Tuesday: October 9: CSL Cats Committee Set For 7th Annual Benefit Concert with Musicians of the World

The Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CSLCC) will hold its annual benefit concert on Tuesday, October 9 (7:30 p.m.) at the Syd Wise Auditorium (5785 Parkhaven) of the Wagar Adult Education Centre.  Featured performers will be the Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra,  conducted by Joseph Milo. Some members of his orchestra  will  also present solo performances. The theme will be Jazz and Symphony.  Gideon Vigderhaus will be the featured soloist on saxophone while Nicole Arrage will be the singing soloist.

Funds raised will go towards the CSLCC’s Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt Program. There are many feral cats in the community. The CSLCC’s team of volunteers sets out to trap as many as possible, have them sterilized and then adopted or returned to the spot where they were originally found.  In the latter case, efforts are made to assist the feeders in the community. The committee has also rescued a number of  kittens and found homes for them.

Councillor Mike Cohen, responsible for Animal Protection in the city, notes that the concert will be an opportunity for people who love animals to enjoy an evening of fine music while contributing to a good cause.   He also wishes to announce that Expedia Cruise Ship Centres, with franchisee Sean Flynn; Little Bear Pet Supplies on St. Catherine Street in Westmount and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum,  will be the evening’s official sponsors.

The Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra (MWSO) was founded in 2006 by conductor  Milo and his wife Lucy Ravinsky. This one of a kind orchestra is composed of 55 musicians: about 80 percent of its members are from 15 countries around the world, while the remaining 20 percent are natives of Montreal who successfully facilitated the integration of the newcomers. They have been rehearsing at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall for many years and as part of the arrangement, they agree to perform a benefit concert once a year for the CSL Cats Committee.

Tickets are now $15 (tax included). A limited number of VIP reserved seats are available for $25.  Seats are also available online via Showtix for $15 plus a small service charge.  Please go to
bit.ly/catsconcert

Tickets  are now available at the following locations: the main desk at the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library (5851 Cavendish Boulevard) and the Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals (7930 Baily Road). Tickets can be purchased at the library by credit and debit card or cash and cash only at the Animal Hospital.

Local artist Nelly Leitner has donated this painting to the committee to be auctioned off at the concert.

Councillor  Cohen and event Co-Chair Councillor Mitch Kujavsky note that information will be available that night for people interested in possibly joining the committee or adopting a cat.  The committee will hold a bake sale before the concert and at intermission, with proceeds going to the outdoor cat feeding program. Diane Liebling chairs the CSL Cats Committee.  She said the committee is pleased to have moved the event from summer to the fall. “I think our audience members will be much more comfortable with the summer heat no longer an issue,” she said.

The  event is being organized by the CSL Public Library and coordinated by Danielle Belanger. The  committee wishes to thank Nicholas Katalifos, Michel Leblanc, Hipolito Corral and the staff at the Wagar Adult Education Centre for their cooperation, as well as key event contributors Alvin Fishman, Harold Cammy, Maurizio Giobbi,  Regine Banon, Lisa Milner, Justin Burnham and Library Director Janine West for their assistance.

For more information call 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or log on to www.cotesaintluc.org/cats.