A Red-Hot Fund-Raiser on The Pond’s Big Bed of Ice

Holiday gala guests at The Pond of Anaheim were offered two tastes of winter: Outdoors, they were served a formal dinner under a snow-white tent. Indoors, their concert seating was atop a bed of ice.

The Candlelight Concert made $225,000 for the Orange County Performing Arts Center and was presented as part of the center’s 10th anniversary celebration.

The $250-per-person benefit last week attracted nearly 1,000 guests, including leaders of Orange County’s performing arts society: center President Tom Tomlinson, Renee and Henry Segerstrom, gala chairwoman Catherine Thyen, Marilyn and Tom Nielsen, George and Judie Argyros, and Mark Johnson with Barbara Hiller.

Another 11,000 people filled the arena stands (where tickets were a less pricey $19.50 to $65 each) to hear the concert by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Sales from general stadium seating raked in another $410,000 for the center.

From the holiday sing-along--where all 12,000 concert-goers joined voices in “Jingle Bells” and other carols--to the poignant spirituals sung by baritone Jubilant Sykes, the 22nd annual gala was the center’s warmest ever.

That, even though a chill crept through the cracks of the plank-covered hockey rink floor.

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Festivities began when limousines hung with holiday wreaths rolled up to the red-carpet entrance where guests were welcomed by fanfare trumpeters and mimes.

Gala-goers sipped champagne in the arena lobby before moving to the voluminous white tent erected in the parking lot.

“It’s nice to be back in the central part of the county,” said Henry Segerstrom during the reception. “We’ve had a lot of these parties in this area, and it’s wonderful to be here again.”

In past years, the gala had been staged at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Previously, it was at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

For the black-tie extravaganza, Renee Segerstrom chose a floor-length holly-red frock; Judie Argyros wore a full-skirted pale green brocade gown with neck and cuffs shot with pearls and brilliants.

After dinner, guests filed into the sports emporium for the Pops concert, which included performances by the William Hall Master Chorale and Sykes, recently named Sacred Music USA’s Vocalist of the Year.

Seated at tables draped in burgundy cloths and centered with a flickering candle, they dined on tiny tarts and cakes, enjoying a program that included the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah” and carol classics such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Pops’ conductor Keith Lockhart--who sported Santa suspenders with his tails--congratulated the crowd on the center’s 10th year.

“It’s wonderful to be here,” he said. “Wonderful to celebrate the anniversary of your very own center.”

Before it was over, William Hall recited “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and Old Saint Nick paid guests a visit, descending the stadium stairs with a “Ho, ho, ho!” then wending his way through the cheery crowd.

“Now that was a party,” said guest Nora Hester, who confided she’d tucked a pair of booties in the pockets of her mink for the concert. “I pulled them over my pumps to keep my feet warm,” she said.

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Puttin’ on the Ritz: The invitations told you arts philanthropist Mark Johnson’s private holiday party was going to be elegant and fun: sheet music overlaid with gold-lettered parchment beckoned guests to an evening with a “few of his favorite people--Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt.”

As guests dined poolside--under a see-through tent strung with thousands of twinkle-lights--”artists” in period costumes regaled guests with tales of their careers.

Dinner on Saturday night was a six-course repast by Upper Crust caterers featuring Chilean sea bass and roast tenderloin, with dessert--a sleigh filled with white chocolate and caramelized fruit--served at midnight.

On Johnson’s arm was Barbara Hiller, the woman who will become his bride this spring.

After dating Hiller for more than two years, Johnson--chairman-designate of the Orange County Performing Arts Center--decided to pop the question during a weekend getaway after Thanksgiving.

“We were walking along the beach at Big Sur,” Johnson said, “talking about marriage, when Barbara said to me, ‘We’ve talked about this a lot, but I don’t recall you getting down on your knees.’ ”

She was kidding. But he did, right there, on a rocky precipice overlooking the beach.

In recent years, Johnson, who has been married twice before, has been seen at charity events with a variety of women.

“Barbara was the diamond right beneath my eyes,” Johnson said. “She gave me all of the latitude I needed to realize she was the right woman for me for the rest of my life.

“The beauty of it is, she wants me but doesn’t need me. She has her own life.”

A marquis diamond engagement ring is in the making, he said. Honeymoon plans for spring? “Probably Scotland,” said Johnson, a Scot. “It’s warm and romantic.”

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Cruising for big bucks: The Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee kicked off its 33rd Cruise of Lights benefit over the weekend with a two-night boat parade.

With David Snegg as Grand Marshal, a flotilla of gaily lighted boats cruised harbour waterways, where thousands of visitors are expected to view decorated waterfront homes from Dec. 13 to 21.

Staged annually to benefit the Orange County Philharmonic Society, the nine-day “Holiday Magic” benefit offers visitors the chance to board cruise boats for narrated tours.

Proceeds of about $100,000 will go to the philharmonic’s music education programs for youth. “We make a significant contribution to children’s education in Orange County,” said Judith Ivey, chairwoman of the Harbour committee. “Our musical presentations in public and private schools give children something that touches another nerve of their being--apart from reading, writing and arithmetic.”

Call (714) 840-7542 for cruise ticket information.