Colorado College Summer Music Festival

2015 Annual Report

From Music Director Susan Grace

As I look back on the 2015 season I am most gratified by the

relationships the festival has with our donors, faculty, staff and

students. Everyone is so dedicated to the festival, whether

teaching, playing, attending concerts or making all the parts of the

organization come together smoothly. Without all this wonderful

support the festival would not be at the level it is today.

I am deeply grateful for the tremendous donor support we

received this past year. Thanks to all of you who believe in our

mission and continue to support us year after year. It is this kind

of dedication that makes my job so much easier and gives me

hope for the future.

The dedication of our faculty is unsurpassed. Everyone works so well together and it shows in the

wonderful music making by our artists. Each one is also a dedicated teacher. The festival fellows

work very hard, practicing many hours every day during their three-week residency with faculty

guidance. The fellows are enthusiastic and eager to learn and every year leave the college saying this

festival has been a life-changing experience.

I cannot thank the music festival staff enough. Their job is a challenging one with many moving parts.

Virginia Barron, associate director, works with me during the year as well as runs the festival fellow

chamber music program during the festival. As of last summer Karin Henriksen is our new assistant

director and is in charge of all the administrative details. She oversees student workers as well

another staff member in the music department office. This is a year-round job and one that takes on

many forms. Thanks to Colorado College, we are able to support more hours in this area. All these

many arms of the festival come together to make an exciting season.

Finally, the enthusiasm of our audience members of all ages at our concerts is unsurpassed and

makes putting the festival together each year a great joy. Last year was one of great note. Please help

us make this year even better. Again, thank you all for making the Colorado College Summer Music

Festival a great success.

Cheers,

Susan

“My sense of what a special festival you lead is renewed and deepened with every summer.” - 2015 Festival Artist

The 2015 Colorado College Summer Music Festival was the best in

my 14 years as the festival's conductor, and I'm excited to return for

the 2016 season.

The 56-member Festival Orchestra was one of the strongest

ensembles in the festival's history. Some of the finest string,

woodwind, and brass fellows we've ever seen came together in 2015

to master difficult repertoire like the Bartók Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta in very few rehearsals. The orchestra played

brilliantly in Brahms Symphony No. 1 and Shostakovich's Ninth, and

accompanied subtly in the Brahms Second Piano Concerto with

pianist William Wolfram.

The 2015 festival brought conductor Juan Pablo Noreña to the United States all the way from

Medellín, Colombia. Mr. Noreña is a brilliant young conductor who made great strides in three short

weeks, conducting Barber's Capricorn Concerto and leading two children's concerts to sold-out halls. I

eagerly await his return this summer.

I was honored to work with our festival pianists, festival percussionists, and the Colorado Vocal Arts

Ensemble in presenting Stravinsky's ballet, Les Noces. Deborah Teske did unbelievable work in

preparing her chorus to sing this very difficult score in its original Russian text. They earned a richly

deserved ovation from our wonderful audience.

Festival faculty violinist Steven Copes and Music Director Susan Grace presented a stunning rendition

of Berg's Chamber Concerto with a wind ensemble comprised of both woodwind and brass faculty and

fellows. The fellows did a magnificent job of navigating such a difficult work in just three

rehearsals. For the first time at the festival, Michael Grace and I presented a Notable Encounter, a

museum docent's guide to the intricacies of Berg's landmark twelve-tone work.

I had the privilege to perform Max Bruch's String Octet with my colleagues Stefan Hersh, Virginia

Barron, and Rachel Calin, and fellows Mark Chien, Mary Grace Johnson, Emily Brandenburg and Ray

Kim. The fellows integrated seamlessly with the faculty in this group, and it was gratifying to play with

such a congenial and talented group of musicians.

The 2015 festival was filled with joyous memories, and I can't wait to make more in 2016. I look

forward to seeing you all again soon.

