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NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletter October 2015 Volume 25, No 3

A Grand Gathering

The 2015 reunion of CSOAA members was held Friday, October 9, at the Cliff Dwellers, adjacent to Orchestra Hall. Over 60 members and guests attended.

New CSO Association president Jeff Alexander addressed the attendees. Not only had he provided CSOAA members with free tickets to the CSO concert preceding the reunion, he also gave former CSO members complimentary copies of Chicago Symphony Orchestra: 125 Moments, the book compiled by Frank Villella, director of the CSO Rosenthal Archives, to commemorate the orchestra’s 125th-anniversary season.

Hall reported that dues payments increased from 81 to 86 in 2015, and many generous donations were made. As a result, the treasury remains strong even while the CSOAA holds a reunion annually instead of every 18 months.

The timetable for dues payments will be different in 2016. The first notice will be sent in January, the second notice in February, and the third and final notice in March, with the directory to be distributed in April.

Bylaws were amended to grant membership to direct descendants of former CSO members. In the past, such membership required board approval.

All incumbents were re-elected at the reunion: president-editor Tom Hall, vice-president Eric Wicks, treasurer Ray Niwa, secretary Don Moline, and directors Donald Koss, Samuel Magad, Paul Phillips, Beverly Schiltz, and Gary Stucka.

Jeff Alexander speaks at the reunion

Louise Dixon Retires

Louise Dixon, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s flute section and a long-time CSOAA member, officially retired from the CSO at the end of September 2015. At the time of her appointment to the CSO by Sir Georg Solti in 1973, she was principal flute of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a member of the Grant Park Orchestra.

A native of Pigeon, Michigan, Louise was introduced to the flute through the school music program and joined the Saginaw Youth Orchestra, winning the Young Artist Competition to appear as soloist with the Saginaw Symphony. After completing high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, she earned a performer’s certificate and a Bachelor of Music degree at Indiana University and a master’s degree at Northwestern University. Her teachers included James Pellerite and Walfrid Kujala.

During her years with the CSO, Louise was an active performer on the Orchestra's chamber music series and a frequent soloist at the Bach Week Festival in Evanston. On several occasions she was a soloist with the CSO, performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 at Orchestra Hall and at Ravinia. She also performed as a guest artist with the Chicago Chamber Musicians and was a member of the faculty at the DePaul University School of Music.

Source: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Photo: Todd Rosenberg

Jacques Israelievitch

Jacques Israelievitch, assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1972 to 1978 and a member of the CSO Alumni Association, passed away on September 5, 2015, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was 67.

Jacques enjoyed an exciting and varied career as concertmaster, soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and conductor. After making his debut on French National Radio at the age of eleven, he went on to graduate from the Paris Conservatory at sixteen and was subsequently prizewinner at the International Paganini Competition. His teachers include Henryk Szeryng, Janos Starker, William Primrose, and Josef Gingold.

Following his years in Chicago, Jacques served as concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for ten years and then as concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for twenty years.

Jacques taught at the Chautauqua Institution and was on the faculties of the University of Toronto and York University in Toronto. Music director of the Koffler Chamber Orchestra from 2005, Jacques was also a guest conductor with several major symphony orchestras in the US and Canada.

Jacques was violinist for the New Arts Trio, and he performed chamber music with Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, and Yo-Yo Ma.

His discography comprises more than 100 albums, including the first complete recording of Rodolphe Kreutzer’s 42 Studies or Caprices for solo violin.

In 2004 the French government named Jacques an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. He was also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished contribution to the performing arts in Canada. In August he was presented the Insignia of the Order of Canada in a private ceremony at his home.

Source: www.Israelievitch.com

Directory updates:

Ava Aitay-Donato has a new address: 201 South Yale Avenue, Arlington Heights IL 60005. Her mobile phone is currently her only phone: (773) 742-1066

Howard Gottlieb has a new address and landline: 77 East Walton Street #23A, Chicago IL 60611-2298. Phone: (312) 864-0749

Edgar Muenzer has rejoined the CSOAA. His address is 530 Grand Blvd., Park Ridge IL 60068. Phone/Fax: (847) 823-8861. Mobile: (847) 828-6114. Wisconsin phone: (920) 743-8656. E-mail: EdgarMuenzer@sbcglobal.net

Leoni and Bill McVey have moved. Their new address is 2650 North Lakeview Avenue #810, Chicago IL 60614. New phone: (773) 857-1988

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Alumni Association (CSOAA) is an unincorporated not-for-profit organization established in 1991 to unite and serve former members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. All current and former CSO members, their respective spouses, and musicians who have regularly performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra may hold membership in the CSOAA upon payment of $30 annual dues. Other persons may be granted membership at the discretion of the CSOAA Board of Directors.

President-Editor: Tom Hall (TomMHall@aol.com) Members should notify the editor of any changes in their contact information. Vice President: Eric Wicks Secretary: Donald Moline Treasurer: Raymond Niwa Directors: Donald Koss, Samuel Magad, Paul Phillips, Beverly Schiltz, Gary Stucka CSO Association Liaison: Frank Villella, Director, Rosenthal Archives CSO Director of Human Resources: Lynne Sorkin Volunteer: Janice Holling Address: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Alumni Association, c/o Rosenthal Archives, 220 South Michigan

Avenue, Chicago IL 60604 Phone: (312) 294-3055 E-Mail: csoalumni@cso.org Web site: http://cso.org/alumni. User name:Alumnus and password:csoAA1 (both case-sensitive). (Please do not share user name and password information.)

Frank Villella shows Norm Schweikert 125 Moments CSOAA Treasurer Ray Niwa gets a round of applause

Beverly Schiltz & Barbara Sciacchitano Don Moline Ella Braker & Edgar Muenzer

Mary Sauer & Richard Hannenberg Will Scarlett & Phyllis Bleck

Eric & Linda Baker Wicks Fred Spector Wally & Sherry Kujala

Larry Combs & Bob Rada Joe Kainz & Gary Stucka

All reunion photographs by Elliot Mandel