By Frances Sack
Activities for this year’s 38th anniversary of the Middletown Symphony Orchestra’s Guest Conductor ‘Pops” Concert have been ongoing since July to raise dollars for the symphony with candidates Cathie Mulligan and the first ever father/daughter duo - Michael & Laura McNeil.
The Guest Conductor Pop’s fund raising concert was established in 1974 and continues today. It was created to provide much needed support as the cost to maintain our Symphony increased. Over the years, more than 120 business and community people have pick up the ‘Baton’ to be part of this event to raise funds and keep the MSO alive for the cultural enrichment of Middletown and our surrounding communities.
Our first MSO Guest Conductor candidate is Cathie Mulligan, retired educator, Bishop Fenwick High School principal. Long-time symphony supporter Mrs. Peg Dupps is honorary chair for her campaign with chairs Don and Andrea Accurso, vice chair Joe Mulligan, and Treasurer John Peterson. Her theme is “Cathie’s Aftermath: Algebra to Allegro.”
Middletown has been “home” to Cathie Mulligan for her entire life. She attended her first Middletown Symphony performance over 60 years ago. That memory and her pride in our city’s support of our renowned and beloved orchestra motivated her to respond to the call to undertake a Guest Conductor campaign.
Cathie’s theme refers to replacing a long career in math education with post-retirement community service in a variety of roles. These roles require a brisk and lively— as in allegro—tempo in her life and. Her career began as a teaching fellow in graduate school fifty years ago. She was a member of the founding faculty at Miami Middletown, where her primary responsibility was teaching all levels of math, and also included writing for professional publications and leading in-service seminars for teachers locally and in several other states. Cathie retired from Miami after 31 years to work in administration and math at Fenwick High School, where she had developed the honors/advanced placement math program. After retiring as principal in 2009, she continues her math life in teaching at MUM and volunteer tutoring, board member of Middletown Arts Center and Middletown Area Neediest Youth, president-elect of the Middletown Community Foundation, and parish volunteer.
Firmly believing that music is an essential part of life, Cathie is pleased to support the MSO. Cathie has been married to Larry Mulligan Sr. for 5/8 of her life. Cathie notes that in number theory classification, 6 is a perfect number. She and Larry agree that 6 is the perfect number of children for them. They have thus far welcomed 3 beloved in-laws and 9 grandchildren into the family.
The second MSO Guest Conductor candidate is the first ever father/daughter team – Michael and Laura McNeil. Serving are their chairperson is Darrell Templeton with Dan Sack serving as treasurer. Their theme is “Unforgettable Memories.”
Michael McNeil and his wife Katie have been season ticket holders to Middletown Symphony Orchestra since before Laura was born. Michael is the president of Miami Machine Corporation in Overpeck and he is past president and a current member of the Middletown Rotary Club. He also serves on the board of directors for the Woodside Cemetery and the Middletown Pioneer cemetery. He is a board member for the Methodist Theological school of Ohio in Columbus. They are members of the First United Methodist Church and serve on various committees there as well. While their children were growing up, Michael coached many soccer and softball teams as well as inspired Laura’s interest in golf. His hobbies include golfing, sailing, biking, traveling and attending symphony concerts.
Laura McNeil has been a long-time supporter of MSO. She has many fond memories of attending the symphony concerts with her family and enjoying Ice Cream sundaes afterwards. Laura further developed her appreciation for music when she started playing the cello and piano in elementary school. She continued with the cello in high school and performed with the high school show choir.
Laura is a 2003 Middletown High School Graduate and a 2007 graduate of the University of Denver. After earning her degree in Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Management, she lived and worked in the beautiful resort towns of Jackson, WY and Leavenworth, WA. She is currently in a new challenge in the position of the Customer Service Manager at Miami Machine Corporation in Overpeck. Laura is a member of the Middletown Rotary Club and will serve on the board of directors. In her free time, Laura enjoys golfing, knitting, camping, biking, and attending the local symphony, ballets and other concerts in the area with, her fiancé, Quinn Desmond.
Their oldest daughter, Bridget McNeil is married to Darren Kennedy and is an attorney for the U.S. Dept. of Justice in Denver, CO. Their son, Dr. Brenden McNeil is married to Dr. Karen Culcasi and both are professors at WVU. They reside in Morgantown, WV, with their two children and Laura, the youngest moved back to Ohio in the autumn of 2011.
Cathie Mulligan and Michael/Laura McNeil have a several more fundraising events before the “big” night on November 17th when the top fundraiser for this year’s event will be announced. The remaining fundraisers for Cathie include: September 8—Symphony Delicious, at Beauverre Studios; September 21--Night Golf at Forest Hills Country Club; October 1—Mostaccioli and Math at Stefano’s; and October 28- Sunday breakfast at Holy Family Parish/St. John’s Center on First Ave.
For Michael/Laura McNeil their remaining fundraisers include: Saturday September 15th- Extravaganza at home of Jerry/Jacky Bank’s with a Wine & Beer Tasting event -; October 27th- McNeil’s costume party at Miami University Middletown Johnston Hall.
The MSO Guest Conductor Auction Pops concert will be held on Saturday evening, November 17 at 8 pm at MUM Finkleman Auditorium. Cost is $25 per ticket and is open to the public. Contact Midge @513-423-6779 for tickets.
