CONCERTS

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

december 30, 2018, june 16 & 23, 2019
2 3

The centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth was August 25, 2018. A global celebration 

of his life began one year before and will continue through August 25, 2019. Bernstein’s 

legacy goes far beyond his work as a preeminent, twentieth-century conductor and 

composer. The music department at the National Gallery of Art has also chosen to 

honor his contributions as a cultural ambassador and educator, paying homage to 

his famous Young People’s Concerts — a televised series that introduced a generation 

of viewers to the joys of classical music and several other genres. These fifty-three 

programs ran from 1958 through 1972. In keeping with the spirit of helping new 

audiences understand the relevance of classical music, we have chosen to take a 

modern twist and, using three of Bernstein’s programs as inspiration, explain why 

these works still matter to today’s audiences. 

The first of the three programs selected by the music department pays tribute— 

just before New Year’s Eve— with A Toast to Vienna in 3⁄4 Time (original air date 

December 25, 1967). For many years, the National Gallery Orchestra presented a 

traditional Viennese New Year concert, complete with a waltzing audience. This year, 

on December 30, conductor Jeffrey Schindler talks about different variations on the 

theme, leading a local chamber orchestra. Inscape Chamber Orchestra performs the 

next concert of the series on June 16, 2019. Using Bernstein’s The Genius of Paul 

Hindemith (original air date February 23, 1964) as a model, the concert features 

several works by Paul Hindemith, as well as a work by his student Yehudi Wyner. In 

the final installment of the series on June 23, 2019, the United States Air Force Strings 

focuses on Bernstein’s The Latin American Spirit (original air date March 8, 1963), 

performing music by Latin American composers, as well as American composers 

inspired by Latin American music.

CELEBRATING BERNSTEIN’S LEGACY 

A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein 

and his Young People’s Concerts

December 30, 2018, June 16 & 23, 2019

This three-part series is generously supported 

by the Billy Rose Foundation.
4 5

PROGRAM Intermission

Arnold Schoenberg (1874 – 1951)

Selections from Walzer Für Streichorchester

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 – 1957)

“Pierrot’s Tanzlied” from Die tote Stadt 

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975)

Waltz no. 2 from Jazz Suite no. 2 

Patrick Doyle (b. 1953)

Arr. Jerry Brubaker

“Potter Waltz” from the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990)

“Waltz” from Divertimento

Josef Strauss (1827 – 1870)

Sphärenklänge Walzer, op. 235

Suchertorte Chamber Ensemble

Jeffrey Schindler, conductor

Bob McDonald, baritone

A Toast to Vienna in 3⁄4 Time

December 30, 2018 | 3:30

West Building, West Garden Court

Program subject to change.

Johann Strauss II (1825 – 1899)

An der schönen blauen Donau, op. 314 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)

Sechs Ländlerische Tänze, K. 606, nos. 1, 3, 4, and 6 

Deutsche Tänze, K. 605, no. 2

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)

Symphony no. 88 in G Major, Hob. 1:88

Minuet and Trio 

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

Arr. Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1738 – 1837)

Symphony no. 7, op. 92

Presto — Assai meno presto

Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911)

“Ich Atmet’ einen linden Duft” from Rückert Lieder

“Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?” from Des Knaben Wunderhorn

Bob McDonald, baritone

Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871 – 1942)

Sechs Gesänge, op. 13

No. 3, “Lied der Jungfrau”

Bob McDonald, baritone
6 7

PROGRAM

Jeffrey Schindler, conductor, enjoys a dynamic international career that takes him from 

concert podiums around the world to the recording studios of Hollywood and London. 

Schindler has led world-renowned orchestras across the globe. As a conductor of 

A-list Hollywood motion pictures, he is one of the only leaders of “live orchestra to film” 

performances; he recently celebrated his one hundredth performance of Harry Potter

in this genre. Other titles in his repertoire include Amadeus, DreamWorks Animation in 

Concert, and the Christmas favorite It’s a Wonderful Life. In July of 2015, he produced 

and conducted the world premiere of March of the Penguins “live orchestra to film” with 

the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He will be making his debut performances of the Star 

Wars franchise in spring 2019 with the Symphony Silicon Valley.