From Scott Yoo, conductor

2015 Contributors

The Golden Baton $10,000 and

More Norton Bain

Colorado College Culture Attraction Fund

Michael and Susan Grace

Inasmuch Foundation

Margaret Lane

Katherine Loo

Music Director’s Circle

$7,000-$9,999 Richard and Sandra Hilt

Conductor’s Circle

$4,000-$6,999 Arthur and Elizabeth Aikin

Libby Rittenberg and Nasit Ari

Robert D. Lee and Susan A. Ashley

Colorado College Music Department

Daniel Tynan and Nancy Ekberg

John Hobson

National Endowment for the

Humanities Professorship

Harry White and Esther Redmount

Dilworth and Judith Sellers

John and Laurel Watkins

John and Judith Wray

DO

$2,500-$3,999 Richard and Dorothy Bradley

Laurent Carrier

Curtis and Avis Cook

Timothy and Kalah Fuller

Sam and Mary Alice Hall

Thomas Lindblade

Richard and Jean McChesney

Art Porter

Jill Tiefenthaler and Kevin Rask

Patricia E. Severn

The Webb Family Fund of the Pikes

Peak Community Foundation

Gwen Weiner

Julia Wills

RE

$1,500-$2,499 Dan and Mary Armour

Bee Vradenburg Foundation

Gary and Anne Bradley

Colorado College Summer Session

Jon and Becky Medved

Nancy Roeder

Dr. Cynthia Rose

Mariam Bolner and Jeffrey Schmoyer

Darryl and Terry Thatcher

Herman Tiemens

Mrs. C. Wesley Tyson, Jr.

Wells Fargo Advisors

Miwako Wilson

Darlys Wong

MI

$1,000-$1,499 Susan Bernstein

Rex Kramer and Cindy Crater

Tracy Coleman and Pat Hayward

Ed and Mary Osborne

Joe and Judy Pickle

John Robert and Mary Martha Salata

FA

$500-$999 Joseph and Edie Auner

Brig. General and Mrs. Charles Cabell, Jr.

