Dance Party Conductor
At Jazz Festival Feb. 7-9
Kyle Athayde, bandleader of the Kyle Athayde Dance Party, will perform at the Sitka Jazz Festival Feb. 7-9. The weekend will include music by professional and student musicians.
The Kyle Athayde Dance Party will play big band jazz favorites 8:15-11 p.m. Feb. 8 at Centennial Hall. Admission is $15 for students and seniors, $20 adults or $10 with the purchase of evening concert ticket.
A free brown bag lunch concert will kick off the festival noon-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at the Odess Theater.
The Friday concert begins at 6 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. The cost is $15 for students and seniors, and $20 for adults.
Feb. 9 workshops are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sitka High School. They are free with festival registration or an all-festival pass.
The Saturday, Feb. 9, evening concert will be at the PAC at 6 p.m. Cost is $15 students/seniors, and $20 adults. The after-hours event will follow the concert at the Mean Queen downstairs, at about 10:15 p.m. A suggested donation is at the door.
An all-festival pass at $60 will allow entrance into all concerts, the Big Band Dance Party and after-hour events. Passholders also receive $5 off all SJF merchandise.
Tickets are available online at sitkajazzfestival.com, Old Harbor Books or from a Sitka High or Blatchley jazz student.
Athayde is a New York-based composer, arranger, performer, teacher and bandleader. A native of Orinda, California, he plays vibraphone, piano, trumpet, and drums, bongos, congas, timbales, string bass, bass clarinet, sousaphone and vocal percussion.
He is the leader, conductor, and principal writer for the big band “Kyle Athayde Dance Party,” a group acclaimed for its versatility in the wide scope of styles it performs; and is pianist for the New York Trumpet Ensemble.
Athayde’s recent commissioned compositions and premieres include a double concerto for the New York Sinfonietta, a tone poem for Bobby Sanabria and the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (the title track of their most recent album, ¡QUE VIVA HARLEM!), two pieces for choir and band for the University of Scranton’s performing ensembles, and music for the ending credits of the film “Diller, Scofidio + Renfro: Reimagining Lincoln Center and the High Line.”
He also arranged the music for the halftime show for the University of California at Berkeley Marching Band in their final performance of the 2013 season. Athayde is currently working on commissions for the Canadian Brass, the New York Trumpet Ensemble, Manhattan School of Music Trumpet Ensemble, and the San Francisco Conservatory Brass Choir.
Committed to inter-disciplinary educational outreach in the arts, Athayde has offered classes, clinics, lessons and master classes at schools, workshops and camps in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Alaska.
A regular visiting faculty member of the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, he recently developed and taught a class on video game music history and composition there, and directed the jazz band and a vocal hip hop class. He is the director of curriculum at the Lafayette Summer Music Workshop, and regularly offers clinics and master classes to middle school and high school bands throughout Northern California.
Eco-Detectives
At Science Center
Sitka Sound Science Center will hold Eco-Detectives 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 1.
The event will be ‘‘The Case of the Shrimp Snatcher!’’ Participants will help solve the mystery of which aquarium critter is snatching up all the shrimp.
It is free and suggested for kindergarten through-sixth-graders and their families, but all ages are welcome. For additional information contact the education coordinator, Kristina Tirman, at ktirman@sitkascience.org.
Sitka Kitch Sets
Benefit Dinner
Sitka Kitch will host a fundraiser potluck dinner and silent auction 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Sitka Lutheran Church, 224 Lincoln Street.
The auction will showcase Alaska food businesses and products. Entrance is $10 or free if taking dish to share. For questions, contact Claire at 747-7509.
Story Time Set
‘‘Birds’’ will be the theme of the next preschool story time program 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at Sitka Public Library.
‘‘Flora and the Peacocks’’ by Molly Idle will be one of the readings. Rhymes, songs and a craft project will be part of the program. For information, call the library at 747-8708.
Teen Advisory
Board at Library
Sitka Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board will meet 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. Teens 12 and older are invited to join the board. Snacks and pizza will be included.
Youth Sports
Benefit Friday
The fourth annual ‘‘A Denim and Diamonds’’ wine-tasting event to benefit Sitka youth sports activities will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at the Sitka Elks Lodge.
The fund-raiser includes 50-50 drawing, door prizes, appetizers and desserts by Chef Jo.
Tickets are $30 at the Elks Lodge and House of Liquor. Must be 21 years or older and identification is required.
Benefit Dinner
At Moose Lodge
Loyal Order of Moose will serve a Valentine’s Day dinner 6-8 p.m. Feb. 14 with half the profits going to help Sitkans Against Family Violence meets its building goals.
Dinner includes prime rib or rib steak, potato, salad, bread and homemade desserts.
Tickets are on sale now at the Moose Lodge.
Sale Listed at
White E Shop
The White Elephant Shop will have a 50-cent sale on all green tag items noon-3 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.
The children’s store will continue its $1 bag sale on books this week and next.
Multiplex Trap
Shooting Feb. 2
Sitka Sportsman’s Association has registered with Pacific International Trapshooting Association for individuals to shoot in the Winter Multiplex.
Sitka Sportsman’s Association is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, for Multiplex trap shooting.
The 12-gauge events consist of 50 singles, 50 handicap and 25 pair of doubles. Scores are registered with PITA. Individuals must be a member of PITA to participate. Shoot in one, two or all three events and “Shoot for the Lewis.”
The cost is $21.50 per event, $8 daily fee, and ammo.
To become a PITA member, and sign up for the event, visit shootpita.com. Registration for the event also is available on Saturday.
For more information contact Chris Rigel (575)517-6441 or crigel5075@gmail.com.
Sitka Sportsman’s Association is located at 5211 Halibut Point Road just before the ferry terminal.
Little League
Seeks Umpires
Sitka Little League is looking for softball umpires for the upcoming season. New umpires are welcome. Training and clinics are available.
Email sitkalittleleague@gmail.com with questions.
‘Keep Talking’
Film to Screen
A film screening of ‘‘Keep Talking’’ will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
‘‘Keep Talking’’ follows four Alaska Native women fighting to save Kodiak Alutiiq, an endangered language now spoken by less than 40 remaining fluent Native Elders.
Their small community travels to remote Afognak Island to start teaching kids Alutiiq. Sadie, 13, is inspired to begin learning the language and dances of her ancestors. Instead of getting swept up in the wake of historical trauma, these women overcome personal demons and build toward a brighter future, the museum said. ‘‘Keep Talking’’ reveals the ultimate impact of language and culture revitalization; joy and hope.
Admission will be waived for the film screening.
School Board
Members Meet
Members of the Sitka School Board will hold an executive session special meeting 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, to carry out the superintendent evaluation and contract. It will be held in the district office board room.
