Dear Friends:

“Where has the time gone?” “Time really does fly when you are having fun.” “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Pick your favorite farewell thought. All of these certainly come to my mind as I prepare for my last subscription weekend as the ProMusica Music Director.

Can it really be 35 years since Richard Early and I founded ProMusica? What a journey, what a grand adventure, it has been! I hold many astonishing memories: of early concerts in Battelle Auditorium, at the First Congregational Church, Weigel Hall, Mees Hall, the Trinity Seminary, Grey Chapel at Ohio Wesleyan University, and “summer nights on the river.” Recent years have been oh so enjoyable: concerts at The Southern Theatre and as well as at Franklin Park, in addition to wonderful evenings with the Artist Circle.

Together we have shared much great music – classic masterpieces, new commissions, world premieres, and special projects such as L’histoire, Orfeo, Passion, and Mass. We have met and heard an astonishing array of guest artists – rising stars and mature established international stars.

ProMusica has played in Central Ohio as well as around the State of Ohio. We have offered an incredible series of education programs throughout our history – for music lovers of all ages.

As an arts institution we have been blessed with an amazing variety of people who love and serve and enjoy ProMusica: audience members, the Board, Trustees Circle, staff, Sustaining Board, students and teachers . . . and, of course, our spectacular musicians.
I will be offering a series of “thank yous” at the upcoming April subscriptions concerts, and then bidding a final adieu at the May Soiree with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Please plan on attending both of these great musical events! And, please invite many of your friends.
In April our program includes Mozart’s festive Overture to the charming Impresario, the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis’s Dreamsongs that was written for the magnificent young American cellist Joshua Roman, Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic Variations on a Rococo Theme (also featuring Josh Roman), and Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 7.

Friday evening will include an Artist Circle recital and on Saturday night the musicians of ProMusica will also perform Side-By-Side with our Musician in the Schools high school partners. It promises to be a very special weekend – quintessential ProMusica.

“Thanks for the memories.”


Yours sincerely,



Timothy Russell Music Director