The Downey Symphony performing at Furman Park. Photo by Alex Dominguez

Downey Doings is a new column by Downey Patriot poetry editor Lorine Parks. The column will feature Parks' interactions and observations at community social events.

DOWNEY – Wednesday night at Furman Park, golden trumpets from Star Wars rang out and cymbals clashed. John Williams’s powerful score can be an overwhelming experience when performed up close and personal by a great classical group like our Downey Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Conductor Sharon Lavery.

At twilight, Miss Downey greeted the audience of music lovers seated on the lawn, along with Miss Teen Downey, Junior Miss Downey and Little Miss Downey and the court of Princesses. These young women and girls serve all year as ambassadors for the Downey Rose Float Association and the City of Downey.

Mayor Pro Tem Rick Rodriguez gave a warm reception on behalf of the City Council, and then Chairman Don Marshall of the parent Downey Symphonic Society Board of Directors welcomed the assembly and announced the dates for the coming Symphony season in the Downey Theatre.

Don Marshall, president of the Downey Symphonic Society. Photo by Alex Dominguez

Save Oct. 18 for the premiere of Oscar Navarro’s flamenco-flavored Clarinet Concerto, which Oscar is coming from Spain to supervise. The Spanish Consul in Los Angeles is expected to attend. Downey is on the music world’s global map, thanks to Navarro’s much acclaimed Downey Overture, which has been performed at Carnegie Hall, and at Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Philharmonic.

The Downey Symphony Orchestra’s performance in the Park is offered free to the public by the Symphonic Society. Families clustered on the lawn brought blankets and bought hot dogs and strawberry shortcake for dessert, to help support the Downey Rose Float Association. Pat Gil, president of the Downey Arts Coalition, lent her support.

This year’s selection of Broadway and movie tunes was underwritten by an anonymous benefactor, thanks to whom we hummed Gershwin and shouted “Mambo!” to Bernstein’s West Side Story. Board member Bill Hare and his wife, Symphony Guild leader Katie, enjoyed the music, as did fellow board members Mark Keller, former stage manager with the Downey Theatre, and Joyce Sherwin, who nodded in time to 76 Trombones by her fellow Iowan Meredith Wilson. Board Vice-Chair Carol Kearns and husband, Downey poet and publisher Frank, were seen, enjoying the evening airs.

One moment which always brings a nostalgic lump in the throat is when members of the Armed Forces are asked to stand as their service hymn is played. Only a few members of the Greatest Generation from WWII are left, but lots of young people, men and women presently serving, stood and saluted and their proud families did too.

Children ran eagerly to have their turn at conducting a Sousa march to close the program. Even babes in arms had a turn with the baton as parents took pictures. The Orchestra maintained its firm martial beat throughout as the youngest generation was initiated into the thrill of leading the band. Board member JoAnne Gronley helped the aspiring young conductors off the stage,

Benefits of Downey’s Measure S can be seen in the improved condition of the lawn in Furman Park. Sales tax revenues from Measure S are used to upgrade and reseed the Downey parks, and in spite of the drought, the grass looks greener and less sparse than in recent years.

Downey Doings: July 18 pops concert