About a year ago, Sarah Crew went to New York to a fundraiser organized by a Weehawken girl to raise money to help juvenile diabetes.
At the fundraiser, Crew, one of the members of the Woman’s Club of Weehawken, heard the performance of a guitar trio called Trioism, headed by Weehawken resident Anthony Bez.
“I loved the fact that he was from Weehawken,” Crew said. “When I heard them play, I was totally blown away. I figured it would be nice to promote one of our own.”
Crew brought the idea to the members of the Woman’s Club to have Bez’s group perform at the club’s annual spring fundraiser on Sunday, May 6.
“Sarah just happened to be in the audience and thought that we would be perfect for the Woman’s Club,” said Bez, who is a teacher at the International Studio of Music in New York. He also teaches music at the Hudson School in Hoboken and has been involved with the Park Theater in Union City for many years.
“It will give people of Weehawken a chance to learn more about the school and perhaps cultivate some interest,” he said.
A cause was all that was needed. Crew thought it would be nice for the charity-based Woman’s Club to assist the plight of the Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center.
“We all have been going to the HRPAC’s concerts, both on the waterfront and in the [UBS] atrium since the inception and they’ve been wonderful,” Crew said. “We hope it’s not too long before the HRPAC has a permanent home.”
So the club will host its “Afternoon Tea,” next Sunday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Senior Nutritional Center on Highwood Avenue. Tickets are $20.
Entertainment for the event will be provided by Bez and the other members of Trioism, namely John Lehmann-Haupt and Mike Barry, two colleagues who work with Bez at the school.
“John is a fantastic guitarist who worked at the Windows of the World for years,” Bez said. “Mike is actually the director of the school where we teach, as well as the American Institute of Guitar. It’s kind of exciting to be able to help.”
Bruce Sherman, the executive director of HRPAC, was overjoyed to hear that the club was willing.
“I was very happy and gratified to hear that the Woman’s Club wanted to further HRPAC’s cause by making it the beneficiary of their spring fundraiser,” Sherman said. “In order to build the arts center, we will need the support of the entire Weehawken community. The Woman’s Club is one of the most respected civic groups in town so to get their stamp of approval is very meaningful. I also look forward to hearing the wonderful music of Trioism.”
“It’s fantastic and going to be interesting,” Bez said. “We have wanted to play outside of work and looked to pick up some charity events. This one is especially gratifying for me, because it’s home.”
For more information, call Woman’s Club of Weehawken President Marie Alberian at (201) 348-9028.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at either OGSMAR@aol.com or jhague@hudsonreporter.com