Santa Rosa Symphony gains three board members, completing its slate of 39 members

The Santa Rosa Symphony has announced three new appointments to its board of directors. Sean Pryden and Gerold C. "Jerry Wunderlich join the Board as first-time members and Emeritus Board Member Gordon Blumenfeld returns to the Board.

SRS Board Chair Jamei Haswell said, "It is a testament to the organization's direction and leadership that we have a full Board. The passion that these new Board Directors bring for music and the community will further enrich an already vital and healthy organization."

Gordon Blumenfeld has been a long-time supporter of the Symphony and served on its Board in years past. A US Air Force Veteran and retired plastics manufacturer, he's also a founder of the Sears Point Raceways and sits on the Boards of the Petaluma Valley Hospital Foundation, the Santa Rosa Memorial Foundation and the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. Read his full bio below.

Jerry Wunderlich declares that his time in Hong Kong was a life-changer. He was in the right place at the right time to benefit from the burgeoning Japanese tourism market. He and his wife moved to Sonoma County in 2002 and continue their shared interest in symphonic music at the Santa Rosa Symphony. Read full bio below.

Sean Pryden, who has spent the majority of his career in the financial industry, leads a team at Wells Fargo Private Bank supporting high-net-worth families with their comprehensive financial and planning needs. As part of a musically-inclined family, Pryden developed an eclectic taste for an array of musical genres that has continued into adulthood. Pryden developed a love for the symphony from his father which he now passes on to his children. He also serves as the Treasurer for PEP (Petaluma Ecumenical Properties) Housing, on the Advisory Board for Global Partners for Development and on the Finance Committee for the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation. Read full bio below.

Gordon Blumenfeld

Gordon Blumenfeld, a native Californian, born in Alameda, moved to Marin County in 1936. After graduating San Rafael High School in 1948, he attended University of Arizona, majoring in mechanical engineering. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1955, as Armament crew chief on a B-36. After leaving the USAF, he worked in Marine Electronics manufacturing and sales since 1962, until his active retirement in 2017, he worked in contract manufacturing, specializing in plastic injection molding. Gordon was Chairman of the Board at Stoesser-Gordon Plastics in Santa Rosa and Sports Molding, Inc. in Clearfield, Utah. He is one of the founders of Sears Point Raceways. He currently serves on the Board of Petaluma Valley Hospital Foundation, the Santa Rosa Memorial Foundation and the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County.

Blumenfeld was married to Ann Kalechman, a fourth-generation San Franciscan. He now resides in the Oakmont subdivision of Santa Rosa. He has two children, a son living in San Diego and a daughter living in the Netherlands and four grandchildren.

Gerold C. "Jerry" Wunderlich

Jerry Wunderlich was born in New York and lived on the East Coast for 30 years: in upstate New York during his youth; New Hampshire (Dartmouth) for college; and in Manhattan for work in the large-scale retail industry.

Wunderlich had a unique, life-changing opportunity in Hong Kong, where he managed a duty-free business through explosive regional growth. The focus was on the newly emerging Japanese tourism trade. Locations at the port of re-entry to Japan were established throughout the region. After some personal real estate projects in Honolulu, his group developed Resort Hotels throughout Asia, catering again to the Japanese market. Lasting fascination and affection for SE Asia resulted from frequent travels to Indonesia, Thailand and Japan, often with his wife, Susie.

After 10 years in Honolulu, San Francisco became their home in a unique condo building he developed on Russian Hill. For 18 years, he enjoyed Michael Tilson Thomas and San Francisco Symphony, and occasionally the San Francisco Opera, before moving to Sonoma County in 2002. Today Wunderlich and his wife live in Alexander Valley and have three grown children - a daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren.

Wunderlich's other interests include traveling, books, golf, good music, recreational Bridge and his wife’s garden. The couple are long-time Santa Rosa Symphony subscribers and also frequent “Live from the Met” opera performances.

Sean Pryden

Sean Pryden has been a resident of the North Bay since 1989 when he moved to Healdsburg with his family from Los Angeles. As part of a musically-inclined family, Pryden developed an eclectic taste for an array of musical genres that has continued into adulthood. Pryden developed a love for the symphony through his father – growing up listening to many of the famous romantic composers. He now has three children of his own to whom he is passing along the same passion for music.

Pryden has spent the majority of his career in the financial industry, working for Wells Fargo for the last 13 years. In his current role, Pryden leads a team at Wells Fargo Private Bank supporting high-net-worth families with their comprehensive financial and planning needs. Pryden’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master's in Commerce and Economic Development.

Pryden is very passionate about community involvement in Sonoma County. His passion has led him to become involved in a number of local organizations, supporting low-income senior housing, underprivileged youth, medical care and education. He currently serves as the Treasurer for PEP (Petaluma Ecumenical Properties) Housing, on the Advisory Board for Global Partners for Development and on the Finance Committee for the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation.