Dear Friends,
Like most everyone I know, cancer has had a profound impact on my life. In 2001, we lost my father's wife, Mariste, to an 11 year battle with breast cancer. A few years later, my mother-in-law’s breast cancer recurred after 20 years in remission - I’m happy to report she’s doing well. Four years ago this May, my father passed way six months after being diagnosed with brain cancer. I also know many women my age, including close friends, who have been diagnosed and treated for cancer.
Each time our family has dealt the with the blow of a cancer diagnosis, the community has rallied around us. Putting on this concert is my way of giving back and also supporting those still experiencing the difficulties and challenges of cancer.
I hope you are able to join me, along with clarinetist Joel Jaffe, Cantor Doron Shapira, pianist Kristin Gustavson and pianist Laurelin Stroh for an afternoon of music and community. All proceeds benefit The Pink Ribbon Program at the PJCC and Bay Area Cancer Connections. After the concert, Felix Tarnarider, owner and operator of the MisterSoftee ice cream truck, will be selling his yummy, kosher treats and generously donating back 20% of profits to the cause.
Thank you for your support!
Debbie
The Musicians
Joel is a freelance professional musician and music educator, specializing in woodwinds, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. He began playing clarinet in the fourth grade and saxophone in junior high and holds a bachelor’s degree in clarinet from Cal State University, Hayward. While a student at Indiana University, he studied clarinet with noted player James Campbell and played with Lionel Hampton, Donald O’Connor, and Natalie Cole, among others. In addition to teaching, Joel performs around the Bay Area and is a frequent soloist with Sonos Handbell Ensemble.
Doron was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and raised in San Francisco. He has been involved as a singer and percussionist in Jewish music since 1968. This is his 31st year working in all facets of Jewish education in the Bay Area. He has been Cantor at Peninsula Sinai since 1994. Doron also served as the Peninsula Sinai Congregation Ritual Director 5771 (2010-2011). He looks forward to the privilege of developing PSC's programming, education, life-cycle needs, Jewish music, and ruach (spirit), for both adults and children throughout the year!
Kristin Gustavson
Kristin is an accomplished pianist and singer who is currently studying to be a cantor. She speaks several languages, including French, Hebrew, Arabic and Russian, which came in handy in her former career as a diplomat for the State Department. While not playing music or speaking multiple languages, Kristin can be found hanging out with her husband Bobby or at work at Congregation Shir Hadash.
Laurelin Stroh
The Organizations
The Pink Ribbon Program is a postoperative workout program designed to enhance recovery for breast cancer patients. Pink Ribbon is tailored to each woman’s health, fitness, and goals and trainers provide emotional support and encouragement on an individual basis, as well as evidence-based individual fitness programs. It's the only program of its kind on the Peninsula!
Bay Area Cancer Connections is a nonprofit organization that supports people touched by breast or ovarian cancer by providing comprehensive, personalized services in an atmosphere of warmth and compassion. Whether you have just been diagnosed with cancer, or are seeking wellness after treatment, our compassionate staff and volunteers will be with you every step of the way.
The Venue
Peninsula Sinai Congregation is an active, participatory, and diverse community in which people feel a sense of connection and friendship with one another. Members come from all backgrounds, to form an embracing, warm, egalitarian, and Jewishly committed community. Through Torah (learning), Avodah (prayer), and Gemilut Hasadim (Acts of Kindness), PSC helps people in their spiritual quests for God, meaning, and fellowship.
Hanna Aparo developed a love for the piano starting at the age of six. As a recipient of numerous academic awards, scholarships, and piano competitions from Pasadena City College and San Francisco State University, she has received the MTAC award (San Francisco Branch) and won the Paul Andrieu Memorial Scholarship from San Francisco State. Hanna graduated Summa Cum Laude at San Francisco State University in 2011 and completed a Masters degree in piano performance at California State University- Fullerton where she studied with Eduardo Delgado. She has participated in piano and chamber music master classes with artists including Gabriela Montero, Akiko Ebi, Robert Koenig, the Alexander String Quartet, Czech Nonet, Martha Masters, Alvaro Pierri, and Sergio Assad. This past summer, she attended the Todi International Music Masters Festival in Italy where she studied with pianists Antonio Pompa-Baldi and Alexander Korsantia and performed with the Napolinova Youth Orchestra. She will be performing in the Adult Performance recital at the 2017 MTAC convention in July. In addition to performing solo, playing in chamber ensembles (Trio Focoso), and working as an accompanist, and teaching piano lessons.
Pianist