Saratoga News
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Saratoga Sampler
California Youth Symphony honors Saratoga sophomores
By Mary Ann Cook
SUPER SOPHS: Vivian Fu and Angela Hwang, both Saratoga High sophomores, won first prize in the California Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition and will perform as soloists with the orchestra during the 20072008 season.
Pianist Angela, age 16, performed Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini as her winning entry. Violinist Vivian, 15, played the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor in the CYS competition. Both teens play more than one instrument and both have accrued an arm's length worth of honors already.
Angela began piano lessons at age 5. She won first place at the Music Teachers' Association of California Regional Concerto Competition, first place in the San Jose Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition and second place at the Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition.
Both Angela and Vivian received a Menuhin-Dowling Young Musicians Award and both have won awards from the Chinese Music Teachers' Association of Northern California Youth Music Competition.
Vivian recently advanced to the national semifinals of the American String Teachers' Association Competition. She received awards from the Junior Bach Festival and the Fremont Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Vivian began her violin studies at age 7, and now studies with Ron Waibel. She has attended the Aspen Music Festival for the past two summers.
Besides the piano, Angela plays the viola, and she performs with the high school orchestra. She will attend California Summer Music camp. In addition to the violin, Vivian also plays the piano. Both pianists study with professor Hans Boepple of Santa Clara University.
SNOWING BLOSSOMS: Sometimes it seemed to be snowing cherry blossoms, so prevalent were the splendor of those trees when a Sister City group visited Japan recently. It was cherry blossom festival time throughout the island nation as Saratogans visited with Muko friends again.
Another highlight was visiting the Miho Museum in Kyoto, an I.M. Pei-designed museum. Pei also designed the glass pyramid entry at the Louvre. Not only did they see his museum, but the Saratoga tourists caught sight of the famed architect himself.
This was no surprise to Louise Webb who manages to cross paths with celebrities wherever in the world she happens to be. The 90-year-old Pei was there for the museum's 10th anniversary. The museum houses Asian and Western antiques, selected for their beauty and their historical significance. The tour was led by Peter Marra.
NEW HISTORY: Longtime Saratogan Maxine McGinnis has written a book about the venerable Foothill Club called The Story of Wonderful Women and Their Redwood Meeting House. Books are for sale at $10 from Dianne Priest at 408.867.1075 or from the Saratoga Historical Museum.
McGinnis was asked to write the history by Marlene Duffin, then president of the group. McGinnis is a retired teacher who has served on school boards both locally and statewide. The history book was undertaken because so many of the current members didn't have any idea about the club's early days and influence.
This year marks the 100th anniversary for the club, so the timing was propitious. In the early years the club was very active in politics and the Women's Christian Temperance Union, influencing decision-making and helping smooth out Saratoga's reputation as a saloon hangout in the early years of the century.
Projects such as getting the vote for women were paramount, as were supporting those in the service during both world wars. Community service is still the Foothill watchword and the club remains "quite a phenomenon," says McGinnis.
LAYETTE DONATIONS: Immanuel Lutheran Church's Community Service Committee has been donating to the Layette Ministry at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in East San Jose for the past three years. New mothers so destitute they aren't able to clothe their infants are the recipients of the collections.
Pam Wangbickler is chairwoman of Immanuel's committee. Other members are Bill and Doris Avery, Dick Dickerson, Walt and Catherine Fulde, JoAn Lambert, Judy Levin and Dorothy Terrill.
Every day brings more requests for layettes than she has supplies, says Ginger Perez, Gloria Dei coordinator. Welcome items are clothes, bedding, toys and books. Donations can be dropped off at the church, 14103 Saratoga Ave., on Sundays, 8 a.m.-noon. The number is 408.867.0822.
More than 2,000 articles were delivered to the Layette Ministry over the past four months. Empty baby bottles filled up with spare change netted $370.
FUNDRAISER: Saratoga volunteers Rosalie Sogolow, Syl Meltzer, Bonnie Stone, Karen Guggenheim, Gail Joseph, Michelle Gabriel and Los Gatan Thelma Ramm, co-chairwoman, are setting wheels in motion for a fundraiser June 3, 5 p.m., at Villa Ragusa in Campbell.
"Small Plates, High Spirits and All That Jazz" benefits Jewish Family Services' Project NOAH, No One Abandoned Here. The contact number is 408.556.0600.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send e-mail to mac@impruve.com.
