FORT

SMITH
SYMPHONY
2017-2018

JOHN JETER,
Music Director
Welcome!
Experience exciting musical frontiers, our frontier history and musical heritage as we expand
our musical horizons for this very special season. World-class guest artists again grace the
stage along with truly exceptional musical events.

Join us for amazing concerts including An Evening with Jeremy Denk, one of Americas most
sought after pianists; The Great Ladies of Swing with Jazz legend Dee Daniels and a Fort
Smith Bicentennial Celebration. All concerts are held at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center
in downtown Fort Smith.

Purchase your season tickets today!

John Jeter
MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR
Season at a Glance An Evening with
Jeremy Denk
The Great Ladies of Swing

Earquake! An Epic Christmas

Romantic Echoes Bicentennial Celebration

The Music of Florence Price Kool Cats & Jolt!

Symphony in the Schools Symphony @Home &

& Storybook Strings Beyond the Score

About the Symphony & Chair Sponsors

Community Programs

Symphony Sponsors Buy Tickets

 ZERO MOUNTAIN CLASSICS SERIES

4
 SPECIAL DATE & TIME
SUNDAY SEPT. 10, 2017 7:30PM
ARCBEST PERFORMING
CONCERT SPONSOR
ARTS CENTER
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5, Op. 47 in D Minor
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 in Eb Major
Jeremy Denk, piano

WORLD MUSIC The season begins with a thrilling opening concert featuring
SPONSOR Jeremy Denk, one of the most prominent pianists in the
world today.
Shostakovichs riveting Symphony No. 5 is considered one
of the greatest symphonies of all time. This will be a truly
exceptional evening of great music and a fitting concert
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
SPONSOR opener to a stellar season.

QUALITY OF PLACE
SPONSOR

JEREMY DENK SPONSOR

5
 RIVERSIDE FURNITURE POPS SERIES

SATURDAY
OCT. 21, 2017 7:30PM
ARCBEST PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
GERSHWIN: Overture to Funny Face
GERSHWIN: Porgy and Bess: Symphonic Picture
Songs celebrating the legacy of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan,
Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday including: Therell Be Some
Changes Made, I Cant Give You Anything But Love,
God Bless The Child, Its All Right With Me / Summertime / My
Heart Belongs To Daddy / Cant Help Lovin Dat Man, Sweet
Georgia Brown, I Got It Bad (And That Aint Good) and
Bill Bailey.
Dee Daniels, vocalist

Gershwins greatest hits for full orchestra compliment

legendary vocal gems from the Jazz era with international
guest artist, Dee Daniels.
A high-energy celebration of Americana not to be missed!
6
 CONCERT SPONSOR

Doug & Kathy

Babb
GUEST ARTIST SPONSOR AMERICAN HERITAGE SPONSOR QUALITY OF PLACE SPONSOR
7
 ZERO MOUNTAIN EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Scott Comanzo, composer

Aidan Mays, cello

JoltTM: Mike Burkeplie, violin;

Anitra Fay, viola;
Brandon Patterson, bass;
Karen Jeter, violin;
& Bruce Fowler, drums

Western Arkansas Ballet

8
 MONDAY
OCT. 23, 2017
9AM, 11AM,
& 12:30PM
This award-winning educational concert program features
exciting music, instrument demonstrations, live video
projection, study guides for concert preparation, audience
participation and great fun with music.
Students will experience the world premiere of Starting
Five by composer Scott Comanzo, cellist Aidan Mays, the
JoltTM electronic string quartet and members of the Western
Arkansas Ballet.
Made possible by generous sponsors, these three
performances for 4,000 sixth grade students have inspired
many young people to become participants in public and
private school music programs. Students from seven counties
MAJOR SPONSORS in Arkansans and Oklahoma experience this event each year.
Participating schools only.

SPONSORS

William Thomas
CANC, Inc. ELIZABETH
& STANLEY EVANS
Foundation
&May Pitman
HENNESSY FOUNDATION

Windgate
Foundation
9
 SATURDAY
DEC. 2, 2017 7:30PM
ARCBEST PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER

CONCERT CO-SPONSOR CONCERT CO-SPONSOR

GUEST ARTIST AMERICAN HERITAGE WORLD MUSIC ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR
10
 RIVERSIDE FURNITURE POPS SERIES

Andrew DeBoer, clarinet

Don Bailey, saxophone Western Arkansas Ballet

MUSIC FOR THE HOLIDAYS INCLUDING: Sleigh Ride, Angels

We Have Heard On High, Ave Marie, Christmas Festival, The
Nutcracker, Santa Baby, White Christmas and more!

