© 2024 Georgia Symphony Orchestra
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Thank you and enjoy the performance!
GSO Jazz! Plays the music of The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Vanguard Orchestra
April 13, 2024
Thank you to Hamilton Audio Visual
for their support of GSO Jazz! performances
Program Guide Contents
The Georgia Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The GCA also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts.
Georgia Symphony Orchestra Upcoming Events
GYSO String Symposium, Jazz, Symphony
GYSO Concertino, Harmonia, Camerata
GYSO Flute Choir, HSQ, Philharmonic
Sponsors and Supporters
It is through the sustained generosity of our supporters that the Georgia Symphony Orchestra is able to continue delivering quality enrichment, entertainment and education throughout our community and greater region, encompassing music and arts lovers of all ages.
Our growing list of programs supports a wide range of needs in the community. Just a small sampling of the diverse options includes young musician education, inclusiveness in the concert hall, veterans’ support, free and affordable concert tickets, community presentations, and collaborative promotion of other outstanding nonprofit organizations.
Combining your giving with a musically infused GSO program doubles your impact in the community. Donating to the GSO is easy. Visit us at georgiasymphony.org/donate. Or call 770-615-2908.
Special Thanks to the Bobbie Bailey Foundation
for their gift of a $1 Million Dollar Endowment Fund
The GSO is sincerely grateful for the substantial support of our youth education program given by:
Gold Baton Circle $15,000-$24,999
Aegon Transamerica Foundation
Bobbie Bailey Foundation
Georgia Council for the Arts
Marietta Tourism Grant
National Endowment for the Arts
The Imlay Foundation
Silver Baton Circle $10,000-$14,999
Bob and Linda Bonstein
John and Linda Cooke
GreyStone Power Foundation
John and Shirley Morgan
Publix Super Markets Charities
Bronze Baton Circle $5,000-$9,999
Kimberly Gresh
Mary Kay Howard
Pamela Hubby
Marietta Kiwanis Foundation, Inc
Tutt and Debra McCracken
Jeffrey and Louise Tharp
Sydney Trew
Conductor’s Circle $2,500-$4,999
Anonymous
Anonymous
Cobb EMC Community Foundation
Valencia McCrimmon
Gregory and Christine Mishkin
Randall & Judith Ribarsky
Nora Roberts Foundation
Pam and Bruce Rhyne
See Beautiful
Susan Traendly
Jeff and Rose Whittingham
Michael Knowles
Principal Circle $1,000-$2,499
Janet Adams
Anonymous
Anonymous
Sarah Arrington
Daniel Barker
Barbara Barr-Howell
Cindy and Henry Bohn
Chandra Brown
Gift of Music Foundation
Frank Harris & Abby Avery
Ann Hixson
Marianne Holdzkom
Joanne Mazula
Gil Moore
Ann Teeter
Kelly & Lynn Thomas
Pat and Gilberto Torres
Suzanne Tucker
Musicians Circle $500-$999
Anonymous
Carlyn and Ron Krieger
David and Leta Barry
Bernard Brown
Regina Brown
Bruce Gillett
Robert Herring
Home Depot
Kimberly-Clark Foundation
Regina Malloy
Clifford McCune
Oral Moses
Kate Pfirman
Georgia Rambo
Ronna Ruppelt
Sandra Schell
Alberto Sapoznik
Dwight Shoemaker Family
Alan and Susan Stensland
Concertmaster Circle $250-$499
Anonymous
Allan Cheshire
Linda Moore Connor
Costco SE Regional Donations
George Darden
David Hembree
Paula and Grainger Morrison
Ira Pittman
Vianne Satterfield
Marge and Robert Schulhof
Peter and Marian Sebel
Gerry Stephens Jr
Burt and Sharon Stills
Belisa Urbina
Jeannie Wade
