Beatitude Mass for the Homeless

Collaborating with Saint Vincent de Paul to bring awareness to the Walk Against Hunger in Hartford, CT on Sunday, May 4th, which is vital to the ongoing efforts of area food pantries and soup kitchens for the homeless, GMChorale will be presenting the Connecticut premiere of Henry Mollicone’s acclaimed masterpiece, Beatitude Mass (for the Homeless).

The 80 voice strong GMChorale will present Beatitude Mass and other works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Vaughan Williams under the direction of Joseph D’Eugenio, with the GMChamber Singers, and featuring soloists Sheri Hammerstrom and Frank Matto.

Making the event still more compelling, composer Henry Mollicone will fly in from California to give a pre-concert lecture, and renowned artist Abby Carter will offer a gallery showing of portraits depicting guests of Saint Vincent de Paul Middletown.  These portraits capture the very essence of each person, remarkable in their composure and humanity.

GMChorale is acclaimed for its innovative symphonic choral presentations.  Under the inspired leadership of Joseph D’Eugenio, Artistic Director, GMChorale performs beloved masterworks and newly commissioned masterpieces on a global scale.
Established in 1977 as a community chorus in Middletown, CT, the Chorale has evolved to become one of New England’s most engaging choirs.  Our 80 voice strong chorale features professional and volunteer singers from Pawcatuck to Bridgeport and Windsor to New Haven.  Our singers have passed a rigorous audition to become members of GMChorale, or the GMChamber Singers.
GMChorale boasts a long-standing tradition of collaborating with area orchestras including Hartford Symphony and more recently, New Haven Symphony Orchestra.

GMC’s Artistic Director, Joseph D’Eugenio is a concert pianist graduating from Hartt School of Music, and further completing his graduate studies in conducting from the University of Connecticut.  He has conducted hundreds of choral and orchestral performances around the world.  GMChorale tours and performs in other countries bringing international recognition to Middletown, Connecticut, and New England.

A major emphasis of the organization is the power of music to positively impact social justice.  Throughout history music has made pronounced and lasting change for the betterment of the human condition.  GMChorale is committed to continuing this partnership between those in need, composers, musicians, audience and community.

"Uke" Can't Be Serious

Jim Beloff, Ukulele

On Sunday, May 4th, The George Flynn Classical Concerts series is proud to present the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra (WSO) under the baton of Maestro Philip T. Ventre. Based on the Choate Rosemary Hall campus in Wallingford, Connecticut, the WSO is celebrating its 39th season of presenting professional musicians performing a wide variety of orchestral music.

With a theme of “In Springtime,” the May 4th concert will include seasonal works by Rossini, Mozart, Delius and Respighi. It will also include a performance of “Uke Can’t Be Serious,” a piece for solo ukulele and symphony orchestra composed and performed by Jim Beloff, a Clinton-based musician. Attendees who play the ukulele are invited to bring their ukuleles to the concert for a strum and sing-along following the concert.
The Sunday, May 4th concert will be held at the Morgan School, 27 Killingworth Turnpike in Clinton. Free tickets can be obtained by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to George Flynn Classical Concerts, PO Box 473, Clinton, CT 06413 or calling 860-669-1208.

For further information visit: www.georgeflynnclassicalconcerts.com.

The George S. Flynn Concerts are made possible by a trust fund Mr. Flynn established in his will. It was his great desire to provide "classical music concerts for the benefit, education and pleasure of the inhabitants of the town of Clinton (Connecticut)." It is in his honor and to his memory that we dedicate these concerts.

Mr. Flynn and his late wife Eirene Smyth, who found each other in the 8th decade of their lives, enjoyed much together, including classical music which they now can share with the people of Clinton, in perpetuity.

