Don Kindred has four grown children. But his wife, Shellie, insists there’s also a 6-year-old running around.
That would be the Corona Symphony Orchestra.
At 65, why would he want to raise another “kid”?
“I’m passionate about music,” he said.
Kindred has led a fascinating life, from appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show” as a member of the San Francisco Boys Chorus and touring with the Vienna Boys Choir to a 42-year career in retailing.
Infusing Corona with some culture is the latest paragraph on his resume, and he’s done remarkably well since he and Shellie moved here 14 years ago.
Kindred had been playing string bass since the age of 9. But, he said, “it sat in the corner for 25 years” while raising kids, serving with the Navy in Vietnam and managing Sears’ stores got in the way.
“Then I started playing again all over the place, and I realized what local talent there was and no venue.”
So in 2008, he formed the Corona Symphony Orchestra.
“First I had to get a conductor.”
That would be Marco Mejia, who was then 22.
Mejia, who grew up in Riverside, recalled, “I had a friend who had worked with me in musical production and told me about the orchestra that was starting.”
What attracted him, interestingly enough, was the salary. There was none.
“The people in the orchestra wanted to be there. It’s not a job to them, so doing it is more enjoyable.”
Kindred hired him without hearing a note.
“It was just from conversations. I spent most of my life interviewing. It was a bit of a risk but it has paid off.”
You can hear how well it paid off on Saturday, March 15, by attending the orchestra’s spring show, “Hopeless Romantics,” featuring Sophia Park on violin and pieces by Dvorak, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky. The venue is Northpoint Church in Corona, beginning at 7 p.m.
Once Mejia signed up, Kindred recruited the orchestra, with a core group of 55 members ranging from 17 to 70.
“About half are Corona residents,” Kindred said. “Most have day jobs and are musicians on the side. Our flutist, for instance, works at Disneyland.”
Five weekly rehearsals are held prior to each of the three concerts each year. The sound is extraordinary, thanks to the talent of the musicians but also, Kindred said, to the acoustics at Northpoint, which seats about a thousand.
The Corona Symphony Conservatory is another cultural project Kindred has been successful in developing. The conservatory, which teaches cello and string instruments to students 7 to 17 years old, has grown from 13 to about 100 young people. School district music teachers teach the 13-week class.
Kindred is also president of Arts Alive, a formal performing arts council that represent a cross-section of Corona organizations. The include the Corona Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory, Circle City Chorale, Corona Arts Association, Corona Dance Academy, Christian Arts and Theatre, Kids Rock Free and Bridget Smith Photography.
Corona may have a way to go before art lovers confuse it with Laguna Beach or Monterrey. But thanks to Kindred and others, we may just get there.
CORONA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
HISTORY: Founded in 2008 by Don Kindred
MEMBERS: Core of 55 musicians, led by maestro Marco Mejia
CONCERTS: Three each year, including a summer concert with “lighter” family-oriented music
NEXT SHOW: Saturday, March 15, 7 p.m. “Hopeless Romantics” will feature Sophia Park on violin and pieces by Dvorak, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky.
LOCATION: Northpoint Church, 988 W. Ontario Ave., Corona.
TICKETS: Prices range from $12 to $14, and can be bought at the door, by calling 951-808-3281 or visiting www.coronasymphonyorchestra.org.
By B PETER FISCHETTI | Press-Enterprise
March 12, 2014 at 12:33 pm
