Suzi Finer: April Fool

Getting the Band back together...

Last night was one of the best times had in a long time; a mini-reunion to be certain. Thanks to CHA 2011, friends from all over are gathering downtown for the weekend. Debby Schuh (all the way from Buffalo) met up wtih Michelle M. White (San Diego) who brought in Randi (also San Diego) and had me wrangle in Holly, Norman, and Harmony (of course Ben and Allie joined us as well!)

Where did we meet up? Maggiano's at the Grove of course, where we were treated like royalty by my friends MaryBeth & Melissa.  Bill Maher was celebrating his 200th episode  (and guess who made the cakes...yup yup!) Talk about a perfect setting for the event...the room Maggiano's arranged had the feel of an Italian Villa (complete with a deep stone balcony) festooned with tiny twinkling lights and accented soft ambient lighting. So festive!

We all had a fabulous time (Allie fell asleep at the table, poor tired baby.) Can't wait to see them all again soon!

 

I just got an email...Ben got an Award!

Dear Suzanne: We are thrilled to inform you that Benjamin Finer has been named a Discus Award winner for the 2010-2011 school year.  Benjamin was recognized by our judging panel of education professionals for his achievements in the areas of Arts, Community Service, and Other Achievements.

As a 2010-2011 Discus Award winner, Benjamin is now eligible to receive 2010-2011 Discus Awards scholarships.  We currently award $20,000 in scholarships, one $2,000 scholarship every month of the academic year.  Additionally, Benjamin created a multimedia profile highlighting his accomplishments in the attributes he selected that can be viewed in our Winners Gallery or by clicking on the following link:

http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=29970

We would like to give you the opportunity to help us shine a spotlight on Benjamin's accomplishment.  Please feel free to send the following paragraph to your local press outlet:

Benjamin Finer of Beverly Hills High School has been recognized as a 2010-2011 Discus Award winner for his achievements in the areas of Arts, Community Service, and Other Achievements.  The Discus Awards is a national program that provides recognition and scholarship opportunities to all-around high school students who excel in three of ten key attributes.  Benjamin is now eligible for 2010-2011 Discus Awards scholarships.  Also, Benjamin created a multimedia profile highlighting his achievements, which may be viewed in the Discus Awards Winners Gallery at www.DiscusAwards.com/winners.

We thank you for your interest in the Discus Awards program.  We hope you continue to encourage Benjamin to pursue his passions in and outside the classroom, in high school and beyond.  If you have any questions about the Discus Awards or Benjamin's profile, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Discus Awards
www.discusawards.com

October 27th...Legendary Bingo!

Every year about this time, we get together for a fund-raising night of bingo at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood. The money raised is going directly to the Beverly Hills High School Madrigal Singers & Minnesingers, to off-set their Festival costs. Want to join in the fun? Shoot me an email: suzifiner@gmail.,com
Wednesday, October 27th, 7pm-9pm

Hamburger Mary's
8288 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood

This event will sell out, so it is best to pay for your seats and lock in your reservation before game night. Again, just email me for more details.

Who's on THE COVER of the Beverly Hills Courier this morning?

Madrigal Ben Finer To Perform At Los Angeles’ Omni Awards Ceremony

Posted September 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

By Amanda Peabody

Madrigal singer Ben Finer will sing O Isis und Osiris from the opera The Magic Flute at the 2010 Omni Awards on Sunday, Oct. 3 at The Colburn School’s Zipper Concert Hall.

For full story see the print edition of The Beverly Hills Courier, or download the e-edition.

Demo on youtube...

Today's Beverly Hills Courier...

You can get a glimpse of Ben's performance on youtube.com

O Isis und Osiris

My Ben singing last week. Lots leading up to it; his summer at Northwestern's NHSMI program, where mentor Karen Brunssen introduced many new pieces and intensely worked with him for five weeks, then this last week with Australian Baritone John Davies.

 

From the Courier (again!)

 

More news...

 

Madrigals And Minnesingers Invited To Carnegie Hall

By Amanda Peabody
The Big Apple better prepare…the Normans are coming. Beverly High’s Madrigals and Minnesingers have been invited to perform at the festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Under the direction of Performing Arts Department Chair and Music Director Joel Pressman, the Madrigals and Minnesingers were awarded a “gold” rating for superior performance during the San Francisco 2010 Heritage Festival.
The honor won them the privilege to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2011 or 2012.
Only select choirs, bands and orchestras are invited to perform in the world-renowned venue during the Festival at Carnegie Hall, which showcases the most elite music ensembles from around the country.

Rate Ben!

Rate Ben's Glee audition on MySpace (help make his dream a reality!)

Don't Rain On My Parade

Glee | MySpace Video

Oh Happy Day...

 
  

My children surprised me this morning with a new pair of Tempurpedic slippers (they know how I appreciate comfort.) Thank you! Then this arrived...!

Today, Another Article from the Beverly Hills Courier...

