At Home In San Jose

The San Jose Chamber Orchestra Youth Programs

What a wonderful night of music-making!  On Monday evening, Nov. 17th at the Petit Trianon, three youth orchestras played their hearts out on strings that touched the heartstrings of every person in the jam-packed audience.  From the littlest musician, whose bow probably measured 12 inches, to the most accomplished and mature young cellist, each played with focus, dedication, and musicality.

I am thrilled to live in a city where an orchestra like the SJCO is actually given funding by the City of San Jose to provide opportunities to our children like no other activity in their lives.  What they learn by participating in an orchestra goes far beyond the immense soul-satisfying musical piece.  They also learn how to collaborate, how to get along with others in an extremely diverse ethnic environment, how to concentrate effectively for long periods of time, how to react well in front of 300 people, how to follow a leader consistently and for the greater good of the group.  Some will go on to stellar musical careers, and some will go on to other endeavors, but all will be better for the experience they are receiving.

All children are funded in part or in whole by scholarship funds, donations, grants, etc.  The Santa Clara Association of Realtors Foundation recently gave the Youth Orchestra Programs a donation of $2,000...just another indication of support even in tough times from a growing group of donors to this terrific orchestra program.

Now, if we could all write a little note to the San Jose Mercury News to re-institute Richard Scheinin's regular critiques for all the various performing organizations in our community, we might have the makings of a grown-up city.

The Passing of a Giant

It's not often that one individual is able to do so much for his city.  The memorial service for Henry Schiro at St. Joseph's Cathedral a few days ago was a towering testament to his presence in almost every facet of music in San Jose.  I met Henry in 1978 when I first arrived in San Jose from the East Coast, and because he arranged for me to interview at The Garden City, I was fortunate to work there for a long time, and heard many of the finest jazz groups around.  I even did my own show there, entitled "Wine, Woman and Song". 

I always seemed to run into Henry and Shirlee at various events around San Jose, many in which I was performing.  He seemed ubiquitous at San Jose Civic LIght Opera (now American Music Theater), San Jose Jazz Society events, the St. Claire Hotel musical soirees, Children's Musical Theater performances, and many more.  Michael Mulcahy, Henry and Shirlee's son, and I performed together many years ago at SJCLO, and Henry was right there to cheer us on.

A true gentleman, and a true arts supporter - one of a kind.  San Jose will miss him, but now it's up to all of us to take up the mantle and get out there to see performances, attend events, and continue Henry's legacy of creating a better city for all of us.

Don't miss the upcoming next offering of the Commonwealth Club's Great Cities Speaker Series at the San Jose Rep, Monday evening Sept. 15th.  The topic:  The Distinctive City.

Mo Music, Mo Life

Two solid weeks of world music - jazz, classical, tango, opera...Vancouver's voice reaches into the heavens!  This has been a wonderful trip, and my only regret is that I missed our own sizzling San Jose Jazz Fest.  A world music festival would be a terrific addition to our own city's experience.  This year's Festival Vancouver focused on The Americas, from Canada down to the tip of South America.  We have such a diversity of cultures in San Jose, we could put on our own World Festival without having to bring in a single outside artist or musician!

I'll be posting a very interesting cross-section of events on this blog soon, a smorgasbord of autumn delights, with my own encouragement to go downtown and tune in.  Stay tuned.