February 2026

There are a couple of volunteers in the Symphony Volunteer Association who have told me on more than one occasion “I don’t have time to volunteer,” and then I see them repeatedly in Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center serving as a greeter or wayfinder. A couple of nights later, the same volunteers are back again, working at the merchandise table. And a few days later, they are hosting an SLSO shuttle bus. Volunteering has a way of fitting itself into busy lives—and often, the time given brings something meaningful in return. Let me explain… 

Kent McNeil, a former SVA President, shared with me some significant data regarding the personal benefits of volunteering. He provided research showing that volunteering improves mental health, provides benefits for one’s physical health, and increases overall satisfaction both emotionally and cognitively. Volunteering has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, leading to happiness and satisfaction.  

And there’s more! Physical benefits include reduced mortality risks, as people who volunteer tend to live longer with improved heart health due to reduced stress and lower blood pressure. But wait! There’s even more! Cognitive and emotional benefits come from learning new tasks, solving problems, and interacting with different people. A sense of community is fostered, reducing feelings of loneliness and improving social integration.  

Harvard Health found a link between volunteering and greater happiness by having a cause for which to feel passionate, a strong sense of purpose, and a positive outlook on life. UnitedHealthcare states 76% of people who volunteer feel better about themselves and are making a real difference in the lives of others. 

These findings are all well and good for those who are members of the “senior” demographic. What about our newer, younger volunteers who have recently joined the SVA ranks? Studies have found that those in the Millennial and Gen Z categories are experiencing benefits specific to their sector of the population. Younger volunteers are finding friends, even romance! They are building skills that will help with their careers, including leadership opportunities that could lead to board-level experiences. Networking at volunteer events, they have met others in their field or desired field. As new members, it is vital that they are mentored and as a result will become mentors at some future date. Like those of us who are seasoned volunteers, these young volunteers need to know their efforts are recognized, and they are appreciated. They are the future of the Symphony Volunteer Association! 

One last statistic: 45% of non-volunteers don’t volunteer because no one has asked them to become a volunteer. Let’s fix that right here and now. Ask that friend or relative who you just know would benefit from joining the SVA and supporting the SLSO. All together now—come for the music, stay for the friendship! 

Suzanne Seibel 
SVAPresident@slso.org 

Dear SVA volunteers, 

Isn’t it good to be home? 

Looking back at the 2025/26 season so far, I am in absolute awe of all the ways our Symphony Volunteer Association has stepped up to make an experience with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra second to none. Thank you for your continued patience as we learn the best ways to utilize our volunteers in our amazing new space. You have been learning on the fly with incredible grace, your feedback has been invaluable, and I could not be more grateful for your efforts! Thank you for continuing to jump in and help whenever the need arises. If you haven’t had an opportunity to experience the renovated hall yet, reach out and we will find a place for you to be involved. Even if you can only volunteer at one event, you are helping the SLSO bring music to all. 

Looking forward, you will start to hear more about the planning for the SVA 100th anniversary celebration events throughout the 2026/27 season. Watch for ways to get involved; the SLSO will be celebrating you! 

Thank you for all that you do, and as always, let me know if you need anything. 

-Andrea 
AndreaB@slso.org 

Richard Kranes-Rutz is the SLSO’s Associate Vice President of Philanthropy, Annual Fund. We asked him to tell us a bit about his history and the goals he seeks to achieve. 

I am the Associate Vice President of Philanthropy, Annual Fund at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and I’ve had the privilege of being part of the SLSO team for a little over three years. I joined the organization as Senior Director of Major Gifts and was promoted to my current role about six months later. After more than 20 years in fundraising, coming to the SLSO felt both exciting and deeply personal. 

Some of my fondest memories as a child were attending Symphony concerts on school field trips. When I realized that my son was about the same age I was during those experiences, I knew I wanted to be part of an organization that could offer him, and so many others, that same sense of wonder and discovery. I’ve always loved music of all kinds and even play the piano a bit. To me, music is a universal connector, bringing people together in powerful and meaningful ways. 

I was also drawn to the SLSO’s strong commitment to education and community engagement, especially through the Music for All campaign. The vision to expand our space and include an education and learning center was incredibly inspiring. Knowing the Symphony was investing in a place that would serve students, families, and the broader community for generations made the opportunity even more meaningful. Now, more than three years later, seeing the completed renovation and expansion and watching the community enjoy this new space is incredibly rewarding. It’s an achievement not just for the SLSO, but for St. Louis as a whole. 

