Supporting our Columbus Symphony musicians is a vital endorsement of your passion for transformative music in our community. By participating in the chair sponsorship program, the Columbus Symphony can continue to retain outstanding musicians, programming of the highest artistic excellence, and maintain the highest quality of life in central Ohio.
Approximately one-third of the CSO’s $9 million budget pays for musician salaries and benefits. The Columbus Symphony employs more local artists than any other organizations in Columbus.
Sponsoring a musician is a meaningful way to underwrite the art form that makes symphonic music accessible for diverse audiences throughout central Ohio.
With annual naming rights, you will receive:
- Recognition in the Bravo program book and on the CSO website
- Annual dinner with your sponsored Musician, Music Director, and Executive Director
- Invitations to special and exclusive events
- Special updates and communication from your sponsored musicians
(No more than 2 donor households combined to underwrite chair.)
2022-2023 Sponsored Chairs include:
- Jack and Joan George Concertmaster Chair, Joanna Frankel
- Michael and Arlene Weiss Principal Second Violin Chair, Alicia Hui
- Ross and Pat Bridgman Violin Chair, Robert Firdman
- Gay Su Pinnell Principal Viola Chair, Karl Pedersen
- Andy and Sandy Ross Principal Cello Chair, Luis Biava
- Gay Su Pinnell Assistant Principal Cello, Wendy Morton
- Rhoma Berlin Principal Clarinet Chair, David Thomas
- Sheldon and Rebecca Taft Principal Bassoon Chair, Betsy Sturdevant
- Nationwide Principal Bass Chair, Rudy Albach
- Linda and Joe Chlapaty Chair, Mark Grisez
- Lisa and Chris Barton Trumpet Chair, Jeffrey Korak
- American Electric Power Foundation Principal Chair, Benjamin Ramirez
*Reinberger Foundation Principal Piano Chair, Caroline Hong
*Existing Principal Chairs
Naming Opportunities
Principal Musicians | Section Musicians |
Associate Concertmaster, Leonid Polonsky | Violin, David Edge |
Assistant Principal Second Violin, Rhonda Frascotti | Violin, Joyce Fishman |
Assistant Principal Viola, Brett Allen | Violin, Tatiana V. Hanna |
Assistant Principal Bass, John Pellegrino | Violin, Gail Norine Sharp |
Principal Flute, Niles Watson | Violin, Zoran Stoyanovich |
Principal Horn, Brian Mangrum |
Violin, David Tanner |
Associate Principal Horn, Julia Rose | Violin, Jonquil Thoms |
Principal Trombone, Andrew Millat | Violin, Gyusun Han |
Principal Oboe, Hugo Souza | Violin, Zhe Deng |
Violin, Autumn Chodorowski | |
Viola, Kenichiro Matsuda | |
Viola, Steven Wedell | |
Viola, Spencer Ingersoll | |
Viola, Alice Risov | |
Cello, Pei-An Chao | |
Cello, Victor Firlie | |
Cello, Yoni Draiblate | |
Bass, Russell Gill | |
Bass, Jena Huebner | |
Flute, Lydia Roth | |
English Horn, Robert Royse | |
Clarinet, Mark Kleine | |
Bassoon, Douglas Fisher | |
Horn, Adam Koch |