Spring Evening Out TASO Conference Update

TEMPO
Newsletter of the San Antonio Symphony League
Martin Kushner, Editor
Spring Evening Out
Spring is coming, and the San Antonio Symphony League will celebrate its
arrival with our 3rd Annual Spring Evening Out social. The event gives League
members and friends an opportunity to enjoy wonderful food and wine, hear
beautiful music, and socialize with friends in a unique setting.
This year the delectables are again prepared by professional caterer and SASL
League member Elizabeth Diggs. If you attended last year’s Spring Evening
Out you will remember the wonderful dishes Elizabeth prepared for us. In addition there will be white wine, champagne, and water to drink.
As for the music, we are honored to have Ms. Molly Norcross perform for us.
Ms. Norcross is the San Antonio Symphony’s Associate Principal French
Hornist, so you can expect to be treated to a beautiful recital.
Make sure that you reserve the date now on your calendar:
What: SASL’s Spring Evening Out
When: Thursday, March 23, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Steinway Piano Gallery
202 NE Loop 410
Cost:
$25.00 per person
February
2015
Upcoming Events
February 28 - 6 p.m.
45th Annual Symphony Ball
J.W. Marriott Resort
March 3, 4, 5 - 9 a.m. to Noon
Young People’s Concert #2
Tobin Center
March 23 - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Spring Evening Out
Steinway Piano Gallery
April 10-11
Texas Association of Symphony
Orchestras (TASO) Conference
St. Anthony Hotel
April 16 - 10 a.m
Spring New Member Orientation
Home of Sandy Nicholson
Be on the lookout for your invitation which will be mailed out early March. If
you want to get a jump on your reservation, you can call Deborah Moore now
at (210) 771-2112 to RSVP.
TASO Conference Update
Hop on a TASO Conference Committee -- for a month or two!!
The League is in full swing, gearing up for a fantastic Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras (TASO) Conference
at the St. Anthony Hotel on April 10-11. This conference provides a state-wide forum for the exchange of ideas among
twenty-six Texas symphony leagues and guilds to promote, develop and support symphony orchestras. Our league has
hosted this prestigious conference several times in the past….but it was a very, long-ago past: 1969 (Marie Frank), 1982
(Carolyn Wiedeman and Marilyn Moll) and 1991 (Jeannie Dawson and Janelle Tye)!
We are so excited to showcase our League, symphony, city and the exquisite Tobin Center for the Performing Arts to
our Texas delegates. Over 30 League volunteers are busy creating, coordinating and communicating within 15 committees, to ensure the success of every event and activity. BUT, there is still room for 12 more volunteers to sign up to
assemble packets, make poster boards, run errands and greet guests. Volunteers will be used in Feb, in March and at the
conference. So, there is a niche for YOU!! Please contact Terri McDowell at 396-7537 or Kathy Rafferty at 680-2760 by
February 12th. Don’t miss out on the fun and history of it all!!
IS THIS YOU?: The conference is in need of a volunteer photographer to take
group photos and capture the events and activities throughout the conference.
Please share your talent with us for two days during this very special occasion.
Visit the SASL Website:
www.sasleague.org
Join us on Facebook:
San Antonio Symphony League
Tempo
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 2
President’s Message:
Continuing the momemtum
The San Antonio Symphony League continues to move forward, not at a slow and steady pace, but with a
rather rapid and full crescendo!
Two orchestra luncheons have been recently held – “Gourmet Day” with delicious unique dishes provided
to our symphony musicians followed, on a cold day in January, with “Soup Day” – perfect for the chilly
weather. Dotty Huffman continues to amaze in this long standing Symphony League endeavor.
Terri McDowell initiated “An Evening of Classical Shopping” before the holidays at the Uptown Alamo
Heights Shopping Center. League members and guests turned out on a cold November night for holiday
shopping and sipping with a percentage of sales benefiting our symphony.
