A Lifetime Scored by Music: Clare Baren & David Dwiggins

For William Andrews Clark Society members Clare Baren and David Dwiggins, music has never been an accessory to life—it has been the architecture of it. Their story begins with an unforgettable first date to see then–LA Phil Music Director Carlo Maria Giulini lead a performance of Bruckner in the early 1980s—a leap of faith that launched both a relationship and a shared devotion to the LA Phil.

By the late ’80s, despite demanding production schedules in film, television, and advertising, they became subscribers. “We knew if we didn’t subscribe, we’d never go,” Clare says. “But with tickets in hand, we always found a way.”

Clare’s connection to music runs deep. Her father was a violinist for Toscanini; her stepfather toured the world as a concert pianist. Music opened professional doors, too—first at CBS, where knowing how to read a score set her on a rising path in production, and later at A&M Records, where she helped shape the music-video era. “I had a very charmed life because of music,” she says.

David grew up in London, attending concerts at the Royal Festival Hall from the age of nine. “My parents simply exposed us to music—they didn’t push,” he recalls. “You come back to it later with gratitude.” When he and Clare reunited and eventually married, the LA Phil became their artistic home.

Across four decades, they’ve witnessed the evolution of four music directors—Giulini, André Previn, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and now Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel—each reshaping the orchestra in profound ways—

For David, the long view has been revelatory: “You become familiar with what you’re watching. You learn the gestures; you understand the conversations happening between conductor and orchestra. If you watch the conductor, you learn to listen a different way.” He delights in the details—the stillness of percussionist Joseph Pereira’s focus, the brilliance and charm of principal flutist Denis Bouriakov, the subtle cue that sets a Mahler pizzicato in motion.

Equally meaningful has been watching the orchestra itself change. “Salonen and now Dudamel have remade the orchestra one chair at a time,” David says. “And now comes another generation—new players, new perspectives. If I were to say anything to new audiences, it would be this: let those time-based changes work through you. Attend multiple concerts a year, a few years in a row, and you start to see how the orchestra is reflecting your community, your city, your life.”

Clare nods. “That’s the LA spirit right there. You dream big.”

Their philanthropy followed naturally. “What we give is a small amount compared to the joy we receive,” Clare says. As they began thinking about legacy, including the LA Phil in their estate plans felt like a celebration of everything music has given them. “It was inevitable,” David adds. “This orchestra has been part of our lives—our story.”

Today, Clare and David are proud members of the William Andrews Clark Society, a special community of donors who support the LA Phil through bequests and other planned gifts. Their generosity ensures that future generations discover the same magic they have cherished for more than forty years.

To learn more about ways to remember the LA Phil in your estate, please contact legacy@laphil.org.