© 2023 Georgia Symphony Orchestra

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Program Guide Contents

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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

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

Suzanne Tucker

Executive Director

Bio

Madison Willits

Artistic Operations Manager

Amy McGaughey

Office & Box Office Coordinator

Artistic Staff

Timothy Verville Timothy Verville
Music Director and Conductor
Bryan Black Bryan Black
JG Morgan GSO Chorus Director
Nathaniel F. Parker Nathaniel F. Parker
Associate Conductor, Dr. Bobbie Bailey GYSO Artistic Director & GYSO Symphony Director
Sam Skelton Sam Skelton
GSO Jazz! Director & GYSO Jazz Director
Justin Han Justin Han
GYSO Camerata Director
Vera Ilyushina Vera Ilyushina
GYSO String Symposium and Honors String Quartet Coach
John Lawless John Lawless
GYSO Percussion Director
Daniel Lee Daniel Lee
GYSO Philharmonic Director
Bora Moon Bora Moon
GYSO Clarinet Choir Director
Brittany Salkill Brittany Salkill
GYSO Flute Choir Director
Whitney Tinley Whitney Tinley
GYSO Harmonia and Concertino Director

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.

Musicians (From Professionals To Students) Performing In Our Organization
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Years Of Making Music
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More than 26+ Events Presented To the Community This Season
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Over 17,000 People Are Served By Our Programs Annually
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Timothy Verville, Music Director and Conductor

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.

Nathaniel F. Parker​, Associate Conductor, Dr. Bobbie Bailey GYSO Artistic Director & GYSO Symphony Director​

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

Morgan Concert Hall, Bailey Performance Center
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