To continue the holiday celebrations, Lisa Wolff opened her beautiful new Terrell Hills home for the annual Holiday
Coffee. Sophomore Belle moms provided the holiday fare with Brandi Hollingshead in charge of this event along with
Vickie Kinder. David Mollenauer, assistant principal cellist, enlivened this holiday gathering with his music.
The first Young People’s Concert taking place at the Tobin presented new challenges as well as successes in the new
venue. Edna Martin, along with a faithful, hardworking and flexible team of League ushers met dozens of school buses,
directed students and teachers into the Tobin and then immediately summoned buses for departure from offsite parking to
make seamless the transition from the early concert to the later one – whew!
Joan Whitley continues to recruit Symphony Belles for their service requirement while at the same time coordinating with
Jeremy Brimhall, San Antonio Symphony Director of Education, as to what the needs are and how our Belles can serve
the symphony and receive benefit themselves in their symphony service and education. Joan considers it a great success
that Belles and moms are working together and enjoying this commitment.
League members enjoyed back-to-back annual events in January with the Belle Style Show featuring 40 freshman Belles
outfitted and walking the runway at Julian Gold. Joy Fuhrmann, Belle Development Chair, receives our congratulations
for registering a full Belle Class of 2018! Melinda Young, our Julian Gold contact and junior Belle mom, always does
a superb job with her staff assisting with clothing selections, fitting schedules and providing wine and hors d’oeuvres
for the admiring Belle parents, families and guests. This event was led by League member Susan Hardy and a fantastic
committee of freshman Belle moms. The following night, Music at the Museum was held at the San Antonio Museum of
Art, chaired by enthusiastic Belle parents, Peggy and Freddie Cervera. This 15-year partnership between the SASL and
SAMA continues to draw a crowd. Rosario Laird, League member and museum docent, was honored for this original idea
of combining an evening of music and art benefiting music and art education for the children of San Antonio.
Lisa Wolff, Senior Belle Chair, and Ball choreographer, Cathy Seigel, are busy with bow practices in preparation for the
upcoming Ball. The senior Belles and their guests enjoyed the annual Casual Party at the Quarry Golf Club restaurant
following the first bow practice. Glass hurricanes with candles and ribbon provided the décor while the group of approximately 100 high school students enjoyed a Mexican buffet and terrace seating by the fire pit during the cool evening.
League members greatly anticipate the upcoming 45th Symphony Ball on February 28 at the JW Marriott. This evening
honors the 28 senior Belles of 2015. Kathy and Andrew Stell, along with their extensive committee, are planning an
exquisite evening, “The Winter’s Tale”. Symphony musicians will perform selections from their recent Romeo and Juliet
repertoire, a seated formal dinner will be served followed by dancing to the band Chinatown from Dallas. The highlight of
the evening, of course, is the beautiful presentation of our Symphony Belles in their white ball gowns.
While all of these events mentioned are organized and successfully executed, League members are preparing to host the
Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras in April. This conference requires many hands and tasks to showcase our
beautiful city, outstanding orchestra and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts to the visiting Leagues and guilds.
As President, I continue to be amazed at the vitality of our 65 year old organization. Annual events continue to be well
planned and enjoyed, while we grow with new ideas and, possibly new traditions. It takes this multi-generational League
from Belles to long time members to accomplish all that we do. It is a privilege to lead this extraordinary group.
Join us as we all continue the momentum!
Lisa Caldwell
2014-2015 League President
Tempo
Our Hostess
Lisa Wolff
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 3
Annual Holiday Coffee
SASL President
Lisa Caldwell
Symphony CEO
David Gross
San Antonio Symphony’s
David Mollenauer
TASO Co-Chair
Terri McDowell
Tempo
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 4
45th Annual Symphony Ball
Please join us for a breathtaking evening as we step into The Winter’s Tale for this year’s 45th Annual Symphony Ball
benefiting the San Antonio Symphony. Imagine an evening of beautiful Belles, wintery flowers, spectacular live symphony music, mouth-watering cuisine and much more.