James Wetrich
Lily WhiteRose
Wallace Ziprik
Prelude Circle $100-$249
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Alenia Baxter
Marie Boatright
Kim Bonstein
Kristen Bonstein
Marilyn Brooks
Stacey Carlsen
Katherine and James Chester
Katherine Dater
DK Gallery
Stephen Drabant
Fidelity Charitable
Priscilla Granese
Barbara Hammond
Judy Harvey
Adrian Heenan
Sandra Herndon
Nancy Hodges
Linda Hughes
Dayeon Kang
Les Koltvedt
Brendan Knoblauch
Carlyn and Ron Krieger
Thomas LaForge
Emily Lembeck
Berna and Noah Levine
Dennis Loubiere and Edward Eanes
John Love
Brenda Lyle
Beverly Martin
James Martin
Karen Milchus
The Money Family
Emory Morsberger
George Mortensen
Bill and Sara Needs
Michael Nifong
Mary Nimsgern
Yvonne and Michael Perrino
Trevor Phillips
Rae Pridgen
Jane Redwine
Brenda Rhodes
Al and Laura Searcy
Joan Shorr
Beth Simpson
Amy Smith
CB Smithwick
Pat Snider
Robert Snider
Rodrick Stewart
Josephine Stills
Sandra Timmons
Jo Tucker
Maria Branch Turner
John L. and Ann B. Vandevate Charitable Trust
James and Karen Warren
Pauline Webster
Lily WhiteRose
Joseph Yorio
Todd Youngblood
Ovation Circle $50-$99
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jacqueline and Robert Downing
James Dubsky
Natalya Fainberg
Camille Fairbanks
Jonathan Gallant
Elise Goldstein
Tera Gordon
Sandy Hsieh
Cindy Johnson
Grace Johnson
Nick Johnson
Kil Soo Jung
Darron Kendrick
Wiley Kendrick
Kristi Ledford
Wendy Lerner
Lauren Abraham Mahoney
Russell Marshall
Karen Milchus
Nancy and Gordon O’Neill
Jason Ontjes
Eddie Rogers
Marnell Saunders
Ken Sabo
Marshall Smitherman
Gary Thomas
Paul Tompkins
Laurie Washington
In-Kind Supporters
ARTS of Cobb
Atlanta Marriott Northwest at the Galleria Hotel
Carriage House Catering
Chris Savas Photography
Cobb Travel and Tourism
Frank Harris Law
Gift of Music Foundation
Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors
Sercante
Timothy Verville
Encore Society Members
Daniel Barker
Chandra Brown
Barbara Hammond
Marianne Holdzkom
Mary Kay Howard
Michael and Pauline Knowles
Dennis Loubiere
Tutt and Debra McCracken
Pat Torres
Jeffrey & Suzanne Tucker
Jeannie Ward
Jeff and Rose Whittingham
In Memoriam
Eileen Paulin in memory of Jeff Kotzan
Linda Acevedo in memory of Jeff Kotzan
Sharon Stills in memory of Helen Mackey, Theresa Ireland, Betty Knautz, Sylvia Peters
Allan Cheshire in memory of Susan Cheshire
Frank Harris in memory of Polly Anna Harris
Joseph Yorio in memory of JoAnn Mary Yorio
Mary Kay Howard in memory of the Grandfather of Sydney Trew
Ron & Staci Martinez in memory of Frances M. Keith
Brenda Rhodes in memory of Joanna Cox
Debra McCracken in memory of Joanna Cox
Susan Stensland in memory of Joanna Cox
Debra McCracken in memory of Frances M. Keith
Grace Johnson in memory of Frances M. Keith
Tish Fricks in memory of Jennifer Whitley
Jeff and Rose Whittingham in memory of their parents
In Honorarium
Noah Levine in honor of the GSO Chorus
Phillip O’Brien and Allison Fichter in honor of John and Linda Cooke
Nancy O’Neill in honor of Bob and Linda Bonstein
Kristen Bonstein in honor of Bob and Linda Bonstein
Dane Bamburry in honor of Valencia McCrimmon
Marie Boatright in honor of Mary Kay Howard
Alenia Baxter in honor of Mary Kay Howard and Susan Traendly
Brendan Knoblauch in honor of Mary Kay Howard
Susan Traendly in honor of Mary Kay Howard
Sydney Trew in honor of Susan Stensland and Mary Kay Howard
Marian Sebel in honor of Bryan Black
