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SANTA ROSA

SYMPHONY

92nd SEASON

MISSION STATEMENT

SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY LEAGUE

50 SANTA ROSA AVENUE, SUITE 410, SANTA ROSA, CA 95404 707-522-8786 — Leave message

Website srsymphonyleague.org

Santa Rosa Symphony League

The Baton

January 2020 63rd SEASON

The Santa Rosa Symphony League’s mission is to support school and community-based programs of the

Santa Rosa Symphony's Institute for Music Education. As volunteers, we strive to make a difference in

the lives of young people in Sonoma County by introducing them to the beauty and power of music.

Nicholas Xenelis instructs musicians and singers.

MESSIAH DRAWS LARGE AUDIENCE More than 400 singers and other music lovers attended the 39th annual Redwood Empire Sing-Along

Messiah December 22. The mood was festive and joyful at the Jackson Theater’s Sonoma Country Day

School. Filled to capacity on the main level, the event is a collaboration of the Santa Rosa Chamber Orchestra

and the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Conductor Dan Earl.

The Symphony League took over the sponsorship of Handel’s Messiah a decade ago. This year John

Bippart, father of Liz Bippart, VP of Major Events and President-Elect, underwrote the venue cost.

“This very generous donation means more funds will go to the Institute for Music Education,” noted

Jackie Reinhardt, League president. “We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Helping to make the Messiah run smoothly were the following League volunteers: Liz Bippart, Karen

and James Ely, Marsha and Jack Dupre, Ceil Fenwick, Laurie Hall, Wendy Lalanne, Liz Martin, Kay Oppen-

heimer, Lucy Poindexter, Kathleen Riley, Emily Roeder and Barbara Sheppard. Elizabeth Kern handled

PR. Honorary Member Beth Henry designed the ads and produced the official program. Youth Symphony

members entertained attendees in the lobby.

More photographs on page 5. Photo by Karen Ely

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The year 2020 seems

like such a giant leap

in time. It certainly is

when you look back

to the League’s begin-

nings more than 60

years ago. I’m told we

were primarily a so-

cial organization that

supported the Sym-

phony by ushering at

concerts, managing

ticket sales and pro-

grams and even handling publicity and mailings. In

those days most women didn’t work outside the

home so their talents were dedicated to volunteer

pursuits.

As the Symphony grew in stature, these du-

ties were assumed by professional staff and the

League took on the challenge of fundraising, includ-

ing a Masquerade Ball, Tiny Tots Concerts, Sum-

mer Pops and Designer Show Houses. These events

required a heavy volunteer commitment at a time

when more women were entering the workplace.

Cookbook sales and the Symphony of Food and

Wine, predecessor to the current explosion of spe-

cial events at vineyards, followed. The Festival of

Parties launched in the 1990’s has been our key fo-

cus along with the Sing-Along Messiah now in its

40th year and Dinner is Served.

Another milestone for the League was the

decision a decade ago to earmark our fundraising

for in-school music programs at a time when they

were at risk of being dropped. Today under the

Symphony’s Institute for Music Education, these

programs are widely heralded for their reach and

impact on 30,000 young people every year.

Just as the League grew with the times, its

future depends on our ability to recruit and engage

volunteers who are willing to give back to their

community. At the January concerts this month,

we will once again invite attendees to join us in the

Founders Room to learn more about the League. It

is an unparalleled opportunity to be part of an or-

ganization committed to seeing classical music

thrive in Sonoma County. Tell your friends.