Cultural Travel Opportunities at the Florence Griswold MuseumLondon

London Eye

The Florence Griswold Museum is a museum on the move. Along with day trips to museums throughout the region and great Broadway shows, the Museum offers exceptional international trips. Currently, the Museum is taking reservations for two international trips scheduled for this year, one to northern Spain from September 3 through 11, and the other to England from December 20 through 27.

Journey Through Unknown Spain: Exploring the Ancient and Modern Heart of Northern Spain is an unforgettable trip to the dramatic mountains, ancient hamlets, and sophisticated cities of Spain's northern coast. Travel with Museum Director Jeff Andersen to this relatively unknown part of Spain - its "green" jewel where high peaks descend rapidly to the sea creating enchanting agricultural valleys, towns with rich histories, and coastal villages that have been witness to centuries of cultural invaders. There will be an illustrated presentation on Tuesday, April 22 at 6:30pm, to learn more about this exciting excursion. The event is for those who want to know more about the trip as well as those who would like to learn more about this part of our world. Enjoy Spanish cheeses and wines while exploring the beauty and culture of Northern Spain with travel expert Herzen Cortes. Cortes will talk about this immersive, experiential-based journey that he custom-designed for the Museum. Rob Hernandez, who will co-lead the trip, was born in the U.S. but raised partially in Madrid. Hernandez has traveled widely throughout Spain. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the people, history, culture and cuisine are contagious. Please RSVP for the presentation at (860) 434-5542, ext. 111 or frontdesk@flogris.org.


The Museum's second custom-designed international trip will be led by Director of Education and Outreach David D.J. Rau. A Dickens of a Christmas: An English Town & Country Holiday Excursion features wonderful museum tours and evenings of theatre in London as well as a stay at an exclusive country house in the Cotswolds.  In London the group will enjoy private guided tours of great collections including the Impressionist work at The Courthauld Gallery and the British Galleries in the Victoria & Albert Museum, as well as seek out some smaller gems such as the Leighton House Museum and The Serpentine Gallery in Kensington. As the holiday approaches, the group will travel to a country house set in 40 acres of Warwickshire countryside. This elaborate and beautiful house has played host to traditional Christmas celebrations for centuries. The festivities include carolers, candlelit dinners, costume parties, and more. The group will tour the picturesque Cotswold villages as well as take in a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company in the bard's hometown.

For complete itineraries and more information about these and other excursions, please visit the Museum's website, FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org.

2nd International Celebration of Peace: Africa

Jocelyn Pleasant

Artists for World Peace began in 2003.  Its members, artists and activists, have a goal to feed the hungry, house the poor and encourage peace throughout the world, working one person, one family, one community at a time.  Founded by Wendy Black-Nasta (Executive Director) and Dr. Robert Nasta (Musical Director) the history of Artists for World Peace began with the creation of The International Peace Belt.
Wendy Black-Nasta, an internationally acclaimed jewelry designer, received a phone call in 2000 from Hartford Courant and Connecticut Magazine reporter Bill Daly.  She was one of four artists that he reached out to inquiring about ideas on how to incorporate old European currency, that was being replaced by the Euro, into an art work.  Wendy first thought was of one of her jewelry students who was also a belly dancer.  The mesmerizing sight and sound of the bells that she wore became inspiration for a “belt for peace.” She began sending out requests to family, friends and clients asking them to send her a coin from their country.  When coins were unattainable from some countries Wendy used gemstones found in that particular region. Twenty-four months later she had acquired 144 pieces and with a team of apprentices and former students the belt was fabricated in the summer of 2003.  The Peace Belt made its first international appearance later that year at an event in India, attended by more than 150,000 people.  This successful premier event led to the creation of the foundation.

Since that first event in 2003, the International Peace Belt has traveled to more that twenty-five countries on five continents and has been worn during hundreds of artistic performances, sacred ceremonies and at peace and spiritual gatherings.  It has traveled to New York City (Ground Zero), South Korea, Haiti, Spain, Brazil, Tanzania, Egypt, Tonga and many other locations around the world.  Coins and gemstones are continually added to the belt as it traverses the globe.  The belt has become a living link between cultures and a symbol of peace and unity of all nations, of all people as one. 