Featuring only the best for the holidays, our Christmas

soloists include Don Bailey, Fort Smith Symphony Principal
Clarinetist Andrew DeBoer and the Western Arkansas Ballet.
A special feature will be truly spectacular music from the epic
religious films, The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur.
Buy your tickets early. This concert sells out months
in advance.

QUALITY OF PLACE SPONSOR

11
 ZERO MOUNTAIN CLASSICS SERIES

SATURDAY
JAN. 20, 2018 7:30PM
ARCBEST PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
BARTOK: Romanian Folk Dances
SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 33, in A minor
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 2, Op. 61 in C major
CONCERT CO-SPONSOR
Sang-Eun Lee, cello

An evening of beautiful music awaits you, including one

of the most sublime cello concertos of all time by Saint-Saens.
Fort Smith
Radiation Oncology
Robert Schumanns Symphony No. 2 is considered to be the Beauty Through Health
greatest symphony of the early Romantic period and is a true
CONCERT CO-SPONSOR
audience favorite.
12
GUEST ARTIST BEYOND THE SCORE WORLD MUSIC ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR
13
SATURDAY
APRIL 21, 2018 7:30PM
ARCBEST PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER
The Crumbs
FILM SCORES FROM: The Cowboys, To Kill a Mockingbird,
The Big Country, The Magnificent Seven
and The Civil War
CRUMBS FORT SMITH HERITAGE SONGS: String Em Up,
He She Song, Wave, Horses One-Pistols Three
BEN MILLER BAND: Ozark Stomp classics
LYON-BALLAY: Good Night Fort Smith Ben Miller Band
SCHROEDER: From Disparate Lands

Its time for a musical birthday party! The 2017-2018 season

marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of Fort Smith, so
we are celebrating in a huge symphonic way with exuberant
film scores and world premieres that will blow you away!
Phillip Schroeder, composer
Fort Smiths own folk band, The Crumbs, will be our
special guests along with the internationally-acclaimed Ben
Miller Band.
This will be a concert like no other and a not to be missed
celebratory event!
Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay, composer
14
 RIVERSIDE FURNITURE POPS SERIES

CONCERT CO-SPONSOR

CONCERT CO-SPONSOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

SPONSOR

JONES, JACKSON & MOLL, PLC

Attorneys at Law

GUEST ARTIST AMERICAN HERITAGE QUALITY OF PLACE

SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR
15
 ZERO MOUNTAIN CLASSICS SERIES

16
 THE NAXOS
SESSIONS CYCLE II
CONCERT SPONSOR
SATURDAY
MAY 12, 2018 7:30PM
QUALITY OF PLACE
ARCBEST PERFORMING
SPONSOR ARTS CENTER
PRICE: Symphony No. 1 in E Minor (1932)
PRICE: Symphony No. 4 in D Minor (1945) (World Premiere)

Join the Fort Smith Symphony as we perform the music of

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
SPONSOR Arkansan, Florence Price (1887-1953). This concert will be
followed by recording sessions with the Fort Smith Symphony
for Naxos International, the worlds largest classical label.
Florence Prices music is romantic, lyrical, soulful and
beautiful. She was the first African-American female composer
AMERICAN HERITAGE
to have a symphony performed by a major American
SPONSOR
orchestra. She is considered the most prominent, historically
significant concert composer of her race and gender in
American music history. The Fort Smith Symphony will be the
first orchestra to ever record her complete cycle of
BEYOND THE SCORE
four symphonies.
SPONSOR
This is a very special and historic musical event for our city,
state and our country!
17
 ZERO MOUNTAIN EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Windgate
Foundation

The Kool Cats present an awesome,

fun and exciting history of Jazz to all
4th grade students in the Fort Smith
public and private schools.
This ensemble, lead by Don Bailey,
celebrates Jazz as an important American
musical tradition. Jazz in the schools via a
symphony orchestra, very hip!
Thank you, Dream Alliance!

