A WARM WINTER NEWSLETTER
HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY FROM THE PRESIDENT
As we welcome 2016, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the League.
What a wonderful growth the League has seen over the past twenty years and much of the credit goes to all the League members. This fall League members contributed in access of one thousand hours to make our many events happen.
Thanks to the over 400 members who helped to make the Kitchen Tour, the Musicales, the Concours so successful.
One of the goals of the League is to support music related youth programs.
Last fall you probably read of the financial difficulties facing the Beaufort Symphony and the possibility that they would have to cancel the youth orchestra. The League Board voted to donate $1000 to be used for the youth symphony in support of the seven young people from Hilton Head who are part of that group. We are happy to report that the funds were raised to continue the Beaufort Symphony and the Youth Orchestra and that our donation will be used specifically for the Youth Orchestra.
Another of our youth endeavors is the Youth Concerto Competition, scheduled for February 6th. The League is underwriting this program with a $2000 donation as well as providing ushers that day. Please consider attending this inspiring event…..AND the February 14th or 15th concert when the first prize winner of the International Piano Competition will be the guest artist.
More exciting events ahead for Spring with 3 more Musicales, the always popular Fashion Show Luncheon and our final event, the Spring Fling. This year we have a new and larger venue for the Spring Fling on May 3rd at Indigo Run.
Again, my thanks for your continued support. I look forward to seeing you often in 2016!!
Stan S. Cooke, President
COOK BOOK COMMITTEE HARD AT WORK
A new fund-raising project this year is a League cook book to be presented at the Fall Kitchen Tour. The title is OVERTURES AND ENCORES and savory and sweet small bites will be featured in the style of the Musicale buffets. To date 100 recipes have been submitted by League members with a goal of 160. Toy Mergler chairs the committee of Lois Wilson, Ellen Taylor, Suzy Stetson, Mary Princing, Marguerite Miletic, Sally Kingree, Nancy Hudak, Carol Gyllenhoff, and Stan Cook. All have spent countless hours tasting, editing, and compiling and are so grateful for the League members who contributed such delicious recipes.
EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE TO THE MUSICALES
The 2015-2016 season is the 15th anniversary of Musicale Sundays and we are off to a celebratory start! October, November, and December boasted record audiences, beautiful venues on the May River, in Berkeley Hall, and Colleton River hosted by Polly and Ed Byrd, Mary and Mike Briggs, Elizabeth and Brock Rowley. Outstanding programs were arranged by Mario Incovaia; delicious appetizers and sweets were planned and prepared by Eleanor Fall and Ruth Russell, Peggy Arrington, and Lorene Thornbury.
The remaining Musicales promise to be truly outstanding. January 24 will feature last year’s Youth Concerto Competition winners: Cameron Lugo, violin and Kalli Wong, violin accompanied by HHSO keyboardist, Michael Braz in the lovely Rose Hill home of Mona and Joe Huff with Beryl LaMotte as the lead hostess. Candi and Tom Hough will open their Spanish Wells waterfront home on March 6 for a program entitled JAZZ FOR ALL AGES featuring Lavon Stevens on piano and HHI Jazz Camp alumnus, James Robertson, on saxophone. Ginger Caporal is the lead hostess for March. The season ends on April 10th in John and Nancy Diamond’s stately home in Long Cove. The program is titled IF IT AIN’T BAROQUE featuring Ann Cafferty, violin, and Anne Acker, Harpsichord.
Sigi Rutherford is the lead hostess.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR SPACE AVAILABILITY, please contact Marguerite Miletic at 843-689-2246.
YOUTH CONCERTO COMPETITION
FEBRUARY 6, 2016 1:30 pm ST. LUKE’S CHURCH
Star your calendars for an inspiring afternoon of classical music by musicians aged eleven to seventeen from six states who will play concertos by Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Dvorak, Hovhaness, Lalo, Paganini, Popper, Walton, and Sarasate. They will be accompanied by Chee-Hang-See of the Cleveland Institute of Music. There will be violins, viola, cello, and xylophone. Each will play a concerto from seven to fourteen minutes and will be judged by professional musicians from this area.
These young people are truly artists. Six of the ten have performed with a symphony orchestra. Previous contestants have gone on to Julliard, Oberlin, Peabody, Curtis, and the New England Conservatory. Please come, be amazed, and support the Youth Concerto Competition. Tickets will be available at the January HHSO concert and the day of the competition at the door. The fee is just $15 for an afternoon of incredible music.
MAJOR MUSICAL EVENT
The 2016 Hilton Head International Piano Competition (HHIPC) is in full swing with the selection of our 20 competitors from a record 180 applications. The pianists will perform two preliminary rounds at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on March 7-10 and a semi-final round at First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, March 12. The Concerto Finals, also at First Presbyterian Church, will feature three finalists performing with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Morris Russell on Monday, March 14, 2016. Tickets for the competition went on sale on January 5, 2016. Please see www.hhipc.org for more information or call the HHIPC office at 843-842-5880.
For tickets, call the HHSO office at 843-842-2055.
Be sure to watch for the kick-off of the HHIPC season—the exciting PianoPalooza project! Six pianos painted by local artists and art class students from both Hilton Head and Bluffton High Schools will be displayed in the Hilton Head/Bluffton community from Feb. 13-29 to raise awareness of the world-renowned Hilton Head International Piano Competition. Signs on each piano will encourage those passing by to play and enjoy. These signature pianos will also be on display at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina during the HHIPC.
The HHIPC depends on a small army of volunteers, many of whom come from the ranks of the League. If you have not volunteered and would like to, I urge you to contact Bob Koenig at [email protected] prior to January 31 so information can be sent to you. There are a number of volunteer positions available and you have the flexibility to be on duty as little or as much as your schedules allow. As a volunteer, you will not only support one of the major musical events of the island but also have the opportunity to listen to some of the best young artists in the world.
POST-CONCERT RECEPTIONS
The Monday night receptions continue to be enthusiastically received.
Having different areas hostess each reception has stimulated more participation by League members. The January 18 reception will be served by League members of Port Royal and Palmetto Hall. Coordinating is Barbara Wiles. February 1 will be handled by the League Board. February 15 will be coordinated by Phyllis Patterson of Sea Pines; March 14 Piano Competition , Ellen Taylor and Sue Forrest; March 21, Long Cove/Windmill Harbour, Marge Kriney and Jo Ann DeVira; April 25, Cypress and Tide Pointe, Sue Macdonald; May 9, the Symphony Board.
ANNUAL FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON
MARCH 23, 2016 DOORS OPEN AT 11:00 AM
SEA PINES COUNTRY CLUB
Chairperson Lois Hoyt-Berry and her committee, Carol Gyllenhoff, Fran Hubbell, Gail Kaess, Rose Zella Morris., and Julie Williams are hard at work on this year’s event. Nine models will parade the runway in fashions from S.M. Bradford’s three stores—Currents, Lily Pulitzer, and S.M. Bradford. The popular silent auction has already received jewelry valued at $300 or more as well as many designer handbags. (Additional items would be welcomed. Contact Carol Gyllenhoff at 843-415-5361.) League members wearing elegant chapeaus will be selling the 50/50 raffle tickets. Previous luncheons have been sellouts so get your reservations in early. (Questions regarding reservations or seating: contact Julie Williams at 843-342-2199)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- MUSICALES: January 24, March 6, April 10
- Youth Concerto Competition: February 6
- International Piano Competition: March 7-14
- 6th Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon; March 23, Sea Pines CC
- Symphony Under The Stars: April 5th and 6th
- Annual Meeting and Spring Fling: May 3, The Club at Indigo Run
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING