FALL 2019 EDITION
Bruce Colquhoun, Volunteer Notes Editor | bcolquhoun@comcast.net
Past President, Spokane Symphony Associates
IN THIS ISSUE
Meet Our New President
Message from Terry White
Meet the Class of 2019 Council Members
The Minnesota Orchestra and Orchestra Hall
Conference 2020-Save the Date!
Membership Opportunities
The Volunteer Council
Meet Terry Ann White - President of the Volunteer Council by Janet Cabot
Terry didn’t play an instrument or go to the symphony when she was young. And, she freely admits that she has been “rhythmically challenged” all her life! Happily, none of these things are required to be an appreciative symphony-goer, dedicated volunteer leader, or member of the League of American Orchestra Volunteer Council.
Terry’s interest in classical music began when her boyfriend, now husband, suggested getting a symphony subscription when they were dating. The rest is history. Music made its mark. She has been married for 37 years and has been a member and involved with the Amarillo Symphony Guild for more than 25 years.
The volunteer tradition continues; Terry and her daughter Courtney recently co-chaired the Guild’s Orchestra Courtesy program, which brings snacks to musicians during rehearsals. “It has been so much fun sharing this with her,” says Terry.
Although she lived in many places growing up in a military family, Terry counts Texas as her home. She was an undergraduate at SMU and earned her law degree from Texas Tech. Practicing law runs in the family; both her husband Mark and daughter Courtney are lawyers.
Terry explains their younger daughter Hillary opted out of the “family business” to work in satellite radio. Terry has been with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP for 36 years specializing in work for state entities and local municipalities in the area of tax collection.
When not working, Terry enjoys watching football and old movies; Rebecca and North by Northwest are favorites. She also loves to needlepoint. “I find it very calming and a great way to focus the mind,” she says. She and her husband travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico at least once a year.
Terry describes herself as a laid-back leader, who is an introvert at her core, and someone who likes to delegate and take a “hands-off” approach. In her time as a member of the Volunteer Council (she is now in her sixth year), one of the most valuable things she has learned is to be efficient and organized.
Message From Our New President Terry White
Once again summer has slipped away, and fall is ushering in the holiday season and a new Volunteer Council year. I remember when I joined the Volunteer Council five years ago and how in awe I was of this small group of women.
They had organized the volunteer track of the Seattle Conference down to the minute; really they broke the time blocks into one --to five--minute increments. Just think, these women from across the country, only meet twice a year and they put together an expertly run conference. I am honored to have been asked to join them and even more to be their president this year.
We are excited about having three new members this year who add to our geographic diversity: Kathy Leibrand from Kansas City, Charlotte Lewis from New Orleans, and Irene Sohm from Santa Rosa. Also joining the Council will be Marena Gault the AMSOV liaison from Dallas and Wanda Kanwischer, our Conference liaison from Minneapolis. The Council looks forward to working with you all this year.
Next year’s Conference will be in Minneapolis June 10 through 12 and the Volunteer Council has already begun our preparations. We are meeting in Minneapolis October 6 for three days to discuss Conference content; look at the Hyatt Regency, the host hotel; and most importantly to visit the local restaurants to select the best ones for our “Dine Around” which will be the evening before the Conference begins. Once again, this small group of men and women will offer you an exceptional Conference experience.
Meet the Class of 2019 Volunteer Council Members
The Volunteer Council welcomes Irene Sohm, Charlotte Lewis, and Kathy Leibrand to its Class of 2019. The Council also welcomes its new AMSOV liaison Marena Gault, who is with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Irene is a member of the Santa Rosa Symphony League (Santa Rosa, CA), Charlotte is a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Volunteers (New Orleans, LA), and Kathy is a member of the Kansas City Symphony Guild (Kansas City, MO).
Irene Sohm moved to Santa Rosa in 1992 where she promptly became a member of the Santa Rosa Symphony League. She has since served the League in many capacities, including President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President Major Fundraising, Vice President Member Development, Vice President Member Communications, and several other committee chair positions.
In 2015 she was invited to join the Santa Rosa Symphony Board of Directors where she served as chair of the Music Education Committee for three years. Irene comes from a very musical and artistic family and sang and played the cello through high school and college. She earned a BA in Music from Occidental College and an MA in Vocal Performance from CA State University, Hayward. She taught music for six years before staying home for a few years to have a family.
She then earned her certificate in interior design and worked in that field for many years until her retirement in 2005. She is now widowed, with two grown daughters and four grandchildren, and spends her time working for the symphony, singing in the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus, and dancing and teaching Flamenco.
Charlotte joined LPO Volunteers in 2011 and is Immediate Past President of the organization. She served as Recording Secretary and VP for Fundraising before becoming President-Elect. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
Charlotte is a native of New Orleans and, received a BS in mathematics from Newcomb College of Tulane University and an MS in mathematics from the University of New Orleans. She retired in 2009 after teaching mathematics at UNO for 27 years, the last ten of which she served as Director of Instructional Media and Technology. Charlotte and Bob have a grown daughter and a 3 ½ year old grandson.
