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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, April 18, 2013
Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Index Movies on the Patio ................................ 24 This Week’s Obsessions .......................... 25 Arts Alive .................................................. 26 Review: ‘Crimes of the Heart’ ................ 27 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 28 The truth about Area 51 .......................... 29 Guitar Masters music series.................. 30 Calendar .............................................. 34-35
Kern kids: Talent to burn High school students put it on the line in talent/airband contest BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com
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ll due respect to AC/DC, but it’s not a long way to the top if you want to rock ’n’ roll — at least not this week. It’ll just require a quick car trip downtown for dozens of talented high school kids to compete in the Phenom Best of Bakersfield Talent and Airband Competition at BHS’ Harvey Auditorium. Plugging in, playing and singing are optional. Charisma and stage presence are not. In the contest, Christopher Borges, choir director at BHS, saw a great opportunity to raise funds toward a hoped-for 2014 trip to Carnegie Hall for his students. But he’s discovered along the way that this event is a lot more than a fundraiser. It has the makings of an invaluable showcase for Bakersfield’s most talented teens. “The kids always surprise us with what they come up with,” he said. “The fact that we have involvement from across the district is great, making connections with all these kids who are doing such great things.” The contest, which runs Friday and Saturday, is modeled after every tal-
Frontier High School’s Lauren Utt, center, and her group performed a song from the movie “Pitch Perfect” at the April 5 competition.
ent competition on television today: a panel of celebrity judges will offer feedback to contestants, but the decision on who makes it to the top is in the hands of the audience. And with a cash prize for first place, there are 750 good reasons to come out on top. “I don’t want the kids to be motivated by money, but of course, getting kids from other schools to come here and perform, you have to have something that draws them other than to perform on the Harvey stage,” said Borges. “That’s kind of the Please see AIR / 32
Phenom Best of Bakersfield Talent / Airband Competition When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Bakersfield High Harvey Auditorium, 1241 G St. Admission: $7 Friday, $10 Saturday Information: 324-9841, ext. 71, bhschoirs.com or facebook.com/ bakersfieldphenom
ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN
Kelly Garrison and his band Garrison & Sons perform a Mumford & Sons hit during an airband competition on April 5 at Frontier High School. A similar event will be held this weekend at Bakersfield High.
A taste-good (and feel-good) meal Top chef preparing dinner whose proceeds help kids THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
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andi Schwartz, presidentelect of Bakersfield East Rotary, has no way of knowing if it’s the gourmet meal prepared by celebrated Bakersfield chef Terry Maxwell that typically sells out the annual dining/wine event that has become the group’s signature fundraiser. “But it certainly doesn’t hurt.” And with a menu that features chicken Milan, osso bucco and tiramisu among other tempting dishes, Schwartz said Tuesday that tickets were going fast. But seats are still available for Saturday’s event, though “we limit it to 300,” Schwartz cautioned.
Vino Amore When: 5 p.m. Saturday Where: Leddy Hall at Garces Memorial High, 2800 Loma Linda Drive Tickets: $75 or $600 for a reserved table of six Information: 706-6663
Vino Amore evolved six years ago from a more informal pasta event the 70-member-strong Rotary East held for several years. Proceeds from the event go to a variety of good causes, like the search for a valley fever vaccine, the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Club and the Miriam A. Jamison Center. But no beneficiaries are more grateful than the children of east
Bakersfield, who receive school supplies with money raised at Vino Amore. “I get to go to the Homeless Shelter with backpacks, and these kids have never had a backpack,” said Schwartz, a registered nurse. “They look up and say, ‘This is mine? I get to keep it?’ The things we do for kids on the eastside is just incredible.” And Bakersfield East Rotary does it as a family, Schwartz said. Not only is the cooking provided by Maxwell — owner of T.L. Maxwell’s Restaurant & Bar downtown — but the newly minted City Council member attends every lunchtime meeting, even if it mean bringing along his granddaughter. “I love my Rotary family,” Schwartz said. “They’re the family I want, not the family I have.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF BAKERSFIELD EAST ROTARY
Bruschetta will be served as an appetizer at Vino Amore.
In addition to the feast, there will be a variety of auction items available for purchase, including two guitars, one autographed by country music legend Merle Haggard and the other signed by a
number of celebrities; a oneweek stay at a condo in Carpenteria; a Charriol women’s watch that features 12 diamonds; and more items, ranging from restaurant gift cards to a portrait sitting.