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VALENTINE'S DAY GALA 2019
FEBRUARY 14, 2019 @ 6:30 pm
217 East Main Street, Clayton, NC, 27520
Tickets: Tickets: $50 General; $45 Seniors 65 and over. Includes concert, full course meal, and reception.
The magic of love, life, and music is celebrated with an eclectic program of classical music, jazz and art songs by Jazzical® creator and pianist Joel A. Martin joining special guest soprano, Adriana Velinova. A pianist, composer and producer, Joel has collaborated with and/or written music for Grammy® Award-winners Kathleen Battle, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, and Alan Menken. Adriana Velinova is a Bulgarian lyric soprano living in New York City. She has performed in prestigious venues throughout the US including Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood Music Center.
Together they will bring you some of the world's most incredible music in an inimitable style - just one part of this lavish, one-stop romantic outing. This event is a favorite among followers of CPF's performances and newcomers alike. It includes a full course meal, cash bar, and reception afterwards, where attendees can mingle with the performers.

Artists
Joel A. Martin (The Bentley) is the creator of Jazzical®, a marriage of classical of jazz. Through Jazzical he has collaborated with and/or written music for Grammy® Award-winners Kathleen Battle, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, cellist Eugene Friesen of the Paul Winter Consort, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jaimoe of the Allman Brothers. He has produced and played on critically acclaimed CDs by Brazilian jazz master Paul Lieberman, gospel jazz singer Jolie Rocke Brown, among many other artists.
At 17 Joel was the youngest pianist ever, and the first African American pianist, to compete in the 1985 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He has appeared as soloist with the NY Philharmonic, El Paso Symphony, Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MA), Philadelphia Orchestra, Cab Calloway Orchestra, New Hampshire Festival Orchestra, and the Hartford Symphony.
Joel's 7th Jazzical® CD, Jazzical Meets Menken, released in Oct. 2013 at NYC's famed Birdland, honored multiple Oscar/Grammy/Tony Award-winning Disney/Broadway composer Alan Menken (Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Pocahontas). With Broadway legends Liz Callaway, Amanda McBroom, Christine Pedi, & the Gay Men's Chorus of LA, Jazzical Meets Menken features 12 Menken songs and two world premieres.
On July 18, 2014 Joel produced Footsteps of Mandela, an all-star tribute to Nelson Mandela at NYC's Riverside Church. It was the capstone event of International Mandela Day celebrations following Mandela’s passing. In Jan 2015 Footsteps of Mandela was brought to Bridgeport CT for a packed audience of 1000 people.
March 6, 2016 heralded Joel’s new Footsteps of Peace concert event in West Palm Beach with an all-star cast promoting peace and reconciliation in our communities.
Plans for 2016 include a national tour of Footsteps of Peace, touring around the world with Kathleen Battle; and producing the 8th CD recording of the Jazzical series, Jazzical Rocks! featuring the Jazzical Symphony Orchestra.
