CELEBRATING THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

BY JOCIE WURZBURG

THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEMPHIS SYMPHONY’S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, A WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVE WITH A CREATIVE BENT AND A LOFTY MISSION.

Of course, women have always played a role in support of the Memphis Symphony. The revered 1950’s music teacher at Snowden Junior High, Dorothy Lancaster, held monthly essay contests “Why I Want to go to the Memphis Sinfonietta,” introducing classical musical music to early teens. The Memphis Symphony League held fundraising events and music theory workshops to help the uninitiated listen better. Seeing Joy Brown Wiener on stage as Concertmaster inspired women musicians for excellence and led the way for Susanna Gilmore and Barrie Cooper.

CELEBRATING THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

BY JOCIE WURZBURG

THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEMPHIS SYMPHONY’S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, A WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVE WITH A CREATIVE BENT AND A LOFTY MISSION.

Then in 2010, MSO hired its first female conductor, and a young woman of color at that! Mei-Ann Chen, born in Taiwan, came to the United States to study violin in 1989 and became the first student in New England Conservatory’s history to receive master’s degrees simultaneously in violin and conducting. She received her doctorate in conducting at the University of Michigan. There was an Asian American moving to Memphis for a prestigious position, but not knowing a soul.

Enter Ellen Robinson Rolfes. “This good woman needs some friends!” Ellen is a consultant for the symphony as a philanthropy strategist. She immediately suggested to President/CEO Ryan Fleur that Ms. Chen could use a support group and, by the way, that group could be a new source of funding. But the composition had to be diverse in age, race, and ethnic backgrounds to welcome our new Maestra.

Intentional inclusion wasn’t new to Ellen. One of her most creative fundraising initiatives was to teach women’s organizations how to publish community cookbooks which she learned from the Junior League of Memphis. That’s how she became a diversity mentee of Dr. Dorothy Irene

Founding Members: Edith Kelly-Green and Carolyn Hardy

Former MSO concertmaster, Joy Wiener and Ellen Rolfesknow the power of music to bring people together.

Ritche Bowden, Ann Hawkins, the late Jeanne Varnell and the late Joyce Blackmon enjoying the planning of REBIRTH OF THE DREAM.

Height, president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, when she developed their titles for trade publishing. She was the principal architect of the Ole Miss Women’s Council and recruited its first chair Edith Kelly-Green, an African American Memphian and university alumna who later became a founding Circle member. Earlier, Ellen was the Women’s Foundation of Greater Memphis’s first full-time director where she gained deep knowledge on women’s philanthropy and the power of diversity. Ellen’s Rolodex was a paradigm of EDI – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Ellen’s first calls were to run this idea by some of Memphis’ noted women philanthropists, Gayle Rose, Becky Wilson, and Barbara Hyde. The creative bent was an easy sell; let’s show our new music director a good Southern hospitable time while expanding the symphony audience and patron bases. More exciting was the lofty mission of making that audience racially diverse. Then Ellen called Ritche Bowden and Belinda Anderson, African American women and board members of MSO, for their feelings on this innovative philanthropy model. These women were all in! Mei-Ann’s Circle of Friends was born.

“I was immediately attracted to the group because of the diversity work we were trying to do on the Board. It knew the importance of having our Symphony reflect the face of our community so we were in the process of coming up with opportunities to diversify our board, staff, programming, and audience,” said Belinda.

“I met Ellen at a Grizzlies game,” said Tish Towns, “and by the time the game was over I was a member of the Circle. It’s met my expectations for more diversity in the arts.”

Becky Wilson said, “I knew how powerful a common goal can be as a unifier, and what better connector is there than music.”

“I became a member of the Circle because I am a strong believer in human capital.” said Carolyn Hardy. “It’s through

“I KNEW HOW POWERFUL A COMMON GOAL CAN BE AS A UNIFIER, AND WHAT BETTER CONNECTOR IS THERE THAN MUSIC.” — BECKY WILSON

The Circle’s free community concert was held on May 16, 2014. They had raised the most revenue for a single concert in MSO history (nearly a quarter of a million dollars in revenue) and filled the Cannon Center with over 1,500 people who reflected the face of Memphis.

human relationships that ‘calls for action’ can emerge. And in this case, we were going to bring something good to our entire community.”

“I was drawn to joining the Circle because I felt its power to nurture goodness and excellence for our symphony, and to model an inclusivity and kindness that helps heal our broken world,” added Ellen Klyce.

Gayle Rose and Ritche Bowden became the first co-chairs of the Circle. “To support other women (Mei-Ann Chen) in an area dominated by men is what attracted me,” said Ritche.

Both women opened up their beautiful homes for the Circle to let the partying begin, with Mei-Ann being the guest of honor. The events were a magnet for women leaders to network with others they would likely never have known.

Already a risen star, Mei-Ann was an instant hit with Memphis audiences. At one of her first concerts, she asked all music teachers in attendance to rise for an accolade. At a Rotary Club meeting, she conducted the membership in humming Beethoven 5th. And, she was amenable to being the center of a circle of friends and inspiration for intentional inclusion.