To support their projects around the world Artists for World Peace will be hosting its 2nd International Celebration of Peace on Saturday, May 1- 6pm at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown.  This year they will celebrate Africa in anticipation of AFWP's fourth trip to Tanzania.  The gala will feature African cuisine, an art auction of superb African-inspired work, and live music and dance, including performances by percussionist Jocelyn Pleasant and The Manding Troubadors, Abraham Adzenyah and the Wesleyan University West African Ensemble, and Sankofa Kuumba Dance Ensemble.  Joining members of the Artists for World Peace on this summer's sojourn to Tanzania will be optometrists and eye-glass technicians, led by professor Raymond Dennis, who will operate an eye clinic in the community health center that AFWP helped build in Kibosho.  In addition, the group is planning to ship medical supplies for the health center, as well as bicycles and soccer equipment for the children.  Tickets for the May 1st event are $100. Join Artists for World Peace for an fun night of food, art and music in the Wadsworth Mansion's elegant setting.  For more information or to purchase tickets click here.

Rhythms of Dancing

With a rhythmic concert program “The Shoreline’s Own” Shoreline Chorale will present “Rhythms of Dancing” at 4pm Sunday, April 27 at the Westbrook High School.

Choral selections emphasize the rhythmic qualities of numerous dance styles, including German waltz, Hungarian, Latin (tango, Cachucha), African (Nigerian, Shona), and American (folk, Shaker) styles. Some rhythms move in smooth cadence, some step intricately, while others drive boisterously.

The Chorale’s lively Shoreliners Quintet will perform "Soft Shoe Song” (The Dance My Darlin' Used to Do), composed by Sid Bass with lyrics by Roy Jordan, in a rendition arranged for this concert by chorale and quintet member Charles Houlihan. With its very smooth and leisurely cadence, the soft shoe style was made famous by Fred Astaire, George M. Cohan and Pat Rooney, and has withstood the test of time. This number is sure to bring memories of that era of American music and dance.
And what would dance music be without dancing? Performance teams from the Westbrook Dance Academy will demonstrate their award winning routines, as groups and pairs will perform the lyrical “Pianoman,” the ballet “Adagio,” and the contemporary “Haunting.”

Ballroom dance champions Barbara Malinsky and husband Richard, will perform a tango during the choral selection called “Tango to Evora.” The Malinskys are Madison residents and Barbara also sings in the Chorale. As nationally ranked US amateurs they won first place in all single dances in the 1997 United States National Championships in Delaware, and ranked as third place champions in the Championship Division in the 2000 National Championships in Providence, Rhode Island. The Malinskys have been dancing together for 25 years, and have won numerous first place awards in regional competitions on the East Coast.

Instrumentally, clarinetist Russ Becker and accompanist Joyce Baxter and will perform a tango duet by Astore Piazzola. Piazzolla created the ‘new tango’ style, called the Argentine Tango, and was recognized by American music critic Stephen Holden as “the world’s foremost composer of tango music".

After deciding to perform a concert of rhythmic dance music, the Chorale needed to distinguish that this is a choral concert, rather than a dancing event. So the title “Rhythms of Dancing” was selected to emphasize the musical aspect of the theme. A silhouetted couple dancing tango was also selected to represent the popular Latin style to be performed in several of the selections on the program.

The chorale’s Music Director Rachael Allen also serves as director of choral music at Westbrook High School, and accompanist Joyce Baxter also serves as Music Director at the Clinton Congregational Church.

The concert will be performed at 4pm Sunday, April 27 at the Westbrook High School, 156 McVeagh Road in Westbrook. Tickets are $15 with children under 12 free. A reception will follow the concert. For more information, call 203-245-2887 or visit www.shorelinechorale.org.

