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Marty Wolf describes her passion for music and the New York Philharmonic.  Learn about the Philharmonic's Charitable Remainder Trusts |
As you read this you may either feel sorry for my lack of familiarity with symphonic music, or you may feel envious because I still have so much music to look forward to hearing for the first time!
I do have some background in music. I began piano lessons at the age of four and continued for 10 years. At 10 I also learned to play the flute, which I played in addition to the piccolo in concert, marching, and pep bands through high school. In college I continued for two years, but the academic rigors of my scientific studies and falling in love with my husband-to-be were factors that led me to stop.
Also, I did have exposure to professional musicians; while I was growing up in a small Iowa college town, my mom and I never missed attending the college’s annual community concert series. My fondest memory of one of those concerts is from about age 12, when I attended a performance by Artur Rubinstein, my then idol. It was the thrill of my life: not only to hear him play but, to the efforts of the mother of one of my friends, I was able to have tea with him after the concert.
Yet, I’d never experienced a live performance by an orchestra until I went to the Philharmonic concerts in Central Park, many years ago. Then, in 2004 a friend invited me to a New York Philharmonic rehearsal, and I knew I had found the music I wanted to live with for the rest of my life. I’ve attended nearly every Philharmonic rehearsal since and I use each one to add to my knowledge of symphonic music. When I hear a piece that is new to me and that I especially love, I’ll dash straight from the rehearsal to the ticket window to buy a ticket to an evening performance.
All in all, it's been a very heady experience — I feel privileged that even in my 60's to have found an intense new interest. My primary avocation had been riding my bicycle, and I have logged over 165,000 miles since 1979. While I’ll continue to pedal 4,000, 5,000, or possibly even 6,000 miles a year, listening to the New York Philharmonic’s music now shares the top spot of things that bring me the greatest joy.
It was at that first rehearsal in 2004 that I fell in love with this wonderful Orchestra, and it was in June of 2005 that year that I redid my will to include the Philharmonic in a new Trust. I’m happy to say that in the two and a half years since, my allocation to the Philharmonic has grown by more than 37%. I’m so pleased to be able to contribute to this wonderful Orchestra now and more generously in the future.
Marty Wolf