We would be honored if you would join us for this wondrous event held at the JW Marriot on Saturday, February 28th.
The evening starts with cocktails at 6:30 PM followed by a performance by our very own San Antonio Symphony, the
Senior Belle presentation, dinner and dancing to Chinatown.
Individual tickets for the Ball are $300 for adult tickets and $200 for teen tickets.
If you would like to include your friends, you may purchase a table of ten for $3,000 (teen table for $2,000). If you cannot make it, but wish to support the San Antonio Symphony you may make a donation. Simply mail your check to Kelly
Strange, 2303 Camelback, San Antonio, Texas 78209 to make your reservation or donation today.
Please feel free to contact your Ball Chairs, Kathy and Andrew Stell with any questions at 210-896-3485 or akstell@satx.
rr.com. We hope to see you there!
League Volunteers Usher for YPC at Tobin
The first Young People’s Concert of the season was also the first YPC to be held in the
new Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. As
you can see from the picture below, the HEB
Concert Hall was completely full. League
volunteers met school buses and helped students find their seating area. A big thanks to all
our volunteers. The next YPC Concerts will be
March 3, 4, and 5th.
Dozens of School Busses met by League Volunteers
The HEB Performance
Hall was full!
San Antonio Symphony
conducted by
Akiko Fujimoto
DID YOU KNOW THAT AS A LEAGUE MEMBER
YOU CAN PURCHASE SINGLE TICKETS TO
SYMPHONY CONCERTS AT A 20% DISCOUNT?
To take advantage of the great member benefit, just use the
promotion code SAS-SASL at the Tobin Center when you
purchase tickets at the Tobin box office or at their website.
Tempo
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 5
Freshman Belle Spring Style Show
The San Antonio Symphony League held its annual Freshmen Style Show honoring the new Symphony Belle Class of
2018. The event was held at Julian Gold on Sunday, January 25, 2015. A special thanks to Julian Gold for hosting the
wonderful event. Forty beautiful Symphony Belles were honored. The Symphony Belles of 2018 modeled amazing styles
from casual to evening wear. It was a lovely event for family and friends of the San Antonio Symphony League. Committee members who hosted the event Susan Hardy, Gabrielle Davis, Jenny Austin, Loza Gransee, Kristan Northington, and
Angela Wagner.
The 2018 Belle Class
Campbell Woods
Erin Greehey
The Style Show Models
Carrie Mulins
Payon Hardy
Elise Rubiola
Analise Wagner
Tempo
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 6
Salute to Carolyn Wiedeman
Carolyn Wiedeman, long-time San Antonio Symphony supporter and our 1979-1982 Symphony League President, passed
away on January 28, 2015 at the age of 88. Born in Washington, D.C., Carolyn grew up in Long Island, NY. She attended
Hofstra University and worked as fashion model at Bergdorf Goodman and fashion houses in New York. For over 40
years, she and her husband Geoffrey were enthusiastically involved with the San Antonio Symphony, the Bexar County
Medical Society and San Antonio Zoo. Carolyn was editor of the Symphony League Cookbook and was on the
Symphony Board of Directors for 16 years. She was the President of both the San Antonio Symphony League and the
Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras (TASO), after which she chaired the TASO Conference when it came to San
Antonio in 1982. Carolyn will be very much remembered.
Belle News
BELLES AND MOMS HELP OUT AT FAMILY CONCERT’S PRE-CONCERT EDUCATION EVENT
Gabriela Escalante, Micaela,
Hogan and Abigayle Hughes
Belle Moms Julia Mann
and Muffin Camp
Maddie Guy and two
concert attendees
Dozens of youngsters stood in line
to play a musical instrument
From Membership
The League currently has 411 members. Please make note of the following members' information who have joined since
the yearbook went to print.
