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Warner Theatre
Meeting beneath the sparkling lights of the historic Warner Theatre are Warner Executive Director Barry Hughson (L), LARC Executive Director Larry Cassella, and Rosemary Woolsey. Rose is a familiar face throughout the community as she tools around town in her state-of-the-art motorized chair. She is an active community resident and has participated in Special Olympics for the last 15 years; for the last two years she has won the gold medal in wheelchair races. Rose has been affiliated with LARC for the past 22 years and has been employed by The Voice for seven years as an office clerk.
Paul Winter Performs Benefit Concert for LARC
Four-time Grammy Award winner Paul Winter (of the Paul Winter Consort) performs a benefit concert, "Celebration of Spring," for the Litchfield County Association of Retarded Citizens, Inc. on Saturday April 27 beginning at 8 p.m. at the historic Warner Theatre, 68 Main St. in Torrington. Nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, Paul Winter is perhaps equally known for his annual Winter Solstice concert at New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Among Winter's most recent recordings are Journey with the Sun, a 2001 Grammy nominee for "Best World Music Album Category," and Celtic Solstice, a 1999 Grammy winner.
Winter uses the phrase "Earth Music" to describe his aspirations to celebrate the cultures, creatures and wilderness of the whole earth. His music, which has embraced traditions of many of the world's cultures from South America to Africa, has also reflected the sounds of wildlife and wilderness areas. This concert will feature new music from Paul Winter's album-in-progress, EarthChild, as well as compositions from the Consort's traditional repertoire.
Where previous concerts for LARC have featured Brazilian (1998) and Celtic (2000) themes, the celebration this year will focus around African music. The ensemble of six players will feature longtime cellist Eugene Friesen and two special guest musicians with deep experience in the music of Africa: Chris Berry, a master player of mbira (thumb-piano) of Zimbabwe; and percussionist Valerie Dee Naranjo.
Chris Berry spent years studying and playing mbira with master players in the Congo and Zimbabwe. He became renowned for his ability to "call the spirits" and later made history by becoming the first foreigner to be honored as master composer and player for the Royal Ancestral Court in Nuanda. Currently Chris teaches at the University of New Mexico and tours internationally with his band, Panjea.
Valerie Dee Naranjo is a specialist on the Gyil (jee-lee), a marimba from Ghana. She performs with and arranged for the five percussionists in the Broadway production of The Lion King and plays percussion and arranges for the Saturday Night Live band.
The historic Warner Theatre was built by Warner Brothers during the Depression era. The theatre is a classic example of Art Deco, a place where the common man could sit in opulence. The Warner is a registered national landmark and is currently undergoing a multimillion dollar restoration.
The Litchfield County Association of Retarded Citizens (LARC) is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides vocational, recreational and residential supports throughout Northwest Connecticut, serving more 300 individuals on a daily basis; LARC also operates Camp LARC. The agency has two offices in Torrington, located at 84-R Main Street as well as 66 East Albert Street. Funding for the agency comes through the CT Department of Mental Retardation, The Northwest CT United Way, the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Social Services, estate and planned giving, federal and state grants, fundraising events, and donated goods and in-kind services.
Tickets for the concert are $24.50 and $20.50 and are available through the Warner Theatre; for more info call 860-489-7180. For more info about LARC call 860-482-9364, or visit <www.litchfieldarc.org>.
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