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Vail Valley concert to benefit locals battling cancer

Melanie Wong
mwong@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado – No matter how hard you try, you can never know what challenges might lie ahead – that’s the idea behind a Vail Valley concert that will benefit two local young people battling cancer.

The musical, entitled “Life: Unrehearsed,” will be performed at Beaver Creek’s Vilar Center Tuesday night and feature a number of local young performers singing Broadway or cabaret music ranging from well-known songs from “Guys and Dolls” and “Wicked,” to newer, lesser known music from musicals such as “A New Brain.”

The stage is set as if it were a rehearsal and all the music somehow ties into the performance’s theme, said music director, Taylor Kundolf.



Proceeds from the concert and the preceding reception and silent auction will go toward helping Battle Mountain High School student Andrew Claymon and 2007 Vail Christian High School graduate Luke Dillon, who are both in treatment for cancer.

“We can rehearse all we want for the show, but for the boys involved, dealing with cancer – you can never rehearse for something like that,” said Kundolf.

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Claymon was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the beginning of this year and has been in aggressive treatment since. The proceeds will help pay for his medical bills.

Dillon was attending college in Boston when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor a month ago. He is now undergoing radiation and chemical therapy. The proceeds will help pay for treatment and travel costs between Colorado and Boston.

Many of the show’s performers, such as 15-year-old Bailey Garton, will be singing to raise money for their friends and classmates. Garton, who attended Battle Mountain with Claymon, said she’s excited to be able to be a part of a fun performance with a cause.

“I’ll be able to go up and sing these awesome and fun songs while helping some of my friends who have cancer and are really in need of help,” she said.

Other performers include college students Galen Jacobs (Vail Christian class of 2008) and Sean Pack (Battle Mountain High School class of 2008), who are both now majoring in vocal performance, as well as Molly Allard (Battle Mountain class of 2008), a dance major.

The group of about 15 performers got together through performing at the Marketplace’s Cabaret Nights. Kundolf, the show’s pianist, said the performance will boast a wealth of talent and “won’t be your typical locals’ production.”

Garton encouraged people to attend, not only to help Claymon and Dillon, but to see a unique show.

“It’s a great cause – that’s reason enough to come,” she said. “But it’s also a different kind of show. You’ll get to take a peek into one of our rehearsals instead of seeing something we’ve worked on forever.”

Rayla Kundolf, Taylor’s wife and one of the show’s organizers, said she’s been truly impressed at the quality of the show.

“I’m proud of each and every one of them,” she said of the performers. “They’re an ensemble group who are doing this musically, artistically and spiritually for their friends.”

The silent auction will include items donated from the community, including items from Mountain Dog, Luca Bruno and the Ritz Carlton.

Staff Writer Melanie Wong can be reached at 970-748-2928 or mwong@vaildaily.com.


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