Concert I

Sunday, November 7at 7:00 p.m.

Rolling Hills Covenant Church 2222 Palos Verdes Drive North

Rolling Hills Estates

PROGRAM

Audience Survey Concert

Gershwin Lullaby for String Orchestra

Mozart Piano Concerto No.22

Steven Vanhauwaert, Soloist

Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor

CONCERT DETAILS

Symphony Association members admitted at6:00. Center-section priority seating is reservedfor members at the Patron level and above.

Concert Preview by Maestro Berkson at 6:15.

General public admitted at approximately 6:50.

POST-CONCERT MEET THE CONDUCTOR

After the concert, Symphony Association members atthe Patron level (and above) are invited to meet thesoloist, Steven Vanhauwaert and Maestro GaryBerkson at a reception in the home of one of ourmembers. Directions to the reception will be sent withthe membership cards to all who have contributed at thePatron level or above. Please call our office at 310-544-0320 if you have any questions about this event.

Symphony S ound sNovember 2010November 2010November 2010November 2010 44 44 44 44thththth Season, Number 1 Editor: Kenneth Gash Season, Number 1 Editor: Kenneth Gash Season, Number 1 Editor: Kenneth Gash Season, Number 1 Editor: Kenneth Gash

Gary’s Second Season!

He’s back! After a sensationalinaugural year as Music Director andConductor of the Peninsula

Symphony Orchestra, our esteemed MaestroGary Berkson returns to begin his secondseason. Many of you will remember thatduring his first concert as Music Director,Gary surveyed the audience, asking for theirmusical preferences. This season’s openingconcert is based on the results of that surveyand could very well be called “Our FavoriteComposers.” We are going to hear music byBeethoven, Mozart and Gershwin.Tchaikovsky was another audience favoritebut, since the orchestra has played music by

GARY BERKSON CONDUCTING FINAL 2009-10 CONCERT

this composer at least forty-three times overthe past forty-three years, Gary decided topass on Tchaikovsky this time.

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Music Preview

George Gershwin (1898-1937)

I’ll be willing to bet that when the averageconcert-goer thinks of the music of GeorgeGershwin,songs like The Man I Love,S’Wonderful or I Got Rhythm come to mindas well as Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in Fand Porgy and Bess. Our unpredictablemaestro Gary has programmed for us abeautiful and undeservedly little-known piececalled simply Lullaby.

According to that font of all knowledge,Wikipedia, “A lullaby is a soothing song, oftensung to children before they go to sleep, withthe intention of speeding that process. As aresult they are often simple and repetitive.Lullabies can be found in every humanculture and seem to have been used at leastfrom the ancient period.” Gershwin was theembodiment of the Jazz Age, the RoaringTwenties, flappers, and big, bouncy musicalsand yet, from early in his career, he felt theurge to write serious, contemplative music.

Originally written for string quartet, theLullaby has been transcribed for otherinstruments and groups many times. Theinterpretation for string orchestra beautifullymaintains the complex weaving of themelodies and the subtle but complex rhythmsof the original.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

In addition to their tragic deaths at an earlyage, there are other similarities betweenGershwin and Mozart. Both of them wereworkaholics and were able to produce anendless stream of musical compositions thatgreatly appealed to their audiences. Also,both of them found ample time for parties andnightlife. They both earned their livingthrough their music although Gershwin wasmuch more financially successful thanMozart. Perhaps if Mozart had lived after

radio and movies were invented he mighthave fared significantly better.

Mozart’s piano concertos span the whole ofhis creative life and are viewed by many asthe highpoint of his instrumentalachievement. Their wide diversity ofapproaches and emphases show Mozart’sremarkable ability to match the style of hismusical material to the scale of the work, the tastes of his audiences and to theperformance means at hand.

The Concerto in E-flat was one of threeconcertos intended for a series of Lentensubscription concerts given in Vienna in1786. Unfortunately, the premierperformance was squeezed in between thetwo halves of Dittersdorf’s Oratorio Esther.Nevertheless, the audience received itenthusiastically.

The opening movement marked Allegrostarts with a ceremonial exclamation by thefull orchestra. This is followed by anorchestral exposition which proceeds toreveal the individual colors of thewoodwinds, one by one. When the pianoenters, the soloist plays for a full seventeenbars before the orchestra reenters with alively and virtuosic interplay between thesolo ist and var ious inst rumentalcombinations.

