WELCOME

It is a pleasure to welcome all of you to our final League Notes for the 20154/2015 season. This year League volunteers have been particularly busy participating in our successful fund raising projects and supporting our commitments to the Orchestra and its events. It has been a fantastic year in every respect. My Annual Report will be in the new Fall Directory.

My term as president of this amazing organization came to a close at our Annual Meeting on May 6. I was thrilled to see so many of you there, over 150 members. We celebrated together and we continue to enjoy our love of beautiful music as it is generated by this local treasure we so admire – the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.

My best to all!

Lois-WilsonLois Wilson, President

 


ORIGINS OF A MANTRA

We have a mantra – have had it since 2013. Have you seen it? Read it? If you’ve read the Newsletter you have.

Our mantra was not written by me. But it struck me when I first read it in a draft article for a Fashion Show that it summarizes exactly what we do. We have a ‘Mission Statement’ of course. But mantras originate from Sanskrit and refer literally to an ‘instrument of thought,’ or from ‘man to think.’

In our case, the author of the thought, our mantra, was Mary Ellen Harkins. A wholehearted thank you and congratulations, Mary Ellen, for your brilliant inspiration which has become our mantra. It has appeared in each Newsletter since 2013, both in the body and AT THE END OF THIS NEWSLETTER.

Gratefully,

Pam Rapp, Editor


SPRING FLING

Spring-Fling2015Wayne-EffronThe Spring Fling is both our Annual Meeting and a celebration of the many League members who volunteer their time and talent to benefit the HHSO and the various League activities. The event was once again held at Bear Creek Golf Club located in Hilton Head Plantation. Dedication and hard work made this a very successful year for the League under the dynamic leadership of Lois Wilson, our retiring Board President. While the Board and various committees worked diligently, there was much joy and friendship in their efforts. We could not have done it without the support of the orchestra office staff and the HHSO Board of Directors.

Lois Wilson and Wayne Effron reported that the League’s donation to the orchestra was $70,000, one of the highest in many years. Lois made the presentation to Mary Briggs at the final concert of the season on May 4, 2015 to great applause.

Spring-fling2015-Gloria-DalyLois announced that the Volunteer of the Year award goes to Wayne Effron for his many years as the League’s Treasurer. Congratulations Wayne and many thanks from a grateful League!

Gloria Daly was honored with a gift and a lifetime membership in the League as she retires from the HHSO.

The Annual Meeting affords us the opportunity to warmly thank retiring League Board members, Mary Apostle, Sandy Drayer, Margie Kriney, Barbara Wolfe, Joan Dattelbaum, Wayne Effron and Lois Wilson and we welcomed to the Board, Lois Hoyt-Berry, Nancy Hudak and Dodi Eschenbach. Elected as new members of Executive Committee were President Stan Cooke, Vice-President Fundraising Carol Gyllenhoff, Vice-President Volunteers Gail Kaess, Secretary Julie Williams, and Treasurer Fran Hubbell.


We will be welcoming a new wonderful season of “Passion and Music in the Lowcountry”.


VOLUNTEERS AND MEMBERSHIP

What a year for Volunteerism! A COLOSSAL THANK YOU to the many members and non-members who gave of their time this year to assist in staffing twenty-two events, yes twenty –two. Those include nine post-concert receptions, six musicales, the Kitchen Tour, the Concours d’Elegance, the Youth Concerto Competition, The International Piano Competition, The Fashion Show, Symphony Under the Stars and finally the well-deserved “Spring Fling.” Volunteer hours for these events alone approach two thousand, and this does not include the many hours of planning time that are put forth to see that they are successful. A special effort was made to include new members in volunteering and they met the challenge. In our new season, don’t be left out. Let Gail Kaess our new VP for Volunteers know you wish to be a volunteer. Contact Gail at 843-837-7991 or islandgail@yahoo.com. Again a sincere thank you!

Stan Cooke

The Membership application is on line. Remember that certain events are only open to League members. We welcomed over 400 members last season, 112 of them new. For questions, contact Marguerite Miletic at 689-2246.

CLICK HERE for the 2015-2016 VOLUNTEER EVENTS CALENDAR


KITCHENS OF NOTE TOUR

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

MARK THE DATE!

Your League committee is busy preparing for the Third Annual Kitchens of Note Tour.  It will occur on Sunday, September 27th from noon until 4 pm.  We have procured six wonderful houses in Sea Pines, and prominent Island chefs will prepare delectable items for you to enjoy.

Our first two Kitchen of Note tours sold out before the day of the Tour.  Only 370 tickets will be sold this year.  So, it is best to get your tickets before the public sale begins.  After September 1st, the tickets will be on sale to the public at:   Markel’s – Bluffton; Burke’s Pharmacy – Hilton Head north end; and LeCookery – Hilton Head south end.

