LITTLE STARS

“Zvjezdice” Girls’ Choir is one of the most representative music ensembles in Zagreb and Croatia. It was founded in 1985 and forms part of the Youth Music Centre in Zagreb. The members of the choir are all outstanding students of primary and secondary schools in Zagreb.

In three decades of its existence, the choir has developed a strong cooperation with the most prominent Croatian ensembles and performers, as well as with many conductors – from both Croatia and abroad.

Let us mention some of the best-known projects the choir has participated in: the performance of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in cooperation with Zagreb soloists and magnificent Croatian artists such as Ruža Pospiš Baldani and Dunja Vejzović, Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 8 by G. Mahler, cantata Carmina Burana by C. Orff, concert performance of Wagner’s Parsifal and Zajc’s Mislav, concert performance of Boito’s Mefistopheles, oratorio The Translation of St. Domnio by J. Bajamonti, scenic oratorio The Representation of the Soul and the Body by E. de Cavalieri, music melodrama Persephone by I. Stravinsky, appearances in operas Carmen by G. Bizet, Fire by B. Bersa, Werther by J. Massenet, The Child and the Magic Spells by M. Ravel, Pagliacciby R. Leoncavallo, Mirjana by J. Mandić,La boheme by G.Puccini,Postolar from Delft by Blagoje Bersa, Hansel und Gretel by E. Humperdinck, Tosca by G.Puccini the War Requiem by Benjamin Britten, oratorioJean d’Arc au Bucher (Joan of Arc at the Stake) by A. Honegger, oratorio Fidelissima advocata Croatiae by J. Magdić, Messe in G major by F. Schubert, concert performance of the opera Hansel and Gretel by E. Humperdinck, Missa apostolica by G. Wirth, etc.

The choir has performed alongside the Zagreb Soloists, the Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the Croatian Chamber Orchestra, the Zagreb Wind Trio, the Windstrings string orchestra, the Opera Orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre (HNK), the Croatian Army Symphony Wind Orchestra, the Tamburica Orchestra of the HRT, etc.

Furthermore, the choir has performed under the direction of many renowned conductors such as V.Gergiev, S.N.Mariner, P. Dešpalj, K. Ono, M. Horvat, N. Bareza, M. Belamarić, R.F. de Burgos, A. Rahbari, F. Shipway, V. Kranjčević, U.Lajovic, S.Dinić, I.Lipanović, M. Tarbuk, M. Bašić, I. Kuljerić, P. Gotovac, M. Prohaska, I.Repušić, S. Britvić, T.Bilić, I.Skender, B.Šipuš, Z. Juranić, A. Bjelinski, J. Šego, etc.

The choir’s wide range of activities inside Croatia also includes a cappella performances at the International Children’s Festival in Šibenik (1990) and Dubrovnik Summer Festival (2000). The “Zvjezdice” choir filled the audience with enthusiasm in Norway, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Russia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc.

In a series of its notable international appearances, two United States tours deserve special mention. First came the highly successful tour in 2003 (New York, Pittsburgh, Dayton, Northern Kentucky), when the choir received a major acknowledgement – with December 12 being declared the “Zvjezdice” Day in New York and December 19 the “Zvjezdice” Day in Dayton. The other equally successful tour took place respectively in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York in 2004, and included the concert in the Church of the Holy Family at the United Nations Chapel in New York under the high patronage of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the UN. In 2006, the tour to Australia and Malaysia (Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur) followed, and the tour to Canada took place in 2008.

More recent international successes of the “Zvjezdice” include the concert at New York’s Lincoln center in 2010, as well as the concert held on Europe Day in the Milan cathedral, the participation in Croatia-Slovenia project The Symphony of a Thousand by Gustav Mahler in 2011, the tour to Saint Petersburg in 2012 and the participation in the War Requiem in 2013.

Many works by the leading Croatian composers have been dedicated to the “Zvjezdice” choir, most notably The Four Seasons by Davorin Kempf, Orion, Venus, Andromeda by Milko Kelemen and Djevojačke vede (Maiden Vedas) by Ivo Josipović.