Kathy Leibrand joined the Kansas City Symphony Guild (KCSG) in 2012 and is currently serving as a Fundraising Committee Chair member. Prior to this, her leadership roles with the KCSG were as Treasurer and President from 2013-17. Kathy served as Secretary for the Symphony Auxiliary Council in 2018-19 and remains a member as a League representative.
Kathy is a retired high school mathematics teacher, who taught for 33 years. She is married to her husband Larry, and has two children Chris (30), and Sarah (24). Both have careers in education.
Kathy is an International Rotarian serving with many charitable causes. These include Project Warmth, Hillcrest Ministries, youth education, and food banks. Her most memorable charitable role was as a medical missionary in Haiti.
Kathy enjoys visiting St. Louis to spend time with her daughter. She loves traveling internationally and is always ready for the next travel opportunity. She has recently become a Paul Harris Fellow which acknowledges her contribution to the Rotary Foundation.
The Minnesota Orchestra, founded in 1903 as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading symphony orchestras, winning acclaim for performances at home and abroad. In 2015 it became the first American orchestra to play in Cuba following a 2014 thaw in relations between the two countries, and in 2018 it became the first professional US orchestra to tour South Africa.
The Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä became the Orchestra’s tenth music director in 2003, joining a long line of celebrated music directors that includes Sir Neville Marriner, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Antal Doráti, Dimitri Mitropoulos, and Eugene Ormandy. Under Vänskä, the orchestra has recorded the complete symphonies of Beethoven, Sibelius, and, now underway, Mahler. Their album featuring Sibelius’s First and Fourth Symphonies won the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2014.
The Orchestra makes its home at Orchestra Hall, one of Minnesota’s cultural and architectural touchstones that opened in 1974, with design by Hugh Hardy and acoustics by Cyril Harris. Located in downtown Minneapolis, the Hall is known for its acoustical brilliance, with each feature in it planned to enhance the warmth and richness of sound in the space: the 100-plus large cubes that form a distinctive “falling rock” pattern on the auditorium ceiling disperse sound throughout the Hall; the wood floor and stage enhance sound vibration; and the angle of the balconies offer optimal reflection of sound.
Toronto-based KPMB Architects completed a major renovation of the venue in 2014. The new and upgraded spaces include a greatly expanded lobby; a refreshed auditorium that maintains the original acoustics for orchestral performances but features new and more comfortable seating; and improved access for those with disabilities. In 2019, the City of Minneapolis completed a refurbishment of Peavey Plaza, the urban park immediately adjacent to Orchestra Hall, which now adds an outdoor dimension to attending summer concerts at Orchestra Hall.
Save the Date-2020 League Conference in Minneapolis
You won’t want to miss attending the 75th National League of American Orchestras Conference in Minneapolis, MN, June 10-12, 2020! The Conference will be at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Plans are already underway to create a wonderful learning and networking experience for all attendees. Stay tuned for more information on our next Conference in future issues of Volunteer Notes. If you have ideas for volunteer sessions, please share them with the Volunteer Council.
Membership Opportunities
The Volunteer Council is made up of recognized volunteer leaders who have demonstrated outstanding support for their orchestras and who are committed to the goals of the League of American Orchestras. As a Volunteer Council member, one uses her/his leadership to provide representation, support, and professional development to fellow volunteers throughout the country.
If you are interested in learning more about joining the Volunteer Council, please contact Sharon Hatchett at sharon.d.hatchett@gmail.com
The Volunteer Council
Your Volunteer Council works to bring together the best ideas, projects and practices from volunteers around the country to share with you at Conference and through various resources.
Leadership
Terry Ann White, Amarillo Symphony, TX | President
Cindy Kidwell, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, TX | President-Elect
Tiffany Ammerman, Marshall Symphony, TX | Immediate Past President
Tresa Radermacher, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, IN Conference Chair
Beth Wise, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, AL | Conference Chair-Elect
Members
Janet Cabot, Madison Symphony Orchestra, WI
Bruce Colquhoun, Spokane Symphony, WA
Sharon Hatchett, Chicago Sinfonietta, IL
Charlotte Lewis, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, LA
Kathy Leibrand, Kansas City Symphony, MO
Ginny Lundquist, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, MI
Julie Meredith, Utah Symphony, UT
Laurie Skjerseth, Quad City Symphony, IA
Irene Sohm, Santa Rosa Symphony, CA
Ex-Officio Members
Marena Gault, AMSOV President, Dallas Symphony, TX
Wanda Kanwischer, 2020 Conference Liaison, Minnesota Orchestra, MN
Debbie McKinney, Sustainer Liaison, Oklahoma City Orchestra, OK
Marylou Turner, Sustainer Mentor, Kansas City Symphony, MO
Follow us on Facebook at Friends of the League of American Orchestra Volunteer Council.
Credits:
Created with images by Julio Rionaldo - "Strings Quartet" • Jonathan J. Castellon - "untitled image" • Manuel Nägeli - "Lonely harp" • Julina Medeiros - "Piano" • Dominik Scythe - "my fiancées violin. old, sounds good even when combined with metal guitars for my music…" • Curioso Photography - "Hands of the man playing the trumpet in parade in USA." • Naveen Venkatesan - "untitled image" • Arindam Mahanta - "Food for the soul" • Julio Rionaldo - "Strings Quartet"