Williams makes a return trip for the Philharmonic

B.W. COOK

Musician Roger Williams will bring his new Las Vegas show to Newport

Beach on behalf of the Big Canyon/ Spyglass Hill Committee of the

Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

A grand black-tie gala is planned for Feb. 5 at the Sutton Place

Hotel in Newport Beach. Williams graced the Orange County scene last

season, benefiting the Philharmonic with a sold-out luncheon.

This year, he will return with his five-piece ensemble to delight

the patrons, led by the glamorous chairwoman of the executive board,

Jacque Heebner. A committee of dedicated local leaders, including

Bobbitt Williams, Jenny Gerard, Penny LaVoie, Andrea Eader,

Jacqueline Lokka, Darby Manclark and Dean Ann Dierks, are organizing

the gala.

Roger Williams has been awarded more than 18 gold and platinum

albums and is considered one of the top-selling pianists of the

modern era.

He came onto the music scene in 1955 with a rendition of “Autumn

Leaves” and has been mixing classical technique with his own form of

jazz and pop artistry to create a unique musical experience for his

audience.

Equally important, Williams has lent his celebrity to putting

music education in a place of importance for public school education.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named him a “Youth Champion of the Year”

for his efforts on behalf of school children. He recently performed

at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta in

honor of President Carter’s 80th birthday, which happened to be

Williams’ birthday, too. Tickets to the Philharmonic Society evening

with Roger Williams are priced at $150 per person. Additional local

society standouts supporting the event are Kim Grubman, Ollie Hill,

Carol Julian, Jo Anne Mix, Ann Stern and Barbara Taylor. For more

information, call Gerard at (949) 644-0353 or Bobbitt Williams at

(949) 644-6799.

The Orange County High School of the Arts is launching an artist

scholar sponsorship program with a goal of raising $500,000 annually

to support the school’s conservatory programs.

Fundraisers have already raised significant funds from donors John

and Sandy Daniels, Robert and Carole Follman, Federico Sayre, Rick

and Nancy Muth, Ted and Janice Smith, and Jeffrey and Lisa Metzger.

A lead gift of $100,000 from the Hal and Janette Segerstrom Family

Foundation launched the campaign. A host of other individual and

corporate donors have also joined the fundraising effort, which will

become a part of the more than $3 million needed by the school each

year to fund its 11 arts conservatory programs.

The school must raise about $2,500 per student to continue

offering the conservatory program.

A portion of the funds raised support the nearly 25% of the

school’s 1,250 students who require financial assistance. The Orange

County High School of the Arts is a tuition-free public charter

school, and donations are tax deductible. For more information,

contact Skip Seagraves at (714) 560-0900, ext. 5533, or visit

www.ocsarts.net.

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