In every aspect of his diverse career, Schindler demonstrates his commitment to 

profound musical communication, technical excellence, versatility, breadth of knowledge, and a quest for imaginative and creative musical interaction.

Suchertorte Ensemble is an assembly of local freelance musicians who enjoy the 

grandeur and whimsy of Viennese music. Our goal is to foster an audience of concert 

attendants who hunger for the unusual and unknown, eclectic and academic. Today’s 

assemblage of distinct compositions was specifically chosen to showcase the timeless 

nature of a composer’s love of the grand city of Vienna and the waltz. It pleases us to 

revisit and perform music from the past two centuries in the spirit of Leonard Bernstein’s televised series, presented to young people throughout the United States. 

Bob McDonald enjoys a diverse career that crosses many artistic disciplines, including 

musical theater, opera, and the concert stage, as well as his duties as baritone, 

announcer, and group leader for the U.S. Army Chorus, Washington, DC. Audiences 

have seen McDonald on stage at such prominent venues as the Kennedy Center, the 

Folger Theatre, the Arena Stage, and MetroStage, performing a variety of musical 

theater, opera, and dramatic roles. He is well-known for his cabarets at Signature 

Theatre, including his tributes to Frank Sinatra and John Raitt. He also has appeared as 

baritone soloist with such organizations as the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the 

Folger Consort, and the New Dominion Chorale. An avid sports enthusiast, McDonald 

is a regular National Anthem singer for the Washington Capitals. He holds both a 

bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oberlin College. 

THE MUSICIANS

Inscape Chamber Orchestra

Richard Scerbo, director

The Genius of Paul Hindemith

June 16, 2019 | 3:30

West Building, West Garden Court

This concert was rescheduled from its original 

date of Sunday, January 27, 2019.

Paul Hindemith (1895 – 1963)

Kammermusik no. 1, op. 24, no. 1

1. Sehr schnell und wild

2. Mäßig schnelle Halbe. Sehr streng im Rhythmus

3. Quartett

4. Finale 1921

Kleine Kammermusik, op. 24, no. 2

1. Lustig. Mäßig schnell Viertel

2. Walzer. Durchweg sehr leise

3. Ruhig und einfach

4. Schnelle Viertel

5. Sehr lebhaft

Yehudi Wyner (b. 1929)

Passage 

Hindemith

Hérodiade, poème de Stéphane Mallarmé 
8 9

THE ENSEMBLE PROGRAM

Inscape Chamber Orchestra, founded in 2004 by Richard Scerbo, is pushing the 

boundaries of classical music in riveting performances that reach across genres and 

generations and transcend the confines of the traditional classical concert experience. 

With its flexible roster and unique brand of programming, this critically acclaimed, 

Grammy-nominated group of high-energy master musicians has quickly established itself 

as one of the premier performing ensembles in the Washington, DC, region and beyond.

Inscape has often worked with emerging American composers and has a commitment to presenting concerts featuring the music of our time. Since its inception, 

Inscape has commissioned and premiered over twenty new works. Its members 

regularly perform with the National, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia, Richmond, and 

Delaware Symphony Orchestras and the Washington Opera Orchestra. Its musicians 

also perform with Washington’s leading military service bands. Inscape’s roots can be 

traced to the University of Maryland School of Music, where Scerbo and other music 

students collaborated at the Clarice Smith Center as the Philharmonia Ensemble.

Inscape regularly performs as the ensemble-in-residence at the Episcopal Church 

of the Redeemer in Bethesda, Maryland, as well as at the National Gallery of Art, the 

Strathmore Music Center, and the Kennedy Center.

Derek Powell, violin I

Sarah D’Angelo, violin II

Megan Yanik, viola

Aaron Ludwig, cello

Michael Rittling, bass

Susanna Loewy, flute

Bethany Slater, oboe

Evan Ross Solomon, clarinet

Benjamin Greanya, bassoon

Chandra Cervantes, horn

Brandon Almagro, trumpet

Eric Plewinski, percussion

Tim McReynolds, piano

Simone Baron, accordion

Air Force Strings

Jay R. Raman, guest narrator

The Latin American Spirit

June 23, 2019 | 3:30

West Building, West Garden Court

This concert was rescheduled from its original 

date of Sunday, January 13, 2019.

