Music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon to present free concert Sunday

The Berkeley Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, International Professional Music Fraternity, is proud to present the winners of its 2007 Young Artist Competition on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in the Fireside Room at Gateway.

The program this year will feature pianist Alan Chen, soprano Abbigail Cote, and soprano Shauna Fallihee.

Chen, a freshman at UC Berkeley, started studying piano at the age of 5. He has won numerous awards over the years, including first place in the US Open Piano Concerto Competition in 2000 and 2003, first place in the US Open Showcase solo competition in 2001 and 2002, and the MTAC State Piano Concerto Competition in 2003.

Throughout his musical career, he has acted as a soloist with numerous orchestras including the Palo Alto Philharmonic and the South Valley Symphony in Gilroy. He currently studies with Professor John McCarthy, director of preparatory and Adult Divisions of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Soprano Abbigail Cote began studying classical voice at the age of 17 with Frank Ryken. She soon decided to pursue a career in classical voice and enrolled in the University of Montana as a vocal performance major.

Cote has enjoyed success on the competition circuit. In 2006, she was the second-place winner in the Van Waynen Vocal Competition. She received third place in the 2003 CIAO awards and is a two-time NATS collegiate division winner. Her Bay Area aria performance credits include vocalizing with the Berkeley Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, Opera Works, and the East Bay Aria Club.

Soprano Shauna Fallihee has performed internationally as a soloist and chorister. She performed frequently at the New England Conservatory and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. She received her degree in voice performance as a scholarship student of Carole Haber.

In 2003, Fallihee made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Bernard Haitink in Beethoven's “Chor Fantasie.” She has also sung with the San Francisco Renaissance Voices and San Francisco Lyric Opera. She currently sings with the acclaimed contemporary choral ensemble Volti.

Light refreshments and coffee will be served. This free concert is sponsored by the Recreation Department and is open to all residents and their guests.

April Special Events sponsored by Recreation

The following are the April Special Events sponsored by the Rossmoor Recreation Department. For more information on any of these events during the month, check the Special Events listing on the calendar page each week, look for the article in the Arts and Leisure section of the News, or call the Recreation Department at 988-7732. Events are free unless otherwise noted. This information is posted throughout the month of April on the Rossmoor News Web site at www.rossmoornews.com.

14th annual Concert at the Res set for May

The 14th annual free Concert at the Res is Saturday, May 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lafayette Reservoir. The afternoon event showcases local school music programs.

Ashmolean Singers present eclectic concert

Lyric soprano Elizabeth Hunter will be the guest soloist at the Ashmolean Singers' spring concert on Sunday, April 30, at 4 p.m. in the Fireside Room at Gateway Clubhouse.

Ballroom Dance Club sets its April dance

The Ballroom Dance Club will dance to the music of the Casuals Band on Saturday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the Sierra Room of Del Valle Clubhouse.

Baritone Richard Fey will perform at Fun Day

Baritone Richard Fey will perform for Fun Day in the Sierra Room at Del Valle at noon on Thursday, April 19. Fey will be accompanied on the piano by Miles Graber.

Best Actress Helen Mirren stars in “The Queen” showing Wednesday

The 2006 drama “The Queen,” starring Helen Mirren in her Academy Award-winning role as Queen Elizabeth II, will be shown in Peacock Hall on Wednesday, April 25, at 4 and 7 p.m.; Thursday, April 26, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; and on Friday, April 27, at 10 a.m. and 1, 4 and 7 p.m.

Big Band performs at ballroom dance Memorial Day weekend in Lafayette

The Rossmoor Big Band will perform Friday, May 25, at its third Big Band Ballroom Dance at the Veterans Memorial Building in Lafayette.

“Seussical the Musical,” “Blue Door” and “Dearly Beloved”

Music, comedy, drama offered

Cantare All-Star Choir to perform a free concert in the afternoon at Del Valle

The Cantare Youth Choir All-Star singers will perform a free concert of music from spirituals to jazz favorites in the Sierra Room at Del Valle on Friday, April 27, at 4 p.m. (not in the evening as stated in earlier News articles).

Faces of Faith film series continues

The Interfaith Council and the Foreign Film Club combine to present two more movies as part of their Faces of Faith film series.

Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival set for Walnut Creek

Downtown Walnut Creek will celebrate the arrival of spring with its 58th Semi-Annual Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival on Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free recital of musical theater to be presented by teachers Saturday in the Fireside Room

A free recital of classical, art song, opera and musical theater will be presented in the Fireside Room at Gateway Clubhouse on Saturday, April 21, at 3 p.m., presented by the National Organization of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Fulton Street Jazz Band to entertain Dixieland Jazz Club

The Dixieland Jazz Club will be entertained by Sacramento's Fulton Street Jazz Band on Wednesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sierra Room at Del Valle Clubhouse.

Grace Notes perform at Lesher Center

The Grace Notes, Rossmoor's women's barbershop chorus, will perform in the show, “A Salute to Women in the Arts,” on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Lions Club's annual luau in May will feature hula performance by Dances of the Pacific

The Lions Club will present its annual luau on Saturday, May 12, at 5 p.m. at Del Valle Clubhouse.

Movie Short Takes

A love letter to Paris

Music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon to present free concert Sunday

The Berkeley Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, International Professional Music Fraternity, is proud to present the winners of its 2007 Young Artist Competition on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in the Fireside Room at Gateway.

Show and Tell Film Club to present “Little Miss Sunshine”

The Academy-Award winning film, “Little Miss Sunshine,” will be shown by the Show and Tell Film Club on Wednesday, May 2, at 3 p.m. in Peacock Hall. The film won 2006 Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and for Alan Arkin for Best Supporting Actor.

Stay healthy by dancing on the fourth Sunday

Rossmoor's Fourth Sunday Dance can help residents stay healthy, energetic and maintain a positive attitude. All residents are invited to attend the next dance at Del Valle Clubhouse from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22.

Sunday Funnies presents “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain”

The 1995 comedy, “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain,” starring Hugh Grant, will be shown in Peacock Hall at Gateway on Sunday, April 22, at 4 and 7 p.m. This film does not have a language captions option.

“The Departed” shows Thursday, Friday

The 2006 drama, “The Departed,” starring Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio, will be shown in Peacock Hall at Gateway on Thursday, April 19, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; Friday, April 20, at 10 a.m., 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; and again on Saturday, April 21, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. The showings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. will feature language captions.

Three films and panel discussion featured for last week of Faces of Faith film festival

Week four of the cross-cultural film festival, “Faces of Faith,” begins on Monday, April 23, with “The Son.”

Writers Club program will run on Channel 28 starting tomorrow, features three readers

The Writers Club will present three readers on its Channel 28 program this month, to be shown Thursday, April 19 through Wednesday, April 25.