COMING ATTRACTION: A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT: MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS: KIDS ON KEYS & DUELING PIANOS (benefits Autism Awareness) POLLAK THEATER MAY 5th by Calvin Schwartz April 22nd 2018 (Earth Day)
There must be extant synchronicity in the air today. Today is Earth Day. I attended the very first one back on April 22, 1970. I was young, impressionable and inordinately concerned with the planet, our home, the species, oceans and air we breathe. I let my hair get longer as an expression. It’s still long decades later. Norman Seldin just contacted me about a very special event he’s working on with young piano prodigies. One of the performers, Andy Milsten, is on the autism spectrum. That concert on May 5th, ‘Kids on Keys Dueling Pianos’, helps to benefit Autism Awareness. For the past few years while at NJ Discover, reporting on New Jersey, I’ve been privileged to be escorted into autism awareness on many levels. There are reasons for things. Once Norman mentioned his involvement, I knew to feature the event here at NJ Discover. Calvin Schwartz 4-22-18
If interested, here are links to my previous NJ Discover articles on Autism awareness
https://bit.ly/2vtvaIr” APRIL NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH: Another Journey to Awareness: Autism, Aging Out, Rutgers and Hope Autism Solutions. bY Calvin Schwartz April 18th 2016 “
https://bit.ly/2vKghRP “A Continuing Journey to Autism Awareness: My Day with “A Chance to Dance” Troupe at World Dance Championships. But There is so Much More Here. By Calvin Schwartz August 10th 2017 “
PERFORMING ARTS SERIES
KIDS ON KEYS & DUELING PIANOS
In this concert showcasing the very best of piano music, a cast of young all-star piano prodigies including, ELIZABETH WILLIAMS , ANDY MILSTEN, TAKSH GUPTA, will showcase their incredible talent. Their collective credits include winning Steinway competitions and Golden Key Awards, appearing at the Merkin Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and at the Musikverein with renowned pianist Lang Lang.
The show will also feature STORMIN’ NORMAN SELDIN. In his nearly 50-year music career, singer/songwriter keyboardist Seldin has performed at almost every live performance venue out there and is also credited as one of the originators of the Sound of Asbury Park. He will perform solo & with VANCE VILLASTRIGO on DUELING PIANOS. SPECIAL GUEST Tim McLoone will be joining them on stage! Finally, see the amazing Steinway & Sons “Spirio” Grand Piano on stage! The Steinway & Sons Spirio is the world’s finest high resolution player piano. A masterpiece of artistry and engineering Spirio will play pieces from Vladimir Horowitz, Lang Lang, and George Gershwin live to the audience! The show benefits Autism Awareness and is emceed by Frank Dicopoulos
“A very special guest has been added to the concert on Saturday May 5th – 8PM at the Pollak Theater in Monmouth University – W. Long Branch, NJ, benefitting Autism Awareness. Our longtime friend Tim McLoone will join Stormin’ Norman Seldin & Vance Villastrigo on yes “3” Steinway & Sons Concert Grand Pianos, along with the sensational “Kids on Keys” – Taksh Gupta, Elizabeth Williams and a young man, on the autism spectrum, Andy Milsten will perform. It’s an evening for all ages, plus there is a special tribute to the late Fats Domino, sing along with songs by Billy Joel / Neil Diamond and you special Emcee for the evening, Frank Dicopoulos plus much more! All of the beautiful Steinway & Sons pianos are being supplied by your exclusive representative Jacobs Music Company of Lawrenceville, NJ” Noman Seldin