Photo by Evelyn Cairns
Debbie Nykiel (left), president of the Southern Great Lakes Symphony, and Aaron Kaleniecki (fourth from left), SGLS executive director, congratulate the winners of the symphony’s Concerto Competition Jan. 25 at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church. The musicians are pianist Akira Kaku (second from left), of Ann Arbor, who performed Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 1”; flutist Shantanique Moore, of Redford, “Ballade for Flute and Orchestra” by Martin; and violist Se Eun Oh, of Boston, “Concerto for Viola” by Bartok. The three winners have been invited to perform with the symphony during its Feb. 24 concert in the Flat Rock Community Auditorium
A black-tie gala at the Downriver Italian American Hall in Wyandotte on Feb. 16 will honor 14 women for going above and beyond service to their community, families or others.
The event will be co-hosted by the Women of Wyandotte and the Wyandotte Jaycees at 6 p.m., with a sit-down dinner to be served at 7 p.m. and an awards ceremony following. Entertainment and an art auction are planned. An afterglow is slated at the Portofino restaurant.
Among the women to be honored are Julie Abshire, Roseann Gabrys, Eula Grooms, Kathleen Kane, Mary Karasinski Haverington, Vicki Lucas, Kaitlyn Maini and Tammy Maini.
Others are Diane Paul, Carol Resto, Anne Ronco, Lynn Stefensky, Heather Thiede and Tammy Torzewski Trudelle.
The nominees will be introduced at a fashion show planned for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Traffic Jam Boutique. Tickets are $5.
Tickets for the black-tie event, $50, are available by mailing a check payable to Women of Wyandotte to Women of Wyandotte, P.O. Box 788, Wyandotte, MI, 48192.
For additional information about the events, which also will include a lecture series and hands-on art class in honor of the women, call 734-552-6077 or email [email protected]
Events, shows slated at center
The Downriver Council for the Arts has issued a call for entries in a “Hanging with a Friend” mixed-media show scheduled for Feb. 22 through March 21 at the James R. DeSana Center for Arts & Culture. The deadline for entries is Feb. 15.
According to DCA executive director Tammy Trudelle, two friends may submit one piece each to be hung side by side, and the works do not have to match in size or media. The art must be original and available for sale, she said.
A $25 fee will be charged for participation.
An opening reception is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 22. For additional information, call the DCA at 734-720-0671 or go to www.dowriverarts.org.
Opening on Feb. 5 and continuing through Feb. 22 at the center will be the Michigan Art Education Region 2 Student Show featuring the works of kindergarten through 12th-graders. A reception is planned for Feb. 9 in the lower-level gallery of the building.
A valentine art class for children in the kindergarten through sixth grades has been slated for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the center. Pizza and lemonade will be included in the $20 fee. Registrations are necessary by calling 734-285-6299.
More events . . .
Feb. 8 — Show featuring Mary Wilson, one of the original Supremes, “Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project”; 8 p.m. at the Heinz C. Prechter Educational & Performing Arts Center of Wayne County Community College Downriver; for tickets or more information, call 734-374-3200 or go to www.wcccd.edu.
Feb. 9 — Trenton Rotary Club annual Winter Beach Blast; 6 p.m. at Crystal Gardens, Southgate; buffet dinner, music, contests, entertainment, auctions, raffles and more; tickets, $40 ($45 at the door), include an open bar; for tickets or more information, call Valerie Dzagulones at 734-671-2531.
Feb. 15 — American Heart Association, Metropolitan Detroit, Go Red for Women luncheon, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the MGM Grand; Deena Centofanti, Fox 2 News anchor and health reporter, will be the master of ceremonies; health screenings, educational exhibits and silent auction beginning at 9 a.m.; tickets, $175, are available by going to www.DetroitGoRedForWomen.org.
April 13 — American Heart Association, Metropolitan Detroit, annual Heart Ball at the MGM Grand, for additional information or tickets, email [email protected]