Candlelight Concert’s third decade

B.W. COOK

The 30th anniversary Candlelight Concert at the Orange County

Performing Arts Center exceeded all expectations. And, the

expectations were very lofty.

“What a fabulous event,” said Carol Wilken, co-chair of the

glamorous evening. “Now, what do we do next year to top this?”

For at least the past decade, Wilken’s sentiment has been

expressed year in and year out. Candlelight has become the social and

charitable event setting the standard for all O.C. events throughout

the year. It’s the platform upon which the most creative hostesses

are called upon to create magic.

And if you are a chair or co-chair of Candlelight, you are the

social equivalent of a top CEO, army general, Washington politician

and psycho-analyst all rolled into one. Actually, you might add

wizard to the mix. The task is enormous. Yet, it always comes off in

great style. The culmination of a full year’s work.

Credit in 2003 goes to the lovely Elizabeth Tierney, wife of Tom

Tierney. The Tierney family are ardent Center supporters and donors.

Elizabeth Tierney was aided in her campaign by Wilken, joined by her

husband, Kent Wilken, and Pat Rypinski, escorted by husband, Alan

Rypinski.

The team worked wonders, bringing in significant donor

underwriting from prominent local citizens and corporations. Donors

Carole and Robert Follman shared the $100,000 table with event chairs

Elizabeth and Tom Tierney. Center Board Chair Paul Folino and his

wife, Darrane, were among the major donors, and so were Randy and

Suki McCardle; Dorothy Stillwell; Roger and Gail Kirwan; Charles and

Twyla Martin; Zee Allred; Ben and Carmella Du; General William Lyon

and Willa Dean Lyon; and the Segerstrom family -- Henry and Elizabeth

Segerstrom; Sandra Segerstrom Daniels and her husband, John Daniels;

Sally Segerstrom; Susie and Steve Perry; Andrea and David Grant; Jean

Moriarty with Stan Scott; and Richard Moriarty with fiancee Lauren

Blackwood.

The evening began with a lavish reception in the upper lobby of

the Center.

Glamorous guests arrived on the red carpet, showing off designer

fashions.

“This is one night where you can not over dress,” hostess

Elizabeth Tierney told the crowd.

Laughter from the audience of some five hundred of the

best-dressed in O.C. confirmed Tierney’s observation.

Actually, the process begins in the late summer as the designer

salons preview winter gowns for women and formal suits for gentlemen

all aimed at the Candlelight crowd. Parties are thrown in the salons

at Nordstrom, Saks, Neimans and other specialty boutiques including

Dior, Donna Karan, Chanel and Armani to offer clients “first pick.”

Top salespeople keep tabs to insure that no one wears the same gown.

This is serious social maneuvering, not for the faint of heart.

It is also a night to display fine jewels. Something of an Oscar

show on a smaller, more personal plane. The diamonds and pearls are

part of a dazzling show of art, fantasy, success and showmanship.

Whitney Mandel, wife of Center President Jerry Mandel, was exquisite

in a gown of ice-blue satin. Whitney’s classic “Jackie O.” look was

enhanced by the diamonds of Van Cleef and Arpels, including a suite

consisting of a necklace, bracelet and earrings of very white,

perfectly matched baguette diamonds in platinum, fit for royalty.

Two of the best-dressed ladies of the night were Shiela

Sonenshine, wife of Ygal Sonenshine, and Sally Crockett, wife of

Randy Crockett. Both women are always fashionably and tastefully

attired, setting an elegant standard for O.C.

After plenty of social jockeying and a cocktail or two, the crowd

was ushered into Segerstrom Hall, and was seated in the center of the

orchestra section. A welcome from organizers led to the private

concert, this year starring legendary American vocalist Johnny

Mathis.

Backed by an incredible orchestra, the 68-year-old balladeer

filled Segerstrom Hall with his velvet voice. Perfectly controlled

from high to low range, Mathis sounded much as he did as a young man

in his 20s getting started in the nightclubs of San Francisco. It was

a warm and wonderful musical tribute to “a world of imagination.”

“I sing songs I love, not songs I’m told everyone wants to hear,”

Mathis told the audience.

One of his best numbers was a short rendition of “Imagination,”

from the film “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. He mixed

surprise numbers with classics and Christmas carols, and he was

superb.

Later, it was revealed that Mathis was suffering from the flu. The

ultimate trooper, he did not want to let the Center down. Mathis

performed the next night for Candlelight Encore as well, as the

second Christmas fundraiser held in Founders Hall, also a significant

charitable event for the local performing arts center.

As Mathis completed his show, a standing ovation preceded the

raising of the Center curtain to reveal “Winter Wonderland,” the

elegant dinner set on the stage of Segerstrom Hall. The crowd,

including glamorous Joan and John Hotchiss, guests of Henry and

Elizabeth Segerstrom; special guest of honor Margaret Pereira, wife

of the late acclaimed architect William Pereira; Carl and Rebecca

McLarand; Bob and Marie St. John Gray; Jean and Tim Weiss; Keith

Coplan; Brian Kraft; Cerise Feeley and Richard Rodnick; Greg

Robertson; Debbie Simon; Tony and Ginger Allen; U.S. Ambassador to

Spain George Argyros and his wife, Julia, all ascended to the stage

to their elegant tables adorned with silver and crystal candelabras,

white roses and snowflakes.

Also in the crowd were distinguished guests Jose Luis Dicenta, the

Spanish consul general from Los Angeles, and his wife, Urika; and

Tomas Rosander, the Swedish consul general in Los Angeles, and his

wife, Christina.

It was an evening to remember in O.C., as dinner led to dancing

and more dancing lasting well into the night, along with plenty of

sharing of plans and dreams for the Center as it enters a crucial

phase of expansion to build the concert hall, set for completion in

2006.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.