This past week was very special for me as it was the third annual Aleisha Ord Memorial Concert, which I have co-produced and in which I have co-starred with English Tenor John Foley and Musical Director Joan Taylor of Morley College, London.
May 2001 was a tragic time for all who knew and loved little Aleisha. On the eve of her fourth birthday, a bus ran her down as it traveled through her village of Murton in the Northeast of England. How does one cope with such tragedy? Aleisha’s parents, Michelle and John Ord, are good friends of John and myself and we felt absolutely helpless in trying to comfort these devastated parents, in addition to dealing with our own grief. John and I decided to pull together a concert in Aleisha’s honor. Proceeds raised from the performance would go to building a playground (or as they are called in England, a play park) in her memory at her nursery school. The majority of organizing of the event was done by the Glebe Center in Murton and Colin Longstaff, another dear friend.
One year later, we held the 2nd Annual Memorial Concert. T hat same weekend we cut the ribbon to the Aleisha Ord Memorial Play Park, watching all of Aleisha’s school mates pouring onto the grounds with squeals of glee and they played in the park bearing her name. That year the concert raised money to buy equipment to allow disabled children play there, also.
Keeping Aleisha’s memory alive, we just completed our third concert, which raised money for Grace House, a hospice for terminally ill children in the Northeast of England. The concert was a success both financially and artistically. It is wonderful to see so much good coming out of such a horrific tragedy.
I will be shooting a commercial this Friday for a Tooth Whitening Product. I’ll be playing a sort of newscaster in the ad.
This Sunday, I will be doing a reading of a new play by brilliant playwright, Bob Mahnken. Patriarch, directed by Scott H.Schneider with a great cast that includes David DeBeck, Sylvia Roldan Dohi, Denise Lute, Brian Maillard, Rachel Stern, Nic Tyler and Tony Garcia will be performed on Monday, October 13, 2003 at the John Houseman Theatre at 450 W. 42nd St. between 9th and 10th Ave at 7pm. All are invited to this free reading. For reservations call: 212 802-9754
October 15th, I close on my very first home. I bought a lovely apartment in New York City with a fabulous view. Actually, the apartment WILL be lovely in a few months, once I gut the place. Donations for the Connie Kunkle Restoration Project will be kindly accepted! Just kidding….sort of.
I leave on October 19 for England once again. JOLLY GOOD, I SAY! I will be heading back to do the Northern Remembrance Concert with the Band of the Royal Marines and the incomparable SingLive Leeds choir, which will be 150 members strong! What an exciting, and emotional concert this will be as we remember soldiers who have fallen all around the world. I launched what is called the Poppy Appeal last year. I am honored to be asked back again, and even look forward to next year. Yes, the British Royal Legion has invited me to guest star in the Remembrance Day Concert next year, which is to be televised by the BBC!
I am very excited about the talks that are going on to have me present a concert with the Band of the Royal Marines on THE ARC ROYAL, the flagship of the British Fleet. Plans are tentative, but if you are in London next March and you happen to be near Greenwich, England…look for the really big boat and the American girl in sparkly gowns running around the deck!
November 4th I am scheduled to shoot another installment of Greater Homes Show for the ABC affiliate in Orlando, WFTV. I am looking forward to working with my handsome and talented co-host Tom Wainman (spokesman for Hair Club for Men) and the wonderful crew headed by Jim Salvage and Tony Smothers. Orlando folks can also catch me on WMFE as I host one afternoon of pitches for Public Radio and later on December 2, I will be pitching live on WMFE-TV with guest, Zorba Pastor.
Thanksgiving will find me with family in Alabama, and then on to Orlando to enjoy showing off this side of the pond to my British friends from SingLive Leeds who will be the first international choir to perform at the Disney Candlelight Service. They will also be experiencing their very first Thanksgiving. I am thrilled! I am particularly looking forward to my personal tour called the CONNIE KUNKLE TOUR OF ORLANDO….WHAT THE TOURIST DOESN’T SEE IN ORLANDO. It should be great fun, but I can’t get too worn out showing them around, as we all head back to England on the 7th to get ready for our SING CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR with the National Festival Orchestra and 300 wonderful voices. What a great time we had last year and this year should be better still!
Scroll down for complete show and ticket information!
TICKET INFORMATION:
Call Mr. Michael Beard
In England: 0113 257 7183
In the USA: 011 44 113 257 7183
| Northern Remembrance Concert With the Band of the Royal Marines And 150 Voices of SingLive Leeds Tickets: 15.50 (pounds Sterling) October 26, 2003 7:30 pm Leeds Town Hall Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Sing Christmas Spectacular National Festival Orchestra 300 Voices of SingLive Leeds Tickets: 9- 16.50 (pounds) December 14 and 15 7:30 pm Leeds Town Hall Leeds, Yorkshire, England |