In my role, I oversee all aspects of our Annual Fund, including direct mail, telefunding, leadership giving, events, and stewardship. I also help support our institutional philanthropy team, responsible for foundation, corporate, and grant funding. I’m fortunate to work with a team of talented and dedicated individuals, and it’s truly an honor to support their work on behalf of the SLSO. 

One of the greatest highlights of my role has been working with the SVA. As part of my responsibilities, I oversee the SVA and supervise the SVA Manager. From the moment I started, it was clear how much the SVA contributes to the success of the Symphony and how deeply appreciated they are. It is both my responsibility and my pleasure to support and advocate for the SVA whenever I can, and to help ensure their work is as meaningful and rewarding as possible. 

The best part of my job is attending concerts and connecting with our donors and SVA members. I love hearing their stories and learning about the many ways they are connected to the SLSO. Everyone brings a unique perspective and passion, and those connections are what make this work so fulfilling. 

Jim Moore has been studying our SVA data, and shares these observations: 

Fun facts we have pulled out of the SVA volunteer hours database… 

In the 2025/26 season we have: 

Top 5 

Wondering how many hours your committee has volunteered? See the table below. Note that Photography is included in Communications and Powell Hall Opportunities is “PHO”. 

Other insights are located on our Tableau page here.

**Upcoming SVA Education Volunteer Activities

If you zoomed in to our last Cocktails and Conversation on February 10, you were treated to two outstanding guests: Henry “Hank” Skolnick, SLSO librarian, and Peter Henderson, moderator. Both are multi-talented educators and performers and shared their expertise on a wide variety of topics. Hank calls himself a “cocktail enthusiast” and shared his recipe for his current go-to drink, a “Boulevardier”—did any of you try it? If so, let us know what you think! 

Mark your calendars now for our third and final zoom Cocktails and Conversation on Tuesday, April 14, 5-6 pm. Meet St. Louis native and alumnus of our own SLSO Youth Orchestra, Sarah Hogan Kaiser, SLSO Double Bass. It will be a wonderful way to end this year’s “C and C’s”. 

We look forward to seeing you on April 14! 

Marilyn Humiston 
Phyllis Traub 
C and C Team Leaders 

Our team has been busy on three main fronts since November:  

First and foremost, we have been recording all information and preferences for the exciting number of new members who have joined the SVA. The Directory is the “invisible” link between members and volunteering opportunities, as we feed committee Chairs with custom lists of members interested in participating in their committees’ activities.  

Our second focus has been updating and printing a new batch of booklets, which you will be able to pick up at any of our SVA gatherings. This is the first batch that has the new beautiful logo and colors of SLSO’s updated branding. 

Finally, we have been working on automation of the generation of committee member lists for Chairs. As of the beginning of the year, committee Chairs can enjoy an online, permanently updated list of members interested in their committee. With this new automation, they can see the updates a few seconds after changes happen in the master Directory database. This greatly reduces the time needed to generate and send these file updates, making us faster and more accurate. 

As we continue to serve our SVA Leadership, committee Chairs, and all members, please remember to keep us updated with your committee preferences and your contact information through your Committee Chair or contact SVADirectory@slso.org. 

The SVA Directory is also available online, in the SLSO.org website, in the “Support Us /  Volunteer  / News and Member Resources” section, where you will find a link to open the Directory file (it is password protected for privacy reasons; you will find information on how to get the password under the link). 

See you all around the music! 

Ruben Sanchez 
SVA Directory Team Lead 
SVADirectory@slso.org 

The Hospitality Committee has been pulling out their favorite nut-free recipes and heating up their ovens to share a little love with our choruses and staff over the past couple of months. Committee members bake and then package the treats together in a lively assembly session, followed by coffee, tea and, of course, cookies. 

Begun to show our support during Covid, the cookie packages have become a much-loved way for the SVA to show our appreciation on an ongoing basis. In December, the Hospitality Committee delivered 120 packages of cookies to our IN UNISON chorus prior to their fabulous IN UNISON Christmas concert. In late January, the committee prepared and delivered 100 packages of cookies to the hard-working SLSO staff. In February, the committee is treating the ushers and stagehands, with the Youth Orchestra members in line to receive cookie packages in the spring.   

The committee is busy throughout the season, having greeted musicians with a welcome back brunch in the fall and delivered cookies to the Symphony Chorus in November. Committee members participate in each event as they are able, and everyone is welcome. 

Janice Seele, co-Lead 
Marjorie Smith, co-Lead 
SVAHospitality@slso.org 

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season full of family, friends, and good cheer. The SVA welcomed a record 28 new members in the last quarter of 2025! 