Jackie Reinhardt, President

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

December 2019

Santa Rosa Symphony League

2019-2020

Officers & Board Members

President Jackie Reinhardt Recording Secretary Wendy Lalanne Corresponding Secretary Marilyn Chiotti Treasurer Laurie Hall Historian Linda Varrow VP Membership Development Liz Martin Dues Irene Sohm Hospitality Barbara Olsen & Marilyn Chiotti VP Membership Communications Lisa Hauge Baton Editor Emily Roeder Mailings Liz Shatto Telephone Lynn Miller VP Public Relations Elizabeth Kern Web Master Jackie Ryan VP Major Events Liz Bippart Sing-Along Messiah Karen Ely VPs On-Going Fundraising Sheila McQuillen & Julia Wilkinson Friends of the League Barbara Erickson VP Music Education Karen Ely VP Support Services Terry Stark Parliamentarian Wendy Lalanne Rehearsal Refreshments Beth Holden President-Elect Liz Bippart

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THANK YOU RIALTO CINEMAS! The Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol are once again offering the League half of their profit for the Great Com-

posers series. In honor of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven, the company that owns the series is re-releasing

it and the dates for the shows are tied to the composers’ birthdays. The series will culminate with a new release

Concerto: A Beethoven Journey. The schedule is below:

IN SEARCH OF MOZART Wed Jan 22 2020, 1:00 & 7:00

Wed Feb 12 2020, 1:00

IN SEARCH OF CHOPIN Tues Mar 3 2020, 1:00 & 7:00

Thur. Mar 26 2020, 1:00

IN SEARCH OF HAYDN Tues Apr 7 2020, 1:00 & 7:00

Wed May 6 2020, 1:00

CONCERTO: A BEETHOVEN Wed Dec 16 2020, 1:00 & 7:00

JOURNEY Wed Jan 6 2021, 1:00 Buy your tickets directly from Rialto Cinemas: 707-829-3456

Ky Boyd, owner of the Rialto Cinemas in

Sebastopol, was honored by the League

with a plaque in recognition of his gener-

ous support by way of the Great Compos-

ers series. Liz Martin presents the award.

Barbara Friday welcomes League members to her shop.

RECENT LEAGUE

EVENTS

The Symphony League thanks Barbara Friday for giving

League members an opportunity to purchase her stylish

fashions at a 10% discount on December 5 … and for do-

nating another 10% of sales to the League. Not only did

we enjoy the shopping experience, but we enjoyed the

lovely snacks she prepared just for us.

Fashions from the Barbara Friday Collection will

be modeled by League members at Let the Games Be-

gin on February 20.

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DEL SOL CHRISMAS JAZZ IN THE CAVES of

DEERFELD RANCH WINERY

Del Sol Band members Doug Morton on keyboard, Charity Goodin vocals, Rob Fordyce bass guitar and Brad

McKeague on drums.

Delightful spread of sweets following the concert. Doug Morton and Brad McKeague.

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MESSAGE FROM A FORMER MEMBER

I am missing all your wonderful activities due to

my health difficulties. Keep up your exciting pro-

grams. Our pianist son is enjoying New York City

and would appreciate any cash we could recoup

from our investment in his instrument. Do you

know anyone who would enjoy a well cared for

piano? 6ft10” Young Chang grand piano, model

G208 “ Regal Artist Grand” . Equipped with Piano

Disc player model PDS 128 and audio accessory.

$7,000 or best offer for a great instrument now at

third of price. Call Donna at (707) 239-8453 or

email at Donna.f511@icloud.com. Thank you for

letting others know. May your holidays be full of

beautiful music and happiness. Fondly, Donna Friedrich

Liz Bippart & Jackie Reinhardt

keep an eye on proceedings.

Karen Ely greets an audience

member

Young performers entertain attendees as they arrive.

Jack Dupre, Jessie Kardos and Laurie Hall sell tickets to

attendees.

Photos by Karen Ely

SING ALONG

MESSIAH

More

ATTENTION MEMBERS

We have the opportunity to use the Founder's

Room on the evenings of Jan. 11 and 13, and the

afternoon of the 12th to answer questions about the

League and encourage membership. If your tickets

are for the evening performance, meet in the lobby

at 6:15. If your tickets are for the afternoon per-

formance meet in the lobby at 1:45. We must leave

the Founder's Room by performance time. Wear

your name tag!

