Impact Celebration: Performing Arts | Program

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PERFORMERS, PROGRAM & PADDLE

IMPACT CELEBRATIONSponsors

GRAND PERFORMANCE SPONSOR

CENTER STAGE SPONSOR

Henry & Lorie Gordon

PATIENT PRESENCE SPONSOR

SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS

Jandel Allen-Davis, MD & Anthony Davis

CNS Medical Group, PC

GE Johnson

Maribeth & Chris Younger

ENCORE SPONSORS

Margaret Allington Anonymous

Axon Integrative Health

Dan Campbell & Travis Terry

Cornerstone

EY

Jessica Hobbs

Learning Services

LUCI

Dan Nicholson

Jack Taylor & Ann Marie Damian

Warner Pacific

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

RollOut Dance

Bryce Rafferty

Kevin Pettit

Enrique “Kikeh” Elizondo

Tudor Arvinte

Paddle

Intermission

Amanda Vallo

Nash Murath

Michael Chimento

Jesse Collins

A MESSAGE FROM Craig’s Music Therapists

The arts can be intertwined in our lives in powerful ways. Writing, singing, dancing and playing music are expressive outlets that keep our hearts full, hopes high, and connect us to ourselves and others. We are honored to have joined some of these performers on their journeys as their Neurologic Music Therapists, using music for healing and rehabilitation at Craig Hospital. Our performers tonight are an amazing group of people who have continued to foster their respective performing arts while living with a brain or spinal cord injury, and we are so excited for you to see their incredible talents and skills shine tonight.

PERFORMERS

RollOut Dance

RollOut Dance is a dance team founded in 2022 and based in Denver. Tonight’s performers include Jamie Bruce, Sasha Galikeeva, and Shelby Fuchs. Jamie and Sasha have been beneficiaries of Craig’s outpatient care, and Shelby was an inpatient at Craig in 2023. RollOut Dance has been learning new dance styles, teaching dance, and performing across the Denver metro area. Their goal is to bring inclusive dance to more people in the Denver community.

Bryce Rafferty

Bryce Rafferty lives in Centennial, CO. He was injured while studying abroad in Switzerland at 20 years old. Bryce had to embrace the hopes and dreams of having just put a band together and the reality that his future as a musician would be inhibited by his physical limitations. Once he began treatment at Craig Hospital, he achieved independence and happiness through different avenues. He chose to make the most of his life and has completed his law degree. He is involved in disability advocacy. Bryce performs as a musician thanks to the Pocket Guitar app and GarageBand.

Kevin Pettit

After graduating from Craig, Kevin was searching for a church community, but he found that churchgoers and staff were reluctant to talk to him. He pursued religious studies, hoping to improve the inclusion of people with disabilities. He obtained a Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry from the Iliff School of Theology in 2010. He founded the interfaith not-for-profit Faith4All in 2013, which works to help religious organizations better invite, include, and empower people living with disabilities. Kevin was commissioned as Minister of Disability Inclusion Ministries in the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ in 2017. He has also sung and acted with the prestigious PHAMALY Theatre Company. He performed the role of Commander Goose in a professional production of Honk! The Musical in Tokyo, Japan. He also self-published a book titled “Rambling Down Life’s Road… with a Brain Injury,” giving a perspective from the inside out of what it was like to struggle to recover from a TBI.

Enrique “Kikeh” Elizondo

Enrique “Kikeh” is a 30-year-old Chicano, blessed by being the son of two parents, a brother of six siblings, a father of two dogs, and a friend to many. He worked at The Hotline, empowering people who reached out for support regarding Domestic Violence. Unfortunately, On October 24, 2019, in his own words, “my life sank as I suffered a sudden cardiac arrest… Fortunately, on November 21, 2019, my life rose as I entered the great gates of Craig Hospital to treat my brain injury and, unbeknownst, my whole person with their authentic teamwork approach to empower each patient individually.” He is now a writer working on a post-apocalyptic fiction novel.

Tudor Arvinte

Tudor is a homegrown musician from Broomfield, CO, who enjoys creating pop music with an emphasis on psychedelic/synth production. During his time at Craig in 2022, some people referred to his partnership with the music and recreational therapy teams as “sort of like if The Avengers had rhythm.” Armed with the right tools, Tudor is currently using what he learned at Craig to work on his upcoming EP titled “through anything.” This is his first time performing on stage since his time at Craig. His work can be found on Instagram @twodoorluca.

Amanda Vallo

Thirty-three years ago, Amanda was injured in a car accident on the way home from school. She has been living with a C5-C6 spinal cord injury ever since. She had honed her competitive drive and athletic talents in the backyard playing tackle football with the boys. She used these skills to author a remarkable recovery of mind, body, and spirit that continues to this day. Amanda began writing soon after her injury and discovered a love for the creative process and the healing power of humor. She is excited to share her writing in front of a live audience for the first time. Amanda writes about the reality of living with a SCI using humor and heart. She has recently launched a new podcast, “Access Unlimited.”

Nash Murath

In 2018, Nash was a student at Colorado State University when he suffered a traumatic brain injury after a serious fall. Nash spent the next several months at Craig Hospital. He worked with Craig’s neurologic music therapy program, using his background in music to help achieve his rehabilitation goals. In addition to working on his recovery, Nash started a nonprofit in honor of a dear friend who passed away the same year. Since his time at Craig, Nash has graduated from CSU, continued his nonprofit work, and fully returned to making music.

Michael Chimento

Mike is no stranger to the stage: his signature role was the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz for 21 shows. He cut his directing teeth at Livingston High School in NJ, working on several musicals. He has produced videos and can also be found in the recording studio as he’s covered 20+ songs celebrating such personalities as Billy Joel, Josh Groban, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, and Bobby Darin. Craig Hospital has made it possible for him to realize his lifelong dream of playing Ursula in drag on stage. The night before his stroke, he was busy preparing for DGMC’s Disney Pride show, where he was going to audition for the part of Ursula, but he never got to play her. Mike would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support.

Jesse Collins

Jesse has been married to his lovely wife, Danielle, for 12 years. They have a 5-year-old daughter, River. Jesse was at Craig Hospital for 100 days in 2022 after his Spinal Cord Injury. Jesse’s uncle was also treated at Craig Hospital after an injury of his own. Jesse is passionate about his family, music, and disc golf. He is thankful for the opportunity he received at Craig Hospital to reconnect with his music during the most difficult time of his life.

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