Joined in October 2025: 

Joined in November 2025: 

Joined in December 2025: 

The reopening of Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center has seen the return of many long-time SLSO patrons as well as an influx of new music lovers.  The media coverage surrounding the reopening of Powell Hall and the opening of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center has brought much attention to the SLSO. Our SVA desk in the Hall lobby has brought heighted awareness to our organization and volunteer opportunities.   

This season has brought exciting and expanded volunteer opportunities for our members. We need all the members we can get! Sharing your volunteer experiences and enthusiasm is a powerful recruiting tool.   

If you have any ideas on how to recruit new SVA members, please contact us at SVANewandProspective@slso.org. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Elizabeth Hahn, Chair 
Connie Wepfer, Vice-Chair 
SVANewandProspective@slso.org 

COMING SOON: Winter Brunch 

The Meetings and Events committee is hosting its second get-together on Saturday, February 21, 2026. A sumptuous buffet brunch will be held at Powell Hall in the beautifully restored Wightman Foyer. The new red drapery and sparkling chandeliers will brighten any winter day. 

SLSO musician Cally Banham will perform and entertain us while a speaker from the SLSO Education department will inform us of the new additions to some of our most popular community programs.  

The meeting will begin at 10:00am with registration and a meet-and-greet. New members will have something special added to their name tag, making it easier for everyone to welcome them. The brunch will begin at 10:30am followed by the program at 11:15am.  

We look forward to seeing all of you at the February meeting. Check your email for your registration link. 

Terri Ciccolella, Chair 
Jean Kennedy, Vice-Chair 
SVAMembership@slso.org 

Kathryn Snodgrass, Team Lead, continues to receive requests and sends cards in sympathy or with well wishes. Anyone in the SVA membership is encouraged to contact Kathryn at SVAEngagement@slso.org, requesting written recognition of a fellow volunteer’s needs or celebrations.  

Kathryn Snodgrass, Team Lead 
SVAEngagement@slso.org 

The New Member Mentoring Team resumed in December with the full-time return of Team Lead Jim Cooper. Jim put out a call for more SVA members to volunteer as mentors. Mentoring is neither time-consuming nor difficult. Jim sends mentors the names and information about new members/mentees, and other information is provided electronically to guide you to help new mentees. Additionally, electronic material is provided to pass along to the new mentee. The following are suggested approaches to start welcoming a new mentee: 

For more information, contact Jim Cooper, SVAMentors@slso.org. 

December 2025 was not only the “most wonderful time of the year” but also the busiest time of the year for the SVA Pick and Choose Committee members. The photo holiday lines for both the IN UNISON Christmas concerts and the Mercy Holiday Celebration welcomed many new and returning patrons to the newly renovated Powell Hall.    

Committee members have also generously volunteered to help any department or committee when assistance is needed. This includes supporting the Philanthropy department with mailings, helping the Education Department with the Holiday Concert at the International Institute, as well as assisting the Youth Orchestra Committee with providing transportation for a participant in the Peer to Peer program. Further information and sign-up sheets will be sent as needed.  

We also welcome Larry Schulz as the new Vice Chair of our committee, and we continue to see new members sign up. What makes the Pick and Choose Committee special is the variety and ever-changing requests and needs. No special talent or ability is needed, but maybe an hour or two of time.  

If you do have the time, just remember, as Suzanne Seibel, our SVA President says, “come for the music, and stay for the friendship!” 

Sharongay Pearline, Chair 
Larry Schulz, Vice-Chair 
SVAOneandDone@slso.org 

Over 40 SVA members have expressed interest in the Advocacy committee. Six of these members traveled to Jefferson City for the Day of Advocacy on February 4, 2026. We met with our individual House and Senate elected representatives. The focus of our meetings was the education programs and community impact of the SLSO. Training sessions for the Advocacy travelers were held on January 15 (in-person) and January 22 (virtual), led by MO Citizens for the Arts. 

Paul Kravitz, Chair 
LaVerne Moseley, Vice-chair 
SVAAdvocacy@slso.org 

We are off to a massive start to the 2025-26 season. Through 3 months we are at 1,377 hours from 100 different SVA members! With 8 volunteers at every concert plus shuttle bus hosts at some concerts, we are racking up the numbers. Well done, my good and faithful colleagues. Greeting patrons with a smile and a welcoming presence has been a joy. Keep up the great work! 

These are the links…lots of openings…sign up early and often! 

