Fresh from announcing the appointment of new Music Director Michael Nowak, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society scheduled a couple of fundraiser concerts to help aid the growing organization’s upcoming season.
The first event was at Presqu’ile Winery in May, which included food and wine while local singer-songwriter Inga Swearingen performed in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater there, Nowak explained.
“It was really an intimate evening, a really nice connection between the audience and the music,” he said. “These are little fundraisers for the Philharmonic, they don’t make us a lot of money, but they help connect us with the community.”
The next event is at the Moxie Café on June 26, and features Nowak, violinists William Alpert and Grace Seng, and cellist Barbara Spencer. Nowak is a violist, so the four will make up a string quartet.
The ensemble will perform a few classical string quartet pieces, Nowak said, but won’t exclude more modern or popular music either.
“It shows that we’re not just completely engrossed in classical music, it’s our No. 1 priority, but we also understand that music is the universal language,” he said. “And we can spread the word through other forms of music like jazz, rock, country, and folk music. Originally, a lot of this music was folk music when it started.”
Nowak also said he enjoys the atmosphere at the Moxie Café, which has a kind of retro vintage flair. It’s nice for the Philharmonic Society to get out of the “big concert hall,” he said, and get together for more intimate gatherings.
The Philharmonic has provided some less formal concerts in the past, but actually having the organization’s Music Director lead one of these more intimate shows is a bit of a milestone for the organization.
“We want people to get to know the folks from the Philharmonic and me, not just being classical elitists where you have to come to the concert hall to hear us,” he said. “We are available. We are part of the music scene, part of the community, and we would like people to come and enjoy themselves in a casual setting.”
There will be food provided by the Moxie Café at the event, of course, and CORE Winery will pour their wines. Tickets include the food and wine along with admission, and a discounted option for designated drivers.
The Philharmonic and Nowak have big plans for the season, including piano concertos, symphonies, and more. Fundraisers like the event at Moxie Café are vital in keeping the society’s coffers stocked to help pay for soloists, the symphony performers, and the rest of the expanding staff.
For Nowak, concerts like this are a chance for him to play his beloved viola. With so much time spent conducting, a musician can start to miss the feel of their instrument, he said.
“I’m actually making music with the players, not just standing up there waving my arms,” he said. “I’m gripping the bow, holding the viola, fingers on the strings, trying to blend with my colleagues, and communicating and listening to them. So, I’m sort of in the trenches with the players, and I’ve always liked that.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne is always trying to blend. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 23-30, 2016.