Guild
Margery Barnings is President of the Guild for 2012-2013.
Each season the Rio Hondo Symphony Guild, the orchestra's major support group, hosts a Concert Preview on the Friday morning prior to each concert.
Music lovers gather at 10 a.m. at the First Friends Church of Whittier, 13205 Philidelphia Street. After light refreshments, an expert in the field of music offers fascinating facts and anecdotes about the composers and the concert offerings. Guests are always welcome.
Each year the guild provides financial assistance to the orchestra through its annual Garden Tour and other fundraisers. Last year it raised $13,500 for the orchestra's ADMISSION-FREE concerts.
Meet the Guild President - Margery Barnings
Margery Barnings, an avid gardener and violinist from Downey, has been elected President of the Rio Hondo Symphony Guild for the 2012-2013 concert season. Previously she served as President from 2007-2009.
A dedicated musician, Barnings played with the Downey and Rio Hondo symphony orchestras for almost 20 years. For the last 15 years she has shown her loyalty to the local orchestra by serving on the Guild' board in various capacities. She has been the Vice President in charge of the Concert Previews several times.
Barnings learned to play the violin from her mother when she was a child. Later, she performed in high school and college orchestras and sang in glee clubs. It was only after she raised her three children and retired from teaching that she was again able to focus on the violin.
An avid gardener, Barnings provides most of the flowers for most of the Guild's functions.
Children's Concerts
Escorting 2,400 4th and 5th graders in and out of the Vic Lopez Auditorium is no small undertaking and the Symphony Association couldn't do it without the help of the Guild Volunteers. Their reward? Just seeing all of those enthusiastic, awestruck kids enjoying their first concert is a pure delight.
Young Artists Competition (YAC)
Guild volunteers have the pleasure of meeting the 25 aspiring young musicians while checking them in and escorting them to the rehearsal rooms.
The guild helps the Symphony Association financially by raising funds for the winners of the YAC through its Miriam Goins Scholarship Fund. This year winners will receive $1,000. The Guild also pays for the competition judges.
Concert Ushers
Various community groups from throughout the area are invited to usher at the concerts. The Guild's Usher Chairman administers this activity.
Ushers in red shirts of sponsor Target at concert on September 28, 2008
Guild Bylaws Revision May 2009
The Guild Bylaws revisions were voted in at the General Meeting on May 1, 2009. A copy of the current Guild ByLaws may be downloaded below.
Please Join Us!
Membership in the Guild is $25. For more details please call 562-696-1782.