Memories of the May Salon

Long-time members, new members, and guests enjoyed the May Salon, graciously hosted by Denyse Miller in her stunning coastal home.   This panoramic vista greeted us as we gathered on May 14 for a morning of music and fellowship.

View of the coast from the home of Denyse Miller

View of the coast from the home of Denyse Miller

Hostess Denyse Miller, and Vice President-Programs Darlene Vlasek

Hostess Denyse Miller, and Vice President-Programs Darlene Vlasek

Pianist Dmitry Rachmanov stirred us with a virtuoso performance, selecting compositions by Schubert, Liszt, Chopin, and his signature Russian composer, Alexander Scriabin.

Dmitry Rachmanov at the piano, May 2013 Salon

Dmitry Rachmanov at the piano, May 2013 Salon

Members and guests shared smiles and laughter on this bright spring morning.

Lesley Hull, Malinda Pretz, and Ibby Dawson

Lesley Hull, Malinda Pretz, and Ibby Dawson

Trudie Park, Shirley Farley, Pilar Hale, Janet Ceske

Trudie Park, Shirley Farley, Pilar Hale, Janet Ceske

(Clockwise from center) Sybille Roessler, ?, Judy Christmas, ?, Joann Baddario (guest), Pilar Hale, Patt Parker, ?

(Clockwise from center) Sybille Roessler, Sharon Butler, Judy Christmas, Pat Webb, Joann Baddario (guest), Pilar Hale, Patt Parker, Jean Lindsay

Members and guests enjoy an elegant brunch.

Members and guests enjoy an elegant brunch.

Photographs by Denise Clement

Thank you one and all!

Grand Salon – Sunday May 19th

Kei Benoit, VP Grand Salon, hostess Carolyn Elliott, and Val Noguchi, VP Grand Salon

Kei Benoit, VP Grand Salon, hostess Carolyn Elliott, and Val Noguchi, VP Grand Salon

Kei Benoit, Val Noguchi, and Carolyn Elliott have planned an evening of world-class music, fine wine, and gourmet tastings just for you at the Elliott’s seaside estate on

Sunday, May 19
5 to 8 o’clock in the evening

Cocktail Attire
Elliott Estate with our iconic pelicans soaring

Elliott Estate with our iconic pelicans soaring

Featured Artists

Nathan Cole

Nathan Cole

Akiko Tarumoto

Akiko Tarumoto

Micah Yui

Micah Yui

Nathan Cole is First Associate Concertmaster of the LA Philharmonic.  In addition to nine seasons in the Chicago Symphony and two as principal second violin of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, he has appeared as guest concertmaster with the orchestras of Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Houston, Ottasa, Seattle and Oregon.  Akiko Tarumoto was a member of the LA Philharmonic from 2000 to 2004 before joining the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  She returned to the LA Phil in the fall of 2012 as a member of the 2nd violin section.  Acclaimed pianist, Micah Yui, will accompany Mr. Cole and Ms. Tarumoto.

Silent Auction

Britt Huff and her team will also offer prizes, parties, and other irresistible items at our traditional Silent Auction, so bring your checkbooks and get ready to bid.

Gourmet Tastings Generously Provided By…

Baby Cakes Baking Company
http://babycakesshop.com

.chez moi. food culture
http://www.chezmoifoodculture.com

Mario’s Dolce Vita Cafe
http://www.dolcevitacaferedondo.com

Hostaria Piave
http://hostariapiave.com

Ortega 120
http://www.ortega120.com

Whole Foods Market
http://wholefoodsmarket.com

Zazou
http://www.zazourestaurant.com

Thank You
AMUSE Music Inc. and Sandra Clay

for graciously underwriting the invitations

March Salon: Ceora Winds Delight

The Ceora Winds trio set the stage for a delightful year of music.  Individually, each has studied at the nation’s finest music conservatories and maintains a career as a sought-after orchestral, chamber, solo, and recording musician.  They performed the entire program from memory, allowing them to move to the music and have as little between themselves and the audience as possible.

