Delray Beach Neighbors and Artists Rally Around Stricken Girl & Her Family

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Jace Vek

Tags

acute myeloid leukemia, AML, Delray, George DeMartino, Hailey Kennedy, Hailey Kennedy Fundraiser, Jace Vek, P.J. Schrantz, William DeBilzan, William DeBilzan Gallery, Wish Givers Organization

Fundraiser in honor of Delray’s Hailey Kennedy
to feature performances by
Composer Jace Vek & Comedian George DeMartino

In January Hailey Kennedy, who had just celebrated her thirteenth birthday, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. AML, as it is known, is a life threatening form of cancer rare in children. Hailey’s parents, Tim and Aimee Kennedy, were devastated. To add to their shock, they had to make an immediate decision regarding treatment. Twenty-four hours later Hailey and her mom left for Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Aimee left her job and home to be with her daughter during the six month treatment regimen. Her father Tim, who had sustained broken ribs and a head injury the prior month in a fall at work, was left to deal with the financial issues and keep the home fires burning. Fortunately, Tim, Aimee and Hailey soon learned they were not alone in dealing with their plight.

On April 27^th, a group of the Kennedy’s friends and neighbors will host a fundraising event at Delray’s DeBilzan Gallery, at 38 East Atlantic Avenue (williamdebilzan.net). Spearheaded by world renowned artist and gallery owner William DeBilzan, Emmy Award winning composer/concert pianist Jace Vek (www.jacevek.com), WishGivers Organization/Till We Meet Again Charities’ P.J. Schrantz (http://wishgivers.org/hope-for-hailey/), and comedian George DeMartino the evening will be a celebration of and for Hailey. Cocktails and light hors d’ouvres will be served. There will be a silent auction and guests will be invited to bid on an exciting array of items including a dinner cruise for 20 people on board a luxurious 90 foot yacht. Jace Vek and George DeMartino will be ‘included’ in the yacht package as entertainment! Vek has composed a new work, Hailey’s Sunrise, written in Hailey’s honor, which he will debut at the event on the 27^th.

All goods, services, and auction items have been donated for this event. All funds raised will benefit Hailey Kennedy and WishGivers Foundation.

For more information, photos, and/or interview requests, please contact Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244/ckassie@gmail.com .

Hailey Kennedy Fundraiser
April 27, 2013
6:30 pm
Cost: $50
DeBilzan Gallery
38 East Atlantic Avenue, Unit B5
Delray Beach, FL 33483
For tickets/to RSVP: 561-266-2090

Virtuoso Pianist Jace Vek creates ‘The New Standard’

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Jace Vek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Anita Havel, cello, Chris Eversoul, Contemporary, Crest Theatre, Delray Beach Center for the Arts, Delray Music, Drew Tucker, Jace Vek, Jazz, Jeff Oster, Jenene Caramiello, Jimi Cokinos, Jonah Kim, Music, pianist, The New Standard, virtuoso, world class musicians

Eight World Class Musicians to Appear On Stage
One Night Only
January 5, 2013
At The Crest Theater
At the Delray Beach Center for the Arts in Old School Square

Emmy Award-winning composer and concert pianist Jace Vek has built a critically acclaimed career combining different styles and genres to create music that ventures far beyond the traditional, yet consistently pleases the ear and the soul. On January 5^th at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts in Old School Square, Vek will continue to stretch the boundaries of his art in a concert he has dubbed The New Standard.

The show, which Vek describes as “instrumental art” will feature a roster of outstanding musicians, all with uniquely different styles of musicianship working together to give birth to Vek’s newest cutting edge creations.

“The music is heavy on melody, and strong in rhythm,” Vek explains. “It ranges from sublime, dreamy interludes to explosive feats of technical virtuosity. It sounds like a film soundtrack on steroids. It’s a sum of the inspirations from many musical styles including, Electronica, Classical, New Age, Jazz, Film music, Hard Rock, Symphonic, Opera, and Hip hop.”

The New Standard will also showcase the formidable talents of cellist Jonah Kim, electric guitarist Jimi Cokinos, flugelhorn/trumpeter Jeff Oster, bassist Chris Eversoul, and percussionist Drew Tucker. Soprano Jenene Caramiello and dancer Anita Havel will also perform.

Winner of 2 Emmy awards, with five album releases, Jace Vek’s music is played on hundreds of radio stations world-wide and is featured on XM satellite radio. He is a composer of new music, has worked with with Grammy award winning artists, and specializes in symphonic-electronic fusion. As a virtuoso pianist, Jace Vek has played for US presidents, and performed in many exclusive venues.

Heralded by the New York Times as the next Yo-Yo Ma, 22 year old cellist Jonah Kim has become a star in the world of classical music. He has worked with numerous superstars, including Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Vic Damone, Kenny Rogers, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Jonah is a graduate of the Julliard and Curtis schools of music. He is Associate Principal Cellist at the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, where he is also the orchestra’s youngest member.

With a career in the music business that has taken him to over 50 countries, electric guitarist Jimi Cokinos brings a world of sound and experience to his music. He has had an extensive career in production and has worked closely with Janet Jackson. Destiny’s Child, Fuel, Creed, James Taylor, and other world famous acts.

Jeff Oster’s (flugelhorn, trumpet) most recent album releases, produced by Grammy award winning producer Will Ackerman, have earned him 2 album of the year awards, and international radio airplay, and rave reviews from critics from all over the world.

Over the past 12 months Chris Eversoul (bass guitar) has appeared with the following groups: Apocalyptica, L.A. Guns, Cinderella, and Stryper. Chris has also worked with Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Dale Stevens, and Patrick Johanson.

Founder of the Tucker Music Academy, which teaches hundreds of students, percussionist Drew Tucker is a leader in community outreach, and a captain of music education.

Tickets for The New Standard are $25, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased on line at http://delraycenterforthearts.org/ or by phone at 561-243-7922. Performance time is 8 p.m. on January 5^th, 2013.

For more information about The New Standard, to arrange for interviews with various artists, or for photos and/or video, visit www.jacevek.com, or contact Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com/561-445-9244.

Delray Beach Center for the Arts (formerly known as Old School Square Cultural Arts Center) offers world‐class events, theater, exhibits and learning opportunities. The restored early 20th century school buildings (listed on the
National Register of Historic Places as Delray Beach Schools) house the charming Cornell Museum of Art & American Culture (c. 1913), the intimate Crest Theatre (c. 1925) and a Vintage Gymnasium. The Pavilion, which opened in 2002, hosts outdoor concerts and festivals. The School of Creative Arts offers art, photography and writing classes. The Center also serves as a venue for community, corporate, private and media events. For information on performances, exhibits, classes or facility rentals, call 561‐243‐7922 or visit
DelrayCenterForTheArts.org.

The New Standard
January 5, 2013
8:00 p.m.
Tickets $25
The Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square
51 North Swinton Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: 561-243-7922
delraycenterforthearts.org

Jace Vek