WELCOME TO OUR 2025-2026 MUSIC IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS SEASON

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, SAFE, AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY SEASON

JOIN THE STANFORD EARLY MUSIC SINGER tonight at 7:30 PM

THE CONCERT IS FREE & LIVE STREAMED: December 3rd 2025, 7:30 PM

We can organize one of our sessions on William Byrd, 1540-1623. For more details on his life and work, visit the entry HERE.

SEASONS' GREETINGS

Dear Friends,

I want to share sad news with you. Our dear FWC member Deborah Kennel (1940-2025) is no longer with us. We all remember Debby as a major contributor to our Music in Cultural Contexts section. We will share anecdotes at one of our sessions in early 2026. Here's a photo of Debby with friends:

From left: Gloria, Mireya, Helen, Simon, Rochelle, Joy, Zorana, Jarka
Jo, Olga, Debby, June

Debby gave outstanding presentations of composers, including

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741); Stephen Foster (1826-1864); Kurt Weill (1900-1950) and The Threepenny Opera; and she proposed to work on Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677). We might try to offer a program dedicated to Debby and the baroque, her specialty.

Debby Kennel 1940 - 2025

 

Welcome back to our very special MUSIC in CULTURAL CONTEXTS 2025-26 SEASON (since 2013).

Our November invited presenter is Caroline Scheaffer Arnold.

The presenter and our own FWC member Caroline will take us to Milan and a Road Trip to the Alps. She will share their experiences with us via zoom. Caroline is an award-winning writer and illustrator of books for children. She has been an active FWC member, especially in the tennis section, since the 1970s.

Caroline Arnold
B.A., Grinnell College; M.A., University of Iowa

Cover page from her latest book titled
Settlement House Girl, 2023
 

The Takacs. Quartet gave another outstanding performance of signature works by Joseph Haydn, Beethoven, and Debussy. The Quartet is celebrating their 50th celebration together (founded in 1975).

The TAKACS QUATTET

A surprise piece was written by the Brazilian American artist composer and pianist CLARICE ASSAD.

Clarice Assad, b. 1978. The piece we were introduced to, titled NEXUS.
More information is here:

We invite you to join us for a chamber concert featuring Jillian Risigari-Gai and the Thai Ensemble

Jillian Risigari-Gai, harpist, Doctor of Musical Arts student
UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music
President - American HARP Society, Los Angeles Chapter
Artist Teacher of HARP - University of Redlands
Executive Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Music Company

Jillian and her ensemble will take us to the musical roots of the HARP: from Latin America (Arpa de Lianera and Jarocho) to the British Isles, Ireland and France. We will hear harp traditions of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia: Double Action Harp and Saung-Gauk (Myanmar). 

A subset of performers and the FWC audience -- October 15th 2025
University Club with Jillian Risigari-Gai and Thai ensemble 

                                             Mariachi artists accompanied by Jillian Risigari-Gai

>>Cambodian Boat Festival Song, arranged by Sastra  Moon with Rane Prak (Ethnomusicology Ph.D. student) on Wot and Mel Liu (UCLA alumna) on percussion. 

>>Where the Wind Covers the Sky, arranged by Sastra Moon with Rane Prak on Wot and Mel Liu on percussion.

>>Bai Sri Su Khwan, a traditional song from Thailand, arranged by Sastra Moon with Rane Prak on Wot and Mel Liu on Electric Bass. 

Finally, we travel to China and listen to A Drunken Fisherman's Song at Sunset, Joan Huang.

We close our exceptional music performance with Shere of Influence from Space. Suite Galactique: Exosphere, with Caroline Lizotte.

This is a one-time opportunity to go around the world from the University Club Library (Faculty Club)

Wednesday, OCTOBER 15th 2025 at 12 Noon. The attendance is FREE.

RSVP: please email Zorana Ercegovac to let her know you are attending.  THANK YOU.

Here is a map of our venue for the October 15th Music Concert
Located in the University Club LIBRARY

           ~~~ MORE great NEWS for our music & culture in general -- all this in Los Angeles 

ESA-PEKKA SALONEN returns to LA PHIL in innovative role

 

WELCOME TO SUMMER 2025 MUSIC PROGRAM

We are in the midst of August, enjoying cool California summer months, ocean breezes, and wonderful series of music programs all around the city. Closer to our home, UCLA Faculty Women's Club MUSIC SECTION, we have just heard 4 brilliant performances of the BRUMAN'S 38th Music Season at Schoenberg Hall. A few photos are below.

In addition, HAMMER jazzPOP 2025 is with us: https://hammer.ucla.edu/programs-events/2025/jazzpop-2025 Here are a few images of the vibes and sounds captured at their concert No. 1 on August 7th. You can see a part of our music section members in the background at the end of this brief video.

