Harmony on Tap (HOT), Hilo’s dynamic women’s singing group, presents “Art and Soul” — a pair of weekend concerts to benefit Self Discovery Through Art.
Using the arts as medicine, SDTA offers 12-week programs designed to help individuals and communities bounce back from challenging life experiences and re-create lives worth living.
Facilitators Nidhi Chabora and NJ Moses help participants produce creative art projects that nurture and strengthen mental health.
“We’re excited to offer our 10th annual benefit concerts to island audiences, with special guests,” said HOT director Jeri Gertz. “Our program offers our trademark a capella singing, as well as some selections accompanied by Kanako Okita on piano.”
One of those special guests is Ian McMillan.
“When Ian McMillan accepted our invitation to be a guest soloist, we were thrilled,” Gertz added. “Ian performs with many local choirs, as well as with Hawaii Opera Theater, or as we like to call it the other HOT!”
Paulette Ching, Lisa Taylor and Nancy Paul round out the special guest list.
Ching and Taylor are former Harmony On Tap members, always welcome back on the HOT stage. Paul is a graduate of the SDTA workshop. As part of her healing experience — after losing her home from lava flows that inundated her Puna community last year — she composed and will perform a song about Kapoho.
This year, HOT also is offering an afternoon performance.
“Many folks have told us they want to attend our concerts but no longer drive at night, so the 4 p.m. Saturday matinee should work out well for them,” Gertz said.
The concerts are slated for 7 p.m. Friday, March 8, and 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at First United Protestant Church, located at 1350 Waianuenue Ave. in Hilo, above Kaiser.
Tickets are available at Basically Books in Hilo and at the door.
Suggested donation is $15 for adults, and as always children younger than 10 years of age are free.
Come enjoy cool women making HOT music for a good cause!