The Showcase for Haiti relief benefit concert highlighting multi-talented groups in singing, dancing and performance and martial arts on Feb. 21 lingers as a satisfying memory of a collective effort to help relieve human suffering. Under the guidance of Kirkland resident Sue Heale, children music educator, a confluence of artistic and theatrical talent outgrew its intended performance at the Kirkland Performance Center and Heale had to hold the fund raiser at the larger venue in the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.
The considerable talents of groups such as the Northwest Sound Men’s Chorus, Studio East students and faculty, Lakeview Elementary Choir, the Alaskan Native American Dancers, the United Studios of Self Defense and the Enzian Schuhplatter Dance Group were featured in the evening’s presentation. Martial arts instructor Alex Telfer oversaw the capital raised by the performers – more than $12,000, to be matched by Microsoft Corp., which goes directly to the Red Cross Relief agency. Another fine example of artistic communities giving of their expressive skills for a worthy cause.
On the same Sunday, the third outing of Opera and Musical Theatre at Calabrisella Ristorante Italiano, produced by yours truly, took place with two enthusiastically received shows of beautifully rendered arias and choice selections from musicals. A mixture of highly professional, semi-professional and enlightened amateurs created an exciting hybrid production of sweet music and theatrical humor.
The beautiful voices of sopranos Regina Thomas, Hayley Gaarde and Arian Ashworth, baritones Jared Ice and Chai Ahrenius, and the winning charms of Angela Hsu and Giselle Gonzales held the delighted audiences for two shows of joyful music making, accompanied by the very capable Jerry Zimmerman, pianist. The next production of Opera and Musical Theatre is on March 14, again with two shows. Contact Calabrisella for more information at 425-822-7350.
And last but not least, Studio East very shortly will be moving to a new location in Totem Lake near the Fred Meyer store. With a projected 135 seating theatre, generous square footage for staff and expanded teaching rooms and programs, the faculty and teaching staff is looking forward to working and growing into the future with ambitious and wide ranging artistic productions. More on this in coming weeks in this column. Ciaou.
Robin Maiers is a long-time arts enthusiast and house piano player at Calabrisella in Kirkland.
