By the Numbers…
We delight in the success of our 2023–2024 Season!
Pictured: “BRO Revels! 2024” December 10th 2024
Photo Credit: Kathy Kmonicek
5
Concert Programs
Under the leadership and wisdom of
Music Director, Milton Crotts
Photo credit: Kathy Kmonicek
82
Musicians
8
Students
4
Featured Groups
7
Venues
32
Volunteers
Featured Artists
Musicians
Season 2023–’24
Section musicians aside from principal designations are listed alphabetically.
VIOLIN I: Paula Akbar Concertmaster, Susan Anderson, Arnold Brown, Leah Hart, Tina Muzzi, Meg Puett, Kate Rickenbacker, Tamara Rohrer, Nicole Stallings, Sissel Topple, Steven Trismen
VIOLIN II: Jennie Brunner Principal, Spencer Arndt, Meredith Candler, Karen Cianciulli, Janet Spletzer, Ely Levine, Abby Walker, Laura Williamson
VIOLA: Brenda Phetteplace Principal, Debbie Baumann, Day Ann Emory, Nick Frost, Ilona Harabin, Mari Hashimoto, Daniel Leich, Brynn McKay*, Vivian Torres
VIOLONCELLO: Tinder Burris Principal, Peggy Eckel, Rachel Hahn, Judy Handley, Brynn Heyes, Eric Sands, Zo Taddie
CONTRABASS: Leo Bjorlie Principal, Luke Baunack, BJ Sharp, Landon Walker
FLUTE/PICCOLO: Bradford Malbon Principal, Sarah Cifani, Amber Cook, Rita Hayes
OBOE: Carlton Alexander Principal, Ed Ramey
ENGLISH HORN: Carlton Alexander
CLARINET: Justin Landry Principal, Jennifer Garnett, Nick Stow
BASSOON: Susan Cohen Principal, Jennifer Anderson, Owen Pearson, Will Peebles
HORN: Elizabeth Richard Principal, Allen Dudley, David Lehlbach, Matthew Rebadow*, Amelia Ward*, Mary Williamson
TRUMPET: Casey Coppenbarger Principal, Alex Holguin, Gabe Holguin, Kevin Paul TROMBONE: Rienette Davis Principal, J.P. Carney, Andrew Johnson, Charles Johnson, Emily Songster
TUBA: Mark Bower
TIMPANI: Michelle Summey
PERCUSSION: Mario Gaetano Principal, Chris Leich, Kai Moskow*, Michelle Summey, Max Witt
HARP: Tori Parrish
PIANO: Ivan Seng
*Student
FROM OUR AUDIENCE:
From our "Well-Tempered Wizard" program in October, 2023: “I just wish it wasn’t over!”, “Amazing”, “Fabulous”, and “FUN”!
Business Friends 2023-’24
Friends of the Blue Ridge Orchestra
BUSINESSES
Platinum ($2,500+)
Arts Avl, Buncombe County, NC Arts Council
Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty
Souther Williams Vineyard
Gold ($1000+)
Kathy Kmonicek Photography
The Organic Mechanic
Silver ($500+)
HomeTrust Bank
Prestige Subaru
Whistle Hop Brewing Co.
Bronze ($250+)
Asheville Pediatric Associates P.A.
Asheville Elevated Photography
The Carolina Primrose Quartet
Colton Mattress Factory
Eclipse Salon
Gillespie Dental Associates
Manicomio Pizza & Food
The Palmer Company
Rickenbacker Violins
White Labs Brewing Co.
INDIVIDUALS
SUSTAINERS ($2500+)
In Memoriam: Chuck Cole and Nancy Yeager Cole
The Margarete W. Moon Endowment
Cadenza Fund
Francee & Richard Healy
Keith Keener
Gary Spaulding & Deb Kenney
Ben Trotter
BENEFACTORS ($1000+)
Gary Anderson
Karen Cianciulli
Elizabeth & Andy Glatstein
Ruth Hall
Gail Gregg Jolley
Anne (Rooney) McKenzie: In honor of Casey Coppenbarger
Ann & Jerry McLellan
Miles for Music
Kay Rouse
Craig T. Smith
Melon Wedick & Jonathan Stockdale
Gary Ticknor & Linda Lutz
PATRONS ($500+)
Anonymous
Paul Alexander: In honor of Carlton Alexander, oboe
Arnold & Marguerite S. Brown
Randolph & Martha Carson
Anna & Jules Nagy
C. David Pomeroy, Jr.: In memory of Cait Pomeroy
David & Kay Kuroda Teague
SUPPORTERS ($250+)
Paula Akbar: In honor of Dorothy Lindgren McCormick
Nancy Bourne & Terry Agner
Meredith & Peter Candler
Gene and Lee Casey
Bruce G. & Judith H. Clark
Alberto Colonia & George Hunker
Casey & Nancy Coppenbarger
Rich & Holly D'Amour
Ed Davis & Brad Edmonds
Deborah K. Delano- In honor of Gary Spaulding & Deb Kenney
Day Ann & Bruce Emory
Martha Fugate
Marian & Thomas Jerdee
Charlie & Shirley Mitchell
Brenda Phetteplace: In memory of Tom Trout
Richard & Sandra Purdy
Fred & Jean Riggs: In honor of MJ & Daniel Leich
Tamara & Mark Rohrer
BJ Sharp
Kirsten Sikkelee & Paul Walker: In honor of Abby Walker
Stephen Snap
Doris Sotirellis
Sissel Topple: In honor of Concertmaster, Paula Akbar
Sarah Van Gunten
BACKERS ($100+)
Anonymous
Carlton Alexander: In memory of Leone S. Alexander
Sarah Ann Smith
Dennis Ash & Sarah Lashlee
Charles & Stephanie Baer
Luther Barnhardt
Katherine Blackburn
