Great Moments in West Marin History
NORMAN MASONSON DIRECTS THE NINTH ANNUAL MESSIAH SING-ALONG, NOW IN ITS 38TH YEAR, AT THE DANCE PALACE IN THE OLD EMPORIUM BUILDING — DECEMBER 1987
“The Messiah Sing-Along is one of my favorite holiday events. I have sung in each one since it began in 1978. Norman Masonson brought the sing-along Messiah to the Dance Palace and it has become a beloved annual holiday tradition. Norman, a Juilliard graduate and Fulbright scholar, founded the Santa Cruz Youth Symphony and served as conductor of both the Santa Cruz Symphony and the College of Marin Symphony Orchestra. He taught at College of Marin for 25 years before he passed away in 2014. He not only brought his love for classical music to our community and his students, he named the Dance Palace in his estate, providing a bequest to help us continue to serve the West Marin community for generations to come.” — Carol Friedman, December 2016