The Golden Baton Is Passed at Philharmonic Society Gala

You didn’t need a program or guest list to know who was behind the Golden Baton Gala on Saturday night.

Lending an air of Astaire to the entrance of the Irvine Hilton and Towers, in white leotards and gold-spangled ankle warmers, were 50 tap dancers of all ages; anybody who had been to last year’s Diabetes Assn. or Laguna Museum galas would have learned a simple truth about life in the local social universe: Bunny Pero doesn’t go anywhere without her hoofers.

Inside, the beat--the party benefited the Orange County Philharmonic Society--went on with dinner, awards and entertainment featuring Oscar Award-winning composer-conductor John Green.

“Frivolity is one of Bunny’s strong suits,” said Pero’s husband, Jeff, chairman of the society’s Corporate Partnership Program. “In fact, I realized that’s why they asked me to serve on the board of directors--so I could ask Bunny to head up this deal.”

The event raised $40,000 to help pay for the society’s 1986-87 concert season, Bunny Pero said, but executive director Erich Vollmer could offer little news about the upcoming schedule. Announcements are being held up by negotiations with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, he said.

Floss Schumacher, a Philharmonic Society supporter for 20 years, was honored with the 1986 Golden Baton Award. Following a lovely repast of poached scallops and crab, veal medallions and pear charlotte, the award was presented by Henry Segerstrom, winner of the first Golden Baton, who mentioned that Schumacher played bassoon in her high school orchestra.

Accepting the award, Schumacher said: “Twenty-two years ago, Ed and I came from Arcadia, over the hill and down to the beach. I thought, ‘Well, I’ve done it all.’ I was going to rest, lie on the beach in the sun with my little children and have a nice holiday down here. . . . Well, forget the beach. I don’t even know where the beach is.”

Noting that “Floss is a mother to a lot of aspiring young artists,” Vollmer introduced baritone Don Christiansen, first-place county Metropolitan Opera Auditions winner. “Hi, Mom,” said Christiansen, who then sang arias accompanied by pianist Rodger Whitten.

Residents of Huntington Harbour were the collective recipients of the Community Recognition Award, for organizing the annual Cruise of Lights. Accepting the award from Philharmonic Society president Eva Schneider were Huntington Beach Mayor Robert Mandic Jr. and Harbour Committee chairwoman Yvonne Kelley. “We truly didn’t expect this,” said Kelley.

Vollmer launched into a flowery introduction for John Green.

“I’d like you to know who wrote Erich’s introduction,” Green said, taking the stage. “My late mother.”

Green reflected on his involvements with various music centers.

“Early on, (violinist) Isaac Stern said that one thing we’re in danger of in the United States is that our cultural explosion will turn out to have been an ‘edifice complex,’ ” Green said, “that we would confuse the importance of architecture with the importance of cultural centers. The expression of architecture, which, of course, is itself one of the world’s great arts, is in stone and mortar and glass. And that really isn’t where it’s at.”

Green tackled a George Gershwin medley and another of his own tunes. After the party, it was learned that Green had earlier in the week burned his fingertips cooking a gourmet meal and was forced to play wearing Band-Aids.

Dinner conversation earlier revealed that Vollmer’s cultural involvement extends beyond the walls of the Philharmonic offices; he sang with the Pacific Chorale at a recent performance of the Mahler Second Symphony.

“Floss saw me and said, ‘What are you doing in those tails? Is there a party tonight I don’t know about?’ ”