Nicole McCabe with her compositions and her own ensemble rocked the Hammer's courtyard with influences from e-music to exploratory improvisation.

                                Two last concerts are scheduled for August 14th and 21st. See you then.

The 2025 HENRY J. BRUMAN SUMMER Chamber Music Festival has just announced the outstanding performances, all FREE of charge, Noon - 1:00, Lani Hall, UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. 

                                                            SAVE the DATES

July 29th Tuesday at Noon - 1 pm. WEBERN Quartet, with Mozart and Ravel.

July 31st Thursday at Noon - 1 pm. STRING and KEYS, 19th - 20th c French composers.

August 5th Tuesday at Noon - 1 pm. SOUTHERN NOTES: Provence to Florence

Can you recognize these extraordinary artists?

                        August 7th Thursday at Noon -1 pm. Mozart and Faure Piano Quartets.

The HAMMER Summer MUSIC CONCERTS are again with us starting on August 7th for three JazzPOP performances (August 7, 14, 21) at the Courtyard. All concerts begin at 8 PM. 

HAMMER features the brilliance of the late American artist Noah Davis (1983-2015). 

NEW The performance by the CHAMBER MUSIC PALISADES, brought to us by our Music Section member Melissa Ward, is such a great opportunity, not to be missed. 

        Section Chairs and co-chairs were recognized at the SPRING LUNCHEON, May 20th 2025 !!

Section leaders were recognized with an iris at the SPRING Luncheon 2025

Music Section Chair, Zorana Ercegovac, was honored with an FWC Outstanding Member Award 2025.

2025 FWC Outstanding Member:
Zorana Ercegovac

SPRING IS IN THE AIR, and WHAT'S AHEAD

PAST Music in Cultural Contexts session: FYI -- what we just had a privilege of hearing

>> March 19th at 12:30 PM via zoom: Our Guide Dorota Dabrowska “will give an overview of the history of Andalusia and Al-Andalus focused on Hispano-Islamic architecture of the period 711-1492. Our trip will take us from Cadiz and Gibraltar to Cordoba, Madinat Al-Zahra, Zaragoza, Seville and Granada. We shall also make brief stops at Ronda and villages of Las Alpujarras, famed for their history and nature.” See the map below

The map of the places (underlined in red) we have learned about
from the presentation titled: "Architecture and Nature of Andalusia

LADINO SONGS and the SEPHARDIC DIASPORA will be noted as well as the Moorish influences on the Iberian instruments, rhythms, lyrics, and musical genres.

>> April 5th Saturday at 7:30 PM LACO presents Women Composers: https://www.laco.org/events/farrencs-nonet/

 https://www.laco.org/events/farrencs-nonet/

Composer NGWENYAMA on stage congratulating to
Sandy Hughes, flute; Robert Brophy, viola, and Anya Caripoli, harp

This performance was a real treat! THANK you, LACO
Louise FARRENC'S Nonet, Op. 38 in the mesmerizing performance
Stanislav, Brophy, Shulman, Eckert with
Sandy, flute (not in the photo, sorry; see the image above);
Claire; Chris; Damian; Julia

April 16th will be our in-person meeting  The MAHLERS focusing on Alma Mahler,

According to her own words, used in: 
Passionate Spirit: The Life of Alma Mahler,

By Cate Haste. Listening to her music pieces.

At the Faculty Club Library.

April 20 LACO at 4 PM, in Beverly Hills – LACO PIONEERS: Martin Schumann, Price
April 27 SALASTINA at The Broadstage, Santa Monica, 11 AM, with cocktails & snacks. The program includes works by Brahms, Schumann, and Wagner.

May 11 LACO at The Wallis in Beverly Hills.

>Spring LUNCHEON will be on May 20^th at 11:30 AM, Faculty Club

May 21: Planning luncheon at the Faculty Club, UCLA

May 24: Salastina at the Ebell. Concerts include cocktails and snacks

June 5 Ojai Music Festival at the Libbey Bowl

June 7 Treat yourself:  SALASTINA at the Robinson Garden, Beverly Hills. 

“Sounds Delicious: An Alice in Wonderland and High Tea”.

Tickets are $140.00 per person, available at Salastina.org

Performances at the following local venues require tickets.

Ø

Ø  February 19 -- with Andrea Hoff via Zoom. The reminder was sent out (Feb 5). 

