© 2023 Georgia Symphony Orchestra
Please take a moment now to ensure your device is in silent mode.
Thank you and enjoy the performance!
GYSO January 2024 Concert Series
Jan. 28, 2024
Program Guide Contents
- Georgia Symphony Upcoming Events
- Sponsors and Supporters
- Administration, Artistic Staff, and Board
- About the Organization
- Timothy Verville, Music Director and Conductor
- Nathaniel F. Parker, Dr. Bobbie Bailey GYSO Artistic Director & GYSO Symphony Director
- GYSO Program Order 1-28-2024 4:00PM
- GYSO Program Order 1-28-2024 7:30PM
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 • Imlay Foundation
Silver Baton Circle $10,000-$14,999
Bobbie Bailey Foundation • Linda and John Cooke • Marietta Tourism
Bronze Baton Circle $5,000-$9,999
Bob and Linda Bonstein • GreyStone Power • Marietta Kiwanis • John and Shirley Morgan • Publix Supermarket Charities • James Rhoden • S.A. White Oil Company • Willful Impact
Conductor’s Circle $2,500-$4,999
Anonymous • Anonymous • Mary Kay Howard • Nora Roberts Foundation • Jeffrey and Louise Tharp • Sydney Trew
Principal Circle $1,000-$2,499
Frank Harris & Abby Avery Family • Robert and Holli Cortelyou • Crane Elder Law Firm • John Howell and Barbara Barr-Howell • Pamela Hubby • Mrs. Howard Lawrence • Joanne Mazula • Tutt and Debbie McCracken • Valencia McCrimmon • Gregory and Christine Mishkin • Pam and Bruce Rhyne • Linda Rodriguez • Alan and Susan Stensland • Lynn Thomas • Susan Traendly
Musicians Circle $500-$999
Anonymous • Barbara Barr-Howell • Cindy and Henry Bohn • Allan Cheshire • Jeremy Ewers • Bruce Gillett • Marianne Holdzkom • Home Depot • Kimberly-Clark Foundation • Regina Malloy • Oral Moses • Posh Hair Studio of Acworth • Georgia Rambo • Jackie Rucker • Ronna Ruppelt • Bob and Marge Schulhof • See Beautiful • Harry and Jennifer Winograd
Concertmaster Circle $250-$499
Anonymous • Dame Bamburry • David and Elesa Hembree • Tanya Hunter • Brendan Knoblauch • Michael Knowles • Clifford McCune • Yvonne and Michael Perrino • Vianne Satterfield • Pat and Gilberto Torres • James Wetrich
Encore Circle $100-$249
Linda Acevedo • David Barry • Alenia Baxter • Tibor Besedes • Kristen Bonstein • Marilyn Brooks • DK Gallery • Stephen and Amy Drabant • Fred and Joan Embden • Maryann Fedack • Allison Fichter • Priscilla Granese • Sharon Green • Barbara Hammond • Justin Hart • Judy Harvey • Adrian Heenan • Ann Hixson • Thomas LaForge • John Love • Brenda Lyle • Abraham Mahoney • Russell Marshall • Beverly Martin • Karen Milchus • Wei Money • Gil Moor • Paula & Grainger Morrison • Emory Morsberger • Jonathan Nash • Bill and Sarah Needs • Sam Olens • Trevor Phillips • Taylor Rambo • Jane Redwine • Brenda Rhodes • Alberto and Cindee Sapoznik • Al and Laura Searcy • Peter and Marian Sebel • Beth Simpson • Steve Simpson • CB Smithwick • Robert Snider • Sharon Stills • Ann Teeter • Sandra Timmons • John L. and Ann B. Vandevate • James and Karen Warren • Joseph Yorio
Ovation Circle $50-$99
Colt Chambers • Stephanie Davy • Jacqueline Downing • Camille Fairbanks • Elise Goldstein • Lenora Goodliffe • Sandra Herndon • Sandy Hsieh • Grace Johnson • Nick Johnson • Kil Soo Jung • Darron Kendrick • Kroger • Kristi Ledford • Wendy Lerner • Jane McGuigan • Mary Monteith • Pranita Nirgudkar • Nancy and Gordon O’Neill • Rodrick Stewart • Albert Strada • Gary Thomas • Paul Tompkins • Lily WhiteRose • Amorelle Williams
In-Kind Supporters
ARTS of Cobb • Atlanta Marriott Northwest at the Galleria Hotel • Chris Savas Photography • Cobb Travel and Tourism • Frank Harris Law • Gift of Music Foundation • Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors • Sercante • Timothy Verville
In Honorarium
Jeffrey Tharp in honor of the GYSO Jazz Ensemble
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
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
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
In Memoriam
Michal Kotzan in memory of Jeff Kotzan
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
Joseph Yorio in memory of JoAnn Mary Yorio
Marianne Holdzkom in memory of Joanna Cox
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
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
Retired
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.
A talented and versatile musician, Nathaniel F. Parker has conducted orchestras in the United States, Peru, Russia, Poland, England, and the Czech Republic. Equally at home working with professionals and training future generations of musicians, Dr. Parker is Director of Orchestral Studies at the Kennesaw State University School of Music—serving as Music Director and Conductor of the Kennesaw State University Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Kennesaw State University Opera Program—and Associate Conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. His recent guest conducting engagements include appearances with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (Michigan), the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) All-State Orchestra, the Fulton County High School Honor Orchestra (Georgia), and the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) District 9 High School Honor Orchestra.
