Services Set For Maestro Victor Vener

A graveside service will be held for Maestro Victor Vener at noon on Wednesday, January 10 at Mountain View Cemetery, 2400 N. Fair Oaks Ave, Altadena.

Vener died on Dec. 31.  He was 78.

“He was born in Pasadena and died in Pasadena,” said Vener’s son André. He lived for Pasadena. He was a pillar in Pasadena. He was a visionary, an entrepreneur and an educator. He gave every ounce of his blood to Pasadena. Pasadena was his city and he did everything for his City. Everyone knew him as a conductor, best friend and mentor. He was amazing to my daughter Ava. For us, he was a grandfather and a father.”

Vener founded the California Philharmonic in 1996. His vision was to create a world-class orchestra that would perform the most beloved classical music alongside the greatest popular music of our time.

Before the service begins, the CalPhil String Quartet will perform as guests arrive. Music starts at 11:30 am.

Vener was born to parents Abraham Israel Vener and Dorothy Mepham Vener on June 18 th  1945 in Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital. Victor got his start as a musician as a boy, when his brother Tom Hanafin taught him to play the trumpet. At 13, he took up the horn, his primary instrument, excelling to the point of making the position of Solo Horn for the California All-State Orchestra at age 17. After graduating Pasadena High School as a Bulldog, he entered the USC in 1963 on a full scholarship, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music.

With his MA, Vener taught at the college level at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

After his stint teaching, Vener returned to USC to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts. During his 8 years at USC, he marched as a drummer in the USC Trojan Marching Band.

Vener made significant contributions to presenting classical music in the Pasadena area.

Unlike the formal decorum of other orchestras in the area, Vener engaged with audiences during California Philharmonic performances.

He would often turn to his audience and tell them anecdotes about certain classical pieces and their composers. Many in the audience felt a personal connection to Vener they seemed to cherish.

Even wearing the formal white tie and tails attire of the conductor, Vener came across as a very approachable professorial figure who loved music.

Many in the audience came to the California Philharmonic’s performances as much to hear the beautiful music as to hear Vener’s comments and sometimes rambling but always fascinating monologues.

Vener earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from USC. 

Maestro Vener is survived by his wife Patti Carmalt-Vener, son André C. Vener, daughter Sabine Vener, stepsons Zachary Carmalt and David Kessler, daughter-in-law Amanda Vener, son-in-law Randy Banis and grandchildren Ava Vener, Alexa Anassian, Shant Anassian, Jameson Carmalt and Shane Melton.