Ø  March 6 – 9, WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL (time varies): The program is all about

                 The Mahlers (Gustav and Alma) with Gustavo Dudamel, conducting

 

Ø  June 7 Treat yourself, you are worth it with SALASTINA at the Robinson Garden, 

                           “Sounds Delicious: An Alice in Wonderland and High Tea"

Virginia Robinson Gardens, 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills

   

Faculty Women's Club honored Carol Block, our WOMAN OF DISTINCTION at the 3rd General Meeting and Scholarship Dinner. A lively conversation with Carol Block was moderated by FWC's President Anne-Marie Spataru (photo below). The event was well attended, and many of us were happy to meet old friends after the Los Angeles devastating fires of January 2025.

Carol Block (right) is the recipient of the FWC's Woman of Distinction Award 2024
Photo credits: Zorana Ercegovac

The Event was held at the Faculty Club. Here's a short video which captured the vibes of the evening.

Former UCLA's Chancellor Gene Block with his wife Carol Block
Anne-Marie Spataru, FWC President, nominated Mrs. Block as 
FWC's 2024 Woman of Distinction
Photo credits: Zorana Ercegovac, February 4, 2025

LOS ANGELES IS IN A RING OF FIRE January 2025

As we start the NEW YEAR, I am heartbroken for friends who have suffered unimaginable tragedy this week and devastated about the destruction that the city of Los Angeles is experiencing. LA's dry hills and strong SANTA ANA winds are not helping the situation become calmer and under control.                     Today is the NINTH day. PLEASE BE SAFE, ALERT, WELL

                      The video below shows the Pacific Palisades fire from my house (on January 7th). 

We have planned a wonderful start of the New Year 2025 for our Music Section FRIENDS as follows:

                                   THIS IN-PERSON GATHERING HAS BEEN CANCELLED 

                   WHERE/WHEN: The Faculty Club Library on January 15th at 12 noon to 2:00 PM.

The intimate "living-room" like venue at the heart of UCLA is the place
we will gather on Jan 15th

        We will be discussing a book by Cate HASTE: Passionate Spirit: The Life of Alma Mahler

We will also hear some of the music pieces she penned, many of which set to well known texts: 

          I certainly hope that we will be able to gather in-person in APRIL, hoping for a better day!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR the FOLLOWING MUSIC PROGRAMS

DON'T MISS UNIQUE EVENTS: October ~ December 2024, and Beyond

EVERY ORNAMENT ON THIS TREE HAS
great sounds from around the world
Below, I suggest a few orchestras on the west side for all of us to explore 

WISHING YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY, peaceful, & MUSIC-INSPIRED HOLIDAY SEASON

HAPPY NEW YEAR

December 18, 2024 we go to SICILY, ANDIAMO! (via zoom)

January 15m in person with ALMA MAHLER

February 19, 2025: our guest presenter is Andrea Hoff, UCLA University Hoff 

March 19, 2025: we travel to ANDALUSIA with Dorota Dabrowska

Please do visit the following music ensembles, all on the West side

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

CAMERATA, BroadStage, Salastina, Walt Disney Concert Hall

John Williams Spotlight + Dudamel 

PST ART Art & Science Collide at Getty

Did you know that MUSIC was a part of FWC Programs as early as 1922?

WORTH NOTING: The FWC Program (1922) included music -- before Sections had been introduced

From: Personal Reminiscences of the First Twenty Five Presidents of the
Faculty Women's Club, University of California, Los Angeles 1918-1946

                      100 years later, we are still opening our 2024-2025 Season with Music

Ginger Rose & Jennifer Jo, October 16, 2024 at 12 noon

Our October 16th live music recital was wonderful, magical, healing, as Melissa Ward, one among our member attendees, described. The talented harp-flute duo Ginger Rose & Jennifer Jo presented a well balanced program. We were delighted to have them present their collaborative art.

Ginger Rose, harp, a recipient of the FWC Scholarship 2024, + Jennifer, flute
with Zorana (Chair of the Music Section) -- after the Music Recital
October 16th 2024 at the Faculty Club Library

Ginger Rose Brucker, harp and Jennifer Jo, flute

October 16th 2024 at 12 noon, Faculty Club LIBRARY 

                                                             On the PROGRAM

                                                Bernard Andres (1941 -), Algues

                                                P. I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), The Swan Lake

                                                J. Massenet (1842-1912), Thais Meditation

                                                J. S. Bach--C. Gounod, Ave Maria

                                                G. Faure (1845-1924), Pavane

                                                L. Tedeschi (1867-1944), Serenade  

                                     & encore pieces:  Colors of the Wind,   Send in the Clowns

A subset of attendees from FWC and ERRC with performers Ginger Rose and Jennifer
Photo credit: Zorana

Please calendar the following music events, tributes, concerts, and more for the following months:

LACO Nov 3, 2024 at 4 PM "ARTISANS " on the stage with the composer Jeff Beal, Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violin, with Jaime Martin, Music Director of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

November 3, 2024: LACO with Beal, Martin and Hall-Tompkins

Just BEFORE THE ELECTION 2024, on November 5, once again we are reminded by Beethoven's EGMONT Overture, composed 214 years ago (1809-10), about the triumph of freedom and democracy.