Paula Morrison in honor of Frank Harris
Barbara Hammond in honor of Susan Stensland
Sharon Stills in honor of Susan Stensland
Brenda Rhodes in honor of Susan Stensland
Joan Harrell in honor of Susan Stensland
Martha and Dennis Moore in honor of Susan Stensland
Susan Traendly in honor of Pat Torres
Annonymous in honor of Kate Pfirman
Emily Lembeck in honor of Debbie McCracken
Belisa Urbina in honor of Stephen Hall
Brendan Knoblauch in honor of Mary Kay Howard
Rhea Pridgen in honor of Linda Cooke
Kim Bonstein in honor of Linda and Bob Bonstein
Dane Bamburry in honor of Valencia McCrimmon
Paula & Grainger Morrison in honor of Frank Harris & Abby Avery
John Morgan in support of Bryan Black, JG Morgan Choral Director
Ira Pittman Suzanne Tucker
Linda Moore Connor in honor of Timothy Verville
Marian Sebel in honor of Bryan Black
Katherine Dater in honor of Mary Kay Howard
George Darden in honor of Amy and Bryan Black
Administration
Madison Willits
Artistic Operations Manager
Amy McGaughey
Office & Box Office Coordinator
Artistic Staff
Board of Directors
For information about joining our Board of Directors or Advisory Board, please click here.
Michael Knowles, Chair
Fifth Third Bank
Greg Mishkin, Vice Chair
Escalent
Marianne Holdzkom, Secretary
Associate Professor of History, Kennesaw State University
Sydney Trew, Treasurer
Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors
Bob Bonstein
Ret.
Amy Drabant
Atlanta Design Solutions
Frank Harris
Frank Harris Law
Pam Hubby
Ret. ArtsBridge Foundation
Debbie McCracken
Ret. Educator/ Administrator
Kate Pfirman
Ronna Ruppelt
CLM Alliance
Todd Youngblood
Ret. Business Executive
Suzanne Tucker, Ex officio
Georgia Symphony Orchestra
Timothy Verville, Ex officio
Georgia Symphony Orchestra
Advisory Board
Chad Hagan
Hagan Capital
Dr. Jeffrey Tharp
Wellstar Medical Group
Jim Glover
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
Mary Kay Howard
Patricia Torres
Ret. Development Director GSO
Susan Stensland
Past Executive Director GSO
The John and Linda Cooke GSO/KSU Bailey School of Music Collegiate Scholars GYSO Internship Program
KSU Site Coordinator
Laz Divine
KSU Interns
Alex Wilson
Tyrell Smith
MPAC Site Coordinator
Kamaya Locke
MPAC Interns
Gustavo De la Torre Martinez
Allen Yun
GYSO Jazz! Intern
Giana-Marie Kleber
GSO Chorus Site Coordinator
Leo Jahn
About Us
Founded in 1951, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra has engaged audiences through imaginative programming, visionary leadership, and critically acclaimed performances.
Our Mission
The mission of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra is to enrich our community through accessible, high quality musical and educational experiences that instill a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Our Vision
Our vision is to continue growing a thriving and innovative cultural organization that enriches, educates, and inspires audiences, students, and musicians in the community.
Our Values
We value high quality musical performances and we prioritize quality musicianship in our productions.
We value the accessibility of our programs to the community, we prioritize making venues, times, and cost fit the needs of the community, and we make sure no one will be left behind.
We embrace diversity and innovation in our programming to inspire the widest possible audience with our musical experiences.
We value the importance of volunteers across our organization.