The second movement is an exquisitelyexpressive andante in the somber key of Cminor which provides the emotional core ofthe concerto.

The bright, carefree rondo-finale is awelcome contrast to the intensity of theAndante and an unexpected incursion of agentle Andantino cantabile brings a minuet-like repose before the animated rondotheme returns and the movement runs itscourse.

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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Undoubtedly the most familiar four notes inclassical music are those that open the fifthsymphony of Beethoven. Three G's and anE-Flat. This simplest of themes has echoedthrough the two centuries since the creationof Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor.

This most economical motive propels usharmonically and rhythmically through thefirst movement. The second movement, aset of variations actually using two themes,comes as a great relief from the relentlessenergy of the first. Rather than a playful, glorified dance movement, the third(Allegro) movement gives us a mysteriousopening theme contrasted with the trio, akind of contrapuntal game led by the doublebasses. Following the restatement of thatmysterious opening theme all becomes stillexcept the throbbing of the timpani leadingus, without pause, to the splendor of thefinal movement.

Many things have been found in the fifthsymphony – the summons of Fate, maritalcelebrations, the repercussions of a tragiclove affair, the note of the yellowhammerheard in country walks. But whateverBeethoven did or did not intend to say to usin this tonal revelation, there is one trait thatthe C minor Symphony has beyond everyother, and that is the quality of epic valor.There is nothing in music quite like theheroic beauty of those first measures of theFinale that burst forth at the end of theindescribable transition from the thirdmovement with its swiftly cumulativecrescendo, and the overwhelmingemergence of the trombones which havebeen held in reserve until this moment.

All of this drama and splendor based on asimple four-note theme!

Steven Vanhauwaert

The soloist for the Mozart Piano ConcertoNo. 22 has been hailed by the LosAngeles Times for his "impressive clarity,sense of structure and monstertechnique." He began his formal pianostudies in Brussels and the RoyalConservatory and continued his musicaldevelopment at the USC Thornton Schoolof Music.

Among the many musical awards he hasearned was the Grand Prize at the 2004Los Angeles Internat ional LisztCompetition where his breathtakingperformance made him an audiencefavorite.

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Past Events: Final Concert

The final concert of the 43rd season of thePeninsula Symphony Orchestra took placeon June 27, 2010. Before the concert,Maestro Berkson presented another of hislively and informative lectures. These pre-concert talks have become an important partof the full musical experience for ouraudience members.

The concert opened with the rousingAcademic Festival Overture by JohannesBrahms and concluded with the beautifulSymphony No. 3 (“Rhenish”) of RobertSchumann, in recognition of the 200th

anniversary of his birth.

Each season, the final concert provides anopportunity for the winner of the KnoxPerformance Competition Scholarship toperform a concerto with the orchestra. Thecompetition was held on April 25, 2010, andthe Scholarship was awarded to a thirteen-year-old cellist named Chloe J. Y. Hong.

CHLOE J.Y. HONG & DUANE CONOVER, KNOX CHAIR

The highlight of the concert was Chloe’sperformance of the Elgar Cello Concerto.This piece was written by Elgar towards theend of his life and it is a mature and

introspective look at death and mortality.The beautiful performance by Chloe beliedher age and showed a level of maturitycompletely suited to the music.

During the intermission Harriet Servis, President of the Friends of the PeninsulaSymphony, presented a check for $20,000to incoming Board President, Ken Gash.

After the concert, a reception was held inCarlson Hall honoring the Rips Scholarshipwinner, Chelsea Chen, a flautist justgraduated from Palos Verdes High School.She is planning on pursuing degrees inmusic and psychology with a goal of usingher skills to work with disabled children

Knox winner Chloe Hong was presentedwith her scholarship award and also with abeautiful cake which she shared with theaudience.

Have you sent in your membership?

If you haven’t made a contribution to join thePeninsula Symphony Association for the2010-11 season, then you are no longer amember and this is the last issue ofSymphony Sounds that you will receive. Youwill also lose your invitation to the pre-concertlectures . . . and a valuable tax deduction! Tojoin, just call or write to the PeninsulaSymphony Association (see the last page forphone and address). You can also go to ourweb site (www.pensym.org), print a copy ofthe membership form, and send it in. If allelse fails, you can come to the concert on the7th of November, and make your contributionat the membership desk in the lobby.