William Thomas
&May Pitman
HENNESSY FOUNDATION

KOOL CATS: Don Bailey, saxophone; Terri Bailey, piano; Alline & C.C. Davis
Brandon Patterson, bass; Bruce Fowler, drums CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

18
 Jolt is an innovative and unique, fully electronic
string quartet, bringing a new musical experience
to the greater Fort Smith region.Jolt brings
string quartet music to an entirely different
level combining a classical ensemble with
elements from Rock, Pop, Jazz, Country
and Patriotic music to name just a few.
Jolt includes two violinists, a violist
and a cellist/bassist all playing on
electronic string instruments
connected to multi-effect
processors with the ability to
create hundreds of different sounds
and effects. The quartet is joined by stellar
region guest vocalists and instrumentalists at
community events near you.

Jolt is a rarity in todays world of the symphony

PRESENTING SPONSOR but totally cool! Thank you, Dream Alliance!

SPONSORS

William Thomas JOLTTM: Mike Burkepile, violin; Anitra Fay, viola;

&May Pitman Brandon Patterson, bass; Karen Jeter, violin;
HENNESSY FOUNDATION Bruce Fowler, drums

19
 ZERO MOUNTAIN EDUCATIONAL SERIES

The Symphony in the Schools program presents the Fort Smith

Symphony String Quartet to fifth graders in the classrooms at
more than 50 public and private schools across the greater Fort
Smith Region.
The program provides an up-close and personal experience
with string instruments, music of the great composers and
learning firsthand about the basic elements of music.

FORT SMITH SYMPHONY

STRING QUARTET:
Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay and
Lori Fay, violins;
Kathy Murray, viola;
Barbara Godette, cello

Windgate
Foundation

Alline & C.C. Davis William Thomas

&May Pitman
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
HENNESSY FOUNDATION

20
 Music at its core is always telling a story.
Storybook Strings focuses on this aspect
of music with musical interpretations of well-
known childrens literature.
Actor/narrator Jim Loyd reads and interprets
popular childrens books accompanied by live
original music for string quartet composed
by Fort Smith Symphony concertmaster
Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay.

Elizabeth Lyon-Ballay, Artistic Director & violin; Lori Fay, violin; Kathy Murray, viola;
Brandon Patterson, bass; Jim Loyd, actor/narrator

Windgate Alline & C.C. Davis

Foundation CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

21
Check the Fort Smith Symphony out on local and regional media through our excellent
media collaborations.

M AGAZ I N E

Visit our Facebook page to keep up to date on Symphony events.

Video footage may be seen on our website FortSmithSymphony.org.

22
These presentations take place on stage during classics concerts at various times each season.
Music Director/Conductor John Jeter and the orchestra present musical excerpts and
commentary to patrons for a greater insight, understanding and historical context of music
that is played during the concert.

SPONSOR
23
 Founded in 1923, the Fort Smith Symphony is one of the most
outstanding orchestras in the State of Arkansas and enjoys wide
regional support and sell-out concerts. The orchestra includes over
100 professional musicians traveling from Oklahoma, Missouri,
Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, and New York, as well as Arkansas for
rehearsals and concerts.
The orchestra is governed by a 24-member board of directors
and has a full-time staff of four. Under Music Director/
Conductor John Jeter, the Symphony organization has grown
in quality and outreach opportunities. The 2017-18 season
is John Jeters twenty-first season as Music Director.
The orchestra consistently receives regional, national, and
international recognition for artistic achievements and
its award-winning educational programs. As an example,
the orchestras three CD/downloads on the internationally-
known Naxos label comprise the first ever complete cycle of
recorded symphonies of William Grant Still. The Symphony
will record again for Naxos beginning in May of 2018.

24
 UAFS DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
TICKET PROGRAM
Supported by Lavon Morton and Dr.
Brenda Yelvington, this program provides
concert tickets to music majors and music
faculty of UAFS.

TUNES FOR TOYS

The Fort Smith Symphony partners with the
Department of Human Services Children and
Family Division for Tunes for Toys, a community service
program that collects gifts at the orchestras holiday
concert for distribution to foster children in
Sebastian County.

