Kahilu Theatre hosts the second “Applause from the Kahilu” at 4 p.m. Sept. 21. The showcase of Hawaii Island artists will be recorded for broadcast by Hawaii Public Radio.
The Sunday afternoon concert will include the angelic voice of Amy Mills, classical favorites by The Magic Strings Quartet, and jazz by the Bill Noble Quintet.
First, Waimea’s own opera star, Amy Mills, will sing Italian oratorio and English works, accompanied by Everett Knowles on the Kahilu grand piano. The Magic Strings Quartet, of the Kamuela Philarmonic Orchestra, led by Madeleine Schatz, will follow Mills. The second half of the show features the swinging jazz sounds of the Bill Noble Quintet and chanteuse Betsy Collins. Hosting on air and on stage is Kahilu’s artistic director, Tim Bostock.
Waimea farm-girl turned opera diva, Mills, got her start as a Honokaa High School student singing under the guidance of Gary Washburn with the jazz band. Mills studied arts in music, vocal performance on the East Coast and earned her degree from Bridgewater State University. After years of singing in Massachusetts, Mills returned to her roots at Honopua Farm in Waimea and now sings with the Waimea Community Chorus.
Bill Noble is a veteran sax, flute, and clarinet player and has worked with national and local artists, originally from Kohala and now a Kona resident. Highlights of his career include appearances with The Temptations, Ray Charles and local artists including Zulu, Loyal Garner and Dick Jensen. He has also performed for former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Accompanying the Bill Noble Quintet is songstress Betsy Collins, an energetic jazz-inspired singer, who also sings in Japanese.
After attending the concert and putting their applause on-air, audience members can tune-in to Hawaii Public Radio to hear the recorded show Nov. 23. The third and final Applause from the Kahilu concert will be at 4 p.m. Nov. 16.
Tickets are $20, $15, $10 or $5, depending on seating preference, and are available at kahilutheatre.org, by calling 885-6868, or at the Kahilu Theatre Box Office, which is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Enter through the east door during construction.