A musical tribute
John Goldman took his final bow as president of the San Francisco Symphony amid a potpourri of his favorite music, put together as a tribute for 11 years of leadership. The grand celebration on June 17 included a symphony performance featuring an eclectic mix of composers — Tchaikovsky, Rodgers and Hammerstein, rock ’n’ roll’s Kenny Loggins among them — and guest performers — Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Gil Shaham, Lisa Vroman and (again) Kenny Loggins — to fete Goldman.
Among the highlights were Broadway star Vroman’s rendition of “Honey Bun” from South Pacific and what San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Joshua Kosman called “a delightful musical mashup, created at Goldman’s express request, of Chuck Berry’s ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ with music from Beethoven’s Fifth and Ninth Symphonies.”
According to symphony notes, among many accomplishments under Goldman’s leadership was the Symphony’s Second Century campaign to support artistic, education and community programs.
P.S. Goldman’s philanthropic interests are as eclectic as his taste in music. He began his tenure at the symphony as he concluded his presidency of the S.F.–based Jewish Community Federation.
Shabbat, Chicago-style
It was a Chicago Shabbat at Walnut Creek’s Congregation B’nai Tikvah on June 15, and Chicagoans — and others — turned out for a Chicago-style oneg with hometown treats including Green River soda, Lou Malnati’s pizza and Frango mints, reports Judy Blum, temple administrator. Former congregation president and Chicago native Phil Weismehl talked about growing up Jewish in the Windy City and noted that Hollywood horror film director Stuart Gordon lived nearby. “Turns out another congregant, Mike Weintraub, grew up around the corner from Stu,” writes Blum. The congregation celebrated New York last year, with cheesecake from the Carnegie Deli. Next up, Los Angeles.
At the Jewish Music Festival
Andy Muchin will be the interim director of the Jewish Music Festival, now in its 29th year. Currently serving as associate director, Muchin has extensive experience writing and producing shows about Jewish music and culture. He’s stepping up while longtime director Ellie Shapiro takes a year’s leave of absence as a Fulbright Fellow in Poland, where she’ll be completing her doctoral dissertation on Jewish music in contemporary Poland.
Short shorts
San Francisco comic-writer-performer Fred Raker brings his new solo show “How to Make Your Bitterness Work for You” to Stage Werx Theatre in San Francisco, through Aug. 27 … Sarah Cohen and Julie Bernstein are joining Jewish National Fund’s Northern California and Pacific Northwest office as senior campaign executives. Cohen’s background includes six years at AIPAC, and Bernstein has worked in the Jewish community for 10 years, including a stint at the S.F.–based Jewish Community Relations Council … Happy birthday and mazel tov to two Santa Rosa Congregation Beth Ami members who are celebrating century simchas: Sylvia Sucher is 101 and Mazie Miller is 100 … Nancy Goldberg of Tiburon received the Hannah G. Solomon Award from the National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco section … Marin JCC staff members honored at the group’s annual meeting on June 11 are Peter Peckham, with the Rose Paul Award for dedicated service and commitment, and Alaina Yoakum, with the Above and Beyond Award for programs … Samara Leader has joined Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills as youth education program coordinator.
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