The Tempest

Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Dawn Bonner Opera singer Nick Palance, violinist Jennifer Spingola, and composer/conducter/pianist Vince Morton make beautiful music together.

Media Credit: Dawn Bonner Opera singers Nick Palance and Holly Stell performed two duets at the benefit.

Media Credit: Dawn Bonner Cancer survivor and NorthBay Cancer Center spokesperson Heidi Marble gave an entertaining and informative view of her journey with breast cancer.

Media Credit: Dawn Bonner The Vezer familiy sponsored the benefit gala: Giselle Vezer, Frank & Liz Vezer, Mimi & Sam Mizirawi.

"This concert is really special to me," said opera singer Nick Palance, the night before performing at a Solano College benefit.

"My mom died of breast cancer 12 years ago. She's been on my mind a lot recently; I know she's happy I'm doing this benefit. My friends and I were visiting at my house and one of them said, hey look at the picture of your mom. It's a photo of her right before she died, she has pigeons lined up her arms and on her head. I had always thought of this picture as sad because she was sick. For the first time, I noticed mom had this grin on her face. The photo has been on my fridge for years but this night, it stuck out to every one, my mom was glowing."

The SCC benefit was the first official gala for Dr. Charles Shatzer, SCC's associate vice-president for the workforce and community development branch. It was a phenomenal success, raising over $20,000.

The event started with an elegant reception and silent auction which raised $1,900. Then, Heidi Marble, the NorthBay Cancer Center spokesperson shared her journey in an entertaining and informative manner.

Marble said, "One person can make a difference. We are all like a single flame, with one flame we can each light a candle. That one flame can reach around the world."

Next, Palance and his gifted musicians mesmerized the audience with two sets of operatic delights. Holly Stell, a 15 year-old Vacaville resident, joined Palance for a duet, singing the same number she sang with Andreas Bocelli three years earlier.

The evening ended with a special dessert reception on-stage at the theater hosted by the Vezer family and Dr. Shatzer.

Besides NorthBay, the concert benefits the SCC workforce and community development programs. The Vezer Family vineyards sponsored the benefit and worked in partnership with Shatzer and Solano College Theatre managing director Chris Guptill.

Giselle Vezer, public relations director for the family winery said, "Charles, Chris and I met every week for quite a few weeks to plan this. They are great to work with."

"We had some friends affected with breast cancer, so we really wanted to do something big. I am very happy with how it turned out," said Vezer.

Nick Palance Concert Eve:

Twas the day before the Palance concert benefit and all through the theater gifted musicians, the resourceful theater director, lighting and sound man magnifique were checking things off their list. The doctor in the house, with nerves a bit jangled, still had a sense of humor and gratitude; making the long afternoon a joy for all.

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• Clcik here to go video of Palance and Stell duet video and slideshow of silent auction reception.

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