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A Friendship Forged in Music
Yoko Nagae Ceschina has acted on her enthusiasm for Alan Gilbert's leadership by creating the Philharmonic's first-ever titled Music Director chair. Rachel L. Conrad shares the history that lies behind this generous gift.
Since Alan Gilbert took the helm as Music Director a year and a half ago, he has acted on his artistic vision for the New York Philharmonic, bringing exciting and innovative programming to audiences in Avery Fisher Hall and on international tours, and enhancing its role as a cultural leader in New York City and around the world. His efforts have been enthusiastically embraced, not only by the Philharmonic and the critics but by one particularly generous individual. Yoko Nagae Ceschina, an active New York Philharmonic Patron, has decided to give a significant annual gift to show her support of Mr. Gilbert's leadership; look at the roster in this program and you will see that his position as Music Director now bears the title The Yoko Nagae Ceschina Chair.
"I am moved by this extraordinary gift, which will have a significant impact in helping to make my dreams for this great orchestra a reality," Alan Gilbert says, adding, "Yoko has a passion for music, and for the New York Philharmonic, and has acted on it in a way that has been extremely beneficial for the institution, New York City, and the international cultural community."
This passion for music is deeply rooted in the Japanese-born Mrs. Ceschina. An accomplished harp player in her own right, she trained at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music; won a scholarship to study harp in Venice in 1960 — where she would meet her husband, the late Renzo Ceschina — as the first publicly funded Japanese student to study abroad since the end of World War II; and placed sixth at the 1965 International Harp Contest in Israel.
It is from these musical roots that the branches of Yoko Nagae Ceschina's friendship for the Philharmonic have grown. She first extended her support to the Orchestra for its 2004 Gala Opening Night Concert, which featured violinist Maxim Vengerov, a longtime friend and benefactor of her generosity (she purchased the 1727 Stradivarius on which he performs). In Alan Gilbert's first season as Music Director she generously sponsored one of his initiatives: the creation of an annual three-week festival overseen by a distinguished guest conductor. The first, titled The Russian Stravinsky: A Philharmonic Festival, was conducted by Valery Gergiev, which made for a natural match since Mrs. Ceschina is also a patron of Mr. Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre ensembles. This season she is again contributing to one of Alan Gilbert's cherished projects: the June staged performances of Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen.
Her support isn't limited to activities in New York City. When the Philharmonic announced that it would be giving a landmark performance in Pyongyang, DPRK, in February 2008, Mrs. Ceschina eagerly stepped forward to help the Orchestra meet its commitment to cultural diplomacy. Where others could see only the overwhelming difficulties in accomplishing such a task, she was undaunted, an invaluable facilitator and problem solver, willing to face any challenge head on, and accompanied the Philharmonic on that historic trip as a prime figure in the visit. Her support of the Orchestra's international reach was expressed again this year when she helped provide funds to make possible the EUROPE / WINTER 2010 tour.
New York Philharmonic President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta describes Yoko Ceschina as "an enthusiastic friend to me, personally, and to the Philharmonic for many years." In fact, her role goes far beyond that of traditional philanthropy. The diminutive yet determined music lover gives on a global scale. In addition to the New York Philharmonic, she supports not only arts organizations, but individual artists and numerous charitable organizations around the world. With a spirit that is inspired by music, she is motivated by her belief that, when all else fails, music can be a vital tool of cultural diplomacy to break down barriers and to enable communication and empathic understanding between peoples. And in pursuit of this diplomatic initiative, she has proven to be a most staunch advocate.
Mrs. Ceshina's relationship with Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic has only continued to strengthen. Zarin Mehta sees this most recent contribution to the Orchestra as an endorsement of Mr. Gilbert's vision for the Philharmonic: "This gift was inspired by her belief in the vision that Alan Gilbert has brought to the New York Philharmonic. She considers Alan and the Philharmonic to be the future of classical music." As for the Music Director, he is both professionally gratified and personally touched by this very tangible endorsement. "She has been with us at so many important concerts, both in New York and abroad, supporting us at every step," Alan Gilbert says. "Yoko is more than a remarkably generous supporter of the New York Philharmonic — she has become an integral member of the Philharmonic family."
This article also appears in the January issue of the New York Philharmonic's Playbill program magazine.
