Moonlight, ivory and 25 years of memories made.
Moonlight and Ivory was initiated in the fall of 1997. Originally conceived by Barbara Friedman as a one-time fundraising effort to purchase a grand piano for the community’s use, this concert has become a much-anticipated annual community event. Producers have been Barbara Jones, Jean Johnson, Judy Schaper, Jessica Werckman and Shirley Surratt and now Charlotte Lewis. Heritage Arts was able to purchase a beautiful 6’1” Yamaha Conservatory grand through this event. It has brought significant musical color to the concerts, piano recitals, and Spotlight on Talent competition ever since.
Each year the Moonlight and Ivory event brings together exceptionally talented adult musicians and artists from Dade City, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and beyond. The variety of music is always impressive and includes vocal and instrumental renditions of show tunes, classics, contemporary, jazz, bluegrass, sacred and original pieces by adult performers of all ages. All performers are adults who have been professional or are up and coming, but all are accomplished.
In addition to the talented performers at Moonlight and Ivory, the event includes a wonderful art show with contributions by local artists in a wide variety of media. The artwork lends an added dimension of beauty to the historic Dade City Women’s Club which is the location of the event held the first Saturday of February with a matinee and evening performance. Both shows are made complete by the delectable gourmet refreshments and desserts created by the area’s excellent restaurants and served at intermission.
Because the community support of this event has been consistently strong, HACA was excited to announce the creation of a $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded each spring to the graduating senior from a Pasco County school who receives the highest total judges’ scores in the Spotlight on Talent Competition. We are now also able to give annually a $1,000 Nereim Visual Arts Award, named in honor of Gordon and Jean Nereim, founding Board members of HACA, to a Pasco graduating senior talented in the visual arts. Both of these awards are possible because of the support of friends of the arts like you who have come to the Moonlight concerts, sponsored the Spotlight on Talent competition, and given annual support all these many years. THANK YOU!