Buy iTunes Pass
Subscribe to Our Podcasts
Weekly Radio Broadcasts
Watch Video Features
View Photo Galleries
Why I Became a "Real Part" of the New York Philharmonic Family
 |
Joan Weltz is an ardent lover of music and a devoted member of the Philharmonic's Heritage Society. Learn More About Bequests |
It seems that music has always been the primary interest of my life. For more than forty years, beginning with concerts I attended on Friday afternoons with my mother, the New York Philharmonic has held a special place within my musical life. I remember hearing programs with Horowitz, Rubenstein, Hess, and other great pianists at that time.
My parents encouraged me to study the piano and I began taking lessons when I was seven. Every day after school, while my friends played in Central Park, I practiced for three hours. I never felt deprived or envious of them because I just loved playing the piano. By age twelve, my piano teacher recommended advanced lessons and I was accepted as a student by Adele Marcus who taught at the Juilliard School. I was so excited and I continued to work diligently to grow more proficient. Later, I studied music at Syracuse University's School of Music.
In 1972, I became a Philharmonic subscriber and have been enjoying performances regularly ever since. As one of those rare native New Yorkers, I know the importance of the New York Philharmonic to the cultural and artistic life of the City. My husband, Arthur Field, and I are honored to be a part of the New York Philharmonic family and we consider it a part of our extended family.
When it was time to think about estate planning, I considered the ways I could make a gift that would have a lasting effect on this great Orchestra. Having no children of my own led me to decide that my estate should benefit the New York Philharmonic at the time that neither my husband nor I is alive. I want my bequest to support the Orchestra's marvelous concerts each season and well into the future so that I can give others the opportunity to experience the exciting musical programs I have been so fortunate to enjoy throughout my life.