 

THE FARMER’S MARKET SINGS A NEW TUNE–Beverly High’s Madrigal Singers and Minnesingers will have a booth this Sunday at the Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. selling opportunity tickets for $2.00 each. Win a $2,000.00 necklace donated by Michael Kantor Jeweler of Beverly Hills, a 37" Vizio flat-screen LCD TV or a Barnes & Noble Nook eBook reader Tuesday at the Music from the Heart Cabaret in the Beverly "Cafeteria Lounge." The evening will feature a live performance and a silent auction. Tickets are $40. All funds will go directly to participation in the Heritage Festival Competition in NewOrleans. RSVPs are requested. Checks should be made payable to BHHS Madrigal Singers, or BHHS Minnesingers. Checks (or cash) may be brought in to Joel Pressman at the school, or mailed to Joel Pressman at:

Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA, 90212.

For more information, call Suzi Finer at 310-850-0377.

Pictured:

Minnesingers: Lindsey George-Reyes, Devi Veysey, and Nora Roeder; Madrigal Singers: Ben Finer, Sophia Zukoski, and Barton Lewis, with "Mini-singer" Allie Finer.

From the Beverly Hills Courier

 
Madrigal/Minnesingers Host Fundraiser

Join Beverly High’s Madrigal Singers and Minnesingers for a night of entertainment at the annual “Music from the Heart” at 7 p.m. on March 9 at the school’s cafeteria.
The evening will feature a live performance and a silent auction.
Tickets are $40. All funds raised will go directly to offset the costs of the student's participation in the Heritage Festival Competition in New Orleans.
RSVPs are requested as early as possible to the event.
Checks should be made payable to
BHHS Madrigal Singers, or BHHS Minnesingers. (Your choice, or both!)
Checks (or cash) may be brought in to Joel Pressman at the school, or mailed to Joel Pressman at:
Beverly Hills High School
241 Moreno Drive
Beverly Hills Ca. 90212
For more information, call 310-850-0377.

Missed CHA this year...

 

Sad about having to miss seeing my friends at CHA this year, but keeping busy with the art. Here's the surprise birthday cake I got to create for Kirstie Alley's party this past Saturday night. Should have a pic of her with it very soon...

Loved this one...

 
Moo! This was for twins...the red eggs are a good luck symbol.

Thank you...

 

Wanted to share, and send some thanks...Thanks mom, for the bedding which I'd been obsessing about. Love it! (The "Margit" collection from Anthropologie)

   

AND...after three years of carrying the same black Coach Swingpack bag, Miss Beau Peep gave me the new Tattersall Swingpack for those upscale days, and Ms. Num Num, a Viva Le Sportsac for those casual days. 

Happy.

From the Beverly Hills Courier (12/18/09)

 

High School Student Selected To Perform At Carnegie Hall

Beverly High Junior Ben Finer has been selected for the 2010 American High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Participation in the Honors Choir is limited to the highest rated high school performers from across North America.

Finer auditioned this fall for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a conductor and selection board review.

Finer studies music with director Joel D. Pressman and is a member of the Beverly High’s Madrigal Singers. Additionally, he studies privately with vocal coach Kris Feldman, a master voice instructor on staff at AMDA.

Finalists will come together for five days in June 2010 in New York City to have the opportunity to learn from Dr. Eph Ehlyy, work with other Finalists, attend a Juilliard Seminar, and get a taste of New York City.
The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school performers by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in the celebrated venue, Carnegie Hall.
More information is at
www.honorsperformance.org.

Ready to ship, from I Am Art Books...

 

My homey-seesters Linda Woods & Karen Dinino's third book, Meeting in the Ladies Room: Reflections of Women in a Room of their Own, is now shipping via Blurb.com. These talented ladies are just can't help but put out a powerful product, this time around they've collected insights from an eclectic grouping of 68 women from all over (including yours truly!)

You'll delight in the shared memories and fabulous photos presented here...don't miss out on this latest offering from the best-selling authors of Visual Chronicles and Journal Revolution.

Click here to check it out (and order!) They have a promo code: GREATGIFT which will knock a nice $10.00 right off the purchase price. Then you can see me in the bathroom (hahaha!)

Big Day...

 

Today Ben is seventeen, and I believe he is all curled up toasty and warm in my spot in bed (while I am Hansen-caking.) Here he was, just a few years ago, the birthday boy posing with Pat E. Cake in the happiest place on earth. Love this boy.

ABC/ISIS Event at the Petersen Museum...

 

We brought several giant sheet cakes for the featured dessert treat (marble cake with chocolate chip filling!)

This is the Petersen's signature Rolls, Hansen's Cakes style!

I got to make a five tier Wiinter Wonderland cake. Shiny and delicious!

Just a glimpse at some of the food: beef tenderloin, salmon skewers, broccolini, sweet potatoes (passed on the sweet potato bar, though it looked so tempting!) My favorite was the goat cheese salad (not shown...I ate it up too quickly!)