Joyce Rudolph
The Glendale Symphony Orchestra Assn. received the final donation
needed to complete the challenge grant offered by the Glendale
Community Foundation just 10 hours before the orchestra's holiday
concert Friday at The Alex Theatre.
Diane Hedrick, executive director, received a call the morning of
the concert from a donor who helped complete the $7,500 matching
grant from the foundation.
The $15,000 covered the shortfall the orchestra association needed
to produce Friday's concert, Hedrick said, in addition to a grant
from L.A. County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and support from
the Alex Theatre.
"Producing an event at this level without any corporate grants or
governmental support is extremely difficult," Hedrick said. "I'm very
happy to announce that we met the challenge grant offered by the
Glendale Community Foundation."
More than 1,500 challenge grant letters had been mailed to
potential patrons.
"I'm hoping more checks come in to help us move forward and build
the season," she said.
Dates are on hold at the Alex for the five concerts the orchestra
association is hoping to produce in the new year, she said.
Hedrick was also encouraged by the attendance at the evening
concert. About 1,000 patrons saw the "Christmas Celebration -- A
Spectacular Gift of Music," which featured talented individuals from
Glendale and as far away as Europe.
Everyone in the audience sang out an exuberant "Star-Spangled
Banner" to lead off the evening followed by a greeting from
conductor/music director Norman Henry Mamey, who briefly introduced
the entertainers who were traveling from as far as Paris to perform.
Humor was provided by master of ceremonies Dallas Raines, weather
forecaster of ABC-TV Channel 7 "Eyewitness News."
Soprano Terese Tintocalis, backed by the Burbank Chorale, opened
the show with a crisp and beautiful rendition of "The Sound of
Christmas," a medley of several carols.
Everyone became a child again as Dick Van Patten read Clement C.
Moore's "The Night Before Christmas." He improvised when he came to
the part about the eight tiny reindeer, adding "Eight is Enough,"
referring to the TV show he starred in.
The orchestra throughout was up to the task, providing background
music for soloists and taking center stage during a gallant delivery
of selections from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."
Eleven-year-old Glendale violinist Heidi Hatch performed
Sarasate's "Carmen Fantasy," drawing the first standing ovation.
Nancy Kelly came from New York City to present a jazzy medley of
holiday songs.
Opera singer Anahit Nercesyan performed Schubert's "Ave Maria,"
and young pianist Arman Keyvanian played the second movement of
Mozart's exquisite "Piano Concerto #21."
A passionate offering of Bach's "Air" was played by pianist Milcho
Leviev, who flew in from Europe for the concert.
