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New York Nights fundraiser benefits the Edwards Interfaith Chapel and Community Center

Mezzo soprano Jessica Medoff returns as the artistic director for this year's New York Nights.
Special to the Weekly |

If You Go

What: New York Nights, a benefit for the Edwards Interfaith Chapel and Community Center.

When: 5:30 p.m., Saturday.

Where: Edwards Interfaith Chapel and Community Center.

Cost: $200 per person. Tables of 10 are available, as are sponsorship opportunities.

More information: To purchase tickets, contact Susan Washing at 970-390-7741, or email sbwashing@comcast.net.

You love New York, admit it. New York Nights puts you in the core of the Big Apple for a few hours, without the thrill ride of landing at LaGuardia, which is good.

It also helps support the Edwards Interfaith Chapel and Community Center, which is better.

The money raised from New York Nights literally keeps the lights on for the 20-plus organizations and seven religious denominations that use the building.



“We wanted to design an evening that showed off this wonderful facility but also brings in people who may not be aware of what it is,” said Susan Washing, who’s helping coordinate this year’s fifth annual event.

New York Nights combines food and entertainment from the heart of the City that Never Sleeps.

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Splendido chef David Walford created the menu featuring classic New York fare: Waldorf salad, steak Diane of the Drake Hotel, potatoes Delmonico, strawberry cheesecake and the requisite black and white cookie.

The foyer is transformed into a New York City street scene, complete with food carts and taxis. There’s a scotch tasting room and a bar featuring signature cocktails from the five boroughs of the city.

ENTERTAINMENT AND AUCTION

The evening’s entertainment features some of New York’s fastest-rising stars.

Jessica Medoff, mezzo soprano and artistic director for the event the past three years, is coming off the performance of her life having recently given birth to her son, Henry. Medoff has impressed audiences from Carnegie hall to concert venues across the United States. Jessica’s husband, and Henry’s dad, Michael Bunchman returns as pianist.

Bunchman recently played as a soloist with the Utah Festival Orchestra.

He and Medoff are co-creators of three original cabarets, including the wildly popular “The Truth About Love … And The Usual Lies.”

Rounding out the ensemble for the evening are tenor Bray Wilkins, one of America’s top young tenors, and soprano Leah Edwards, vocal soloist, pianist and dancer.

American baritone Timothy McDevitt has established himself as one of the industry’s most versatile young performers. He has earned praise from the New York Times, NPR, Opera News and Le Monde. This season finds his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Bernstein’s Mass, his off Broadway debut in “Lady be Good” at New York City Center Encores, the world premiere of Marie Incontrea’s new song cycle “Do Not Harm” with the Moirae Ensemble, concerts with the American Classical Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall and his return to Colorado’s Central City Opera in “La Traviata” (Marchese) and “Man of La Mancha” (Pedro).

The ensemble will perform opera pieces as well as Broadway show tunes, ranging from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Un di Felice” (from “La Traviata”) to Alain Boublil’s “One Day More” (from “Les Miserables”). You can even dedicate arias to someone special.

“We offer the best in entertainment from the opera world and the dining world with Splendido’s David Walford doing the cooking,” Washing said.

Live auction items include a John Hardy bracelet cuff and earrings, along with a herringbone shawl from the Golden Bear; a chef’s table for eight guests at Splendido Restaurant in Beaver Creek; and a beach-front condo at Wailea Elua in Maui, Hawaii.

Britten, a local painter, is creating a painting especially for the event. It will be unveiled and available for sale at the gala.

Tables of 10 are available for purchase, as are sponsorship opportunities. Individual tickets are $200 per person.

Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.


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