Music For Mankind® Events 2012

Starting a new year! Wow. It's amazing to realize this is our sixth year. So much has happened in the past five years, it's incredible to think that more can still happen, but it can, and does and will.

2011 was quite an exciting year. I was involved in several events; an opera, a musical, a dance contest, and the audition for America's Got Talent; outside of our normal concert series, and at the same time the concert series did better than ever. As if that wasn't enough, I sang the National Anthem at stadiums all around the Northeast, at each event promoting Music For Mankind®.

2012 brings a whole new set of events. In December 2011 I studied Show dance, then in January took lessons in Tap dance. I added quite a bit more dance; Jazz, Show, and Tap; to the show.

During this time I worked with stage director Diana Stugger of Opera Theatre of Weston to fully stage Give My Regards To Broadway. The concert is now a show, with a lot of movement, and themes to each song. Having grown up in theatre and musical theatre this feels right to me, as though I've come back home. I'm enjoying the show now on an entirely new level, and the response is wonderful.

Here's what Dorothy Sullivan, Activities Director of Wheelock Terrace said about our show earlier this month.
 
"Kelly Moore's performance of Give My Regards To Broadway is nothing less than spectacular! His singing is absolutely beautiful and he presents himself with confidence and professionalism. Add to that, his new found talent, tap dancing!

The audience thoroughly enjoyed Kelly's performance. The songs from Broadway shows were very well received as they are known and loved by those who came to hear him. The hour performance went by too quickly and we look forward to having Kelly perform again in the near future.

I would highly recommend Kelly Moore and his program Give My Regards To Broadway to others. This performance is not to be missed!"

--Dorothy Sullivan, Activities Director, Wheelock Terrace, Hanover, NH

We've started this year off with several concert "shows" in Vermont and New Hampshire, and later this week I head to California for several dates in San Diego, my first performances of Give My Regards To Broadway on the West Coast!

When I return from California there are several performances booked in April and May, then more later in the year, including singing the Star Spangled Banner in July for the Vermont Lake Monsters.
 
Dates are booked throughout the year, so keep an eye on our Events page.

I wish to thank our sponsors Luxbrush Painting Company, Maple Street School, The Image Loft, Graph-X and Manchester Carpet Care, and everyone who reads this for your support and enthusiasm for Music For Mankind®.

Best wishes to all,
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

2011 Is An Exciting Year

2011 started off with a bang! Right out of the chute, I spent three weeks with the Opera Theatre of Weston rehearsing and performing in Mozart's The Magic Flute. What a wonderful experience that was. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

First of all...Mozart. Magical, beautiful, heart-warming, stunning music and arrangements, touched my heart so many times, so deeply.

Then, the singers. Oh my, the singers! Where do I start? Pablo Bustos as Tamino. A beautiful, high tenor (Db above High C!), and such tonality, he often reminded me of an oboe. Katy Kaplan as The Queen of the Night, singing fantastically high, fast, demanding passages; vocal fireworks on display, nailed it every time. Such power and flexibility, we cheered backstage each time she finished.

Mark Womack as Papageno is a powerful, rich baritone, and a very funny actor, too. He brought such humanity to the show, a real delight to watch him.

Christopher Besch as Sarastro, a resonant and clear bass; LR Davidson, as Papagena, a bright, shimmering soprano, and an incredible comic who practically stole the show. And Matthew Knickman as Monostatos, is a strong and clear tenor.

I  have saved my favorite for last. Meagan Brus, who played Pamina, sings in a clear, honey-rich soprano with incredible emotion. I was startled every time she sang. I felt as though I was hearing her for the first time, every time, and I'd never heard anyone sing with that tonality before. She consistently sang and acted with a maturity that was beyond her years.

I truly felt honored to be a part (Temple Priests Chorus and Slave) of this production. Everyone in the production was a delight to be with and to work with. The conductor, Maestro Karen Keltner of San Diego Opera; our Music Director, Angela Gooch; our Director, Diana Stuggar; the eleven-piece orchestra, all the cast and crew alike, were thoroughly professional and fun to be with. We performed to very appreciative audiences and a great review. Suffice it say, I had a blast!

Shifting gears from that is interesting. I learned a lot as a singer, and now am focused on my own concert series, Give My Regards To Broadway. I'm performing with a new pianist, Kent Baker, of Castelton State College and the Enerjazzbigband. He is a gifted pianist and delightful guy to be with. We start the 2011 series on March 2, and have concerts booked into September. Plenty of open dates, yet, and I would love to fill them.

I am so excited about the incredible response we received last year to this new series, and the excitement continues. There are some very interesting ideas we're working on to book this into new venues and new regions. Anyone with ideas for venues in their area is more than welcome to contact us. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802/362-3806. I'd love to hear from you.

Keep an eye on the website event pages for our schedule, and Event News.

Of course I continue to contribute the proceeds of the concerts to the UN World Food Program, and last year was able to start donating some to Feeding America, as well as the local Feeding America foodbank in Vermont. We have fed over 40,000 people now with our contributions from concerts, food drives, merchandise sales and donations.

The support you have given me in this effort is really remarkable. I am deeply honored and grateful for your support, and the incredible things you have said about this effort. There are many moments in my life when your support has helped pull me through the difficult times. Music For Mankind® is alive and breathing, because of all of us working together. Thank you for all you do!

Hope to see you at a concert soon.

Best and warmest regards to all!
Kelly Moore

Give My Regards Concerts Huge Success!

Music For Mankind® - Give My Regards To Broadway Concerts A Huge Success

Starting at the end of July, with Rutland pianist Paul Opel, I've been performing the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts all over Vermont, in New Hampshire, Massachussets and upper New York State to incrediby touching enthusiasm.

Starting the new series in retirement homes, sharing songs that I grew up with in musical theatre as a teenager, with octogenarians and up who were introduced to these same songs in their adulthood, the bond created singing together is powerful and emotional. You can hear a sample of the concert here.

I'd like to share a couple of personal stories here. Several times, after the concert I've been approached by a concert-goer in tears who has held my hand, thanked me profusely, and told me, "You have no idea the memories you have brought back."

And another, clearly in her mid to late eighties, who told me, "You made me feel young again. Thank you!".

Already this concert series is doing much more than I anticipated. It's so sweet when the audience is singing along on songs that mean so much to them, and to me, as well. And at the end, when we sing "Edelweiss" together, and everyone joins in, even those who hadn't sung previously, and those who smile who hadn't smiled the entire concert, I feel such a gratitude to be able to bring this experience to them and to share it with them.

When I sing "Try To Remember", and in the third verse I get to the line of "Deep in December it's nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow", sometimes I get choked up myself thinking about what this means to them, and what it means to me now, and what it will mean to me when I'm their age, and I'm touched and honored that what I can do is able to do this much for them.

To perform these concerts, to touch people's hearts, and to be able to contribute to organizations like the UN World Food Program and Feeding America, and help those who struggle every day just to survive, is a double dose of humility for me. I'm very thankful that I've been given this gift of music. It does things in my heart that I can never express, but just to let it out. I go around thinking, "If only people could feel what I'm feeling!", and possibly they are.

I've been showing my documentary, "Nicaragua - On The Ground", as well, and oftentimes am asked, "How can I help?".

We're continuing to book the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts, and expanding our reach into tour bus groups, resorts, corporate conventions and other events. Perhaps you have or know a group who would enjoy this music. Please let me know. That's how you can help. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802-362-3806.

Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm.

Kelly

Links:
Nicaragua - On The Ground
Give My Regards To Broadway