn T. O’Connor
Debra Olsen
Gerald L. Paist
Robin Parsons
Celia Pastoriza
Lawrence D. Picard
John & Emily Pietras
The Pledgeling Foundation
Harriet Pollatsek
E. Pomeroy & D. Brousseau
Fran Prescott
Jane & Leonard Provost
Drs. Kyle & Marsha Pruett
Sundar Radhakrishnan
Paul & Sharon Raverta
Robert & Karen Ravosa
Harold & Sally Ann Resnic
Virginia Rittner
Michael J. Ritzen
Bea Robinson
The Rev. Cristine and Mr. Bruce Rockwell
Eric H. Roth & E. Anne Werry
Thomas & Margot Rowland
Richard & Susan Roznoy
Patrick & Karen Sabbs
David G. Sacks
Steven & Anne Samuels
Lawrence & Susan Sanchez
Ute Schmidt
Mary Scott
Christine Shaw
Sheffield Family Fund
J.M. Sorrell
Sheri Spunt
Shirley G. Steiner
Thaddeus & Judith Strzempko
James F. Sullivan
Ken & Kitty Talan
Yeshvant & Jean Talati
David Taupier
Elaine & James Tourtelotte Charitable Fund
Robert & Patricia Triggs
Pam Tuohey
Peter Van Pelt
Elizabeth & David Varner
Miss Guimar Varzeas
Michael & Dawn Vitale
Edward Walsh
Paul & Beth Washburn
Dudley & Judith Williams
Four Donors Wish To Remain Anonymous

PATRON
$125 – $249
Steven J. & Carolyn L. Adair
William B. Bofenkamp
Craig & Christopher Carr
Walter Carroll
Melvin & Elizabeth Chafetz
Pamela Coe
Cheryl Collins
Rick Cousineau
Sherry Dickerman
Glenn Fagen
Joseph & Marie Flahive
Sheila R. Goggin & Tim Sheehan
Lawrence & Barbara Gwozdz
Patricia Hallberg
Carole & Michael Hirshberg
Whiting & Helene Houston
Dusty & Mary Lou Hoyt
Barbara Hughes
Christopher & Erika LaChance
Susan B. Lantz
Rev. Dr. Robert Loesch
Dr. Nathan Macedo & Mr. Lee Pouliot
Jeffrey H. & Sharon A. Mandell
Nita Walter McAdams
Robert S. McCarroll
John M. Meiklejohn
Aaron Mendelson & Annette Lerner
James S. Meyer
Gay Miltenberger
Benjamin Murphy & Brian Connors
Sarah A. Murray
Daniel & Carol Parrish
Tom & Barbara Pilarcik
Larry & Jean Rankin
Wallis & Cornelia Reid
David Schneider & Klara Moricz Fund
Margaret & Martin Schoenemann
Arthur & Amy Sher
Roger & Maria Williams
Nancy & John Wilson
Mr. Michael D. Wiseman & Mr. Thomas J. Kubik
Two Donors Wish To Remain Anonymous

ENSEMBLE
$250 – $499
Robert Abel & Daniel Sheehy
Manny Alcantara & Albert Agomaa
Drs. Stuart & Michelle Anfang
Ron & Carol Berger
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Bosworth
Heather Caisse-Roberts
Colleen Cekovsky
John & Pam Chandler
Nanling Chen
Yek Cheng
Robert Cherdack
Lisa Cousineau
Donald & Lisa Crouser
Steven & Amy Dane
The Doherty Deliso Family Giving Fund
Gary & Judy DeLong
Candy & Dr. Stanley Glazer
Douglas & Mary Guyett
Loy H. & Colleen C. Harris
Mary Anne Herron
Ken & Carl Kinsley
Romina Kostare
David & Klara Moricz Fund
Terry & Poppy Nelson
Pliny Norcross
James & Roberta Orenstein
The Richard J. Perry Jr. Charitable Gift Account
Linda Cardillo Platzer & Stephan Platzer
Audrey H. Rich
Dean & Mary Rogeness
David & Elsa Rosenak
Heather Sankey
Bill Schoenborn
Russell Seelig
Peter & Abigail Thomsen
Peter Weston
David F. Woods
Three Donors Wish To Remain Anonymous

