In the Fall of 1962, I started as YPSO's Principal 2nd violinist. The next season, I won the audition for the concertmaster spot. Peter Hansen challenged my position after every concert. He wanted the concertmaster spot for the Spring Concert where he was going to be the concerto soloist. It was a great life experience to enter the competitive world of music. The experience led us both to work at our best. Peter won the audition for the Spring Concert.
During my tenure in the orchestra, the Kiwanis Club of Berkeley wanted a student representative to their scholarship committee. That is when I learned about Kiwanis and the work they do in the community. After college and returning to Berkeley, I worked for five years at the San Francisco Symphony Coordinating their educational programs. That is where I met and worked with David Ramadanoff.
In 1979, I joined Kiwanis and renewed my association with YPSO. Among my tasks as a Kiwanian was to put together the YPSO Program booklets. Kiwanians sold ads and I learned how to cut and paste ad copy into the programs which were then printed at Professional Press, a Kiwanian's print shop in Berkeley. The booklets were on 8.5 x 11 format and were 32 pages of various size ads. I did that for two seasons. Then I joined the YPSO board and for one season followed Virginia Shirley as Board President. We had several "angels" during that time who gave substantial contributions for the orchestra's success. It has been terrific to see the growth of the Orchestra under David Ramadanoff. He has played a major role in building something very special.
I continue my association with Berkeley Kiwanis, having served as President, Secretary and Lt. Governor. It is remarkable that Kiwanis support for YPSO started with the founding of the orchestra under Jessica Marcelli and continues to this day, now more than 75 years later.