Music Festival 2001 - Ben Zander

Highlights of the 7th Annual Music Festival for Mental Health

September 15, 2001

Ben Zander and Shari embrace at the concert's conclusion.

Despite great tragedy in the United States one week before, more than 300 generous donors and friends came together to make Napa’s Seventh Annual Music Festival for Mental Health a major success on a perfect fall day.

Held at the Staglin Family Vineyard on Saturday, September 15, Jeanne Robertson, vice-president of NARSAD (National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) announced that this year’s Festival raised $2.1 million in new gifts and pledges, bringing the total over the last seven years to $8.6 million.

Held at the end of a never-to-be-forgotten week, Garen Staglin, co-host of the event, dedicated the concert to those who lost their lives in the New York and Washington, DC tragedies.

"This festival was conceived seven years ago as a celebration of life. We certainly considered the appropriateness of holding the event this year in light of the tragedy, but honestly felt that it would be a victory for the terrorists if we didn’t hold it; a victory they didn’t deserve," said Staglin. "We are engaged in a struggle of major proportions to fight for the cures for mental illness which continues to affect 20 million Americans annually."

Featured speaker Dr. Louann Brizendine.

Shari Staglin, CEO of Staglin Family Vineyard, added, "We also wondered if practically this Festival could really happen in the face of severe travel restrictions; however, two of the festival donors stepped forward and offered to fly the Boston conductor and a key sponsor here."

Four top Napa Valley chefs also volunteered to replace the originally slated New York chef, Wayne Nish of March restaurant, which completed the magical day filled with science, wine, music, gourmet food and inspiration, all for the benefit of mental health research.

As part of the Music Festival, a Scientific Symposium was held in which Dr. Sam Barondes, director for Neurobiology and Psychiatry at UCSF moderated. In the remarks of Dr. Louann Brizendine, director of UCSF’s Women’s Hormone Clinic, she stated, "the World Health Organization has projected that by 2003, depression will be the number one disease in the world, surpassing diabetes, heart disease and others."

Dr. Peter Whybrow explains a new discovery in depression research.

Dr. Peter Whybrow, director of UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute presented findings on depression caused by tragic events. Dr. Tyrone Cannon of UCLA presented information on the first multidisciplinary schizophrenia prevention clinic, which was launched under his leadership in July and is entirely funded by Music Festival proceeds.

April Gargiulo shows Narsai David her latest Pinot Grigio at the reception.

"I found the information incredibly valuable in understanding what some of my friends and family are dealing with, and that successful treatment is possible," said Ellen Walsh, president of Food and Beverage International magazine, one of the attending guests.Following the symposium, a reception was held in the Staglin’s new 22,000 square feet of underground winery caves, featuring fine wines from over 40 premium wineries from Napa Valley, Sonoma, Washington and Oregon, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres by Chef Jan Birnbaum, who volunteered his time throughout the day and evening. Many vintners and winemakers left their fields and wineries during harvest to come together to donate their wines and help out personally at this event "This is the best wine tasting I’ve ever been to," said Narsai David, noted Bay Area Food and Wine personality.

Maestro Benjamin Zander leads the crowd in "Ode to Joy."

Guests reassembled later in the afternoon for a concert featuring musicians from the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Benjamin Zander of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO). Said Zander, "After so much pain, it is affirming to hear music. Music informs, invigorates and shapes us into people we want to be."
The concert, including works from Mozart, Dvorak, Brahms, Elgar, Sousa, Beethoven and Mahler, was both healing and uplifting. Particularly inspiring was a toe-tapping rendition of the "Stars and Stripes Forever" with dual piccolo solos. The entire audience came forward to sing "Ode to Joy" as a finale with the orchestra.

Chefs Jan Birnbaum (center), Bob Hurley (second from right), and Ken Frank (right) and assistants save the day.

Garen Staglin expressed the mood succinctly, "I feel like we’ve just had a massage for the soul."

Rounding out the evening was a four-course dinner under the stars prepared by volunteer Chefs Jan Birnbaum of the Catahoula in Calistoga, Carmine Quagliata of Tra Vigne in St. Helena, Ken Frank of La Toque in Rutherford and Bob Hurley of Yountville. During the dinner, guests joined in singing "America the Beautiful." At evening’s end, Peter Hiers, a volunteer wine steward said, "I’m so glad they were able to go ahead with the event because I was looking for a way to give."

Learn more about 2008's upcoming Music Festival for Mental Health