CRESCENDO
$500 – $1,249
Louis & Mary Adler
George Arwady
Vera S. Baker
Nancy Bandman & William Ennen
Robert & Dawn Barkman
Michelle Bergeron-Palmer
James Birchall
Sheila Bolduc
Susan C. Brown
Barbara Burati
Cynthia & Robert Campbell
Canavan-Gosselin Community Fund
CW Carter Fund
Mei-Ann Chen
Thomas & Nancy F. Creed
Stewart E. Creelman
Elizabeth & Charles D’Amour Family Fund
Mr. & Mrs. John H. Davis
John D. DeWeese
Dianne & Paul Doherty & Family
Bill Dornbusch
George Drake & Roberta Lombardi
Barbara Elkins
Mr. & Mrs. Alan R. Fridkin
Mark S. Fuller
Ken & Karen Furst
Stephen & Daphne Hall
John & Gloria Hazen
Marguerite E. Horn
Frances Gengle Keenan
Chris & Tina Kingston
Gale & Robert Kirkwood
Rosanna LaBonte
Paul & Cynthia Lambert
Therese LaPierre
Eva Lohrer
Thomas & Marjorie Magill
Charles & Shirley Mannheim
Margaret & Paul Mantoni
Christopher & Susan Mastroianni Foundation
Sarah K. Mitchell
Alan B. Munro. M.D.
Mark & Judith Pohlman
Rodolfo Parra
Evan Plotkin
Lois N. Prescott
The Luce & James Reiss Charitable Fund
Sue Riley
Erik & Joanna Rosenthal
Michael Schaefer & Heide Bruegmann
Mark & Barbara Veale Smith
Bernard Spirito
Eric & Elizabeth Stahl
Peter J. Stasz
Caroline B. Toner
Gregory Virgilio
Two Donors Wish To Remain Anonymous

VIRTUOSO
$1,250 – $2,499
Kevin Atkinson
Arthur H. & Barbara M. Clarke Fund
Giovina D’Aprile Sessions
Sandra Doran
First Tracks Fund at Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
John & Linda Glenn
Harold Grinspoon
Dr. John Landis
May Family Charitable Trust
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Dr. Michael Sorrell
John & Mary Margaret Young
One Donor Wishes To Remain Anonymous

CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE
$2,500 – $4,999
Gudrun Dex
Bruce E. Docherty & Karen A. Kroll Memorial Fund
David L. Gang & Roberta Hillenberg-Gang
Marcia Haas
James McEathron
Samuel Newhouse Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Pinkos
Janet & Ronald Weiss
One Donor Wishes To Remain Anonymous

MAESTRO’S CIRCLE
$5,000+
The Beveridge Family Foundation, Inc.
Bob & Roberta Bolduc & Hope for Youth & Families
Gladys W. Cole Trust
The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
Dr. Paul Friedmann
Dr. William & Marsha Harbison
Grace C. Jordan Trust
Kathleen Lovell
Music Performance Trust Fund
Robyn Newhouse Charitable Fund
The Pappas Family Charitable Fund
Cesar Ruiz Jr. & Lillian Ruiz
Starr Fund
Lyman & Leslie Wood
One Donor Wishes To Remain Anonymous

