Published: December 12, 2008 10:02 am      

Local talent tunes up for piano benefit

San Marcos area musical artists are pooling their talents for some special holiday entertainment Saturday night.

The curtain rises on the “1st Annual Generations of Performing Arts Holiday Spectacular” at 7:30 p.m. in the San Marcos High School Performing Arts Center.

The concert will feature past and present San Marcos performing artists to showcase their talents, as well as others supporting the purchase of a concert grand piano for the performing arts center.

Several professional musicians are performing at the concert, including vocalists Dr. Sam Mungo, Cheryl Parrish, Brigitte Bellini-Mungo and Singer-Songwriter Kim Miller.

The audience will also hear the special talents of Texas State University's renowned VocaLibre and local Celtic artists Gene Milligan and Virginia Davis performing as “O'Malarkey.”

The award-winning San Marcos High School Varsity Ladies Choir and San Marcos High School Varsity Mixed Choir under the direction of Helen Miers are also donating their time and talent for this cause.

The community is invited all to hear Katy Whitbeck, Layne Cape, Josh Contreras, Regan Keithly, Gabe DeLeon, Sabrina Cano and Paul Hill who will be competing in Oklahoma City, Okla. in March.

Included among the performers will be the San Marcos High School Jazz Band.

Additionally, a special reunion performing as the SMHS Alumni Choir (spanning four decades!) will present a variety of solos and duets by Jennifer LeGrevellec (1997), Sarah Lohn (1996), Sarah Fleming Walker (1996), Ryan Patrick Perkins (1999), Leo Garcia (1997) and Michael Spears (2007),

Two-time Carnegie Hall performer Cameron Dennis will perform along with another talented SMHS classmate Henry Finch.

Professional Pianist Rick Rowley will round out the program.

The concert will also honor longtime music and performing arts teacher Dr. Shirley Austin of San Marcos.

The piano is being arranged through the San Marcos Performing Arts Association, with the help of numerous donors. This includes a number of residents of the greater San Marcos area who are arranging the donation to San Marcos High School Performing Arts Center.

The concert will be preceded by a VIP Reception at the Hill Country Grill in downtown San Marcos. The 5:30 p.m. reception is for donors and will offer drinks and hors d'oeuvres, along with a special jazz ensemble.

The San Marcos Art League and Student Artists from the High School will also be displayed in the art in the foyer before and during the performance.

Information on sponsorship opportunities and/or tickets to the VIP Reception is available upon request from An Affair to Remember, JohnellHuebner@gmail.com.

The San Marcos High School Performing Arts Center is located at 2601 W. McCarty Lane. Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door.

For more information see www.SMHSChoir.com.