Carlos Fariñas (1934 – 2002)

Punto y Tonadas

Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946)

Danse Español

William Grant Still (1895 – 1978)

Danzas de Panama

Tamborito

Mejorana y Socavon

Punto

Cumbia y Congo

Astor Piazzolla (1921 – 1992)

Le Grand Tango

Master Sgt. Wayne Graham, viola

Piazzolla 

Oblivion

Carlos Chávez (1899 – 1978)

Symphony no. 5

3. Finale: Allegro con brio
10 11

The Air Force Strings is the official string ensemble of The United States Air Force. 

Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, it is one of six musical 

ensembles that comprise the U.S. Air Force Band. The Air Force Strings consists of 

twenty, active-duty Airmen musicians performing a wide range of musical styles, from 

classical symphonic selections and Broadway show tunes to classic rock, bluegrass, 

and patriotic compositions. The ensemble often entertains audiences at high-level 

military and government events in a formation known as the Strolling Strings. 

Providing a multidimensional experience, the instrumentalists surround the audience, 

performing from memory without the aid of a conductor. 

On other occasions, the Air Force Strings joins forces with other musicians from 

within the U.S. Air Force Band to perform music for chamber, symphonic, and studio 

orchestras. Additionally, performers from the ensemble appear regularly at military 

and civilian ceremonial functions, education outreach events, and concerts in the 

Washington, DC, area. The wide-ranging flexibility of the Air Force Strings allows the 

ensemble to provide the highest caliber of musical support for any occasion. 

As part of the U.S. Air Force Band, the Air Force Strings honors those who have 

served, inspires American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively 

impacts the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States. 

The excellence demonstrated by these Airmen musicians is a reflection of the excellence displayed by Airmen stationed around the globe. Each member is proud to 

represent all Airmen, whose selfless service and sacrifices ensure the freedoms we 

enjoy as citizens of the United States of America.

Violin 

Chief Master Sgt. Deborah Volker

Senior Master Sgt. Cleveland Chandler

Senior Master Sgt. Henry Tyszler

Master Sgt. Mark Dorosheff

Master Sgt. Greg Pinney

Master Sgt. Ni Santiago

Master Sgt. Mari Uehara Washington

Master Sgt. Luke Wedge

Master Sgt. Nathan Wisniewski

Technical Sgt. Emily Barnes

THE ENSEMBLE Viola

Senior Master Sgt. Bryce Bunner

Senior Master Sgt. William Hurd

Master Sgt. Wayne Graham

Technical Sgt. Matthew Maffett

Cello

Senior Master Sgt. Vivian Podgainy

Master Sgt. Joshua Kowalsky

Technical Sgt. Christine Lightner

Technical Sgt. Edward Prevost

Double Bass

Technical Sgt. Victor Holmes Jr.

Accordion

Master Sgt. Frank Busso Jr.

Jay Raman is a career member of the United States Foreign Service currently serving 

as director of the Cultural Programs Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs, with responsibility for the State Department’s global performing arts, visual 

arts, film, and humanities exchanges. Prior to this assignment, Raman served as public 

affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 2014 to 2017. He 

has also served in Ecuador, Guatemala, Estonia, and the Dominican Republic. 

Raman has a doctor of jurisprudence degree from Harvard Law School and a 

bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Tennessee, with 

a minor in music performance. He is originally from Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
General Information

Admission to the National Gallery of Art 

and all of its programs is free of charge, 

except as noted.

The use of cameras or recording 

equipment during the performance 

is not allowed.

Please be sure that all portable electronic 

devices are turned off.

—

Concerts are made possible in part 

through the generosity of donors to the 

National Gallery of Art through The Circle. 

Reserved seating is available in recognition 

of their support. Please contact the 

development office at (202) 842-6450 or 

circle@nga.gov for more information.

—

The department of music produced 

these program notes. Copyright © 2019 

Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, 

Washington

Cover Man Ray, Orchestra (detail), 

published 1926, National Gallery of Art, 

Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund 

NGA.GOV/MUSIC