Jazz NightOut Spring Concert

National Jazz Month with the Arts Center Killingworth

Jazz NightOut Spring Concert and Jammin’ Exhibit at the New Spectrum Gallery

 

Celebrating April’s Jazz Appreciation Month, the Arts Center Killingworth presents Jazz NightOut with acclaimed flutist Keith Marks and Trio on April 26 (7:30pm) at The Katharine Hepburn Cultural ArtsCenter in Old Saybrook.  A biannual sellout event, Jazz NightOut includes a cash wine bar, free appetizers and a dessert reception.  Connecticut’s Cedric Mayfield & Epitome opens the evening.

Marks, a nationally-recognized flutist has worked with jazz legends Ron Carter and Dave Burrell, and played for luminaries such as Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter.  He is a regular at New York City jazz clubs and major music festivals, and has garnered rave reviews for his cd releases.  Marks has forged a unique and commanding rhythmic voice from a seemingly delicate instrument, with Jazz Review noting “few artists are deserving of more recognition than Marks.”  Music critic George Kanzler has called Marks “an infectiously funky Pied Piper of the jazz flute.”  At Jazz NighOut, the Trio will perform favorites such as “All Blues” by Miles Davis, “Straight, No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk, “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaria, and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by jazz fusionist Josef Zawinul.

In conjunction with Jazz NightOut, the Arts Center announces the opening of its new Spectrum Gallery and Store with Jammin’, an exhibit of fine art and crafts inspired by jazz.  April 18 through May 26 (61 Main Street, Centerbrook), the show features the work of New York painter Michael Singletary and a select group of local and regional artists working in oil, acrylic, encaustic, photography and more.  Singletary’s portraits of major jazz figures have been exhibited at the Whitney and American Craft Museums, and are included in the MOMA Library and Library of Congress.  His work has been shown with notable artists including Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, David Hockney and Robert Mapplethorpe, and was featured on The Cosby Show and in Spike Lee's films Mo Better Blues and Jungle Fever.


In addition to Singletary, other artists showing in Jammin’ include a wide-range of local and regional painters, photographers, mixed media artists, sculptors, and numerous artisans working in jewelry, glass, pottery, ceramic, origami, weaving and quilting. Many of the artists and artisans have created unique“signature” pieces using their love of jazz as inspiration specifically for this show!

Multiple Gallery events are open to the public including Jammin’s Open Reception, Friday, April 18, (6:30-9 pm) at Spectrum and includes live music by JazzMan Entertainment, wine and refreshments.  Friday, May 2 (6:30-8:30) spend the evening participating in a monthly free program, Drawing in the Gallery.  Use the work of Jammin’ artists as inspiration for sketching or for the start of a new piece.  All levels welcome.  Sunday, May 4 (2pm), meet Jammin’ artist Frank Federico, an award-winning colorist and contemporary impressionist who demonstrates his painting techniques, and discusses his passion for jazz and its influence on his work.  Friday, May 9 (7:30pm) Spectrum Gallery screens Gumbo, the first episode of Ken Burns’ iconic PBS documentary on the history of jazz.  Friday, May 16 (7:30pm) expressionist painter and Jammin’ artist Andres Chaparro leads a discussion and offers an interactive demonstration on his fluid and free creative process, reflecting spontaneous emotion over traditional convention.  He incorporates found objects, strong color contrast, and distorted subject matter. 


In 2014, Spectrum Gallery and Store will present approximately five exhibits showcasing painting, mixed media, sculpture and photography.  All Gallery exhibits will include free educational events such as artist discussions, demonstrations, family days, screenings and drawing in the gallery.  Spectrum Gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday (11am-6pm) and Sunday (11am-5pm).

For Jazz NightOut tickets please call (860) 663-5593 or visit www.artscenterkillingworth.org.  Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.  For more information about the new Spectrum Gallery and Store in Centerbrook, including the five-week long Jammin’ exhibit, call (860) 767-0742 and visit www.spectrumartgallery.org.