The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s annual gala fundraiser—Fandango, held on Saturday evening, Nov. 7, at the Santa Maria Country Club—deserves a huge round of applause.
Fandango had it all—a lively mix of good music, good food, great wine, unusual entertainment, and more than 100 guests who support the Philharmonic.
With her customary fervor and flair, event coordinator Bodil Cudd Prescott orchestrated this charming evening.
Among the guests were people from the music community along with devoted concertgoers from the area. Among the latter were Joey Wilson, Bob Miller, Priscilla and Daniel Ng, John and Karen Ransome, and Ruth Ann Ontel.
The decor was red and black. There were also lots of fans that coy señoras and señoritas could employ for fluttering and flirting, should the opportunity arise.
Sangria, a traditional Spanish beverage meant to refresh and inspire, gurgled from a table fountain in the bar, where xylophone players provided background music. I enjoyed a chat at the fountain with Marlon and Kathy Brown.
I asked Kathy, the immediate past president of the Minerva Club, how she’s enjoying all the free time she has now that she isn’t immersed in club planning and logistics (at which, I might add, she excelled).
Her big smile said it all. She’s looking forward to the club’s December road trip to Hearst Castle with dinner after at Linn’s in Cambria.
The Philharmonic’s music director and sometimes conductor, the courtly Maestro John Farrar (with wife Diane Farrar) came from Fresno for this important event in the life of our orchestra.
Greg Magee, Hillary Clark, and Carol Houchens were among the Fandango-ees, as were Gene Martinez and Deborah Whitford-Martinez.
Meal choices included filet and the traditional Spanish dish, paella. “I took a risk—offering paella,” event coordinator Bo Prescott told me. “You have to go with the tried and true—like steak and chicken—at these kinds of affairs.” Her risk paid off. The paella was tasty and different, and it added an authentic element to the evening.
But when you are listening to the dinner background music performed by Jim Enos, everything tastes good!
At my table, wine expert Luana Alhadeff (married to Brian Asher Alhadeff, who is a frequent guest conductor in Santa Maria), praised the Peacock Cellars red tempranillo served with dinner. Robyn Small was another, besides myself, who wallowed in the lushness and smoothness of this vino. Jim Small observed us pouring away!
Brian, whose white evening jacket brought to mind a scene from the movie Casablanca, reminded me that he will conduct the Philharmonic’s upcoming A Night at the Opera concert.
Board member Judy Hearn looked like the spirit of the evening in her black, red, and white ruffled frock, perfect for Spanish-themed parties.
Rounding out the evening was a cause auction, emceed by George Majoue, followed by the gypsy music guitarist Emilio, and a performance by two Santa Barbara State Street Ballet dancers.
The holidays are a great time for a brass and organ concert, which is what the Philharmonic has in store for us in their popular Yuletide concert, to be held on Dec. 4 at the First United Methodist Church on South Broadway, across the street from the Santa Maria Town Center.
In a new twist, PCPA’s artistic director Mark Booher is going to narrate ’Twas the Night Before Christmas in, according to the Fandango program, “a delightful and humorous arrangement.” Does this mean Mark will slide down the chimney?
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Nov 12-19, 2015.