Article published Apr 10, 2005

Celebrate Life makes beautiful music for Interfaith

The group behind Celebrate Life Concert Series has once again scored a winning combination by providing a classical musical presentation that entertained and also raised funds for Interfaith Emergency Services, Inc.

Internationally-known violinist Rodrigo Puskas performed at The Appleton Museum of Art along with local musician and acclaimed pianist Marie Jo in late February, providing the 300 attendees with an afternoon of outstanding music.

"Rodrigo is a marvelous person, and a master on the instrument," said Celebrate Life member Joyce Bowden, who has been one of the organization's leaders. "And of course Marie is wonderful. It was stunning to hear them play together."

Hungarian-born Puskas is the winner of several national and international competitions. He has performed in more than 20 countries as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. His performance locations include Saint Huber Festival in Belgium, the Nagano and Yokosuka Festival in Japan, the Young Artist International in Los Angelos and Concergelbouw in Amsterdam. He has now also performed in Ocala, and organizers were very pleased.

"He was so kind and generous," Bowden said. "He talked with people, and autographed programs and was just so nice."

But Puskas almost didn't make it to Ocala at all. His commitment to play with the Daejeon Symphony Orchestra and move to Seoul, Korea conflicted with dates for the Celebrate Life event. He sought and finally received approval to arrive later in Seoul so he could perform in Ocala.

"He performed here on Saturday, flew out on Sunday and left for Korea on Tuesday," Bowden said. "Talk about a giving individual."

Puskas uses an 18th-century Guadagnini violin which belonged to his great-grandfather, who was a concert master with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. It is valued in the millions, as J.B. Guadagnini has always been considered one of the great figures in Italian violin making. The tone is clear, responsive and powerful.

Puskas is one of several impressive talents who have played locally due to the efforts of Celebrate Life. Among others have included soprano Hyunah Yu, pianist Hyun-Sook Park, pianist Joann Rogers, widow of the late television personality Fred Rogers, and pianist Jeanine Morrison along with Mr. McFeely from the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood show. Of course, having local resident and pianist Jo as a founding member of Celebrate Life is an advantage as she brings not only her talent but strong music contacts to the group.

The goal of Celebrate Life, a local non-profit organization, is to support under-funded faith-based programs while promoting classical music through family-friendly, educational concerts. Each year the group selects a different program to support through the concert series, and 100 percent of monies raised are donated to the selected charity. Some past recipients include North Marion Outreach Ministries, Church of Family Ministries and The Skill Day Center.

In selecting Interfaith as this year's beneficiary, Bowden explained that Celebrate Life members admire the services offered through Interfaith.

"They do so much for so many, and we were thrilled to help them," Bowden said.

"It was fantastic," said Gary Linn, executive director of Interfaith. "It was just a wonderful concert." Although Linn had no idea of how much of a donation to expect from the concert, he guessed it might be as high as $2,000, which would help his organization tremendously. When it was actually $9,000, he was more than surprised.

"I was pleasantly shocked," he said. "I had no idea it would be that much."

"It was a wonderful explosion of generosity from the community," Bowden said, adding that the donation is not designated for any special program at Interfaith, but rather will be used wherever it is most needed.

"They can put it where they need it most, and they know best where that is," she said. "They do a wonderful job."

Linn said the money will go to the Interfaith pharmacy program, which provides prescriptions for those who are eligible for a free program, but need their medications during the transition time of about a month while they are registered into the program.

"The timing could not have been better, because the overseas disasters have affected us, too, when money that would come to us is sent somewhere else," Linn said. "With our growing population, our needs grow, too. This was very beneficial financially to us, but also with people helping us as volunteers."

Linn said several people approached him at the concert and told him they had not heard of Interfaith, but wanted to help. To date, several have started volunteering at the non-profit group.

"I can't say enough about this community," Linn said. "We have the most loving and giving people. That's how we survive without government funding or other sources like that. It's the people who keep us going. And groups like Celebrate Life help out tremendously. This was just a very generous thing they did for us."

For more information about Celebrate Life, call 861-6702 or go to www.CelebrateLifeConcerts.org. For more information about Interfaith, call 629-8868.

Carole C. Savage, APR, CPRC, is the owner of Write Results, a public relations firm in Ocala. If you have an event benefiting a charitable or nonprofit organization, send your information to The Giving Scene, The Star-Banner, P.O. Box 490, Ocala, FL 34478. Information may also be faxed to 867-4018.

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