ever since. Some of our musicians
have been with us since day one,”
Redfern said.
The orchestra incorporated as South
Valley Symphony Association, Inc.
back in 1977, and in 1979, it attained
501(c)(3) non-profit status. A key
aspect of SVS’s longevity is that, at
its core, it’s a community symphony.
Ashley Jung, second flutist and student
of SVS oboist Vini Carter is proud to be
associated with an orchestra comprised
of people in her own community.
“Under the guidance of an
accomplished conductor, Anthony
Quartuccio, all of the members come
together as a unified whole to produce
music for their own ears, and for the
ears of their audience members,” Jung,
one of SVS’s youngest members, said.
“Community orchestra is rapidly
taking on a new role across the country,
and South Valley is at the cutting edge,”
Quartuccio said.
“What was once more of a hobby,
an excuse for musicians to dress up
in their Sunday best and play for
family and friends, is now a vocation
and service to our community. We’ve
eliminated the formalities of early
twentieth century and broken the
generation gap to provide a multi-
generational music experience.”
SVS encourages local music lovers to
make their way to the Gavilan College
stage, or, on Mother’s Day, to Mission
San Juan Bautista, to hear and enjoy
musical productions performed by a
professional orchestra made up of com-
munity members, people they know.
“We’re their neighbors. We’re the
people they see in the store, at church.
We’re the motorcyclist that goes by, we
are everyone,” Olivier Blount said.
Mary Anne Groen feels the
symphony is the perfect family event.
“We always invite our audience up to
the stage afterwards, and if any kids are
curious about instruments, we invite
them up.” She wants to encourage kids
to “get off the Netflix, and come to a
live performance.”
For Olivier Blount, SVS isn’t just a
community orchestra, it’s family. She
62
and her husband of 47 years, Walker
Blount, both played in their high school
orchestra, and both now play for SVS.
Walker is the principal clarinet.
“Because we’re a family, I think we
sound better, we play better,” she said.
“Then I look over, and just like when I
was in high school, there’s my husband.”
Her only wish for SVS is that it
continues to grow and “to be a bet-
ter orchestra.” To accomplish this
goal, she said “SVS needs to continue
performing, but more importantly, they
need people to listen. Come to all of the
concerts, they’re all wonderful.”
Quartuccio agrees, “Our musicians
want to connect with the community,
like family, and our hope is that every-
one goes home touched by something
they’ve heard from our symphony.”
Learn more online at southvalley-
symphony.org.
Ashley Jung, second flutist and stu-
dent of SVS oboist Vini Carter
The South Valley Symphony practicing for it’s 44 th season that will kick-off with a benefit
concert on October 1 st at Guglielmo Winery.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
gmhtoday.com