Notes
Santa Maria
Philharmonic Society
Our 16th Season bringing live classical music to the Santa Maria Valley
Volume 15 Number 2
Ring in the Yuletide!
Guest conductor Greg Magie is thrilled to present this
year’s Yuletide Brass & Organ Concert on Friday,
December 4, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at First United Methodist
Church. He has a wonderful program planned that
begins with brass scattered around the sanctuary playing
antiphonal music by the Venetian master Giovanni
Gabrielli. The pipe organ joins with the brass and the
Vines Festival Chorus for a remarkable work by John
Rutter called “Gloria.” There are toe-tapping
arrangements of Christmas tunes, a carol sing-along, and
a musical setting of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”
read by PCPA’s director Mark Booher. The program
even features a world premier of a Hanukkah-themed
work set for chorus and brass written for this concert
entitled “Light the Light” by local composer Mary
Bianco. As she describes it, “I’ve authored a simple text
which honors the miracle of the oil for the Hanukkah
lamp lasting seven (actually eight) days when it was
expected to last only one.”
This will be the musical event of the season, and you
don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime performance.
See you there!
November 15, 2015
A Successful
On November 7, 2015, Fandango, the
Philharmonic Society’s annual gala, served up a
zesty evening of fun with a Spanish flare – and
provided an opportunity to offer generous financial
support for the 2015-16 Season.
Draped and detailed
in red and black,
and featuring a
Sangria fountain
during cocktail
hour, with seafood
paella on the menu,
the Santa Maria
Country Club
became a portal to
Spain for a few
hours. (Photos by
Andrea de Anda)
- Continued on page 3
Volume 15 Number 2
PAGE 2
President’s Letter
The Fandango Gala was a beautiful
event. We marveled at the skill
demonstrated by guitarist Emilio and
by the dancers for whom he provided
music. The meal provided by the
Jed Beebe,
Santa Maria Country Club was
Board President
delicious. I can especially vouch for
the Paella. The table settings were elegant in black and
red. Over 100 attended the event on a night when there
were many conflicts. We had more persons present and
far more sponsor support than last year's gala, and the
cause action significantly advanced us toward our fund
raising goals. Thanks to George Majoue, who remains a
dedicated supporter of the Philharmonic and who MC'd
the evening, and most especially to Bodil Prescott, who
chaired the event and spent long hours to make the
dream come true. She, of course, had significant help
from a great committee, whose names I hesitate to
mention for fear of leaving someone out. But at least let
me mention Ruth Ann Ontell, Dorothy Davis, Lynne
Garrett, David Rackley, Diane Beebe, Gina Oh and
Carol Houchens. To the many who assisted in such
diverse ways and especially to those who made
donations, a heartfelt thank you!
The next event on the calendar is the December
Concert December 4th at the First United Methodist
Church. The venue was chosen for its great acoustics
and its 40 rank pipe organ, the area's largest. It should
blend spectacularly with the brass ensemble and choir
that Guest Conductor Greg Magie has assembled. The
program is described in greater detail in another article
that follows, and it will surely be a wonderful addition to
the season's festivities. Please note that the concert is a
Friday night - so as to miss this time the difficulties
presented by having the Christmas Parade of Lights
occur at the same time. We will follow that with a new
program for 5th Graders featuring a shortened version of
the Nutcracker which will be held at Santa Maria High
School. Thanks to Gina Oh, Dignity Health, and Brian
Alhadeff especially for enabling this added youth event
to take place. ”
- Continued on page 4
November 15, 2015
Fifth Annual Youth Showcase:
BEDAZZLED
Most of us remember our childhood recitals, with
renditions of Beethoven’s Für Elise, and Bach
Minuets. As with most areas
of study in the 21st century,
the level of proficiency in
music has accelerated to
extraordinary heights. Many
young musicians are now
performing at remarkably
sophisticated levels: eight
year-olds playing Mozart
sonatas, ten year-olds playing
complicated works of Chopin, and young teen-agers
playing with the kind of virtuosity to which Liszt
aspired.
The Youth Showcase, now in its fifth year, has
consistently been on opportunity to see and hear some
of the students who represent the highest levels of
musicianship on the Central
Coast. The past recitals have
been inconceivable, with young
musicians performing at levels
truly difficult to imagine.
If you have never attended
one of these recitals, please
mark your calendars. Make this
your year to experience what is
happening in the realm of
classical music, in the lives of
the young people ages 8-18. You
will be amazed and dazzled.
This recital will take place on
January 24th at 4pm, at the Unity
Chapel of Light, 1165 Stubblefield
Road. Tickets will be available at
the door.