It takes a lot of time and money to presentfree concerts. We would not have been ableto do this without the help of a long list ofsupporters who have spent both time andmoney to keep the concerts going for the last43 years. Renewing your membership in thePeninsula Symphony Association for our 44th

season will help us continue to bring finemusic to our community.

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Young Artists ShowcaseFebruary 27, 2011, 2 p.m.ARMSTRONG THEATER

3330 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, TORRANCE

The finalists in the Edith Knox PerformanceCompetition will play with theiraccompanists in a full-dress stageperformance for professional judging. Thefirst-prize winner will be selected at the endof the program, and will perform as soloistwith the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra atour June 26 concert.

Matching Gift Programs Membershipcontributions also qualify for employermatching gift programs. Call the PeninsulaSymphony Association office for details.

Peninsula Symphony AssociationBoard of Directors

There are a number of new members of theBoard of Directors: Bob Coffey, BarbaraGerber, Anita Gash, Bruce Erickson,Mildred Marx and Ben Pogoreslky. Thefollowing board members to retired from theBoard: Roger Schamp, Charles Ferraro,Jane Jones, and Bob Vasey. We thank themfor their dedicated service to the PeninsulaSymphony Association and hope to work withthem again.

OFFICERS:President, Kenneth B. Gash Vice President, Bob Coffey Secretary, Faye SchwartzTreasurer, Barbara GerberPast President, John Copper

CHAIRS:Artistic Committee, Kenneth GashCommunity Affairs, John WilliamsConcerts, Marion RuthFacilities, Jack TrostFinance, D. Paul NibargerFriends, Anita Gash and Harriet ServisGrants, (TBA)Knox Competition, Duane ConoverMembership, Brendon BondOff-Site Receptions, Marion RuthProgram Book, Nancy MahrProgram Book Ads, Jackie CrowleyStrategic Planning, Dianne BishopVenue, (TBA)Webmaster, Bruce Erickson

DIRECTORS:George J. Bender, David HumphreysChuck Klaus, Eugene McAdoo, MildredMarx, Ben Pogorelsky, Carol Schamp

2010 - 2011 Schedule

All regular concerts are held at: Rolling Hills Covenant Church 2222 Palos Verdes Drive North Rolling Hills Estates

Concert IIFebruary 20, 2011, 7 p.m.

Von Suppé Overture to The BeautifulGalatea

Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 Tamara Bohlin, Cello

Berwald Reminisences of theNorwegian Mountains

Liszt Les Préludes

Concert IIIMay 8, 2011, 7 p.m.

Humperdinck Prelude to Hansel andGretel

Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf Gail Eichenthal, Narrator

Gounod Funeral March of aMarionette

Tchaikovsky Selections from TheSleeping Beauty

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Friends of the Peninsula Symphony

The Friends of the Peninsula Symphonywelcomes men and women interested inproviding an extra measure of support to thePeninsula Symphony and having fun whiledoing it. The Friends are an essential part ofour Symphony. We are the largest singledonor to PSA accounting for almost thirteenpercent of last year’s budget.

The Friends also bring valuable opportunitiesto promote awareness of our concerts,related events and music education programssuch as Celebrate Mozart, an enrichmentprogram for second graders, to thecommunity. We have a variety ofopportunities to suit your time and talents.

Friends membership donation is in addition toyour membership in the Peninsula SymphonyAssociation and is open to any current PSAmember. If you have not already respondedto our membership mailing, we urge you to

join now with your tax-deductible (Tax ID#23-7008895) donation.

Stop by the membership table in the lobby atintermission. We hope you will join us andhelp to achieve our goal of a $20,000 pledgeas we did during last season. Our suggesteddonation levels are:

Best Friend-$125 Good Friend-$75 Friend-$50

Membership donations can also be mailedto:Friends of the Peninsula SymphonyPO Box 3961Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274

Thank you for being a Friend!

Anita Gash, ChairFriends Membership Committeeanitag1@cox.net

Friends Advisory Group

Jane Copper Anne DestabelleMaude Landon Dorothy LayKay Nibarger Harriet ServisJody Tournat Midge Trost

Friends Events

Since Friends Have Fun While RaisingFunds we started off the 2010-2011 Seasonwith the Friends Membership Event “AllegroItaliano.” Maestro Berkson and his wifeAnnika joined Friends members at Giorgio’sItalian Restaurant on Sunday, October 24and celebrated the beginning of the of thePeninsula’s 44th Year and Maestro’s secondseason. Members enjoyed a hot appetizerbuffet, music by jazz pianist RichardSherman, and welcome prizes.

