Celebrating the Love of Live Music: A Night of Broadway and Operatic Favorites at Studio Hope

Studio Hope held its first concert on Sunday, October 19th. Lori Hartwell and her team of volunteers transformed the interior space, creating a stage at the front righthand corner of the store below the windows, where the piano—a Studio Hope staple since the store first opened— turned to face the audience. Turned and recently tuned, ready for a night of song.

Back before the store officially opened to the public, Lori had a vision of holding gatherings in the space. In particular, she envisioned hosting musical get-togethers. The acoustics, she thought, would be excellent. The building has high ceilings and the racks of clothing provide insulation. “Everyone needs live music,” Lori emphasized. “It’s a great way to bring people together.”

The performers for the event were students under the guidance of Marya Basaraba, a renowned chorale director and voice coach in the Los Angeles area, with a history of vocal performance herself. A couple of years back, Marya met Lori through the rescue organization Paws Fur Hope (one of the non-profits Studio Hope helps to fund). The two hit it off, and after a lunch where they got to know one another a bit more, came up with the idea of teaming up to put together a concert for a good cause. The performance also benefited Marya’s excellent students: Tara Alexander Shull, Lisa Margaroli, and Chase Yun, a group of both seasoned and up-and-coming singers based in the Los Angeles area. The performers displayed their impressive range, skilled in opera and musical theatre as well as hard rock and jazz.

As the performers warmed up around the piano, preparing for the shop, shoppers finished up their final purchases before the store switched over from boutique to venue. Studio Hope was decorated impeccably for Halloween, with fun novelties such as a “No Vacancy” Bates Motel sign and bedazzled skulls, as well as some more traditional autumnal decorations, like ceramic pumpkins and pretty vases with red flowers. Lori chatted with guests, people took their seats, and  soon the concert was underway.

The evening featured songs primarily from the classic Broadway canon. Tara and Lisa opened with charming, duetted renditions of “I Could Have Danced All Night” (My Fairy Lady) and “I Feel Pretty” (West Side Story). When the performers stepped out for individual numbers, Marya fondly introduced each of them, her pride in her students very clear. Tara’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” (Les Miserables) brought most of the audience to tears, while Chase showed the range of a much older man with his rendition of “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, and Lisa embodied the perfect Christine Daae in “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from The Phantom of the Opera. The singers dabbled in some opera (Italian and French), as well as a few jazz standards. To close the show, the singers came together with a medley from The Sound of Music, encouraging the audience to sing along with “Edelweiss” and ending with a passionate rendition of “Climb Every Mountain.”

Lori wrapped up the event with an encouraging speech noting how this night represented another one of her visions coming to life—visions which have brought the Renal Support Network (RSN), Studio Hope, and more into existence. She shared her hopes for future events at the store, musical and otherwise. Guests enjoyed cookies donated by local hotspot Cafe 86, as well as other snacks and refreshments provided by volunteers.

The goal with the newly implemented Studio Hope Showcase is to spotlight the incredible community, artists and activists alike, while producing joyful, engaging events where people can connect. Keep an eye out for upcoming events at Studio Hope. The store will partner with Junk for Joy and Paws Fur Hope at this year’s “Holiday in the Park” event on November 21st. More info coming soon.

You can find Studio Hope on social media @StudioHope_Burbank and at 817 N. Hollywood Way in the Magnolia Park district of Burbank. Subscribe to emails to make sure you don’t miss future events, classes, and more.