Kristy Tallman
On Saturday, it was the golden age of music and voices as the SHOCASE of Sweet Home hosted its fourth annual SHOCASE Gala at the Sweet Home High School. It was a night to remember not just for its entertainment but also for its star-studded lineup of community members who worked outside the shining lights of the stage.
Patrons of the event were bedecked in their finest as they entered into the soiree ready to listen to some of the most profound voices found locally and internationally. Hosted by Mayor Susan Coleman and Don Knight, pastor of Sweet Home LifePoint, the evening kicked off with a private reception held for VIP ticket holders who were met on the red carpet by host photographer and captain of the Sweet Home Police Department, Ryan Cummings.
As the reception dwindled and the auditorium began to fill in anticipation of the performance start, Scott Swanson, former publisher of The New Era and Lebanon Local, played the piano for everyone to enjoy. The lights went down and a musical experience dating back to 1940 began to unfold.
The hosts Coleman and Knight, made perfect commentators as they introduced the evening’s cast guiding the audience on a journey through time and experience.
Knight advised the audience there were some rules to follow such as silencing cell phones and remaining seated during the performance adding, “If you must leave your seat, please wait to do that between performances, unless of course, someone in your family, of any age, needs to be taken out and dealt with. Of course, go ahead and take the time to do that.”
Coleman took the time to thank the many sponsors who helped make the event possible. Among those thanked were Cascade Timber Consulting and Milt Moran, Caldwell Realty Group, Boulder Falls Inn, KGAL KSHO Radio, The Wendi Melcher Team, and Chris Chapman of The New Era.
SHOCASE, Sweet Home Oregon Coalition for Artistic and Scholastic Enrichment, is a non-profit organization supporting all the arts in our community. Besides the annual Gala, SHOCASE, produces the art show at city hall, the Chips n’ Splinters show at the Sportsman’s Holiday, the SHOCASE Showdown Talent Competition, children’s theater projects as well as supporting many other art projects in Sweet Home,” announced Knight.
First among the performers was none other than the entire cast of the night’s lineup singing “Sentimental Journey,” a popular song published in 1944. The music was written by Les Brown and Ben Homer, and the lyrics were written by Bud Green.
Next upon the stage was Breonna North, Cathy Scheele and Natalie Hager to sing the ever popular “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by Don Raye and Hughie Prince. This jump-blues number is about a trumpeter from Chicago who’s drafted into the army during World War II. It was first recorded in 1941 and introduced by The Andrew Sisters.
North has been singing for as long as she can remember. The first time she sang on stage was in a duet when she was nine years old. She mostly sings in musicals these days; last summer she sang in MVMT’s Newsies and Serve INCs’ “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The last time she sang on stage was as a surprise entry in the Sweet Home High School’s talent show, where she works as an English Teacher.
Scheele is a 27 year old mom of six year old son Jackson and one year old daughter Scarlett and is married to her husband Derek. She is a receptionist for the Truax Corporation. She won first place in the 2019 Share Showdown talent competition and 3 place in 2023. Cathy has been in several local productions and also placed well in the Double D karaoke contest.
Hager is a community Liaison for Serenity Hospice. She has been participating in community theater for several years. Natalie is a mother of four amazing children and a grandmother of three beautiful grand babies. She has always had a passion for music and theater.
One of the youngest performers of the evening, Ember Ogden, stepped to the microphone next to sing “On The Good Ship Lollipop.” A classic for sure, written in 1934 and debuted by Shirley Temple in the movie “Bright Eyes.”
Ogden is 14 years old, and she’s been taking singing lessons for four years. She has always loved to sing though. Ember has also been a competitive cheerleader since she was five. She has three sisters, two brothers, and three Maine Coon cats.
Ward Christman performed “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” a British romantic popular song written in 1939 and published in 1940.
A bit of a “Jack of all trades,” Ward grew up in Molalla and studied music at the University of Oregon for three years. He performed with Eugene Opera and Oregon Festival of American Music and as a singer/songwriter around the Willamette Valley in the 1990s.
He has a Bachelors of Science in Advertising from University of Oregon and over 25 years of work in the tech industry.
Ward is also a SHOCASE Board Member.
In a more comical performance Karma Holder and Luke Rice carried the audience with the song “Anything You Can Do (I can do better).” Their performance of the 1946 song from the musical “Annie Get Your Gun” was upbeat and entertaining, leaving the crowd of listeners laughing throughout.
Karma Holder is an artist who vends her artwork, crafts and succulents at local events and markets. She also has a vendor page called Vendors United Sweet Home Oregon on Facebook for local vending events and crafters.
Luke David Rice is a musician, singer and songwriter who had been playing the piano since the young age of five which cultivated an interest in learning other instruments such as the guitar, drums, bass and other stringed instruments. Rice began writing songs and recording them in the basement of his parents home when he was 15. At the age of 16 he joined a group called Post and then later another band who called themselves West Main.
“Ain’t Misbehavin” a 1929 Stride/Jazz song was sung by Breonna North and accompanied by Scott Swanson. The song by Fats Waller speaks to the joy and contentment that can be found in staying true and faithful to one’s romantic partner.
Ella Fitzgerald’s hit, “It’s Only A Paper Moon,” originally written in 1932, was next sung by Karma Holder. At first introduction the song wasn’t a hit however on the stage at the Gala it was enjoyed by all.
Scheele returned to the stage with David Dominy to perform another well known classic, “Unforgettable,” published in 1951 and made famous by Nat King Cole.
For over 25 years, Dominy has immersed himself in music, singing and performing at dozens of venues which include the Oregon Jamboree, Willamette National Cemetery’s Memorial Day ceremony and Albany’s 9-11 Memorial ceremony. He has sung all types of genres including Christian contemporary, Americana, contemporary, classic rock, and classic country.
Made popular by Bobby Darin, “Beyond The Sea,” written by Charles Trent in 1946, was performed by Christman.
The Dominys (George, David, Cliff and Titus) also known as Praise In 3D, gave an a capella version of “In The Still of the Night” written by Fred Parris and recorded by his band the Five Satins.
Praise In 3D is a Christian singing group that was formed over 30 years ago consisting of brothers Cliff and David Dominy and their dad, George. The group has expanded over the years and more family members have joined the group including Titus.
They started out singing special music at church, then added the Sweet Home Community Singing Christmas Tree to their list of venues. The entire Dominy family sang in the Christmas Tree for over 20 years. They have performed concerts and led worship services at many different churches and venues around the state.
North returned to the stage with a performance of “Fly Me to the Moon,” originally titled “In Other Words”, is a song written in 1954 by Bart Howard. It was best known for being sung by Frank Sinatra.
In an upbeat performance Christman, in his rendition of “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” made famous by none other than Elvis Presley, received raucous applause when he shared his hip wiggle and curved upper lip, both signatures of Presley, aka The King, who made the song famous in 1956. Several audience members cried for an encore.
“Unchained Melody,” the song whose title is never mentioned in the lyrics, was sung by David Dominy, followed by Scheele’s rendition of “Stand By Me.”
Finishing the local lineup was Ogden with “The Impossible Dream,” but the evening had just begun. Headliner Gina Saputo, accompanied by her husband, Joe Bagg, are both internationally renowned musicians.
Saputo is a globally recognized jazz vocalist, known for her velvet tone, connection to lyrics and masterful improvisation. Gina is celebrating her new EP “Women Talk” out December 2023. Her 2019 record, “Duetto,” reached number four on the iTunes jazz charts. She was featured on Jeff Goldblum’s recent 2023 European tour and was featured on his 2019 release on Decca Records, alongside guest artists Gregory Porter, Miley Cyrus, Fiona Apple, Inara George and more. She has performed regularly with Jeff’s band for the past 12 years including at Disney Hall, Blue Note.
Joe Bagg is one of the top jazz organists and educators in the country, with over 20 years of Downbeat critics poll nominations and a massive discography. He earned his Master’s Degree from Rutgers University, studying with Kenny Barron.
A few recent highlights for Bagg include performances for the late Queen of England at Royal Albert Hall, Tiffany, Prada and the Cannes Film Festival. He also has a reputation as one of the world’s leading transcribers and his Patreon account has over 250 solos and his subscribers include some of the top jazz musicians from around the world.
Saputo and Bagg recently relocated to Portland but continue to pursue their musical talents.
During the performance Saputo and Bagg gave renditions of jazz classics such as “Moon River, Mean To Me” and “Don’t Fence Me In.” Longtime friends with pianist Scott Swanson, she spoke to the audience of how he used to stop in to see her dad and play music.
The night was a grand success in all its glitz and glamor for both performers as well as audience members who stated such in their standing ovation given at the end of the evening.