Michelle Matsumune, flute, Heather Millette, clarinet, and Christin Webb, bassoon

Michelle Matsumune, flute, Heather Millette, clarinet, and Christin Webb, bassoon

Michelle Matsumune, flute, has released two CDs and performs as a singer for the choral group The Wagner Ensemble.  Heather Millette, clarinet, is on the faculty of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and is a busy freelance musician in the LA area.  Christin Webb, bassoon, arranged the piece “Oblivion” by Piazzolla.  She teaches at Citrus College and was recently featured on Jenni Olson’s CD “The Dreams of Birds.”

The morning was a sensual delight with bright spring flowers…

Cheryl Graue with an armful of flowers by Lorraine McWhinnie

Cheryl Graue with an armful of flowers by Lorraine McWhinnie

savory food prepared and served with aplomb by caterer Janet Faria …

Sweet and savory bites prepared by Janet Faria

Sweet and savory bites prepared by Janet Faria

the smiles and new energy of our 2013-2014 Provisional class…

Joellen Alflen, serving,  and our Provisional class made the Salon a smooth success

Joellen Alflen, serving, and our Provisional class made the Salon a smooth success

the warmth of reconnecting with friends and sharing our love of music…

Paula Di Fiore and Rosina Baur

Paula Di Fiore and Rosina Baur

Carrie Stock’s stunning design sense expressed throughout her home, and Dale Harbour-Day’s high energy leadership.

Carrie Stock, who hosted us in her home, and Dale Harbour-Day, 2013-2014 President

Carrie Stock, who hosted us in her home, and Dale Harbour-Day, 2013-2014 President

Many thanks to Darlene Vlasek, Vice President-Programs, for introducing us to the talented Ceora Winds, and to all who contributed to making the day a joyous memory.

In Full Swing with Music Mobile

 

It’s that wonderful time of year when you will see the Music Mobile van on the streets and parked at neighborhood schools.  And you’ll smile when you imagine our PCLAP volunteers inside making magic for third graders.  See the delight on the faces of kids and docents alike during recent sessions at Taper and Cornerstone.

DID YOU KNOW:  The Peninsula Committee donated the van so it can be used by other LA Phil Affiliates committees.

Many thanks to Patt Parker for hosting the van at her house this year.

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Music Mobile 2013 Kicks Off with Orientation at AMUSE

 

In the email, click on the title of this post to go to the website and view the photos.  At the website, scroll over the images to see their captions.  Click on any of the photos to view them as a slide show, then click the left and right arrows to scroll through.

Music Mobile Chair Debbie Taylor led the annual orientation session at AMUSE Music Center on Monday, February 11.  Charlotte Brackmann and Margo Penney from the LA Phil Affiliates dazzled us with a fresh new approach to docent training.  Approximately 30 members, from our most experienced veterans to the six 2013 Provisional members, enjoyed a lively session with Charlotte and Margo, followed by useful tips shared by our very own Music Mobile experts — knowledge that grew from their love of children and music.

As a new addition to Music Mobile this year, each school’s music library will receive a CD of Peter and the Wolf.  Together with written materials provided before each session, the CD will be used to help teachers prepare their third grade students for the presentation.
There are still a few critical openings for docents, so anyone who is looking for an opportunity to spend a wonderful morning or afternoon with eager third graders should contact Debbie Taylor or Marian Duntley.  This is a great way to fulfill your annual obligation to the Committee and have fun while doing so! 
Thanks to Sharleen Eusebio from the LA Phil, and to Sandra Clay and the fantastic AMUSE staff  for supporting us again this year.  Most of all, thanks to our members for changing young lives with the Magic of Music. 

Thanks-giving to the Generous Supporters of Music Fair II

The holiday season is a time to reflect on the many reasons we have to be grateful, and to thank those who have helped us make the world a better place through music.

