Music Festival 2006 - Brian Wilson

Highlights of the 12th Annual Music Festival for Mental Health

September 16, 2006

Brian Wilson and his band kick out the jams at the 12th annual Music Festival for Mental Health.

Peter Paul, the Festival's first $1,000,000 donor, receives a 5-liter etched bottle of 2001 Staglin Cabernet in thanks.

September 16, 2006 – Rutherford, Napa Valley, Calif. – Attendees were all smiles at the Staglin Family Vineyard as music legend Brian Wilson and celebrated chef Suzanne Goin joined co-hosts Shari and Garen Staglin at the Twelfth Annual Music Festival for Mental Health on Saturday, September 16th, 2006. More than 500 donors and friends came together under beautiful sunny skies in a celebration of life and the raising of awareness into the causes and cures for physiological brain disorders. The guests roared their approval when Garen and Shari announced the event had raised an astonishing $3.8 million. In addition, Peter T. Paul, of Paul Financial Corporation was announced as the Festival's first Million Dollar Supporter, and was greeted with a sustained standing ovation. Shari Staglin presented Paul with a special etched 5 liter of 2001 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon, and Paul issued a friendly challenge that he would like company at the million-dollar level. Garen and Shari promised him just that, to be announced at the 2007 benefit, which drew more applause from the crowd. The record amount raised this year is more than double the total raised from the 2005 event, and Garen Staglin added that the Festival’s twelve-year total, including new grants from the National Institute for Mental Health, is almost $32 million.

“Our hope is that what we're accomplishing here motivates other individuals to get involved and to do the same thing," said Shari Staglin. “We'd love for our success to act as a catalyst for others to join in the search for the cure for mental illness.” The record $3.8 million raised continues the Music Festival’s ongoing status 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.

Daniel Weinberger, M.D., gives a fascinating talk on the genetics of brain disorders.

”Research progress is accelerating through cooperation and communication among scientists around the world,” said Garen Staglin. “The generosity of many individuals, corporations, vintners, chefs, and volunteers allows us to achieve the record breaking success of this year’s event. With everyone’s continued support, we are committed to finding the causes and cures for mental disorders in our lifetime,” added Staglin.

The program for the Music Festival began with an open-to-the-public scientific symposium at which Dr. Daniel Weinberger, M.D., of George Washington University and the NIMH, delivered a fascinating lecture and discussion, focusing on issues relating to physiological brain disorders, the current state of research and the promises of the future. The lecture and presentation was taped, and can be seen on Google Video now.

Scientists Bill Byerly, Sophia Vinogradov and 2006 Staglin/NARSAD "Rising Star" award winner Eva Anton at the symposium

At the conclusion of his lecture, Dr. Weinberger was joined on stage by Shari and Garen Staglin to present the 2nd Annual $250,000 Staglin Family/NARSAD Schizophrenia “Rising Star” research award to Dr. Eva Anton, from the University of North Carolina. Dr. Anton is a very talented scientist working in the molecular biology of the development of the brain, particularly the region of the cortex. Dr. Anton is investigating how the gene NRG-1 guides the young brain in growing its cell structures, and how malfunctions in this guidance may form a basic cause of schizophrenia. The $250,000 grant the award provides will substantially support his project's continued success.

Chef Greg Cole with his Prime Rib sandwiches at the reception

An afternoon reception held in the winery caves featured fine wines from 60+ ultra-premium wineries in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Washington, and Canada including rare “cult” Napa Valley wines. Hors d’oeuvres by Chef Greg Cole of Cole's Chop House and Celadon, both in Napa, perfectly complemented the outstanding wines made generously available by wine country vintners, including Abreu Vineyards, Bond, Colgin Cellars, Emilio's Terrace, Gargiulo Vineyards, Flowers, Forman, Harlan, Hundred Acre, O'Shaughnessy Estate, Pahlmeyer, Lewis, Lokoya, Peter Michael, Pride Mountain Vineyards, Rudd, Scarecrow, Screaming Eagle, Shafer, Silver Oak, Sloan, Staglin Family, and more.

Dr. Craig Van Dyke cuts a rug with wife Ann.

Guests reassembled later in the afternoon for an incredible performance by Grammy winning music legend and co-founder of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and his band. During the second number, attendees could no longer remain seated, and an impromptu dance party raged until the final note, as Wilson performed many of the Beach Boys greatest hits, along with some of his own favorites. Brian Wilson prevails everyday over schizo-affective disorder, and is one of the most famous and accomplished artists of all time who suffers from this illness. Guests were quick to realize the historic performance by Wilson and showed their appreciation throughout the concert. After a rousing encore, Garen Staglin auctioned off one of Brian Wilson's guitars, and Wilson autographed the guitar for the lucky winner. After spirited bidding, the gavel came down at $60,000, with a last-second bid from the rear of the concert tent by a mystery woman from the Adalyn Jay Foundation.

Chef Suzanne Goin relaxes after dinner, with husband David Lentz.

The event culminated in a fantastic five-course dinner under the stars prepared by Chef Suzanne Goin of Lucques Restaurant in West Hollywood, the 2006 Beard Award for Best California Chef. Goin dazzled guests who enjoyed her culinary talents as they dined under the stars throughout the Staglin gardens. Volunteer sommeliers, led by Michael Greenlee, wine director at Gotham Bar & Grill in New York, 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 in the gardens, which has been the scene of several other impromptu fund raising opportunities in the past. Next year’s festival will be held on September 8, 2007 at the Staglin Family Vineyard, Rutherford, Calif. Attendees will once again be treated to celebrity chef, the world's best wines, and the Staglins have promised another stellar musical personality to entertain guests.

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