Ovation’s “The Score” – Fall 2025 Issue

Chair’s Column from Judy D’Ambrosio

As Ovation Council Chair I would like to welcome you all to the 91st season of the Long Beach Symphony! Under the baton of Eckart Preu, we can look forward to an exciting Classical and Pops Season.

You may have noticed the revised look and feel of our SCORE newsletter. We are happy to announce that we have made recent changes to align with the new Symphony Notes. You should be receiving both communications. The Symphony Notes is sent to a broad audience and focuses on all topics related to the Long Beach Symphony. Our SCORE newsletter is designed specifically for our Ovation volunteer members and will continue to share information and updates relating to Ovation activities.

I am honored to be the Chair for Ovation this coming year. Serving with me on the Ovation Council are:

•             Secretary – Jennifer Jank
•             Treasurer – Victoria Sawtelle
•             Membership – Victoria Chenevey & Nicole Neesham

Committee Chairs:

• The Score Newsletter – Nancy Fox & Shelley ONeil
• Personal Communications (Ovation Cares) – Kay Marsik
• Tributes and Memorials – Judy Way
• Ovation Occasions – Kris Ajello
• Ovation Volunteers – Bobbie Cusato, Delfina and Glenn Skalland
• Rehearsal Receptions: Classics & Pops – Shannon Taylor (Classics) & Ethel Sanford (Pops)
• Education Programs – Ethel Sanford
• Fundraising – Victoria Chenevey
• Patron Engagement (Ambassador) – Mary and Steve Lang
• Vital Information Custodian–Victoria Sawtelle
• Parliamentarian–Joan Greenwood

There are many opportunities for service and fun as an Ovation volunteer.  This year, like past years, Ovation volunteers are needed at the Youth (January 28, 29, 2026) and Family (June 7, 2026) concerts, Golf Classic (December 8, 2025), Crescendo (May 3, 2026), Instrument Petting Zoos, rehearsals, and many more. You will receive specific information on these volunteer activities prior to the event.  Helping at these activities reinforces Ovation’s mission to support the programs, policies, and goals of the Long Beach Symphony through the coordination and facilitation of volunteer activities.  We need and welcome your involvement in these worthwhile events.

Like all organizations, we need to increase our membership. Our membership drive is ongoing.  You should have received your renewal information and reminders were emailed. The easiest way to renew or become a member is online at longbeachsymphony.org/Ovation.  Talk to friends and neighbors about joining Ovation as a volunteer. It takes hundreds of volunteer hours to make events successful and they are made possible with your support.

As Ovation members you are welcome and encouraged to attend Ovation council meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 340 Nieto Ave, Long Beach, CA 90814 starting at 4 pm.

Thank you in advance for your support and volunteering!!!!

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The Bobbie Cusato Volunteer of the Year Award 2025: Nina West

The Bobbie Cusato Volunteer of the Year award was established in 2019 to honor a Symphony volunteer who espouses the character of its namesake:

• Years of dedicated service
• Demonstration of extraordinary leadership
• Committed to working long hours
• One who has a “can-do” attitude
• Creative and quick problem-solving skills
• One who builds consensus while being a team player
• A passionate advocate and ambassador for the Long Beach Symphony

We are very excited to announce that this year’s award recipient is Nina West. Nina has been supporting the Long Beach Symphony for decades. For ten years, Nina has been an active Ovation member, recently serving on the education committee, a dependable, hard-working Youth Concert volunteer, as well as assisting with our IPZ’s, specializing in mouthpiece sanitation. Volunteers and staff alike agree that she is an absolute joy to work with. Nina was delighted to be selected: “I am so proud to have won the award. It was a big surprise to me and I’m just so pleased!”

Nina – Congratulations on this well-deserved honor as you are recognized for your outstanding leadership within Ovation and the Long Beach Symphony family!

The Instrument Petting Zoo (IPZ) was conceived with a simple but ambitious vision: to make music tangible, accessible, and irresistible to children. The goal is not only to nurture future musicians but also to foster a community that understands the transformative power of music, thereby expanding the base for our symphony concerts. We’re proud to report that in 2025 we took this hands-on experience for young children to more than 20 locations spanning 280 square miles throughout Long Beach and neighboring communities, among them Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Cerritos and Redondo Beach. In total, we served nearly 1,000 people; more than in 2024. By offering this program free of charge, the Symphony removes financial barriers and opens doors for those who might otherwise never explore music.

How the Program Works: Picture a vibrant space—a local library, school auditorium, or outdoor festival—alive with the chatter of excited children and the gentle hum of tuning strings. Here, an array of orchestral instruments awaits: violin, viola, cello, trumpets, French horn, trombone, flute, clarinet, oboe, percussion instruments and even a snare drum. Each instrument is carefully displayed and supervised by volunteers and student interns. Children are invited to pick up, hold, and try each instrument. This tactile approach demystifies orchestral music, breaking down barriers of intimidation and replacing them with the playful spirit of experimentation. Some Petting Zoo’s events are paired with mini-concerts and/or instrument demonstrations, such as the RumBa Foundation Family Concert.

Impact on the Community: The Instrument Petting Zoo is more than an educational program—it’s a bridge between the Long Beach Symphony and the broader community, bringing music to neighborhoods that may not have ready exposure to the arts. The Petting Zoo also fosters intergenerational connection. Grandparents and parents reminisce about their own musical experiences, while younger generations discover new possibilities. Many parents have shared stories of their children asking for music lessons after attending the Petting Zoo.

Join the Fun! Volunteers are the lifeblood of this program, and although the IPZ program served more children and families in 2025 than in previous years, we had lower volunteer participation. If we want to continue to operate at the current level- and perhaps aspire to even greater numbers– we will need more volunteers. No special skills are required. If you love music and enjoy working with children, we invite you to become part of this joyful initiative. Volunteers greet families, guide children in safely handling instruments, and create a welcoming environment where every child feels empowered to explore music. Although not a prerequisite for participation, the Symphony encourages Ovation members to attend the IPZ orientation session in early summer. If you are interested in volunteering for future IPZ events, please contact Ethel Sanford.

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