 

Verna Balch
Sondra & Wilhelm Behrens
Jane & James Beseda
Virginia Bleier
Ann & James Carley
Alice Chekian
Sandra Clay
Denise & David Clement
Paula & Michele Del Vicario
Marian & James Duntley
Bobbie & George Farinsky
Shirley & Bob Farley
Elaine & Ronald Florance
Frank’s Plumbing
Linda & Will Gassett
Jacqueline Glass
Nancy & Jeff Grant
Claudia & Tom Grzywacz
Sharon & Bud Guthrie
Carol & James Hart
Lisa & Lowell Hill
Diana & Van Honeycutt
Martha Lewis Jennings
Donna & Joseph Labonte
Dorothy & Allen Lay
Hazel & James Lord
Kay & William Magee
Jan & Jerry Maize
Allison & William Menninger
Vivien & Richard Murtha
Val & Henry Noguchi
Drs. Tricia & Tom Paulsen
Judy & Rolf Sannes
Phyllis & Joseph Sherwood
Marlene & Michael Shlens
Darlene & James Vlasek
Marlene & Steve Young

Welk Resorts
El Terado Terrace Hotel – Roxanne & Bruce Ellison
Castle Rock Winery
Karen Tozer
Philip R. Brunner
PCLAP Drawing Committee

Chadwick School – Bob Rule & Cynthia Trevino
South Coast Botanic Garden – Carol Howden & Yuri Oda
County Supervisor Don Knabe
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
AMUSE Music Center – Sandra Clay & Eitan Avineri
Malaga Bank
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising – Vanessa Partow Navid

And the 100 Committee Members and Volunteers
who made our concerts a success!

Pacific Winds Trio Enchants Us at November Salon

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Donna Scoular welcomed us to her stunning home, with a little help from her collection of turtles, for the November Salon and  60th Annual Meeting on November 15.  We kicked off the holiday season with a tasty brunch, cozy fellowship, and enchanting music by the Pacific Winds Trio of Salpy Kerkonian, flute, Darryl Tanikawa, clarinet, and John Nunez, bassoon.

Salpy Kerkonian holds a Masters degree in Music from USC, where she won first place in the USC Concerto Competition, and in the coveted Coleman and Carmel International Chamber Music Competitions.  Salpy has performed with Luciano Pavarotti, The 3 Tenors, Andrea Bocelli, and in duet with coloratura Diva Sumi Jo.  She spends part of the year playing world music in countries on the Ancient Silk Road and in Europe.

John Edward Nunez, who holds a Masters degree in Bassoon Performance from UCLA, is a versatile musician and educator, having performed with Gladys Knight, James Galway, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion and David Foster. He has performed as principal bassoonist with La Orquesta Mexicana de la Juventude in Mexico City, and LA Guild Opera, the LA Symphonic Camerata, and the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Darryl Tanikawa began playing the clarinet at age 7, won a 4 year music scholarship at CSU Northridge, and was a member of the LA Phil Orchestra Training Program & Woodwind Quintet.  He has been a featured soloist in several chamber music concert series, including Sundays at Four on KUSC-FM, at the LACMA, and at the Nixon Presidential Library.  Darryl is Principal clarinetist of the Asia American Symphony Orchestra, and several others.

Once again, Kei Benoit’s artful music programming brought us this chance to drift away on the haunting sounds of wind instruments in the hands of experts.  In a lighter moment, Salpy expanded our lexicon when she asked her trio-mates if they had had enough “swab time” to take care of their (ahem) condensation.

Included in the slide show is a photo of the 60th Anniversary proclamation from County Supervisor Don Knabe that was presented to president Ann Ehrenclou by Sara Kim,  the LA Phil’s Director of Individual Giving, at our Botanic Garden Music Fair II concert.

~Wishing You Peace and Joy for the Holidays~

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