Kretzer Piano Music Foundation To Present Fifth & Final
PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE
At The Harriet Himmel Theater on August 16
Pre-Concert Cocktail Party at Brand New CITY TAP in CityPlace will Kick Off Fun-Filled Benefit to Expand the Foundation’s Music Education Programs for Children
(West Palm Beach, FL – August 4, 2016) The Kretzer Piano Music Foundation today announced that the brand new City Tap in CityPlace would be hosting a pre-concert cocktail party prior to the fifth and final annual PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE, which will be held at The Harriet Himmel Theater on Tuesday, August 16, at 7:30 pm.
The theme of this year’s PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE is We Are Family, and the show will feature numerous local medical professionals, many accompanied by talented family spouses and offspring.
This year’s pre-show cocktail party for performers and VIP sponsors will be held from 6 to 7 pm at City Tap at City Place. Palm Beach County’s hottest new gastropub offers craft brews from around the country – and the world – along with authentic, brick oven-cooked pizza and elevated, American pub fare. Focusing on a rustic yet comfortable bar and dining atmosphere featuring reclaimed barnwood and repurposed steel, guests can enjoy private dining as well as a lively bar scene.
“City Tap is honored to sponsor this group of physicians who give so much to our community on a daily basis,” says Kimmie Amezcua, Sales & Catering Manager. “Just as they are experts at their craft, City Tap strives to perfect the kitchen and craft experience for our guests. We are excited to give back to this group of professionals while benefitting the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation at the same time.”
“It has been a delight to work with Kimmie on this special pre-concert cocktail party for our performing physicians and sponsors,” says Kathi Kretzer, founder of the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation. The new restaurant design is impressive and the menu looks absolutely yummy – City Tap is definitely a great addition to CityPlace. I can’t wait to try it out.”
William Hayes, Producing Artistic Director and founding member of Palm Beach Dramaworks, will once again be staging this year’s PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE that will feature musical performances by doctors affiliated with 11 local hospitals and medical facilities, including five from Jupiter Medical Center, four with Wellington Regional Medical Center, two from JFK Medical Center and one each from Elite GYN Care of the Palm Beaches, Jupiter Plastic Surgery, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Palm Beach Surgical Associates, Palms West Hospital, Sebastian River Medical Center, St. Mary’s Hospital and JFK North (formerly West Palm Hospital).
Among the talented doctors and medical professionals scheduled to perform are Dr. Kenneth Fuquay from West Palm Beach who is affiliated with the Pulmonology Departments at both the Jupiter Medical Center and the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; Dr. Gordon Johnson, a retired Pathologist and former Chief of Staff of Wellington Regional Medical Center who will perform with his wife (Dr. Linda Johnson, pianist) and sons Gareth Johnson, the highly acclaimed violinist, and Grant Johnson of Merrill Lynch; Dr. Linda Kiley, an OB/GYN who will play the piano with Ophthalmologist Dr. Antonio Bolet; Dana Oaks, the CEO of JFK Medical Center – North Campus, who will sing, accompanied by his piano-playing wife and two talented children; and Dr. Jill Rodila, an Ophthalmologist associated with the Jupiter Medial Center. A talented harpist, she will be playing as her ballet-dancer daughter performs.
Additional performing physicians include Dr. Lyda Rodriguez, a Pediatrician affiliated with both St. Mary’s Hospital and the Jupiter Medical Center, who will be ballroom dancing with Alex Foraponov from Dance With Us Studios; Dr. Thomas Rowe, who is Chief of Staff at Jupiter Medical Center who plays the bass guitar in the doctor band; Dr. Robin Shecter, a gifted vocalist who is affiliated with both the Wellington Regional Medical Center and JFK North, who will be singing with her talented daughter and Kretzer Kid Emily; Dr. Robin Sykes, a Plastic Surgeon at both Jupiter Plastic Surgery and the Jupiter Medical Center, as well as a talented flautist who will be performing with her husband Dr. Rowe and their two children; Dr. Maureen Whelihan, who is affiliated with Elite GYN Care of the Palm Beaches and Wellington Regional Medical Center, and will once again serve as co-emcee of the concert along with Dr. Gordon Johnson; and Dr. Jack Zeltzer, an extraordinary drummer who is also a Vascular Surgeon associated with Palm Beach Surgical Associates, Palms West Hospital, Wellington Regional Medical Center and JFK Medical Center.
The one non-medical doctor is Dr. Robin Arrigo, a concert pianist who earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami. She will perform piano with her talented daughter on cello and also play with the doctor’s band.
Another special performer at this year’s PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE will be singer Avery Sommers, who starred on Broadway in Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Showboat, in the national touring companies of Chicago (with Joel Grey and Chita Rivera) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (with Ann-Margaret), and in shows at ArtGarage, Palm Beach Dramaworks and The Colony’s Royal Room Cabaret.
Also on the bill are several talented Kretzer Kids including Broadway veteran Ben Krieger (Finding Neverland) and his sister Charlotte Krieger; vocalist Ashlyn Taylor, who will sing a duet with former Kretzer Kid Matthew Bischoff; and 13-year-old award-winning pianist Zachary Williams.
Tickets for PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE2016 are $75 each (tax deductible) and may be purchased by calling Complete Ticket Solutions at 866.449.2489. Profit raised from this year’s concert will enable KPMF to expand its music education programs for many more deserving children.
About the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation:
KPMF is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the gift of music to children and seniors. “We believe that music enriches lives. Together we can provide music education to underprivileged children, and performance opportunities for music students,” says founder Kathi Kretzer.
In addition to awarding scholarships for music lessons and donating more than 30 pianos to disadvantaged children and local nonprofit organizations, KPMF’s popular programs include:
+ Keyboards for Kids: Group piano lessons for 100-plus inner-city school children at the Center for Creative Education in Pleasant City.
+ Kretzer Kids: 35 gifted young musicians who performed over 50 concerts every year for the past 13 years in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and children’s hospitals.
+ Music for the Mind: Concert series at CityPlace held the third Tuesday of every month for the past 15 years. Concerts have featured over 11,000 young musicians and raised $580,000 for music in our schools and community.
+ Physicians Talent Showcase: Annual concert featuring a group of talented medical doctors, raising much-needed funds for children’s charities.
+ Keys to the Cities: Placed 18 whimsically painted pianos in public spots from Jupiter to Delray Beach for public enjoyment; pianos were then donated to local children’s charities.
For more information about KPMF, please visit www.kretzerpiano.com/KPMF.