St. Helena’s Music Man Craig Bond honored Sunday

By Dave Stoneberg and Shannon Murray Kuleto

NAPA VALLEY — Some 200 people turned out on a warm Sunday afternoon to honor St. Helena’s Music Man, Craig Bond, and dedicate a plaque for his 50 years of service to St. Helena schools and the community. It was an uplifting ceremony, with many of those who spoke telling about how Bond had influenced their lives.

Craig Bond poses with the plaque that honors his 50 years of service to the St. Helena schools and community — Shannon Murry Kuleto Photo

Others, such as Bill Phelps and Ashley Sears Jambois, spoke about Bond’s influence on successive generations. Phelps, who has served as the St. Helena Choral Society board president since its founding in 2007, first got involved in Bond’s music program when his daughter joined a children’s chorus. Then when Bill joined the SHCS as a singer, his father, Joseph Phelps, would attend the concerts of both his granddaughter and his son. Jambois, a St. Helena High School graduate and a member of Bond’s choirs since the third grade, is now part of the 62-member St. Helena Choral Society Choir. On Sunday she spoke on behalf of all the students Bond has taught throughout the years and his tremendous influence.

Other speakers included Napa County Supervisor Anne Cottrell; daughter Melissa Bond, St. Helena Choral Society board member, musical director of children’s and teen choirs, and Jazz@7 singer; Jeff Jaegar, who headed up the fundraising effort before the successful bond measure passage to build the St. Helena Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2019; daughter Carly Bond Meyer, Jazz@7 singer; daughter Angie Bond, St. Helena Elementary School teacher, singer in Jazz@7; the Rev. William “Father Mac” McIlmoyl, who spoke of Bond’s parallel career as musical director at St. Helena’s Grace Episcopal Church; and Bond himself.  

Napa County Supervisor Anne Cottrell — Shannon Murray Kuleto Photo

In his remarks Bond said, “If I thanked all the people in groups who have supported me in the last 50 years, it would go on for hours, literally, and there would be nobody here to listen after that. However, I do have to mention a few groups of people. The first one would be the administrators that I was fortunate enough to work for. I don’t know if Rich is here, but Rich Svendsen was one of my administrators. But the one most special to me was a man named Mal McDonald and I don’t know how many of you remember him, but he hired me, so I have a lot of respect for him. Thank you, Mal.”

Speakers on Sunday afternoon included Craig Bond’s three daughters — Melissa Bond, Carly Bond Meyer and Angie Bond — Bill Phelps, Jeff Jaegar, Ashley Sears Jambois, the Rev. William “Father Mac” McIlmoyl and Bond himself — Shannon Murray Kuleto Photo

In 1973, when Craig and Carolyn Bond arrived in St. Helena, they came to Vintage Hall, which was then the high school, to find a man there pulling weeds on a Sunday. That man was Dick Roche, who was the school’s superintendent. Roche gave the Bonds a tour of the grounds and an application for employment. McDonald was the high school principal.

Sunday’s event was not a retirement party for Bond since he was honored at one of those about a decade ago. Then in 2012 he was named interim music director for the school district. That gig lasted five years.

The Bond family includes daughters Carly, from left, Angie and Melissa, Carolyn and Craig Bond, and Craig’s son, Adam DiDio — Shannon Murray Kuleto Photo

Dorothy Mondavi and Dawnine Dyer are two of those responsible for the plaque on the front of the St. Helena Performing Arts Center. They worked through several years, the COVID pandemic and a couple of school district administrations before their goal was accomplished.

The plaque reads: “In honor of Craig Bond for his dedication to the students of our public schools and to the St. Helena Community.

“For five decades Craig has inspired both his public school students and the adults and children in his community choirs.

“Craig’s commitment to arts education, his love of teaching, his belief in others, and his leadership by example have formed and nurtured a vibrant musical community in St. Helena.

“We are proud to recognize him here.”

It is signed by the St. Helena Choral Society, December 2023. Under an engraving of a smiling Bond are the words “Craig’s love of music has taught generations the values of cooperation through harmony and confidence through performing.”

Wearing an original St. Helena High School Jazz Choir T-shirt is Shawn Maura, who poses with Craig Bond and her mother, Gayle Cook. Glenn and Gayle Cook are longtime friends of the Bonds and repeat chaperones for Jazz Choir trips – Shannon Murray Kuleto Photo

St. Helena Mayor Paul Dohring read a state Senate proclamation from Sen. Bill Dodd honoring Bond for his 50 years of public and community service: “It represents his steadfast commitment, devotion and invaluable effort in improving the lives of our youth and the residents of Napa Valley and for advancing the music and teaching profession and for your exemplary record of dedicated student and community-centered education and advocacy, presented this 15^th day of October, 2023, St. Helena, Calif.”

Supervisor Anne Cottrell, who represents St. Helena and the Upvalley area, also read a Napa County Board of Supervisors proclamation. It read, in part: “Craig Bond has and continues to make a significant positive impact on the lives of people up and down the valley and around the county and the country. And I thank him sincerely.”

On Sunday Craig Bond posed with most of the St. Helena Choral Society board, although missing were Bill Phelps and Patty Saldivar Cordano. From left, they are Larry Bettinelli, Shannon Murray Kuleto, William Martin, Melissa Bond, Connie Prim, Craig Bond, Jeff Jaegar (not on the board), Dorothy Mondavi and Dawnine Dyer — Submitted Photo

Coming up for the St. Helena Choral Society are two performances, one by the House Jacks at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17, with tickets at the door $20 general and $10 for students; and the annual Choral Society’s Christmas concert, which this year is a performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Performances are 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16, and 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17. Tickets are $25 in advance, available in mid-November here. Both performances will be at the St. Helena Performing Arts Center.

Dave Stoneberg is an editor and journalist who has worked for newspapers in both Lake and Napa counties. Shannon Murray Kuleto is both a longtime St. Helena resident and member of the St. Helena Choral Society, both as a board member and singer.