PRESS RELEASE Please plan to join us and share this withy our friends who would enjoy a Classical Christmas celebrated with songs and music.
Roanoke Island Festival Park A Division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
MORE INFORMATION Press: Tanya Young, (252) 475-1500 ext. 244 tanya.young@ncdcr.gov roanokeisland.com
Or Gail Sonnesso, GEM 252-480-3354
Violins & Voices a Classical Christmas
ROANOKE ISLAND- Violins & Voices a Classical Christmas will be held in the indoor theatre at Roanoke Island Festival Park on Friday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. The holiday event is a benefit for GEM, a non-profit that provides a positive and supportive day environment for adults with memory loss, physical and mental disabilities and those in need of socialization. Refreshment will be served following the performance. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased at the door the night of the event.
Local performers include: Angelo Sonnesso Tenor; Lisa Martinez – Soprano; Christian Jackle –Soprano; Nick Hodsdon - Baritone; Sue Artz – Violin; Joy Martinez and Blaire Smith (8 years old) and
David Spangler – piano/accompanist.
Angelo Sonnesso is a professional musician who received his MA in music from Columbia University. His styles include classical, sacred, contemporary and jazz. His lyric tenor voice and fluid keyboard is memorable. He has performed at New York's Waldorf Astoria; The Brooklyn Academy of Music; New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and served as tenor soloist for the Church of the Resurrection on New York's Park Avenue.
Renowned classically trained violinist Sue Artz grew up in Saratoga Springs , NY and has been playing the violin for 25 years. She performed in symphonies all throughout her childhood and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in music performance from The College of New Paltz, NY. She has been on stage since age 6, playing for thousands over the years at various venues throughout the east coast, including Carnegie Hall with an orchestra and at New York's legendary rock club CBGB's with her former punk rock alternative band. Locally, Sue starred in the Outer Banks Music Showcase, founded the former Heart Strings and Ivory trio, was an original member of the Showstoppers band and has performed at many festivals and benefits.
David Spangler studied at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, and has been a music educator for 34 years and currently resides in Manteo.
GEM meets at the Unitarian Church in Kitty Hawk where participants are welcomed into a safe and inviting atmosphere in which they can socialize, relax and take part in stimulating activities. Participants are treated with respect and dignity and each individual is seen as a special person with a unique personal history. The daily schedule at GEM includes a wide variety of activities that are specially designed to be cognitively and physically appropriate for participants. GEM activities are more than fun and stimulating - they are meaningful. For more information about the organization, visit www.gemdayservices.org or call (252) 480-3354.
Gail E Sonnesso M.S.
Executive Director
GEM Adult Day Services Inc.
Where group Respite is therapeutic for both our participants, and their families.
(252) 480-3354
