Garden Soiree a Prelude to Bowl Season

Although the 68th Hollywood Bowl Summer Festival opens July 11, the Bowl season can’t, of course, officially begin without the Hollywood Bowl Patroness Committee’s twilight garden soiree.

Chairman Ginger Ludwick, with her husband David beaming with pride, put an elegant touch over the weekend on the 41st annual dinner in Fremont Place at Ragnar and Mollie Qvale’s estate.

Behind the giant hibiscus hedges, the entry lions were draped with flowers and sheet music, which new Bowl manager Wayne Shilkret hummed. Lilies and pink roses on the tables, served as accents for an enchanting first course of curried soup served in acorn squash boats.

During the evening, tradition abounded. Arlis Morton, on the founding committee, took a bow. In attendance were three offspring of the committee’s third president, the late Helen Meyler: Eve Craig and Jim and Bob Meyler. President Colette Witt also saluted Joe Moshay’s band, noting: “This is Joe’s 39th year playing for us. We love your music.”

The committee members who will fill boxes at the Bowl and who invited guests to the weekend party included: Jo and Bob Kroger; Peter and Cheryl Ziegler; and Jack and Patsy Edwards.

Heralding the Season

Others dancing the night away: Carlotta and Rusty Keely; Bob and Janice Carpenter; Ricci and Bill Schumann; Frank and Nancy Payne; and Joann and Terrill Gloege. Also heralding the season were Alexandra and William Sorensen; Bill Lagattuta with Jennifer Nicholson (Jack’s daughter); and Steven and Amie Hinds.

Cellist Lynn Harrell was to be honored but was in Colorado, over-booked as president of the Aspen Music Festival; his wife accepted.

Meantime, volunteers and others are accepting and preparing for their parts in the Bowl season. Hollywood Bowl Volunteers president Vera Panosian and opening night co-chairmen, Aurora Durr and Leah Rotermund, are making plans to whoop it up. And through the summer, volunteers will staff Children’s Open House events, coordinate Carriage Clubs and publish the Bowl cookbook.

Others also are prepping for the Bowl. With alfresco picnics in mind, Margaret Given, Stephanie Johnson, Anna Mae Kass, Mimi O’Keefe and Clare Webb presented speaker Carolyn Thacker at “A Gourmet Picnic” benefit at the Beach Club for Childrens Chain of Childrens Hospital.

Social groups already have planned preview Bowl nights. Friends of Tel Hashomer have reserved box seats to mix cuisine with Mozart melodies at $100 a ticket July 8 to benefit Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel. Monique and David Shultz are chairmen; Heiichiro Ohyama will conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic.