League History

The San Francisco League of the San Francisco Symphony was launched on October 16, 1980 at a luncheon held at the newly opened Davies Symphony Hall. The founding members, whose names appear in this Handbook, came from the merger of the Women’s Public Interest Committee of the Symphony Association and the Symphony Foundation. The Women’s Public Interest Committee began with fifty to sixty members. They sold season subscriptions, raised annual membership dues and produced the Black and White Ball. The Symphony Association’s role was largely administrative and corporate.

At this same time in 1980, the Volunteer Council was founded. It consisted of members of the Leagues of the Symphony Foundation that included Marin, Upper and Lower Peninsula, East Bay and Contra Costa and the newly formed San Francisco League. Members of the San Francisco League worked with the Volunteer Council to solicit underwriting for the construction of the Volunteer Council Offices. Wall plaques in the space attest to the generosity of members.

The Black and White Ball and Deck the Hall were the brain children of founding members Charlotte Shultz, Deborah Borda and Genelle Relfe. They dreamed these events up while sitting on the grand staircase during one of the five performances held during opening week of the new Davies Symphony Hall. While the Opening Gala and Black and White Ball were all-symphony events involving numerous groups and Leagues, the San Francisco League assumed leadership for them. It was also responsible for forming the membership of the Junior Women’s Committee. This Committee then assumed responsibility for the popular Deck the Hall fundraiser.

Over the years, members of the San Francisco League have presented unique and exciting fundraising events to support the Symphony. These have included: the first Opening Gala; the first Deck the Hall event; six biennial Fantasy Auctions; the Amadeus Theatre Party; Singapore Swing; Spring Swing; Evening with Blomstedt; the Hyatt Regency Opening Symphony of G Notes; the Palace Hotel Reopening; Vintage Stroll; Holiday Stroll; a Music Lecture Series; Prelude to Promenade; Consulate Promenade; Le Grand Tour and Promenade in 2000; White Nights in 2002; Cabaret in 2003; Moonlight Madness in 2004; award winning ‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous in 2005; and Paradise Found Preludes in 2006 prior to the Symphony’s Summer Festivals.

In 2007 the San Francisco League joined with Symphonix, in a ground breaking partnership, to present the Opening Night of the June Festival featuring Prokofiev’s Love of Three Oranges. 2008 brought the Supper Club to the Black and White Ball; 2009 featured A Grand Affair prior to the SFS Gilbert and Sullivan semi-staged concerts; and in 2010 the Black and White Ball with the Supper Club was again the centerpiece of the League’s fund raising efforts. In 2011 the League organized a sellout fashion show at Davies Symphony Hall in partnership with Neiman Marcus and designer Carolina Herrera. In celebration of the Symphony’s Centennial Year, the League participated in the magnificent, sold out 2011-2012 Opening Gala by sponsoring the pre-concert Symphony Supper in the Opera House. 

In 2013 the League launched a focus area: Supporting  Students not included in the SFS Adventures in Music Program. Students from the Immaculate Conception Academy were selected to receive tickets to attend Youth Orchestra concerts in 2013 and 2014. The League supported the 2013 Black and White Ball in June by hosting a fabulous Supper Club in the City Hall rotunda. The annual meeting was held in May in conjunction with the SFS production of the Janelle Monae concert. In 2014 the annual fundraiser, Orchids and All That Jazz, included a private tour and lovely luncheon at the annual Pacific Orchid Exhibition. The League participated in the sell out of the glorious 2014-2015 Opening Gala by sponsoring the pre-concert Symphony Supper in the Opera house. We had two fundraisers in 2014-2015: A wonderful Wattis room brunch and Dia de los Muertos Concert in the fall and, in the spring, an elegant Musical Adventures evening at 888 Brannan celebrating the Adventures in Music programs at the SFS. For the 2015-2018 seasons, the league focused on the Dia de los Muertos Brunch and Concert as the sole fundraising event in November. The 2019-2020 season marked the fifth annual Dia de los Muertos Brunch and Concert.

In addition to fundraising efforts, members of the League have worked behind the scenes to strengthen the organization. In 2008 Policies and Procedures were added to the Standing Rules and Job Descriptions. These are updated regularly to reflect the work of the League and are contained in the Handbook. The League also uses electronic storage for its minutes and operating documents, InTune newsletters, photographs, rosters and fundraising documents. Email is routinely used to communicate with members. Where possible, Evites are used for meeting invitations saving time and money for the League. The Member Handbook is now being distributed electronically.

The one hundred and sixteen Founding Members now number nearly one hundred and fifty Active and Associate members. Now forty years later seven of the original members are still actively working with the League. Building on the contributions of those who preceded them, current members work to increase support and commitment for the San Francisco Symphony.

The original History of the San Francisco League of the San Francisco Symphony was compiled by Marianne  Goldman, Genelle Relfe and Laine Buckingham. It is updated annually.