| Jana and George...Teach the World to Sing
Oh, we'd like to teach the world to sing
And star in Les Miserables
Oh voice teacher, Jana, what do you
think?
My dear George... keep your day Job!
Oh Jana dear...thanks so much for all the melodies...as this... ladies
and gentlemen, is the woman who teaches the best of the best to sing, and I'm
going to tell you more about her in a minute.
Hey everyone... Did you miss me? I sure did miss you!!
Guess what, Jana? I'm a hippie now... a real hippie cause I went and had
my hippie replaced... I really did... my real hip! That's why I've been away
the past month. I'm having lots of fun in rehab, and the pain pills make me
talk louder than usual, and I don't remember what I say, but what else is new?
My Hip!! My hip is new! I will be sure not to play golf in the thunder and
lightning with this titanium baby. Watch out Bradley Golf League, I'm now
bionic George!
Listen,
last time we talked it was about my crazy wonderful lawyer, Glenn Blackburn. I
love that guy! But I have so much to tell you since then. Before I tell you all
about voice teacher extraordinaire Jana, let's start by talking about the
Skyline. The two wonderful owners, Gina and Stacy, are two of the hardest
working and nicest people I have ever met. I think I love them, too. Guess
what, they got talking with my little buddy Judy and me about how much we
miss the Coachlight, so we did something about it.
We
did DINNER THEATRE... RIGHT HERE AT THE SKYLINE BANQUET ROOM AT
CHRISTMAS... did I say that loud enough? They put together one heck of a
Christmas dinner and show that took place on December 11th. We had a great meal
and Christmas show and such a wonderful time. It was a full house and we
honored Sgt. Richard Ford's memory as he was stationed here at BDL. It was very
moving, and I was so honored to get to meet Sgt. Ford's sister, Vanessa. What a
beautiful person. She told me that the most important thing to her
is that we remember Richard... and I think everyone there that night will.
Thank you, Richard, for the sacrifice you made for all of us. One man told me
that "Richard" gave him his true Christmas spirit that night by
reminding him of what's important in life. All of the actors and singers were
wonderful, and guess what else? They gave me one line in the show!! And I know
they were taking bets... but I nailed it!! Pay up, Judy! Pay up,
Gina! I'm an actor now. George, when have you not been an actor? Who
said that... it must be the pain medication? Get your head out of the clouds...
Wait, who just said that?
And
because of the Christmas show, I got to meet my "Everybody's a Star"
friend today, Jana Pivacek-Cole! See us smiling in the picture above? Hi Jana!
Hi Gina! Hi Judy! Hi George! Hi everybody... must be time for another pain
pill! Now Jana was one of the stars of the Christmas show, and she is the voice
teacher of a few of the people that were in it. And this gives me the
opportunity to give you a sneak peak into the future !!! The Skyline has more
dinner theatre to come for St Patrick's Day plus a show that Jana wrote! Also, her
group, the "Tapestry Singers," has a big Valentine's Day concert this
weekend.
Let
me give you those details right now. Here, I'll let Jana do the honors while I
check my pain medication. Jana agrees and says, OK George... here is the story.
The
Tapestry Singers are once again doing the Annual 2010 Valentine's Day Benefit
for the Kateri Medical Clinic. We have prepared a unique show for all ages
this year. We are telling and acting out the story through our music and scenes,
and how it all relates to how "We Remember Love". There
are many moments of joy and laughter, laced with time for some tears.
The Tapestry Singers
present "We Remember Love"
Trinity
Episcopal Church
11 Church St.
Tariffville, CT 06081
(Just
at the intersection of Rt 189 and 315, up the hill to Church St.)
Sat., Feb. 13 at 7:00 pm
Sun., Feb. 14 at 4:00 pm
Free
will offering and free child care!
Well
how did I do, George? You did just great, Jana! You know how I hate to do all
the talking... wait... who laughed? (I keep
hearing voices!) Now Jana has some fabulous singers in that group, so make your
way to Trinity Church for this incredible fundraiser. You'll
hear solos, trios, and group numbers by 15 individuals ranging in age from
14-76...and you won't be disappointed! The group has raised over $11,000.00
dollars for the clinic over the past 6 years.
And, in the past year alone, the clinic has served over 9000 people in Nigeria, Africa!
Jana
has been an international voice/acting teacher and performer for over 40 years
now and doesn't look a day over 30! With roots in Elyria, Ohio,
she helped her father with the family-owned wheel chair business, and her dad
actually had a part in inventing the first motor-powered wheel chairs. Can you
get me a deal right now, Jana? She left the family business to follow her star,
as she wanted to be a singer more than anything. And a great singer she is,
too! After her undergraduate/graduate work at BSU and Oberlin, Jana spent 17
years in NYC performing and continuing her education. And here is the
inside scoop, she spent lots of time chasing this wonderfully talented musician
who has earned the distinction of being known as the greatest
bagpipe player in the world! He has played for the Queen and royalty, and his
name is Lawrence Cole. Jana said they have actually been married 20 years,
but it qualifies as 30 as she spent the first 10 chasing him all over the world!
Jana
moved from New York to Granby
in 1991 after teaching in France
and enjoying many incredible experiences. I cannot believe the places she has
been and students she's taught. There's a whole bunch of famous singers running
around out there performing in great venues all because of this dynamic little
lady sitting here in front of me. You should be very proud of that,
Jana. As I understand it, Jana has the gift to diagnose voice issues, and
many doctors from all over the world seek her out and send people to her to get
a track on what the problem is and how to fix it. So she's not just a voice
teacher, she's a voice doctor, right Jana? They could call you the "Voice
Whisperer".... Can you tell me when my hip will be better because it makes
music when I walk. Here, Jana, listen to me sing... hey, where did she go? Take
the hint and move on George, says Judy.
Jana has had international students, 25 at a time, come to Granby and stay at her
home as they are trained professionally by her. Some of her students are now
teachers themselves, or performing in Broadway shows, or acting in the
"Young and the Restless." Right
now, I feel more like the "Old and the Listless"... but that's temporary, right
Jana?
Being
a very spiritually centered woman, Jana is currently writing a book called
"As It Was In The Beginning... Is Now." She gave me a beautiful CD of her singing, and
Judy tells me Jana speaks about the "voice within," and the gift God
gave us to sing from that place in your heart that cares for everyone... and
that Jana does. She has written and performed a beautiful show with one of her
long time students, Michael Graham Morales, called "I Am There" that
speaks to their teacher/student relationship for the past 13 years. And there
are plans in the works that will bring this show to the new Skyline Dinner
Theatre adventure here sometime in June... so I'll keep you posted on that as I
get my hip back out into the social scene!
Well,
Jana, I know that you have dedicated your life to helping others. I see here a woman
seated in learning and teaching spiritual direction, believing that we are put
here, gifted with grace, and urged to use our talents to benefit others through
the glory of God. And God has given her the gift of a quick wit and
steady energy to teach and serve... and sing!! And what a joy it has been to
meet her and get to know her.
I hope that everyone gets the chance to attend their Valentine's Day
shows this coming weekend. As for me George, I'm going to be back on the
beat in no time. I hope this walker has an airbag! Take care and talk to you
soon. Happy Valentine's Day to Jana and all the Tapestry Singers, and much
success on your upcoming performances.
Bye now, from George!
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