The Elfenworks Foundation ‘Adopt-A-Musician’ Program

Peninsula Symphony's Adopt-A-Musician program is a great way to not only support the Peninsula Symphony’s many musical activities, but it is also a wonderful way to honor one of your beloved Peninsula Symphony musicians! Our musicians are hard at work practicing, rehearsing and performing the beautiful symphonic music that you hear at each of our concerts. By associating your name with a particular musician as an “adoptive” parent, you are establishing a wonderful connection to the musician who you would like to honor.

Funding from the Adopt-A-Musician program not only supports the Peninsula Symphony’s many musical activities, but is also a wonderful way to acknowledge the extraordinary time and dedication of your selected musician.

As a benefit of participating in this program, you will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with your selected musician at a private reception during the season. This is a great opportunity to get to know your orchestra member up close and personal, and discover what inspires them to perform with Peninsula Symphony. You will also be acknowledged in our concert programs and your name will be associated with the designated musician. Additionally you will be prominently displayed on a lobby poster at our concerts.

Please contact Chelsea Chambers, Executive Director at 650-941-5291 to explore your choices for a designated musician if you do not already have one in mind. Perhaps you like the flute? Or violin or bass? Maybe there is an instrument you have always wanted to play but never had the time. We have plenty of opportunities to connect you with the right musician and/or instrument.

Your gift allows us to produce affordable music and outreach activities. Thank you for consideration of making a significant impact on PSO and our ongoing efforts to inspire audiences with the gift of symphonic music.

Categories of Support

Assistant Conductor: $1,500
Concertmaster: $1,500
Principal Chair: $1,000
Orchestra Member: $500

Adopted Musicians and their Adoptors as of November 2024:

LIFETIME ADOPTED MUSICIANS

Mitchell Sardou Klein, Music Director & Conductor adopted by Paula Uccelli

Deborah Passanisi, Violin II adopted by Frank & Annette Rahn

Dr. Lauren Speeth, Violin I adopted by The Elfenworks Foundation

ADOPTED MUSICIANS

Nathaniel Berman, Resident Conductor adopted by Lily Tian & Victor Ge

Debra Fong, Concertmaster adopted by Katherine & Roy Bukstein

Alex Wang, Violin II adopted by Paul & Melonie Brophy

Audrey Gore, Oboe adopted by Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens

Beatrice Chau, Violin II adopted by Gayle Flanagan

Brad Gibson, Violin II adopted by Teri Quick

Brian Holmes, Horn adopted by Mary Gundelach

Bruce Moyer, Bass adopted by Margrit Rinderknecht & Richard Siemon; Suesan Taylor

Dane Carlson, Violin I adopted by Kirt & Kelly Minor

Daniel Cher, Violin I adopted by Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens

David Allmon, Trombone adopted by Jacqui Smith

David Dufour, Horn adopted by Hannelore Draper

David Herberg, Bassist adopted by Suesan Taylor

David Williams, Violin II adopted by Lynne Simpson, Jason & Stephanie Nielsen, Elaine Williams & Andrew Hanson, Robert & Ana Johnson, Warren R Williams 

Elizabeth Ingber, Viola adopted by Robert Fitt

Robert Fitt, Trumpet adopted by Don & Cathy Draper

Frank Rahn, Violin II adopted by Nichole Edraos & Jim Augustus

Garth Cummings, Cello adopted by Sheri Frumkin

Grant Parker, Bass adopted by Suesan & Barr Taylor

Hannah Yoshimoto, Violin adopted by Hanna & Yoshihiro Yoshimoto

Jane Zhang, Violin adopted by Gayle Flanagan

Jerry Saliman, Viola adopted by Dorothy Saxe

Jeff Wachtel, Bass adopted by Sheri & Michael Frumkin

Joel Greene, Oboe adopted by Al & Liz Dossa; Jim Fung

John Givens, Principal Bassoon Emeritus adopted by Juliet Hamak & George Yefchak

Johnathan Hsu, Tuba adopted by Yvonne Hampton

Jolynda Tresner, Viola adopted by Brian Holmes; Roy & Victoria Sasselli; Maureen Thrush

Jshon Thomas, Violin II adopted by Sheri & Michael Frumkin

Judy Streger, Violin I adopted by Alan & Spike Russell

Juliet Hamak, Bassoon adopted by John Givens

Justin Privitera, Horn adopted by Jing Hu & Yebin Shi

Kate Wahl, Violin adopted by Sheri & Michael Frumkin

Kathryn Barnard, Flute/Piccolo adopted by Kenneth Shirriff

Katharine Schmidtke, Violin II adopted by Jing Hu & Yebin Shi

Kay Saito Shafi, Flute/Piccolo adopted by Ronald S. Miller

Kirsten Shallenberg, Cello adopted by Jacqueline Smith

Kristin Chesnutt Oro, Violin II adopted by Karin Chesnutt, Dorothy Falman & Mildred Saxman

Kyoko Yamamoto, Bassoon adopted by John Givens

Lianne Araki, Oboe adopted by Patricia L. Griffin

Matt Springer, Violin I/Timpani adopted by Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens

Mia Stormer, Bassoon adopted by Joel Greene

Michael Bresler, Timpani/Percussion adopted by Celeste Everson Misfeldt

Michael Tong, Bass adopted by Suesan Taylor

Mike Marmarou, Trumpet adopted by Ronald S. Miller

Nathaniel Berman, Resident Conductor adopted by Lily Tian & Victor Ge

Nathaniel Echols, Bassoon adopted by Juliet Hamak & George Yefchak

Nicholas Toscan, Trumpet adopted by Robert Fitt

Nicole Galisatus, Clarinet adopted by Penny Barrows in memory of John Barrows

Noah Cort, Bassoon adopted by John GivensKyoko Yamamoto, Bassoon adopted by John Givens

Patricia Harrell, Flute/Piccolo adopted by Krista & Jerry Terstiege

Peter Cheng, Violin I adopted by Albert & Cheryl Cha

Rahul Iyer, Bass adopted by Suesan Taylor

Randy Nickel, Horn adopted by Diana Lloyd

Renée Tostengard, Violin I adopted by Juliet Hamak & George Yefchak

Robert Fitt, Trumpet adopted by Don & Cathy Draper

Ron Miller, Clarinet adopted by David Cone & Jacqui Smith

Sandra Larragoiti, Violin adopted by Brandon Martinez-Larragoiti

Sarah Wu, Violin adopted by Alan & Spike Russell

Scott Huddas, Violin adopted by Frank & Annette Rahn

Sue Magrini, Cello adopted by Monte Mansir & Susanne Stevens

Suesan Taylor, Bass adopted by Martin Chai & Gray Clossman

Susan Macy, Clarinet adopted by Jacqui Smith

Susanne Bohl, Violin II adopted by Diana Lloyd

Tara Iyer, Violin adopted by Pauline Roothman

Tetsu Ishihara, Cello, adopted by Marcia Leonhardt

Vineet Mehta, Violin II adopted by Sheree Kajiwara

Yukoh Hammura, Flute adopted by Nina Brody