HONORARIUM & MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Linda Ahern in memory of Harold Ahern
Mary Jane McMahon in memory of Priscilla Anthony
Peter and Kathleen Andrew in memory of Laura Broad
Elaine & Roye Ginsberg in memory of Laura Broad
Margaret Dean in memory of Dorothy Dean
Hubert Place in memory of Francis J. DeToma
Carr Property Management, Inc. in memory of Francis J. DeToma
George Dickstein in memory of Jacqueline Dickstein
Christina Loy in memory of Lorraine Kotelnicki
Dr. John N. Landis in memory of Ellen K. Landis
Dr. Ronnie Leavitt in memory of David & Frieda Lawrence
Mary Jane McMahon in memory of Richard Lussier
Susan Monks in memory of Hertha Platzer
Nita Walter McAdams in memory of Hertha Schmid Platzer
Laura Broad* in memory of Mike Ritzen
Peter & Kathleen Andrew in memory of Kathy & Michael Ritzen
Jean Trader in memory of C. David Trader
David Tripp in memory of Jeanne Murdock Tripp
Ed & Liliane Schneider in memory of Ron Weiss

*Deceased

Special thanks to these businesses for their generous support. They have contributed to making the magic of music happen in a variety of ways. From being a season supporter or placing a program ad to making a Musical Petting Zoo happen, there are a variety of ways these organizations showed their love for music and their community. If your company would like more information on ways to give back, contact Kati Hensel at khensel@springfieldsymphony.org or (413) 733-0636 x1013.

6 Bricks
bankESB
Baystate Health
Beals Memorial Library
BODYTALK
Braman Termite & Pest Control
Brookline Public Library
Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas LLP
Camp Gan Israel
Casella Waste Systems
Center for Human Development
City of Chicopee
City of Springfield
Commonwealth of MA
Country Bank
Deerfield Academy
Falcetti Pianos
Flowers, Flowers
Forastiere Family Funeral Home
Friends of Gladys E. Kelly
Friends of Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library
Friendship Circle Of Greater Hartford
Goodnow Library
Graphite Studios
The Greater Springfield Harriers
Hampden Free Public Library
Haverhill Public Library
The Loomis Communities
Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy
M&T Bank
M&T Charitable Foundation
Marriott Springfield Downtown
Mass General Brigham
Massachusetts Cultural Council
MassMutual
MGM Resorts
MGM Springfield
Minuteman Press
Monson Cultural Council
NAI Plotkin
NE Dermatology & Laser Center
New Valley Bank
Noonan Energy
Paul L. Mancinone Company, PC
Paul Robbins Associates, Inc.
Peoples Bank
The Republican/MassLive
Rosewood Consulting, Inc.
Rutland Public Library
Shatz, Schwartz And Fentin, P.C.
Sheraton
Smith College Central Svcs.
Springfield Pharmacy LLC
Springfield Public Library
St. Germain Investments
St. Mary’s Academy
State of Massachusetts
Stop & Shop
Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn
Town of Adams
Town of Amherst
Town of Carlisle
Town of Norfolk
Town of Rockport
Town of Shutesbury
Town of South Hadley
Westside Bar & Grill

Paul Friedmann, MD, Chair
Margaret Mantoni, Treasurer
Attorney Ronald Weiss, Clerk
Tony Falcetti, Immediate Past Chair
Marsha Harbison, Orchestra Representative
Robert Bolduc
Andrew Cade
Graham Cahill
Sandra Doran
Eileen McCaffery
Evan Plotkin
Cesar Ruiz
Dr. Michael Sorrell
Bernard Spirito
Peter Thomsen

Paul Lambert, President & CEO
Heather Caisse-Roberts, Community Outreach Advisor
Andrea Pereira, Business Manager
Renato Wendel, Director of Operations & Orchestra Personnel Manager
Caitlin Meyer, Director of Education
Max Jordan, Education Assistant
Kati Hensel, Annual Fund and Stewardship Administrator
Chiara Sinigaglia, Marketing Coordinator
Rocío Mora, Youth Orchestra Manager & Associate Librarian
Patrick McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator and MPZ Coordinator
Jonathan Lam, Conductor, Springfield Youth Orchestra
Matthew Bertuzzi, Conductor, Springfield Youth Sinfonia
Nikki Stoia, Director, Springfield Symphony Chorus
Gregory Jones, Production & Stage Manager
Jean E. Gress, Orchestra Librarian
Jennifer Higgins, Grant Writer