Parkinson Society British Columbia - 6th Annual Gala - An Affair to Remember: La Dolce Vita features homecoming for internationally renowned soprano Siphiwe McKenzie
VANCOUVER, April 11, 2012 /CNW/ - It will be all things Italian at the 6th annual Parkinson Society British Columbia's fundraising gala An Affair to Remember: La Dolce Vita at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, on Thursday, April 26th at 6 PM.
Under the auspices of the Italian Consulate General, Fabrizio Inserra, this exciting and romantic event, which begins with a cocktail reception, will feature an exclusive performance by international opera singer, Siphiwe (si-PEE-way) McKenzie. The evening will also feature a live and silent auction, a caricaturist, and a delizioso four-course dinner.
Canadian soprano Siphiwe McKenzie, originally from Vancouver, lives in Vienna where she is currently engaged as a guest artist at the Vienna Volksoper. Presently singing in a new production and role debut of Leo Fall's operetta Madame Pompadour at the Volksoper, she made her debut there in 2010 in the title role of Laya in the Viennese hit sensation, Die Blume von Hawaii, by Paul Abraham.
Upcoming performances include a return to the Vienna Volksoper in the fall singing Madame Pompadour followed by a return to the Finnish National Opera singing the title role in Verdi's La Traviata. Briefly thereafter, she will debut at the opera house of Basel in Switzerland in the spring of 2013, singing the title role of Massenet's Manon. In between her operatic engagements, Siphiwe will do a series of concerts in the summer and fall of 2012 with celebrated Portuguese conductor and composer Vittorino Antonio Almeida and the CCB orchestra of Lisbon to be recorded filmed for the Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Siphiwe McKenzie was born in Vancouver and holds her Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia and her Masters from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Siphiwe is generously donating her time for this special appearance because a friend of hers has a close connection to Parkinson's. Her charm, outgoing personality, and magnificent voice will thrill the audience with a mix of arias from famous Italian operas and popular songs that audiences are bound to recognize and enjoy.
Proceeds from the event will be directed to research and essential support services provided by Parkinson Society British Columbia to the 11,000 individuals living Parkinson's in BC.
Parkinson's disease is the second most common chronic degenerative neurological disorder after Alzheimer's. It is a cruel disease that takes over entire lives - not only the person affected by Parkinson's but the family as well. The primary symptoms are tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement and postural instability. There is currently no cure.
Parkinson Society British Columbia is a non -for-profit registered charity that exists to address the personal and social consequences of Parkinson's disease through education, outreach, scientific research, advocacy and public awareness. For more information, visit www.parkinson.bc.ca
Tickets are on sale now - $200 each, Table of ten - $2,000. Call 604 662 3240 or reserve online www.parkinson.bc.ca
Diane Robinson, Chief Executive Officer
Parkinson Society British Columbia 1 800 668 3330 | 604 662 3240 | [email protected]
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