LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Local favorite David Neft will host a very special concert to benefit youth in the performing arts on Saturday, Aug. 11.

The concert will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Little Theater at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $10 at the door.

In addition to playing popular favorite melodies from audience requests, concert-goers also will be a part of the show.

One member of the audience will select a tune, someone else a style and Neft will combine the two.

Be prepared to hear funny, strange things such as “Over the Rainbow” as a Heavy Metal rock song or “Piano Man” as a Country and Western waltz.

Neft also would like to stroll down memory lane and with audience help, see how many classic television and movie theme songs the audience can remember.

For tickets or more information visit www.aneveningwith.org or call 707-331-8445.

SANTA ANA, Calif. – At its annual meeting Wednesday, July 25, the members of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) confirmed the election of Pacific Chorale President and CEO Kelly Ruggirello as its new president.

The meeting took place in San Francisco during ACSO’s annual conference for state industry leaders.

Beginning Oct. 1, Ruggirello will serve a one-year term in a volunteer capacity as head of ACSO’s board, which is comprised of leaders from the classical music community throughout the state of California.

Ruggirello states, “As a passionate advocate for and grateful recipient of the transformative power of music, I enthusiastically embrace my new role as president of ACSO’s Board of Directors,” Ruggirello said. “I look forward to working with the exemplary staff and board to assist our state’s musical organizations in achieving their dreams.”

ACSO Executive Director Kris Sinclair said, “We are very much looking forward to Kelly's thoughtful, enthusiastic leadership of the Association. She is the right woman at the right time, with the intelligence and passion to lead our statewide orchestra and choral association.”

Kelly Ruggirello was named president and CEO of Pacific Chorale in May 2004. Her experience in fundraising, public relations, marketing, operations and education, combined with a vocal performance background, won her the position following a nationwide search.

Over the course of more than 24 years in arts management, Ruggirello has raised more than $50 million for California nonprofit arts organizations. Prior to her position with Pacific Chorale, she has worked for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Orange County School of the Arts, and the Long Beach Mozart Festival.

Ruggirello is a consultant with local, regional and national choruses, orchestras and arts schools and serves as a presenter at state and national conferences.

The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is a nonprofit membership association providing leadership and services to classical music producers and presenters in California and the region encouraging and supporting their artistic, organizational, and fiscal development.

Membership is open to orchestras, choruses and classical music presenters of all sizes, symphony leagues and guilds, youth orchestras, festivals, artist management firms, businesses, and individuals associated with orchestras or wishing to access its services.

ACSO is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors who hail from arts organizations all over the state of California. ACSO was founded in 1969 at Asilomar by a small group of committed orchestra managers who believed in the power of personal networking.

More than forty years later, ACSO remains the hub of California’s vibrant classical music community by providing a variety of services to its 400+ members including networking, mentorship, resource sharing, advocacy, and professional development.

Founded in 1968, Pacific Chorale is internationally recognized for exceptional artistic expression, stimulating American-focused programming, and influential education programs. Pacific Chorale presents a significant performance season of its own at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and is sought regularly to perform with the nation’s leading symphonies.  

Under the inspired guidance of Artistic Director John Alexander, Pacific Chorale has infused an Old World art form with California’s hallmark innovation and cultural independence. Pacific Chorale has a membership of 140 professional and volunteer singers.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A unique music event takes place at Brassfield Estate Winery this Saturday, July 28, and Sunday, July 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to celebrate the Lake County Wine Adventure weekend.

Local musician/songwriters Lindy Day and Native American Music Awards nominee Kevin Village Stone, known more for their black-tie performances, will perform their rarely heard high-energy Jazz/Rock Fusion set that also includes their electric guitars, basses, and blues/jazz sax.

Teaming up with Kevin and Lindy for this special event are performers Kayla Bell (R&B/soul vocalist who recently sung the National Anthem at the Lakeport July 4 Fireworks show) and Nashville award-winning lead guitarist Jason Wright. Music will be from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This is an indoor/outdoor public event so come enjoy the music, wine tasting, the beautiful Brassfield Estate grounds and great desserts. Better yet, participate in the Wine Adventure for the full experience.

For Wine Adventure information visit www.lakecountywineries.org ; for information about Brassfield Estate Winery visit at www.brassfieldestate.com , call 707-998-1895 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council will host its next First Friday Fling on Aug. 3.

The fling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St., Lakeport.

The First Friday Fling will introduce the work of Ray Farrow, Bruce Vandraiss, Lois Freon and Heidi Thomason.

Currently showing at the gallery are Linda Becker, Tom Poole, Carol Yanagitsubo, Kevin Village Stone, Bonnie Tringali, Terry Drunil, Diana Leibe, Richard Seisser and George Waterstaat.

Lindy Day will provide music and Wildhurst Vineyards will pour its vintages. Finger food also will be offered.

This month the Linda Carpenter Gallery will feature an exhibition of “Summer of Peace” art.

For more information contact the Lake County Arts Council, 707-263-6658.

Sometimes, when we are children, someone or something suddenly throws open a window and the world of adults pours in. And we never quite get over it.

Here’s a poem about an experience like that by Judith Slater, who lives in New York.

Zippo

I didn’t think handsome then, I thought
my father the way he saunters down Main Street,
housewives, shopkeepers, mechanics calling out,
children running up to get Lifesavers. The way
he pauses to chat, flipping his lighter open,
tamping the Lucky Strike on his thumbnail.

I sneak into his den when he’s out, tuck
into the kneehole of his desk and sniff
his Zippo until dizzy, emboldened;
then play little tricks, mixing red and black
inks in his fountain pen, twisting together
paperclips. If I lift the telephone receiver

quietly, I can listen in on our party line.
That’s how I hear two women
talking about him. That’s why my mother
finds me that night sleepwalking, sobbing.
“It’s all right,” she tells me,
“you had a nightmare, come to bed.”

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2011 by Judith Slater from her most recent book of poems, The Wind Turning Pages, Outriders Poetry Project, 2011. Poem reprinted by permission of Judith Slater and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2012 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Second Sunday Cinema will feature “Iron-Jawed Angels” at its next showing on Aug. 12.

The showing will take place at Clearlake United Methodist Church at 14521 Pearl Ave., near Mullen in Clearlake.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the film to begin at 6 p.m. The showing is free, as always.

“Iron-Jawed Angels” is not a documentary. Rather, it is an engaging and exciting HBO feature film starring Hilary Swank as Alice Paul, a Suffragette adamant in her insistence that women must have the right to vote.

She had the company of many other strong, determined women who suffered much as activists suffer today.

They were belittled, physically attacked and even tortured in jail when these determined, non-violent activists refused to back down.

This film has been widely praised for bringing history vibrantly alive. It is also loved for its edgy, modern feel, its music, its fine direction and the vibrant acting not only by Swank, but by Frances O’Connor, Julia Ormond and Angelic Huston.

Following the film, Jan Cook, a Lake County resident who suggested this fine and moving film, will share information on Lake County connections to the Suffragist movement.

A member of her own family and a Lake County woman both stood silently in front of the White House. They were attacked by a violent mob of men, and were then arrested for “starting a riot.”

Don’t miss this absorbing and inspiring election-year movie.

For more information call Shannon Tolson at 707-889-7355.