Sharon Adelman
Sharron Bachelor
146 Charles Road
11306 Cat Springs
San Antonio, TX 78209
San Antonio, TX 78006
(210) 710-7468 (cell)
Robert Bentley
5715 N. New Braunfels
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 771-4572 (cell)
[email protected]
Tisha Beck
368 Terrell Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 822-0503
Terri Herbold
Holly Ortega
204 Canterbury Hill
415 Kokomo Street
San Antonio, TX 78209
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 930-3075/(210) 842-1617 (cell)
(210) 687-2147
[email protected]
Michelle Shetler
309 E Nottingham
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 887-8884/(210) 826-0660
[email protected]
Tempo
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 7
Music at the Museum - XV
Music at the Museum XV, held Monday, January 26th, was a fitting tribute to
Rosario Laird, the visionary who brought the Symphony League and the San Antonio Museum of Art’s Docents together to create an evening food, wine, music,
and fundraising. Over the past fourteen years, this amazing event has raised over
$136,000 for music and arts youth education.
Upon entering the Museum, over 160 attendees were greeted to the beautiful
music of The Churchill High School Orchestra, a pre-concert reception of butlerserved hors d’oeuvres catered by Page Barteau Catering, cheeses from Cabot
Creamery and quality wine. Guests mingled among friends and excitedly bid on
over 20 silent auction items and quickly bought out the 36-bottle Wine Pull.
Music at the Museum XV was a supporting partner in the Symphony’s 2015 Strauss Festival. The riveting program
which kept all eyes on the performers began with eight high school cellists from the Cora Harnish Cello Studio, followed
by the 45-member UTSA Concert Choir (directed by John Silantien), the Music at the Museum String Quartet (Bassam Nashawati, Beth Breslin, Igor Halfin, David Mollenauer, Ryan Murphy and Sarah Silver), and members of The San
Antonio Brass (John Carroll, Lauren Eberhart, Peter Flamm, Lee Hipp, Eric Matta, Molly Norcross, Jan Roller, and Brian
Santero). The evening concluded with Desserts and Coffee and the announcement of the winners of the silent auction.
Many thanks to our committee chairs Peggy and Freddie Cervera and Maureen Hillman, Rosario Laird, Vickie Kinder and
Kathy Rafferty. We thank all of you who attended and highly recommend to those who didn’t attend to join us next year.
Just a few of the many Guests
The Ceremony and Music
Churchill HS Orchestra
SAMA MC Jim Letchworth
Harnish Cello Studio
UTSA Concert Choir
Johannah Brown represents SASL
M@M String Quartet
Rosario Laird, Lisa Caldwell,
Susanne O’Brien
San Antonio Brass
Tempo
San Antonio Symphony LeaguePage 8
Host Homes for Musicians Needed
As many of you have seen, there have been quite a few new faces on stage for the Strauss Festival! Throughout the season
certain pieces we perform call for more players than we currently have in the orchestra. For example, during the Strauss
Festival certain pieces required an orchestra that included two harpists, and nine horn players. Since we only have one
harp and four horns on staff we needed to expand the orchestra to meet the needs of the piece. These additional players
(called substitute and extra musicians), perform regularly with us throughout the season. Some weeks we only have a few
subs and extras; however, for larger pieces like Ein Heldenleben, the score called for twenty-eight extra musicians!
Most of the substitute and extra musicians come in from around San Antonio and Austin, but we also have players coming
in from Houston, Dallas, Midland, New Orleans and sometimes New York! These players often look for a place to stay
during their time here since making the commute is not reasonable. I am reaching out to any League members who might
have any extra bedroom available and be able to house musicians for their stay in town. Most musicians would only need
a place to stay for four or five nights and in some cases, even less time.
Your responsibilities will only be to have a bedroom available for this person, and just be aware that they may need to
practice in your home. Once I know of a musician who is in need of housing, I will email my list and if you are available,
I will put you in contact with our musician.
We are grateful that we already have four members of the League who have graciously offered their homes for our substitute and extra musicians this season and will gladly add any others to our list. My contact information is below, so please
feel free to email me if you are interested.
Karina Bharne, Vice President Concert Production
[email protected]
cell: (908)720-9084