Quarter Notes
Fall 2008

In this issue

Summer at Longwood Gardens

Twentieth Anniversary Message

Upcoming Events

Maestra Green Previews 2008-2009 Season

Musician Profile - Douglas Mapp

Musician Profile - Amy Boyd

FROM THE PRESIDENT
Ernest J. Harkness

Welcome to the Fall edition of our quarterly e-newsletter. We celebrate two wonderful summer concerts at Longwood Gardens and share Maestra Mary Woodmansee Green’s 20th Anniversary message. Then we share news of two Fall events: The Classics at Brantwyn and the Luncheon and Fashion Show. Next comes Maestra Green’s discussion of the upcoming 2008-2009 season, which opens with an October 11th concert at West Chester University. And we continue a series of profiles of the professional musicians in the Symphony with Douglas Mapp, our principal bassist, and Amy Boyd, French horn.

This newsletter marks my last as your Board President; this fall, David Elderkin will succeed me. Thank you for the support that you have given me and the Kennett Symphony.

CONCERT REPORT
Summer at Longwood Gardens

“Wonderful music and perfect weather” were the headlines for the Symphony’s June and August concerts at the Longwood Gardens Open Air Theatre. The June concert opened with violinist Heawon Shin, winner of the Symphony’s 2007 Instrumental Competition, in a lovely performance of Samuel Barber’s Concerto for Violin. The Symphony followed with the Pennsylvania premier of Ellis Island: The Dream of America by Peter Boyer. Caryl Huffaker, writing in The Kennett Paper, said:

“…it was a treat to hear this new piece, which is right in line with Maestro Green’s history of bringing extraordinary music to the Kennett area.”

The Symphony also staged a “Dream of America” essay and poster contest for high school students. The winning entries were displayed in the Longwood Gardens lobby before the concert and on the Symphony's web site.

The August concert was the culmination of Maestra Mary Woodmansee Green’s 20th season with the Symphony. The music, Orff’s Carmina Burana, was beautifully performed by the Symphony, the Mary Green Singers, and three soloists. As Mary Schaeffer of Carney's Point, New Jersey wrote in a letter to the Symphony:

“On Saturday night I had the pleasure of taking my grandchildren and children to see Carmina Burana at Longwood Gardens.  I just want to tell you that it was one of the most memorable nights in my life.  To see the faces of my grandchildren as they enjoyed this excellent performance cannot be measured! Bravo, well done!”

FROM THE PODIUM
Twentieth Anniversary

The August concert marked Maestra Green’s 20th anniversary with the Kennett Symphony. Before the concert, Board President Ernest Harkness and Longwood Gardens Director Paul Redman took the stage to celebrate the milestone with gifts, flowers, a commemorative piece from Simon Pearce and citations.

Maestra Green shared these thoughts from the podium:

"It is a thrill to conclude my 20th anniversary season with this wonderful orchestra – now in its 67th season – joined by The Mary Green Singers which made its debut singing Carmina Burana with the Pennsylvania Ballet at the Mann Music Center in 1986 and its Kennett Symphony debut in 1987, and with the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, which I encouraged Karen Markey to found in the early years of my tenure.

"In these 20 years, we have been fortunate to have a dedicated core of fine musicians, with a few who have been here over 20 years.

"Many play in several orchestras, spending a lot of time – and these days, money – on the road. They teach, and some have “day jobs” as well. They all have families, with the accompanying toddler trips to the emergency room, personal health issues, or the concerns of aging parents. But through it all, they make incredible music, are a constant source of joy and inspiration, and I want to thank them all for enriching our lives.

"Making all this possible is a dedicated Board of Directors and Volunteers– many of whom are here this evening. They work hard, give and raise money, are passionate about our Orchestra, and enjoy wonderful support by Executive Director Chris Seager and Business Manager Ginna Goodall. Without them all, the Symphony would not be here. Thank you to all our Directors, League members and staff – past and present.

