Post on 21-Sep-2020
Music Matters
Pacific Symphony League, 3631 S. Harbor Blvd, Suite 100. Santa Ana, CA 92704 November 2009
Betty Everett, editor; send submissions to bettyeverett@usa.net, 949 462 0912
Celebration Raffle
Pacific Symphony League volunteers introduced the Celebration Raffle to Opening Night attendees
on September 24, 2009. The grand$prize is a trip for two to Europe worth $20,000, but there will
be many other unique prizes in the Early Bird Drawings on December 21, 2009 and February 16,
2010. League representatives are present, willing and able to help symphony goers purchase raffle
tickets at almost all classics and pops concerts. All proceeds from the Celebration Raffle support the
artistic and education programs of Pacific Symphony.
Claire Burt and Barbara Sue Johnson introduce the Celebration Raffle to Symphony attendees
Every year, Pacific Symphony devotes more than $1.5 million to major education programs for the
children and youth of Orange County. For many of these young listeners, this is the only musical in$
struction they receive. Our programs provide exposure and interaction with music, which has been
shown to contribute to a child’s success in school. The Celebration Raffle has the potential to raise
over $100,000 for artistic and education programs with the support of volunteers like you.
By purchasing tickets early, entrants are eligible for the first Early Bird drawing, taking place De$
cember 21, 2009, and the second Early Bird drawing, taking place February 16, 2010. There are
more than 50 Early Bird prizes, including priceless symphony experiences, such as private backstage
tours, meet and greets with musicians and conductor, tickets to special events, Box Circle Club sub$
scriptions and much more.
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Page 2 Music Matters
Who is editor Betty Everett? She’s just plain curious about how life in all aspects works, but most particulary, how the art world works! She always thought of herself as a musician, but has actually been more successful as a writer and editor. She lived in Belgium and The Netherlands from 1968-2001 working on the edge of the arts as a writer and producer and striving to help other American expats happily bridge the Atlantic as editor of a magazine for Americans living in Holland. She loves working with the PSL which has led her
into many new avenues in the arts in Orange County.�
Betty Everett, Editor
President’s Message:
The League is off to a great start! We are excited about our many new enthusias-tic members. A promising new fundraiser has been launched, “Celebration Raf-fle,” for the grand-prize trip for two to Europe. Our first luncheon meeting, fea-turing Pacific Symphony Assistant Concertmaster Jeanne Skrocki, her daughter, Laura Evans; and mother, Bonnie Bell, was well attended and much en-joyed. Please come and meet Maxim Eshkenazy, Assistant Conductor of Pacific Symphony and Conductor of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, at our luncheon meeting on November 16.
Thank you Margaret Gates for leading the League’s summer opportunity drawing, “Win the Maestros’ iPods,” benefiting the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles! The lucky winners of the three iPods, each loaded with the favorite music of the Symphony’s maestros, were: Jan West for Richard Kaufman’s, Rick Cummings for Maxim Eshkenazy’s, and Chris Liu for Carl St.Clair’s. The winner of the four (4) Box Circle tickets to a classics concert was Beverly McKenzie. The League and the PSYE were also
winners, because we made over $4,000! Janice Smith �
Pacific Symphony League Supper Club
Pacific Symphony’s League Supper Club is a wonderful way to support the Symphony’s artistic and music education programs. Members enjoy intimate salon-type performances by Symphony musicians and guest artists followed by dinner in beautiful homes and special venues. In the past, Alexander Toradze, Jean Phillipe Collard, and Davis Gaines, among others, have entertained us.
Our first Supper Club of the year will take place on Sunday, November 22nd. Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman
and his talented daughter, Whitney Kaufman, are the guest artists. Richard is in his 19th year as our Pops Con-ductor. Whitney is a vivacious Broadway talent.
On Saturday, February 13th, Orli Shaham will be our guest. She is the well known pianist and sister of the violin-ist Gil Shaham. Orli is known to many Symphony supporters from her appearances at Café Ludwig.
Membership in Supper Club costs $600 per couple and $375 for an individual membership. The cost is tax deducti-ble to the extent allowed by law. Events are priced separately and include dinner. Call Jennifer Greenwalt at
714.876.2338, if you would like to become a member or if you have more questions. �
Important Dates Nov. 12 14 Classics Concerts,
“Enigma Variations”
Nov. 16 Symphony League Luncheon
featuring Maxim Eshkenazy
Nov. 22 Supper Club, Richard Kauf
man and Whitney Kaufman
Important Dates Dec. 10 12 Classics Concerts,
“Beethoven’s Fifth”
Dec. 10 League Members Orientation
Dec. 12 Family Musical Mornings,
“Nutcracker for Kids”
Dec. 13 Handel’s “Messiah”
Dec. 16 League Board Meeting
Page 3 Music Matters
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Many thanks to those of you who have joined the
Pacific Symphony League! We now have 38 Active
members, 2 Class Act members, 14 Patron
members, and 43 Supper Club memberships. We
are thrilled to have so many new members join. A
warm welcome to you all!
There is still time to get your friends involved before
the November 16th meeting when we will hear
Maxim Eshkenazy play his 1795 violin. You do not
want to miss this meeting!
Please contact Elizabeth Stahr at Stahrs@aol.com
for membership information.
