SOCIETY
THURSDAY · MARCH 3, 2011 LA JOLLA VILLAGE NEWS
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Children’s hearts
and a trumpeting master chef Starry, starry nights
transplant program. It has already accumulated the first million dollars, and proceeds from this year’s Charity Ball will continue that effort.
(which he promised would be exciting). Following the concert, Stars Co-chair Regina Kurtz thanked the musicians and spoke briefly about the symphony’s “Partner with a Player” program. She also invited guests to purchase the “Centennial Celebration Cookbook,” filled The Kovtuns of La Jolla — that’s Lael with recipes from the symphony’s musiand her husband, Dr. Jay (not a basket- cians, conductors and guest players. ball player; he’s a doctor of optometry) Apparently, these people have some — are two of the San Diego Sympho- great talents that don’t make themselves ny’s biggest fans, having been continu- known during performances at Symous subscribers since 1958. They sup- phony Hall. port the symphony in other ways, too. Some years ago, Lael founded Symphony Stars, a group of music lovers who make $1,100 in donations annually to the symphony and enjoy a number of exclusive benefits, including invitations to luncheons, teas and private recitals. Their most recent activity was a luncheon Feb. 23 at Sylvia Bendelstein’s La Jolla home. But this was no ordinary nosh. Eight symphony musicians prepared and served the gourmet meal, after which several of them picked up their instruments and gave a mini-concert, playing (singly and in pairs) three unusual pieces written by as many noted composers. This was the third Musicians Cook for the Stars Luncheon and Recital. Symphony trumpeter John Wilds is, as the 65 luncheon guests found out, also a master chef. He, with seven other musicians who also possess significant culinary talents, created a gourmet repast for the event. They served a winter salad of shaved fennel and pomegranate, baked polenta with mushrooms and Fontina cheese, grilled lamb loin with a red wine and shallot reduction. Horn player Wei-ping Chou made by hand a variety of miniature iced artisan cakes, individually wrapped and equipped with sticks, like lollipops. After the guests had lunched, Ward Gill, the symphony’s executive director, thanked the members for their support, and music director Jahja Ling spoke of the soon-to-be-announced new season
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with Vincent Andrunas The 102nd anniversary Charity Ball on Feb. 19 began (as has become the custom) with a big VIP cocktail party in the Hotel Del Coronado’s Carousel Room for the event’s patrons, sponsors and committee members. The ball’s title was “Twilight in Tuscany,” a theme chosen by Lisa Hamlin Vieira, who chaired the event. (Her co-chair was her sister, Mari Hamlin Fink, who had chaired the 2006 Charity Ball.) The theme was evident during the cocktail party, and would be carried out throughout the event, lending itself beautifully to colors and feelings, music and décor, and food and beverages, such as the event’s signature cocktail, the Tuscanini (a sunset-hued creation of prosecco flavored with limoncello and a dash of grenadine). For many seasoned travelers at the reception, these elements brought to mind their most recent visits to Italy. Since 1953, the Charity Ball has exclusively benefited Rady Children’s Hospital. At present, San Diego children in need of a heart transplant must travel more than 100 miles (to Los Angeles or beyond) for their surgery, and this often means they and their families must spend months away from home awaiting a suitable organ. Recognizing this and the fact that the hospital’s Heart Institute has reached the critical volume of patients needed to support a transplant program, Rady’s is now raising $1.7 million to invest in infrastructure and program startup costs for its heart
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Charity: 1. Philip and Kathleen Sellick (she’s president & CEO of Rady Children’s Hospital), LuAnn Beardmore, Denny Sanford 2. Mike Fink, Mari Hamlin Fink (event co-chair), Betty Hamlin, Lisa Hamlin Vieira (event chair), Glen Vieira. 3. Phyllis and John Parrish, Kristi Pieper, Kathleen Dietze. 4. Ron and Kaye Harper, Georgia Robins Sadler and Blair Sadler, Mrs. Albert Anderson, Nicole Sadlert.
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Symphony: 5. Ben Jaber, John Wilds, Ward Gill (SDS executive director), Kyle Covington, Sarah Shuster. 6. Ruth Leonardi (Symphony Stars co-chair), Sylvia Bendelstein (host), Jahja Ling (SDS Music Director), Regina Kurtz (Symphony Stars co-chair), Lael Kovtun (Symphony Stars founder).
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