Shining A Spotlight On Our Star Volunteers

International Volunteer Day, mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985, is held each year on December 5. It provides an opportunity for organizations to celebrate the energetic efforts of their volunteers and to thank them for their contributions. Pacific Symphony is grateful for the incredible creativity and hard work of all our volunteers. For this year’s celebration of International Volunteer Day, we would like to shine a spotlight four of our star volunteers.

Rosalind Britton
As a member of Symphony 100, the Board of Counselors Governing Committee, an active volunteer with Pacific Symphony’s Saturday Morning Family Concert carnivals, and a costume coordinator for operas that have been adapted for our Family Series, Rosalind is hardly new to volunteering! What is amazing, however, is the ease at which she does each task and the creativity she infuses into each role. Recently, when invited to design the Symphony’s Holiday Tree for South Coast Plaza’s First Annual Pavilion of Holiday Trees for the Arts, Rosalind graciously accepted the invitation and threw herself into the theme of The Nutcracker. Designing hand-sewn decorations, creating one-of-a-kind musical scrolls using The Nutcracker score, and making sure each detail a work of art, Rosalind was at her finest! Thank you, Rosalind, for the love and perfection you bring to the Symphony and everyone you meet!

Brenda Hardwig
As an established volunteer with the Symphony, Brenda has been an amazing concert hall volunteer for several years. She has manned the Welcome Table in the Concert Hall more times than any of us can count. Her warmth and love of people are the perfect combination to make our concert guests feel welcome and important! Most recently, during COVID, Brenda has continued to volunteer with Pacific Symphony through her role as Corresponding Secretary for the League. She has called and sent notes of concern to League members to keep them engaged and to let them know that they are loved and cared about. Brenda is also a fantastic photographer and this year, one of her beautiful photos was selected by the League to grace their holiday card this month. Taking a cue from the League, Volunteer Services also invited Brenda to share another of her gorgeous photos with all the volunteers which was used in one of the weekly messages sent out by the Volunteer Services Department to our many volunteers. Thank you, Brenda, for the many ways you support Pacific Symphony!

Marilyn Liu
Marilyn has been volunteering as a skills-based volunteer with the Symphony for the past year. Marilyn’s personality and skills have made her a hit with all of our departments! She has worked on several high-level projects and during COVID has continued to share her expertise with the Volunteer Services and Development Departments, in particular. Marilyn takes on big projects with ease and always brings exciting and fresh eyes to our work. As staff, we are indebted to her for her commitment and follow-through. During 2019, she also joined the Pacific Symphony League and took on a leadership position as Membership Chair. Again, her original and creative ideas have added immeasurably to this group during the long months of quarantine. Thank you, Marilyn, for your dedication and enthusiasm!

Scarlet Baker
Scarlet became an apprentice intern with the Symphony this year in July after COVID began. Scarlet is presently earning her degree in Music Business Management with the Berklee School of Music in Boston, however, due to the pandemic, we have been very fortunate to have her remain located in Orange County. As an oboist, Scarlet has participated in the Pacific Symphony Wind Ensemble and worked closely with Carl St.Clair. Her energy and passion for excellence have made her a huge asset to the Volunteer Services Department where she has worked on projects for our general volunteer program, Pacific Symphony League, the new Pacific Symphony Store (online) and more. Thank you, Scarlet, for always bringing your best to all that you do!  

Abby Edmunds is Pacific Symphony’s Director of Volunteer Services. If you are interested in volunteering, you can reach her at aedmunds@pacificsymphony.org. You can read more about volunteering at Pacific Symphony here!