A radio disc jockey, an MBA/business consultant, a young scientist and a mix of medical specialists have found harmony, and they’ll get a chance to prove it tonight as the UCSF Orchestra performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Millberry Union gym

The make-up of the seven-member viola section is somewhat typical of the 50-member orchestra -- a collection of talented musicians whose main interests or occupations happen to be in fields other than music. “What’s nice, is that we all do this for fun,” says violist Sarah Gillmor, a UCSF graduate student in biochemistry and biophysics. “It’s not like in junior high when the only reason you practiced was because your parents forced you to.”

For each of its major concerts, such as tonight’s tribute to Brahms on the 100th anniversary of his death, the performers get together for eight or nine rehearsals.

The secret to the sweet sounding success of the viola section, she says, is that the members have learned to trust and listen to each other.

“I studied the violin and viola since age 9, and have played in various orchestras and chamber music sessions during my entire life,” says Tom Bodenhemier, a clinical professor of family and community medicine who spends most of his time with his patients in the Mission District and teaching a health policy class at UCSF. “I particularly like the UCSF Orchestra because the musicians are there for the love of music. There is a tremendous amount of talent in the orchestra, and conductor Jeremy Swerling is excellent.”

Jo Floyd, a business consultant to financial and health organizations, is one of two community members in the Orchestra’s viola section. “This group is representative of the diverse sides and interests of the UCSF community,” says Floyd, who finds the music not only enjoyable, but challenging as well.

In addition to Brahm’s Concerto for Violin and Cello, tonight’s Orchestra performance will include Beethoven’s “Fidelio Overture,” Debussy’s “Afternoon of a Faun” and Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite No. 1.”

Other members of the viola section are:

• Jacqueline Benet, whose connection to the UCSF Orchestra is a family affair. She heard about the orchestra through her father-in-law, Leslie Z. Benet, PhD, professor and chairman of the department of biopharmaceutical sciences. After graduation from East Carolina University (ECU) School of Music, she played with two symphonies while working full-time at the ECU Medical School in the Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory. She’s played with the UCSF Orchestra for nearly two years.

• Steve Dalton, a second-year resident in dermatology, who likes the flexibility of that specialty because it allows him to continue music. He says it seems he has always been in college orchestral or college preparatory music groups.

• Marcel Gamperli, a first-year medical student and accomplished musician who took two musical years off between an undergraduate biology degree (Harvard) and starting medical school. He performed at UCSF’s recent “Night at the Legion.”

• Rik Malone, who is also the new afternoon host at KDFC radio. He went to school at Oberlin and was the music director of WNCV radio station in New York before coming to San Francisco. Like others, he had been looking for a good orchestra to play in when he joined the UCSF group.

Tickets for tonight's performance are $5 for UCSF faculty and staff, $3 students, and $7 general public. The audience is invited to a reception following the concert. The UCSF Orchestra is sponsored by the Arts and Performances Program.

By Andy Evangelista

1st appeared 11/18/97

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