Fine Arts Affiliates celebrates 60 years during special event – Press Telegram

Long Beach Symphony, photos from left: W. Henry Walker, Kelly Ruggirello, and Eckart Preu (Photo by Shirley Wild, The Press-Telegram, SCNG)

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the CSULB Fine Arts Affiliates were 40 or so members and friends who gathered for a high tea, catered by The Grand. The event, on May 3, was appropriately held at the Miller House, home of CSULB President Jane Conoley.

President Betty Rousselo gave a brief history of FAA, stating that the organization began in 1963 with a small group of friends who enjoyed the arts; the group, which now has more than 100 members, recognized the need to raise scholarship funds for students of the arts at CSULB. Over the course of its 60 years of philanthropy, the FAA has raised several millions of dollars in annual scholarship funding for 12 CSULB arts’ students.

Bethany Price, College of the Arts’s communications and outreach coordinator and alumna of CSULB, who is also a longtime member and supporter of FAA, shared several anecdotes of her school life in the college. She introduced the new dean of the College of the Arts, Royce Smith, who exuberantly shared the many exciting events he is looking forward to at COTA, including special student-designed tennis shoes he would be wearing at the COTA graduation ceremony.

Outgoing President Rousselo introduced the past Presidents and new board members were also on hand: former President Gary Hoyt, Gail Schmoller, Patricia Szeszulski, Betty Rousselo, Joan Schwichtenberg, Sue Stratton, Penny Brocksen, Lois Riopelle and Pat Stenehjem.

FAA’s prestigious “We Honor Ours” award was presented to member Sue Stratton, chosen by her peers for her many years of service to FAA, providing fun, interesting and educational excursions for members and friends as well as coordinating FAA’s longstanding participation in the Winterfest Concert held annually during the Christmas Holidays.

A champagne and ginger ale toast closed the enjoyable afternoon event, coordinated by Celeste de Cuir and the event committee. Beautiful background music duets were presented by CSULB-Bob Cole Conservancy students Nathan Nguyen and Daisy Swanson.

Seen at the scene: Kevin Crowe, CSULB Associate VP of Development, Ralph Belcher and Marcia Reed, Janice Furman, Judy Hardy, Mary Hewitson, Cheryl Hiland, Sally Hirsch, Gary and Lynda Hoyt, Kristi Jones, Carol and Irvin Kanode, Gayle Knapp, Dorothy Lopez, Marguerite Lyon, Linda Pillsbury, Shirley Rich, Wendi Silverman, Bonnie Smith and Patsy Trotter.

Crescendo – An Evening in Barcelona

Held at the Latin American Museum of Art on May 18, “An Evening in Barcelona” was the theme of the Long Beach Symphony’s Crescendo fundraiser. Crescendo and the symphony raised more than $200,000 for its music education programs, offered in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District.

There were 190 attendees at the event, which featured a cocktail reception and silent auction with entertainment by Esencia Flamenca, in the MOLAA Sculpture Garden. This was followed by a Spanish-themed dinner, awards and live auction. The featured entertainment was provided by Alex Iles (principal trombonist) and his jazz quartet. The event was also an opportunity to put the focus on the symphony’s musicians – concertmaster Roger Wilkie and the principal cello, viola, second violin, oboe, and trombone musicians were all in attendance.

Two honorees were presented: Farmers & Merchants Bank received the annual Luminary Award given to persons or institutions that support the symphony in extraordinary ways. F&M provided more than $2 million over 20 years. F&M CEO W. Henry Walker accepted the award on behalf of the bank. The second award was the naming of the Symphony Youth Ambassador, awarded to Kaitlyn Mady, a flutist and rising star. Growing up in Long Beach, Kaitlyn participated in many of the Symphony music education programs. As a 16-year-old,she played the flute on stage at the Terrace Theater during the presentation of Khmeraspora in April 2023.

Seen at the scene: Henry Walker, Dale and Randy Kemner, Cindy Costello, Dennis Poulsen, Deloris and Sandy Mayuga, Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg, symphony President Kelly Ruggirello and her partner Steve Kearsley, Music Director, Eckart Preu, Becky Cool, Robert Smit, Bobbie Cusato, Deann and Tom Lent, and Margie Masterson.

News of Social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at spwild@verizon.net or by fax to 562-594-9468. Please include a contact phone number. Send high-resolution jpeg photos, by attachment, to spwild@verizon.net and include group name and identification of individuals from left. Call Shirley at 562-594-9468 for more information.