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Dr. John Milbauer, associate professor of music for eight years at the University of Arizona, will headline the second capital fundraising program of Oracle Piano Society on Sunday, Nov. 15, in the Oracle Center for the Arts. Tickets for the 3 p.m. concert (on the Society’s concert grand, not a miniature!) are $30, available by calling (623) 295-9677. The not-for-profit Society was founded three years ago and is widely known for presenting high-caliber classical music performances.
Keeping true to its youth education and community outreach mission, Oracle Piano Society showcased local young musicians at its season opener in October, and the following day delivered a donated piano to a six-year-old piano student in San Manuel.
The works of Maurice Ravel, performed by OPS founder and artistic director Dr. Stephen Cook, headlined the first-ever dinner/concert at the new Oracle Center for the Arts. In addition, performances by five young people delighted the sold-out audience. Featured were: Elena Hendrix, pianist, and Annalupe Rodriguez, vocalist, from Mountain Vista School in Oracle; Gianna Everette, pianist, and Andrew Robles, vocalist, from Basis in Oro Valley; and George Rivas, pianist, from Ironwood High in Oro Valley.
It was a homecoming of sorts for the donated piano delivered to Kayla Lambiottes by members of the Society. The Hamilton by Baldwin had been purchased 50 years ago by Cheri Rennicke’s mother, who then lived in San Manuel and later moved to Oracle. According to Ms. Rennicke, who made the donation, and Elaine Helzer, who teaches young Kayla, it has seldom been played, but lovingly cared for over the past 30 years.
This was the second piano donation this year managed by the Society. Fred and Debra Moss of Oro Valley donated a piano which was given to a Redington family with two piano students.
“Donations of well-cared-for pianos or other instruments sitting in homes and not being used can be passed on to families to support music education for the youth of our communities,” noted Mrs. Helzer, a Society board member.
Sunday, Nov. 15, is the date for the Society’s second capital fundraising concert scheduled in the Center’s performance hall. Dr. John Milbauer, coordinator of keyboard studies at the University of Arizona School of Music, will perform a mix of old and new arrangements on the Society’s Baldwin concert grand, then meet and greet with the audience. The 3 p.m. event will open with a silent auction. Dr. Milbauer, a member of the Society’s artist advisory committee, has performed frequently across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Ticket information for the Nov. 15 concert/silent auction and details about the not-for-profit Society and its fundraising for the new center for the arts is posted on the website: www.oraclepianosociety.org or by calling (623) 295-9677.
The Society is working to raise $200,000 by mid-January to purchase the former Masonic lodge building at 700 E. Kingston St. in Oracle. In addition to the building’s performance hall with theater seats, it has a spacious lobby that will double as an art gallery, modern kitchen, and large parking area. Lectures, a film series, theatrical performances, classes, and musical story-time for young children are among the activities that could be held there.
Donations are also being accepted at GoFundMe.com/oracleartscenter.
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