San Francisco Classical Voice’s annual gala celebration was held at the home of Ann and Gordon Getty last Wednesday night. The fortunate guests were treated to a superb dinner in the formal dining room and the distinctively beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay from Pacific Heights, as well as a look at the brilliant art collection that the Gettys have on display.
The evening’s entertainment was provided by violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, who generously donated her services for the occasion and delivered a gutsy, emotional performance of Cesar Franck’s Violin Sonata in A Major, with pianist Roxanne Michaelian. Despite being in the midst of rehearsals and performances with the New Century Chamber Orchestra of a brand-new violin concerto, Salerno-Sonnenberg nevertheless stayed on to provide an encore, the lovely waltz Midnight Bells by Fritz Kreisler.
Aside from SFCV’s board members, attendees included SFCV’s most generous donors and supporters, including distinguished leaders from the arts and business communities. Cochairs for the event were Susan Woodward Morris and Mary C. Falvey.
The guests were celebrating SFCV’s accomplishments over the past year, when, despite funding cutbacks and a continuing deep recession, SFCV launched a newly designed Web site; won a national award at the National Arts Journalism Summit; committed to a strategic partnership with classical music radio station KDFC; expanded its roster of board members and donors; became an independent nonprofit organization; and expanded and diversified its coverage to include more of the Bay Area’s musical activity than ever before.
As San Francisco Classical Voice looks to the future, there is much more change and challenge ahead. Its board and staff would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone involved in the event, for stepping up to support “The go-to place for classical music in the Bay Area.”