WELCOME TO OUR 2025-2026 MUSIC IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS SEASON

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

Model for Duke Ellington Memorial, 1988
Robert Graham, American, b. 1938
Dedicated to UCLA, April 29, 1999

Take a stroll around the UCLA campus and enjoy the historical plaques, historical notes, posters, sculptures, the gardens

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!