June/July/August 2014 COVERING THE ARTS IN QUINTE Volume 24, Number 2 BelleVegas Variety Show at Congratulations to our COMMUNITY PARTNER This Is Hip! Serving the Quinte region the Empire Theatre... for more than 65 years! by Carol Feeney Mark Rashotte, Andy Forgie and Al Haring Variety, The Dance and Show Band The Quinte Arts Council is planning an exciting new event on September 11 at the Empire Theatre & Centre for the Performing Arts in Belleville, that will present some of the region’s best musical talent as well as offer the audience a chance to hear songs by local celebrities. The concept is to have all musicians and singers perform with Variety, the Dance and Show Band. Each will have the option to pick songs from Variety’s extensive playlist, then take the stage with the band for Jeanette Arsenault PHOTO BY PHIL NORTON an incredible night of music and entertainment. All you Need is years in the entertainment Lance Jeffrey, drums; Andy Coffin, trumpet; Tim Love’s Mark Rashotte, Andy Forgie Susan Walsh industry for Shaer. With Roberts, bari/tenor; Roger Chong, trombone; and and Al Haring will be on stage, as will Susan Walsh hundreds of charts in their library, and the Dan Shaer, vocals/tenor/keyboards/drums. For this of For the Love of a Song, and a host of other instrumentation and vocal styles of the band, they special event, three more horns from The Power special guests, including Sam Brady, Tim Campbell, are able to authentically perform in many genres Connection, Variety Band’s alter ego, will be joining Jeanette Arsenault, The Reason’s Peter Rea, Lenni including jazz, classic rock, Motown, blues, soul, the Variety horn section. Stewart, Wendy Shaer, Melanie Hilmi and Colonel funk, pop, and country. continued on page 3... David Lowthian. Variety’s lineup of musicians includes some of the Their promotion as “the right band for every top musicians in the region - from Toronto to occasion,” is not just an advertising gimmick for Kingston and Peterborough. Featuring: Wendy This issue sponsored by Variety, the Dance and Show Band, says band leader Shaer, vocals; Duncan Cooper, keyboards/vocals; Essence Publishing Dan Shaer. Variety is the culmination of over 40 John Beach, bass guitar; Neal Mattice, lead guitar; Open 44 Bridge St. E. every 613-966-2556 day at 38 Bridge St. E. 11:30 613-966-6542 Two great restaurants side by side Village of Downtown Belleville www.dinkelsrestaurant.com A PUBLICATION OF THE QuinteArtsCouncil Cultivating Creativity Umbrella Message from the Chair Welcome to the summer edition of Umbrella. I say large crowd in attendance would indicate that arts ‘summer’ with a sense of optimism, after the and culture are alive and well in our community and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE winter/spring we’ve endured. In spite of this, we it’s now our job to build on that support and interest continue to press ahead to improve and grow Chair Dan Atkinson at the Quinte Arts the QAC. Past Chair Barbara-Jo Clute Council with our plans 1st Vice Chair Pat Feasey to reshape how we raise As a final note, I’d like 2nd Vice Chair Anne Cunningham funds and deliver our to remind everyone of Secretary Heather Smith services to the the upcoming QAC Annual General Treasurer Jenny Woods membership. The changes noted in my Meeting on Tuesday, BOARD OF DIRECTORS Message in the previous June 10 at 5:30 pm at Rick Zimmerman, Tina Osborne, Umbrella will take time the Belleville Library. Dianne Coyle, Daniel Vaughan to implement properly This will be an and David Vaughan and will, in all opportunity for you to likelihood, be a work- meet the Directors of STAFF in-progress for much of the QAC and fellow the coming year or two. members and to find Carol Feeney out what the However, these changes Dan Atkinson Executive Director are necessary to place organization has [email protected] the QAC on a stable, sustainable footing and have planned for the coming year. We welcome and encourage everyone to attend. Carol Bauer the full support of the Board of Directors. So please Artist and Member Services Officer bear with us during this transition. As always, I welcome any comments or suggestions. [email protected] We hosted a highly successful 20th anniversary Arts Dan Atkinson FCPA, FCA Kim Lidstone Recognition Awards luncheon on May 15, with over Chair Administrative Assistant 140 attendees. Hopefully this attendance and Mayor [email protected] Neil Ellis’ continued commitment to the Arts is a harbinger of better things to come. Certainly, the The Quinte Arts Council is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, registration number 107869448 RR 0001. Publications mail agreement number 40667523. Umbrella is delivered without charge to QAC Looking to donate members, to municipal, provincial and federal representatives, funding agencies, community arts a gift or service councils, Quinte region public libraries and to selected media and public distribution outlets. and promote Editorial Staff Carol Bauer Jane Mackenzie yourself or Carol Feeney your business Poetry Editor Chris Faiers Design Carol Bauer & Marc Bourdon to the virtual Production Carol Bauer Bid for Published by The Quinte Arts Council world? 