By Evelyn Cairns
Four of the semifinalists in the recent Southern Great Lakes Symphony Concert Competition will appear as guest performers at a SGLS concert scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Flat Rock Community Auditorium.
They include 17-year-old flutist Alexis Czajka, a senior at Riverview Community High School. Czajka, who won second place in the symphony’s 2012 scholarship competition, studies privately with another finalist, Kassia Martin, and plans to major in flute performance in college.
Czajka has played in the 2012 Western Michigan University all-star band and the 2013 Eastern Michigan University honors band and the 2012 and 2013 Grand Valley State University honors band. She will perform Telemann’s “Suite in A Minor,” and Orchestra.”
The other semifinalists who will perform at the concert are violinist Maria Bessmeltseva of Bolling Green, Ohio, and the duo Kassia and Sam Martin of Hazel Park, who play the flute and clarinet, respectively.
Russian-born Bessmeltseva has performed on the stage of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and at concerts in Russia, Poland, Lithuania and Italy as well as throughout the United States. She earned degrees at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Bowling Green State University and University of Michigan. Bessmeltseva will play a movement from Mozart’s “Violin Concerto No. 4.”
The Martins has been performing chamber music together as the Martin Wind Duo since 1994.
Kassia Martin is a member of the Southwest Michigan, Midland and Dearborn symphony orchestras and is the flute instructor at Madonna University. She also teaches privately.
Sam Martin, also a teacher, is a member of the Roch-ester and Warren symphonies and has performed with numerous orchestras throughout Michigan, including the Detroit Symphony, and others throughout the United States. The duo will play Saint-Saens’ “Tarantella for Flute, Clarinet and Orchestra.”
The concert, titled “American Favorites,” will include Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” Barber’s “Intermezzo from Vanessa,” Chadwick’s “Jubilee” and Creston’s “Gregorian Chant.”
Tickets, $25 ($10, senior citizens) are available by calling 734-246-2890. The auditorium is at 25600 Seneca St.
Free clinic announced
the Downriver Care and Wellness organization will hold a one-day free medical clinic for adults without medical coverage or resources from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lincoln Park Bethel Assembly of God, 2984 Fort St.
Among the many tests and screenings to be offered are blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and glaucoma. Flu shots also will be available
In addition to Bethel, participating Lincoln Park churches are the Church of Christ and Blessed Hope Christian Church. Also taking part are the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Oakwood Health System, Fairlane Investment Advisors, Karn Sitkins Payette Insur-ance Agency and The Information Center.
The Rev. John Peck of Bethel, chairman of the clinic, is accepting monetary donations, supplies and names of medical volunteers at 313-381-6090. The clinic is a project of the Lincoln Park Ministerial Association.
Coming up . . .
Feb. 24 — “The Oscar Experience”; 7 p.m. at the MJR Southgate Digital Cinema Theatre 20 (live Academy Awards broadcast at 8 p.m.), featuring hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, a costume contest, drawings and prizes; “The Oscar Experience” is one of 45 being held through-out the United States to raise funds for local charities; tickets, $25 in advance or $30 at the door, are available by calling 734-282-4727.
March 15 — Southern Great Lakes Symphony Back-stage Pass IV fundraiser; 6 to 10 p.m. at Crystal Gardens in Southgate; dinner buffet, jazz and classical music, live and silent auctions; for tickets, $50 to $100, call Debby Mitek at 671-8343; for sponsorship opportunities, $200 to $2,500, call Mary Hunter at 734-671-6003.