Events planned for the coming year includea Spring Luncheon and a Pops ConcertParty.

Summer Pops ConcertJuly 24, 2011, 4:30 p.m.

An afternoon of familiar (and not so familiar)music by Duke Ellington, Leroy Anderson,Richard Rodgers, Max Steiner, AlfredNewman, and Morton Gould.

Concert IVThe Norris Foundation Concert

June 26, 2010, 7 p.m.Rossini Overture to Il signor BruschinoTBA Concerto chosen by

winner of the KnoxCompetition

Schubert Symphony No. 4, “Tragic”

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John Williams

In June, 2010, theP e n i n s u l aS y m p h o n yAssociation officereceived a $1,500check from theMorgan StanleyFoundat ion torecognize JohnWilliams' volunteerefforts. John is theC h a i r m a n o f

Community Affairs for the Symphony and along-time resident of Palos Verdes who hasbeen active in the community for the lasttwenty years. A graduate of USC with anengineering degree, John entered theSubmarine Service. After subsequent civilianengineering and managerial assignments,John joined Shearson in 1990 (now MorganStanley Smith Barney) as a financial advisor.Over the years he has enlisted his companyto support local charities with which hebecame involved.

John has been President of the Los VerdesMen's Golf Club, and continues on its Board.

He is currently the Marathon Chairman forthe Palos Verdes Marathon, which raisesfunds to support local youth charities andsponsors scholarships for deservinggraduating high-school seniors. Sponsorfunding has come from Morgan StanleySmith Barney.

His main effort continues to be with thePeninsula Symphony Association, as PastPresident and current Board member,continuously seeking support from hiscompany as well as other communityresources. This year the Morgan StanleySmith Barney grant was the first from thenewly formed joint venture of Smith Barneyand Morgan Stanley. The grant is basedupon the employee service and a worthy recipient.

The Peninsula Symphony is a communitysymphony, including professional and localnon- professional musicians. It provides freeconcerts for the community and focuses onexposing students and young people to fineclassical music. The entire community of allages benefits including seniors from localresidences.

The Board of Directors of the PeninsulaSymphony Association sends its thanks andappreciation to the Morgan StanleyFoundation for its generous gift.

Note from the Editor

If you have read this issue carefully you willhave noted that I am now President of theBoard of Directors of the PeninsulaSymphony Association. I will continue to editSymphony Sounds but my newresponsibilities have caused me to becomemuch more involved in the details of keepingour community orchestra viable.

As I have stated in the President’s Messagethat appears in our beautiful 2010-2011Program Book, our main and continuedsource of support comes from members ofour community. In past issues of SymphonySounds I have made appeals for increasedsupport from our members and I willprobably continue to do so.

Each of you reading this most likelycontributes to a number of otherorganizations which need your support andyou are also deluged with pleas fromorganizations which would like your support.We like to feel that, since your donations godirectly to help provide beautiful music thatyou enjoy, we have a special place in yourlife.

If you have any suggestions or comments,please let me know at: kgash@cox.net

Thank you.

Non-Profit Org.

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Contact InformationAny questions or requests about the Peninsula Symphony, the Peninsula Symphony Association, Symphony Sounds, or the Friends of the Peninsula Symphony should be sent tothe Peninsula Symphony Association office (we will route your message to the appropriateperson):

The Peninsula Symphony Association Post Office Box 2602 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274

The office is normally staffed from 9:00 to noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You maycall at any time (310-544-0320) and leave a message on our answering machine, but phonereplies will usually be made only during normal staffing hours. You can e-mail us atmusic.pensym@verizon.net. General information about the Symphony (current seasonschedule, etc.) can be found on our website (www.pensym.org).

Other Contacts are:

Peninsula Symphony Association President, Kenneth B. Gash 310-541-3516 kgash@cox.net Friends of the Peninsula Symphony, Anita Gash

310-541-3516 anitag1@cox.net

Music Director/Conductor, Gary Berkson conductor.pensym@verizon.net

Post Office Box 2602Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED