MONDAYS: 7:00–9:00 pm, Inner Light Community Gospel Choir rehearsals, led by choir director Peter Hernandez, at the Goleta Presbyterian Church, 6067 Sherrill Way, Goleta. http://www.innerlightchoir.com/index.htm

TUESDAYS (Sept. – May) : 7:00 - 10:00 pm. Westmont College jazz ensembles in Kerr Student Center, 2nd floor lounge. http://www.westmont.edu/

WEDNESDAYS: 4:00–8:00 pm. City at Peace, a youth program that uses the performing arts to teach and promote cross-cultural understanding, leadership skills, and non-violent conflict resolution, at the Carrillo Rec Center, 100 East Carrillo St., Santa Barbara. Directed by Joseph Velasco and Nancy Davis. (805) 963-6765. http://www.cpnational.org/pastshowssantabarbara.htm

THURSDAYS: 6:00–9:00 pm. Solo piano in the lobby of Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara (805) 564-4333. http://www.fpdtr.com/contact.html

 SCHOOLS:

SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL

I am delighted to report that I started rehearsals this week with SBHS theatre teacher/director Otto Layman and the talented SBHS actors on a new production of "HAIR," which will run one show only here at SBHS on July 31, 2008, and then will hit the road to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland for four performances in the second week of August at the Roxburghe Hotel.

SBHS did an awesome job on "BEAUTY & THE BEAST" this past May, with my friend, Norma La Tuchie as music director.

GOLETA VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

"ANYTHING GOES" went very well this past March. Nanda did a great job as the "debutante" Hope Harcourt. JP played trumpet with me in the orchestra, and had a featured role on stage in "Blow, Gabriel, Blow." The final production Nanda will be part of before heading to Dos Pueblos High School next fall will be a student-written play Thursday night June 5 at 7:00 pm. As always, Carolyn Ross directs, and I am leading a band of junior HS musicians accompanying the talented GV thespians.

JP is playing trumpet in the orchestra under the direction of Daniel Hochman for "HELLO DOLLY" at La Cumbre Junior HS, running June 4, 6, 7 and 8.

DOS PUEBLOS HIGH SCHOOL

JP and I played in the orchestra under the direction of Michael Lieberman for DPHS's production of "BEAUTY & THE BEAST" in the new DPHS Performing Arts Center in May.

Last weekend I accompanied the DPHS concert choir and other specialty choirs and soloists under the direction of Brian Slotnick-Lastrico in their end-of-semester concert in the new theater. The back up band consisted of the Kopeikin Brothers, the best all-around rhythm section in town.

CITY AT PEACE

City at Peace's original play "ESPERANZA'S BOX: STORIES OF HOPE," directed by Joseph Velasco and produced by Nancy Davis, ran earlier in May at CenterStage Theater. Nanda had a big part in planning writing the scenes. She had a lead role and sang several solos. I wrote the music and songs, and everyone contributed to the lyrics. We were lucky to have great musicians from DPHS and SBHS, as well as Oscar Rios on congas in the orchestra.

GIGS

I have more shows coming up with Rob Raede and SOUL AVIV. This group features three powerful female vocalists and Rob holding down the bottom and playing guitar.

I am doing some gigs with JOANIE COLLINS, a delightful violinist/ukeleleist/singer. She is magic.

I am happy to report that I will be doing some more gigs with my buddy Paul Wilcox and YOGI MANGO, a great N'awlins music bamd here in the Santa Barbara–Ventura area.