If you know someone who might
be interested in auditioning, please
see the website for details at
www.santamariaphilharmonic.org
Volume 15 Number 2
PAGE 3
Dashing Debut for
the 16th Season
Soloist Alexi Kinney
Thrills Audience
As the Santa Maria Sun Arts Editor Joe Payne stated
succinctly: anyone who thinks that top quality classical
music is the province of places like Santa Barbara or Los
Angeles certainly wasn’t in attendance at the September
26th concert at the historic Ethel Pope Auditorium at
Santa Maria High School.
Under the baton of longtime Maestro John Farrer, the
Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra received multiple
standing ovations at the Philharmonic Society’s season
opening concert which featured Berlioz’s Benvenuto
Cellini Overture and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
Between these works was a performance of the Violin
Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 by Felix Mendelssohn
featuring an outstanding violin soloist in young Alexi
Kenney.
The concert was performed without any
amplification, due to the excellent acoustics of the Ethel
Pope Auditorium.
Guest violin soloist Alexi
Kenney received his second
standing ovation after his
encore solo, Tango Etude No.
3 by Piazzolla. (Photo by
Matthew Washburn)
“The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society definitely delivered
a clear message without a single word on Sept. 26: The local
nonprofit orchestra is no longer in recovery mode but
thriving in its place as the jewel in the Santa Maria Valley’s
musical crown.” – Joe Payne (Photo by Joe Payne)
November 15, 2015
- Continued from Page 1
In addition to great food and delightful fellowship,
the evening was fittingly accompanied by music:
Brad Lusk and Mike Thibault entertained during
cocktails, Jim Enos played piano over dinner, and
Emilio – the Modern Gypsy – riveted the room with
his hybrid of Spanish Flamenco guitar with South
American, African and Middle Eastern rhythms and
new age touches.
In addition to about 100 of the Philharmonic’s
friends and supporters, Fandango was graced by the
Philharmonic’s music director Maestro John Farrar,
along with the other three guest conductors who will
be bringing classical music to life this season: Greg
Magie, Brian Asher Alhadeff, and James Riccardo.
Rounding out the evening was a cause auction,
emceed by George Majoue.
The final piece played by Emilio was given expression by
dancers Mauricio Vera and Deise Mondonça.
(Photos by Andrea de Anda)
Volume 15 Number 2
PAGE 4
President’s Letter – Continued from Page 2
At the Gala we had an opportunity to thank our
Maestro, Dr. John Farrer, who travelled from Fort
Worth, Texas to be with us, for the splendid opening
concert he conducted at the Ethel Pope Auditorium, as
well as for his continuation through sixteen seasons of
service as Music Director. He has indelibly placed his
musical signature on our orchestra and the whole
community is richer for it. We appreciated as well the
attendance at the event of, not only Greg Magie, but
also Brian Asher Alhadeff and James Riccardo who will
be Guest Conductors for the February and April concert
events. Exciting things are being planned for these
upcoming concerts, as well as for next season. Stay
"tuned" - there is great music ahead.
With Appreciation,
Jed Beebe
September 26, 2015
Season Debut
John Farrer conducting
December 4, 2015
Yuletide Brass & Organ Concert
Greg Magie conducting
February 27, 2016
A Night At The Opera:
Greatest Moments in Opera
Brian Asher Alhadeff conducting
April 16th, 2016
Chamber Orchestra
James Riccardo conducting
Dvořák ~ Bartók ~Wagner ~ Prokofiev
November 15, 2015
Nutcracker Experience
Adds to Youth Outreach
This exciting mini-voyage into classical music
represents a Citywide Arts Collaboration between the
Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, Opera San Luis
Obispo, and Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo. Nutcracker
For Kids is an exciting 40-minute journey into the
world of classical music, orchestra, ballet, and most
importantly, imagination. Created by Opera San Luis
Obispo Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Brian
Asher Alhadeff, the presentation begins with a 20minute introduction to the different families of the
orchestra. Kids have the opportunity to learn about
stringed instruments, brass instruments, woodwind
instruments, percussion instruments, and even a real
harp. We also introduce kids to a male and female
ballet dancer too. The second part of the presentation
is an abridged version of the Nutcracker accompanied
live by the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra
and danced in costume by members of Civic Ballet
San Luis Obispo. Musicians and dancers all together
number over 50 performers! Ultimately, it is the hope
of the performers behind this matinee, that the
experience inspires children to make a meaningful
connection to a specific instrument of the orchestra,
and/or ballet dance, and start taking lessons.
We are extremely grateful for support from the
following foundations that each contributed
specifically to this matinee: Altrusa International,
Santa Maria Altrusa Foundation, The Mosher
Foundation, Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation, and
Dignity Health.
To Join, to Donate, to Buy
Tickets, or for Information
PO Box 375
Santa Maria, CA 93456-0375
Messages: 805-925-0412
E-mail us: [email protected]
Santa Maria Philharmonic Society
www.santamariaphilharmonic.org