DJ Q&A: Nancy Jalonen, chair of the board of Music at Kohl Mansion

NJ: My passionate belief that to be a whole person one must have some form of the arts in one’s life comes from a lifetime of varied experiences. I grew up in a family who loved classical music, as well as all of the arts. With a mother who was a talented artist and a father who valued reading and the classics, it wasn’t surprising that to me the arts were a natural part of life.

DJ: What are some of your earliest memories of watching musical performances?

NJ: When I was 6, my parents took me to the then new Hollywood Bowl to hear “music under the stars.” I vividly remember seeing a thrilling staging of the opera “Die Walküre” there with live horses filing down the side of the mountain as the chorus sang that famous song.

DJ: You are a classically trained pianist. When did you first begin to study that skill and how did your studies progress?

NJ: I was 5 when I started piano lessons and progressed rapidly, learning a Mozart concerto when I was 12. Like all children, I hated practicing, but as I improved I realized the pleasure in creating something beautiful myself.

DJ: Are there teachers or mentors you would like to acknowledge?

NJ: My teacher, for many years in Santa Monica, was Evelyn Paddock Smith, who also taught us classes in harmony and theory — knowledge I’ve found invaluable. Frequent recitals also accustomed us to performing for an audience, as well as the concept of sharing one’s talents with others.

DJ: How did your formal schooling reinforce and help you develop your love of music and the performing arts?

NJ: In the happy days when schools substantially supported the arts, I was bussed in the fourth grade 20 miles to student concerts by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. My love of Mozart and Schubert symphonies surely started there.

DJ: When and how did you first become involved with Music at Kohl Mansion?

NJ: My husband loved chamber music and discovered Music at Kohl Mansion, which we started attending. I was charmed by the combination of the beautiful Great Hall, the superb acoustics, the proximity to the outstanding performers, and the variety of programming. Volunteering on the Education Committee, I was soon asked to be on the board, which is an active, working board of up to 21 members. While the concerts are the most publicly visible activity, the real value to the community is the outreach programs at the San Mateo Public Library, often to SRO audiences. Performed Saturday afternoons, featuring the performers playing a shorter version of Sunday’s program, they are free and provide an opportunity for seniors or those who cannot afford or attend the Sunday program to enjoy a wonderful music experience. Secondly, our Music Education programs in the schools reach hundreds of students yearly, from preschoolers to high school master classes. They are performed by professional musicians who enjoy engaging with children and perform age-appropriate programs for enthusiastic young audiences in classrooms and assemblies. The music includes a variety of styles, from classical to jazz. Once a year the Great Hall is filled with young children bussed in or brought by parents who enjoy an interactive program acquainting them with the basics of music. Collectively, our education and outreach programs serve students, teachers and families through enlivening, interactive presentations to enrich education, inspire understanding and enhance community.

DJ: You now serve as the chair of the board of Music at Kohl Mansion. What is the most enjoyable part of that role?

NJ: The pleasure of serving as chair of the board is seeing how all of our programs, administered by a small and brilliant staff, carry out our mission: “Inspired by the belief that the arts strength communities, we present world-class chamber concerts in the historic Kohl Mansion and music education in public schools on the San Francisco Peninsula. Our outreach programs provide access to interactive musical experiences for diverse populations of all ages.”

DJ: In 2023, Music at Kohl launched the first annual Nancy Jalonen Service Award, to honor the volunteer who has most loyally served that organization. What are your thoughts about the role volunteers serve in the community?

NJ: Volunteers are the lifeblood of every nonprofit organization. How to find out about volunteering? Easy. Select an organization whose work you admire, pick up the phone and call. Most nonprofits welcome new members and match their talents to the organization’s needs.

DJ: What advice would you give to parents about the importance of music education, both in the home and at schools?

NJ: Parents need to understand that they have the major responsibility to see that their children experience music as something to be valued, listened to and enjoyed as they develop their own tastes and talents. Babies respond to rhythms, toddlers love to dance and sing, children need to see their parents enjoying many kinds of music so that it becomes a natural part of their experience. Parents need to make sure that when their children begin school that the school provides a sound and positive music experience. This means making sure that music and the arts are funded by the school district and that qualified teachers are hired.

Next up at Kohl Mansion. The Nancy Jalonen Service Award will be presented to Catharine Riggs on Sunday, April 7, at the Music at Kohl Mansion concert featuring Korean-born pianist Joyce Yang in recital at 7 p.m. Music at Kohl Mansion is currently celebrating its 41st year with the 2023-24 season of international chamber music. Music at Kohl Mansion is located at 2750 Adeline Drive in Burlingame. For more information visit www.musicatkohl.org.

Susan Cohn is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association. She may be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com.