Fundraising concert gains additional clout




JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers GREETING ASPIRING CHEFS—Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck autographs a copy of his book

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers GREETING ASPIRING CHEFS—Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck autographs a copy of his book “Wolfgang Puck Makes It Easy” for Calabasas residents Jazmine Choi, 13, an eighth-grade student at A.E. Wright Middle School, right; sister Jaimee, 16, an Agoura High School junior, center, and mom Lori, a volunteer for the Las Virgenes Education Foundation. Puck’s appearance Feb. 7 at his Westlake Village restaurant kicked off a fundraiser for the foundation’s art and music endowment. The restaurant will donate $1 for every pizza sold each Monday. A concert is planned Feb. 27.


Christopher Cross, winner of five Grammy Awards, an Oscar and a Golden Globe, has joined the list of artists who will appear at the Benefit the Arts fundraising conert Feb. 27 at the T.O. Civic Arts Plaza.

The Las Virgenes Education Foundation and the Artist for the Arts Foundation are sponsoring the star-studded show to help launch an art and music endowment for the Las Virgenes schools.

When Cross, who is currently performing in Paris, found out his friends, Michael McDonald, Tommy Shaw (of Styx) and members of the band, Venice, were going to perform along with 62 high students from Agoura and Calabasas high schools, he asked to be included, according to Jamie Alcroft, the LVEF executive director.

Cross is expected to perform several of his 70s hits at the concert, including “Sailing” and “Ride like the Wind.” Former Doobie Brothers rocker Michael McDonald is expected to deliver many of his hit songs as well, including “Takin’ it to the Streets” and “What a Fool Believes.”

Tommy Shaw and the band Venice will be joined by Calabasas High School’s A Cappella Group “Unstrumental.” They will harmonize with Shaw on “Sing for the Day” and other hit songs.

The concert will be preceded by an art exhibit from local elementary school students, and performances by Las Virgenes middle school jazz combos and choirs.

All of the concert ticket sales will go to fund and sustain arts programs in the Las Virgenes Unified School District, Alcroft said.

The benefit will also feature a live auction with the opportunity to bid on an array of Fender guitars, donated by West L.A. Music, a set of conga drums and a set of bongos donated by DW Drums.

An ivory Les Paul custom guitar with gold trim, donated by Gibson Guitars, will also be up for auction as well.

Tickets are available at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Box Office or at www.mylvef.org. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 8 p.m.

—Stephanie Bertholdo

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