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Mrs. Klinghoffer, Queen
Mrs. Jean Klinghoffer is one of our former English teachers from Sunny Hills, and this year she and her husband Bill are Queen and King of the Annual Mardi Gras Ball in Fullerton.

Friends of Jazz

Mardi Gras

King & Queen

by Carol van Ahlers

PHOTOS BY ERIC MARCHESE

A long time Fullerton tradition continued on Sunday, March 7 as Friends of Jazz members and supporters gathered for the annual Mardi Gras Ball and raised $24,000 for music in schools.

This year was extra special in that Bill and Jean Klinghoffer reigned as the Mardi Gras King and Queen, two individuals who have dedicated so much time and energy to the development of Friends of Jazz since its inception in 1999.

“Bill and Jean are truly the heart of this organization and we were so glad that they finally agreed to let us recognize their contributions by honoring them at this year’s Mardi Gras,” said Colleen Wadsworth, newly elected president of the FOJ Board of Directors.

“Bill has been president of FOJ since its inception until just recently and Jean has managed our mem- bership program throughout the years. Their commitment and dedication to the mission of Friends of Jazz is un-matched.”

Although the event is the organization’s major fundraiser of the year, on the night it is all about the music. In keeping with their mission of supporting music in the schools, bands from both Fullerton College and Cal State Fullerton were featured as the evening’s entertainment. The Lemon Street Stompers, from Fullerton College’s jazz program performed as well as Cal State Fullerton’s Big Band, under the direction of Bill Cunliffe.

Additionally, nearly a dozen of Fullerton’s up and coming musicians attended the event for a special performance. Students from the Friends of Jazz, fourth grade recorder program, which is offered throughout the Fullerton School District performed a few tunes to show off their new musical skills. 

This program, at the heart of the purpose of Friends of Jazz, provides lessons, instruments and teaching materials to fourth grades with a 10-week training schedule at various elementary schools throughout the city.

The evening’s highlight was when last year’s King and Queen Doug Chaffee and Paulette Marshall, crowned the new royals, Bill and Jean Klinghoffer in ceremony befitting any Mardi Gras gathering, complete with robes, goblets and fanfare. Recorder Program Director Jennifer Hart then provided a trib- ute to the Klinghoffers spanning the years since the couple met and featuring all of their contributions to the Orange County jazz community. 

Following the coronation ceremony, the group gathered for a traditional Mardi Gras parade. Special guests included staff from the music departments of Fullerton College and Cal State Fullerton. And, as expected there were more than 80 auc- tion items to help generate funds for FOJ.

Monies raised from the annu- al Mardi Gras celebration go toward supporting Friends of Jazz’s many programs including high school and college musician scholarships, the high school jazz showcase at Florentines, financial support to jazz bands for furthering their education and/or attend- ing jazz competitions, the Fourth Grade Recorder pro- gram and other programs that support keeping music in schools throughout Orange County. For more information on Friends of Jazz and their programs, visit www.friendsof- jazzinc.com. 

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From The Fullerton Observer, Mid-March 2016. Courtesy of Sharon Kennedy, '67, Publisher and Editor.