Bringing New Music To Life – Full Article
August 2026
By Becky Juretic
Part 1
Garrett Foulke and Dorothy Correa have been supporters of the SLO Symphony for over 20 years.
Recently, they took their patronage to a new level by commissioning local composer Stefan Podell to premiere a new symphony at the opening concert of the upcoming season.
“I think there is great value in supporting new original works,” said Dr. Foulke. “In music, it ensures the ongoing talent of composers and gives the audience new sound, and new perspectives that I think is appreciated on a local and global level.”
The genesis of the project began with conversations between Foulke and Maestro Sewell over the past several years. “Being a patron with interests in ballet and classical music,” said Foulke, “I first mentioned the Stravinsky piece Le Sacre du Printemps created for the ballet of the same name.”
More recently, while the two discussed a Stefan Podell work written for a Symphony charity auction, Foulke expressed that the short piece made him eager for a longer work by the composer. The two agreed that a full, original symphony would be an exciting addition to the upcoming season.
It was clear the project required much more time than the volunteering Podell had done for shorter works, yet, a formal commission through the symphony was problematic (due to his role as a board member). Foulke searched for another route for their charitable support and was delighted to discover the American Composers Forum. Founded in the 1970’s their mission is to support new compositions by American composers. “They were the perfect instrument for our needs,” said Foulke.
Podell gave Fouke the option of being involved in the process as much as he’d like. “We discussed our mutual music interests, and as for favorite music pieces. Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring was close to the top of both our lists,” he said, recalling that early conversation with Sewell. And so, the opening concert of the 26-27 season began to take shape. The October 4 concert will feature The Rite of Spring, Coleridge Taylor’s Danse Nègre from African Suite, Op.35, and the world premiere of the piece by Podell, commissioned by Garrett Foulke and Dorothy Correa, with the commissioning facilitated by the American Composers Forum.
The impact of premiering a new piece goes beyond this one performance, said Foulke. “Without new works, art would just be art history,” he explained, “and how would we nurture the next great artist?”