Schooled in Supporting Education

Attendance was low at a joint benefit for SchoolPower and the Orange County Philharmonic Society, but guests at the Sunday afternoon concert and pool-side schmooze gave the fund-raiser an A-plus. The party--which drew 130 guests at $75 each and raised an estimated $10,000--was held at the newly renovated Surf & Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach. In and out of the sun and the sea breeze, the party group moved between the upstairs terraces and downstairs pool, never far from the blue-on-blue panorama of ocean and sky.

Who’s Who

SchoolPower is a 10-year-old foundation that raises money to augment the budgets of Laguna Beach public schools. Through private donations and corporate underwriting, the group last year raised $200,000, which was used for computers, library books, audio-visual equipment and expanded programs in the sciences and arts.

The Orange County Philharmonic Society helps underwrite Philharmonic concerts and supports various youth programs, including free concerts for schoolchildren, educational workshops and scholarships for music students.

Combining the nonprofits for a benefit was a natural, said JoAnn Halvajian, a SchoolPower board member whose husband, Ed, is chairman of the board of the Philharmonic Society. “The link is youth education,” said Halvajian. “We’re here for the kids.”

Kid Power

“The link”--the kids--were represented by two pint-sized performers who have toured county elementary schools as part of the OCPS program Musical Encounters.

After a quick glass of champagne, guests filled an upstairs conference room converted to a concert hall for the event. There, Katherine Chiu and Eric Liang, both 8 years old, both dressed in crisp white Sunday-best outfits, dazzled the grown-ups with their virtuosity and sublime confidence.

“Next, I’m going to play ‘Birthday Party,’ by Katherine Chiu,” said Katherine Chiu, who had just made her way through a short piece by Bach. Before she began, Katherine gave the names of the three movements of her composition. “Guests arrive. Eating birthday cake and ice cream. And, Happy Face the Clown plays games with the children.”

When Katherine’s tiny fingers finished their dance across the keys, Gaylord Whipple leaned to his date, Mary Beth Fry, and whispered, “I like that one better than the Bach!”

The Wowed Crowd

Down four flights of outdoor stairs, a pool-side party splashed to life to the easy listening beat of jazz and soft pop played by a band. Servers brought more champagne and fancy appetizers. A piano player rolled out Scott Joplin rags. Guests sought the shade of table umbrellas or stood in the bronze blare of late afternoon sun, buzzing about the postcard view and the concertizing 8-year-olds.

“Those kids were amazing,” said Bob Searles, who greeted guests downstairs with his wife, Cindy. Searles in president of the OCPS board.

Ed Sands, president of SchoolPower, said listening to Eric play the violin and Katherine play piano had left him feeling “humbled.”

“When I was that age,” said Sands, “I didn’t know how many fingers I had--much less know how to use ‘em!”

JoAnn Halvajian, who plays duets at home with her two young daughters, said the afternoon’s musical encounter brought tears to her eyes. “Stuff like that--I just well up.”

Also Seen

August Colachis, who runs the family-owned Surf & Sand Hotel with his brother-in-law, Paul Reed, drove up from his home in La Jolla to attend the party. Colachis said the 5-year, $25-million renovation included complete remodeling of the hotel’s four main buildings and the addition of a conference center and another restaurant.

Among guests were Marcia Coy, Jane Grier, Carol and Greg Lindstrom, Sande and Dick Schwarzstein, Jeanette and Louis Knobbe, Barbara McDaniel and Larry Thomas, and Vickie and Steve Lupinacci.