We value the support of our donors and audience members and continually manage our resources effectively and efficiently.
We recognize the vital contributions of our musicians and educators and we strive to maintain relationships that create a positive environment for all.
We strive to provide a variety of high-quality musical education opportunities for youth and for life-long learning.
Born in western Oklahoma, the award-winning Timothy Verville spent part of his youth growing up about as far as one can from the concert hall: on a farm where his family raised and trained show horses. Eventually, they moved to “the city” where he was exposed to music education in public schools. And from there, his interest and drive in creating and sharing music propelled him to stages and acclaim around the world.
Verville is a uniquely multifaceted and multi-talented conductor of the modern orchestral sphere. His unbound creativity, innovation, and desire to share the power of the arts unite in creating performances and musical experiences that engage and captivate audiences. His work is hailed as “awe-inspiring” and for “bringing down the house” (Atlanta Arts Scene.) He is praised for “finely focused conducting, (in which) the energy and pace of the music never sagged” (The Tulsa World.)
Verville’s international engagements include the inaugural Kyushu International Festival in Japan, the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra, the Hita Civic Orchestra, the Chikushi Jogakuen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kyushu Philharmonic Orchestra, in Russia with the Far Eastern Symphony, Opera Panama, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama. In the U.S., his appearances include the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Hendersonville Symphony, Signature Symphony (Tulsa), Symphonicity (Virginia Beach,) and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra.
As a leader of orchestras, he fosters growth in every organization he serves. In 2016, he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. His focus on audience engagement and outreach has been recognized throughout the community and in the League of American Orchestra’s Symphony magazine. In 2023, the Georgia Secretary of State proclaimed him an Outstanding Georgia Citizen for his service.
Through his imaginative and collaborative programming and visionary leadership, the Georgia Symphony has expanded its performance footprint and built bridges to underrepresented populations. His organizational partnerships foster a mission of inclusiveness, opportunity, and transformation. Collaborating with Girls Who Conduct, Verville created a fellowship for women conductors with the Georgia Symphony. A special partnership with Make a Wish Georgia fulfilled a young person’s wish to conduct an orchestra. Verville also designs the Georgia Symphony’s “Sensory Friendly” concerts, which are supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In Phoenix, he served from 2010 to 2017 as founding Artistic Director and Conductor of Arizona Pro Arte. His presentations of unique and highly anticipated collaborative events resulted in exponential organizational and audience growth. During his tenure, the orchestra grew to include a full classics season, a summer series, educational performances, a chamber music program, and a dance ensemble. He established a composer in residence and instituted an annual “Call for Scores” competition that received over a thousand applicants from forty countries.
In 2007, Verville began a relationship with the Boston Chamber Orchestra encompassing over a decade of music-making. First performing as an instrumentalist in the orchestra, he was invited to become Associate Conductor and later Principal Guest Conductor. He toured internationally with the ensemble and recorded music for their first CD release.
Additional previous engagements include Music Director and Conductor of the North Valley Chamber Orchestra (AZ), Scottsdale Baroque Orchestra (AZ), and Conductor of the Pollard Theatre (OK).
With a varied background, his musical interests extend beyond the classical canon. For many years you were just as likely to find him on stage performing classics, in the pit conducting music theatre, or playing electric bass in a blues or rock band. He has performed on orchestral and commercial recordings for regional airplay and worldwide releases.
Additionally, Verville occasionally composes and has had several premieres in the U.S. His Requiem Americano received an honorable mention in the American Prize for Composition. The collaborative work Liminal: an Atlanta Concerto for Amplified Looping Cello and Orchestra is a genre-blending piece co-written with Okorie “OkCello” Johnson. His creative output includes choral and symphonic works, electronic music, and background tracks for a video game.
Verville regularly commissions and conducts regional, national, and world premiere compositions ranging from operatic and symphonic to dance music. He has counseled young and emerging composers and worked with the Tucson Symphony’s Young Composers Project.
