Ms. Christine Querfeld

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA dedication of the Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair, Endowed by Christine Querfeld, October 12, 2001, Grainger Ballroom, Symphony Center, Chicago

On May 17, 2001, the CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCED A NEWLY ENDOWED TUBA CHAIR IN HONOR OF FORMER CSO PRINCIPAL TUBA ARNOLD JACOBS.

Following the concert on Friday, October 12, 2001 the Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair, Endowed by Christine Querfeld was dedicated at a reception in Symphony Center's Grangier Ballroom.While the guest of honor, Christine Querfeld was in the hospital and unable to attend, students, colleagues and friends of Mr. Jacobs joined friends of Christine Querfeld to celebrate this event.While the guest of honor, Christine Querfeld was in the hospital and unable to attend, students, colleagues and friends of Mr. Jacobs joined friends of Christine Querfeld to celebrate this event.
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There was an exhibit of photos spanning Mr. Jacobs' career on display and following the dedication, many guests either went to Northwestern University Hospital to visit Ms Querfeld or went to the Fine Arts Building with Will Scarlett to Mr. Jacobs' studio of more than 25 years.
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Remarks from family, friends, students and colleagues of Mr. Jacobs were collected and presented to Christine Querfeld.
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Today is a day when we celebrate the coming together of those endowments for two wonderful lives: Those of Christine Querfeld and the late Arnold Jacobs.
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Both of them started playing their respective instruments at the age of around five: Ms. Querfeld the piano and then later, violin and pipe organ.
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Both graduated their respective music schools in 1936: Ms. Querfeld from Illinois Wesleyan University and Mr. Jacobs from the Curtis Institute.
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While Mr. Jacobs went on to play in the various orchestras that eventually led to his career in the CSO, Ms. Querfeld not only became a professional accompanist for musicians in Chicago but eventually was in administration and finally became president of the Midwestern Conservatory, a popular music school especially for GI's returning from military service in World War II.
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Concurrently, Ms. Querfeld's study of law and real estate which started in 1956 was developed by her own inquisitiveness with the ways of the world outside music.
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It is what Arnold Jacobs left behind as his inspirational legacy and which Christine Querfeld has guaranteed will not be forgotten: His artistry as a musician, his solidity as a team-player in the section, and his quality as a respectful, kind person .

It is from this day forward that every performer, administrator and audience member (both here and everywhere that this orchestra travels) into the distant future will be reminded of her gift when they read in the program roster "The Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair, Endowed by Christine Querfeld."
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I am happy to be here today to honor Christine Querfeld and her naming of the CSO's principal tuba chair in honor of Arnold Jacobs.
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Christine is a generous and loyal friend.She relishes good food and lively conversation.She is self-reliant, determined.It is hard to imagine anyone with more grit.She has an inquiring mind and keen ear.Her love of life is matched only by her devotion to excellence.She expects the best of herself and of everyone around her.Incompetence is really the only thing that drives her crazy.

For many years Christine had a provision in her estate plan for a gift to the CSO.What prompted her to consider a change in her plan was a desire to improve it.She wondered if she could make the gift more personally satisfying and also more beneficial for the CSO.By naming a chair - and a principal one at that -- she was able to acknowledge her special relationship with this great institution.I know that she has enjoyed the recognition that she has received as a result.Moreover, by making such a public gift, she has helped the CSO by making it easier to follow her example.Compared to many major orchestras in the U.S., the CSO has few endowed chairs of any kind.For the right donor, as Christine has demonstrated, this can be the gift of a lifetime.

But simply putting her name on a CSO principal chair was not enough for Christine Querfeld.
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I am happy to salute a wonderful, unforgettable patron and friend of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Christine Querfeld.

Remarks from family, friends, colleagues, and students of Mr. Jacobs for Christine Querfeld.
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To Ms Christine Querfeld, Chicago Symphony members and friends,

This is truly a great day.In the spring we received a phone call informing us of Ms. Querfeld's wonderful gift to the CSO and were of course delighted to hear the news.During the conversation there was a loud crash from the other side of the living room.Investigation revealed a heavy brass bookend had leaped from the fireplace mantel and struck the hearth below.It was shaped like a treble clef and was the only music related object in the room.Dad was very pleased.

The spirit behind Ms. Querfeld's generosity in the endowment of the Arnold Jacobs Chair is in such stark contrast to the somber events of the last 30 days.We are especially grateful now for the humanity and love of your spirit, Ms. Querfeld.
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In closing, we thank you Ms. Querfeld, and Mom would want us to remind all of you one more time for Dad: "Be good to each other until we meet again."
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I wish to applaud and thank Christine Querfeld for her extraordinary generosity in endowing the Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba chair with the Chicago Symphony.
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One of the strengths of the Chicago Symphony is this legacy of greatness, and the preservation of that greatness as well as the nurturing of the orchestra from generation to generation would not be possible without the support of wonderful patrons such as Christine Querfeld.A longtime devotee of music and supporter of the Chicago Symphony, Ms. Querfeld has made an invaluable investment in the future of the orchestra by endowing the Arnold Jacobs Chair.
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Congratulations to Christine Querfeld and the Chicago Symphony on this most generous gift.
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Today we honor Christine Querfeld for endowing the Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair as she has the insight to continue the Jacobs tradition.For this we owe her our gratitude and sincere thanks.
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Thank you Christine Querfeld for your insight and generosity to create the Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair and continuing the tradition of Arnold Jacobs.
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I received notice of the upcoming inauguration of the Arnold Jacobs Principal Tuba Chair, endowed by Christine Querfeld.
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First of all, a huge "thank-you" to Ms. Querfeld.
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This concert is respectfully dedicated to Arnold Jacobs and Christine Querfeld
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Ms. Querfeld,
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I have also written to Christine Querfeld to express my thanks for her generous gift to endow the chair in Mr. Jacobs name.
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I join with my colleagues from around the world and especially those in the Chicago Symphony in expressing to you Ms. Querfeld, our profound gratitude for honoring Mr. Jacobs and his memory in this very special way.
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The Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced that its principal tuba chair has been generously endowed by Christine Querfeld in honor of Arnold Jacobs, principal tuba of the CSO from 1944 until his retirement in 1988.
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The principal tuba chair will be officially designated as "The Arnold Jacobs Chair endowed by Christine Querfeld."

There was a reception Friday for Ms. Querfeld.I wish I could have gone.