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Music lovers are in for a treat as Adolfo Vidal, President of South Florida Friends of Classical Music, Inc., brings a Classical Music Festival to The Herbert & Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 10910 SW 17th St. at FIU. With performances scheduled for September 9 – 19, 2021, there is something for everyone to enjoy. For Vidal, FIU is home as he holds a Bachelor and Masters in Music, Artistic Diploma and DMA degrees from FIU, the Glenn Gould Professional School of the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and the University of Miami where he studied and played masterclasses for pianists of renown. Many Doral residents who attend Our Lady of Guadalupe church may also know Adolfo who assists our church choir as the organist for some Sunday masses.
As for the South Florida Friends of Classical Music, it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2011. It includes 5 different programs: The Miami International Music Academy, The Miami Music Festival from around the World, Summer in Florence™, The Miami Chamber Players & The Teresa Carreño International Master Piano Competition. This organization not only delivers fine chamber music, top educational programs, world-class performances, international competition winners, and classical music meet-ups; but, more importantly, shares musical experiences with younger generations by arranging free musicianship and master classes for students admitted in our Music Academy, and by providing free and varied event tickets to students at selected local high schools and colleges. For more information, visit http://friendsofclassicalmusic.org.
In other cultural news, Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre on Coral Gables is reopening its Mainstage series this summer with ¡FUÁCATA! or A Latina’s Guide to Surviving the Universe. In this hilarious one-woman show, Maria Garcia, transforms into 20 different characters as she shares tales of love, marriage, immigration and identity through eccentric stories and whimsical song. Maria, a three-time Carbonell Award-winning Cuban-American actress, makes magic on stage blending observant humor and poignant moments with sociopolitical commentary. This play written by Maria Garcia and Stuart Meltzer, finds endless humor in what it means to be a Latina in today’s America. Reminiscent of Lily Tomlin’s Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, this fresh new comedy takes the audience through 90 minutes of pure fun. The show runs August 18 – September 12, 2021. For tickets, visit https://www.actorsplayhouse.org/mainstage/
Holding a summer event outdoors can be tricky. Just talk to the Coral Gables Woman’s Club about their recent Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. It started out with the usual banter by birthday boy Doral resident Steven Bradley, owner of Clutch Burger, and music by DJ Germain. A hour into the part, the rain really came down forcing everyone inside with the soggy bingo cards. Never missing a beat, everything was rearranged in short order and the fun continued. Thanks to event sponsor EZ Title and 1st Empire Elite Financial, as well as a nice donation from Lynn Bauer, the club brought in more than $1,700 for their charitable outreach efforts.
Finally, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) from El Portal to Homestead along with , The Black Archives Organization and The Miami Rotary Club, made many new moms happy with a surprise gift in celebration of the City of Miami’s 125th birthday, July 28, 2021. One hundred dollar gift cards were donated to the first 12 babies born on that anniversary date at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Gradon Hadaway, who heads the Jackson Health Foundation, invited representatives of the various clubs to join him and maternity ward nurses at Jackson for a check presentation photo op with the gift cards to be handed out to those lucky moms. Among the many club representatives attending the presentation were GFWC FL President’s Project Chair, Elizabeth Fisher, Past President of the Miami Springs Woman’s Club; GFWC FL District 11 Director, Brenda Merrill, of Northeast Woman’s Club; Maribel Fruitstone, President of El Portal Woman’s Club; Coral Gables Woman’s Club President, Ruth Martinez; CGWC board member Gloria Burns; Miami Rotary Club President, Noreen Timoney; The Miami Woman’s Club President, Shirley Pardon; and Brandy Ramirez, President of the Homestead Woman’s Club. While not all of the contributing clubs attended, 10 of the 11 district clubs participated in the donation.
Until next time, keep making each day count, share an act of kindness every day and stay safe.
