Celebrated Jazz Singer Brenna Whitaker Performs with LAPA

If you didn’t see Hollywood jazz singer Brenna Whitaker and her Little Big Band at one of the Four Seasons Resorts Lanaʻi, you missed a once in a lifetime experience.  She is a world-class singer with a heart as big as her voice.

Brenna’s passion is working with young people through her music. She searched the internet for talented musical kids to perform with her during the holidays on Lanai and she found us—the Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts.  LAPA is a volunteer community theater organization formed earlier this year by teachers Sandy Patterson and Matt Glickstein for the benefit of the children of Lanai. Brenna invited us to perform in her Christmas Eve and Christmas Day shows at the Lodge at Koele. 

I asked her why she reached out to us.  “I’m so blessed about what’s happening to me, that the least I could do is give a little of what I’ve learned to the universe. Google is a magical thing in that you really can find people—all you have to do is search and be a little creative…It happened with you and me, and it’s basically my Christmas present from the universe—being able to see those kids love singing, and being in a group where they’re happy.”

Credited with being a key influencer in the resurgence of the jazz scene in Los Angeles, Brenna recently signed with the label Verve Records. She is now working on her debut album with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including David Foster, Walter Afanasieff, Greg Wells, Tony Berg, and Jay Landers. Among her fans in L.A. are Stevie Wonder, Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, and Larry Ellison.

Brenna is passionate about working with at-risk kids and young adults in need of hope through music/arts education programs.  She regularly contributes to a long list of non-profits and performing-arts-based-charities in Los Angeles.  “I’ve always had a connection with children. Living in a place like LA or Hollywood, you have to find ways to balance it out. I like working with kids who need some hope.  It’s second nature now—I couldn’t think of not doing it.  My goal is to make my album, and everywhere in the world I go on tour, I’d like to stop in local schools with my whole band, and go through the process of what it is to be a musician—explain every instrument and how they got into it.”

As a bonus, LAPA also had a special rehearsal with Brenna and her band.  LAPA members, Danish Mohzani and Celina Romero, impressed them by singing and playing the piano.  Brenna sang “Jingle Bells Cha Cha” with her band for all the kids and parents who attended.   After the rehearsal, the students got to hang out with Brenna and the band, followed by potluck on the outside patio (with food generously provided by LAPA parents).

On Christmas Eve, LAPA was accompanied by Brenna’s Little Big Band on four songs:  “Silent Night,” “When Christmas Comes to Town,” “The True Meaning of Christmas (an original song by Matt Glickstein and Jason Spraggins),” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” A very special guest in the audience, Mr. Larry Ellison, led a standing ovation after the final number.  The audience was then invited to sing Christmas carols along with LAPA by candlelight on the back patio.

http://youtu.be/g-A9Z-LZujo: Click here for a video of "Jingle Bell Rock" with Brenna's band

On Christmas Day, LAPA added several more songs to the program, performing in front of a large crowd of hotel guests, friends, family, and community members.  A big mahalo to Brenna Whitaker, her Little Big Band, the Four Seasons Resorts Lanaʻi, Alice Bouman, Mohzani Mokhtar, Sandy Patterson, Anthony Pacheco (videography), Glendaile Llamelo and Zena Kageno (choreography), and all the families of LAPA.

We hope that Brenna will be back in the future (she says she’d love to) and that we can be lucky enough to work with her again. She agrees, “It’s good for their learning experience.  You have so many talented kids in your group.  Kids are sponges—they soak it in and just do it.  One day, they can do what I’m doing and what you’re doing!”

For more information on Brenna, please visit her website, brennawhitaker.com. To see video of the performance and a special music video, please visit LAPA’s website,
lanaiacademy.org, or songsforabetterworld.com.

Island Below the Star

On May 25, 26, 28, 29, and 30 the Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts performed a brand new, original musical in the Lānaʻi Playhouse.  Island Below the Star is based on the James Rumsford fictional story of the same name, and the script was adapted by Sandy Patterson.  The music and lyrics were written by graduating senior Grant Choo and myself, with an additional song by 2nd grader, Danish Mohzani (I'll get to that story later).

Sandy Patterson's initial idea to turn Island Below the Star into a live show got me excited and brought back some great memories.  Back when I was a senior in college, I collaborated to write a musical called Freshmen Follies, and was even able to have it performed by the musical theater club on campus.  It was an unbelievable experience and the most fun I've ever had.  My favorite genre to write as a composer has always been musical theater--there's just something magical about a live show.  I love the way you can connect with the audience and tell the story through the songs. 

