The Crowd: Year of the Rooster gala aids symphony’s outreach programs
The 2017 Chinese New Year marked the Year of the Rooster starting Jan. 28, and in celebration, a gala dinner and concert were held in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall benefiting the Pacific Symphony.
Some 180 VIP patrons contributing at least $1,200 per person were treated to one of the most exquisite evenings on the Orange Coast social calendar.
Created around a Chinese New Year’s performance by the 88 musicians of maestro Carl St.Clair‘s Pacific Symphony, dinner guests joined a sold-out audience of more than 1,500 O.C. residents for a production that included Dubussy’s “Clair de Lune,” Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and the classical Chinese elements “Butterfly Lovers Concerto” by He Zhanhoa/Gang Chen and Hua Wu’s “Deep into the Night.”
Guests arrived at the Segerstrom Center for cocktails at dusk in the first level foyer of the concert hall. Red envelopes containing lucky $2 bills were presented as the crowd sampled the delicacies — with a decidedly Chinese theme — prepared by the Patina kitchen. The cocktail crowd mingled, entertained by pianist Fei-Fei Dong, a finalist in the 14 th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
As the dinner bell chimed, the elegant assembly swooped up the curving staircase to the center’s box level. A dinner setting adorned in rich gold and vibrant Chinese red, symbols of good fortune for the new year, awaited them. Designers filled tall vases with bright-yellow blooms of forsythia, and at each dinner table was an original and impressive glass sculpture created by artist LIULI. At each place setting was a gift from LIULI of a stylish and colorful mini-crystal rooster atop a clear glass, square base.
The Patina staff created an extraordinary Chinese dinner that began with roast duck bao, followed by a seared beet cucumber salad and then a serving of hamach (fish) with chilled soba noodles. The entrée was a Meyer lemon Chilean seabass in carrot butter with crispy wonton.
Guests table-hopped and introduced family members. Many patrons attended with multiple generations of families, including young children, exposing them to the new year festivity along with the importance of participating in symphonic music in the community.
Supporting the evening were symphony executive John Forsyte and his wife, Michele, joining major patrons Zheng Lei Chen, David and Victoria Collins, Doug and Lynn Freeman, and Michael and Ellie Gordon. In the crowd, was best dressed Michelle Horowitz and husband David. O.C. philanthropist Joann Leatherby was spotted along with Young Kim, Rosaria Marin, Carlos and Haydee Mollura, and the much-admired Anne Shih and husband Danny. St.Clair and wife Susan were lauded by donors Janie Tsao, David Tsoong and Betty Tu, Loretta Yang, Chang Yi, and Charlie and Ling Zhang.
The guests were treated to a VIP intermission reception as well as a post-concert cocktail and dessert event that included a meet-and-greet with guest artists.
More than $80,000 net was raised, all of which will benefit the Pacific Symphony’s outreach programs in the O.C.
Special kudos go to Pacific Symphony board members Charlie Zhang and his wife, Ling Zhang, for chairing the elegant evening, along with very special thanks to Loretta H. Yang and Chang Yi, artists and LIULI.
B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