Charles & Beverly Briedis- In honor of Ruth Hall
Janice Brown & David Goldsmith
Sylvia Cassel
Mr. & Mrs. Dudley Cate
Sarah Cifani
Bill & Meg Clontz
Susan Cohen
Amber & Brian Cook
Warren & Diane Edwards
Howie & Barb Fiedler
Stephen Frost
George & Rachel Hahn
Jean Allen Harvey: In honor of Mari Hashimoto
Valerie Hogstrom
Jane Lysko Isbey
Charles Johnson & Leslie Bennis
Mack Johnston
Andrew & Hilary Krueger
Heather G. Krueger, MD
Doug Kruger
David Lehlbach & Heather Miracle
Frederick & Martha Lehlbach
Meredith Lenell
Scott & Elizabeth Malbon
Diana Martelly
Karen Matluck, MD
Margaret McAlister
Victoria E. Mobberly
Cameron Peck
James F. & Dee Dee Perkins: In honor of Milton Crotts
Jack & Susan Pierce
Ruth Planey & Stephen Boyer: In honor of Craig Smith
Stephen M. Robinson
Sharon Rodgers: In honor of Justin Landry
Cheryl Russell
Suzanne & Norman Schneiderman
Bob & Florence Sharp
David Slobodin & Jane Fant
Janet Spletzer
Alexandra Stark: In memory of Henry H. Rousseau
Leslie Starkey
Sanford Stoddard
Ken & Joyce Stoppelbein
Donley & Susan Studlar
William Waff
Gary& Rosalyn Wasserman
Shirley & Michael Waterkotte
James Weikart
Courtland & Cathryn White
Bob & Mary Williamson
Carolyn & Hamish Ziegler
ASSOCIATES
($50+)
Anonymous
Judith Albertson & David Bird
Deborah and Jose' Alvarez
Tinder Kurtz Burris
Mary Brady
Dr. Louis Dwarshuis & Dr. Marilyn Kolton-Dwarshuis
Peggy & Kurt Eckel
Tom & Jan Fife
Charlie & Tricia Franck
Jean Haggar
Victor Harabin
Karen Herrell
Harris Hunter
Kenneth D. Kahn
Kris Kramer
Justin Landry
Mary Jo LaPorte
Bobbi Laratta
Dan Leich
Louis Lieb
Bea Lothrop
Bradford Malbon
Jeanne Marsh
Ethel & Garry Mayer
Merritt & Madeline Moseley
Sylvia Nissley
Sharon R. Parker
Billie Prosser
Ed Ramey
Anne Russell
Eric & Patricia Sands
Janet Schlaufman
Nicole Stallings
Robert & Pat Stolz
Steven & Sara Storck
Michelle Summey
Mary Thomas
Thomas Tookey
Laura Williamson
Tyrus Wilson
Wink & Venny Zachritz
CONTRIBUTORS ($1+)
Kenzie Alexander & Dillon Hopper
Barbara Bewernitz
Stephen Canner
Tina Jenkins
Ann F. Kieffer: In honor of Franklin Keel
Carol Marin
Waltraut & James Muldrow
Ingeborg Robert
Joan Dwayne Skolimowski
Miles For Music Fundraising Campaign- October 2023
Dr. Eric Sands is a cellist and supportive member of the Blue Ridge Orchestra organization. Through the Cycle North Carolina program by NC Sports, Eric cycled upwards of 469 miles, which began in Banner Elk, NC, and ended in Emerald Isle, NC. He partnered with the BRO to raise over $1,000 along his journey:
“As a member of the Blue Ridge Orchestra (BRO), through the ‘Miles for Music’ campaign I have an opportunity to give back to an ensemble that has brought me so much joy while motivating me to improve as an instrumentalist. Just as a cyclist must train daily to complete the ‘NC Mountains to Coast Ride’, a musician employs a similar approach when preparing for a concert – hours of practice, rehearsal, and dedication. I’ve witnessed first-hand the overwhelmingly positive audience reaction to the BRO performances, and donations from campaigns such as ‘Miles for Music’ ensure the BRO continues to live its Mission: engaging Western North Carolina’s extraordinary music community with opportunities to perform, listen to, and learn about great symphonic music.”- Dr. Eric Sands
Best Friends of the Blue Ridge Orchestra:
Our Volunteers
Volunteers make all of our concert operations possible. We appreciate our “Best Friends”, who graciously served across seven venues this season!
We are forever grateful for the impact these smiling faces have on our organization:
Brett Anderson
Nancy Bourne
Kerry Daniel
Valerie Foote
Max Haner
Wendy Haner
Francee Healy
Richard Healy
Debra Henderson
Karen Herrell
Deb Kenney
Kris Kramer
Renee Lampila
Roger Lampila
Beatriz Lothrop
Ruthye Lovinsohn
Anna Martin
Margaret McAlister
Victoria Mobberly
Laura Nugent
MJ Powley
Frank Roberts
Janet Schlaufman
Sherri
Peg Snider
Steven Storck
Michelle Summey
Eric Turnnessen
Kimberly Van Niekerk
Michael Waterkotte
Shirley Waterkotte
2023-'24 Sources of Income
2023-'24 Areas of Expenditures
Grassroots Arts Program Grant
GAP Grant 2023-2024:
BRO’s operational and transportation expenses were supported in part by Arts AVL, Buncombe County Government, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