36 Bridge St. E., P. O. Box 22113 Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Z5 Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday Administration: 613-962-1232 www.quinteartscouncil.org Printed by Essence Publishing Belleville, Ontario Kids The Quinte Arts Council in partnership with The Intelligencer is offering an online auction of great prizes – art work, gift certificates, gift baskets, Deadline for the Sept/Oct/Nov issue is spa services, personal grooming, personal training, chance to dine in Tuesday, August 5, 2014. fabulous restaurants, sports gear, sports passes, concert and event Contact Carol Feeney tickets, CDs and a host of other great items. The auction takes place 613‐962‐1232 or email Umbrella welcomes submissions in the following cate- October 24 to 27, just in time for the holiday season. Treat yourself or do [email protected] gories: illustrations and photographs, articles on or about your shopping for friends and family. Not only will you be getting some the arts in the Quinte region, poetry or prose. Umbrella before June 30, 2014. assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. great stuff you will be helping to support Quinte Arts Council’s Arts Material may be reprinted only with permission of the Education and community programming and this newspaper. editor. Umbrella reserves the right to edit, crop and editorialize all submissions. Umbrella is mailed to members and is delivered to a wide variety of distribution points throughout Quinte and beyond. The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from various sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The Quinte Arts Council and its employees and agents assume no respon- sibility for errors or omissions or for damages arising from Notice to QAC Membership the use of the published information and opinions. Readers are cautioned to consult their own professional advisors to The Quinte Arts Council’s Annual General Meeting determine the applicability of information and opinions in this newsletter in any particular circumstances. will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 5 to 6:30 pm MISSION, VISION & VALUE STATEMENTS In the John M. Parrott Gallery, 3rd Floor, Belleville Public Library Mission: The Quinte Arts Council is an umbrella 254 Pinnacle Street, Belleville organization dedicated to promoting artists and arts organizations in all disciplines and to further appreciation of arts and culture in the Quinte region. The meeting includes: Vision: Cultivating Creativity To achieve our mission, we: • the election of the board of directors • provide effective, accessible communication tools • reports on the QAC’s strategic planning initiatives • engage artists in our programs and events • provide arts education opportunities for artists and • social time and networking students • finger foods, host bar • provide professional development activities for artists • foster and engage in dialogue about the arts in our • live entertainment by pianist Lenore Dixon community Everyone is welcome #ISSN 1183 - 1839 2 Umbrella June/July/August 2014 continued from page 1 Musician, restaurateur, and entrepreneur athletes both in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Colonel David Lowthian is currently commander extraordinaire, Mark Rashotte is a member of All Athens Greece in 2004. She sang for the Olympic of 8 Wing Trenton. He enrolled in the Canadian You Need is Love Band and is responsible for the Torch Relay Celebration in 2009, and in 2011, she Forces in 1989 and has enjoyed an impressive career restoration of the Empire Theatre and Centre for opened the Business & Professional Women and numerous degrees and awards, including the Performing Arts which he owns and operates. He is International World Congress in Helsinki, Finland. Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award and the also broker/owner of Royal Lepage Pro Alliance Wright Brothers Award for officership. He can also Accomplished singer/songwriter and entertainer Realty, Cafe é and Dominion Lending Centres. All sing and has been heard at a variety of local charity Lenni Stewart’s repertoire and vocal style You Need Is Love has performed throughout North galas where he takes the stage to perform with one concentrate on two main genre groups - traditional America and Europe at major festivals and events. of Dan Shaer’s bands. jazz and boogie blues, and country rhythm and blues In 2014, the band is doing extensive touring at with her two bands, Lenni Stewart Trio and Wendy Shaer has an extensive background as a prestigious theatres in New York City, Boston, Manhattan Rouge Jazz Trio. “Like a fine red wine, vocalist, both with live bands and in theatre.