02/03/2011 - The Independent

THE INDEPENDENT • SECTION IIArt, Community, & EducationTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011Valentine’s Day'Girlfriends Gala'Revue & ChampagneReception SetPeter Fletcherrary women.The gala event planned forMonday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m.includes a complimentary “ThreeCs” reception – Champagne,Chocolate and Confections servedin the theater lobby immediatelyfollowing the performance.Described as “traveling OprahWinfrey’s” by the Boston Globe,the Four Bitchin Babes got theirstart in 1990 as a touring band ofmusicians. The four formed animmediate connection, not justas musicians, but as true friends.Their priceless ability to see thehumor in the most mundane ofsituations found its way into theirWith the hilarious comedy andheartfelt music of the Four Bitchin'Babes, the Livermore Valley PerformingArts Center presents aValentine’s Day 2011 “GirlfriendsGala” at the Bankhead Theater.The four multi-talented singersongwritersof the Four BitchinBabes bring their own brand ofrollicking humor into “HormonalImbalance: A Mood SwingingMusical Revue.” All the joys anddilemmas of everyday life – fromthe challenges of balancing careerand family, to chocolate obsessionsand inadequately cut swimwear– find their place in this celebrationof the complex lives of contempomusic,and transformed the group’sact into an outrageously funny andinsightful commentary on the upsand downs of daily life. Over theyears, the group has evolved and,Classical Guitarist to Perform at FirehouseAward-winning Classical GuitaristPeter Fletcher perform atPleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Centeron February 20.The 3:00 p.m. matinee will takeplace at the the Arts Center at 4444Railroad Avenue in downtownPleasanton.The concert, a San FranciscoThe Amador Friends of Musicwill present the 36th annual CampanaJazz Festival at Amador ValleyHigh School, 1155 Santa RitaRoad in Pleasanton, California onSaturday, February 12, 2011 from8:00am-7:00pm.The day long festival will feature51 ensembles from 24 BayArea schools, including San Jose,Fremont, Pleasanton, Dublin, SanRamon, Danville, Walnut Creek,San Jose, Brentwood, Concord,El Cerrito, Berkeley, Folsom, SanMateo, Palo Alto and Cupertino.There will be four venues and sixin addition to original memberSally Fingerett, now includes DebiSmith, Nancy Moran, and DeirdreFlint. Each brings their exceptionaltalent as singers, songwriters andBay Area stop on Fletcher’s 2011national tour, will feature selectionsfrom Fletcher’s 2008 CDrelease, Music of the Baroque.Other repertoire will includeJesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring fromCantata No. 147; Chaconne in Dminor by J. S. Bach; Usher-Waltz,an unusual and intense piece byCampana Jazz Festivala Day Long Eventmusicians, as well as a naturalgift for comedy, to sold-out showsacross North America. With 20years and eight albums behind(continued on page 2)Russian guitarist and composerNikita Koshkin; two works fromMaurice Ravel’s Mother GooseSuite, and the music of Dowland,Albeniz, Villa-Lobos Ponce, Reusner,and Grieg.The program will culminatewith Koyunbaba, by composer/(continued on page 6)divisions, including High SchoolBig Bands (AA, A, B) and MiddleSchool Big Bands. This year willalso feature expanded high schoolcombo and vocal divisions. Twoawards concerts, at 3:15 and5:00pm will feature the winningbands, choirs, and PUSD jazzbands.Outstanding musicians will beawarded over $15000 in summercamp music scholarships, and two$1000 college scholarships willbe presented to study music at CalState East Bay.Named in honor of Jim Campana,AVHS Music Director from1959 through 1979, the CampanaJazz Festival is one of the highlightsof the Pleasanton UnifiedSchool District’s musical year. Mr.and Mrs. Jim Campana are planningto attend. Admission is $10,$8 for seniors and students, andfree for those five and under.Amador Friends of Music(AFM), is a non-profit 501(C)(3)organization which provides organization,fund-raising, and volunteersupport to the music program.For more information, go to amadormusic.org.