PREVIEW #2 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, AT THE SEASCAPE

SLSCC 2013-2014 Season Number 2
League Info:membership@slscc.org • slscc.org
November 3, 2013
PREVIEW #2 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH,
AT THE SEASCAPE GOLF CLUB’S
MONARCH ROOM
610 CLUBHOUSE DRIVE,
APTOS, CA. 95003
GATHER AT 11:30—CASH BAR IN THE ROOM
LUNCH 12-1:00
PRESENTATIONS BY MAESTRO DANNY STEWART
AND
CELLO SOLOIST, AUSTIN HUNTINGTON
CHOOSE FROM THREE HOT PLATED LUNCHES
all including
green salad, fresh sautéed seasonal vegetables,
rolls and butter, coffee, tea or iced tea, and chef’s choice dessert
CHOICES:
#1. Roasted turkey with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes
#2. Grilled pork loin with apple and onion relish, garlic mashed potatoes
#3. Vegetarian roasted butternut squash risotto with fresh sage
PREPAID RESERVATIONS AT $30 PER PERSON
ARE DUE BY NOVEMBER 6TH
Checks may be made out to SLSCC,
including luncheon choice, and sent to
Cheryl Hammond
1505 42nd Ave, #30
Capitola, Ca 95010
Reservations may be made online at www.slscc.org with payment through PayPal
Questions may be directed to Gail Mowatt, Event Chair at bgmowatt10@cruzio.com.
PRESIDENT ROGER KNACKE’S COLUMN
The big news is, of course, the spectacular inaugural concert conducted by
Daniel Stewart. Everyone I spoke with was enthralled by the glorious sounds
of our Symphony in the Civic Center and the Mello. The future of classical
music in Santa Cruz County looks great!
By the time you read this, we will have had the
Broomstick Ball, our gala event of the year. Thanks very much to everyone for
working, contributing, and participating, and special thanks to the three event
co-chairs, Angela Clark, Mary Ann Hobbs, and Mary Ann Orr.
Now we can look forward to the Preview on November 15th, and the Home Tour on December
7th and 8th. The Preview will be a really nice luncheon at the Seascape Golf Club in Aptos with,
of course, the Music Director and the Soloist describing and demonstrating the music. The Home
Tour has become a Santa Cruz tradition, and this year will feature house decorations celebrating
the season. It will be a great way to start off the Holidays. This is one of our “outreach” events,
which appeals to the general community, in addition to League members. Talk it up among
your friends and neighbors, and if you can help, contact the co-chairs, Kate Sutherland and
Mary Ann Orr.
Many businesses and individuals support our fund-raising through donations of merchandise, gift
certificates, travel vouchers, advertising, and cash. We rely on their generosity, often year after year,
to make our events possible. Please make a note of the contributors to the events, as well as of the
advertisers in Musical Notes and the Symphony Program Book. Thank them when you can and support
their businesses. With over 200 League members and more than 2500 people attending the Symphony
concerts, the Symphony community has some economic muscle. Let’s take advantage of it to support
our Symphony.
We’re all anticipating the concerts on November 16th and 17th, with a strikingly gifted young cellist,
and probably the most famous symphony of all, Beethoven’s Fifth. The Symphony League gives us the
opportunity to join in bringing this great music to our community. Thanks to everyone, and best wishes
for the Holidays to all of you.
Roger Knacke
President, Symphony League of Santa Cruz County
BUY THIS SPACE
FOR YOUR
BUSINESS CARD SIZED AD
$50/SEASON OR $10/ISSUE
CONTACT:CONNIE ADAMS
(831) 335-7882
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2 2
2013 SYMPHONY LEAGUE HOME TOUR
Mark your calendars for the 2013 Home Tour
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
&
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
“HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!”
Visit five unique homes at the 28th annual Symphony League Home Tour. This year browse through
the League’s holiday gift boutique. There will be gift baskets, homemade jams and relishes, and
an array of other choices just right for holiday gifts. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and
experience beautiful gardens and breathtaking ocean views!
The opportunity drawing will include a Maria-Theresa white classic pearl necklace, a four foot live
evergreen tree decorated with miniature ornaments, and a decorated Christmas wreath. Opportunity
Tickets will be $6.00 each or six for $30.00. The drawing will be on December 8th, 2013 and you
do not have to be present to win.
Tickets will be mailed to League members the first week in November. For more information,
please contact Kate Sutherland at 831-688-0768 or by email at katsuthernfish@sbcglobal.net. Also
you may contact Mary Ann Orr at 831-427-0760 or by email at orrma@aol.com.