Nancy K. Colson

Frances M. Folsom

Carlton Gamer

Garrett Family Foundation

Kendra Henry

William and Nancy Hochman

William T. and Frances M. Hodson

Foundation

Ida Boatright Hutchison Memorial Fund

Jim and Becky Hurley

Helene Knapp

John and Linda LeFevre

Pamela T. Marsh

Harold Palevssky and Lorna Lynn

James and Eulalie Ringe

Tom and Pam Sanny

Margaret Satterfield

Janine Seay

Shivers Fund of the Pikes Peak Library

District

Suzanne Smith

Jan Saddir and Paul Stephens

Claire Taber

Woodland Music Series

SO

$100-$499 Richard J. Agee

Roberto Agnolini

Geoffrey Ames and Daryll Stevens

Phyllis Baker

Nancy Baxter

William Becker

Ofer Ben-Amots and Ronit Even-Or

Edgar Benton

Jerry Bobbe

Martha H. Booth

Glenn E. Brooks

Ann R. Brooks

Dwight and Sue Brothers

Jane Cauvel

Emily Chan

Tom and Bonnie Clark

Guy and Virginia Cresap

Kent Borgrs and Stephanie DiCenzo

Nancy Dyer

Catherine Edborg

Charlease L. Elzenga

Judith and David Finley

Lindsay and Johanna Fischer

Elaine Freed

Katherine George

Eugene and Jolinda Grace

Patricia Ann Graham

Susan Greene

Sam and Mary Alice Hall

Jeffrey Haney

Donna R. Hathaway

Karin Henriksen

Cynthia Hinds

Timothy C. Hoiles

Don and Gwen Jenkins

Mark and Amy Juhas

Phillip and Kay Kannan

Janice Keder

Carol W. Keenan

Jack and Cherry Kinney

Dale and Janine Lasater

Peggy Berg and Jonathan Lee

John and Linda Lefevre

Eric Leonard and Lisa Noll

Inna Malyshev

Thomas Mauch

Richard Mello and Nancy Howard

Mary Jean Nelson

Chris and Linda O’Shea

Elizabeth Rebman

Horst and Helen Richardson

Gretchen E. Robert

Mark Seelye

Merr Shearn

Marvin and Shirley Strait

Nancy Sidener

Alan Siegel and Edie Greene

Janet and Larry Sims

Barbara and David St. Andre

Mark and Donna Stavig

Carol Townsley

Tom Trainer and Dr. Susan Rae Jensen

Ann Van Horn and Douglas Monroy

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walter

Mark Warshaw

David Watts

Herman White

Joe and Barbara Wilcox

Diane R. Williams

Barbara Yalich

James and Ann Young

LA

$1-$99 Cecelia Barrocas

Nancy Barthlow

Linda Beidleman

Pamela Burkholder

Robert Cate and Cindy Donovan

Steven Chapman

Richard and Katherine Doherty

Melissa and Tad Foster

Janey and Michael Guest

Sam and Mary Alice Hall

Werner and Suzanne Heim

Neil and Sally Hinchman

Kathleen Hindmarch

William J. Hybl

Barbara Ingwalson

Marilyn Kastel

Mina Kidd

Michael and Margo Montgomery

Gladys Orr

Over the Hill Lunch Group

Carol J. Riggle

James and Carol Simerville

Charles and Judy Warren

Nancy Wilson

Bert and Glenda Wong

James and Ann Young

Foundations and Funds Bee Vradenburg Foundation

The Bain Family Foundation

Colorado Cultural Attractions Fund

Inasmuch Foundation

EOS Foundation

The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

The Garrett Family Foundation

William T. and Frances M Hodson

Foundation

Ida Boatright Hutchison Memorial Fund

The Raymond James Charitable

Endowment Fund

National Endowment for the Humanities

Professorship

Pikes Peak Community Foundation

Pikes Peak United Way

The Schwab Fund of the Pikes Peak

Library District

T. Rowe Price Fund

The Webb Family Fund of the Pikes Peak

Community Foundation

Matching Gifts IBM Corporation

Inasmuch Foundation

2015 Donor Luncheon

Recognition Wells Fargo Advisors

Supporting Radio Stations Classically Colorado and Colorado Public

Radio

American Public Media’s “Performance

Today”

KCME 88.7 FM

Radio Colorado College KRCC

In Appreciation Colorado College Music Department

Sara Bermingham

Stormy Burns

Michael Grace

Kaylyn Kinney

Beril Mese

Libby Rittenberg

Gina Spiers

Wine Donation Jay Heminway ‘63 (Green and Red

Vineyard)

Mike Hirby ‘97 (Relic Wine Cellars)

Peggy McKinley ‘74 (Coaltrain Wine)

Bill Phelps ‘76 (Joseph Phelps Vineyards)

Samuel Spencer ‘92 (Head High Wines)

Rob Talbott ‘71 (Talbott Vineyards)

Summer Music Festival

Advisory Committee Nasit Ari

Gary Bradley

Laurent Carrier

Timothy Fuller

Michael Grace

Jeffrey Haney

Karin Henriksen

Jon Medved

Libby Rittenberg

Ron Rubin

Judith Wray

2015 Contributors

2015 Festival Artists

2015 Festival Guest Artists

Festival Orchestra Guests

Joe Boylan, tuba

Alice K. Dade, flute

Tonya Jilling, harp

Ann Marie Liss, harp

Alejandro Vieira, contrabassoon

Susan Grace, music director and pianist Virginia Barron, associate director and violist Scott Yoo, conductor and violinist Toby Appel, viola

Rachel Calin, bass Kevin Cobb, trumpet Steven Copes, violin

Mark Fewer, violin

Anne Marie Gabriele, oboe

Stefan Hersh, violin

Bil Jackson, clarinet John Kinzie, percussion

Michael Kroth, bassoon

Jon Manasse, clarinet

Elizabeth Mann, flute

Jon Nakamatsu, piano

John Novacek, piano

John Rojak, trombone

Stephen Rose, violin

Stewart Rose, horn

Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, oboe

Michael Thornton, horn

Bion Tsang, cello

Orion Weiss, piano

William Wolfram, piano

David Ying, cello

Phillip Ying, viola

Peter Cooper, timpani

Jennifer DeDominici, mezzo soprano

Michelle Djokic, cello

Nena Lorenz, percussion

Alex Richardson, tenor

Ashraf Sewailam, bass baritone

Deborah Teske, Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble, artistic director Mike Van Wirt, percussion

