President, Programs Chair
co: P.O. Box 590990
San Francisco, CA 94159
(415) 340-0715
About the Wagner Society
History
The Wagner Society of Northern California is part of a tradition dating back to 1871, when Richard Wagner inspired the founding of the Wagner Vereine in the hope that they would finance the first Bayreuth festival performance of Der Ring des Nibelungen. The drawing room at Wahnfried was painted with the coats-of-arms of all the German cities with Wagner Societies.
Today, the WSNC is one of many around the world which provide an opportunity for lovers of Wagner’s music — from the beginner to the sophisticate — to come together to share experiences, to learn, and to help promote appreciation and performance of the works of Richard Wagner.
The Society is characterized by the warmth and camaraderie which prevail among those sharing a deep common interest. The Society sponsors a variety of public programs and social events, publishes a quarterly journal, supports young Wagner artists through a grant program, sometimes provides tickets to Bayreuth, and maintains rewarding relationships with a distinguished group of Honorary Members.
Programs and Events
The Society holds meetings and events approximately monthly. Programs include scholarly lectures, interviews with prominent Wagnerian artists, film showings, recitals, panel discussions, exhibitions, and receptions for visiting performers. The Society has produced two complete operas: a concert performance of Der fliegende Holländer and a fully-staged Das Rheingold. Each December the Society celebrates the holidays with a “Cosima’s Birthday” party, and each May brings a gala Wagner’s Birthday banquet, often with a star or future star of the Wagnerian world as guest of honor.
Here, two of the great Wagnerian singers of our time and Honorary Members of the Society, the late Hans Hotter and the late Jess Thomas, with former WSNC president Verna Parino at a Society reception.
Grant Program
An important activity for the Wagner Society is to support the education and development of young Wagner artists and scholars. In 1985 the Society established the WILLIAM O. CORD MEMORIAL GRANT
FUND and created a Grant Committee to solicit and evaluate applications for support. Since then many promising young singers and production artists have been awarded grants, and several have
gone on to launch international careers.
Board of Directors
Correspondence and Book Stall
146 Westbrook Avenue
Daly City, CA 94015
(415) 264-0280
Editor: Leitmotive
323 Lansdale Avenue
Millbrae, CA 94030
(973)985-2418
Videographer
Webinar Co-Producer
Contact via WSNC: (415)340-0715
Social Media Coordinator
Contact: @beccaliao
Videographer
Treasurer, Webinar Producer
2119 Wilmington Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94596-6238
9411 Westside Road
Forestville, CA 95436-9501
1940 Delaware Street
Berkeley, CA 94709-2142
Chair: Membership, Bayreuth, Grants
198 Carnelian Way
San Francisco, CA 94131
(415) 641-4067
Social Committee Chair
1685 Bayridge Way, #201
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 773-1575
President,
Programs Chair
c/o Wagner Society of Northern California
P.O. Box 590990
San Francisco,
CA 94159-0990
(925) 285-3690 (cell)
Correspondence and
Book Stall
146 Westbrook Avenue
Daly City, CA 94015
(415) 264-0280
Honorary Members
(1925-2014)
(1905–1988)
(1918-2006)
(1909-2003)
England Conservatory of Music
Vocal Studio Faculty
(1939-2015)
General Music Director
Deutsche Oper – Berlin
Editorial Advisory Board
Stanford University
(1929-2018)
University of California, Berkeley
(Emeritus)
University of Wisconsin
Emeritus, Ohio State University
Dean, College of Arts and Architecture
Clemson University
University of California, Santa Barbara
Editor Emeritus, Leitmotive
(In Memoriam)
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