HOME TOUR TICKETS $30
Purchase online at www.slscc.org, call 831 427-0760,
or visit these fine retail stores:
Annieglass (Santa Cruz and Watsonville)
Palace Arts (Santa Cruz and Watsonville)
Symphony Office (Civic Auditorium)
Zinnia’s (Scotts Valley)
Alladin Nursery (Corralitos)
SCSLL 201-21014 Season Number 2 3
A PREVIEW OF OUR GUEST CELLIST
AUSTIN HUNTINGTON
by Ann Haley
Enter “Austin Huntington, Cellist” into the Google
search field and you will receive over nine million
hits. Everyone in the music world knows him, and
he’s only nineteen years old!
Since his debut at the age of ten, Austin has
received many national and international prizes and
awards: at sixteen he
received the Stulberg
International
String
Competition
Gold
Medal, which made
him most proud, but
that was when he was
sixteen. At that time he
said, “I was so honored
to even be able to come here and compete, but this,
this is the biggest accomplishment I’ve ever had.”
Before this award, Austin and his older brother
Thomas, who plays the violin, had occasionally
toured together and soloed at Carnegie Hall. They
aren’t the only musicians in their family. Their
older sisters are also musicians. Their parents have
always encouraged music at home, taking their
children to many concerts from early childhood.
More recently, Austin won the Irving M. Klein
International String competition, of which his
former teacher, Richard Hirschl, had this to say:
“We have loved having Austin here for cello lessons
over the last eight years not only because he is a
great musician and a superb cellist, but because he
is funny, modest, well-rounded and thoughtful. He
has always had a wisdom and discipline far beyond
his years, but with the recognition of the Klein
Competition I believe he has established himself as
an artist of the highest caliber.”
Austin has just returned from this summer’s
Aspen Music Festival and School, which he has
attended in years past. He has also attended the
prestigious Perlman Music Program on Shelter
Island, New York, and the Perlman Music Program
Winter Residency in Sarasota, Florida, the Quartet
Program
in
Fredonia,
New York; the Academie
Internationale de Musique
de Montpellier, France; the
Meadowmount School of
Music, New York; Indiana
University String Academy
in Bloomington, Indiana;
Credo Chamber Music
Festival in Oberlin, Ohio; and the U.S. Eastern
Music School in Colgate, New York. Austin’s
previous teachers are Richard Hirschl, Hans Jorgen
Jensen, and Emilie Grondin.
In his hometown of South Bend, Austin’s family is
a source of pride and good news, and will probably
continue to be. Austin is currently studying
with Ronald Leonard at the Colburn School
Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles. He plays a
17th Century cello made by Francesco Ruggieri of
Cremona, using a fine cello bow made by Eugene
Sartory, c. 1930. We are so very fortunate to be able
to hear him at our second concert of the season,
where he will play Shostakovich’s very dramatic
cello concerto.
An example of Austin’s humor might be that when
asked about the strangest comment anyone has
made to him following a performance, he replied,
“Once someone said I looked like a turtle.”
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2 4
2013-14 SYMPHONY LEAGUE EVENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
HOME TOUR & BOUTIQUE: Saturday and Sunday, DECEMBER 7 & 8, 2013 . . . See PAGE 3
KENTUCKY DERBY DAY: Saturday, May 3, 2014 Mint Juleps, Southern food, and a chance to cheer
the ponies. Location TBA.
ROUND ROBIN BRIDGE: Gather with friends to support the Symphony League by playing bridge.
Contact Jan Davis-Hadley, 438-4494.
PREVIEWS: League members and season ticket holders are invited to Previews led by the music director
and soloists, and to meet with the artists afterwards. Previews are usually held the Friday before the
concerts and require reservations.
20–20 Events: A series of small, informal events including barbecues, recitals, live and televised sporting
events, theater, etc.
For information about League activities and events, membership, and news, visit www.slscc.org .
20-20 WRAPS UP 2013
WITH TWO EVENTS
On Saturday, September 14th at the Kaiser Permanente Arena, 26 Symphony League members and friends
watched the Santa Cruz Derby Girls’ Boardwalk Bombers roll over the Silicon Valley Roller Girls.
League members enjoyed an exciting yet deafening experience, and the Derby Girls donated a percentage
of the ticket sales to the Symphony. We supported a local event, and the Symphony was recognized over
the PA system.
The second Bocce Ball BBQ was well attended, and Bill Mowatt barbequed Baby Back ribs for
thirty-two attendees. Sheila Vaughn
supplemented the ribs with her famous
BBQ baked beans, and participants added
scrumptious appetizers. The October 13th
afternoon event was generously hosted
by Sharon and Bob Bailey whose Bocce
Ball court was used by willing Bocce
Ball initiates as well as experienced
Chef Bill Mowatt
Kathy Parisi, Betty Ranney,
Beatrice Barbakow, Reg Howard
players.
