Accomplishments in 2024
January 2025
By Grace Seng, Michael Johnson, Sarah Raines, Rachel (Cementina) Sabalboro, Stefan Podell,
Christopher Woodruff, Jeff Brady, and Andrew Sewell
Heading into a New Year the Symphony staff, musicians, and board members were asked to share their accomplishments of the past year by answering the following three questions:
- Regarding your work with the Symphony please tell High Notes readers what you feel pleased about or proud of in 2024
- What are your Symphony goals for 2025
- What accomplishments are you proud of in your personal life?
Here are their responses.
Grace Seng, Violin, Education Manager, Preparatory Strings Conductor
1.SLO Symphony collaborated with the SLO County of Education to bring back the program of a string quartet of Symphony musicians performing California Missions Music at elementary schools around the county.
2. One of my main goals is to increase the SLO Youth Symphony enrollment, especially in the winds and brass sections!
3. My husband and I dropped off our daughter at college this fall at Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she is studying computer science, and successfully finished her first semester!
Michael Johnson, Trombone, Board Member
1. Once again I judged the Youth Symphony Concerto Competition. This year we had seven (!) very talented kids perform. It was, by far, the most difficult year to be a judge, as all seven played wonderfully and picking a winner was not a simple task. I was very proud to be a part of that, and I feel that it is a positive indicator of how the Youth Symphony is successfully rebuilding.
2. To expand our donor base. We are adding new donor events and creating a long term financial strategy that should help us raise more funds in 2025 and beyond.
3. We got our first-born off to college. UCSB Gauchos Class of 2028.
Sarah Raines, Operations Manager
1. I’m so proud that we have a group of hardworking volunteers that come out in droves to help with our annual fundraiser and our Pops-By-The-Sea concert.
2. I hope to continue to be planning ahead, and to be planning 12 to 18 months in advance.
3. In my personal life, I’m pleased that I graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s University with my Master’s Degree in Creative Writing this December.
Rachel (Cementina) Sabalboro, Executive Director
1. I am so proud of the faithful team that has come together – we have an incredible group of staff, board members, musicians, and volunteers. Their talent, passion, and dedication is boundless.
2. More attendees at concerts, more youth in our education programs, more donors, and a balanced budget!
3. My daughter, Emma, who turns one in January.
Stefan Podell, Board President
1. I’m proud to have become the president of the board. The trust the board has placed in me and the tremendous work they’re doing on behalf of the Symphony inspire me every single day. Some high points for High Notes from halfway through the season: First, we’re on pace to provide more Music Van and Music Petting Zoo experiences this season than ever before. Second, in partnership with the Paderewski Festival, the Paderewski Gala was our most highly attended November concert in over ten years! We also saw our highest attendance at Pops by the Sea since before COVID!
2. I want to level up our relationships with our patrons – both concert attendees and our donors. We’re looking at how to make our concerts more accessible and emphasize the importance of the Symphony in our county. Our communities include our audience, sponsors, donors, musicians, students, and more. I want them to feel deeply connected to the Symphony!
3. Our daughter graduated from Southern Oregon University and began her career as a graphic designer – including occasional work for the Symphony. Our son moved to CSU Monterey Bay and is thriving. I learned Bron-Yr-Aur (Led Zeppelin) on guitar, which I’ve been wanting to do since high school.
Christopher Woodruff, Concert Orchestra Conductor
1. Our Youth Symphony musicians have made immense strides this year in tackling varied and challenging repertory. From Rossini’s William Tell Overture to Bach’s Brandenburg, we are exploring big contrasts in style and seeing our students take on challenges and discovering avenues to succeed musically.
2. Continue to grow the program and welcome more students to the SLO Youth Symphony who don’t otherwise have opportunities to play in string and full-orchestra ensembles. Continue to explore new, quality literature and introduce our students to composers and explore new ways to share orchestral music with our audiences. Contribute to a celebration of 60 years of youth orchestra activity in SLO county.
3. I finally caved and upgraded my iPhone 7. I had the honor of performing “Taps” for ceremonies in the American Cemetery in Normandy. These were wreath-laying presentations remembering the 9,388 American military who are buried there. We remember their lives, their families, and the causes for which they fought. Then you play twenty-four notes.
Jeff Brady, Board Member
1. I am pleased the Board of Directors is growing back to a healthy number of highly qualified and diverse individuals. Also, I am very pleased we hired a Development Director.
2. For 2025, I want to see us achieve a balanced budget, and I want to see the PAC seats full for every concert.
3. I have a WOTY (word of the year) for 2024 – my word was “helpful” … I helped a struggling high school student with her math, and a friend in need. I helped people whenever I thought about it, with little things to big things.
Andrew Sewell, Music Director
1. While we are in mid season 24/25, looking back at the 23/24 season, our closing concert in May had over 1000 in the audience for Salome Jordania performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto, Meredith Brammeier’s new work, and the Saint Saen Organ Symphony. Our No Ties Allowed audiences are growing, and our youth Orchestra ended a successful first season with Chris Woodruff, Cal Poly’s Director of Bands, as Orchestra Director.
The first two Classics concerts had big names with Felix Hell, organ, and Janina Fialkowska, piano as soloists. The collaboration with our friends at the Paderewski Festival in November was a welcome treat.
2. Bringing more audiences into the hall and seeing ALL our musicians with chair sponsors. Sponsoring an individual musician each season brings you closer into the SLO Symphony family with opportunities to meet our musicians.
3. Having daily cold water dips in the ocean at Cayucos while I’m in town. It’s bracing.
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