25
Chair Sponsors
You are cordially invited to join the Fort Smith Symphony as an Orchestra Chair Sponsor.
Sponsorship of a Symphony musician assures the presence of talented and professional
musicians in the orchestra and provides our community with outstanding concert events
throughout the season. Sponsorship is a $1,500 gift to the Fort Smith Symphony.
Join today with those dedicated to supporting the Arts in Fort Smith! Contact the Symphony
office at 479.452.7575, ext. 2.

MARILYN PATTERSON JOSEPH F. RUMSEY, III MARK & VIVIAN LINDGREN

Music Director MEMORIAL CHAIR Section Second Violin
Section First Violin
MRS. PHOEBE MUELLER SEIBENMORGAN &
Concertmaster IN HONOR OF DR. SANDI ASSOCIATES PRIVATE
SANDERS BY THE FORT SMITH WEALTH ADVISORY
JOHN & JAYNE ALFORD SYMPHONY PRACTICE OF AMERIPRISE
Associate Concertmaster Section First Violin FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Section Second Violin
BURVA ANN & ANONYMOUS
EDWARD B. NUGENT Section First Violin BETH WATSON
Assistant Concertmaster Section Second Violin
REGIONS BANK
DOUG & KATHY BABB Principal Second Violin BANCORPSOUTH
Section First Violin Principal Viola
MR. & MRS. ROBERT A. YOUNG, III
JUDY BOREHAM Assistant Principal Second Violin WANDA SRYGLEY
Section First Violin Assistant Principal Viola
TIM & CONNIE BAILEY
BUDDY & LYNN COLEMAN Section Second Violin MIRIAM ANN PATES
Section First Violin MEMORIAL CHAIR
JIM & ANN BRUNING Section Viola
DR. CRAIG & STACY STITES Section Second Violin
Section First Violin DR. STEVE & LINDA NELSON
CENTER FOR HEARING IN Section Viola
ROBERT & NADINE MEMORY OF KELLY SPRADLIN
HARDIN MILLER JOHNSTON SAMUEL M. SICARD
Section First Violin Section Second Violin MEMORIAL CHAIR
Section Viola
MARY & MARK MOLL THE COMMUNITY STATE BANK,
Section First Violin POTEAU, OK JUDGE & MRS. JIM SPEARS
Section Second Violin Section Viola
IVY & BARBARA OWEN
Section First Violin DR. KRIS GAST & RON MARTIN JACQUELYN &
Section Second Violin KENNETH WALLACE
OG&E - ROB RATLEY Section Viola
Section First Violin CARTER HUNT
MEMORIAL CHAIR CHARLES & PATRICIA WERNER
PEACHTREE HOSPICE Section Second Violin Section Viola
Section First Violin
26
TIM & DIANE THORNE DAVE & ELLEN DARTER DR. BENNY &
Section Viola Section Bass MARTHA GOODEN
Section Trumpet
DR. COLE & HENRY COOK MEMORIAL CHAIR
MRS. STACI GOODMAN Principal Flute MICHAEL &
Principal Cello MICHELLE HADLEY
HARRY ROBINSON BUICK GMC Section Trumpet
AT&T Section Flute
Section Cello MARK & VICKI RUMSEY
SCOTT & DUSTI STANDRIDGE Principal Trombone
MR. & MRS. ROBERT COOPER Section Flute
Section Cello MARIAN & JIM GERLACH
DAVIS IRON & METAL Section Trombone
KATHLEEN FAY & Principal Piccolo
DOROTHY RYAN FAY BKD, LLP
Section Cello DR. & MRS. JAMES E. KELLY, III Principal Bass Trombone
Principal Oboe
LAVON MORTON BEKAERT
Section Cello OPIE CATES MEMORIAL CHAIR Principal Tuba
Section Oboe
BUDDY & LINDA SPRADLIN SIMMONS BANK
Section Cello STACI & DR. COLE GOODMAN Principal Timpani
Principal English Horn
JOHN & CINDY SWICEGOOD JANE & MIKE RAPPEPORT
Section Cello NANCY & MITCH LLEWELLYN Co-Principal Percussion
Section Clarinet
TED GASKELL IN
MEMORY OF COMPANION LEGACY CAPITOL GROUP
DR. JAMES & CAROL WHITENECK Co-Principal Percussion
JOANN JACKSON Principal Bass Clarinet
Section Cello
IN HONOR OF
ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA DR. JO HARPER & IN MEMORY
JENNIFER & DON MCDONALD
GAS CORPORATION OF W.R. BUD HARPER
Assistant Principal Bass Chair Principal Bassoon Section Percussion
HSA ENGINEERING DR. BRENDA YELVINGTON JIM &PEGGY HADLEY
CONSULTING SERVICES, INC. Principal Horn Mallet Percussion
Section Bass
ARKANSAS POLY, INC. DR. JIM & KATHY
D. CHRIS & GLADYS RINK IN Section Horn
MEMORY OF MICHAEL REMERSCHEID
RINK & IN HONOR OF JOHN Principal Harp
DR. & MRS. PAUL B. BERAN
DRUECKHAMMER, DAVID
Section Horn THOMAS GAMMILL &
DRUECKHAMMER &
CHRISTOPHER RINK COMPANY CPAS
Section Bass ROBERT MORGAN, Piano/Keyboard
NICHOLE & ALEX
CLAUDIA CATLETT Section Horn SHIPLEY & SILLS
Section Bass FAMILY DOCTORS
DAVID & BARBARA SAXON
Stage Manager Chair
WEATHER BARR Section Horn
WINDOWS & DOORS
Section Bass JUDY & LANCE MCREYNOLDS
Principal Trumpet

