By May concerts feature violinist sensation Angela Fuller
Town Crier Staff Report
The venerable Peninsula Symphony, in its 52nd season, will feature 24-year-old Angela Fuller, an Irving M. Klein International String Competition winner, at its next concert, 8 p.m., Saturday, at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. The symphony performed last Saturday at Flint Center.
The symphony has strong Los Altos roots with residents comprising longtime, ardent supporters and orchestra members. The symphony now has an additional connection locally - its offices have recently located to the Masonic Lodge on Main Street in downtown Los Altos.
The symphony also has a new executive director, Margrit Rinderknecht, who has worked with the California Youth Symphony. Rinderknecht said she and the symphony office negotiate contracts with venues, handle publicity and marketing, collect money for subscriptions and keep in touch with donors. The symphony also is supplemented by a faithful auxiliary comprising approximately 20 Los Altos and Los Altos Hills members.
Current and past members of the symphony board include Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents Joy and Harold Hughes, Jo and Consuelo Crosby, Diane Merchant, Ron Stefani, Pat and Robert Maximoff and Randy Nickel. Local musicians include Nickel on French horn; John Sanguinetti on trombone; Mela Hwang, viola; Pat Maximoff, violin; Hiro Tsuruta, bassoon; and Alan Bien, cello.
Fuller, from Minnesota, is being hosted by the Hughes in Los Altos while she performs with the symphony, Rinderknecht said.
The violinist is scheduled to perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (”Pathétique”).
“Tchaikovsky’s majestic Pathétique Symphony touches musicians and listeners very deeply with some of the most heartbreaking moments in symphonic literature … a wonderful experience,” said symphony music director Mitchell Sardou Klein. Klein, in his 16th season, is only the second conductor in the symphony’s long history. The late Aaron Sten was the founding conductor.
“Come to the May concerts to give Angela a warm welcome in California,” Rinderknecht urged. “If you have time to volunteer a couple of hours once in a while, let us know.”
The symphony’s office address is 146 Main St., Suite 207. For more information, call 941-5291.
