Turner Library benefit May 3 features five local musical acts

TURNER — Turner Public Library will feature five local acts in a fundraiser concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, at the First Universalist Church on Route 117.

“We are so pleased to have so many performers from Turner and the surrounding communities,” said Shelley Rau, a library volunteer and the organizer of the event. “A concert is a perfect fundraiser for us, since it connects directly to our the library’s collection of musical instruments and instructional DVDs and books that support lifelong enjoyment of the musical arts.”

The concert will feature the wind quintet LA Winds, who enjoy making music from Bach to The Turtles. “We are ‘Happy Together’ and glad to be sharing our music in Turner,” said Turner resident Richard Rau, director of the Auburn-based ensemble, which includes members from Turner, Norway and Portland. Turner’s Hayden Pelletier, a sophomore at Leavitt Area High School, is the group’s bassoonist and is the ensemble’s youngest member.
The evening’s vocalists include pianist Ethan Rombalski, who will perform pop vocal numbers. Rombalksi is known in the community for his involvement in music and drama clubs at Leavitt Area High School. At the more classical end of the spectrum, vocal duo Shelley Rau and Susan Trask will perform songs by classical composer Rossini and “a mystery local composer,” said Rau, “who will take time out of her organizational duties to mount the stage.”
Two Celtic music acts will also be featured. Celtic Echoes, from Auburn, features Woody Trask, Jonathan Whitmore and Melanie Lee on recorder, harp, guitar and hammered dulcimer. Anthony and Una Shostak are a father/daughter duo performing mostly Irish repertoire on fiddle, uilleann pipes, banjo and possibly harp. Before forming a duo with Una, Anthony performed widely around Maine with the Celtic dance ensemble, Wake the Neighbors.

“I’ve been going to the library since I was a little girl, ” said Una, who turns 10 in May. “I enjoy borrowing books and playing their games. It is nice to be able to help the library by sharing my music.”
“This concert is an important event for Turner Public Library, ” said Anthony, who also volunteers as the library’s president. “With the annual rise in wages and the increasing cost of books, internet, and utilities, we need to be creative to meet our fundraising goals. And what could be more creative than an evening of live music with your neighbors?”
the admission for the concert is $5. Turner Public Library is grateful to First Universalist Church, which is hosting the concert, and to the many performers who are donating their services, organizers said.
:It will be a fun evening with a diverse program in a wonderful venue,” said Rau.
For more information about Turner Public Library visit www.TurnerPublicLibrary.org.

TOP PHOTO: Susan Trask and Shelley Rau. (Submitted photo)