The “Zvjezdice” choir has received many national and international awards and some of the most notable are: two awards for best performance at the International Choir Festival in Llangollen, North Wales (the International Musical Eisteddfod), the outstanding performance awards at the Sligo Choir Festival, Ireland and Stavanger, Norway, the award for the best performance of a contemporary composition at the International Youth Choir Festival Celje. Along with Dunja Vejzović, Ruža Pospiš-Baldani and Zagreb soloists, the choir received the Ivan Lukačić Award for performing Stabat Mater by G. B. Pergolesi at the Varaždin Baroque Evenings in 1991.

The choir has an impressive discography list, consisting of several hundreds of recordings, a series of independent releases such as the CD Ave Mundi Gloria, a double CD titled the Zvjezdice jubilee (released for the choir’s 15th anniversary), DVDs released respectively on the occasion of the 20^th and 25^th anniversary, CD: the Zvjezdice 20 years with Croatian composers, and Christmas editions produced in cooperation with the Zagreb Soloists, the Zagreb Wind Trio, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the Croatian Army Orchestra. The CD titled “The Greatest Christmas Hits” created in cooperation with the Zagreb Soloists and Jacques Houdekis the award winner of the Croatian discography awards Porin for the year 2010.

Since the very beginning to date the choir’s artistic leader has been maestro Zdravko Šljivac to whom it owes its success and acclaim.

PASQUALE ESPOSITO

Pasquale Esposito was born in Naples, Italy. At the age of seven, while performing in his local church choir, he discovered the power of prayer and music and the divine impact they had on his community.

In 1998, Pasquale immigrated to the United States after winning the Green Card Lottery. He settled in the San Francisco Bay Area and pursued his passion for music by attending San Jose State University’s School of Music under the skillful direction of world renowned tenor, Professor Joseph Frank.

Throughout his tenure at SJSU, Pasquale accomplished and worked on several CDS and theatrical productions that showcased his talents as a tenor both nationally and internationally. Aside from touring, Pasquale takes great pride in performing many of his own compositions arranged in the pop-opera style. In 2009, he released his fifth album: “A Brand New Me” comprised of all of his original compositions and graduated from SJSU.

Following the success of “A Brand New Me,” Pasquale continued his artistic development and expanded into the classical genre. He collaborated with artistic director, Emily Ray, of the Mission Chamber Orchestra. Together, they used an innovative approach to profoundly impact their communities in a positive manner by presenting orchestral shows in the form of benefit concert events. To date, he has benefited: Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Little Italy San Jose, the Sacred Heart Parish of Saratoga, Carmel Mission Basilica and the American Cancer Society to name a few.

In lieu of his contributions to the community, he was inspired to further give back to the future of music by mentoring young students at the Notable Music Academy that he established in 2010.

Currently, he will be releasing his sixth album titled: “Il Tempo,” a compilation of a variety of songs that have individually inspired and developed his passion as an artist. Following the release of the album, he will embark on a national tour featuring music from the highly anticipated album.

Dr. Sam Berne, a holistic health practitioner and author has been recognized as a leading expert in the field of Behavioral/Neurodevelopmental Optometry and Vision Therapy for more than twenty-nine years.

 

He developed innovative methods for healing the mind-body-spirit through eye therapy. His revolutionary Developmental Learning Program (DLP) provides individuals with natural alternatives for improving vision and overall health. Dr. Berne offers a holistic method that helps children with a variety of developmental delays from autism to Attention Deficit Disorder.  DLP uses Primitive reflex therapy, Continuum movement, Vision therapy, Light/color therapy, Craniosacral therapy and Medicinal Essential oils to aid patients with neurological problems.

 

Via his successful private practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico and his informative workshops and retreats throughout the United States and Europe, Dr. Berne has promoted his unconventional philosophy of “throwing out labels, letting go of cookbook solutions and treating patients from the present forward.” Opposed to measuring a patient’s problems based on only mainstream ideas, Dr. Berne  has historically treated patients on a case-by-case basis. 

 

Throughout his career, Dr. Berne has written four insightful books and produced a DVD on autism. His first book,  Creating Your Personal Vision, was a huge success and its publication led to multiple broadcast interviews in New York and Los Angeles as well as nationally syndicated radio shows.