Also an award winner in the American Prize for Orchestral Performance, Verville was mentored by esteemed conductors Bruce Hangen, Timothy Russell, and James DePreist. He performed in masterclasses with David Effron, Markand Thakar, and Neil Varon. At the renowned Monteux School and Music Festival, he was selected as an orchestral assistant while studying with Michael Jinbo. Verville earned degrees in music from the Boston Conservatory, the University of Oklahoma, and Arizona State University.
Sam Skelton is the Director of the GSO Jazz! Ensemble and the youth jazz ensemble of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO) Program – all dedicated to bringing new age and traditional big band charts alive with every performance.
A native of Conyers, Georgia, Skelton has been active on the Atlanta music scene for several decades. Skelton graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University and the private studio of Tony Carere with a degree in jazz studies. During his course of study at GSU, Skelton was a Montgomery Music Scholar and a two-time fellowship recipient to the Aspen Music Festival. He continued his saxophone studies with Kenneth Radnofsky at Boston University in 1991.
As a woodwind doubler, Skelton is well versed in any genre of music. His grasp of saxophone, clarinet and flute has enabled him to remain very busy in live performance as well as in the studio.
Skelton has performed and/or soloed with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, The Atlanta Pops, The Peachtree Pops, The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and the Georgia Symphony Orchestra as well as numerous local high school and civic ensembles. World Premiers include James Oliverio’s Children of A Common Mother, Lee Johnson’s Ora Pro Mi: Concerto for Winds Soloist (clarinet, flute and soprano saxophone) and Seaside Symphony (clarinet and soprano saxophone soloist). Skelton also played the premier recording of Ora Pro Mi and Seaside Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra.
As a sideman on over 175 compact discs, Skelton remains very active in the studio and can be heard on recordings by such artists as: Elton John, December Radio, Babbie Mason, Howard Tate, Matchbox 20, Train, Edwin McCain, The Gap Band and The Ohio Players. Television and radio jingles include The Georgia Lottery, Glen Beck, The Weather Channel, The Travel Channel, Ford, The Cartoon Network, CNN, Nature’s Own, Popeye’s, Papa John’s and Turner South. Television appearances include In the Heat of the Night, Savannah and Sinbad’s Summer Jam II on HBO.
Skelton is currently Director of Jazz Studies and Lecturer in Saxophone at Kennesaw State University. He is also Artistic Director of GSO Jazz! and GYSO Jazz!. Skelton served as Professor of Saxophone at Georgia State University from 1991 to 2004 and was Jazz Ensemble Director at Georgia Tech from 2002-2004 and Artist-in-Residence at The University of Georgia Jazz Department. He served as Visiting Professor of Saxophone at Furman University 2001-02. Professional associations include: Georgia Music Educators Association, Georgia Association of Jazz Educators, National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (voting member) and the American Federation of Musicians. Skelton is a Conn-Selmer Artist. He resides in Buford, GA.
For his contributions to the city’s cultural life he was named a “Lexus Leader in the Arts” by Atlanta Public Broadcasting in 2003.
GSO Jazz! Personnel
Sam Skelton, Reeds
Mace Hibbard, Reeds
Rob Opitz, Trumpet
Randy Hoexter, Piano
Trey Wright, Guitar
Tim Aucoin, Bass
John David—Drums
Auyrian Tillman, Vocalist
Musicians performing in this production are represented by the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.
GSO Jazz! Plays the music of The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Vanguard Orchestra
April 13, 2024
8:00 PM
Strand Theatre
Music to be selected from the following*
A Child is Born
Ahunk Ahunk
All of me
Don’t Git Sassy
Groove Merchant
Little Pixie II
Little Pumpkin
Low down
Biddle De Bop Samba
This Bass Was Made for Walkin
To You
*All music selections performed are announced from the stage and may occur in a different order. All listed music may or may not be performed. Additional selections not listed here may be added.