Half Annie benefit concert for Haven of Hope for Kids | Explore Warren

 

Half Annie benefit concert for Haven of Hope for Kids

Saturday, October 8, 2016 - 7:00pm

Half Annie, a group of three women guitarists and singers, will give a benefit concert for Haven of Hope for Kids at Saint Luke’s Church in Hope, NJ, on October 8.

Haven of Hope is a local organization that uses a small cottage behind Saint Luke’s Church to offer vacations to families in New Jersey and New York who have children with life threatening diseases, to bereaved families and to families with autistic children. This event celebrates the eleven years that Haven of Hope has organized these holidays, serving more than 200 families. The concert is in the series Music at Saint Luke’s that takes advantage of the resonant acoustics of the church built in 1832 in historic Hope Village.

Tickets are $15/adult and $10/student. To reserve your seat or for more information, please call the church at 908-818-9661.

Half Annie is the descendant of Often Annie that was an all female rock and roll cover band that played the tri-state area from 1977-1984. For 7 years they played everywhere from Massachusetts to Delaware, with recurring gigs in the Village. Six New Jersey women comprised the band. In 2007, Judy, Dot and Ginny reunited to play a show in Ocean Grove. They chose the name Half Annie since they represented half of Often Annie. That engagement was supposed to be one time show uniting old friends for a fun time. It has now become a yearly event and sometimes they do two shows a year! Judy Piserchia is a retired educator. A founder of Often Annie, she is now the lead singer and songwriter of Half Annie. Two or more of her compositions will be included in the concert at Saint Luke’s.

In addition to her musical career Dorothy 'Dot' Maver is an educator whose keynote is inspiring cooperation on behalf of the common good. Dot is a co-founder of the National Peace Academy, Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace, River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, and the Seven Ray Institute and University. Ginny Stapinski, the third member of the group, has founded or been connected with a number of musical groups such as Serious Moonlight, Gravity’s Angel and most recently with Just Jammin. She remarks about Half Annie, “We concentrate on beautiful harmonies as a folk Trio.” Exquisite three-part harmony highlights their music.