I couldn't wait to start writing the music, but as a songwriter, lyrics aren't my strong point.  Then I met Grant Choo, a senior from the Class of 2013, who spent some time in Sandy Patterson's classroom every week as part of a work study program.    I discovered that not only was he an extremely talented musician who sings and plays guitar and ukulele, but that he could also write great songs.    I asked Grant if he would like to collaborate on writing songs for the show, and we began meeting after school several times a week to work on the music.  I've written with many other songwriters, and I have to say that Grant is one of the best I've ever worked with.  He has so many original ideas, and is extremely friendly and flexible when it comes to writing and rewriting--which is not always the case!

After a month or so, we had finished five songs, and Sandy had a good outline of the script done.  It was time to hold auditions--many talented kids tried out, and it was difficult narrowing it down to a cast size of 22 actors and actresses.   Rehearsals began after spring break, and at first, we kept it simple, doing acting games and teaching the kids the basics of theater.   We wanted to get to know the strengths of each performer before we cast the parts.  

During this time,  Sandy completely rewrote the script to be much more conversational, kid friendly, and funny.  She kept the original ideas and story in tact, but created characters that were tailored specifically for the kids we had cast in the show.  Once we assigned the actors their roles,  I got to see Sandy's fresh take on the story and characters,  and I was inspired to write a few more songs specifically for each lead part.  

One of our lead actors, 2nd grader Danish Mohzani, is an amazingly talented performer and musician.  He is one of my piano students, and every lesson he does something that blows me away.    Danish is a huge Bob Marley fan, and we asked him to play his part as if he was Bob Marley himself.  Reggae music is Danish's favorite,  so I asked him if he would like to try writing his own song.   A week later, he blew me away again when he played me the song he wrote, called Go North. 

Lānaʻi Resorts, LLC was kind enough to lend us the use of the Lānaʻi Playhouse for our rehearsals and performances.  After the kids had the basics of the show down, we started rehearsing in the theater.  About this time, we had Dave Jackson join our team as co-director (with Sandy Patterson).    Dave minored in theater in college, and has been in several productions.  He brought with him structure, discipline, and a lot of expertise and experience.  The kids were a little intimidated at first because he's a big guy, but loosened up once they got to know him.   He brought the best out of everyone, and I can't imagine doing the show without him.

I must also mention our choreographer, Glendaile Llamelo.   Although she works at the A+ program after school until 5 o'clock, she made the time to come to many late rehearsals.  She's a formally trained dancer, and she gave our actors some great instruction and even allowed them the freedom to come up with some of their own choreography.  

In the end, we put on five great performances for the community in the Lānaʻi Playhouse.  I'm so proud of all of the kids that were involved in the show.  Each performance they got more confident, and by the last show, they were sad it was going to be over. They rehearsed every day after school for months and worked incredibly hard to make Island Below the Star into a success.   There is an amazing amount of talent on Lānaʻi, and I hope this first production by the Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts will inspire many others to try out for the next show that we do. 

The Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts is a new organization formed by Sandy Patterson and Matt Glickstein, with a goal of putting on many more productions for the community in the future.  If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to:

Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts

c/o Matt Glickstein

PO Box 631903

Lānaʻi City, HI 96763

All of the original music from Island Below the Star is available online at iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon.  You may also contact Matt Glickstein at (808) 221-8926, or at mattglickstein@me.com to purchase a physical CD for the cost of $10.00.

We would also like to thank:

Lanai Resorts, LLC, Facility Use

Karen de Brum, Sound Equipment

Howard and Judy Glickstein, Program Printing

Grant Choo and Edward Giles, Lighting

Cody Patterson, Projections

Kerri Glickstein, Program and CD Formatting and Design

Emily Hera, Poster and Program Cover
Travis Turqueza, Poster Design

Gaylien Kahoʻohalahala, Set Construction

Darren Lopez, Spotlight

Jerod Savage, Set Design

Cameron Patterson, Set Design and Facility Repairs

William Patterson, Videography, Set Design, and Facility Repairs

Mahina Romero, Lighting Equipment

Farah Omar, Uilani Romero, 
Shelly Barfield, Zena Kageno, and Elizabeth Atok, extremely helpful parents

And a special thanks to Kimberly Miyazawa  Frank, who invited the Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts to perform at the Charity Walk on May 4th, and who also bought lei for each and every cast and crew member after their May 28th performance.