Sarah Elizabeth Wallace

CD Sampler:

https://youtu.be/yH_7TRRQ4S8

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July 31, 2021. Stay tuned for updates on this progressive tour festival: Dia del león!

Sarah’s Full Original Album CD Release:  
“canciones totales del león” (Total Songs of the Lion) – July 31, 2021. Album produced by Grammy award winner, Glenn Brown at GBP Studios!

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This event will benefit the Capital Area Humane Society! 

Dia del León (Day of the Lion)—Festival Day! Save the Date: July 31, 2021

Ticket Link: 
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5147530

What: 
•    Dia del León (Day of the Lion Festival Day!) Sarah Elizabeth Wallace’s original full album release July 31, 2021: canciones totales del león (Total Songs of the Lion) with the Capital Area Humane Society

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Where: 
•    Pre-Party Friday, July 30, 2021, Kelly’s Downtown 6:00-8:00 PM
•    REO Town—REO Town Marketplace from 2:00-4:00 PM (Auction of Sarah’s original lion; music from Michael Eyia; puppy/kitten adoption; Penny Myers and/or Assistant to speak; Live Stream
•    Old Town—Main Event--UrbanBeat from 6:00-8:00 PM (“red carpet” music event, wine toast, cheese, fruit, dinner option); puppy/kitten adoption; Live Stream
•    Downtown After-gleam party--Midtown Brewing Company from 9:00-11:00 PM; Live Stream Link

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Details:
•    Professional Musicians: Sarah Elizabeth Wallace, Liudmila Bondar, Hank Horton, Michael Eyia, Ashton Thomas, Jordan Lopez
•    Available for sale: CDs, T-Shirts, Bumper Stickers, Pins
•    10% of proceeds go to the Capital Area Humane Society
•    Donation to REACH (non-profit art studio
•    Tiered Ticket Info: General Admission $25 (entry to main event); Gold Ticket $50 (includes CD, appetizer, dinner option, main event, & afterglow); VIP $75 (includes CD, appetizer, dinner option, main event, & afterglow)

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    Purpose:
•    Sarah’s music is multi-cultural and includes, jazz, Latin beats, Celtic beats, Middle Eastern flares, rock, opera, rap, and folk elements.
•    Celebration of the community of all ages and ethnicities in the Greater Lansing Area to bring renewed hope to the community
•    Charity
•    Sustainability of professional local artists

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*10% of CD and artist’s good purchases will go to the Capital Area Humane Society.  There will be puppy/dog and kitten/cat adoptions available at the event!!! 

Musicians featured on her album and live performances: Sarah Elizabeth Wallace: Vocal & Keys; Donny Brown: Percussion, Glenn Brown: Guitar, Sitar; Liudmila Bondar: Piano; Keith Kinnear: Bass; Jon Herrmann: Bass; Hank Horton: Bass; Michael Eyia: Spanish Guitar; Ashton Thomas: Percussion; Jordan Lopez: Percussion; Torrey Gray: Rap; Stephen McCorry: Rap

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Ticket link--Dia del León! https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5147530

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You can go directly to the UrbanBeat website and purchase these and find out more information as well! I encourage everyone to purchase in advance! There is a dinner option as well. You receive access to all 3 events (the Auction with guitarist Mike Eyia, the main event at UrbanBeat, the afterglow, full album CD (value $25), wine, cheese, and fruit appetizer, AND a dinner option with the VIP ticket; you receive access to 2 events (the main event at UrbanBeat and the Afterglow), CD, wine, cheese, and fruit appetizer, AND a dinner option with the Gold ticket; and you receive access into the main event at UrbanBeat with the General Admission ticket! This will be a fun day for all ages! Additionally, there will be a donation to REACH.

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Event Artist Bios:

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Sarah Elizabeth Wallace:
Singer, Actress, Dancer, Composer, Visual Artist, Vocal Instructor, Theatre Instructor

Sarah Elizabeth Wallace is a professional local musician, artist, and performer from Lansing, Michigan. Sarah started her performance career at the age of 3 and her professional career at the age of 5 as Caroline Kennedy in Accidentally Exalted for the Kenneth Robbins Opera Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. She has a BA in Music – Vocal Performance from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has since become a member of the professional Actors’ Equity Association. Additionally, she is an Opportunity Arts Affiliate. Throughout her career, she has appeared in a myriad of roles in musical theatre, plays, and operas throughout the Midwest, New York Metropolitan area, southern states, and in the countries of Australia and Peru. She is currently enrolled in a Masters of Law online with a focus in international business transactions at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia to allow her to take her music and productions worldwide. She teaches part-time vocal and beginning piano lessons at the School of Rock in Okemos, Michigan.
 