"I want to say a special thank you to my husband, Howard, who has missed only a handful of concerts in these 20 years, when he was in the hospital, always insisting that he would be fine, and to go ahead and make music…quite a remarkable Bubbie! And to my mother, who is also here. She is a constant source of encouragement, has been a volunteer for the Symphony and has sung with us on this stage.

"In August of 1990, we presented a program here at Longwood called, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”. The finale was a medley from Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me, Kate”. At the end of the program, a 27 month old toddler– the daughter of Michael Brun and singer Debbie Landers – came out onstage carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers for me. That little girl went on to sing with the Children’s Chorus for 9 years, is entering her junior year at Purchase College with a major in Cello Performance, and is sitting in with our cello section this evening. What a pleasure it is to welcome back Melissa Brun to our stage!

"So I salute and thank you all – my colleagues and friends on the stage behind me, our board, volunteers and staff, and YOU, our supportive and enthusiastic audience. Thank you for being there with your encouragement, support and friendship for these 20 years. I am truly blessed, and look forward to many more seasons together with the Kennett Symphony of Chester County."

UPCOMING EVENTS
Quick Facts: The Classics at Brantwyn

"Brunch, Blues and Hot Cars!"

• Sunday, October 5, 2008, 11:00 AM
• Brantwyn Mansion, Wilmington, Deleware
• Tickets: $80 per person ($44 tax deductible)
• Champagne brunch
• Vintage and Super Car Show
• Entertainment: Mark "Muddy Harp" Hodgson
• Benefits Kennett Symphony

• Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 10:30 AM
• Mendenhall Inn Grand Ballroom, Mendenhall, Pennsylvania
• Tickets: $37 per person ($11 tax deductible)
• 10:30 AM - Shopping
• 12:00 noon - Luncheon
• 1:00 PM - Fashion Show
• Featuring Fashions by Claire’s Fashions of Wilmington and Jacques Ferber Furriers of Ardmore, Philadelphia and Wilmington
• Donations of High Quality Antiques, Artwork and Decorative Items needed for our Second Fiddle Table!
• Hosted by Kennett Symphony League
• Benefits Kennett Symphony Educational Outreach Programs including the Annual Free Children’s Concert

UPCOMING CONCERTS
Maestra Green Previews 2008-2009 Season

The upcoming season, entitled “Art & Music” features:

Sorcery and Spirits. October 11, 2008. West Chester University.

“This ‘other-worldly’ concert includes the saucy ‘can-can’ music of Jacques Offenbach, Paul Dukas’ young Sorcerer’s and Mussorgsky’s eerie ‘Night on Bald Mountain’ (both prominent in Disney’s ‘Fantasia’) along with the gentle balm of Gluck’s gentle ‘Dance of the Blessed Spirits.’  Mr. Soukhovetski’s pianistic talents abound – from the subtleties of Frederic Chopin’s to Liszt’s macabre  tour de force.”

Sounds of the Season. December 6, 2008. Kennett High School.

“A Centennial tribute to the Boston Pops’ favorite composer, Leroy Anderson, along with seasonal favorites by Bach, Handel and Respighi and festive Christmas Carols with an outstanding young tenor and the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus.”

Meet the Music: Beethoven’s Eroica. April 25, 2009. Westminster Presbyterian Church.

“Join us for musical insights and illustrations of Beethoven’s landmark Eroica Symphony, as it moves from the forceful opening chords, through the hero’s funeral march, the energetic scherzo with its virtuoso horn trio, to the unprecedented breadth of the finale.  Then, experience the power of the Eroica Symphony - in all its intense, peaceful and tumultuous entirety.“

Hooray for Hollywood! June 27, 2009. Longwood Gardens.

“Two outstanding artists from Juilliard join the Kennett Symphony to perform Hollywood Hits from Harold Arlen to Doctor Zhivago, Casablanca, George & Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Star Wars, The Wild West, and the magic of Walt Disney, with a little Rossini thrown in for fun!”

Pictures at an Exhibition. August 15, 2009. Longwood Gardens.

