FALL/WINTER 2020
THE SCORE
Community Newsletter of Ovation | Long Beach Symphony
IN THIS ISSUE
BOBBIE CUSATO
INTRODUCING MUSICALLY SPEAKING
VOLUNTEER OF THE
by Bella Staav
PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
YEAR AWARD
Join Music Director Eckart Preu for Musically Speaking, a
OVATION MEMBERSHIP
FREE series of engaging virtual discussions that explore
GOLF TOURNAMENT
music, breaking the glass ceiling, and the intriguing lives
PATRON SENTIMENT
October with new discussions occurring every two to
relevant topics in music today including diversity in of legendary artists. This virtual series that kicked off in
SURVEY
three weeks will also feature exclusive interviews with
REMEMBERING WULK
such as David Letterman side-kick Paul Shaffer,
OVATION COUNCIL
OVATION 249 E. OCEAN BLVD., SUITE 200 LONG BEACH, CA 90802 562.436.3203 INFO@LONGBEACHSYMPHONY.ORG LONGBEACHSYMPHONY.ORG/OVATION
world-famous conductors, composers, and guest artists Broadway superstar Susan Egan, multi-talented Pops conductor Matt Catingub, prolific film composer Nan Schwartz, and more! Provided as a thank you to our loyal subscribers and donors, you are invited to attend these Musically Speaking discussions and participate in a live Q&A. For dates, times and topics of discussion, please refer to the Musically Speaking page on the Symphony’s website; https://longbeachsymphony.org/browseconcerts/musically-speaking-series/
FALL/WINTER 2020
PRESIDENT'S COLUMN by Victoria Chenevey
It’s been a few months since our last issue, and I hope you are adjusting well to our new circumstances. As the pandemic continues to bring uncertainty to our lives, I want to remind us all of the Ovation! Mission Statement: “The pursuit of the organization shall be to support the programs, policies, and goals of the Long Beach Symphony through the coordination and facilitation of volunteer activities.” That support certainly looks different right now and requires a lot of innovation and creative thinking. We don't have a roadmap for this and we don't know what the next year will look like. And just as music is a creative endeavor, we are using our creativity to explore new avenues of support. Last month, members of Ovation! and the community gave their support to the Symphony through Long Beach Gives, an online giving day that raised nearly $2,000,000 through over 10,000 donations to 154 nonprofits in Long Beach. The Symphony received over $12,000 and our heartfelt thanks goes to all of you who donated, and especially to Ovation! member Brian Buchanan who provided matching funds. This year’s event raised more money than previous years, and shows the heart of Long Beach continues to beat strong! Our next volunteer activities include the Annual Long Beach Symphony Golf Classic on December 7, 2020, and a newly-imagined musically oriented giving event for WomenShelter of Long Beach (to learn more about WomenShelter, go to www.womenshelterlb.org). Watch your email for more information in the next couple weeks about these two exciting opportunities. We continue to hold Ovation Council meetings via Zoom on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 4pm. These meetings are open to all Ovation members; send a request to vchenevey@yahoo.com for an invitation. We’d love to have you join us! In closing, remember that we’re in this together; music is one of the most powerful and universal tools in the universe. Andrea Bocelli said, “I think that, in the moment, music can help. And in this moment, I think it’s very important to do our best to create positivity among all people.” In music, Victoria Chenevey
FALL/WINTER 2020
THE LONG BEACH SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES: The Bobbie Cusato Volunteer of the Year Award 2020 byVictoria Chenevey
Organizations such as ours are only successful when you have a dedicated, passionate and hardworking core of volunteers to support its music and education programs. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Long Beach Symphony. With limited staff and resources, we are deeply grateful and so fortunate to have such an extraordinary group of people who give tirelessly of themselves to support our mission.
- Years of dedicated service - Demonstration of extraordinary leadership - Committed to working long hours - One who has a “can-do” attitude - Creative and quick problem-solving skills - One who builds consensus while being a team player - A passionate advocate and ambassador for the Long Beach Symphony It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce the Bobbie Cusato Volunteer of the Year Award 2020 is awarded to Renee Simon. Renee was an active Guild member before Ovation and is a charter member of Ovation. From the beginning, she took over the reins of the Guild’s Newsletter, later named The Score. Renee never fails to bring cheese and crackers to the VIP reception during the Youth concerts, and supports our fundraisers with her presence and her sponsorships. Most of all, she is a “rock” to lean on, providing guidance and wisdom. We congratulate Renee on this honor and recognize her outstanding leadership within our treasured volunteers.
FALL/WINTER 2020
OVATION MEMBERSHIP
by Vicki Sawtelle and Ethel Sanford, Membership Co-Chairs Ovation’s 2020-2021 membership drive ran from July 1 – Sept 8, and we thank all of you who have renewed your membership! In spite of our “quiet” and very unusual year, it’s nice to have the support of Ovation members as volunteers for the Long Beach Symphony. We are still here, ready to help! If you still need to renew your membership, or have friends who’d like to join, please contact us or the Symphony office.
