Classical Action rolls out annual Up Our Alley bowler
Classical music
and performing arts industry folk will descend on Greenwich Village’s Bowlmor
Lanes this Monday,
June 8, for what
will predictably be an underwhelming display of athleticism at Up Our Alley
11: Classical Action’s Annual Benefit Bowling Bonanza. The eventattracts scores of worker-bees from New York City’s arts
presenters, service organizations, and management and publicity firms, who will
reluctantly don striped bowling shoes to help Classical Action raise funds for vitally needed
AIDS-related services organizations across the United States.
In the
weeks leading up to the event, participants have worked hard to persuade
friends, family, and non-participating colleagues to sponsor their once-a-year
attempts at physical activity– all in the spirit of putting the FUN in FUNDRAISING for a cause that, unfortunately,
shows no signs of becoming redundant.
Up Our Alley 10 raised a record-breaking $165,000 in a few short,
fun-filled hours last year.
Chris
Kenny, Classical Action’s Associate Director, reports that while morale remains
high, online contributions are sadly suffering along with the general economy
this year. “We have fewer teams
participating this year than last, and that really hurts our bottom line.” He continues: “We’re hoping that we’ll
get a lot of last-minute contributions, but thus far we are falling short of
our goal.” Online contributions
can be made via the Classical Action web site at http://support.broadwaycares.org/site/TR?fr_id=1180&pg=entry.
Many of the
key players from New York’s classical music community will participate in the
fun of Up Our Alley XI: Classical Action’s Eleventh Annual Benefit Bowling
Bonanza. As in past seasons, the event will
feature a plethora of mostly atrocious bowling skills, as teams representing
such organizations as Carnegie Hall, IMG Artists, Lincoln Center, and the New York Philharmonic, and everyone’s favorite classical
music promotion company, 21C Media Group, vie for dominance in a crowded field of feisty
non-professional bowlers.
The Lucky
Star Foundation is the sponsor of “Up Our Alley XI”. During the last ten years, more than $850,000 has been
raised by the bowlers.
To find out
how to become an Up Our Alley participant, contact Chris Kenney, Classical
Action’s projects coordinator, at (212) 997-7717 or e-mail [email protected]
In other
news, for the sixth consecutive year Classical Action has teamed up with New
York City’s River to River Festival to present four free classical concerts in
the Pace University auditorium, right at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge
(Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts).
The opening event on June 1 has Hungarian musicians Félix Lajkó (violin) and Antal Brasnyó (viola) fusing folk,
jazz, Gypsy, and Jewish klezmer music.
American fiddler and composer Mark O’Connor is bringing friends for his
June 15 performance; winsome Canadian cellist Soo Bae, called “superb” by the New
Yorker, brings her beautiful Strad and
fine pianist Reiko Uchida for an evening of music on June 22; and the Brasil
Guitar Duo, whose “maturity of musicianship and technical virtuosity are simply
outstanding,” according to the authoritative Classical Guitar magazine, will strum on June 29. All concerts start at 7.30pm, and tickets are available
after 4 pm the day of the show.
Classical
Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS was founded in 1993 by Charles Hamlen, and became a fundraising
program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in 1997. The not-for-profit organization draws upon the talents,
resources, and generosity of the performing arts community to raise vitally
needed funds for HIV/AIDS service, education, and prevention programs across
the country. Funds are raised
through special events, private house concerts, recording and merchandising
projects, individual donations, and foundation and corporate support. In the 15 years since Classical Action
opened its fundraising doors, it has raised more than $7 million. Additional information is available at www.classicalaction.org.
www.classicalaction.org
# # #
The
River to River Festival and Pace University present Summer Stars, produced in
association with Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS
Free tickets are available
after 4pm on day of show at box office.
Performances begin at 7:30pm.
June
1
Félix
Lajkó with Antal Brasnyó
Michael
Schimmel Center for the Arts
June
15
Mark
O’Connor & Friends
Michael
Schimmel Center for the Arts
June
22
Soo
Bae (cello) with Reiko Uchida (piano)
Michael
Schimmel Center for the Arts
June
29
Brasil
Guitar Duo
Michael
Schimmel Center for the Arts