A Missed Night at Carnegie Hall Becomes a Gift to Madison
by Casey Oelkers, Director of Development
In October of 2013, Joel and Kathy Belaire traveled to New York City with their good friends and regular travel companions, Marilyn and Jim Ebben, for what promised to be an unforgettable evening: Carnegie Hall’s 123rd season opening-night gala concert with the famous violinist Joshua Bell performing as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
After months of anticipation, they arrived in New York on the day of the concert, walked from their hotel to the historic concert hall to pick up their tickets, and learned that Carnegie Hall’s stagehands had gone on strike earlier that day—for the first time in the venue’s history. As a result, that evening’s gala performance was canceled. What a disappointment!
Now, 13 years later, that missed performance has found its way to Madison. On Friday, September 18th, thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Belaires, Joshua Bell will perform with the Madison Symphony Orchestra in Overture Hall for the opening night concert of the MSO’s 101st season. For the Belaires, the evening is an expression of their long and deeply personal relationship with the MSO, and a chance to make up for that disappointing trip to New York.
“We took a number of trips with Jim and Marilyn Ebben, and that trip to New York was the only one that didn’t go as planned,” says Joel Belaire. “Sponsoring this concert is a special opportunity for us to rectify that gap, memorialize our dear friend Jim Ebben who died in 2020, and honor our friend John DeMain on his retirement from the Madison Symphony after 32 wonderful years. We’re glad to be able to contribute a meaningful artistic experience to the Madison community.”
Longtime subscribers, donors, and MSOL members, Joel and Kathy are woven into the MSO family. They have hosted Parties of Note—a series of MSOL fundraisers which Kathy and Marilyn Ebben helped start—and they have formed lasting friendships with many other supporters and Maestro John DeMain. Years ago, Kathy sang in the Madison Symphony Chorus under Maestros Roland Johnson and John DeMain, performing in the UW-Madison stock pavilion and the Oscar Mayer Theater.
The Belaires’ history of special concert sponsorship began with a fortuitous encounter when Joel found himself seated next to pianist Peter Serkin on an airplane. A lively conversation ensued, and afterward Joel approached Maestro John DeMain and then-Executive Director Rick Mackie to ask what it would take to bring Serkin to Madison. In November of 2005, the Belaires sponsored Serkin’s appearance for three hugely popular performances of Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 1. They have since supported other concerts through full or partial guest artist sponsorships.
When the Madison Symphony Orchestra asked the Belaires to consider a special gift in honor of the orchestra’s Centennial and John DeMain’s final season as Music Director, they thought back to that New York trip and they asked Executive Director Robert Reed whether the MSO might consider engaging Joshua Bell to perform in Madison with DeMain conducting. The answer, after more than two years of planning, is this concert.
“Joel and Kathy have been stalwart supporters of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and good friends of mine for many years,” says John DeMain. “By underwriting Joshua Bell’s performance with us, they are giving a special gift to Madison and to me personally. This will be my first concert as Music Director Emeritus, and I’m looking forward to working with such a fabulous guest artist and, of course, our wonderful orchestra.”
The September 18 program features Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, and Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, a brilliant and colorful opening to the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s second century.
A concert canceled in New York has become something much larger in Madison: a gift to the community, a tribute to enduring friendships, and a celebration of what live music makes possible. Please join us in thanking Joel and Kathy for this wonderful gift!
The concert takes place in Overture Hall on Friday, September 18, at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are still available through the Overture Center Box Office at 608-258-4141 or at overture.org.
A separately ticketed post-concert event, “Cheers to Our Second Century,” follows at the Madison Concourse Hotel. Hosted by the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, the evening will feature dinner and a lively conversation between Joshua Bell and retired nationally known journalist and MSOL board member Jackie Judd. Net proceeds will benefit the MSO’s Education and Community Engagement Programs. Visit madisonsymphony.org/cheers for information and ticket availability.