 

Dr. Berne teaches an extensive number of professional workshops in fields from Holistic Vision Therapy, Primitive Reflex Therapy and Helping Traumatic Brain-Injured Patients to Methods to Help ADD-Autism, Light Therapy and Subtle Energies. He lectures as a visiting professor at venues including The Esalen Institute, The Bodhi Manda Retreat Center and The Crossings-Austin with curriculums geared toward cutting edge ideas, human potential and healing.  He leads weekend retreats devoted to Vision Therapy and Electrophotonic Imaging, called Vision Energetics, a process that opens one’s consciousness and healing through the measurement of the body’s energy fields and the use of a variety of eye-vision-brain techniques which incorporate sound, breathe, movement and light/color to help change one’s consciousness.

 

Boasting an international following, Dr. Berne is often asked to lead his holistic health/vision retreats in cities ranging from Hawaii to Bimini, Bahamas where special needs children and their families have the opportunity to swim with Atlantic Spotted Wild Dolphins and have access to treatment.



Attendees experience primitive reflexes, light/color therapy and/or vision therapy activities and engage in therapeutic swimming with the dolphins.   The retreats give the group a chance to live within a community of like-minded people, interact with nature and work on focus, clarity, intention and spiritual expansion of their vision.

 

Dr. Berne takes pride in having earned Special Awards for Service from the Behavioral Optometrists in Mexico for providing many of his innovative holistic ideas to help children. In addition to lecturing and healing, Dr. Berne enjoys giving back to the community by opening up his private observatory to teach children and adults about astronomy. He jumps at the opportunity to share his knowledge of stars to spark the imagination of others.  Dr. Berne volunteers for local organizations where help is most needed, notably he regularly serves food at a local homeless shelter in Santa Fe.

 

Dr. Berne is a warm, compassionate, problem-solver who always strives for creative answers. Working tirelessly to understand the specific condition and needs of each of his patients, he offers honest and reassuring answers to their questions. For the last twenty-nine years, Dr. Berne’s genuine care and personal interest in helping others has driven him to unconventionally heal the mind-body-spirit through his eye therapy.

Dr. Nancy D. Young has over thirty years of experience specializing in therapy with adult individuals, couples, and groups. She is extremely compassionate and nonjudgmental while using a holistic/transpersonal approach. For twenty years, Dr. Young was an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University, teaching Psychology classes such as: Intro to Psychology, Interpersonal Attraction & Romantic Love, Human Sexuality, Sexual Disorders & Treatment, and Chemical Dependency Treatment.

Dr. Young's academic research interests were on romantic love—the differences between intense/compelling and secure/comfortable love experiences, behavioral self-reliance in women, and on the use of videotaped therapy in chemical dependency treatment. 

Past workshops Dr. Young has facilitated have included Romantic Relationships: A Traveler’s Guide, Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Art & Science of Love and clinicians' Level I & Level II Trainings),  Communicating with Heart & Power—How to be Gentle but Assertive, Never on Sunday: Women & Sexuality, and Voice Dialogue. Psychology of Selves & Aware Ego (Voices of Consciousness, Dances with Others, & Stretching of Consciousness)

Dr. Young specializes in a variety of therapeutic methods, including cognitive-behavioral, Voice Dialogue, EMDR, and Gottman Method couple’s therapy. She is certified in EMDR and in Gottman Couple’s Therapy.  She is a certified Art & Science of Love (Gottman) Workshop Leader and Level I & II  Trainer.  And she has been a Voice Dialogue Teacher/Trainer for over twenty years.

Rebecca is Marketing Director for Tourism For Peace. She is working with our graphics, websites, media copy and Scrivener research. In her day job, Rebecca works as Associate Director of Creative Services at Technology Association of Georgia (TAG Education Collaborative), designing, editing and publishing Hub Magazine!  She also develops their logos, marketing material and manages their websites. She is fluent in French and English.