Membership in Ovation includes you in special
events we plan to have, even if held virtually. Members also receive notice about volunteer opportunities, a copy of The Score, plus other information about the Symphony. And watch for your Ovation membership directory, to be mailed to you by mid-November! We hope to be able to see you soon,
23RD ANNUAL SYMPHONY GOLF TOURNAMENT: Monday, December 7th, Virginia Country Club by Bobbie Cusato It is so good to report that the Long Beach Symphony golf tournament which has occurred annually since its inception 23 years ago, will proceed on schedule at the fabulous Virginia Country Club on Monday, December 7th. Tee off will be at 11:30 this year, and posttournament dinner, silent and live auctions will be outdoors and completed in time for golfers to enjoy Monday Night Football on large screen TVs at the club. In compliance with COVID-19 protocols and to ensure safe distancing, the number of players will be limited to 72, one person per golf cart. All contests, including closest to the pin, beat the pro and the hole-in-one for a new Lexus will make the day challenging and “rewarding.” Many volunteers are lined up to help with check-in, on-course contests and post-tournament activities --- all outdoors on the beautifully manicured grounds of the club.
There may still be volunteer
opportunities available. Please contact Bobbie Cusato @ bobbiecusato@verizon.net if you would like to help.
FALL/WINTER 2020
LONG BEACH SYMPHONY 2020 PATRON SENTIMENT SURVEY by John Cross
Long Beach Symphony Association (LBSA) sent a survey to all subscribing patron households and single ticket buyers in August. The objective was to understand attitudes toward returning to LBSA concerts as the nation battles the COVID-19 crisis. We were thrilled that 300 patrons responded to our survey. Nearly 70% of patrons are excited to attend an outdoor concert as soon as the City allows. Patrons are comfortable returning to the Terrace Theater or Long Beach Arena as soon as the COVID19 infection rate is near zero and a vaccine is readily available. Plus, there is great interest in free, streamed content. The following are the key metrics gathered from all respondents: •
15% plan to attend concerts more frequently once the COVID-19 crisis has passed
•
67% want to attend an outdoor concert as soon as the City allows
•
15% will not attend a concert if a face mask is required
•
31% want to return to traditional concerts as soon as the City allows
•
65% will not return until there is at least a proven vaccination available
•
72% have not been negatively affected financially during the COVID-19 crisis
•
80% are now comfortable using Zoom and watching content online
•
98% feel LBSA is a critical cultural component of Long Beach
•
81% are satisfied or extremely satisfied with our communications through the COVID-19 crisis
•
53% of respondents were primarily Classical subscribers, 47% were Pops subscribers
At the conclusion of the survey, over 160 of our respondents provided comments of support as well as creative suggestions. There is great anticipation for us to return to the stage as soon as it is deemed safe, and we enjoyed reading through the expressions of gratitude for the concerts we traditionally present. Again, we received a significant number of comments encouraging us to produce outdoor performances of some kind. The numerous expressions of support and encouragement affirmed that our patrons have a deep appreciation for our Long Beach Symphony.
FALL/WINTER 2020
REMEMBERING JERRY WULK by Renee Simon
His was often one of the reliable, familiar faces I would see as I entered the theater lobby before each Classics performance. I didn’t know Jerry well but well enough to receive a welcoming warm greeting and a look that seemed to mean he was glad I was there. While he was there, he might stop to check that the programs remained neatly laid out on the table against the wall. Soon enough he would wander over to check in with Florita. Seeing Jerry Wulk on concert nights seemed to say to me everything is at it should be. I always felt Jerry represented the Symphony’s stability. He had always been there, so far as I knew: a long-time supporter and board member not only of LBSO but of so much else that is Long Beach, among them the Arts Council for Long Beach, Musical Theater West, its predecessor, the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, and Ability First.
Even though he was well into his 90s and beginning to show it, he
seemed at least abstractly, a solid rock helping to sustain the Symphony. Jerry Wulk enjoyed a long academic career with USC. Most telling, however, was what he told his TEDx audience was the source of his greatest happiness: A commitment to helping others and leaving the world a better place. He succeeded. We thank Jerry Wulk for having shared so much of himself with our Long Beach Symphony family.
OVATION COUNCIL Elected Officers: Chair .........................................................................Victoria Chenevey Secretary ..................................................................Judy D’Ambrosio Treasurer..................................................................Suzanne Rowland Membership Co-Chairs ...........................................Vicki Sawtelle & Ethel Sanford Appointed Committee Chairs: Education Programs.................................................Doug Lane & Sally Boyne Newsletter Advisors.................................................Renee Simon & Brian Buchanan Nominating...............................................................Ethel Sanford Ovation Occasions/Social Events...........................Bobbie Cusato, Suzanne Rowland, Pauline Eade-Sheppard & Judy Boland Patron Engagement Table........................................Mary & Steve Lang Personal Communications........................................Pat Mohler Rehearsal ReceptionRefreshments...........................Shannon Taylor Tributes & Memorials ...............................................MarilynNorth Volunteer Coordinators............................................Bobbie Cusato & Shannon Taylor