USC Thornton School of Music serves up honors

When the USC Thornton School of Music opted to honor USC President Steven Sample and his wife, Kathryn, at its Dec. 11 Charles Dickens Dinner, organizers booked the most famous politician in the state to make the presentation. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger turned up with First Lady Maria Shriver at the Millennium Biltmore in downtown L.A. for the annual affair.

In addition to celebrating the school’s 125th anniversary, and recognizing graduate Marilyn Horne, this year’s dinner served as the first official tribute to the Samples since they announced his plans to retire.

As dinner co-chairman, along with his wife, Gayle, Edward Roski summed up audience sentiment by saying, “Were the medals made of pure platinum or solid gold, they would not reflect the immeasurable value of the Samples’ contribution to the [USC] community.” Roski is chairman of USC’s board of trustees and chairman and chief executive of Majestic Realty.

In the hotel’s historic ballroom, with its hand-painted frescoes and balconies trimmed in lighted garlands, the school’s music students sang carols to the 375 guests. Jake Reed performed a jazz piece and Joseph Kyungteak Lim led an opera tribute to Horne; both students were named that night as scholarship recipients.

Schwarzenegger closed the festivities by reciting the Samples’ accomplishments in distinguishing the university in academics, athletics and the arts during their 19 years of service. “How great is it to have no term limits?” he asked. In noting that among the USC president’s achievements, Sample increased the endowment from half a billion dollars to $4 billion, the governor quipped, “As he’s stepping down -- what about being treasurer of California?”

Among the guests were Flora Thornton with Eric Small, Joyce and Kent Kresa, Ginny Valley and her mother, Mary Kopacz, Lorna and Charles Reed, Jane and Kris Popovich, Harlyne Norris and Patrice Rushen.

Vogue mixer

As Vogue magazine’s European editor at large, Hamish Bowles wrote the introduction to “The World in Vogue: People, Parties, Places,” which showcases the key social figures, actresses and models who have populated the magazine’s pages over the last four decades. And, as the photo-filled volume also follows them to their glamorous weddings and balls, the talk turned to parties last Monday when Bowles came to sign books at the Oscar de la Renta boutique on Melrose Place.

“I’ve certainly been to some very fun parties,” Bowles said. “I love dance parties, costume parties and parties with a really good pan-generational mix -- where different people and all the generations are mixed together.”

So when they sent the invitations, Lisa Love, Katherine Ross and Alexandra Kimball must have had such a mix in mind, as nearly 150 partygoers of varying ages and interests showed up. Love is Vogue’s senior West Coast editor; Ross is married to Michael Govan, director and CEO of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and Kimball represented the boutique, which donated a portion of sales to Atelier, the acquisition committee for the costumes and textiles department at LACMA.

Suzanne Saperstein, Atelier’s founder, said that by establishing the new group, the department will be in a good buying position when museum-quality costumes and textiles become available. “What’s great is that costumes are still relatively affordable compared to contemporary art,” she said.

Guests included Joan Collins with her husband, Percy Gibson Betsy Bloomingdale, Lynn Booth, Jamie Tisch, Brooke Davenport, Jane Ross, Liberty Ross, Eva Chow, Ione Skye, Joni Smith, Ginny and David Sydorick, Judy and Don Tallarico, Shell and Craig Cardon, and Nikki Haskell.

ellen.olivier@society-news.com