Jack Cheney, Wayne
at the Bocce BBQ #2
Shada, and Bob Bailey offered informal lessons and tips to
willing participants. However, no coaching was needed when it was time to eat. Clyde Vaughn
and Joe Parisie assisted with the parking, and Gail Mowatt ensured guests’ needs were met.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the beautiful sunny afternoon as Billy Packard and his colleague
entertained us with delightful mandolin and guitar music. Thanks to all for helping with the set-up and
clean–up. The 20-20 group took in $900 on this event.
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2
5
JIM HOBB’S PHOTOS OF THE BROOMSTICK BALL
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2 6
HELLO TO NEW MEMBER
RENEE SHEPHERD
If Renee’s name sounds familiar, it’s probably
because of her successful seed business that keeps
so many of our gardens blooming and producing
vegetables. But Renee has another side that is longing
for more music in her life. She recalls playing in the
backyard in Cleveland, Ohio, to background music
from her father’s string quartet…something she took
for granted at the time, thinking as children do, that
most fathers must play music like hers did. Now she
appreciates the unique memory of her businessman
father playing cello with his friends, an engineer,
a policeman, and a doctor… just for their own
enjoyment. She has made a good start at bringing
more music into her life by attending the San
Francisco Symphony regularly, and she paid attention
when her friend Shirley Greenwood suggested she
was missing an opportunity to hear classical music
locally and brought her to a concert last season.
She’s convinced, and added our Symphony to her
playlist which includes a Gilbert and Sullivan group,
The Lamplighters and most recently a tuba concert.
She is a fan of woodwinds, so especially liked the
first concert this season. Welcome, Renee.
INTRODUCING
LEE DI GERONIMO
What brought Lee back to our group….she had been
a member previously but didn’t quite connect…
was the excitement and promise of our young and
enthusiastic music director. She especially liked his
mention in a Sentinel interview of the need for a
new concert venue. Lee comes from a rich musical
background starting with her grandfather who sang,
played violin and taught music. She sang in the
church choir and in college groups, and made sure
all her children played instruments. Because of her
late Italian husband, she came to appreciate Rossini
and Pavarotti. She is also a fan of musical theatre
and attends the San Jose and Smuin ballet with her
daughter. And she is no stranger to volunteering;
she and her husband volunteered for many years
serving meals at the Live Oak Senior Center. We
welcome the enthusiasm and positive energy of this
new 90 year old member!
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2 MEET NEW MEMBERS
JUDITH AND LEWIS FEINMAN
It was our member Donna Large who drew the
Feinmans’ attention to the Symphony, and after
attending the first preview, Judith decided that
the League is a “wonderful organization.” If they
don’t have a musical background, it isn’t because
they didn’t try. Judith took piano lessons from
the age of 10-13, when she and the instructor
agreed that she had no ear for it. Lewis tried to
play guitar with similar disappointing results. But
what the Feinmans are good at is listening to and
appreciating music! Lewis likes jazz and Judith
enjoys Beethoven, Strauss, Mozart and Chopin.
And they are open to new music, recalling a Phillip
Glass score for a silent movie that challenged but
interested them. They look forward to the next
previews to further their learning about music.
And we look forward to getting to know them
better and bringing them into our League family!
HELLO TO NEW MEMBER
JUDITH NIELSON
Judith’s involvement with classical music goes
back to Copenhagen, Denmark, when she was
growing up. Each Thursday she attended the
Copenhagen Symphony with her classmates.
With such an outstanding background, it is not
surprising that she is an enthusiastic supporter of
our season and our music director. Indeed, she
reserved for the preview luncheon in November
before it was even announced because she didn’t
want to miss an opportunity to hear from Danny
and the cello soloist. Judith has lived all around
the world, Europe, South America, and Australia,
travelling with her husband’s work. And she
ended up here in her husband’s home town and
made a friend, Gitta Ryle, who connected her to
the League. She is open to modern music as well
as classical, and we welcome her to the season
and the League.
7
THANKS FOR THE REFRESHMENTS
“THANK YOU” League Members for providing refreshments to the orchestra during their rehearsal
prior to the first concert of the season. Thanks to Marie Tomasi, Ann Haley, John Dickinson and
Nancy Van Natta, Connie Adams, Norma DelGaudio, Ola Monaghan, Danene Forman, Irene deHaydu, Roger
Knacke, Nancy Bley, Millie DiBona, and Peggy Minier for your contributions of food and preparation support.
Since the NEXT CONCERT is so close to Thanksgiving we plan is to add a Holiday touch to the November
event. For those of you who have volunteered to provide refreshments, we’ll be in touch with some of you
prior to the next concert, asking for your support to this much-appreciated program. We hope you will
respond with a rousing “Yes, I can provide food” when asked.
If you are curious about what we do to prepare to feed the orchestra on Saturday afternoon, please feel free to
drop by the Civic Auditorium around 2:00 the day of the concert. We promise not to put you to work (unless
you want to!).