Tickets:  $40 (reservations limited)

Tickets will be mailed in September

To order tickets, CLICK HERE to print your downloadable form.

If you have questions, call or email Fran Hubbell, at 681-4635 or rbhub@hargray.com


SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS

Two marvelous evenings of fabulous music poured from the stage of the tent at Honey Horn on April 7 and 8. The HHSO under the direction of John Morris Russell took all on a rousing journey through the James Bond film music. Everyone in the tent and the hundred plus outside on the lawn each evening were entranced.

Special thanks go to all the League members who volunteered to fill the need for greeters, ushers, salespersons, set-up and clear-up. It could not have been done without them. Bravo and sincere thanks. Next year’s event is scheduled for April 5 and 6, 2016.


FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON

Fashion-ShowOn March 25, the League celebrated its 5th annual Fashion Show and Luncheon at beautiful Sea Pines Country Club. Stately orchids adorned the tables where two hundred and ninety-two (292) guests dressed in their spring finery enjoyed lunch and fashions from Chico’s. The auction was packed full of goodies which obviously delighted shoppers since virtually all found a home. The bargains were terrific and we hope you are enjoying your purchases.

It took 40 volunteers to plan and stage this popular event. Although, it is not possible to name all of them here, we do want to recognize the committee: Carol Gyllenhoff (auction), Fran Hubbell (graphics, signage, name tags), Vickie Baumann (50-50 raffle), Phyllis Patterson (liaison with Sea Pines Country Club), Mary Briggs (models), Julie Williams (chair). Donna Zorge also deserves a huge THANK YOU! for her extraordinary generosity in donating auction items.

These women worked hard for months to deliver a superb “customer experience” enjoying camaraderie and fun along the way. All of you played an important role by putting together a group of friends, with many donating items for the auction as well. When you take advantage of that gift certificate you successfully bid on, take a moment to seek out the owner/manager and tell him or her how much their support of the Orchestra is appreciated. Our goal is to make this a win-win-win—for League members/friends, local businesses and, of course, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.

Previous events set a high standard and we are proud to report that 2015 was our best year yet financially. It’s not just about the money (wink-wink) but we are thrilled to share that in its 5-year run this event has raised over $71,000 for the Orchestra. Give yourselves a hearty round of applause. Bravo!

Thanks as well to those of you who have offered suggestions for future shows. We heard you loud and clear and trust we will exceed your expectations in 2016.


POST-CONCERT RECEPTIONS

Thank you so much for helping us make this season’s Post-Concert Receptions so successful. The Gathering Space at First Presbyterian was abuzz with people not only enjoying the camaraderie of our wonderful Maestro, orchestra, guest artists and friends, but also the delicious delicacies prepared by our outstanding League volunteers.

Whether you helped in the kitchenette, poured punch or supplied us with goodies, we could not have done it without your generous contributions and support. Providing a welcome gathering after all Monday evening concerts is one of the League’s most enjoyable missions so kudos to all of you on a job well done.

With all good wishes for a wonderful and relaxing summer,

Joan Dattelbaum, Sue Forrest and Phyllis Patterson

Co-chairs, Post-Concert Receptions


MUSICALES

As we wrap up another successful Musicale season we want to thank all who participated and enjoyed the music, wonderful food, and the friendships of the Sunday evenings. A special thanks to our hosts who were very generous in opening their homes to our members and guests, and a special thank you to our “Sunday Saints” who sponsored our musicians.  A special thank you to our head hostesses, and the Musicale committee members Stan Cooke, Mary Apostle, Peter Forbes, and Marguerite Miletic.

Sincerely,
Toy Mergler, Committee Chair


INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION

Nearly 50 League members, including 10 new members, participated as volunteers in the recently completed 20th anniversary of the 2015 Hilton Head International Piano Competition. Their time accounted for more than 200 hours of greatly appreciated work and the Competition Committee is always grateful to the League for their volunteer support. This year saw four days of competitive rounds at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and then a wonderful Finals competition with the Symphony at First Presbyterian Church. The first-prize winner was Elliot Wuu, 15, of the U.S. from a field of 20 extremely talented young artists.

Looking ahead, be sure to note the date of November 6th for “A Musical Feast” at the Long Cove Club. This popular event, all new this year, will feature food, wine, and music, and will kick off the season for the 2016 competition!

Speaking of 2016, it is not too early to mark your calendars for the 2016 Competition on March 7 -14 when 20 of the world’s most exciting artists, ages 18 – 30, will grace the competition stage. Get your fellow music-lovers together and plan to attend these sessions and enjoy some of the most excellent piano performances available. Interested in volunteering next year? If so, please send your contact information to Bob Koenig at bjkoenig@hargray.com or call at 815-4810.

LET’S KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING!