his year's benefit, "It's a Grand Night for Singing on a Starry, Starry Night," will take place at the Elkhorn Springs Restaurant in Sun Valley. "Age of Aquarius," "Blue Moon" and "Some Enchanted Evening" are just a few of the time-honored songs Caritas Chorale will sing for its benefit evening on Sunday, Sept. 12.
As a special addition to the benefit, Sun Valley resident Stephen Pauley will present telescopic viewings of the moon and stars for all attendees interested in viewing the night sky. Pauley is an amateur astronomer and Idaho's dark-sky advocate. Besides a fun astronomy lesson, the evening will also include dinner and raffle drawings.
"We will have 80 singers," said Dick Brown, Caritas Chorale artistic director. "All the music is about astronomy. It is mostly love songs about the moon, stars and constellations."
Attendees will recognize all the music from well-known musicals such as "South Pacific," "Miss Saigon" and "Annie Get Your Gun." In addition, a slideshow presentation created by Pauley will run throughout the evening.
"It was a really good season," Brown said. "We had full houses at all things we did. This is our biggest benefit of the year to help with the next season's events."
Brown said Caritas Chorale is always looking for new people, and there are no auditions.
"We get many people who live in the valley who have sung in college and high school," he said. "It's lots of fun, and it's an extended family with all kinds of people."
He said being a part of Caritas Chorale is an artistic outlet.
"It's being able to focus with other good singers and develop the group," he said. "Sometimes I think they enjoy being together a little too much."
Raffle tickets are $25 and five tickets are $100. Tickets for the benefit dinner are $150 with $100 tax deductible. Raffle winners do not need to be present to win. For details, call 726-5402.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Photo illustration by Tony Barriatua