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TIM BESWICK, OUR JANUARY

LUNCHEON SPEAKER

FRIENDS OF THE LEAGUE 2019-2020 Maestro [$1000 or more] Ky Boyd, Rialto Cinemas, Sebastopol

Deerfield Ranch Winery*

Dry Creek Winery*

Sandra Jordan*

Madrona Manor*

Ken and Susan Piters*

Alan and Susan Seidenfeld Concert Master [$500-$999] Gordon Blumenfeld

Sheila Einhorn

Laura Holms & Michael Martin

Terry and Jon Stark

Jennifer and John Webley Orchestra [$250-$499]

Sharon Beckman

Garth Bixler

James & Karen Ely

Janet Gavagan

Laurie Hall

Jackie & Michael Reinhardt Audience [$100-$249] Elizabeth Bippart

Nancy Diez

Betty & George Ferris

Diana Forney

Noelle Dangremond

Nancy Doyle

Blanche Mansoor

Persis G. McCarley

Barbara Olsen

Barbara Lane

Glenda Ross

Charlie Schlangen

Joanne Utter

Donna Wallrich

Ellen Wear Angels [Performers]

Norma & Corrick Brown

Scattered Winds

Roy Zajak *In kind contribution

Timothy L. Beswick has been the Director of Ar-

tistic Operation for the Santa Rosa Symphony for

the past fifteen years. Previously, he held the

same position for the defunct San Jose Symphony,

where he also conducted the San Jose Symphony

Youth Orchestra. A native Californian from the

Bay Area, Tim Beswick first studied the violin

with his father, Gary J. Beswick, and went on to

study music at San José State University’s School

of Music where he graduated with a degree in vio-

lin performance. After graduation, Tim Beswick

began working for the San José Symphony as the

Orchestra Librarian and as a free-lance musician.

With the San José Symphony, he also held posi-

tions as the Assistant Director of Operations and

Youth Programs Administrator. Tim Beswick

worked for many years as the Orchestra Librarian

and Stage Manager of the Midsummer Mozart

Festival, taught instrumental music programs for

several schools in the San José area and directed

the Cupertino Junior Chamber Orchestra. Tim

Beswick has been a member of the Association of

California Symphony Orchestras for nearly thirty

years and served on the board of directors from

1993 to 1996.

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LUNCHEON RESERVATION FORM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

Speaker

Tim Beswick, Director of Artistic Operations

Ca’Bianca Ristorante Italiano

835 2nd Street, Santa Rosa, CA.

Member______________________________ Guest (s)________________________________

Choice_______________________________ Choice_________________________________

___I would like a ride.

Make checks payable to: Santa Rosa Symphony League

Attention: Luncheon Reservations

50 Santa Rosa Avenue, Suite 410

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY MONDAY, JANUARY 10TH PLEASE!!!!!

We cannot change the number on the day of the luncheon.

If you receive this by email, please print this page and send, with your check to the address above.

11:30 Social Time

Lunch 12:00

MENU

Entrée Choices:

Butternut squash ravioli

or

Chicken Caesar salad

or

Pork scaloppini marsala

or

Pasta carbonara with Italian bacon, shallots,

cream eggs & percornino

Coffee, tea, dessert and gratuity are included

The cost is $35.00

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COMING EVENTS

Calendar of Events for December 2019

Santa Rosa Symphony League

50 Santa Rosa Avenue

Suite 410

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

January 9 2020 League Board meeting

Home of Karen Ely with Barbara Olsen

January 11, 12 & 13 “Shadows and Sunshine”

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Simone Porter, violin

MISSY MAZZOLI, SIBELIUS, BRAHMS

January 15 League Luncheon (see page 7)

January 25 Family Concert Series

“Peter and the Wolf”

Bobby Rogers, conductor

Classical Kids Live!

February 6 League Board meeting (details next month)

February 8, 9 & 10 Santa Rosa Symphony Series (details next month)

February 23 Pops Series (details next month)

February 27 Dinner is Served