February 9, 2018
The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Ladera Ranch Area
Segerstrom Candlelight Concert at Julia and George Argyros plaza
The Ladera Ranch News
George and Julia Argyros with Michael Bolton Photos by Doug Gifford The event of 2017 that I always look forward to is the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Candlelight Concert – held at the Segerstrom Center. Every year, they dazzle us with outstanding musical guests, fine dining and an after party that’s just top notch. This year, starlight and the Chicago skyline surrounded guests during this year’s spectacular 44th annual Candlelight Concert. One of the Center’s oldest traditions, Candlelight Concert exceeded previous Candlelight Concert records, raising more than $1.6 million and attended by 460 people. Segerstrom Center’s new Board Chairman, Mark Perry and his wife Carol chaired the event, which featured multi-Grammy® Awardwinner Michael Bolton and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame band Chicago. Bolton opened his set with the song “Stand by Me” which was dedicated to Julia and George Argyros. Chicago played their hits which kept everyone on the dance floor dancing and singing along. Julia and George Argyros were honored guests who were celebrated and cheered for their generous gift to build the Center’s beautiful new Julianne and George Argyros Plaza and the Center for Dance and Innovation. Ronnie Allumbaugh, Sandi Jackson and Sandi Simon were honorary co-chairs. Décor was inspired by the band of course and, coincidentally, became a nod to Chairwoman Perry who hails from the Windy City. The Plaza Vista Middle School Choir serenaded guests as they arrived, standing in front Segerstrom Center’s new Board Chairman Mark Perry with Marta of custom marquee suggestive of Chicago’s famous theater marquees. Guests dined on the Segerstrom Hall stage and enjoyed a chilled Pee Wee Bhathal, Lisa and Jim Merage Potato and Smoked Salmon Salad with cucumber, creme fraiche dill and salmon caviar for starters. The main dish was a double header of porcini-rubbed filet mignon with roasted root vegetable ragout, and horseradish cauliflower crème, red wine jus and roosted fig AND a white wine-poached sole Veronique with green grapes, lemon braised fennel with champagne foam and sauce vin blanc. Oh, and the dessert was Patina’s take on the Chicago classic with golden sponge cake, white chocolate Chantilly, banana cream and passion gel. After dinner, we danced shoulder-to-shoulder to Chicago’s mega-hits. This year, women were given flat comfy shoes to wear so after an evening of wearing high heels – it was a relief to have a cozy pair of shoes to dance in! Once the music stopped, guests made their way to the Kia Valet Lounge via the new circular staircase from the hall’s Orchestra Terrace to the Argyros Plaza below. Sweet treats, hot chocolate and authentic Chicago hotdogs made for tasty midnight snacks. This year’s coup de Candlelight theatre? A gentle snowfall as people left Segerstrom Hall and entered the Argyros Plaza. Mark Perry noted, “We’re honored to recognize Julia and George Argyros at this year’s Candlelight Concert. Their visionary support is helping us to serve all of the dynamic and diverse communities of Orange County. The Julianne and George Argyros Plaza and Center for Dance and Innovation enables us to offer new and innovative community engagement and education programs that complement the expanding array of world-class performances that the Center presents. The funds raised by Candlelight Concert will support all of Jim and Angela Hsu with Betty and S.L. Huang these important programs as the Center begins an exciting and bold next act.” Proceeds from Candlelight Concert support the Center’s artistic programming, which brings the largest array of the finest artists and performances to Orange County, and community engagement and education programs that serve more than 300,000 young people and students each year. In fact, since opening in 1986, more than 17 million people have attended performances and more than 6 million children and families have participated in various community and education programs. The inaugural Candlelight Concert, which raised money to build a major performing arts center in Orange County, was held in a vacant Kresge five-anddime. It was transformed into an elegant ballroom with the use of candles. Since then, the annual gala has been called Candlelight Concert, with entertainment by celebrated artists. These have included Diana Krall, Diana Ross, Frankie Valli, Jay Leno, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Kenny Loggins, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis, Donna Summer, Smokey Robinson, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Broadway stars Kristen Chenoweth, Sutton Foster as well as many others. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs. For more information visit www.SCFTA.org Mark and Carol Perry with John and Toni Ginger and Terry Dwyer Page 12
The Ladera Ranch News