‘Sips for the Symphony’ Event Showcases Local Talent and Wine Venue

On an enchanting spring day, March 24, the Ukiah Symphony is holding a special event to gather support through delightful sounds, exquisite wines, and gourmet food. Honoring Mendocino's impressive musical talent, the fundraising affair will take place amid the beautiful scenery offered by Dancing Crow Vineyards, a partner in hosting this musical celebration.

A Medley of Fine Art and Taste

Headlining the event, celebrated pianists Spencer Brewer and Ben Rueb will join forces with accomplished violinist Jeff Ives, violist Paul Yarbrough, cellist Joel Cohen, and the versatile Saxophonist Wenbo Yen. These artists, each with their own noteworthy resumes, will be offering two sets of captivating chamber music.

Phillip Lenberg, the Symphony's esteemed conductor, is brimming with excitement for this collaboration, which not only brings together phenomenal musicians but also marks a return to form with fundraising concerts after an interlude due to the pandemic.

A Quintet of Masters

The afternoon promises an intimate chamber music experience for attendees, accompanied by premier wine and culinary offerings by Mendocino College's own culinary experts. The Mendocino Piano Quartet, starring the cooperative talents of Rueb, Ives, Yarbrough, and Cohen, are specially featured at this event.

Rueb, with an impressive classical background and a connection with a local Willits-based mushroom business, and Ives, whose compositions blend jazz and eastern European undertones, set a high bar for the performance. Yarbrough, a founding member of the prestigious Alexander String Quartet, and Cohen, a Grammy-nominated cellist with international acclaim, ensure a rich musical tapestry.

A World of Music in a Glass of Wine

Dancing Crow Vineyards, under the new ownership of Tony Cartlidge and his family, opens up its splendid grounds and facilities for this event. This inaugural affair for the vineyard promises to meld the symphonic and the vinicultural elegantly. The celebration will also pave the way for the Symphony’s future concerts, including the final concert of the season promising a dynamic mix featuring works from Clara Schumann to Beethoven.

Passionate about music education, Lenberg emphasizes the Symphony's ongoing endeavors, including a Strings Education program aimed at filling the void of string music education in local schools. Their goal is to perpetuate the Symphony's 40-year legacy through nurturing future talents.

The Ukiah Symphony invites all enthusiasts to share in this day of aural pleasure, community, and heritage that starts at 2 p.m. at Dancing Crow Vineyards. It is an opportunity to savor the artful blend of music and winemaking.

wine, music, venue