Dr. Parker is the recipient of numerous honors, awards, and scholarships. He was named a finalist for a Conducting Fellowship with the New World Symphony, a semi-finalist for a Conducting Fellowship at Tanglewood, and a Candidate for the Respighi Prize in Conducting; he also received a Citation of Excellence in Teaching from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. An active scholar, Dr. Parker’s writings have been published by the Conductors Guild and the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA). He has presented research at the College Orchestra Directors Association’s national and international conferences and is Editor of the Journal of the Conductors Guild.
Dr. Parker has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Concert Orchestra and faculty at New England Music Camp (Maine), and Interim Music Director and Conductor of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra’s (GYSO) Symphony and Camerata orchestras. Before relocating to Georgia, he was Director of Orchestral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Marywood University (Pennsylvania) where he was Music Director and Conductor of the Marywood University Orchestra and taught courses in conducting, instrumental methods, musicology, and analytical techniques. Other previous positions include Associate Conductor and Production Manager of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (Michigan), Music Director and Conductor of the Jackson Youth Symphony Orchestra, Director of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Community Music School, Graduate Conducting Intern at Michigan State University, Music Director and Conductor of the Mason Orchestral Society’s Community Orchestra and Youth Symphony (Michigan), Assistant Director of Music at Xaverian High School (New York), Conductor of the New Music Festival of Sandusky Orchestra (Ohio), and Graduate Assistant Conductor and Teaching Assistant at Bowling Green State University (Ohio).
Parker earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from Michigan State University, where his primary instructors were Leon Gregorian and Raphael Jiménez. During his time at MSU he regularly appeared with all the university orchestras and focused his doctoral research on Leonard Bernstein, specifically the composer’s Symphony No. 2, “The Age of Anxiety.” He earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Bowling Green State University, where he studied with Emily Freeman Brown. His other conducting mentors include Stephen Osmond, Gary W. Hill, and Timothy Russell. In addition to his training in academia, Dr. Parker participated in numerous conducting master classes and workshops, conducting orchestras under the tutelage of nationally and internationally renowned conductors and conducting pedagogues including Christoph Eschenbach, George Hurst, Arthur Fagen, Markand Thakar, Mark Gibson, David Itkin, and Paul Vermel. Parker began his collegiate education at Arizona State University, where he studied bassoon with Jeffrey G. Lyman and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance.
Nat resides in Kennesaw with his wife, Melody, their son, Jacob, and their dog, Sammy.
For more information, please visit www.nathanielfparker.com
Concert Program
January 28, 2024
4:00 PM
GYSO Clarinet Choir
Bora Moon, Director
Gus Winkler, arr. Alan Bates
BANANA PEEL RAG
Eubie Blake, arr. Alan Bates
CHARLESTON RAG
Zequinha de Abreu, arr. Tony Wakefield and Alan Bates
TICO TICO
Ensemble Musicians
Charles Carmichael
Erinola Esho
Nathan Hsu
Liam Jung
Kitty Loo
Abigail Paik
Ishan Pandian
David Wielogorski
Jojo Winter
Jasper Wolfe-Tham
Freddy Wu
Gina Zheng
GYSO Jazz!
Sam Skelton, Director
Sonny Rollins, arr. Sam Skelton
OLEO
Eddie Harris, arr. Sam Skelton
FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE
Ray Henderson & Mort Dixon, arr. Sam Skelton
BYE BYE BLACKBIRD
Horace Silver, arr. Sam Skelton
FILTHY MCNASTY
Ensemble Musicians
Saxophone
Joseph Park
Caroline Pierson
Joey Somerlot
Ella Ugwuadu
Trumpet
Santiago Campos
Tim Nguyen
Trombone
Nicholas Ambery
Piano
Caleb Craig
Linzy Jacques
Bass
Liam Daugherty
Jonathan (J) Vincenty
Drumset
Isaiah Felty
Connor Reddington
Concert Program
January 28, 2024
7:30 PM
Morgan Concert Hall, Bailey Performance Center
GYSO Percussion Ensemble
John Lawless, Director
Ivan Trevino
SHARED SPACE
Ensemble Musicians
George Ewaskiew
Eve Gordon
Linzy Jacques
Jaylen Phillips
Lucas Price
Aine Turpin
John Verville
GYSO Honors String Quartet
Vera Ilyushina, Coach
Ludwig van Beethoven
STRING QUARTET IN C MINOR, OP. 18, NO. 4
I. Allegro ma non tanto
Ensemble Musicians
Chakriya Phaengsook
Sarah Gulley
Will Weaver
Ryan Dater
GYSO Flute Choir
Brittany Salkill, Director
Catherine McMichael
A GAELIC OFFERING
I. Rose Cottage
Gareth McLearnon
SINGLE YELLOW LINE
Ensemble Musicians
Habin Kwon
Joanna Lee
Diane Lee
Avery Misbach
Charlotte Rogers
Tabatha Smith
Arya Thomas
Nitya Thomas
Abigail (Abbie) Yuan
GYSO String Symposium
Vera Ilyushina, Director
Vasily Kalinnikov
SERENADE FOR STRINGS
Ensemble Musicians
Violin
Seraphim Duarte
Sarah Gulley
Alexandra Hua
Brady Huesken
Addyson Sherwood
Peter Ulitin
Zehari Williams
Jeffrey Zhou
Viola
Elena Martinez
Olivia Scott
Will Weaver
Cello
Katherine Fogle
Grady Jenkins
Bass
Chance Crigler
Cleo Goltz