Annamarie Zmolek, soprano

2015 Festival Fellows

Juan Pablo Norena

Chloe Chabanole

Mark Chien

Thomas Cooper

William Foy

Leslie Heinzen

Alice Hong

Mary Grace Johnson

Ye-Rim Lee

Madeleine Manasse

Ann Mills

Keanu Mitanga

William Overcash

Julia Suh

Emily G, Brandenburg

Kathleen Crabtree

Drew Alexander Forde

Halam Kim

John Petrey

Jessica Pickersgill

Katherine Audas

Benjamin Francisco

Justin Goldsmith

Hyugrai (Ray) Kim

Angelique Montes

Danny Poceta

Alexander Bickard

Reed Tucker

Victor Wang

Cassie Pilgram

Theodosia Roussos

Sam Boutris

Dan Giacobbe

Nathan Kirchoff

Molly Murphy

Sarah Boxmeyer

Todd-Michael Leighton

Kaitlyn Resler

Cort Roberts

Anthony DiMauro

Tim McCarthy

Jeff Smith

Darian Freeman

Jon Gauer

Giyong Ahn

Amalia Rinehart

Kevin Keith

Bryce Leafman

Andrew Ferdig

“It’s hard to put into words how much it

has meant for me to be able to be a part

of this amazing community and world of

music. Feeling so welcome, supported

and loved is such a special feeling,

especially when I have learned so much

on top of it all. I am going to cherish my

time here for the rest of my life and take

away so many jewels of wisdom and joy. “

2015 Fellow

“This festival is inspiring; it’s exceeded my expectations in every way. Being

around such talented musicians is unbelievably motivational, and this experience came at a time in my life that I really needed it .”

2015 Fellow

The festival provides a wonderful opportunity for students to learn not

only the musical and technical tools needed to perform well in Packard

Hall or Cornerstone Arts Center, but also communication skills necessary

to go into the community and connect effectively with audiences that might

not be able to come to the college for a performance.

Prior to the concerts, students attended a class led by our own David and

Philip Ying, two superb performers and educators, who in the Ying

Quartet, have engaged and delighted audiences of all kinds for many years.

Students learned how to speak effectively, use their music to tell a story,

and convey, above all, their enthusiasm and love for the music.

I witnessed the results of this session as our fellows played for two groups of children, at Fort Carson and at

Hillside Community Center. The children hung on every word, every note and the question and answer

periods were both inspiring and hilarious. The session ended with two students being asked to

conduct the group, the kids then crowded around, eager for the opportunity to talk with the performers

and maybe a chance to blow into a trombone or bang on a drum. Both our fellows and the kids had to be

dragged away from the event. Great fun was had by all.

Village at Skyline is one of my favorite concerts of the summer. When we started going to Skyline, there

were perhaps 40 people in the audience. This past year, more than 125 people came to hear our students

perform Schubert, Brahms and Dvorak! The performers talked a little about the music, where they go to

school and what they hope to do in the future with their talents. The audience is warm and receptive. Many

of our fellows are quite moved by the experience.

Many symphony orchestras are increasing the outreach portion of their musical mission, I believe this is a

very good thing. Too many children do not have the opportunity to hear live classical music, some seniors

are not able to easily leave their homes. The more we can help these future professional musicians

develop and champion this work, the better it is for us all and the music that we love.

From Virginia Barron, Associate Director

“The chamber music, the rehearsals with the

orchestra, and the lessons, everything is

starting to make me understand how to

achieve a high artistic level and how to make

my dreams come true! Colorado and the

College are very inspiring and stimulating

places, and I feel very privileged to come here

and to be part of this festival.“

- 2015 Festival Fellow

Festival Financials

Annual giving

165 households donated a total of $203,962.

In 2014, 175 households donated a total of

$183,784. So while the number of donors

showed a slight decrease, donations were still

up.

Ticket sales

138 donor households purchased season

tickets (full season or individual tickets) in

2015, up from 132 in 2014 and 126 in 2013.

Most festival artist concerts were sold-out, and

the ticketed free children’s orchestra concerts

required extra folding chairs to accommodate

all patrons.

Endowment campaign

The festival started a soft launch of the

endowment campaign this summer, and we

received our first gift for an endowed faculty

position, the Sanny Faculty Artist. Next season

will see an official endowment campaign roll-

out.

Sustainability

To ensure sustainability, the festival has two

investment funds, which are managed by

Colorado College. The investment funds were

valued at $279,487 and $50,221 on July 1,

2015, with annual expected pay-outs of

around $11,000 and $2,000 respectively. The

festival draws from these funds to cover

expenses in the rare years that expenditure is

higher than revenue, as it was in 2015. The

festival is committed to fiscal sustainability and

long-term financial planning.

The college’s fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30. Numbers listed below reflect totals for the 2015 festival

season, not the fiscal year, since many festival expenses and some of its revenue are only reconciled in

the month of July.

Students

41 donor households provided half and full scholarships

to 52 students, chosen from a pool of 321 applicants.

Accepted festival fellows hailed mostly from the United

States, but also from Colombia, Canada and South

Korea. Some of the schools represented were Oberlin

Conservatory, The Juilliard School, Sheperd School of

Music at Rice University and Eastman School of Music.

