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Community Corner

Musical Art Society Voice 101 Scholarship Fundraiser

The Musical Art Society of Branford will hold it's annual scholarship fundraiser on Friday, November 9 at 7:30 pm at the Blackstone Library, featuring "Voice 101," an extravaganza of different style vocalists. Tickets are $15 at the door ($10 students) or can be purchased in advance by calling Arlene Steinlauf at (203) 488-6837. Refreshments will be served during a reception afterwards to meet the artists.



Proceeds from this scholarship fundraiser will go to a high school senior from Branford who plans to study music at the college level next year. Auditions for the scholarship, as well as a free concert by several student groups, will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 7:30 pm at the First Congregational Church of Branford, to which public is welcome. Students wishing to audition should contact Martha Medford at (203) 481-6952.


The performers for Voice 101 will present selections from very diverse styles, including folk, opera, Broadway, gospel and choral selections by students from Branford's own Walsh Cantare Voices.

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Pierce Campbell is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was the Connecticut State Troubadour in 2007 and 2008. He has released 5 solo CDs and performs Celtic, Jazz, pop and folk music as a soloist as well as a member of The Kerry Boys, The Funky Butt Jazz Band and the Pierce Campbell Jazz Duo/Trio.


Kevin Buno is Director of Choral Ensembles at Guilford High School and St. George Church, president of the CT Chapter of American Choral Directors Association and visiting professor of choral music at Eastern Connecticut State University. Mr. Buno holds a M.M. from UConn and has pursued graduate studies in Vocal Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music, and remains active as a singer with CONCORA in the Hartford region and as a tenor soloist in both Connecticut and New York.

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The Festas, Anthony and Kelliann, are founding members of the Round Table Players theater company. Anthony has been a performer, director, set designer, property master and costumer for many productions throughout Connecticut. Kelliann’s vocal talents have been heard across the country, in both operatic and musical theater productions, and she has been an adjunct professor of voice and music at the University of New Haven and ran a thriving private studio.


The Gospel Messengers are a trio led by Jerry Rasmussen with Joe Evans and Mallury Pollard that performs music from the Gospel tradition as well as original songs. Jerry has performed at Town Hall in NYC and from Boston to Washington, DC as well as venues across the country. His songs have appeared in Sing Out! magazine and the songbook New Folk Favorites published by Hal Leonard. Jerry has five CDs of folk and gospel, including one by the Gospel Messengers with a new one in the works.


The Cantare Voices are a group of choral students from Branford’s Walsh Intermediate School led by their teacher Keith Traver.


Friday, November 9, 2012 at 7:30 pm: Voice 101Alice Collins Scholarship Concert Fundraiser Featuring:


Pierce Campbell (Folk), Kevin Buno (Opera), The Festas (Broadway), Gospel Messengers (Gospel), WIS Cantare Voices led by Keith Traver


Blackstone Library Auditorium, 758 Main Street, Branford, CT


$15 General Public, $12 MAS Members, $10 Students


Tickets: Arlene Steinlauf (203) 488-6837


Info: Barbara Shaw (203) 481-2819

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