Supplementing Music Education

The 2023 Bel Canto, set for Sunday, September 10, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center, continues an extraordinary tradition that’s enraptured audiences for 31 years.

The 31st annual Bel Canto Recital will be held in Highlands on Sunday, September 10, at 4:00 P.M. at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. This yearly recital series is an affiliate of The Bascom, and proceeds go to supplement music education at two preschool programs, music education at our public schools, a college scholarship in the performing arts, and to the acquisition of art for special art exhibitions and for the Bascom’s permanent collection.

In total, Bel Canto has contributed over $750,000 to these worthy programs.

This year’s performers are soprano Greer Lyle, who is a Carrollton, Georgia, native. She is a graduate of Georgia State University School of Music and the Yale Opera Program within the Yale School of Music. Ms. Lyle made her professional debut in 2018 with Opera

Theatre of Saint Louis. In spring of 2021, she competed at the semifinalist level for the first-ever livestreamed Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

…proceeds go to supplement music education…

Lucy Baker will be the mezzo-soprano. Lucy has sung with the DePaul Opera Theatre, the Chautauqua Institution, and with the Chautauqua Opera Company. She is currently singing with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

American tenor Sahel Salam is known for his “warm, plangent voice” and “gleaming tone.”

As a 2023 National Finalist in the

Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and winner of the Mario Lanza Competition, he has performed at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the San Francisco Opera, The Music Academy of the West, and the Cincinnati Opera. Baritone Phillip Addis will round out the quartet. He has established himself as one of Canada’s leading performers of opera, concert, and recital repertoire. He has extensive international concert experience, and he has given recitals worldwide with pianist Emily Hamper. For information about this recital series, please call The Bascom at (828) 787-2885.

by Michael Crowe

Talented Artisans

Back

If large crowds and big smiles are the hallmarks of a successful event, then the June Mountaintop Rotary’s Art and Craft Show was a smashing success. The good news is that if you missed that show, or if you had so much fun you want to go again, you’ve got another chance when the season’s final show will be held on August 26 and 27 at the Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands. Hours are from 10:00 A.M. -5:00 P.M. on Saturday and 10:00 A.M. -4:00 P.M. on Sunday.

This art and craft show combines the best of the area’s talented artisans with the fun and excitement of a street festival. There is something here for all ages to enjoy.

Local artist and Highlands School art teacher Jessica Moschouris displayed her pottery in the June show and said it was fun seeing so many people enjoying themselves and discovering all the wonderful art.

Another local vendor, Jeannie

Chambers, says “I’ve been a part of the Arts and Crafts show since 2018 and look forward to it every year. All the vendors we’ve met have been so nice and it’s sort of like ‘old home week’ when we see each other again.”

Don’t miss the chance to purchase items from two local exhibitors who sell their creations as a means of fundraising for their chosen charities. Dr. John Baumrucker sells sumptuous jams, jellies and salsas with all proceeds going to his Bolivian Mission. Jane Chalker offers unique trash can metal art with proceeds going to Highlands Friends of Haiti.

It goes without saying that any street festival needs great music and crowd favorites Nitrograss will be back by popular demand to fill that need with the toe-tapping, good-time sounds of bluegrass music.

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital/Eckerd Living Center outdid themselves with their Teddy Bear Clinic in June and they will be back in action at the August show. Children can bring their own teddy bear or can adopt a bear on-site and have their boo-boos attended to by volunteers from the hospital. These young caregivers can walk their tiny patients through an entire medical procedure, from registration to diagnosis and treatment.

The event is free, but donations are accepted and encouraged as it is Mountaintop Rotary’s largest fundraiser and allows the club to achieve its goals of helping families and children in need, both locally and internationally. There will also be a Silent Auction with generous donations from the artisans in attendance as well as from our community.

For more information on the show visit highlandsartshow.com or Facebook @ Highlands Mountaintop Art & Craft show for the latest updates.

by Mary Jane McCall