Audience Survey

This year the festival conducted its first audience survey since 2007. We are thankful to the 183

audience members who completed the survey this season. Below are some key findings:

When asked if they would recommend Summer Music Festival concerts to others, 93.2% of

respondents said they would do so enthusiastically.

When asked how they learned about the SMF event they attended, the majority (57.5%) responded

that they learned about the event through the CC Events Calendar. Another 31.0% learned of the

event through direct mailing. 27.0% learned of the SMF event through 88.7 FM KCME Classic

Music Radio Colorado Springs. The findings from this survey question will be especially helpful

when determining where to direct outreach efforts in the future.

56.7% of respondents found the ticket prices to be “just right.” Another 28.9% said that they only

attend the free events, demonstrating how important offering free SMF events to the community is

in promoting access to these events.

40.2% of respondents were season ticket holders. Of those who are season ticket holders, an

overwhelming 88.4% have been season ticket holders for more than 2 years.

43% were donors to the festival. Reasons for not donating were listed as lack of discretionary

income or donating to other causes. A handful of respondents indicated they were not aware the

festival relies on donations from individuals and foundations to support its programs, indicating that

the festival can improve on getting this message across to its patrons.

60.9% of respondents stated that they find the blend of classical and contemporary programming to

be exciting. Another 33.5% said that they find it enjoyable, with only 5.6% staying that it should be

modified.

A majority of respondents were age 65+, at 61.0%. Another 22.0% of respondents were between

the ages of 55 and 64.

We also received some constructive criticism that we will take into consideration when planning future

Summer Music Festival events. The final question of the survey was open-ended and we asked

respondents if there was anything else they wished to share. Some respondents suggested that we offer

military and senior discounts, improve accessibility for attendees in wheelchairs, and provide artists with

more opportunities to talk to the audience while on stage. One person also suggested that we offer

more midday concerts. We plan to review these suggestions and determine their feasibility when

planning next year’s Summer Music Festival.

Other than these comments, all of other open-ended responses were overwhelmingly positive, with

comments such as: wonderful event; best musical festival of the year; it is a great gift to the community;

keep doing this forever; this festival is a great value to our city; we plan around the festival; this is the

highlight of activities in Colorado Springs; Michael Grace’s notes are superb; highlight of the summer;

it is a jewel in Colorado Springs; this has been a fabulous experience for my daughter; festival has

broadened my musical taste; and more.

Mission The mission of the Colorado College Summer Music Festival is to bring the best in classical and

contemporary music to our community; keep ticket prices low or free; reach out to people of different

age groups and economic backgrounds in the community; provide free concerts for children; bring our

music to community and senior centers, libraries, Fort Carson and art galleries, and via live stream at

no charge; be a vital part of the academic life at Colorado College and educate our students to become

leaders in their field.

Audience Survey When asked what they enjoy most about the concert, responses included the very high quality of music

and musicians; variety of music; camaraderie; intimacy; chance to see and talk with performers;

students and their enthusiasm; relaxed atmosphere; Michael Grace’s lectures; music at midday

performances; opportunity to learn new music; and more.

We are considering all feedback and suggestions into our planning for next season and will continue to

conduct annual surveys going forward.

"Time stopped - a rare occurrence possible only when great art lives and breathes. For me, this instantly became one of a handful of artistic moments that will walk with me forever."

-David Sckolnik, The Gazette

Each year the festival commissions artist Bernard Vercruyce, who provides us

with our delightful cats. The front cover art is a work titled “Les Amis.”

More on Bernard Vercruyce can be found at www.vercruyce.com and

http://blog.artactif.com/vercruyce-bernard

Susan Grace, Music Director

Virginia Barron, Associate Director

Karin Henriksen, Assistant Director of College and

Community Events

Neil Hesse, Assistant to the Director; Stage Manager

Yan Gao, Assistant to the Director; Stage Manager

Kaylyn Kinney, Intern

Beril Mese, Intern

Music Festival Staff

Jane Turnis, Vice President for Communications

Bryan Oller, College Photographer

Felix Sanchez, Creative Director

Leslie Weddell, College News Director

Gary Bradley

Laurent Carrier

Timothy Fuller

Michael Grace

Jeffrey Haney

Karin Henriksen

Jon Medved

Libby Rittenberg

Ron Rubin

Judith Wray

Special Thanks To

Advisory Board