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BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | JULY 15, 2016 Page 5
James Madison Montpelier’s Imhoff, Greystone Mansion Welcomes ‘Ladies Dreier Hope To Bring Madison’s Ideas To Of Magic’ On August 7 From Hollywood’s Magic Castle to Lycée Français. A New Generation Of Americans Beverly Hills, the Friends of Greystone The group also includes Simone By Matt Lopez Nearly 250 years after helping write the constitution, the ideas of James Madison, known to many as the Father of the Constitution, may be as relevant as ever. That is the belief of Kat Imhoff, President/CEO of James Madison’s Montpelier. Imhoff, along with newly-minted Montpelier Board of Directors member and Beverly Hills resident David Dreier, granted the Courier an interview this week while Imhoff was in town to work with Dreier, who served on the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years. Dreier was named to the Montpelier Board of Trustees in May. “We have so many big issues in our country now, especially with the feeling of many that minority interests are not being represented,” Imhoff said. “The great thing is that Madison still has very modern things to say about the crisis we’re facing.” Imhoff said the biggest challenge
Kat Imhoff
David Dreier
for Montpelier, which was the longtime home of James and wife Dolly Madison, is simply getting the word out about Madison’s ideals and beliefs and how they relate to Americans today. “We’re excited to now have a national board, with David here to represent [California],” Imhoff said. Dreier said the decision to join Montpelier was an easy one. “George Will famously said that if we truly believe the pen is mightier than the sword, that our nation’s capitol should be named Madison DC, not (see ‘MONTPELIER’ page 20)
will present “Ladies Of Magic” at Greystone Mansion next month. The Ladies of Magic attempt to recreate a Victorian experience with a magic show that features up-close magic tricks and full-stage illusions. After beginning the afternoon with a magic show in the Grand Living Room, magicians will stroll table to table to entertain guests while they sip on tea and munch on Victorian desserts. Emcee Patricia Magicia began studying magic in 2005 at the Magic Castle and later became a member, specializing in children’s magic for French schools in Los Angeles, such as
Author David Davis To Discuss Waterman: The Life And Times Of Duke Kahanamoku At Beverly Hills Library By Victoria Talbot Beverly Hills welcomes David Davis, the author of a new book on surfing’s most legendary hero. Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (Aug. 24 1890-Jan. 22, 1968) was a native Hawaiian, Olympic swimmer, one of the original Waikiki Beach Boys, and he is credited with introducing the sport of surfing to the world. Born in the Kingdom of Hawai’i just before Queen Lili’uokalani was overthrown by sugar planters, (see ‘BEVERLY HILLS LIBRARY’ page 20)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... – To celebrate the opening of the Grammy Museum exhibit Ladies and Gentlemen … The Beatles at LA Live, Beverly Hills resident and 1964 Ed Sullivan Show attendee Debbie Gendler Supnik participated in a panel with memorabilia collectors and Bob Eubanks, former KRLA deejay. Pictured (from left): Robert Santelli, Grammy Museum executive director; Eubanks; Russ Lease, collector; Supnik; Bruce Spizer, author and historian; and Chuck Gunderson, collector. The exhibit runs through Sept. 5.
French Conservatory Of Music In Beverly Hills Awards First Round Of Diplomas By Andie Chao The French Conservatory of Music in Beverly Hills, which opened its doors last year at 9887 S. Santa Monica Blvd., awarded its first crop of students with diplomas and degrees from the Conservatoire International de Musique de Paris (CIMP) during a ceremony at Pierre’s Fine Pianos this month. The French Conservatory brings a fresh approach, emphasizing the acquisition of skills and techniques necessary to reach full freedom of artistic expression through a large selection of courses including instrumental studies, theory classes and music production programs. Building on his own experience studying and later serving as project manager for CIMP, Skander Ladjimi founded the local all-ages conservatory and calls it a “descendent” of the 90year-old French conservatory. CIMP was originally founded in 1925 by renowned French composer Maurice Ravel, who had a vision to create a school where music would be less structured and more accessible to the public–in contrast to rigidity that dominated 19th century French music. This year, judges flew in from Paris to be part of the ceremony’s panel to help ensure that the curriculum was the same for students studying in America and France.
The Beverly Hills conservatory aims to bring “high class classical education” to the west coast, said Ladjimi, who serves as owner and director. “The conservatory is built on values of discipline, hard work, respect, and collaboration,” he added, noting that students can take those same morals learned at the school and apply them to fields other than music. “There is no one perfect technique, but rather a combination [and] technique is a tool used to help reach freedom of expression,” said Ladjimi. Once completing a level, students are eligible to receive prizes, diplomas and degrees, for their accomplishments through an annual public examination. Some of the awards given are the diploma of musical studies, medal of conservatory (equivalent to a masters degree), and prize of conservatory (equivalent to a D.M.A). What makes the medals of conservatory and prize of conservatory so notable is that the students actually have to compete against each other to earn those awards. From this year on, the annual exam will become an event open to to the public. The audience is able to sit with the panel and watch the judges and students in action. The program includes the recital exams and a reception, and closes with the awarding ceremony.
Tarkington and Elizabeth Messick, magic enthusiasts since they were young children. Lisa Cousins, a magic historian and librarian at the Magic Castle, rounds out the group, specializing in historic conjuring with vintage props and magic effects. Tickets are $50 for Friends of Greystone members and $40 for non members. Parking is complimentary and guests are welcome to tour the first floor of the mansion. For more information, visit www.greystonemansion.org or call 310-286-0119.
Duke Kahanamoku