Benefit Concert To Offer Two Vocalists, Two Pianists, At North Congregational Church

WOODBURY — Mezzo-soprano Margaret Capen and soprano Sarita Valentine will share the stage in a benefit vocal recital on Saturday, March 20, at 3 pm, at North Congregational Church. They will be accompanied by King Bosworth and Jan Gregory. The program will include works by Beethoven, Bizet, Copland, Donizetti, Foster, Grieg, Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, and Schumann.

Suggested donation is $10.

Torrington resident Margaret Capen performs regularly in Connecticut and New York, and has been a guest soloist with New York and New England orchestras. Locally, Ms Capen has performed with Waterbury Symphony Orchestra and Waterbury Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Capen has also sung with Connecticut Lyric Opera and Opera Oggi of New York.

Credits also include the roles of Mrs McLean in Susannah, the witch and mother in Hansel And Gretel, and Divanne in Sapho. From 2000 to 2002, Margaret Capen was a recipient of the Jane and Michael Sendzimir Scholarship given to women pursuing a career in the musical arts.

King Bosworth, who will accompany Ms Capen, is a graduate of Juilliard and has appeared in the New York metropolitan area both as a soloist and in duo piano programs. Mr Bosworth has also performed on tour throughout Europe and with the Manilla Symphony Orchestra in the Philippines. King Bosworth and Margaret Capen have been performing together for the past 12 years.

Sarita Valentine is a resident of  Woodbury. She is an area voice teacher and music educator currently teaching at Wooster School in Danbury. Ms Valentine holds a BA in music from Wesleyan University and an MA in music from Smith College. She has studied with Karen Smith Emerson of Smith College and John Shakelford of New Milford.

Ms Valentine has performed with numerous ensemble organizations and as a soloist throughout New England. This will be her Woodbury recital debut.

Jan Gregory, who will accompany Ms Valentine, is the owner and director of The Renaissance Center, a community music school located in Southbury. She is also the church organist and music director for South Britain United Church of Christ. In addition to her many performing, conducting, and teaching credits, Ms Gregory is founder and director of Femina Melodia, a local  women’s a cappella ensemble, and The Femina Melodia Drummers, both of which perform twice a year in the Southbury area.

Proceeds from the concert will go to support the work of Dhyanyoga Centers, Inc., an international, non-profit organization dedicated to inner peace & world peace. Dhyanyoga Centers provides free meditation programs and humanitarian services such as food, clothing and medical care both in the United States and in India.

North Congregational Church is at 11 Main Street North (Route 6) in Woodbury. For more information including weather-related questions if necessary, call Sarita Valentine at 203-947-2848.