                                  We enjoyed LACO's guest bassbaritone DASHON BURTON

Dashon Burton in Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer (Lieder eines Fahrenden)
Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac

November 20th 12:00 PM Luncheon at The VIOLET, in Westwood.

IDEAS: Please bring your fresh practical ideas for our Music in Cultural Contexts sessions.

Just back from La Jolla where Le SALON de MUSIQUES has relocated (from DTLA, after 12 yrs). If we do not visit them in La Jolla, we can learn a few things from them. All their chamber concerts are at 4 PM, and include: ACT 1: concert ACT 2: conversation, champagne, cuisine, all very French, perfect, informal.

Our good friend and Music Section member Melissa Ward has suggested a wonderful CAMERATA PACIFICA, a classical music chamber ensemble with their office & venue in Thousand Oaks: 805.884.8410. Check out their calendar for the 2024-2025 season. 

SECRETLA Secret Los Angeles: Sip on craft cocktails and get lost in a hauntingly beautiful world.

                                                   ~~         HAPPY THANKSGIVING      ~~

December 18, 2024 -- 12:30 PM. We travel to SICILY with Marianne Afifi and Zorana Ercegovac.

                                               RSVP to reserve your seat for this presentation

From the Roman Villa of Casale: A mosaic of female athletes in bikinis
Villa dated between the 4th and 5th century AD
Photo credits: Zorana Ercegovac

                                             CALENDAR FOR January and February 2025

                                                      January 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM (via zoom) 

                     We will be reading and discussing a book by Cate Haste: "Passionate Spirit."

The title page on the hard cover of the book, which may also be
read and discussed by the Reading group Section

Special collection resources are available to you at UCLA's Special Collections Library. It is part of a larger umbrella set of collections known as ONLINE ARCHIVE of CALIFORNIA. Our FWC archival materials are organized in UCLA's Special Collections Library located in the Young Research Library. 

Of SPECIAL INTEREST: One-hour workshop will be given on February 19th 2025 (part of the Music Section programming). The purpose is to learn about our own personal and family primary sources and archival materials. In addition, the presenter, Andrea Hoff, will show us how to preserve, organize, and curate our own family archival documents (e.g., photos, letters, correspondence, and other documents).

                          Andrea Hoff, UCLA's University Archivist, will be our special GUEST.

From early technologies of a printing press and card catalogs
to digital media
(In the reception area of the Special Collection Library, UCLA)

Special Collection Library -- archival collections

The Los Angeles Normal School was to be converted into a four-year degree-giving university, and one of our iconic buildings, The Royce Hall was finished in 1928 (Latin numerals MCMXXVIII are inscribed above the main portal to the building):

ROYCE HALL, 1928

Recently we have seen some historical texts inscribed on plaques
related to the UCLA Centennial celebration 1919-2019
Detailed sources are also found in the UCLA's Special Collection Library

Finding a space was always on the agenda of FWC board meetings. It took another 30 years that the UCLA Faculty Center opened its doors in 1954, as a separate entity from the UCLA Faculty Men's Club, UCLA Faculty Women's Club, and Association of Academic Women.

A PERFECT DAY: Starting off with a morning gym; meeting with a dear colleague for an extended coffee break at our beloved Faculty Club (earlier Faculty Center; the photo of the Playa lounge below):

Wonderful space at the Faculty Club where one reads, discusses, meets
with colleagues, sips coffee/tea, reads, and meditates

Moving on to HAMMER Museum for the exhibition and the preview of tonight's jazzPOP 2024 concert https://hammer.ucla.edu/programs-events/2024/jazzpop-2024 Details are here for the tonight's show.

Just around the corner from the HAMMER'S is one the favorite most charming French bistro Violet.

And here we are (Daniele, Melissa, Dorota, Zorana) enjoying delicious Salad Nicoise, and suggesting to revive "let's do lunch" as part of our MUSIC IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS Section. 

MUSIC was on FWC Programs from the very beginning. See Program notes earlier on this page.

Zorana, Dorota, Melissa, Daniele

At the same time, you can be viewing a retrospective of the late artists DAVID MEDALLA. A few of his works are captured here for you as a temptation to personally visit the exhibit. The Gallery closes at 6 pm.

David Medalla, 1938-2020, Self Portrait

Cloud Canyons at Signals London 1964
"bubble machines" consisting of soft columns of soap foam oozing
from clear tubes and wooden bases