Column: The Crowd: ‘A Night at the Opera’ funds youth music education programs for Philharmonic Society

The Samueli Theater at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts was transformed into an opera house by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

Presenting its 2017 gala “A Night At The Opera” on June 24, an impressive $115,000 was raised by benefactors helping to fund Philharmonic Society Youth Music Education programs.

The glamorous evening was created by dedicated Philharmonic women, including Bobbitt Williams, Marlene Nielson, Donna Kendall, Sabra Bordas, Kimberly Dwan Bernatz, and Debra Gunn Downing.

The party was created on a theme of selections from both opera and Broadway, featuring artists from New York’s Metropolitan Opera with special guest stars soprano Alyson Cambridge and tenor Bruce Sledge.

A three-course dining experience was created by executive chef Greg Stillman of Patina Restaurant Group. Stillman’s flat iron steak with bordelaise sauce was the hit of the night.

Enjoying the cuisine and libations sponsored by Tito’s Vodka were Philharmonic donors, including noted interior designer John Benecke, France and Richard Campbell, Elana Donovan, Karen and Donald Evarts, Carolyn and Bill Klein, Regina and John Mangum, Sharon McNalley, Carl Neisser, Barbara Roberts, Marcia Kay and Ronald Radelet, Mert Wallen, Janice Wallace and Suzanne Schaumburg.

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The very active Philharmonic Committee — known as Big Canyon/Spyglass Hill — gathered its members for an annual summer fling at the Island Hotel Newport Beach.

Chaired by the vivacious and unstoppable Darby Manclark, the festive evening was created around the theme from the music of the song, “Gotta Have Heart.”

Manclark was supported by a committee that included Barbara Taylor, Cathy Gilbert, Kathryn Smith, Nona Demetre and Barbara Simon.

Manclark’s goal was to raise as much money as possible at the party to help fund music programs sponsored by the Philharmonic Society benefiting Orange County students.

To that end, Jim Burra served as auctioneer selling off the large array of fabulous travel, dining and retail prizes.

Enjoying dinner at the Island Hotel and dancing to the music of “The Retros” were Al and Joyce Dieda, Jacki and Weikko Wirta, Mal and Martha Green, Al and Margaret Clark, and the lovely new president of the Society, Janie Merkle.

By the end of the evening, a net amount exceeding $20,000 was raised for the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

The Guilds of Segerstrom Center celebrate summer

They called it “Lights, Camera, Action,” as the ladies and gents of all the Guilds of The Segerstrom Center for the Arts came together to celebrate “Creativity 2017,” raising more than $100,000 for the Center’s education and community engagement program.

The evening at the Island Hotel Newport Beach paid tribute to special longtime dedicated Center sponsors Patricia Poss and Marilyn McCorkle.

The women were introduced to the crowd and honored by gala chairwoman Louise Costa.

Costa commented: “I am heartened to see the wonderful turnout of Guild members, Center Board members, friends and family members, they truly have the power to change lives in our world.”

Lugano Diamonds sponsored the evening, which took on a theme of vintage Hollywood glamour. The international jeweler, headquartered in Newport Beach, donated a spectacular pair of balloon diamond and semi-precious stone earrings, which were raffled off as the grand prize of the night.

Spotted in the crowd were Segerstrom Center of the Arts board chairman John Ginger, Center president Terry Dwyer, Gail and Jim Daniels, Pam and Tom Bender, Kathy and Cliff Fleming, Sandy and Jerry Bass, Carol and Kent Wilken, and Idit and Moti Ferder.

Also supporting the evening were Eileen Cirillo, Loretta Fruend, Howard DeMar, Carol Kirwood, Douglas Burch, Walter Dietiker, Catherine Sorenson, and Sandra and Ara Hovanesian.

In The Pink

The 11th annual Komen Orange County Pink Tie Ball unfolded recently at the Huntington Beach Paséa Hotel & Spa, raising an impressive $635,000 for breast cancer research and treatment.

The evening had special meaning for co-chairs Mark and Dr. Jessica Rhee, chairing the evening in honor of Mark’s mother, a breast cancer survivor who attended the gala, and Jessica’s mother, who lost her battle to breast cancer some years ago.

Dr. Rhee commented: “There are still many women who are being diagnosed in late stages and not getting appropriate treatment. I believe that everyone should have access to reliable breast health services and education regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, geography, income, insurance or immigration status.”

The large crowd enjoying spectacular ocean views on the terrace of the Paséa hotel sampled hors d’ oeuvres donated by Bluewater Grill for the 11th consecutive year.

Wine was donated by Thieriot Wines.

Winston’s Crown Jewelers of Newport Beach generously donated fabulous jewelry, including a 19.39-carat Brazilian Kunzite for the opportunity drawing. Other sponsors included the Allergan Foundation, the Canady Real Estate Group, Harald Herrmann, Saks Fifth Avenue, First American Title Insurance and Plaza Bank, among many others.

Also supporting the cause were Tom and Marilyn Sutton, Tari and Alain Hirsch, Karen and Scott Sherman and Karin and Scott Wheeler.

Also front and center for the evening was Lisa Wolter, executive director of Komen Orange County.

“It means so much to see the tremendous support from our community,” Wolter said. “We come together to celebrate our unwavering dedication to reaching our ambitious goals to eradicate breast cancer.”

Wolter also recognized and paid tribute to the 2017 Pink Tie Guys making a major difference in the fundraising effort.

The men included Ray Baird, Robert Braithwaite, Denis Kalscheur, Ken Paramo, David Moatazedi, Mark Rhee and William Sanderson.

Komen Orange County’s Pink Tie Ball has raised and donated more than $3.6 million over the past decade, helping to fund global breast cancer research and treatment programs.

B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.