“Our All-Russian Season Finale opens with Mussorgsky’s Promenade theme taking us through a gallery of ten pictures from the Russian Fairy-tale witch ‘Baba Yaga’ to the legendary ‘Great Gate of Kiev.’ We conclude with two very different sides of Tchaikovsky:  the party scene from his epic opera ‘Eugene Onegin’ and finally his mighty ‘1812 Overture’ celebrating the Russian victory over the French.”

Douglas Mapp

MUSICIAN PROFILE
Douglas Mapp, Principal Bassist

Douglas Mapp is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and Temple University. He is principal bassist with the Reading Symphony, Kennett Symphony of Chester County and Opera Delaware. He is a member of the Delaware Symphony and regularly performs with the Northeastern Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Philly Pops, and Harrisburg Symphony.

He has also performed as soloist with the Reading Symphony. Mr. Mapp has performed as a substitute musician with the Philadelphia Orchestra, both at their Philadelphia home and their summer series in Saratoga Springs, New York. His affiliation with the orchestra has also taken him on a European tour led by Wolfgang Sawallisch.

Mr. Mapp is an active chamber musician having performed with the Mendelssohn and Serafin Quartets. Mr. Mapp is a core member of the Relâche Ensemble with whom he has toured throughout the United States, Japan, Europe, and Latin America. He also performs regularly with the SEM Ensemble of New York and with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As a jazz performer he has performed with artist such as Ernie Watts, Doc Severenson, Randy Brecker, Sean Jones, Donald Byrd, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Denis DiBlasio, Vic Damone, Rosemary Clooney, and Billy Childs. He has performed at numerous jazz and music festivals including: Mellon Jazz, Cape May Jazz, Clifford Brown Jazz, Willingboro Jazz, Kool Jazz, and Lincoln Center Outdoors. He is also called upon frequently to serve as clinician and judge a numerous jazz festivals.

Mr. Mapp is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Rowan University.

Amy Boyd

MUSICIAN PROFILE
Amy Boyd, French Hornist

Amy Gier Boyd grew up in a suburban Wilmington, Delaware home wired with speakers in nearly every room by her music-loving father.  Her earliest memory is listening to recordings played by her violinist mother of excerpts from classical symphonies of Brahms and Beethoven and the tone poems of Richard Strauss.  “I really had no choice but to become a hornist, listening to all that fantastic [french] horn music every day at nap-time!” she laughs.  Inadvertently taught to play the piano by older sisters practicing their own lessons, Amy also learned to play folk guitar from a public television series.  Her singer-saxophonist father exposed her to an eclectic range of musical styles, from ancient chant and Baroque oratorios to Fats Waller and Art Tatum, Big Band, Latin, calypso, Sinatra, and Charlie Parker.  “What a blessing, growing up in my family’s musical jukebox, keeping myself company with music, having the loving support of my church choir programs and of my dedicated band directors in the Delaware Music Educators Association.  Every time I play it is a tribute to them and a gift of divine grace meant to be shared to the best of my ability.”

Having taught Kindermusik and brass instruments to students ages 18 months to adult, Amy especially appreciates the Kennett Symphony’s role as community music educator, providing a free annual young people’s concert, youth solo competitions, and a venue for the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus.  A fond memory is of playing as horn soloist on the Children’s Chorus 2001 Vancouver B.C. tour with both of her children singing in the choir. 

Amy was a student of Peter Landgren of the Peabody Conservatory, of Francis Orval for her masters in horn performance, and was recently accepted into a doctor of musical arts program in horn performance.  She is currently brass instructor at the Sanford School, contracts musicians for performances and recordings, and freelances in regional ballet, symphonic, and opera orchestras.  Her brass quintets [Brandywine Brass, Basilica Brass, and Capitol Brass] play throughout the Delaware Valley.  A tenor hornist and soloist with the Atlantic Brass Band, a North American Brass Band Association Championship division contesting band, Amy also is a member of the Lancaster (PA) British Brass Band and New Amsterdam Brass Band, consisting of members of the West Point and NY Salvation Army Staff Bands. She volunteers as state director of Bugles Across America, honoring veterans.

Amy joined the Kennett Symphony in 1988.