Making a big impact by keeping goals simple

Entering 2018, I want to feel refreshed. I want to have a new sense of purpose and tap into an energy source that fills the mind, body and spirit.

As a result, I have made my resolutions as cliche as they come — continue to eat healthy, exercise more, read books that respect intelligence, take some classes to learn new skills and begin a regime of mindful prayers and meditation that build on replenishing my creativity so I may continue to honour the gifts given to me.

I was impressed watching the Golden Globes on Sunday to see all the stars wearing black as a statement of speaking out about the Time’s Up movement, and the rousing speech from Oprah Winfrey as she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

Watching made me feel certain that we, as people living on this Earth, are realizing each individual can be beautiful, smart and relevant to society just by being themselves.

————— A relevant time in history was the 1980s when glam rock hit and guitar bands were the rage.

Tonight is the second-week run of New Vintage Theatre’s musical extravaganza, Rock of Ages.

The show had big audiences last year and most of the cast wanted to do it again, so with a few important changes, they are back on the Mary Irwin stage rocking out to iconic songs from Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, etc.

Jimmy LeGuilloux fronts the live rock band on stage, which includes vocalist Julie Masi (Parachute Club backing vocalist), creating a great atmosphere that is worth the ticket price.

Knowing the talent of the band and the actors, I am sure it will be a fun throwback of nostalgia in acid wash jeans, lace tights, leather jackets and enough hairspray and backcombing to make the Jersey Shore proud.

Recommended for ages 16 and over as there is plenty of adult humour and themes.

Tickets cost $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and $25 for groups of six or more. Get them at the Rotary Centre for the Arts box office.

For those who have “singing” down as their New Year’s resolution, why not try out for a choir? The Okanagan Festival singers have a few openings in all sections for their performance of Mozart’s Requiem this spring.

If you are interested and can read music, contact Avril at avrildejong@gmail.com or call 250-212-9352 for an audition.

————— Also, the Kelowna International Choir is accepting fresh voices for its season and rehearses every Monday at 7:15 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Rd.

The new choir director is the iconic veteran teacher of theatre and choir, Neal Facey.

Neal or as I still want to call him “Mr. Facey, sir,” was my first drama and choir teacher when I attended KLO high school so many, many years ago.

He was the one who recognized any talent I might have been budding inside of me and cast me as the lead in the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, Cinderella, originally performed by Julie Andrews.

Because of that pivotal point in my life, I, the nervous girl who was quite loud and obnoxious in school — because I used it as smoke and mirrors to mask my fear of being labelled stupid, ugly or not worth liking — had a place, on a stage, to be important.

Thirty-five years later, Neal, Mr. Facey, sir, approached me upon accepting his position as choir director, to ask me to join in as guest artist when the choir has its spring concert in May.

This excites me so much because this feels like a full circle. With all the changes in our lives, we can meet on the stage once again — for this personal historic moment to happen in my life.

I have a few songs to choose from and they are all challenging and exciting.

If you have a bass, tenor or alto voice, you are especially needed, but all voices are welcome, as long as you know what keeping in tune means, you have a melodic voice and can memorize lyrics with harmonies. Song choices vary to include pop, gospel, light jazz and so on.

————— On Friday night, make your way downtown to Muninn’s Post, 575 Bernard Ave. to hear a great jazz saxophonist, Craig Thomson, who is the guest artist for the series Jazz Nights with The Trevor Salloum Group.

Thomson has carved a rare groove in local jazz music. Hearing him live is like listening to a recording of some of the greatest saxophonists and his tall stature almost demands the grace and elegance of his playing. Tickets are $10/students $5. Show time is 8 p.m.

————— A while ago, I wrote about a new cookbook that I loved written by local chef Rod Butters called The Okanagan Table: The Art of Everyday Home Cooking. The concept of a cookbook structured by time of day: sunrise, midday, sunset and twilight was genius to me.

Well, this book as now been recognized on a global scale and received the accolade of Canadian winner for “Best Local Cookbook” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. This year, the Gourmand World Cookbook awards had 10,000 submissions from over 209 countries competing for the various awards.

As the national winner, The Okanagan Table will represent Canada in the elite Best of the World in spring 2018.

Congratulations Rod, your food, your restaurant and now this book represents the quality of how we, in Kelowna want to eat and live.

I feel so proud to know this exciting chef and his business partner Audrey. RauDZ Regional Table is located on Water Street near the downtown core, along with Micro bar and his restaurant at Hester Creek.

Anna Jacyszyn is an awardwinning jazz singer. Email her at artafactevent@gmail.com.