Benefit Auction Items - Music in the Mountains

As part of your evening at Nestldown, the Festival has orchestrated fifteen one-of-a-kind experiential packages for silent auction. Please bring your sense of adventure...

[1] Music All Year Long

Savor your Festival experience by listening to a collection of CDs featuring works by this year’s featured composers. Guaranteed to further your appreciation and enjoyment of contemporary music, these CDs will provide listening pleasure for years to come.

Minimum bid: $90

[2] More Marvelous Music with Marin

Marin Alsop conducts the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on March 28, 2012, and you'll have two tickets and a backstage visit with the Maestra. The program includes Higdon’s Grammy award-winning Percussion Concerto featuring Colin Currie, and works by Copland, Tower and Prokofiev. Plus four of Marin’s signed recordings!

Minimum bid: $100

[3] Sun, Fun and a First Class Get-Away

Two days and nights at the world-class, oceanfront Terranea Resort in Southern California. Dramatically poised at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the 102-acre resort blends the elegance of a classic Mediterranean estate with a stunning natural environment and all the luxury amenities you can imagine.

Minimum Bid: $325

[4] San Francisco’s Finest!

The Palace Hotel in San Francisco is paired with the City's finest art experiences. Enjoy one night at the luxury, landmark Palace Hotel with brunch included the following day. Then enjoy the cultural side of San Francisco with four passes to the de Young and Legion of Honor Art Museums.

Minimum Bid: $150

[5] Unrivaled Beauty, Unmatched Play–Golf and Luxury from Pebble Beach

The Pebble Beach Company offers a round of golf for two including cart at the Links at Spanish Bay where ocean vistas and breathtaking scenery accompany your golf game. Your luxury experience is completed with one night's stay in the contemporary elegance of their famed Inn at Spanish Bay resort, complete with tennis, swimming, and more.

Minimum Bid:  $500

[6] Be Merry with Merry Edwards

Experience Merry Edwards’ acclaimed vintner creations with a magnum of her fine Pinot Noir and a first class, private tasting for four at her Sonoma County winery. The tasting is a carefully designed sensory experience that educates about Merry’s handcrafted Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs, while savoring the wines.

Minimum Bid: $90

[7] San Francisco Experience - Up Close!

You can experience classic elegance at the Donatello Hotel in San Francisco and the best seats in the house at the San Francisco Opera for their performance of the Magic Flute on June 13, 2012. The Donatello, an Italian inspired, top notch, luxury hotel is located by Union Square, and the opera seats are front row, center section aisle!

Minimum Bid: $400

[8] Your Garden–Just the Way You Want It

Are you longing for your own garden retreat, considering a container or vegetable garden, or needing advice on fruit trees or plants? Ecological landscape designer and certified Master and Green Gardener, Jerob Chop, will provide three hours of landscaping or gardening consultation. One of Jerob's lovely outdoor succulent wall hangings is included.

Minimum Bid: $130

[9] FUN, FUN, FAMILY FUN!

This is the perfect package for the family who’s looking for fun together. The Boardwalk, Mystery Spot, historic Point Sur Light House, Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, Seymour Discovery Center, and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre are all included! Or, if it is cold and foggy outside, stay home and sing to the wonderful children’s music of Linda Arnold.

Minimum Bid: $225

[10] LIFE: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

The multimedia production “LIFE: A Journey Through Time” is a lyrical interpretation of the history of life on earth featuring the magnificent imagery of nature photographer Frans Lanting, with music by Philip Glass. Originally premiered at the Festival in 2006, it will be performed by Symphony Silicon Valley at the Flint Center in October 2011 under the baton of Festival Associate Conductor Carolyn Kuan. Backstage visit is included, along with Lanting's companion coffeetable book, "LIFE."

Minimum Bid: $170

[11] Elkhorn Slough/Big Sur Adventure with Bruce Elliot

In early September 2011 you, along with up to 8 people, can enjoy a session of natural history and wildlife observations at Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve in Northern Monterey County or, if you prefer, go with Mr. Elliot to Condor country in Big Sur in search of these largest of California birds. Go where they spend time, Andrew Molera and Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park. Hear about the history of their recovery and what their future holds. Your tour will be conducted by one of the original Department of Fish and Game founders of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, retired senior California State Biologist, Bruce Elliott. Either one of these adventures will be a learning experience when accompanied by an expert wildlife biologist such as Bruce Elliot. The hard part is picking which one you want!

Minimum Bid: $225

[12] A Yosemite Retreat

Just 23 miles from the west entrance of Yosemite, at Pine Mountain Lake, a 2,400 sq. ft. cabin awaits up to ten guests for a three-night stay. Abundant recreational amenities include an 18-hole championship golf course, a 200-acre lake, an equestrian center, tennis courts, swimming pool, and even an airport! Not to be missed.

Minimum Bid: $350

[13] En Plein Air

En plein air describes the act of painting outdoors. If you want to learn to paint or already paint but want to master your craft, Dave McGuire, a local and internationally known artist has offered to give six people painting lessons in his studio, followed by an “open air” painting experience, and culminating with a professional critique. An opportunity of a lifetime!

Minimum Bid: $350

[14] Over the Hill-An Evening on the Town

Enjoy the magic of live theater at San Jose Repertory Theater with two passes to the performance of your choice during their 2011-2012 season. Make a date night of it with a pre-performance dinner at the long respected Il Fornaio Restaurant, within easy walking distance of the theater.

Minimum Bid: $100

Proxy bidding for fourteen auction collections is open to all, need not be present to win! Final bidding will take place at the "live" silent auction at the magical Music in the Mountains event, to be held this year at the spectacular private retreat, Nestldown, on August 11th. You need not be present to win—you just need to have the highest bid!

To place a proxy bid, simply submit the MAXIMUM amount you are willing to pay by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Within 24 hours you will receive a confirmation email letting you know that your bid has been received. During the event, your bid will start at the minimum bid. We will bid incrementally on your behalf, only if there is a competing bidder, and only up to your maximum bid.

Proxy bidding will close at 6pm on Wed, August 10th.

The "live" silent auction will take place at the Music in the Mountains event on August 12th. Although the online bidding closes before the silent auction, your online maximum bid will be honored via proxy during the silent auction.

Online bidders will be notified of the outcome on August 14th.

For more information on the bidding process or auction items, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone (831.426.6966)