Fashion’s the Magic Word for Music Programs

Gorgeous clothes--not sorcerers--cast a spell over the 600 people attending the “Music . . . It’s Magic” fashion show Monday for the Orange County Philharmonic Society.

The society’s Women’s Committees and Fashion Island Newport Beach staged the 33rd Annual Youth Programs Benefit at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The $50-per-person luncheon and auction was expected to raise about $40,000 for the society.

Fashion Notes

“Music is magic, and if you put it together with fashion it becomes a symphony,” fashion coordinator Kitty Leslie told the crowd at the show’s opening.

Leslie had a few tricks up her sleeve. With a simulated cloud-filled sky as a backdrop, she sent one model onto the runway upon a rolling “magic” carpet.

Music played a big part in the show, with pianist Ian Rawlinson performing on a handmade Petrof grand piano while models dressed like ‘30s torch singers in slinky black dresses sauntered past.

Fashions included everything from ethnic tunic tops and flowing skirts (“clothes for rich hippies,” quipped Leslie) to glittering ball gowns.

The sight of models in their clingy clothes impressed those who had just finished dessert. Upon seeing one impossibly thin model slink past in a little black dress, one onlooker remarked: “She hasn’t had lunch yet.”

Magic Tricks

Event organizers subtly played off the magic theme. At each table, garden stakes with hand-painted animal figures were planted in top hats.

“They’re magic animals coming out of magic hats. We wanted something whimsical that reflected fantasy and imagination,” said Doretta Ensign, decor committee member. Ensign was responsible for sawing and painting 105 of the wooden animals.

“The magic thing about them is they didn’t cost us anything,” joked Nicole Denholm, event chairwoman who attended with her husband, David.

Guests enjoyed a lunch of fruit salad salad with champagne dressing, Southwest chicken with lemon cilantro sauce and black bean and corn relish, and banana mousse with fresh fruit served in a small top hat made of solid chocolate.

“This is the official time all of the women’s committees come together. It’s important not just for fund-raising but for the camaraderie,” said Erich Vollmer, the society’s executive director.

Vollmer, who attended the show wearing a bright yellow blazer and black turtleneck, looked like he could have taken a turn down the runway himself.

Music Appreciation

Proceeds support the society’s network of music education programs that reach 250,000 Orange County school children each year.

Marilynn Manderscheid, vice president of youth programs, sees firsthand how the outreach programs generate interest in music.

“We get thank-you notes. My favorite was, ‘I didn’t know music could be better at a concert than it was on tape. You guys had the music turned up real loud.’ Of course there was no speaker system. The students aren’t used to live music.”

An example of the programs’ influence on children came when pianist David Rosendahl, 14, of Costa Mesa performed works by Chopin and Debussy.

A freshman at Newport Harbor High School, Rosendahl is an aspiring concert pianist who participated in the society’s Music Encounter program that allows third- to sixth-grade musicians to perform in professional concerts.

Other youth programs include free concerts at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, visits to second-graders by the Disneyland Band and concerts by the symphony orchestra at high school gymnasiums.

“The women’s committees are so important to us,” said Steven Lupinacci, board president. “They help us in monetary and non-monetary ways to accomplish our goal--to teach children about music.”

Other guests were Susan Beechner, board chairman, Judith Jelinek, president of the Women’s Committees, and her husband Dr. Howard Jelinek, Lana Barth, Jill Bull, Marcia Coy, Donna Crean, Elaine Delman, Ardeen DuBow, Sharon Fair, Joann Fuerbringer, Marilyn Gerdts, Ellen Halopoff, Joann Halvajian, Phyllis Jacobs, Susan Shanbrom Krabbe, Jane Lawson, Gayle Locke, Sandra Mauceli, Mercedes Meseck, Sharon Moore, Deanna Rosseau, Christel Schar, Barbara Siegel, Tom Smolich, Barbara Snegg, Mitzy Tonai, Evelyn Vogner and Bobbitt Williams.