4 newportbeachindy . com JUNE 9 , 2023

Hutchins Consort performs at the gala / photo by Chris Trela

By Christopher Trela | NB Indy

The Corona del Mar-based Hutchins Consort may perform on classical music instruments , but that doesn ’ t mean they limit themselves to classical music .

Case in point : the Hutchins Consort ’ s annual fundraising gala concert and dinner , held this year on Sunday , April 23 at the Balboa Bay Resort and attended by more than 100 Hutchins Consort devotees .

For last year ’ s gala , the Hutchins Consort focused on “ Sea Shanties and Scalawags .” This year ’ s theme was “ Ballads , Broncos and Buckaroos ,” and the music matched the theme , as did the décor and the dress code .

Susan , Cam , Alanna , Campbell and Barbara Woods / photo by Ann Chatillon

Quick explanation : The Hutchins Consort is a group of musicians that play on different sized violins , from a tiny treble violin to a large seven-foot contrabass , all designed and built by the late luthier Dr . Carleen Hutchins . Her research into the acoustic properties of string instruments resulted in an innovative process called free-plate tuning — a precise method of refining the top and back plates of a violin before it is assembled to bring it to peak acoustic performance .

This year ’ s gala began with a reception and a silent auction . Many attendees donned western wear and bid on a variety of silent auction items ranging from concert tickets to logo wear from the Boot Hill museum to western-themed coffee mugs , puzzles , and other items .

Next came a performance by the Hutchins Consort , who performed familiar western music including Rossini ’ s William Tell Overture ( the theme to The Lone Ranger ), music from Sergio Leonne westerns including “ The Good , the Bad and the Ugly ,” several Fandangos ( many American cowboy tunes are based on music with a Spanish origin ), and a sing-along to “ Home on the Range .”

After the performance came dinner . Table centerpieces were westernthemed . Dinner featured a wintergreen salad , and entrees of glaze short rib , seared Atlantic salmon , or stuffed portobello mushroom .

Adding to the theme of the evening . The program listed the names of the lawmen and outlaws – and their bios – after whom the tables were named , including Butch Cassidy , Sundance Kid , Wyatt Earp , Doc Holiday , Kit Carson , Calamity Jane , Billy the Kid , and several other famous names of the wild west .

For more information , visit www . hutchinsconsort . org .

EDITORIAL

EDITOR Christopher Trela christopher @ newportbeachindy . com

DESIGN / PRODUCTION

CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell

SALES

ADVERTISING SALES TEAM Julie Coleman , Carol Josepher , Chris Mattingley ; Dawn Lindeman

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tina Leydecker tina @ firebrandmediainc . com

ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION : Tel : 949-715-4100 | Fax : 949-715-4106

PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer

PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Scott Sanchez

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Tiffany Thompson

MAILING ADDRESS : 900 Glenneyre Street , Suite B , Laguna Beach , CA 92651 | Tel : 949-715-4100 | Fax : 949-715-4106 | www . newportbeachindy . com