Michael A. Eyia:
Director, Guitar, Percussion, Lead Vocals, Arranger, Composer

Born in Havana, Cuba, Michael (Mike) Eyia started classical guitar lessons at the age of 10 under the tutelage of world-renowned Cuban guitarist and composer Dr. Leo Brower. After leaving Cuba due to the unstable political climate, Mike came to the U.S. and settled in Lansing; Mi. Mike studied music at Michigan State University and Lansing Community College. Later he became an instructor at LCC and taught various music courses over a period of about 10 years. Over time, his passion for Cuban-style music persisted. In the late 70’s and in preparation for the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration, Mike formed RITMO to introduce and educate people in a different style of Latin music. The group at the time consisted of a six-piece band, as well as a 24 piece dance troupe. Mike choreographed a number of Cuban styles including a Danzon, a Guaracha, a Cha Cha Cha, and a Conga, and backed the dance troupe with his live band. The troupe traveled around the Mid-West and performed for venues all over Michigan and as far south as Dayton, Ohio. The group earned a number of accolades along the way including a Tribute from the Michigan State Legislature. In 1984, the group grew to its current 10 piece Orchestra. Throughout the years, the group has shared the stage with a number of recording artists such as Los Lobos, Salsa great Oscar D’Leon, Pete Escovido, and The Bangles among others. Mike Eyia is the director and sole active member from the original 6 piece group.

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Liudmila Bondar:
Concert Pianist, Accompanist, Composer, Instructor

Liudmila was educated and trained in Russia at the Institute of Fine Arts in the City of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.  She studied church music at St. Petersburg Theological Academy in Russia and studied in the United States at Michigan State University under the instruction of Albertine and Ralph Votapek and Dr. Midori Koga. Currently, she teaches at the Michigan State University Community Music School and the Lansing Community College music department.  Throughout the years, she has had vast performance experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist, including playing with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, while continuously performing for various special events and concerts.  Liudmila is a proud member of Opportunity Arts, Lansing, Michigan under the direction of Mike Marriott.  One of her favorite musical memories was when she was a student in Siberia accompanying a fellow student, Dmitri Hvorostovsky.  A few years later, he became a world-famous baritone known as the “Silver Baritone”.

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Hank Horton:
Bassist, Vocalist, Arranger, Producer, Composer;
Acoustic Bass, Fretless and Fretted 5 String Electric Basses

Hank was born in North Carolina and migrated to Michigan where he first attended Central Michigan University and received a Bachelor's of Music in string bass performance. Next, he attended Michigan State University and earned a Master's of Music in string bass performance. Over the years he has performed in a myriad of venues, with a wide variety of artists, spanning numerous styles. Being schooled, both academically and in the real world, in wide-ranging types of music, has been one key to success....rock, pop, jazz, country, classical, blues, Latin...and anything else you can put in front of him. Needless to say, he is a great reader. Currently, he is based in Chicago where he performs and records with various artists, as well as keeping a touring schedule through the US, Canada, and Mexico. Partial list of Credits: Hank Horton has performed and/or recorded with: Styx, Dennis Deyoung, James Young, Todd Sucherman, Peter Noone, Michael Ingersoll, Mark Colby, Kalii Palmer, The Brass Tracks Jazz Orchestra, The New York Pops Orchestra, The Saginaw Symphony, Bill Watrous, the College of Dupage Jazz Band, Peter Graves, Epicycle, Mark Vickery, Due West, TNT, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Omaha Symphony, Bob Newhart, Joan Rivers, Don Rickles...and on and on...truly a variety. Recent Theater credits include The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Can-Can.

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Ashton Thomas

Percussionist, Instructor, Educator, Mentor

Ashton Thomas, born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, began playing drums by the age of 3. Born into a musical family, he was introduced to various styles of music and a slew of artists throughout his childhood and teenage years. Ashton began his professional career at 17 years of age and since then has recorded and toured all across the United States as well as the United Kingdom and Sweden. His credits include De’Sean Jones, J. Drew Sheard, Jessica Caremoor, and Javier Santiago just to name an endless few. Aside from playing professionally, he is also a drum instructor, educator, and mentor for select organizations across the Midwest.

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Jordan Lopez:
Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals, Keys, Director, Composer

Jordan Lopez, originally from Ypsilanti, Michigan, spent years in Hawaii. He is a multi-instrumentalist with 35 years playing, 30 years recording, and 20 years teaching experience; with over 200 recorded original songs and 1 song playing daily on The Weather Channel since 1999.  Jordan is the current Music Director and teaches at the School of Rock in Okemos, Michigan.
 

To Be Announced

SEPTEMBER GRAND RAPIDS