A Lifelong Love of Music

Linda Tabor-Beck’s childhood was filled with music: her father conducted a championship high school marching band in Wyoming and, under his influence, she became devoted to Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts. In fact, Linda made an early stage debut, around the age of three, when a negligent babysitter allowed her to run onstage midperformance to tug on her father’s coattails as he conducted! When her family relocated to Los Angeles, Linda frequented the LA Philharmonic and the light opera.

Although she never considered music as a career, it has been a constant source of joy and solace. In college, she most looked forward to her three hours of College Choir practice each week. “Those were my moments of sanity,” she says. “I thought ‘forget about the other classes, just relax and enjoy!’” After college, Linda took a job in San Francisco and began attending San Francisco Symphony concerts, initially at the Opera House.

Linda’s fondest San Francisco Symphony memories include a Carmina burana performance, during which she was “totally amazed by what just five percussionists and two pianists could do,” and the November 11, 2018, Youth Orchestra (YO) concert featuring 2018 Concerto Competition winner Jonas Koh performing Emmanuel Séjourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings. “That concerto was a clear crowd favorite!”

You may not be surprised to learn percussion is Linda’s favorite section. Two other major highlights were MTT’s 70th birthday celebration and Beethoven’s Ninth—total joy!

The YO is also one of Linda’s favorite San Francisco Symphony programs—so much so that she was moved to create an endowed fund to defray tuition costs for the YO to ensure it remains tuition-free for young musicians and their families. Linda established The Linda B. Tabor-Beck Friends and Family of the Youth Orchestra Scholarship Fund to honor Dr. M. Leonard and Beth Tabor. The gift was made in honor of her parents, emphasizing their dedication to music and music education.

Linda’s own dedication is equally inspiring. In her words, “If you love the Symphony, how can you not also love the future symphony orchestra members?”

Linda has also made the Symphony’s education programs a beneficiary of her living trust. When asked about this special gift, Linda expresses her hopes for the future of orchestral music: “This music is so important, and it needs to continue. Not just continue, I would hope it will flourish. I want to contribute to that effort.”

Like Linda, you can celebrate your love of music with a gift to the San Francisco Symphony. Contact our legacy giving team at 415.503.5404 or legacygiving@sfsymphony.org to learn more, or for help finding the right gift for you.