NOTES
The National Orchestral Association
VOL. 4 April 2000
Message From The Chairman
The National Orchestral Association celebrated the life and career of Maestro
Leon Barzin, our founding conductor, at the NOA's Fall Gala. Many admirers from
around the world were present to honor the late Maestro. The National Orchestral
Association is pleased to be carrying forth the Maestro's mission of supporting
aspiring young musicians and developing new audiences for music through
educational outreach programs. We are most grateful for the overwhelming
expression of support from our patrons whose support made the September Benefit
one of the most successful in the National Orchestral Association's history.
Lark Quartet Performs at Robert Redford's Christmas
Concert
The Lark Quartet was the first musical group outside of Utah to be invited to
perform at Robert Redford's Christmas Concert held at his private concert hall
at Sundance. The Lark's performance was an overwhelming success. During the
reception, Mr. Redford met with members of the Lark, and complimented them on
their performance and superior technique. The National Orchestral Association is
proud to have been a supporter of this and other events at Sundance, and to have
had an opportunity to introduce other NOA-sponsored artists to the local
communities in Utah. The National Orchestral Association is grateful to the
entire Sundance organization, and to Mr. Robert Redford in particular, for
offering NOA-sponsored artists an opportunity to perform in Sundance's
magnificent setting. Mr. Redford's commitments to the environment and to the
arts serves as an example to all Americans.
In addition to the Christmas concert, The Lark Quartet visited Sundance and
Park City last fall for a series of concerts, master classes and outreach in the
communities' local schools. The Lark is the only group to have appeared every
season at the request of the Park City Performing Arts Foundation. In addition
to the outreach program, The Lark conducted a day of master classes at Utah
Valley State College for students from the college and another nearby
university, following an concert the previous night for the Directors, Trustees
and Department Heads of the college.
By popular demand, The Lark will be returning this Spring to give special
performances and lectures in the Orem Public schools, and concerts at Sundance
and Utah Valley State College.
SONYC's Outreach Program for Queens, New York Schools
A quartet made up of players from the String Orchestra of New York City
("SONYC"), was invited to conduct an educational outreach program in
the Queens, New York Public School District. We are grateful to David Levitman,
a Director of The NOA, and former Principle in the New York City School System,
for making this possible. Mr. Levitman and SONYC's Monica Bauchwitz, are working
on developing a continuing program for the Queens School District.
The Leon Barzin Conducting Scholarship
In honor of the NOA's founding conductor, the late Maestro Leon Barzin, the
National Orchestral Association will be supporting a young student with a
conducting scholarship at The Lake Luzerne Music Camp in the Adirondacks.
Maestro Barzin was a frequent visitor to the camp, and was one of its longtime
principal advisors. On September 20th, the Lake Luzerne Music Camp
will celebrate its twentieth anniversary with a special concert in New York City
performed by musicians who are alumni of the Camp. The NOA is delighted to be
working with Bert Phillips, Executive Director of the Camp, in support of this
effort. The Lake Luzerne Music Camp has been an outstanding resource for young
people, and enjoys a reputation as one of the country's leading music camps. The
NOA would like to congratulate all those associated with the Camp for enriching
the lives of so many young musicians over the years.
Mother's Day Concert
On May 13th, The National Orchestral Association, Park City Bank, The Judson
Foundation, and Southwest Airlines will be among the principal sponsors of a
concert by the SONYC Octet at The Sundance Resort, as part of their continuing
"Spirit of Sundance Series." On May 14th, the Octet will
give a Mother's Day concert at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts in Park
City. During this visit, the members of SONYC will be continuing their
educational outreach programs in area schools, with the generous help of
Southwest Airlines.
NOA Spring Gala to Honor John J. Gilbert
On May 10th, the National Orchestral Association will hold a gala
black-tie dinner at New York's exclusive Lotos Club honoring John J. Gilbert.
The Board of the National Orchestral Association is pleased to be honoring the
many accomplishments of Mr. Gilbert, who is President of the Ruffy Corporation,
a diversified real estate and investment firm established in 1923. Mr. Gilbert
is also widely known in the corporate world as an early champion of stockholder
rights. He and his late brother Lewis D. Gilbert were instrumental in winning
rights for individual shareholders to submit resolutions and attend annual
meetings. Their work on behalf of shareholders was affirmed in the famous
Transamerica Decision (1946), which upheld Justice Biggs' controversial ruling
giving rights to individual shareholders to submit resolutions for consideration
at annual corporate meetings. Mr. Gilbert is also widely known for his
philanthropy, and serves as President of the Lewis D. and John J. Gilbert Fund
for Corporate Democracy, and is the Founding Trustee of the Lewis D. and John J.
Gilbert Foundation. Mr. Gilbert is proud to be a supporter of The GRADS
Foundation, Inc., which grants rewards and assistance to deserving students from
economically depressed communities. Mr. Gilbert's other recent philanthropic
efforts include sponsoring programs that bring the joy of clowns to
underprivileged children and the elderly.
The National Orchestral Association is delighted that Mr. Gilbert's daughter,
Mrs. Margot Gilbert Frank, will be acting as dinner chairmen for the May 10th
gala. Mrs. Frank is a noted educator and philanthropist who is well known for
her charitable endeavors on behalf of numerous organizations in the Denver area.
She is currently a member of the committee which will be raising over $62
million to rebuild the University of Denver's Music and Theatre School. Mrs.
Frank has been active in organizations devoted to the prevention of child abuse,
and has been instrumental in raising money for the National Jewish Research
Center, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. We are also pleased that
Mr. Allan Frank, a distinguished attorney and philanthropist, will be joining
his wife as a dinner co-chairman.
For more information concerning the dinner, please contact the National
Orchestral Association's office in New York by telephone (212-350-4676) or via
fax (212-350-1440).
