Saturday’s concert raises funds for Beacon Dog Park
On Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m., mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock and soprano Irina Mozyleva will join vocal forces at the Howland Cultural Center in a benefit for the Friends of Beacon Dog Park. The program will include art songs, opera arias and duets celebrating beloved pets, animals, nature and womanhood.
The varied repertoire includes the Flower Duet from the opera Lakme, Rossini’s Cats duet, and songs featuring the works of contemporary poets. Also on the program are works by Mendelsohn, Poulenc, Weill and Bernstein. Babcock and Mozyleva will be accompanied by Miriam Charney and Douglas Coates.
Babcock, Mozyleva, and Coates are all residents of Beacon and have themselves opened their homes to rescued pets. “When Audrey and I thought of doing a concert together, the choice of having the concert to benefit the Beacon Dog Park was just a natural one for both of us,” said Mozyleva. “My husband, Aryeh Siegel, donated his architectural services to design the dog park, and our family has two dogs, two cats, five fish and two shrimp — a full house. Audrey and her husband David Majzlin have two gorgeous dogs, Sheine and Rufus, and they have both been active in the Friends of Beacon Dog Park organization since the time of its establishment.”
The Friends of Beacon Dog Park is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization responsible for building and operating the soon-to-be completed facility at Memorial Park in Beacon. Over the past 20 months, the organization has raised over $30,000, all without a dime of taxpayer money, and is now in the final stretch of the fundraising drive. They intend to break ground and open the park late this autumn and look to November’s concert to bring them over their $35,000 goal. This target goal will go to pay for the fencing materials, installation, signage, receptacles and landscaping.
“Having a dedicated place for people to socialize, exercise and play with their dogs is good for the community and makes for a positive relationship between people and their pets,” said Jeff McHugh, president of the Friends of Beacon Dog Park.
Solaris Voices is a group of professional opera and Broadway singers that have come together to share their talents with the community. All contributions are made to Solaris Opera Fund at the Community Foundation and are tax-exempt to the fullest extent of the law.
The Howland Center is located at 447 Main St. in Beacon. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $5 for those under 18. For tickets visit cfhvny.org. To read more about the performers and the dog park, visit solarisvoices.org, audreybabcock.com, irinamozyleva.com and beacondogpark.org.