With women networking in action, over two hundred women have come through the Mei-Ann Circle of Friends. The membership dues for the founding members were $1,000 per year. You can do the math. Forty percent were women of color. Seventy percent expressed this was their first engagement as a supporter of the Memphis Symphony. The leaders knew that to foster successful women’s philanthropy, their members must be motivated and held together by a vision that forged strong bonds with other women whom they might not have otherwise met. The relationships were forming, but they needed a plan of action to deepen their impact in the community and do it through the power of music.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS TRUSTEES

Belinda Anderson Ritche Bowden Carolyn Hardy Michelle McKissack Ellen Robinson Rolfes Gayle S. Rose

Tish Towns Becky Wilson

Peter Abell Raumesh Akbari Louise Barden Joey Beckford Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs Kathy Blair Cynthia Bowers Martha Boyd Ruby Bright Rose Merry Brown Alice Rawlins Burnett Jeanne Gray Carr Gale Jones Carson Nancy Chase, MD Barbara Christensen Karen Clawson Margaret Craddock Katherine DiGerolamo Julie Ellis Marsha Evans Kendra Ferguson Mary Freeman Christy Gilmour Dr. Suzanne Gronemeyer Mimi Grossman Pam Guinn Claudia Haltom

MEMBERS

Cynthia Ham Lillian Hammond Deborah Harrison Ann Hawkins Barbara Hyde Janas Jackson Laurita Jackson Jeanne Jemison, MD Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean Nina Kawakami Edith Kelly-Green Dorothy Kirsch Brandon Knisley Ellen Klyce Ann Langston Mary Layton Erin and Jonathan Lindberg Mary McDaniel Dr. Shanea McKinney Margaret McLean Linda McNeil Dinah Makowsky Deidre Malone Rev. Dr. Rozlyn Nichols Barbara Nixon Deborah Northcross Deanie Parker

Tracy Prewitt Laretha Randolph Ashley Remmers Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf Beverly Robertson Elizabeth Rouse Carol Lee Royer Diane Rudner Beverly Sakauye Valerie Scott Tonja Sesley-Baymon Lauran Stimac Anne Stokes Irma Merrill Stratton Joan Terry Amelia Thompson Marti Tippens-Murphy Melissa Todd Lura Turner Dr. Peggy Veeser Monica Wharton Ruby Wharton Myra Whitney Melissa Whitby Dr. Linda Wible Joy Wiener Dana Wilson Jocelyn Wurzburg

Jamie Bernstein Maestra Kalena Bovell

HONORARY

Maestra Mei-Ann Chen

Joyce Blackmon Ronell Brindell Rev. Senter Cawthon Crook II Delores Kinsolving Florence Leffler

IN MEMORIAM

Bickie McDonnell Nancy Menzies Gloria Nobles Tommie Pardue Dr. Cynthia Pitcock Honey Scheidt Maestro Robert Moody

Bonnie Smith Maxine Smith Lynne Turley Meg Turner Jeanne Varnell Dr. Jane Walters Belinda Anderson Ritche Bowden

Carolyn Hardy Michelle McKissack

Gayle S. Rose Ellen Robinson Rolfes

So the Mei-Ann’s Circle of Friends held a few focus groups to help ascertain how to do that. Over seventy women participated at box suppers in members’ homes. The obvious task was to attract an audience that reflected the community. However, the conversations evolved to a level of more than just brainstorming creative ideas. Black and white women delved into deeper concerns, divulging the racial barriers that have prevented full participation in cultural -- and crosscultural – activities in Memphis. The discourse was exciting. They became women of like minds sharing a vision that through the music, they could address society’s unfinished business and that MSO could play a major role in that. Pinpointed programming of music to a more diverse audience, more community engagement, and seeing more inclusivity in the orchestra would help. The Circle sprang into action.

In 2013, our symphony was in a financial crisis. Gayle Rose, once a clarinet musician, was asked to chair the board at this precarious time. Having previously worked with the Women’s Foundation and Lemoyne Owen College, Gayle had a personal mission of gender and racial equity in all her professional or volunteer services and the MSO was no exception.

“The survival of the MSO was dependent on becoming an indispensable part of the cultural landscape of Memphis. The Circle reflected that commitment and stood firmly with me as we sought to implement its vision and values. The result is, I believe, a large part of the success story we see today,” Gayle said.

Its first project was bold. It commissioned, in a blind evaluation, a new piece called The Rebirth of the Dream, inspired by the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The presenting concert was free to the community. The Circle had raised the most revenue ever for a single concert, nearly a quarter of a million dollars in revenue in concert sponsorships, and 1500 people, reflecting the face of Memphis, filled the Cannon Center concert hall.

The Circle gifted through sponsorships another free-to-thepublic concert with the Memphis Symphony collaborating with New Ballet to produce Memphis Renaissance. The outdoor fall event attracted thousands from all backgrounds to the Levitt Shell and introduced the orchestra to many first-time attendees.