An Orientation Coffee for new and returning
League members will be held on the morning of
December 10th in the conference room at the
Pacific Symphony office building. Come meet the
League board members, Pacific Symphony officers
and staff, and hear more about League activities
and volunteer opportunities! Look for your
invitation in the mail.
Please note the “Additional Members” sheet and
add it to your roster.�
November 16 PSL
Luncheon featuring
Maxim Eshkenazy, Assistant conductor of the Pacific
Symphony and Conductor of the Pacific
Symphony Youth Orchestra
November 16, 2009,
The Center Club, 11:30 a.m.
A Bulgarian native, Eshkenazy received his early musical training at the Sofia Conser-vatory before moving to the United States to pursue a double Masters of Music degree in Conducting and Violin Performance at the University of Southern California.
His work with the Pacific Symphony is primarily with young musicians, as the conductor of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has made two promises to the Pacific Symphony League: to bring his violin and a young musician from the Youth Orchestra for us to meet. �
.
Family Musical Mornings Visions of sugarplums will dance in your head in this condensed version of the Tchaikovsky "Nutcracker for Kids" Family Musical Morning concert on Saturday, December 12, 2009. This is always a popular event, so we will need at least six volunteers to help staff the Musical Playground stations before and after the two concerts. Sign up sheets will be available at the November 16th PSL luncheon, or you can call Suzanne at 949-675-3715 or email schonette@yahoo.com to volunteer at the concert, Sat. Dec. 12, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. If you prefer not to spend the entire morning, you can partner with a friend for the early concert, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m., or later, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. You will definitely be in the holiday mood after hearing the wonderful music and seeing the enthusiastic young-
sters enjoying this delightful Christmas ballet. �
Suzanne Chonette, V.P. Education
Reservations for all luncheon meetings can be made by calling Jennifer Greenwalt at 714-876-2338.
More Important Dates
Dec. 22 “Holiday Organ Spectacular”
Jan. 7 9 Classics Concerts, “A Tchaikovsky
Portrait”
Jan. 10 Classical Connections, Tchaikovsky’s
“Pathetique”
Jan. 13 League Board Meeting
Feb. 1 Symphony League Luncheon, “A
Toast to Carl”
Page 4 Music Matters
The Pacific Symphony Shop We are very excited about the new merchandise exhibited for the first time at the Pops concerts No-vember 5-7! New shawls in beautiful patterns and colors, sparkling bracelets, and a fabulous line of handmade jewelry from a nationally known artist have arrived. We also have the world's best volunteers! Our lead volunteers are Jacki Williams on Thursday, Sharon Stewart on Friday, Susan Baker on Saturday and Peggy George is in charge of the Family Musi-cal Morning concerts. Kathy Mills, Leonard Brinley, Jaye and Boker Yaruss, Steve Gold, Betty Everett, and Delpha Cadogan are also volunteers who have done a great job. We frequently need more volunteers, especially on Thursday nights, Saturday nights and for the Sat-urday morning programs. I will be passing a sign up sheet at the next general meeting. The Shop is doing well and our profits are cred-ited to the League's fund raising goal for the year. Stop by and tell us how you like the new items, we are in the lobby for every Classics, Pops and Family Musical Morning concert. Sharon Stewart�
February PSL Luncheon with
Carl St.Clair
Beside his symphonic work, Carl St.Clair devotes himself as well to a great passion, the opera. He conducted “Rigoletto,” “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” and “Tannhäuser” at the Austin Lyric Opera and “The Magic Flute” for Opera Pacific. In Germany he worked regularly as guest conductor for the opera houses of Bonn and Hanover, before he became General Music Director of the German National Theater and Staatskapelle in Weimar from 2005-2008, where he initiated and con-ducted the production of Wagner's “Ring Cycle” which re-ceived unanimous acclaim. Winners of the Celebration Raffle will attend Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Beethoven’s “Fidelio” under Carl St.Clair’s baton in Berlin. At the February luncheon he will tell us more of his other
musical life. �
General Music Director, Komische Oper
Berlin and Music Director of Pacific
Symphony
Carl St.Clair is well-known in Orange County as the music director of the Pacific Symphony for the past twenty years, but he also has another very active musical life in Europe.
Notes from the Orchestra A column where Symphony musicians share their thoughts with us.
I am motivated by the concentration required for a particularly difficult passage and the satisfaction of play-ing well. I enjoy being part of the violin “team” and matching the sound and rhythm of my colleagues. I love the physical sensation of playing the violin – the movement of my arm with the bow, the vibration of the wood against my collarbone, the volume of the sound under my ear. I even chuckle, occasionally, at the running commentary inside my head, which ranges from a “pep talk” for upcoming technical challenges, to tomorrow’s grocery list, to all manner of things in between! But surely one of my favorite moments is when the orchestra stands for recognition at the end of the concert and I can look out and see the joy and enthusiasm and satisfaction on your faces as you applaud. It feels good to know that we have all, collectively, been transported to a unique and beautiful place for at least a little while during our very busy week! �
by Jeanne Skrocki, Assistant Concertmaster, Pacific Symphony I have been reflecting on the first two concerts of this season. I left the stage after both of these programs completely invigorated and with more energy than when I first arrived at the Hall! I know, from the applause, that you were as thrilled as we were on stage. It has me thinking about how my enjoyment of a concert is similar to yours. I share your enjoyment of the beauty and emotion that each piece evokes. I enjoy the surprises and challenges of the music that engage my mind.