Children in Need

On September 4, 2011, our club was honored to host the “Concert of Life” with SEAPC Touching Hearts at the Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Mill Valley. This concert was dedicated to the Tibetan children who need heart surgeries.

Our crew members from San Domenico School, Peggy Cui, Kimberly Lin, Angela Lo, Rita Chen, Joanna Lu, Rita Hu and Nichole Chen, arrived at the church at 5:00 pm. They set up the reception, performance platform, and a mini snack bar. Then, Matt Geppert from SEAPC arrived with information about the children SEAPC Touching Hearts has treated in Tibet. The concert started at 7:00 pm with Matt’s introduction about how their operation started in Tibet. After Matt’s speech, Peggy took over the stage and announced the concert to the audience.

We had Matthew Lee start the concert by playing 2 piano pieces one by Bach and the other by Alberto Ginastera. Following him, Gaby Berbey performed Violin Concerto in E minor, 3rd Movement by Felix Mendelssohn. Then one of our guest performers, Alice Zhu, from Cupertino, performed Sonata Op.2 No.2 in A Major, 1st mvt by Beethoven. Following Alice, Kenji Bellavigna performed a clarinet piece by Mozart in great style. Then our second guest performer, Kevin Zhu, at age 11, gave a 20-minute performance with accompaniment of his sister, Alice. His first piece was the Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in G minor, D 408, 2nd and 4th Movement by Schubert. His second piece was Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate. His flawless playing of complicated violin techniques won the audience’s hearts and respect. During the intermission, people were taking photos with him and asking for his autographs.

After the intermission, R. J. Pearce performed 2 piano pieces by Chopin: Mazurka Op. 6, No. 3 in E Major and Nocturne Op.9, No. 1 in B flat minor. Then I concluded the classical performance section of our program with Kreisler’s Tambourin Chinois, accompanied by R. J. Pearce. Peggy took over the stage again and introduced Rita Hu, who played a traditional Chinese instrument, calabash flute also called Hulusi. After Rita’s performance, our club’s two talented members, Tyler Leswing and Stephen Spies presented their self-composed pieces. Tyler’s piece was on the piano and he dedicated his song, Tibetan Heart, to the Tibetan children. He also jazzed up Heart and Soul with his sister, Sophia Leswing. Then a quartet piece by Stephen was performed by me, Mae Frank, Stephen Spies, and Joyce Kwon. The program ended with a touching prayer from Matt.

We hope this concert brought music, talents, and culture to our community. Through our club members’ efforts, we hope to bring people’s awareness about the children in remote Tibet who desperately need heart surgeries in order to survive and live when they become teen agers.

Program:

Prelude and Fugue in F# minor from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 by J. S. Bach

Danzas Argentinas, Op.2, no.1 & no.2 by Alberto Ginastera

Matthew Lee, piano, Miller Creek Middle School

Violin Concerto in E minor, 3rd Movement by Felix Mendellsohn

Gabrielle Berbey, violin, The Branson School; Joe Bloom, piano

Sonata Op.2 No.2 in A Major, 1st mvt. by Ludwig van Beethoven

Alice Zhu, piano, Lynbrook High School

Clarinet Concerto, 1st Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Kenji Bellavigna, clarinet, Redwood High School; Joe Bloom, piano

Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in G minor, D 408, 2nd and 4th Movement by Franz Schubert

Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate

Kevin Zhu, violin, Lawson Middle School; Alice Zhu, piano

~ Intermission ~

Mazurka Op. 6, No. 3 in E Major by Frederic Chopin

Nocturne Op.9, No. 1 in B flat minor by Frederic Chopin

R. J. Pearce, piano, The Branson School

Tambourin Chinois by Fritz Kreisler

Caitlin Gowdy, violin, San Domenico School; R. J. Pearce, piano

Yunnan Province Minority Folk Song

Indonesia Folk Song

Rita Hu, calabash flute (hulusi), San Domenico School

Tibetan Heart - A Song Dedicated to Tibetan Children by Tyler Leswing

Tyler Leswing, piano, The Urban School of S. F.

Jazzy Heart and Soul

Tyler Leswing, piano, The Urban School of S. F., Sophia Leswing, piano, St. Mark's School

Lento from Quartet No. 1, 2nd Movement by Stephen Spies

Caitlin Gowdy, Mae Frank, violin, San Domenico School, Stephen Speis, viola, Albany High School,

Joyce Kwon, cello, San Domenico School

Crew:

Announcement….Peggy Cui

Front Desk....Kimberly Lin, Angela Lo

Light…..Rita Hu

Ticket......Nicole Chang, Rita Chang

Stagehands....Joanna Lu, Angela Lo

Photography....Rhoda Berbey

Video......Kiyomi Ishizuka

Related photos:  http://www.childreninneedclub.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=12271840.

