Election Section

The Prometheus Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This remarkable musical institution began as an outgrowth of Randy Hunt’s choral music program at Merritt College—when it was still downtown on “Grove Street” in Oakland. Randy needed instrumentalists to perform with his singers, for scenes from operas, oratorios, and such. He turned the orchestra into a Merritt College class, where he was on the music faculty, and began a rigorous performance schedule. A showman at heart, he not only presented concerts but also involved the orchestra in a number of exciting performance adventures.  

Notable in those early years was a collaboration with the Oakland Ballet, which is also celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year. Working with dancer and company founder, Ron Guidi, the group played for ballet performances of Hansel and Gretel, and Faure’s Requiem, in what is now Calvin Simmons Auditorium, and with the San Francisco Lamplighters as the pit orchestra for Oakland performances of Die Fliedermaus. Deciding that “Merritt College Orchestra” sounded a little pedestrian, Randy chose the name Prometheus Symphony Orchestra. The Greek god Prometheus, best known in mythology as the creator of fire was also the god of music. 

International award-winning pianist Roy Bogas, who had recently performed as concerto soloist was appointed conductor for the orchestra in 1972. The late Sally Kell, principal cellist with the Oakland Symphony, took the podium for the next few years, and brought with her a new level of musical excellence. She continued the operatic tradition, and Prometheus participated in a fully staged production of Poulenc’s Dialogue of the Carmelites.” The group even went on tour to Berkeley, San Rafael and as far as Monterey. It also played in the pit for the Berkeley Ballet’s Nutcracker. 

Prometheus matured with a regular five-concert season in the dozen years that Jonathan Khuner held the baton (1980-1991). Under his tutelage, the orchestra benefited not only from performing some of the most demanding symphonic literature but also from Jonathan’s associations in the opera world and the remarkable singers he invited to perform. He was, and still is, on the staff of the San Francisco Opera and he currently conducts the Berkeley Opera. Semi-staged productions of Chabrier’s Etoile, Weber-Mahler’s Die Drei Pintos and performances of arias from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Verdi’s Otello were highlights of those years. The orchestra also took on master works such as Mahler’s 1st Symphony, Brahms’ 4th and Bruckner’s 8th. 

With Jonathan came his remarkable father, violinist Felix Khuner, who modestly sat in the back of the violin or viola sections, and on occasion could be heard to hum the part of an absent wind player during rehearsals. He played with the orchestra into his 90s. The annual Felix Khuner Concerto Competition for young musicians (18 and under) is a highlight of the Prometheus season, with one or two superbly talented young people performing each year since 1991. Several have gone on to careers as professional musicians (and at least one conductor, Jack Bailey,) and they thank Prometheus for the experience of playing with a full orchestra to a live audience.  

Prometheus arrived at its 30-year celebration during a six year association with the noted young Bay Area conductor, George Thomson, who is well known to Bay Area music lovers as Associate Conductor of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and former conductor of the “new music” group Earplay. George expanded the group’s repertoire and appreciation of contemporary works. During his tenure, Prometheus was happy to be able to reestablish its association with Merritt College, which is now its permanent rehearsal site. 

Each of these conductors is a remarkably gifted musician, and the members of Prometheus learned much from their direction. Good fortune again prevailed when Eric Hansen took up the baton in 1997. A lecturer at UC Berkeley and East Bay (Hayward) State University and a guest conductor with leading regional orchestras around the nation, Eric has brought to the Prometheus a superb balance of his own extraordinary musicianship, patience with the foibles of tired musicians with day jobs, and a natural talent as a teacher. He is a treasure trove of knowledge about music history and theory, to the great benefit of musicians and audience alike. The orchestra has grown in many ways under this leadership. Eric and his father had both played with Prometheus in earlier years. 

Under Hansen’s baton the orchestra has performed over 100 demanding works, covering the complete range of compositional styles from Bach. Mozart and Vivaldi through several of the Beethoven Symphonies to the Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique, and most of the major composers in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, works from Brahms, Bruckner, Dvorak, Mahler, Elgar , Shostakovich, Stravinski and Hindemith. A 1992 composition from the East Bay’s own Peter Josheff currently takes the prize for “most recent venture into contemporary music.”  

Little did the motley crew of musicians that Randolph Hunt gathered together in 1965 know that they were starting a musical institution that would be thriving some 40 years later. One of that original group—hornist Akos Vass—is still on the Prometheus roster, as is bassoonist Bonnie Bogue who joined in 1966. Many others can claim membership of 20 years or more. Players come from all walks of life—teachers, office workers, lawyers, accountants, doctors, computer scientists, professors, homemakers, university students, parents with young children and more than a few grandparents. All of them put aside every Monday night to come to practice, sometimes struggling to meet the demands of the great composers yet always rejoicing in the experience. 

A birthday performance for the Prometheus Symphony Orchestra is planned for on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 116 Montecito Ave., Oakland. The concert will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with guest performers Robin Hansen, violin, and Anna Kruger, viola. Admission is free and donations are accepted.