The La Jolla Symphony and Chorus (LJS&C) will kick off its 2011-12 season on Oct. 15 with its fourth annual gala, “Fly Me to the Moon.” The gala, held at the Marriott Del Mar, will include two auctions, a hosted reception and dinner, and entertainment by the 16-piece swing band Big Band Express. The event will also feature a special treat — a tribute to critic, journalist, arts advocate and La Jolla Village News theater writer Charlene Baldridge. Baldridge will be the first to receive a new annual award given by the LJS&C to recognize individuals who exhibit excellence in community arts advocacy. She will be honored as the “2011 Arts Angel.” Baldridge said she is not used to receiving recognition for what she does. “A freelance writer seldom receives feedback. After 30 years of arts journalism, you begin to feel like you’ve been yelling into the wind,” she said. “Occasionally, someone stops you in public, not to disagree, but to say, ‘I read you all the time and just wanted to say thanks.’ I count these on the fingers of just two hands.” For more than 30 years, Baldridge has been involved in the art and theater scene in San Diego. She has advocated for upstart theater groups and has supported musical ensembles both small and large during her time as a writer and member of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. “Charlene’s gift to us is her curiosity, her acute eyes and ears, and her consistent ability to hold high critical standards while strengthening the fabric of local art-making,” said LJS&C director Steven Schik. “Charlene is a pioneer of San Diego arts coverage and a community treasure.” The award, Baldridge said, came at a time when she was particularly glad — and shocked — to receive it. “When you look around and realize you’re a woman of a certain age and you’ve been doing this way too long, you feel maybe you need to pack it in. The truth is, I’m too addicted to stop,” she said. “Then life deals you the worst imaginable personal blow, and you’re on the canvas, waiting for the count. This surprising recognition by Steve Schick and La Jolla Symphony came at that time. I was in Santa Fe, distracting myself with five operas in five days, when [executive director of the symphony] Diane Salisbury’s email came asking if I’d accept. Would I? Oh, yes. I’m thrilled and grateful and elated.” Baldridge said it was not only an honor to receive the award, but to receive it from such a distinguished organization. “La Jolla Symphony is special in that they do the unusual and the difficult and the amusing — and they do it all with skill, dedication and excitement,” she said. The Symphony’s 57th season, “Stravinsky Circus!” will start on Oct. 29 with a program of music from Paris:?Stravinsky’s “Symphonies of Wind Instruments,” Debussy’s “Danse Sacree et Danse Profane,” Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite” and Stravinsky’s “The Rite of?Spring.” “We have chosen Stravinsky as the thread of this season’s La Jolla Symphony and Chorus concerts for a lot of reasons,” Schick said. “It’s music that is beautiful, breathtaking, often very moving, and always extremely provocative. It is also music that defined its age so strongly that its echoes continue to propagate to the present time.” For more information, call (858)?534-4637 or visit www.lajollasymphony.com.
