Sesquicentennial concert remembers history of arts in city

By: Kyle Hansen

Posted: 4/9/07

The stars were out and the lights were on as students, alumni, faculty and community members gathered at the California Theater last Wednesday night for a musical celebration of San Jose State University's 150th anniversary.

The sesquicentennial concert included a who's who of distinguished people from the San Jose area in the audience and Symphony Silicon Valley on stage along with performers from Opera San Jose and SJSU.

"This performance is going to give you the chance to see the talent in our students, faculty, staff and alumni," university President Don Kassing told the VIP reception at the Sainte Claire hotel ballroom before the concert. "And they are going to make you proud."

The mistress of ceremonies for the concert was Irene Dalis, the founder of Opera San Jose, who is also an SJSU alumna and former faculty member.

"It is particularly a great joy for me because I actually participated in the centennial concert," Dalis said. "I am very proud and happy with what has happened at the university. I am proud to be a San Jose State alumna."

Dalis told the audience how the 1957 concert was in the middle of two very important events in her own life - her first appearance at the New York Metropolitan Opera, where she would go on to perform for 20 years, and her marriage in the summer of that year.

After her retirement from the Metropolitan Opera in 1977, Dalis returned to SJSU to build the Opera program here. By 1984, the program was strong enough to be the basis for the founding of Opera San Jose.

"Without San Jose State University, there would not be an Opera San Jose," Dalis said.

SJSU Provost Carmen Sigler said that the concert was an indication of the impact SJSU has had on the local arts community.

"It is an opportunity to see how the university has contributed to the arts and culture," Sigler said. "Universities are centers of culture and San Jose State has been a major contributor to the arts in this area."

President Kassing also said that it is important for the university to be involved with the community with programs such as this concert.

"It is one of the fundamental things that we ought to be doing," he said. "There is so much energy in this city, we need to be a part of it. This university belongs to the city."

Alumna Susie Wilson said she has been involved with the university in various functions over the years, and suggested that the concert was an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the university.

"I think it is marvelous to be here," Wilson said. "It is wonderful. San Jose State has done really well as a university."

Kassing said that the university's 150th anniversary is just a part of the exciting things that are occurring at SJSU.

"Tonight is just one more example that something special is happening at San Jose State in 2007," Kassing said. "And it is not just our anniversary."

The concert began with the world premier of Craig Bohmler's piece "Overture 1-5-0." Bohmler, who conducted the symphony for his work, is a former SJSU faculty member. He has written seven musicals and three operas in addition to other choral works.

Gwendolyn Mok, the coordinator of keyboard studies at SJSU, performed three pieces on the piano, accompanied by the symphony under the direction of George Cleve.

Two members of Opera San Jose performed in the concert. Sopranos Lori Decter and Sandra Rubalcava are also both SJSU alumna. Each sang two pieces accompanies by the symphony and then sang a number together.

Former faculty member David Rohrbaugh led the symphony during the opera portion of the program.

SJSU students Maryam Parto, Amie Jan, Cole Tutino, Szuying Huang and Greg Messa also joined the symphony for the concert.

The concluding number was from Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 3," chosen in honor of Ira F. Brilliant, the founder of the Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies who died last fall. Brilliant's wife and son were in the audience for the performance.