Bread & Roses concluded its fifth annual “Oh Say, Can You Sing” contests with its most successful year yet! Congratulations to our anthem singers Zach Lee, first-place winner for the San Francisco Giants and Arriana Glenn, first-place winner for the Oakland Athletics contests. Both are youth performers who have volunteered for Bread & Roses. In an exciting twist, Angelica Giampaoli won second place for both contests, and received two acoustic KALA guitars. All winners also received a VIP tour at Lagunitas Brewery.
A special thanks to everyone who participated in the contest and raised over $16,964 this year to support Bread & Roses mission of healing live music for isolated audiences. We were also gratified to have the most contestants ever with ten for the SF Giants and six for the Oakland A’s competitions. This year’s success is largely due to our increased outreach. Producer Francesca Lee did fantastic work promoting the contest to her students at Blue Bear School of Music in SF as well as other Bread & Roses performers and vocal coaches. We are also grateful for the help of our Board Members and Circle of Advisors who helped spread the word. We appreciate our friends at the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Lagunitas Brewing Company and KALA Brand Music Co for their sponsorship and support.
First-Place Winners
Zach Lee, our San Francisco Giants “Oh Say, Can You Sing?” contest winner, was the top fundraiser this year garnering incredible support from family and friends. He sang the national anthem Sept 12, 2019 with his family cheering him on. Referred to Bread & Roses by Renee Richardson, Zach has performed for senior, homeless, drug & alcohol rehab and developmentally disabled audiences. He says, “The joy and smiles from the audience is a testimony to how live music helps with healing, and I whole-heartedly treasure every moment I play for them.” He has also been featured in The Marin Independent Journal’s IJ “Lobby Lounge" Live Show as well as the Marin County Fair performing his original songs.
Arriana Glenn was our Oakland A’s “Oh Say, Can You Sing?” contest winner and sang the national anthem at an A’s game on Aug. 18, 2019. Arriana started volunteering with Bread & Roses as one of Betty Schneider’s vocal students when she began doing performances with her sister/duet partner Kiera. They have performed at homeless shelters and senior centers. She says she “attributes much of her personal, emotional and musical growth to the Bread & Roses program, and is so grateful to be a part of the Bread & Roses family.” A recent high school graduate, Arriana is looking forward to her upcoming freshman year studying Musical Theater at Boston Conservatory.
Second Place Winner
Angelica Giampaoli won second place for both the SF Giants and Oakland A’s contests. We were excited to hear that she used the VIP walking tour of Lagunitas Brewery as part of her birthday celebration and to thank those who voted for her. Angelica entered the contest after picking up a postcard (printed for the first time this year) at our Thirsty Third Thursday event at Bon Air. The postcards were also distributed at many places like the Fort Mason Center in SF.
We congratulate and thank all of our contest participants. We appreciate all who enthusiastically promoted the contest and our mission of healing live music. Our contest participants this year also included: Sarah Eisenhardt, Noelle Glory, Emily Griswold, Aria Maheras, Gail Mojo Muldrow, Henry Ochs (aka Hammerin Hank), Paulette Penzvalto, Melanie Phippard and Olivia Warwick. Hats off to Executive Director Dave Perron for championing this annual contest. Thank you everyone for supporting Bread & Roses to bring over 600 shows each year of quality entertainment to people who live in Bay Area institutions or are otherwise isolated from society.
Photo Captions:
1) Zach Lee waves to the stands at the Giants game. Photo by Brad Mangin.
2) Arriana Glenn on the big screen at the A's game. Photo by Bill Nichols.
3) Zach Lee singing the national anthem. Photo by Brad Mangin.
4) Arriana Glenn singing the national anthem. Photo by Bill Nichols.
5) Angelica Giampaoli picks up her new Kala guitars at the Bread & Roses office.
6) Zach Lee with Dave Perron. Photo from Lee family.