Philharmonic’s fashionable fundraiser

B.W. COOK

The Upper Bay committee of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County

hosted a fashionable gathering at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

The longest-running supportive committee of the society, founded

in 1957, attracted a full house of ladies in spring finery and a few

cooperative gents to celebrate an 18th annual meeting of the minds in

support of music in Orange County. These dedicated people began their

fundraising nearly 50 years ago by baking and selling cookies to

raise funds in support of youth music programs.

Today, the committees of the Philharmonic Society, including Upper

Bay, raise funds to support music programs for more than 200,000

Orange County students from kindergarten through high school. Each

and every year some 1,500 presentations are offered, by professional

musicians and trained docents, to students at no cost to the public.

In the spirit of spreading the joy and the benefit of music, Upper

Bay chairwoman Katherine Dean welcomed the crowd to “Le Cose all’

Italiana” for an afternoon of friendship, fun, fundraising and, above

all else, music, music, music.

Performing magic were benefit chairs Carol Baugh and Jean Ulander

with able assistance from a committee that included the elegant

France Campbell, Mary Chelius, Theresa Jennings, Bettina Loomis,

Armine Meghrouni, Joy Pike, Nancy Posch, Winifred Smith and Dot

Thousand. A wonderful array of donated items got the crowd bidding as

luncheon was served.

Talented baritone Dave Dixon, who performs frequently at Lido’s

Regatta Cafe, sang to the gathering throughout luncheon. Dixon was

joined by soprano Stephanie Puhl on several numbers that ran the

gamut from serious to light opera.

Following luncheon, a fashion show hit the runway, directed by

Lucinda Mead of Couture Productions. Fashions by David’s, Georgiou,

Vertigo, Elizabeth Sabe Knits and Judith Leiber were showcased.

Also supporting the Upper Bay Committee were underwriters and

patrons Eleanor Anderson, Patricia Clark, Marilyn Fratt, Libby

Gregory, Helen McFarland, Lisa Roetzel and Barbara Wallace.

Additional support came from Patricia Berg, Carol Gardner, Susan

Kenney, Jo Pihl, Graziella Outmans and Nancy Tracy, to name only a

few.

The big annual Philharmonic event, the House of Design, debuts

April 26 and runs through May 22. The home tour will be presented by

the Philharmonic Society in conjunction with the American Society of

Interior Designers, Orange County Chapter.

This year’s home event, located in the hills of Tustin, will be

chaired by Jeannine Matsumito representing the Philharmonic, and

Jamie Namanny, representing interior designers group. Many special

events are planned including the opening night gala, “In the Garden”

set for April 22.

For ticket information, call (714) 840-7542.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.