Young musicians auditioned for Kidzstock in March. Marin county schools, music programs, music teachers and local music stores announced the auditions.
Kidzstock guest
performer, Joan Baez, is one of the most widely known musicians and is recognized as a profound communicator through her
music. She shares her musical gifts with young musicians around the world. Cascade Canyon School inaugurates this new event with three generations of the Joan Baez family and shares their commitment to celebrate each performer's unique talents, courage and creativity. For most of the young musicians, this concert will be the first time
they will be performing for an audience outside of their friends and family.
Michael Weinstein of
Greenbrae, 17, a junior at Redwood High, grew up listening to Peter, 
Paul
and Mary and Simon and Garfunkle in his home. This was not his music choice but
his father's. Michael first was a writer, verse by verse, emotion by emotion, before he could play a chord. He started guitar in 7th grade,
took lessons and played rock. Soon, he was creating music for his writing.
"Making something out of nothing - for me, creating songs crystallizes an idea
or philosophy or emotion." Michael's symbiotic rhythm between his 60's
acoustic Martin D-35 and poetic folk jazz lyrics transport the listener to his
space, words and meaning. Michael has performed at school. Now he will be the
warm up performer for music celebrity Joan Baez, one of his muses. "I have seen
the video of her and Bob Dylan in Washington D.C. It will be so amazing to see
and hopefully meet her."
Julie Jizrawi's vocal
coach, Pollyanna Bush, unhesitatingly describes Julie as a singer of "power,
grace and beauty." Julie, 17, changed her world. Initially a classical opera
singer, she made the bold move into the unchartered areas of popular-style
singing. Moving to chest singing, microphone use and stage presence, Julie
persevered. Along the way, Julie began songwriting and dancing. When there is a
course change, Julie tackles the challenges and finds opportunities in each new
song and step.
Matt Jaffe of Mill Valley,
age 15, says the hardest thing about composing music is the endless
possibility. As a songwriter, sometimes he feels powerless to get it all on
paper. Matt studied violin until age 10. A guitar was lying around the house
and he started to teach himself to play. A few lessons later, he started
writing. Matt grabs every chance to play for others at school and on open mic
nights at local spots like Fairfax's Sleeping Lady Café. "I love music. It's
the best creative outlet, fun and ever changing."
Ryan Nelson of San Rafael,
age 10, loves Beethoven. Ryan stuns audiences with his 
operatic soprano voice
that has already landed him key roles with The Academy of All Hallows in
Sacramento, Davis Rock and Opera in Sacramento and Mission City Opera in Santa
Clara. His musical biography is filled with busy activities with the San
Francisco Boys Chorus. Under the direction of vocal coach Svetlana
Gorzhevskaya, vocal coach for the San Francisco Opera, Ryan manages to squeeze time
for his other loves, mountain biking, running and Boys Scouts.
The complete Kidzstock Young Performer lineup includes:
Afterclass
Ann Jones & Subei Reynolds - Kyle
The Aviators
Blackwater
Teddy Breck
County Boys
Morgan Summer
Clymer
Shaylin Flores
Matt Jaffe
Jaguars
Julie Jizrawi
Marin Girls Chorus
Miss Modest
Ryan Lee Nelson
London Robinson
Sir Francis Shake
Taset
Third Rock
Til Dawn
Vote for Pedro
Michael Weinstein
Community support for Kidszstock has come from every area
of Marin County. Major local sponsors include
The Good Earth, Stapleton School of Music, Marin Airporter, Local Music
Vibe, Bananas at Large, Mill Valley Refuse, Marin County Bicycle Coalition,
Fairfax Lumber and Music Plus Events.
Call 415-339-8488 or go to www.ccskidzstock.org for information
about KIDZSTOCK and ticketing. To learn about sponsor and vendor opportunities
contact Heidi Keller-Lenihan at heidi@ccskidzstock.org
or call (415) 847-7546. Fan us on Facebook.
Cascade Canyon School is a non-profit 501c (3) organization, located at 2626 Sir
Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA. 94930
#
# #
