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May 14th, 2010
San Diego Symphony musician, W. Gregory Berton, his wife, Rosanne, and their family have created the Berton Family Charitable Trust, an irrevocable charitable remainder trust valued at more than $300,000 naming the San Diego Symphony as beneficiary, and have placed land which they own in Lincoln City, Oregon in the trust. The proceeds of the trust will be received by the Symphony within 15 years.
Greg has played bass for the San Diego Symphony for 27 years. He has served not only as a distinguished musician in our orchestra, but also in numerous volunteer positions for the benefit of the orchestra including chairman of the Orchestra Committee and member of the Board of Directors.
Rosanne is a quilt artist. She retired from University of California, San Diego after a 25-year administrative career in various surgery and medicine divisions, most notably the medicine/pediatrics residency program and cardiothoracic surgery program as administrative manager and textbook editor.
San Diego Symphony’s education program, which includes its Young People’s Concerts, reaches more than 42,000 students annually. As an acknowledgement of appreciation, this student concert series will be renamed the San Diego Symphony Berton Family Young People’s Concerts.
“Over the past 27 years that Rosanne and I have been associated with the San Diego Symphony we have been delighted to watch the orchestra grow into one of the leading arts organizations in San Diego. As the Symphony prepares to celebrate its centennial season under the leadership of music director Jahja Ling and executive director Ward Gill, we cannot help but be impressed with the artistic and financial success of this great institution,” states Berton. “We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Symphony’s Board of Directors and the dedicated staff.”
The Berton Family gift coincides with the impending launch of San Diego Symphony’s centennial season and the start of the Symphony’s Summer Pops Series. San Diego Symphony is the first orchestra in California to reach the milestone of 100 years. The Symphony will kick off the centennial with its annual Tux ‘n Tennies Summer Bash featuring five-time Grammy Award-winning Toni Braxton at its outdoor venue, Embarcadero Marina Park South, on Saturday, June 26.
Following the 11-week Summer Pops Series, the Symphony will move back to its downtown indoor venue, Copley Symphony Hall. Led by music director Jahja Ling, the orchestra will feature a stellar lineup of Jacobs Masterworks guest artists from October 2010 through May 2011 including Sir James Galway, Lang Lang and Dame Evelyn Glennie. World renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will appear as special guest artist at the San Diego Symphony’s Centennial Gala, Opus 2010, later this year on December 3.
Commenting on the Bertons’ gift, music director Jahja Ling stated, “You have set an example which will be an inspiration to all of us who love the orchestra. The legacy of this gift will last for generations and will influence our children and grandchildren as they enjoy and appreciate classical music in the years to come. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
In addition to the previously mentioned Jacobs Masterworks, Summer Pops and Young People’s Concerts, the 80-member San Diego Symphony also performs the Winter Pops led by principal pops conductor Marvin Hamlisch, Symphony Exposed and Family Festival concerts. Also during the centennial season, the Symphony will introduce its newest offering, the Chamber Music Series.
Mitchell R. Woodbury, president of the Symphony’s board of directors, added his thoughts stating, “This gift not only underscores the tremendous generosity of Greg and Rosanne Berton, it also serves as a leading example to potential donors as momentum for the Symphony’s centennial builds.”
Woodbury continued, “While most organizations look outside their ranks for major gifts, the Bertons’ gift comes from one of the Symphony’s musicians and his family, demonstrating a solid relationship within the Symphony family. It just doesn’t get any better than that.”
Rosanne Berton, who attends as many concerts as possible, was instrumental in making this gift happen and seeing that the transition went smoothly.
“Our gift to endow the Young People’s Concerts is a commitment to the orchestra and to the future of classical music,” state Berton. “We urge our educational leaders to make the Young People’s Concerts not merely special events, but a part of every school’s curriculum. We hope that our gift will inspire others to join us and support the San Diego Symphony.”
The Berton Family resides in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego.
If you would like to create a Charitable Remainder Unitrust for the San Diego Symphony, please call Jane Rice at 619.237.1966.
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