The Crowd:

As underwriting parties go, this was the most civilized and first-class event held to benefit a charity. Loyal patrons of the Pacific Chorale gathered recently at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach to raise money in support of their holiday concert and dinner, which is known as A Dickens’ Feast.

Hosted by the generous Chairs Margie and Martin Hubbard, the Big Canyon dinner reception welcomed a contingent of 32 Pacific Chorale devotees. In the crowd were Kimberly and Bob Bernatz, Warren Coy, Denice Douglas and David Brown, Sharon and Harvey Fair, Valerie and Hans Imhof, Hunter and Elaine Keck, and Maralou and Jerry Harrington.

Guests gathered at sunset on the stone terrace of the new Big Canyon Country Club, enjoying cocktail conversation prior to the dinner fundraiser.

The bucolic late summer setting was the ideal backdrop for good friends to share their passion for music and, in particular, the Pacific Chorale, which has survived and flourished since its founding in 1968.

The chorale has been under the artistic direction of John Alexander since 1972. Throughout the decades they have collaborated with such impressive orchestras as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the National Symphony, and, of course, our own Pacific Symphony.

On hand for the underwriter’s reception was Mary and Phil Lyons of Newport Beach, who are truly angels of the chorale. They joined Alexander and fellow supporters discussing upcoming events.

Mary Lyons, whom I affectionately refer to as the Queen of the Chorus, has been responsible for raising, as well as personally donating, significant sums each and every year.

Recently she helped to secure a significant grant which, she proudly shared, “Came to the chorale over other deserving arts organizations, because they looked at our longevity and the consistency of the membership and board in supporting this organization over many years.”

Lyons added: “The leadership of John Alexander since 1972 was also a major factor. The granting body felt that we would be one arts organization that would be around for a long time to come.”

Big Canyon dining room maitre d’s entered the terrace and announced that dinner was being served in the clubhouse.

They ushered guests in to dinner including Jan Landstrom (also co-chairwoman of the party), Susan Lew, Doreen and Genevieve Marshall, Lenora Meister, Sharon Morrison, George Reiss, and the philanthropic Sharon McNalley, who is also very involved in a special musical ensemble known as the Hutchins Consort.

The new Big Canyon Clubhouse is spectacular, and dinner service was superb. The crowd enjoyed a buffet served in silver-domed chaffing dishes that began with a spicy Asian eggplant soup, a salad of Maui onions, cucumbers and freshly made blue cheese dressing, followed by an entrée selection of grilled blackened salmon and petit filet mignon. Enjoying the dinner were society patronesses Bobbitt Williams, Elizabeth Stahr, along with Vina Williams and Tom Slattery and major Chorale supporters Darrellyn and David Melilli.

Two special events took place after dinner. First, the evenings’ emcee, KOCE Television anchor Ed Arnold, conducted a unique fundraising opportunity. A series of placards on easels that were set up behind Arnold outlined the underwriting needs for the chorales’ Christmas concert and fundraising dinner. One placard called for invitations, another called for food, a third called for valet expense, another for table décor, and so forth. Arnold, assisted by members of the Pacific Chorale staff on hand, explained the various needs and what each item would cost. He simply asked the crowd to raise their hand and donate to whichever need they personally chose to support. Within 15 minutes the Pacific Chorale had raised more than $125,000. They raised their hands to support everything from napkins to chocolate mousse to Christmas flowers on the tables. It was brilliant, painless and classy.

Second, the evening was capped with musical entertainment provided by talented chorale singers Carver Cossey and Zanaida Robles, accompanied by brilliant pianist David Clemensen, who performed selections from “Porgy and Bess.” For more information on the Pacific Chorale and their upcoming holiday programs, go to www.pacificchorale.org.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.