In 2015, the Circle was awarded the inaugural Champion Award from the Memphis Urban League in recognition for its work of intentional inclusion in the community through the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Eventually, both Maestra Mei-Ann Chen and Ellen Rolfes had moved on in their careers. But the Circle of Friends left a legacy that intentional inclusion was seriously discussed as a core value throughout the fabric of MSO. What they did not know at the time was their mission was not yet finished. Gayle knew that Ellen Rolfes had been the driving force behind the Circle’s inception, mission, and success. Ellen Klyce concurred, “The reality is that Ellen Rolfes is about the most enthusiastic and persuasive visionary going!”

In 2018, Gayle reached out to Ellen, and led the MSO to dedicate the Circle of Friends in Ellen’s honor. The initiative ultimately was rebranded into the Circle of Friends with the following eight Trustees -- Belinda Anderson, Ritche Bowden, Carolyn Hardy, Michelle McKissack, Ellen Rolfes, Gayle Rose, Tish Towns, Becky Wilson. Increased funding from diverse sources, enhanced programming, and more minority attendance were applauded, but Ellen knew there was one more task - the orchestra.

With the Circle being the catalyst, the new Music Director, Maestro Robert Moody, the MSO executive team, musician leadership, and senior staff had all committed to an evolutionary step - EDI (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) as core values. They knew for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra to be truly recognized as the community’s symphony, it needed to authentically reflect its citizens. The Circle’s re-engaged leadership was most pleased with this alignment and the opportunity to work in tandem with the organization as a natural next step and completion of their mission.

To facilitate inclusion into the orchestra, the Circle initiated a plan: THE MUSICIAN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM through the partnership of the MSO and the University of Memphis. The program was designed to attract the best and the brightest musicians, who had immediately received a baccalaureate degree from the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis or had completed such a degree from other higher education institutions and conservatories. The inaugural sponsorships were

“THE SURVIVAL OF THE MSO WAS DEPENDENT ON BECOMING AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF MEMPHIS. THE CIRCLE REFLECTED THAT COMMITMENT AND STOOD FIRMLY WITH ME AS WE SOUGHT TO IMPLEMENT ITS VISION AND VALUES. THE RESULT IS, I BELIEVE, A LARGE PART OF THE SUCCESS STORY WE SEE TODAY,” — GAYLE ROSE

soon announced - THE REBECCA WEBB WILSON FELLOWSHIP, THE ELLEN COOPER KLYCE & MARTHA MILFORD BOYD FELLOWSHIP, THE JUDITH AND SHELDON KORONES MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP, and THE JOYCE McANULTY BLACKMON MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP. The fellowships awarded talented African-American and Latinx students paid open seats of the orchestra during their two-year tenure, valued at $10,000 a year, plus a full scholarship for an advanced degree in music at the university.

The Circle members agreed to serve as volunteer mentors to the Fellows and introduce them to new aspects of the Memphis community. The staff agreed to expose the Fellows to all aspects of “how a symphony organization works.” Ultimately the plan was for the MSO to become known as the “training ground” for young musicians who desired a full immersion into the inner workings of symphony life before they begin permanent employment.

The Circle of Friends was thrilled to announce its inaugural Fellows (20202022): Estefan Perez – cellist, Katie Brown – violist, and Allison Lovera - violinist (2020-2021).

Today the Circle is again growing with new possibilities, all the while remaining steadfast to its initial mission to be an instrument of intentional inclusion in the performing arts through the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Membership is now open to like-minded men and membership levels have changed to $250, $500 (member and friend), and Patrons at $1000 and up.

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, the Circle of Friends has become a nationally recognized model to other arts organizations that desire to be equitable and relevant to their communities. Come join us, we are fun!

JOCELYN DAN WURZBURG

is a founding member of the Circle of Friends and a long-time symphony supporter. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she joined the fight for civil rights, women’s rights, and social justice, founding the local Panel of American Women to address prejudice. A retired attorney, she is acknowledged as the first professional mediator in Memphis. She received the NAACP Lifetime Achievement 2017 and the Woman’s Foundation of Greater Memphis Legacy Award. She was appointed to the Tennessee Human Rights Commission by two governors, and the Commission has established the Jocelyn Dan Wurzburg Civil Rights Award. She is the author of JOCIE, her delightful memoir, and she won one of those tickets to the Memphis Sinfonietta.

The Joyce McAnulty Blackmon Memorial Fellowship Given by Friends of Joyce Blackmon – Winter 2022

Estefan Perez, cello The Rebecca Webb Wilson Fellow Allison Lovera, violin The Judith & Sheldon Korones Memorial Fellow (2020-2021)

Katie Brown, viola The Ellen Cooper Klyce & Martha Milford Boyd Fellow

A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION PLAN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 35 WITH UNLIMITED ACCESS TO ALL MSO PERFORMANCES.

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SINGLE MEMBERSHIP $8/month or $65/annually

DOUBLE MEMBERSHIP

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