On July 16th, 2011, four members from Children in Need, RJ, Gaby, Tyler, and Caitlin, performed at a beautiful home in the hills of San Rafael. This was a fund-raising event named Outreach to Children by the Marin Golden Gate Opera. We began by performing outdoors as guests arrived and spent time by the pool. RJ and Caitlin played many of the same pieces they performed at Smith Ranch Homes a few weeks ago. However, the program also included wonderful playing by Gaby and Tyler. Then, the guests moved inside to listen to a performance by opera singers, Olga Chernisheva, Russian soprano & Torlef Borsting, Hawaiian baritone, from the Marin Golden Gate Opera, giving us some time to rest and play chess. As dinner was served, we continued to perform and entertain. After dinner, the opera singers resumed their performances including selections from Carmen, La Boheme, Tosca, Don Giovanni and Figaro.

All the performances received an excellent response from the audience. Many guests came to thank us for our performance. It was wonderful to see all those happy faces, and to know that not only are we bringing music and happiness to our own community, we're helping to support local children. Every year, through public and private sponsorships, GGO has been able to provide tickets for in-need families and children to attend their public performances free of charge.

Related photos: http://www.childreninneedclub.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11932965.

On June 18th, 2011, the American Cancer Society had its Relay for Life at the Northgate Mall. This Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate cancer survivors and to raise money for further research. During this event, teams of people gathered at schools, fairgrounds, or parks, and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tried to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.

Children in Need had the honor of performing at this event. Tyler Leswing, a member from the Apassionato Group, and an honored guest, Tony Darren, performed jazz on Northgate's outdoor stage. 

Tyler composed these songs by himself and Tony accompanied him. Tyler has studied piano for many years and loves to compose songs. He is joining the Berkeley Jazz Camp and the Stanford Jazz Camp this summer. Children in Need is excited to have Tyler join the club with his exceptional talent and skills. We are also excited to have Tony, an accomplished electric guitarist, perform with Tyler. Tony is a skilled composer and has his own album, Sun Song. We are looking forward to performing with him again. 

On the night of Easter, April 24th, 2011, our club had a fund-raising concert for Japan Relief.  It turned out to be a small concert because of the holiday.  However, we were able to raise about $700 through the concert.  By adding the totals from both the concert and the bake sale, we were able to donate $900 to the Japan Fund created by Save the Children.

Before the concert, our lighting director, Rita Hu, and I gathered in the control room to deal with some technical problems while the performers practiced their pieces.  During the concert, everyone performed their pieces beautifully. The Fermata Group members, including Matthew Lee, Gaby Berbey, Migimatsu, and Caitlin Gowdy, performed classical pieces by Bartok, Brahms, Chopin, and Prokofiev.  We also had a guest performer, Nina Park, from san Domenico who performed two movements of Bach.  Then we had an intermission for the audience to take a break to get some cookies and drinks. 

After the intermission, other members, including Katarina Lee, Kenji Bellavigna, Toki Migimatsu, and Allie Simpson, from the Fermata Group performed pieces by Bartok, Weber, Ginastera and Bach. Following them, the Appassionato members dedicated a modern Japanese song called “Tears” by X Japan to the recent devastating earthquake in Japan. There were three signers, Jasmine Shu, Maggie Chen, and Hanna Kim accompanied by the pianist Angela Lo and the two violinists Elena Kim and Niki Fukuda.  The English translated lyrics were projected to the screen on stage by power point. The lyrics are:

Where should I go?  Now that you have left me

I'm searching for an answer in the past long gone

On a never-ending night, I dreamt of a journey

Gazing into the distant heavens, I embraced the loneliness

The winds of time, keep the flowing tears forever

You’re not truly gone, I can still feel your sigh

Dry your tears with love

Loneliness, your silent whisper

Fills a river of tears through the night

Memory, you never let me cry

And you, you never said good-bye

Sometimes our tears blinded the love

We lost our dreams along the way

But I never thought you'd trade your soul to the fates

Never thought you'd leave me alone

Time through the rain has set me free

Sands of time will keep your memory

Love everlasting fades away

Alive within your beatless heart

Dry your tears with love

Dry your tears with love

The winds of time

Keep the flowing tears forever

And undying sorrow

Blooms into a blue rose

Dry your tears with love

This song describes the feeling of losing someone you love but staying strong while drying your tears.  Through this song, we hope that victims of the earthquake and tsunami can turn their sorrow into courage and move on but always remember their beloved ones. 

The program ended with Crystal Shan’s modern interpretation of a traditional Chinese dance.  Her graceful performance with a feather was new to our club’s usual repertoire and received great compliments. 

We would like to thank all the performers and the crew who had made this concert memorable.  We also want to thank the audience who came to support our club.  Thank you everyone.

