Sawallisch and Eschenbach: An Historic Collaboration
In tribute to Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch and his celebrated decade-long tenure with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Music Director-Designate Christoph Eschenbach made a rare appearance as piano soloist for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 with Mr. Sawallisch conducting on October 17, 18, and 19. These were Mr. Eschenbach's first concerto performances with a conductor in 24 years, and a reprise of the same concerto with which he made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 1973. Widely acclaimed for his interpretation of Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert, Christoph Eschenbach earned a distinguished international reputation as a concert pianist before turning to conducting. Following his debut on the podium in 1972, he began to focus on his conducting career. Mr. Eschenbach will return to Philadelphia later this season to conduct five programs with the Orchestra, beginning with performances on December 5-7. He will succeed Mr. Sawallisch to become the Orchestra's seventh music director in the fall of 2003.

Impressive Results Unveiled at Annual Meeting
The Philadelphia Orchestra Association reported record artistic achievements, sales successes, and fundraising firsts for the 2001-02 season at its Annual Meeting on September 25 in the Academy of Music Ballroom. The historic mid-season move to the stunning new Verizon Hall in The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, outstanding performances with top artists, major premieres by American and international composers, new broadcast and internet partnerships, and the introduction of a new Mozart festival were among the successes highlighted by Joseph H. Kluger, Orchestra President, and Richard L. Smoot, Chairman. Ticket sales for the season, which included two months of concerts in the Academy of Music prior to the December opening of the Orchestra's new home, averaged 99% of capacity, with the Kimmel's Verizon Hall concerts consistently reaching 102% sales or better throughout the spring. (Subscription tickets donated for resale make possible sales figures over 100%.) The Orchestra attracted a record 6,500 new subscribers, almost twice the usual number. Despite an uncertain economy, The Philadelphia Orchestra Association also raised $30 million for a variety of projects, including annual operating support, Academy of Music "Raise the Roof" renovations, and endowment. The Annual Fund is expected to have increased by 6% at a time when many non-profits are down as much as 15%. The Academy of Music renovation is on budget and ahead of schedule.

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Orchestra Hosts 19-Year-Old Winner of Competition Encouraging Musicians of Color
Nineteen-year-old cellist Patrice Jackson appeared as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra in School Concerts on October 7, and visited two Philadelphia City schools on October 4, where she performed and spoke with students. Ms. Jackson is a winner of the 2001 Sphinx Competition, which encourages, develops, and recognizes classical music talent in the Black and Latino communities. Nearly 4,000 high-school students from over 50 public and private schools attended Ms. Jackson's concerts with the Orchestra. A native of St. Louis, Ms. Jackson also visited D.N. Fell School and Calvary Temple Christian Academy in Philadelphia. The sixth generation in her family to play a string instrument, she began piano lessons at age three with her mother and cello at age eight with her father. Since winning the Sphinx Competition, she has performed with the Atlanta and Dallas symphonies. She is currently pursuing graduate studies at Yale University.

WHYY Debuts Second Season of "Sunday Showcase"
A new season of Philadelphia Orchestra concert radio broadcasts began on Sunday, October 6 at 8:00 p.m. on WHYY's Sunday Showcase. The broadcast series debuted with the Orchestra's Gala Season Opening Concert conducted by Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch, recorded September 18 at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. A total of 34 full-length concerts by The Philadelphia Orchestra will be broadcast on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. throughout the series, as well as five operas performed by the Opera Company of Philadelphia. WHYY's Ed Cunningham hosts the series, providing background information on each program's featured works and interviewing guest artists and conductors. Sunday Showcase has been a success with audiences in the region since the program began in July 2001, resulting in a 200% increase in WHYY's audience during the program's time slot. The complete schedule of broadcasts is available on the Orchestra's website at http://www.philorch.org.

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Educational Website Launches for Gettysburg Project
The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra have joined forces in a special joint commission and educational project that commemorates the 140th anniversary of the fateful Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. To learn more about this exciting collaboration, visit the Gettysburg project website at imaginations/wearemetatgettysburg/, where you will find information about the composers and their music, as well as the project's historic roots and educational objectives.

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