Greeters, Wayfinders and SVA Desk
Shuttle Bus Hosts

Jim Moore, Chair 
Willard Moseley, Vice-chair 
SVAAmbassador@slso.org 

The Discovery Committee convened in the fall to begin planning the celebration of the SVA’s 100thanniversary. We will be celebrating throughout the 2026/27 SLSO season with multiple notable events. We are making plans in collaboration with the SLSO staff and will finalize the details in the coming months. 

Additionally, the committee is meeting with the SLSO marketing team to promote volunteering for the SLSO, which will support our goal to increase the number of SVA members and participation. 

Members of the committee include Beth Rogers (Vice Chair), Martha Duchild, Jean Kennedy, and Janice Seele. Suzanne Seibel and Andrea Biske are ex-officio committee members. 

Please watch this newsletter for information about the exciting plans for next season as we mark this significant milestone for the SVA as one of the oldest symphony volunteer organizations in the US! 

For more information about the SVA history, visit https://slso.org/your-slso/about-us/our-history/sva-history/ 

SVA Friends of Music (formerly SVA Friends) is active again. We received a list of about 600 donors to be contacted with the personal thank you we deliver. Each committee member received 15-20 donor names with contact information and a suggested script for the phone calls. There were many new donors on the list as well as new committee members to help complete this important task. 

The Merchandise Committee is happy to report that we have recently taken delivery of new items for sale. We now have Tote Bags, Baseball Hats, Tumblers, Water Bottles, Sweatshirts and Hoodie Sweatshirts, all with the new SLSO logo on them. We also anticipate having more items for sale in the very near future. 

There have been several new members added to our committee recently, and we always appreciate anyone else who is interested in working the Merchandise Table, joining our team! We still have several openings for members to sign up. 

Karen and Christine continue to welcome our new members and assist them with learning the TOAST device, which completes the merchandise sales. 

Thanks to all, 

Christine Henry, Chair  
Karen Silsby, Vice Chair 
SVABoutique@slso.org 

Our Coffee Concert Team continues to be extremely active as our “homecoming” year progresses. The Coffee Concert Team is over-subscribed with volunteers by more than 100%, which is a wonderful situation. We have three Coffee Concerts remaining for the 2025/26 season, and so far, our volunteers have done a wonderful job at these heavily attended concerts. 

Dave Propper, Team Lead 
SVACoffeeConcerts@slso.org  

The Education Ambassador team had their first set of concerts with Wild Symphony, a program designed for 1st through 4th grade classes in November. Wild Symphony was written by New York Times bestselling author Dan Brown and features vibrant illustrations by Susan Batori. The show had Maestro Mouse and his musical friends as they travel through the trees and across the seas, bringing each animal to life through music. It was quite fun with the ballet dancers, and the children seemed to enjoy the program.  

Prior to the concerts, many of our team members completed a two-hour, specialized training session for greeting students, teachers, and the buses (photo). There are a lot of logistical changes for these concerts in the new building. We were lucky to have nice weather for our first set of concerts, with one day handling over 70 buses and a full house. Schools were definitely excited to return to Powell Hall.  

Our second education concert was “Beethoven 7 Unpacked”, the first education concert programmed for middle and high school students. This was a single, one hour performance on January 15, which was very well attended with nearly 40 buses arriving. It was very cold, near 20 degrees, and our team was outstanding in bundling up for the frigid temperatures and greeting the schools with a smile on their face. Hopefully, our next set of concerts, “Music Without Boundaries” coming up on February 25-26, will have better weather!  

For information about Education Hosts, please contact Team Lead Elizabeth Crosby (SVAEduAmbassadors@slso.org).  

Elizabeth Crosby, Co-Lead  
Janis Foertmeyer, Co-Lead  

The ETM Reimagined is on its way! The Education Team has 8 teachers who are 
offering 3 different prompts to their students. 

Our resident composer, Kevin Puts, will be providing the students with a video 
introducing himself, talking a bit about the piece, and expressing his excitement that students will be using his music. 
Another new feature this year is that the SVA is invited to choose a special “SVA Pick.” We plan to accomplish this with online voting from our ETM Committee. 

Rose Ingraham, Chair 
Patty Kaplan, Vice Chair 
SVAExpressthemusic@slso.org 

The Instrument Playground Committee, which has been on hiatus since the pandemic, is now working with the Education Host team to support SLSO Education concerts.  

Harry Moppins, Chair 
SVAInstrumentPlayground@slso.org 

PTM began its 2026 activities in January. Joseph Hendricks, SLSO Education Programs Assistant, set up a training session for the judges. Submission of artwork will begin soon. 