Program:

Six Romanian Folk Dances………Bartok

                Matthew Lee, piano

                Miller Creek Middle School

Sonatensatz………………….……Brahms

                Gabrielle Berbey, violin      

                The Branson School

Fantasie-Impromptu,Op. 66……..Chopin

                Kuni Migimatsu, piano

                The Branson School

Violin Concerto No.1 in D major…..Prokofiev

Caitlin Gowdy, Violin

                San Domenico School

ModernInterpretation of a Traditional Chinese Dance…………...…..Anonymous

 Crystal Shan, dance

                San Domenico School

Suite II…………………………………..Bach

     Sarabande

     Gigue

Nina Pak, Cello

                San Domenico School

                                Intermission

Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, Nos. 1,2, 4, and 6……………….…………Bartok

Katarina Lee, Piano             

                The Branson School

ClarinetConcerto No. 1 in f minor, Op. 73……………..…..Carl Maria von Weber

Kenji Bellavigna, Clarinet                  

                Redwood High School

                Elena Kim,Piano

                SanDomenico School

Danza Argentinas……..AlbertoGinastera

I. Danza del viejo boyero

II. Danza del lamoza donosa

III. Danza delgaucho matrero

Toki Migimatsu, piano

                The Branson School

Suite II………………………….…...Bach

     Prelude

     Corrante

SuiteIII………………………………Bach

     Prelude

                Allie Simpson, Viola

                San Domenico School

Tears ……………………….……….X Japan

Jasmine Shu, Maggie Chen, Hanna Kim, Vocals; Angela Lo, Piano;

Elena Kim, Niki Fukada,Violin

                San Domenico School

Crew:

Announcement….Peggy Cui

Lights....Rita Hu

Projector/Poster....Kimberly Lin

Stagehands....Joanna Lu, Lynn Kuo, Nicole Chang, Rita Chang

Photography....Rhoda Berbey

Front Desk....Adelina Gowdy, Niki Fukada

Special thanks to:

Robert DeNunzio

Eugene Chukhlov

Related photos: http://www.childreninneedclub.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11492387.

On October 3, 2010, members of the Appassionato Music Group, including Peggy Cui, Kimberly Lin, Angela Lo, Joanna Lu, Allie Simpson, Hanna Kim, and myself, Caitlin Gowdy, went to the Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael to promote United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child. At the event, we sold bookmarks made by the children at Sun Village Beijing. Each bookmark portrays an article of the Convention with Chinese paper cut picture. We also had a small chamber music performance. 

We spent two and a half hours at the Mission, playing music and selling bookmarks between masses. The music and bookmarks were well received. People enjoyed the music with lots of clapping and showed their support to the noble cause by purchasing the bookmarks. This was a successful fundraising event. Thanks to everyone for helping us to make this event a success!

Related photos: http://www.childreninneedclub.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=10090248.

     On March 25, 2010, our club had the first benefit concert. Congratulations to every excellent performer! We arrived at Smith Ranch Homes around seven thirty and received a cordial welcome. People there led us directly to the performance hall. The hall was already filled with seats which had our designed program sitting on them. Everyone felt nervous. Musicians, Gaby, Caitlin, Maggie, Kim and Angela, were busy with practicing while Alison was warming up her voice. The concert started at eight. Violinists, Caitlin and Maggie played two pieces each and Gaby played one. Alison sang two songs. Flutists, Kim and Angela, played one piece each. The one-hour-concert ended with the pianist, Toki’s melody. Everyone clapped their hands and thanked us for giving such a fabulous evening. I was the Media who took the pictures and supported my teammates. I feel proud of having all talented teammates. Great job!

     Also, thanks Peggy, being a great announcer. Thanks Mr. Graber for his piano accompaniment. Thanks Joanna for being in charge of the music stands during the whole performance. And, thanks for everyone who attended the concert, and all people who pay close attention to our club. We are planning for our next concert. We raised $400 from this concert and it was for the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Program:

Konzert in D minor Op 48, Dmitri Kabalewski

Violin: Gaby Berbey, Piano: Miles Graber

Liebesleid, Fritz Kreisler

Violin: Caitlin Gowdy, Piano: Miles Graber

A Love that will Last, Renee Olstead

Vocal: Alison Li, Piano: Miles Graber

Banjo and Fiddle, William Kroll

Violin: Maggie Zeng, Piano: Miles Graber

Kiss Goodbye, Wang Lee Hom

Vocal: Alison Li, Piano: Miles Graber

Concerto 5 Allegro non Troppo (clip), Henri Vieuxtemps

Violin: Caitlin Gowdy, Piano: Miles Graber

Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Flute: Kimberly Lin

Prima Donna, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Flute: Angela Lo

Sonata #2 in A minor for Solo Violin, Johann Sebastian Bach

Violin: Maggie Zeng

Mephisto-Walzer, Franz Liszt

Piano: Toki Migimatsu

Relate photos: http://www.childreninneedclub.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8563111.