Apr 6, 2008

Music and arts gala gives 'Good Vibrations'

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Mountain View's Community School of Music and Arts, the largest nonprofit provider of music and arts education in Northern California, celebrated it 40th anniversary with a sold-out auction and entertainment gala at Palo Alto's Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club on March 29.

There was a lot to celebrate. The party, and the silent and live auctions, ran so smoothly that co-chairwomen Judi Fan and Lisa Lane Kasperzak and committee members Lynn Szekely-Goode and Kathleen Christman were able to enjoy the evening of student and faculty performances along with their 285 guests.

The highlight of the night was a musical review featuring an 18-member intergenerational chorus (ages 10 to 60) set against a backdrop of videos spanning the school's four decades.

"Good Vibrations," the opening song of the night, embodied CSMA's "commitment to arts for all," said Kasperzak, and set the tone for the entire upbeat, high-energy event. It was the school's most successful benefit to date, raising more than $200,000 for financial aid and arts education programs.

When co-founders Natalie Werbner and Joan Van Stone opened the Community School of Music and Arts in a rented Mountain View house in 1961, they had 28 students and 10 volunteer music teachers. Today, the 25,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Finn Center - with its art classrooms, music rehearsal halls, gallery, theater and administrative offices - reaches 40,000 people annually.

"This year's special gala was a celebration of the remarkable 40-year history of our organization - a history made possible by many of the extraordinary people in attendance tonight," said executive director Jeffry Walker. "CSMA is grateful for the talent and support of so many gifted and generous people and privileged to enjoy such an important role in the communities we serve."

Leading the night's applause were Steve Finn, Bob Reay, Ruth and Roy Rogers, Bob and Jan Fenwick, former executive director Angela McConnell and her husband Rick, Dr. Gary and Nabuko Saito Cleary, Mike and Yvonne Nevens, John and Terry Dolan, Mike and Jean Couch, and John Conover of Borel Bank.

Auctioneer Graham Crow created a lot of excitement. A private in-home concert by Grammy Award nominee and Community School alumnus Taylor Eigisti sold twice, netting $14,000.

Several spontaneous live auction items were also offered. Finn donated his Wailea vacation house in Maui, which sold twice at $6,500 each. Brenda and Harry Mittelman donated a dinner for 20 with operatic entertainment at their home, which sold for $2,000. An African safari package sold four times - one of which was purchased by co-chairwoman Kasperzak and her husband Michael; another was purchased by newly engaged Liza Shovar and Phil Hazelrig.

Lead sponsors were the Morgan Family Foundation, Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation and Borel Private Bank and Trust Co.



INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CELEBRATES KABUHAYAN!

The San Jose Fairmont Hotel Ballroom was transformed into a tropical island resort for the International School of the Peninsula's 20th annual gala. Following the Palo Alto school's motto, "Many cultures. One world," at least 250 guests turned out for the March 29 Filipino Fiesta Kabuhayan! that featured authentic entertainment and food and celebrity emcee, Channel 2 News anchor Lloyd La Cuesta.

Co-chairwomen Lavina Karahan and Aimee Paquin were thrilled the evening netted $229,000 for the school's dual bilingual immersion programs: French/English and Mandarin/English. They were also pleased the Fund-a-Need auction raised enough funds to complete the second phase of the technology program that began last year, which will equip remaining classrooms with SMART Boards and provide all faculty members with laptops.

The gala was a labor of love for Karahan, who was honoring her grandfather who operated a school in the Philippines when she was a young girl.

"I am so honored to share the Filipino culture with my school community," Karahan said. "At the International School, we partake in kabuhayan: a way of life. We are a family of many cultures sharing one worldly value of providing a challenging yet nurturing education for our children. It is this 'kabuhayan' that makes me proud and passionate about our school."

The hit of the evening was the performance of Filipino cultural dances by school parents, wearing traditional outfits including Kimonos and sheer lacy tops over black dresses or pants. Under of the direction of former prima ballerina and parent choreographer Stephanie Herman-Singer, the "Hot Moms" danced the Binasuan, romantic candle dance, and the Tinikling bamboo dance. The "Hot Dads," including Head of School Philippe Dietz, performed the Maglalatik, a coconut dance. Their choreographer was Edwin Menor, known as "Mr. San Francisco" for his light heavyweight 2007 bodybuilding championship title.

High-bidders during the night's auction included Alain Rossmann and Joanna Hoffman, who won a dinner prepared by Chef Dietz (Head of School), and Herve and Florence Goguely, who took home a diamond necklace and earrings and won a trip to the Philippines, "Land of the Morning."


Send event information to 255 Constitution Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025 or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com.