A Message from Chamber CEO Douglass Wilhoit:

April Weekend Offers a Sample Activities in Stockton 

MAY 2007 -- In spite of the rain and winds during the weekend of April 13, 14 and 15, it was a real great start to the first part of Spring and another banner weekend to continue silencing the naysayer’s, obstructionists and just plain old sticks in the Delta mud.

There was so much going on that weekend helping to show all the hard work, vision, risks and public and private investments (in both the present and future generations of Stocktonians), is truly paying great big dividends. We all had the opportunity to do so much with family and friends during that weekend along with so many weekends before and to come. I hope you take advantage of all that is offered.

There was the Downtown Art Walk, performances at the Bob Hope/Fox, the movies at the City Centre Cineplex, the ECHL playoffs for the Stockton Thunder, the home-opening victory by the Lightning which was decided by an exciting last-second field goal, both the parade/celebration by the Sikh community and the Cambodian New Year Celebration (continuing examples of our great diversity in Stockton), the Brubeck Festival, the Stockton Symphony and the Jazz on the Mile. These are just a few examples of what residents of Stockton and the region experienced and what some of you sadly missed if you did not venture out to enjoy your community.

With so much to choose to write about I will only key on The Brubeck Festival/Symphony and the Thunder but they are examples of the wonderful place we live and how we draw people from the region regardless of what the naysayer’s think and say.

It is very hard to describe what I and so many witnessed at the Stockton Symphony’s Classics VI performance but I feel The Record review did an excellent job in catching the excitement that took place at both performances! The concert was in two parts with the first being a WORLD PREMIER of Christopher Brubeck’s (son of Dave and Iola Brubeck) “Music is the Power” and powerful it was.

The Atherton Auditorium was filled with awe, standing ovations, smiles and tapping of feet during the performances that included: the fantastic musicians of OUR/YOUR symphony, vocalist Yvette Couvson (a Stagg High Graduate, winner of Stockton’s Apollo Night competition and now attending the University of the Pacific); the 260 strong voices of the combined forces of the Stockton Chorale, University of the Pacific Choral Ensembles and the San Joaquin Delta College Concert Choir; the talents of four local students, Megan Davey of Linden High, Nicolas Gerst of Weston Ranch High, Ashley Kimball of Lincoln High and Tassarah Weatherly of St. Mary’s High who provided the words put to music by Chris Brubeck.

The second half was just as enjoyable with the talented artists of the STOCKTON SYMPHONY performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor joined again by the 260 voices and with the beautiful voices of soprano Jessica Siena, mezzo-soprano Lisa van der Ploeg, tenor Daniel Ebers and baritone Michael Sokol. As I sit here now writing this article I still feel the excitement of the concert. The Atherton Auditorium was full of people from both Stockton and around the region who witnessed something very special. The STOCKTON SYMPHONY is celebrating its 80th year and I strongly encourage you to be part of the 81st year and beyond.

To continue with the specials of that weekend a packed house at the Faye Spanos Concert Hall on the Pacific campus witnessed a performance for the ages by Mr. Dave Brubeck showcasing The Dave Brubeck Songbook with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Roberta Gambarini (absolutely marvelous) and the performance of Mr. Brubeck’s Cannery Row Suite by the Quartet, Ms. Gambanni, Brubeck Institute artists and singers. It was such a thrill to witness a legend which started right here in Stockton and to be spellbound for several hours while absorbing the enormity of the moment and history.

This all continued on a windy Sunday April 15th with Jazz on the Mile held on Pacific Avenue at Tuxedo Circle. Over 500 of your fellow citizens and from around the area enjoyed the great sounds of talented musicians of the Capital Jazz Project, Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, Pacific Jazz Ensemble, Young Sounds of San Joaquin, and the Delta College Monday Night Big Band.

Thanks to all those who worked so hard to present the 2007 Brubeck Festival right here in Stockton, California and to those who supported the Festival and the outstanding, talented artists who entertained us. As Pacific President, Dr. Donald V. DeRosa stated both Friday night at the Faye Spanos Center Hall and again on Saturday morning at the incoming freshman profile day is that “it all started here, at Pacific in Stockton California.” It is a part of the history of Pacific and Stockton that Mr. Brubeck began his world wide musical journey here in the very hall he performed on Friday night and even more importantly he first met Iola (Mrs. Brubeck) in this very hall and there is a plaque by the door (NW) side of the hall where they first met. It was an evening for the ages and we truly thank Dave and Iola Brubeck for so many years of love, memories, music, giving of themselves to the world and most of all for giving so much to Stockton and its residents past, present and future!

The preceding was an example of the culture in this community and there is so much more for all of you to take advantage of with family and friends.

Also that weekend the Thunder gave this community and many people from other communities a great deal of excitement with ECHL playoff games with the Idaho Steelheads. I am sure you read in The Record the accounts of the weekend games but what I want to key in on is the feeling of a community in the Stockton arena. I watched as families, friends and our great population of diversity became one as we all cheered, stomped, yelled, applauded and high-fived family, friends and strangers alike. I watched as the Thunder players left the ice after warm ups to go to their locker room before the start of the game and there were a great number of young people and adults alike leaning over the rail to high five the Thunder players.

Every one of the players responded to the fans and, in that moment, I was further convinced, even if I did not have to be, that all the public investment made and being made along with a larger amount of increasing private investment is well worth it in spite of the dark cloud of negativity that is still floating in the air.

I hope that cloud will dissipate with the April 15th winds and the bright sun and blue skies of all that is good in Stockton will prevail and shine brightly. Please make it a habit to go to www.visitstockton.org on a regular basis to plan ahead for all the good things happening and going to happen in Stockton and the region.

Finally, and certainly not least I want to thank all who made the 26th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament on  April 9th a huge success. Thanks to the players, golf committee members, sponsors (especially Comcast), volunteers, Brookside Country Club staff,  Chamber Staff and those who donated raffle prizes for making it all happen. Please join us next year at Stockton Golf and Country Club for our 27th Annual Golf Tournament.