27
Symphony Sponsors
l T h a n k s !
Sp ecia
Thank you to the Symphonys many sponsors and donors. Your support truly makes a
difference for the Arts in our community. Many additional financial partners and in-kind gifts
make each Symphony season a reality. We appreciate and value your partnerships.
Support for the Fort Smith Symphony is provided in part by the Arkansas Arts Council, an
agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, Pates Family Trust, and Orr Cadillac.

28
 IN-KIND SPONSORS

CAMPAIGN DESIGN EVENT WINE SPONSOR

BROCHURE PRINTING MUSICIAN REFRESHMENTS

MUSICIAN ACCOMMODATIONS EVENT FLORIST

STUDENT USHER PROGRAM PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNER

OUTDOOR MARKETING OFFICIAL TECHNOLOGY PARTNER

29
Purchase Tickets
FORT SMITH SYMPHONY SEASON TICKETS
CENTRAL MALL, SUITE 617 (For all six subscription concerts)
P.O. BOX 3151 CONDUCTOR CELEBRATION
FORT SMITH, AR 72913 Adult $195 $150
479.452.7575 phone Student $125 $100
479.452.8985 fax
fssymphony@fortsmithsymphony.org SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS
Season and single ticket orders can be CONDUCTOR CELEBRATION
made by phone or mail. Tickets may also Adult $45 $40
be purchased at the Fort Smith Symphony Student $22 $17
office located in Central Mall, Suite 617.
To continue our high quality of customer Tickets for NEW Subscribers go on sale
service, we do not offer online ticket sales. June 26, 2017.

The ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Single Ticket sales begin August 14, 2017.
Center is ADA compliant. www.fortsmithsymphony.org

TICKET SECTION ADULT/STUDENT

QTY. PRICE
NAME
An Evening with Jeremy Denk

ADDRESS The Great Ladies of Swing

An Epic Christmas

Romantic Echoes
PHONE:
Fort Smith Bicentennial Celebration

EMAIL: Homegrown Greatness

I am a new subscriber
Subtotal
Handling Fee $2
I am renewing my subscription Tax-deductible gift
TOTAL
Check (payable to the Fort Smith Symphony)
Visa Mastercard American Express Discover

Card Number:

Exp. Date: Security #:

Signature

30
CONCERT 1: CONCERT 2:
An Evening with Jeremy Denk The Great Ladies of Swing
Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 7:30 pm

CONCERT 3: CONCERT 4:
An Epic Christmas Romantic Echoes
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 7:30 pm Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 7:30 pm

CONCERT 5: CONCERT 6:
Fort Smith Bicentennial Celebration Homegrown Greatness-The Music
Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 7:30 pm of Florence Price
Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 7:30 pm
31
 TICKET SPONSOR

FORT
SMITH
SYMPHONY
2017-2018

32