On Wednesday evening, June 16 at 7:30 PM the Stanley Concert hall will be filled with a rapture of music coming from the Steinway Piano that awaits its new home in a Performing Arts Center. This concert is the kick-off to Supporters of the Performing Arts (SOPA) 2010 Benefit Concert Series.

The Steinway will be showcased by several very talented and gifted up and coming individuals; Kevin Ahfat, Ted Homan, Maggie Manire, Stacey Wheeler, and Brionne Wright.

The evening will feature solo work by the accomplished 15 year old Kevin Ahfat who will be a Junior at Gandview HS in Aurora, CO. Kevin started playing the piano at age 7 and has won several prestigious first place awards including; Yamaha Piano Competition (2009), Steinway and Sons Concerto Competition (2009), Symphony in the Valley Young Artists Concerto Competition (2009), Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artists Concerto Competition (2009), and has performed with the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra (2009) and the Symphony in the Valley (2009). He has also been featured on Colorado Public Radio 88.1 Classical KVOD Colorado Spotlight, and has participated in masterclasses with Dr. Andrew Cooperstock and Dr. Caleb Harris. Kevin was a first prize winner in the 2009 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition which led to his debut at New York's Carnegie Hall in May of 2009. At this concert you will hear Kevin play the works of Chopin, Ravel, Haydn, Brahms, Prokofiev, and Liszt. Although 15, Kevin brings a wealth of musical styling and passion to the keyboard. He currently studies with professor of piano Dr. Lei Weng of UNC.

Ted Homan, accompanied by Nancy Lloyd-Thompson, will be playing Sonata for Clarinet in B-flat and Piano by Francis Poulenc. Ted Homan is the principal clarinetist with the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra and the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra. He is also a member of the Jefferson Symphony orchestra and has played with numerous local orchestras and wind ensembles including the Littleton Symphony and the Colorado Wind Ensemble.

Maggie Manire, Soprano, is 18 and recently graduated from Grandview High School. She has been singing her entire life. Maggie has been involved in school and community choral groups since elementary school and has been a member of the Rocky Mountain Children's Choir since the age of 13. In the fall, Maggie will start her first year at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, pursing a BM in Vocal Performance. Maggie will be singing Juliet’s Waltz, an arietta from Romeo and Juliet by Gounod.

Stacey Wheeler will join Kevin Ahfat at the piano for one piano—four hands in playing the challenging duet Grieg Selections from Peer Gynt Suite No.1. Stacey just graduated from Grandview High School as Valedvictorian. This past March, she performed the Mozart Piano Concerto #23 with the Grandview Symphony Orchestra. Stacey has been active as accompanist for the last 3 musicals held at Grandview HS as well as playing in the jazz band. She has taught piano for the last 5 years in Denver, and will attend Colorado State University in the fall.

A special Jazz treat will be given by Brionne Wright who will perform ‘Round Midnight by Thelonnius Monk. Brionne will be the featured soloist on an upcoming gospel CD soon to be released. During her HS career, she was selected to Women’s All State Jazz choir in 2010, and into the classical Colorado All State Choirs in 2009 and 2010. Not only gifted as a singer, she has won Outstanding Soloist award at the Skyline Jazz Festival for the Alto Saxaphone. She is also gifted as a writer and her composition Emancipation was featured on KUVO radio.

This evening will be filled with music in an effort to recognize the extraordinary gift of Don and Marty Bender and the Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Read. Indeed, a space is needed to house this beautiful instrument. Come out and enjoy the evening…no tickets are needed, just a free-will offering will be made with 100% of the proceeds benefiting SOPA and the Performing Arts Center. For other events throughout the summer, visit www.EstesParkTheater.com or call 970-481-6630. Supporters of the Performing Arts is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization.