Arts and leisure digest

Learn how to create a portfolio Middletown - Professor and artist Catherine St. John will lead a free art workshop about putting together a portfolio tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at SUNY Orange’s Gilman Center. The topics to be covered include the creation of the artist’s resume/CV, the artist’s statement, a cover letter, a press release, and organizing the portfolio itself, along with some examples of portfolios. Handouts will be available and examples of Web sites and other pertinent information will be viewable during the presentation. St. John teaches a teaches a full-term course on “the portfolio” at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Call 341-4891 for additional information. Get rid of your fear of auditions or doing presentations on Oct. 26 Sugar Loaf — The Orange County Arts Council continues the 2010 series, “What Every Artist Wants to Know, but is Afraid to Ask” on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m with a workshop called “Fighting the Fear of Auditions.” Organizers said if they have an important audition, presentation, meeting or interview coming up, this would be a good program to attend. Jennifer Hamady is an author and performance coach based in New York City and will lead the program. Having recorded, toured, and performed with many of music’s top names (including Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Patti LaBelle, and Cirque du Soleil), Hamady now works in private practice with recording artists, Broadway actors, and corporate executives, helping them to discover and develop their optimal personal, professional, and performance voices. Her insights and experiences have been captured in her new book, “The Art of Singing,” which has been described by BackStage and Variety as “a breakthrough in the psychology of both personal and musical performance.” Fee is $15 or free for artist and arts organization members of the council. Call 469-9168 for more information. Jewish women’s group begins annual programming GOSHEN — The Jewish Women’s Circle, open to all Jewish women in Orange County, will begin its programming for 2010-2011 on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7:15 p.m. with a free program called “Healthy Living” at the Chabad Jewish Center in Goshen. Organizers said participants will learn some tips from a nutritionist and a discussion “about health and happiness the Torah way.” Refreshments will be served. Call 291- 0514 or e-mail to chabadoc@aol.com for more information. Arts Council’s Creative Contacts Series hosts an autumnal evening Sugar Loaf - The Orange County Arts Council Creative Contacts Series will host an “autumnal evening” on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Arts Council offices in Sugar Loaf. Creative Contacts is a series of artist networking events that encourage collaboration, cooperation and sharing resources. Networking and dessert follow. Artists are encouraged to bring business cards, brochures or postcards of their work to share during the networking portion of the evening. Halloween costumes are encouraged. The cost is $10 for the general public, or free for artist and organization members. Call 469-9168 for more information. Church hosts lyme disease lecture on Oct. 29 Tuxedo Park — A lecture/dinner, “Lyme Disease: Not for You or Your Dog,” will be held at St. Mary’s-In-Tuxedo Episcopal Church on Friday, Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. Presentations will be made by Dr. Carolyn Britton, associate professor of neurology at Columbia University/member of the CU Lyme/Tick-Borne Research Committee and Dr. James Dasbach, New York City veterinarian with years of experience in the field of Lyme disease in dogs. Following the presentation dinner and dessert will be served, along with a question and answer session. To RSVP call Lisa Favia, St. Mary’s-In-Tuxedo Episcopal Church, at 351-5122. Musical Munchkins host Halloween concert fund raiser on Oct. 29 GOSHEN — The second annual Musical Munchkins Halloween concert fund raiser, to benefit the Goshen Food Pantry, will be held on Friday, Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Goshen. The event is geared for three to six-year-old children and their families — and siblings — and will feature Halloween songs, stories, puppets and interactive activities which are not scary, according to “Miss Andrea” Soberman. During the event, gift certificates will be raffled off for all families bringing bags of food or cash donations. .Soberman added thus far, 15 local businesses so far have donated certificates for raffle prizes and presents, and all kids will get a goodie bag. All families are asked to bring a bag of non-perishable foods (no glass) or they can make a cash or check donation at the door. Reservations required. by e-mailing Soberman at munchkns@frontiernet.net or call 895-1387. ‘Soul of Asia’ appears Oct. 30 at the Paramount in Middletown MIDDLETOWN — The SUNY Orange Symphonic Band will perform the “Soul of Asia” during its upcoming fall concert, set for 8 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Paramount Theatre in Middletown. The evening’s lineup will showcase music inspired by or written by composers from Asia — as part of the college’s Global Initiative program. This year’s Global Initiative centers on the history, politics, art, culture and music of China, East Asia, India and Southeast Asia. A discussion of Asian music and culture with Kevin Scott, conductor of the SUNY Orange Symphonic Band, and Paul Basinski, chair of the college’s Global Studies Department, will precede the performance. General admission is $5. SUNY Orange students with a current ID and active military personnel are free. Call 341-4787.