Matthew VanBesien News

Heatherwick Studio and Diamond Schmitt Architects have been selected as the architecture team that will lead the renovation and reimagination of David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center's largest concert hall, it was announced today by Katherine Farley, chairman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Oscar S. Schafer, chairman of the New York Philharmonic. This first-ever collaboration brings together two world-class, award-winning firms -- collectively, they bring extensive experience designing innovative public spaces and specialized expertise in the design and execution of world-renowned performing arts halls.

Seven Rice University students have been selected to participate in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program, part of the New York Philharmonic Global Academy partnership between Rice's Shepherd School of Music and the New York Philharmonic.

From May 23 to June 11, 2016, the New York Philharmonic and Music Director Alan Gilbert will present the second NY PHIL BIENNIAL, a wide-ranging exploration of today's music by an array of contemporary and modern composers. A flagship project of the New York Philharmonic, the NY PHIL BIENNIAL brings together an international roster of composers, performers, and curatorial voices for concerts presented both on the Lincoln Center campus and in venues throughout the city.

From May 23 to June 11, 2016, the New York Philharmonic and Music Director Alan Gilbert will present the second NY PHIL BIENNIAL, a wide-ranging exploration of today's music by an array of contemporary and modern composers. A flagship project of the New York Philharmonic, the NY PHIL BIENNIAL brings together an international roster of composers, performers, and curatorial voices for concerts presented both on the Lincoln Center campus and in venues throughout the city.

This weekend found the New York Philharmonic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the inaugural performance residency of its five-year partnership with the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, in conjunction with the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Alan Gilbert led the Orchestra in works by Beethoven, Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Richard Strauss; David Newman led the score to On the Waterfrontas the complete film was screened; Philharmonic musicians led master classes; and Alan Gilbert conducted a thousand — Philharmonic brass plus the Michigan Marching Band, Michigan Alumni Band, and UMS Choral Union — at the Michigan Homecoming football game halftime show. Go Blue!

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic on the CALIFORNIA 2016 tour, May 3-7, 2016. The tour will feature four orchestral concerts with appearances in Costa Mesa, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts officially renamed its largest concert hall for entertainment icon and philanthropist David Geffen at a special ceremony today, as the New York Philharmonic opened its 2015-2016 season. Geffen's $100 million gift is the essential catalyst for the comprehensive renovation and re-imagination of the concert hall, a joint effort between Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic.

The New York Philharmonic's 2015-16 season reflects Music Director Alan Gilbert's and the organization's belief in the rich rewards of collaboration with artistic and institutional leaders, and in expanding the idea of what a symphony orchestra can be through a range of diverse programming and educational activities. Artistic partnerships will grow through enhanced curatorial influences, and national and international collaborations will continue to further cement the Orchestra's role as a resource in New York City and around the world.

Ten outstanding Music Academy of the West musicians have been selected to travel to New York in January 2016 to participate in the second year of the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program, which offers opportunities to train and play with Philharmonic musicians, representing a new approach to training the next generation of world-class musicians for successful careers.

 Kjristine Lund, Anthony McGill, Alan Pierson, David M. Roth, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Matthew VanBesien, and Jonathan Weedman have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras. The League is a membership organization comprised of hundreds of orchestras from across North America.

The New York Philharmonic and Rice University's Shepherd School of Music have entered into a partnership for the 2015-16 season, marking the third collaboration in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy - customized collaborations with partners worldwide that offer intensive training of pre-professional musicians by New York Philharmonic members. Under the partnership, Philharmonic musicians will travel to Houston to present master classes in fall 2015, and a group of student string players from The Shepherd School of Music, selected by audition, will travel to New York to participate in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program in May 2016.

The New York Philharmonic has been selected for the New York-based Wallace Foundation's Building Audiences for Sustainability effort -- a new, six-year, $52-million initiative aimed at developing practical insights into how exemplary performing arts organizations can successfully expand their audiences. The Philharmonic has been granted $760,000 towards preliminary audience research and the first cycle of pilot projects on building millennial audiences for orchestral concerts.

Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic announced today that Frank Huang has been appointed Concertmaster, The Charles E. Culpeper Chair, of the New York Philharmonic, beginning with the Opening Gala Concert of the 2015-16 season, September 24, 2015. Mr. Huang follows Glenn Dicterow, who stepped down from his position at the end of the 2013-14 season after 34 seasons of service.

Music and media executive and philanthropist David Geffen has given a $100 million gift to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts to lead the complete transformation of its largest concert hall, it was announced today by Katherine Farley, Chair of Lincoln Center. The renowned performing arts building will be renamed David Geffen Hall in September 2015 at the start of the New York Philharmonic's 2015-2016 season.

The fourth release of material in the New York Philharmonic Leon Levy Digital Archives - the multi-year initiative to digitize the Orchestra's extensive archives, funded by the Leon Levy Foundation - has been completed, with all existing Philharmonic printed programs, from the first concert in 1842 to the present, now available online, and current printed programs being added every concert week.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic on the EUROPE / SPRING 2015 tour, April 16-May 1, 2015.

In June 2015 the New York Philharmonic will mark the 50th anniversary of its historic Concerts in the Parks, the iconic series of free outdoor performances that has been enjoyed by more than 14 million concertgoers since it was introduced in August 1965. The centerpiece of the Philharmonic's celebration will be five free performances throughout the boroughs of New York City, June 17-23, 2015; this will be complemented by a variety of activities, ranging from performances to crowdsourcing memories of parks concerts, and other online and educational projects.

The New York Philharmonic's 2015-16 season reflects Music Director Alan Gilbert's and the organization's belief in the rich rewards of collaboration with artistic and institutional leaders, and in expanding the idea of what a symphony orchestra can be through a range of diverse programming and educational activities. Artistic partnerships will grow through enhanced curatorial influences, and national and international collaborations will continue to further cement the Orchestra's role as a resource in New York City and around the world.

New York Philharmonic President Matthew VanBesien, Chairman Gary W. Parr, and Chairman Designate Oscar S. Schafer today announced the appointment of Lisa Mantone as the Orchestra's Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement, a new position. In addition, Bill Thomas - formerly Senior Vice President - has been promoted to the expanded role of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Oscar S. Schafer was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Philharmonic- Symphony Society of New York, Inc., today at a meeting of the organization's Board of Directors. He will hold the title of Chairman Designate until he assumes the Chairmanship in early 2015 as part of a transition, succeeding Gary W. Parr, who has held the post since September 2009. As Chairman, Mr. Schafer - who has been a member of the Philharmonic's Board of Directors since 2007 - will serve as the Society's chief volunteer officer. Mr. Parr will continue to serve as a member of the Philharmonic's Board.