May 1, 2008

A Tribute to Norma Sobesky

By Stan Dyer

It is hard to believe it has been eight years. The Eighth Annual Norma Spirit Fundraiser Concert held Wednesday night, April 30 at the Full Moon Café in Lakewood celebrated the life and memory of a great educator, a great person, and a great friend. A community group of former colleagues, associates and former students gathered to listen to some good music and contribute to a great cause, The Norma Spirit Foundation.

The Norma Spirit Foundation, organized in 2001, assists students in Jefferson County, primarily at Sobesky Academy, which now has expanded to include three campuses and attract a variety of students from around the school district. Although a cooperative effort of Jeffco Schools and JCMH, Sobesky Academy looks to the Norma Spirit Foundation to provide extra scholarships, special programs, and guest speakers. All funding comes from donations and the main source for donations is the annual Fundraiser Concert. With a number of musical styles on display, this year's concert had something for every taste.

Ken Fisher and Matt Schroer entertained with acoustic renderings of folk, country and forgotten standards. They even did a version of "Little Red Riding Hood", which was a hit for Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs many years ago. Kathleen Widlund offered her vocal talent to the songs of Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and even "Summer Time" from "Porgy and Bess", with Tyson Bennett, Dugg Spaulding and Richard Ball, all members of the band, "Before the Rain", in accompaniment. Rich Gruber displayed a number of excellent, personal compositions on guitar, and Kris Stuart-Barlow played classical guitar music from Johan Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and personal compositions inspired by a number of great, classical composers. A sampling of jazz offered by the band "Concept" featuring Paul Mimlitsch and Richard Ball, with Dugg Spaulding on drums, capped off the evening.

With members of the Sobesky family in attendance, this year's concert was one of the best yet and raised the money needed to fund the Foundation for another year. If you would like to contribute to the Foundation or if you want your name on the mailing list for notification of next year's event, please direct mail to Norma Spirit Foundation, c/o Sobesky Academy, 2001 Hoyt Street, Lakewood, CO, 80215