Mike Darcy, Chair 
Sue Darcy, Vice-Chair 
SVAPicturethemusic@slso.org 

Training for 14 SVA tour guides was held on October 17, and a second training date was held on November 5 for 11 tour guides. To date, 25 of the 32 members of the team have attended a training session and completed a walk through for the new public tour route in Powell Hall. 

Eight experienced guides and 10 “shadow” guides led 470+ guests on abbreviated tours for the Community Open House on November 8. Tours were conducted from 10:00am– 5:00pm. Guests were excited to be back in Powell Hall and appreciated the opportunity to learn about its history and see some of the key architectural features within the historical building and the new addition to the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. 

Public tours kicked off in 2026 with about 60 people signed up. This initial tour was very well received, a good omen for tours to come. 

Tickets are $10/person and may be ordered on the SLSO website or by calling the Box Office. Initially, we will cap tour participants to 60 per tour date. The Operations team has so far provided eight dates in January, February, and March, and many of these tour dates have already sold out. Additional dates for April and May will be posted on the website soon. Tours will be approximately 75 minutes in length. New team members will be scheduled to “shadow” experienced guides this winter.  

The Guest Services team is also scheduling private tours for various individuals and groups to be led by SVA tour guides. We also anticipate providing tour services in support of SLSO Philanthropy, Sales, and other internal departments. Currently, four private tours have been scheduled with more on the planning horizon. 

For additional information about PH Tours, please contact Group Leader Becky Brown at SVATours@slso.org. 

Becky Brown 
Tours Team Lead 
SVATours@slso.org 

On November 23, the Youth Orchestra performed its first concert of the season, and audiences got to hear an outstanding performance. This group of young musicians is, according to MH, among the best she’s heard since joining the SLSO. The YO co-leads coordinated with Jim Moore to staff the usual front of house positions, and YO volunteers helping to serve and clean up after the musician’s pre-concert meal (photo).  

In January, the YO held its concerto competition to determine who will be the soloist at this spring’s final YO concert. Despite the request coming at the last minute, we were able to muster the required number of volunteers (2) and 3 back-up volunteers.  

We got a sneak peek from YO Music Director Samuel Hollister of one of the pieces the YO will be performing at its March 29 concert: Gustav Holt’s The Planets. This will be an ambitious piece for the YO but based on what we heard in the first concert, the musicians are equal to the challenge. We encourage volunteers to share information about the YO with their social networks, especially people who may be unfamiliar with classical music and don’t want to “test-drive” a full classical concert. At $10 per ticket, a YO concert is a great way to introduce people to classical music. 

Stephanie Randall and Martha Duchild 
Youth Orchestra Team Leaders 
SVAYouthOrchestra@slso.org 

Margaret (Margie) Ogilvy Franz passed away on December 16, 2025 at the age of 83. Margaret was born November 28, 1942, daughter of Lester and Virginia (Stauffer) Ogilvy. She recently celebrated her 53rd wedding anniversary with her beloved husband, Donald (Don) Franz, in the company of their son, Dr. Daniel Kietz. 

Margie is survived by her husband Don; her son, Dr. Daniel Kietz; and her brother, David Ogilvy. 

Margie was a devoted friend and a kind and generous soul who gave freely of her time, energy, and heart to the many causes and organizations she supported. She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she served as Vice President of the St. Peter’s Guild and remained deeply engaged in parish life.  Margie worked as librarian for the St. Louis City Library downtown for many years.  

A lifelong supporter of the arts, Margie was involved with and generously supported numerous cultural and civic institutions, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Ballet, the Garden Club, the St. Louis Symphony, the Banjo Club, the Book Club, and the Missouri Athletic Club, among many others. 

Margie and Don were avid tennis players for many years and shared a deep love of music. She took great joy in supporting Don’s active musical life. Don was a frequent volunteer for the SVA’s Instrument Playground committee, and a member of the St. Louis Ragtimers and co-owned the Goldenrod Showboat where Margie attended so most of their performances.  

Margie’s warmth, generosity, and abiding enthusiasm for the arts and community will be remembered with great affection by all who knew her. 

Your General Board consists of the Executive Committee; Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs, who fall under one of the three VPs; and Team Leads, whose groups take on recurring tasks within certain committees.   

All these leaders are available, via their “official” SLSO emails, to welcome you into their committees/teams, answer questions, and generally provide resources to enrich your SVA experience.  All Execs, Chairs and Team Leads have SLSO emails, as listed below.  Vice-Chairs do not have SLSO emails but are listed below for completeness.