Trained as a Landscape Architect, Nevin is co-founder and Principal at Ursa International, a zoo design firm that he and his wife, Gail, established in 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia. Nevin works in a variety of settings, from Zoos to Nature Parks and Animal Sanctuaries all over the world.  Design goals are to improve conditions for captive wildlife and to give visitors an authentic experience of these animals, while educating them on the animal’s intrinsic value.  He has designed over 50 major projects for over 30 institutions in the US and 12 other countries, such as Italy, Jamaica, South Korea, Madagascar and Uganda.  He is currently designing a new Elephant Habitat for Zoo Atlanta in the zoo’s first land expansion in 30 years. He believes that zoos and aquariums can be seen as Places of Peace.

Catherine J. Rourke

Bio

Catherine Rourke is an award-winning investigative journalist, media trailblazer and social change Thought Leader specializing in Truth in Media, Medicine, Health Care and Social Justice.

The New York City native picked up a quill pen at age 4 and has been writing ever since. Her first social justice report “Who Rules America?” was published at age 15 and received a Quill & Scroll award. After completing her studies at the City University of New York and Oxford University in England, she took her first job at The Miami Herald. From there she spent the next 30 years serving as a reporter, photographer and editor for newspapers, magazines and book publishers around the nation.

Catherine’s writing primarily focused on social justice and the downtrodden in their own voices – the working poor, the homeless, labor concerns, women’s issues and human rights. But it was as a newspaper editor and columnist in Sedona, Arizona, that she faced a turning point in her profession when her investigative reports about mysterious deaths at a local medical facility met with media censorship.

Determined to uphold her moral responsibility as a journalist to serve the common good, she launched a nonprofit online newspaper in 2007 to deliver the truth and report about the downtrodden in their own voices. The Sedona Observer grew virally into a global vehicle for truth in media -- with 44,000 free subscribers around the world and 6 national press awards – with a slogan “Changing America by Changing Its Media First.”

The newspaper relies on public donations, so Catherine has received not one penny of income for her social justice reports. Instead, she is the recipient of 26 press awards, including “Arizona Journalist of the Year” ~ along with plenty of death threats.

She currently resides in Florence, Oregon, where she writes a column for the local paper and teaches creative writing classes. As a visionary writer  her mission centers on “soul-utions” for human transformation. Known as “The Editorial Intuitive,” she is currently writing a book titled “And Forgive Us Our Press Passes ~ Confessions of Modern Day Muckraker.”

Other Info

·         Former blogs: “Rebel with a Clause” and “Media, Medicine & Morality”

·         Books: “Unseen Dreams: Voices of Low-Wage Workers”

                  “Invisible Sedona ~ Forgotten People and Neglected News”

             Public contact email: editor@sedonaobserver

Sean Bennett has worked with: Whoopi Goldberg, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Donald Trump, Harrison Ford, Kelly Ripa, Adam Sandler, Carson Kressley, Bobby Flay, Ann Burrell, Ron Howard and even Donald Trump.

Sean has been an On Air Host and Media Guest for: MTV, Cablevision, United Stations, UPN, MNN, PBS Auctions, BBC, TLC, Food Network, and Vh1. Sean Bennett has been a member of The Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association and American Federation of Television Radio Artists since 1998.

Hundreds of organizations, corporations and businesses have hired Sean including: Walt Disney World, Sony, Puffs Tissues, Mumm Cuvee, Coca Cola, General Mills, The New York Food and Wine Festival, Absolut, Commerce Bank, Kmart, General Motors and Scion.

On a personal note, Sean Bennett grew up in a single parent household, in a trailer park in Small Town, Florida. He now uses his multiple talents in multi media, while living in a luxury doorman building in NYC. His life is the inspiration for his upcoming book on luxury deals in Any City, USA.  He looks forward to using his humor and talents to help others live the life they desire,and help make dreams come true .

REVIEWS

OPRAH WINFREY  – “I love you too.” (Farewell Season of The Oprah Winfrey Show)

NEW YORK FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL –  “Sean Bennett’s enthusiastic performance truly shines. He is emotionally available with classic movie star features.”

COMMON SENSE MEDIA- “Inspiring!”

 APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE –  “ Bennett Is Brilliant! Sean Bennett steals the show.”

JIMMY FALLON – “Holy Headshot (Bennett’s first publication Simon & Schuster) has a spot in my library. I can not wait for the audio version.”