Music Festival 2005 - Roberta Flack

Highlights of the 11th Annual Music Festival for Mental Health

September 10, 2005

Roberta Flack spots a fan.
(photo: Shellene Hanan)

More than 500 donors and friends came together on a balmy Saturday at our Eleventh Annual Music Festival for Mental Health, raising $1.7 million and savoring a spectacular program of wine, food, and music. The event was the latest in Staglin Family Vineyard's campaign to support the research and treatment of physiological brain disorders. The Festival's eleven-year total, including grants from the NIMH, is now fast approaching $28 million.

The $1.7 million raised continues the Music Festival’s record as the highest grossing fund-raising event related to wine without an auction. With 100 percent of the expenses underwritten by its sponsors, all proceeds go directly to scientific research and treatment programs, including those at UCSF, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Southern Florida, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the Roskamp Institute studying Alzheimer’s, as well as research awards through NARSAD (National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) plus Aldea, Inc. of Napa and Sonoma.

Dr. Cannon's message: prodromal treatment can prevent brain disorders before they begin.
(photo: Shellene Hanan)

The program for the Music Festival began with an open-to-the-public scientific symposium at which Dr. Tyrone Cannon, Chief Scientist for UCLA, and Director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, provided a fascinating presentation on Early Detection and Prevention of Major Mental Illness. The lecture described the activities of the Center for the Assessment & Prevention of Prodromal States at UCLA and the significant progress made using common diagnostic techniques and early intervention of psycho-pharmacology to delay the onset of a psychotic break among patients at high risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Dr. Cannon also put forth the promising research identifying a gene on Chromosome 1 that appears to have clear correlation to patients with schizophrenia. The potential to utilize this, plus possibly other genes identified in the future, is a part of the diagnostic approach to early intervention of psycho-pharmacology to delay and ultimately prevent the onset of schizophrenia.

Although unable to attend due to recovery efforts for Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Daniel Weinberger, M.D., chief, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Clinical Brain Disorders Branch (CBDB), gave a video introduction of Dr. Cannon, and also commented on the work of Dr. Linda Brzustowicz, recipient of the First Annual Staglin Family Schizophrenia $250,000 “Rising Star” research award, which is also focusing on genes identified with mental illnesses. Copies of Dr. Cannon’s presentation are available in PowerPoint format on request. Dr. Sam Barondes, Director of the Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry at UCSF, moderated the lecture and the question and answer session that followed.

Scott Tyree directs the festival's wine service.
(photo: Shellene Hanan)

An afternoon reception held in the winery caves featured fine wines from 70+ ultra-premium wineries in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Washington, and Canada including rare “cult” Napa Valley wines. Hors d’oeuvres by Chef Donna Scala of Bistro Don Giovanni included Tuscan chicken liver crostini and a potato and green tart. Guests reassembled later in the afternoon for an incredible 90 minute performance by diva Roberta Flack. Among the many favorites she performed were Killing me Softly, Don’t Rush Your Life, and Human Kindness is Overflowing, which captured the spirit of generosity and hope shared by the donors and guests of the Festival. At numerous occasions, Roberta encouraged the more than 500 guests to join her in singing some of her famous lyrics.

Rounding out the program was a five-course dinner under the stars prepared by Chefs Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand of Tru Restaurant in Chicago. Words such as “awesome,” “fantastic,” and “delicious” were heard throughout the garden dining area under the stars. Volunteer sommeliers, led by Wine Director Scott Tyree of Tru, provided wine service, featuring the library wines of STAGLIN FAMILY VINEYARD. The evening concluded with dancing on a specially constructed dance floor on top of the Staglins’ swimming pool which has been the scene of several other impromptu fund raising opportunities in the past. Not to spoil the tradition, guests were invited to “bid” for requests of their favorite songs. Top bidder was David Reis of New York who selected “La Bamba” to be his highlight of the evening for a pledge of $25,000!

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