Page 188 - GTMF 2024 Season Program

that time the love and support I time with grandkids. John and our brilliant leadership makes the
received from my fellow musicians I feel so fortunate to have been whole even greater than the sum
and administrators was truly bringing our four boys up here of its parts. I confess I have never
overwhelming. I felt that I was a beginning from when they were felt quite this way about any other
part of a close-knit family, albeit first born up until now, when our musical organization.
one that only sees each other for a youngest is about to graduate I recall, among so many startling
few weeks out of the year. Some of from high school. We continue to evenings, one August night in
my dearest friends are here, we’ve cherish the time spent with them 2018. Mahler’s Third Symphony
seen each other’s children grow up, hiking, biking to Nora’s for was on the stands. From the very
and they, too, eagerly anticipate breakfast, golfing at Teton Pines, first notes, the music seemed
the opportunity to see each other and camping on Jackson Lake. to come from the heavens. All
every summer. It’s been a great It’s hard to put into words the the players felt it, and Maestro
place to raise kids! power of the music that is created Runnicles, too, and the audience.
When it comes to memorable here on stage at the festival. Every You could see it on people’s
performances it’s so hard to pick single person wants to be here! faces—that sense of collective
one experience. I will always It is not just a job, but a calling. wonder that visits only a handful of
remember Mahler 3 and Mahler 1 The incredible feeling of making times in a performing life. We were
as seminal moments for me music together is overwhelming, all in it together, carried along
performing these great works. both in chamber music and in on each other’s wings. That’s the
There is a magical synthesis full symphonic works. My favorite magic of GTMF, and of the people
created when Maestro Runnicles things to play here always include blessed to venture here. It is the
and Mahler meet! our amazing Music Director, Sir enduring honor of a lifetime to be
Donald Runnicles. Any symphony among them.
Karen Whitson Kinzie by Mahler or any opera he conducts
Violin are my pivotal moments of the So many have become my dear
friends and extended family.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been entire year. I leave this special place Year folds into year, and before
playing with the Grand Teton replenished to return home to long their children and my two
Music Festival for a quarter of a my regular life, but already looking daughters, the whole bunch of
century now! My first year, in forward to the next summer. them having in a very real sense
1999, was the summer before my grown up in the back row of Walk
husband (John Kinzie, percussion) Jennifer Gordon Levin Festival Hall, are enjoying their
and I were married, so my name Violin own summer reunions. They’ll
is on the wall twice with different I first came to the Grand Teton carry these memories with them all
last names! Music Festival in the summer of their lives. Long after my playing
For me, three key words come to 1996. I flew from Washington, DC days are over, I suspect they’ll come
mind when I reflect on my time into the Jackson Hole Airport here on their own—because
spent here: people, music and and stepped off the airplane to it’s become home for them, too.
scenery. I have made many new the sight of the most magnificent My husband, a city boy for
friends and reconnected with mountains I had ever seen. There whom the word “hike” was once
people from long ago, as well as have been many arrivals since, but a pejorative term meaning “walk
being included in the “percussion” such is the power of this place that taken only because one couldn’t
family. My far-flung siblings as well the thrill of that first sight never find a taxi,” now reliably pesters
as my parents have celebrated dims. And then awe gives over me each spring: “When are we
many family reunions and birthdays to calm, to peace, to the feeling, going? Can we stay longer?” He
in Jackson Hole, and these will strange that first summer but so tromps up and down the mountain,
always be special memories for me. familiar today, that I am home. he comes to every concert, he
My mother and her husband used But it isn’t only nature that inspires yells his “bravis.” When it’s time to
to rent a place up here for a month here. Playing with the GTMF leave, they are all as sad as I am.
every summer, and thoroughly Orchestra has been from the first Because this is the place where
enjoyed many chamber music a transformative experience. My art and nature dovetail, where
concerts and symphony dress Festival colleagues are the best human-made beauty meets beauty
rehearsals, as well as spending in the world at what they do, and that will outlive us all, where

186 Grand Teton Music Festival Season 63