Phoenix Symphony Kicks Off 70th Season
The Phoenix Symphony kicked off the 70th Anniversary Opening Night on Sept. 15 at the annual Chairman’s Reception. The event was held in the lobby of Symphony Hall. Virginia G. Piper Music Director Tito Muñoz; Jim Ward, Phoenix Symphony president and CEO; and Oliver Harper, Phoenix Symphony Board of Directors chair, met with board members and supporters to celebrate the occasion.
While guests enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres, Muñoz shared his vision for the season. The schedule is infused with young American composers, and in recognition of the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein, there will be a season-long focus on his music. Gov. Doug Ducey, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, retired U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, state Sen. Steve Pierce, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and other noted community leaders, including Jeanne Herberger, also spoke. The 70th Anniversary Season is dedicated to the memory of Herberger’s late husband, Gary Herberger.
The concert officially began after Harper guest conducted “The Star Spangled Banner” for a unique ensemble, the big band in place for the night’s first piece, Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue and Riffs. The rest of the performance featured guest violinist Philippe Quint in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, which received standing ovations, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
PHOTOS BY HAUTE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Sen. Jeff Flake
Jeanne Herberger and Jim Ward
Esther Zuhlke, Karen Fruen and Kim Smith
David and Leslie Berry, Oliver Harper, Sen. Jeff Flake and Cheryl Flake
Sen. Steve Pierce and Mayor Greg Stanton
Sen. Jon Kyl, Sharon Dupont McCord and Gov. Doug Ducey
Students from Symphony for Schools, a program of The Phoenix Symphony that provides school groups an opportunity to attend a concert at Symphony Hall
Susan Ernst, Lisa Autrey and Lynne Traverse
Lisa Harper and Laura Grafman
Leslie Rich and Enid Seiden