Please contact Dan or Vickie Rutan (475-4939) if you’d like more information or would like to volunteer. (It’s
fun, too!)
CELEBRATION!
SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE OF OCTOBER 5TH AND 6TH 2013
by Ann Haley
This season’s first spectacular concert under the commanding baton of Daniel Stewart began with the very
celebratory work by Viennese Waltz King Johann Strauss II, “Die Fledermaus” Overture – an appropriate
choice for the approaching Halloween season. It was sharp and lively, full of energy, and contained at least
three of Strauss’s very famous waltzes interwoven with various polkas. The orchestra and conductor provided
perfect energy and skill to this excellent piece to open our first concert.
Jeffrey Kahane had described Mozart’s 25th Piano Concerto in C Major as reflective of his earlier successful
themes, which I’ll mention where they occur. The piece included Kahane’s own cadenzas, which balanced
perfectly with Mozart’s very complete first movement. Kahane and Stewart partnered extremely well
throughout the concerto, perhaps due in part to the fact that Stewart as a teenager spent part of his professional
career under Kahane’s baton, both artists expressing true pleasure at this collaboration.
The first movement, in rondo form, began with a long orchestral opening. This part is quite formal and very
floating as in Mozart’s earlier works. The piano enters very independently alone, playing its own motif,
which it repeats tentatively. The orchestra repeats its own theme insistently, as though to thwart the solo.
The piano then joins the orchestra, before taking off with its own ascending and descending runs. Then the
piano initiates its own theme, is soon supported softly by the orchestra, which eventually defers to the piano
theme, and capitulates to the piano when it advances through a circle of keys in typical Mozart runs. This
work demonstrates the alternate combative-coalescing roles of the soloist and orchestra in Mozart’s concertos.
Twice in the second movement Mozart used a very popular technique from his 21st Piano Concerto, in which
the piano briefly takes up the melody in the bass clef-- a real spine chiller, if you caught it.
Fortunately, both entities did come together in the finale of the 3rd movement! The audience appreciatively
rose to applaud its absolute approval of this first wonderful performance.
While Mozart’s work demonstrated our orchestra’s beautiful string sections, Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony
in F Minor gave the wind section its chance to excel. This entire work seems to contradict the unhappiness
Tchaikovsky endured in his personal life. It is filled with mood changes, but has such great romantic
sonorities that seem to deny the diary Tchaikovsky kept while composing this symphony. He used ballet
themes throughout, quoting from others of his concurrent works. The entire work is filled with tuneful ideas:
Russian folk tunes, grand emotional swings, waltzes in the first movement, and a sustained pizzicato in the
3rd scherzo movement. All orchestral instruments excelled-- really showed well--to the end. Daniel Stewart’s
interpretation of this glorious work is the best we will ever hear, according to at least one expert in the
audience, and it must be in part due to his deep exploration into the composer’s own letters and diary he left
for us to read. Stewart has found the truth in the music.
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2 8
MEMBER DIRECTORIES
As a member in good standing of the Symphony League, you should have your 2013-2014 Member
Directory. If you did not receive your copy at Preview on Friday or at Concert on Saturday or Sunday, one
was mailed to you.
If you have not received your Member Directory, please contact Dan Rutan at 831-475-4939 or rutandan@
comcast.net.
“My sincere ‘Thank You’ to Sheila Vaughn for her great skill and effort in formatting and
assembling this year’s directory. Her invaluable assistance and support made this project a reality.
Much appreciation also goes to Cheryl Hammond for her awesome proofreading skills and help
in quality-control of membership information to ensure accuracy”. Thank You to Donna Large,
Joan Osborne, Kate Miller, Jan Davis-Hadley, and Gail Mowatt for handing out Member Directories at the
recent concerts. Great team work!
MEMBERSHIP GUIDE
UPDATES
Please add the following to your Guide.
Di Geronimo, Lela (“Lee”)
800 Brommer St. Sp.47
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-475-5547
leedg@att.net
Nielsen, Judy
316 Columbia St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
458-0508
judynielsen@sbcglobal.net
Noren, Lynn lynnoren@gmail.com
Francine Thomas
850 Park Ave #12C
Capitola, CA 95010
978-621-9539 (cell) (no home #)
yogifran@hotmail.com
Shepherd, Renee
7389 W. Zayante
Felton, CA 95018
831-335-5912
125renee@reneesgarden.com
SCSLL 2013-2014 Season Number 2 CONCERT DATES AND
NEWSLETTER DEADLINES
CONCERT
NEWSLETTER
No. Date
Deadline*
Mail on
2 11/16-17
10/21
11/3
3 1/25-26
12/30
1/13
4 3/22-23
2/24
3/10
5 5/17-18
4/21
5/5
*Submit items to dunnruiz@gmail.com
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS