ASAP Fall Music Festival Will Be Collaboration With Shepaug High School Chorus

WASHINGTON — In collaboration with the Shepaug Valley High School Chorus, ASAP (the After School Arts Program) will present a Fall Music Festival featuring local artists on Friday, September 22, at 7:30 pm at the Shepaug Middle-High School Auditorium.

The evening will include a variety of music with professionals and students: A Completely Different Note, UConn’s all-male a capella group; Lorca Alive, the music and song of Pedro Avila; master percussionist John Marshall accompanied by his students from ASAP’s advanced drumming class; and the Shepaug Valley High School Chorus, under the direction of Christopher Shay.

UConn’s A Completely Different Note (CDN) was founded in 1999 by a group of friends who shared a love for creating music.  The group has been going strong since and continues to progress in the a cappella world. Its spring 2006 concert in Storrs featured contemporary rock and barber shop to classic 80s cartoons music.

Pedro Avila began his musical career in Paris. There he cut his first record, developed himself professionally in different orchestras and culminated that first leg of his musical journey as the lead singer in the Moulin Rouge. After several years and a stint with the touring company he turned his attention to lending music to poetry, sharing these creations in recitals and concerts.  With his guitar and his voice he traveled to Greece, Brazil and Mexico, where he lived one of the most creative phases of his career.

“Lorca Alive” is Mr Avila’s musical tribute to the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca, killed 70 years ago by fascist forces at the start of the Spanish Civil War.  Mr Lorca’s wide ranging talent – as a musician, playwright and poet – will be reflected in the selection of songs, especially for this event, written and performed by Mr Avila, accompanied by Fred Krug, Mikal Omara and Leclare Retterree.

John Marshall is a master percussionist who performs in venues around the world. His music includes the drumming traditions of the Middle East, South India, Egypt, West Africa, the Caribbean and Central Asia.  Students Woody Banko, Ryan Underwood, Evan Wright, Tyler Palmese and Zak Stein will accompany Mr. Marshall.

Under the direction of Christopher Shay, the Shepaug Valley High School Chorus has toured the East Coast from Boston to Washington. Last year they toured and performed in music festivals in France and England where they won the Best in Festival Award.

ASAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing artistic experiences for children ages K through adult. As it enters its eighth year the program will offer more than 100 workshops and events in the culinary, literary, performing and visual arts.  ASAP also provides arts organizations and professional teaching artists for in-school as well as after-school programs. Counting audiences, in-school programming for schools in the Litchfield and New Haven counties as well as program participants, ASAP has benefitted more than 23,000 children and adults since its inception. A donation of $5 is suggested at the door. Those seeking additional information about the Music Festival or other ASAP programs may call the ASAP office at 860-868-0740 or visit the program’s website at AfterSchoolArtsProgram.com.