Page 9 - Reedley Exponent 8-9-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent BPanorama
Community Services Commission selects 2018-19 youth reps
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Section | Thursday, August 9, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com
Voices from the past
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654
RCTC's 'Legends Icons' spotlights 31 acclaimed musical artists
Photo Contributed
Samuel Estes, a 1996 graduate of Reedley High School, was recently featured on "CBS Sunday Morning" for his role in founding a worldwide software company.
RHS grad
starts AI
music
company
By Jodie Reyna
Mid Valley Publishing
Samuel Estes, a 1996 Reedley High School graduate, has founded a worldwide software company that takes music production to the next level.
His company, Amper Music, allows people to compose and pro- duce music using artificial intel- ligence.
Estes said Amper Music is only one of two such companies in the world. He founded the com- pany – based in Los Angeles and NewYork – four years ago with col- leagues Michael Hobe and Drew Silverstein. The company now has 20 employees.
The trio was featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” on July 29. The segment can be viewed at https:// www.cbsnews.com/news/when-ar- tificial-intelligence-turns-its-gaze- to-art/.
Estes’ parents, Sam and Debby Estes, who reside in Reedley, are proud of their son’s accomplish- ments.
“We are incredibly impressed by Samuel’s pursuit of his passion in music and technology,” said Debby Estes. “It is humbling to see where Samuel’s passions have led him.”
By age 3, Debby Estes said her son was composing short pieces on the piano and would sing and play music for others.
She attributes her son’s suc- cess to his involvement in the Kings Canyon Unified School Dis- trict’s music programs, as well as the direction of Mark Norwood in Reedley’s theater arts programs.
Samuel Estes helped found Amper Music after working in the film music industry for several years and becoming discouraged. Estes said he experienced a “bad work flow and environment for writing and producing music for
See MUSIC page B2
Adventist Health awards $500 scholarships
Adventist Health volunteers provided five $500 scholarships to Reedley students who are mem- bers of the class of 2018.
The recipients are Anne Ayers from Reedley High School, Jo- nah Elijah Chapa from Reedley High School, Taylor Kanawyer from Reedley High School, Jus- tine Hatch from Immanuel High School, and Emilie Marie Ramirez from Immanuel High School.
The scholarships are awarded to a select few high school students interested in pursuing medical ca- reers. Adventist Health awarded 12 students from across the Cen- tral Valley with scholarships rang- ing from $500 to $2,000.
Adventist Health operates a 49-bed acute-care hospital in Reed- ley, as well as hospitals in Selma and Hanford.
By Jodie Reyna
Mid Valley Publishing
A stroll down memory lane. That’s the message that co-produc- ers Tidy Gill and Joseph Hill hope to get across in River City Theatre Company’s summer production of “Legends Icons.”
Each summer, RCTC presents a musical that spotlights past artists. RCTC continues the long-time tra- dition with “Legends Icons,” which pays homage to 31 musical artists made famous between the 1960s and the 1980s.
They include Cher, Elton John, Carol King, Rosemary Clooney and Andy Williams.
“A lot of the songs, the audience will know and have heard, but may- be they don’t know who sang them,” Gill said. “We want people to walk away feeling good and having good memories.”
Gill has a double role in “Leg- ends Icons.” In addition to co-di- recting the show, she also takes to the stage and plays Carole King and Pat Benatar.
“Legends Icons” open on Friday, Aug. 17 and plays selected dates at the Reedley Opera House, 1720 10th Street.
“Legends Icons” includes a 10-member ensemble. Each cast member plays several different roles throughout the musical. Gill describes the show as a musical re- view that is not based on a script, but rather a series of musical per- formances.
“When we had auditions, we picked songs based on who audi- tioned and their skill set,” Gill said. “We had fun with the numbers and rethought some of the songs, even spoofed a couple.”
Gill said the 90-minute produc- tion as a light-hearted musical, mixed with comedy and ballads. There is no lead, as each cast mem- ber carries an equal amount of weight.
Cast member Julie Valdez from Selma plays Rosemary Clooney, Patsy Cline and Barbara Streisand. Valdez has performed in several shows at the Selma Arts Center, but
Photo Contributed
River City Theatre Company's annual "Legends" series continues this summer with "Legends Icons." The show opens on Fri- day, Aug. 17, at the Reedley Opera House. Pictured here during rehearsal are (from left) cast members Bethany Houghton, Shelby Diquirico, Julie Valdez, Allison Botello, and Glenda Stewart.
this is her first time performing with RCTC. Valdez is returning to the stage after a two-year break.
“I knew I’d have fun with this musical,” she said. “These are names that I know and grew up lis- tening to with my parents.”
"This show is all about memories in my book. The audience will be singing their favorite songs and tapping their feet."
– Mac McIntosh, A cast member in RCTC's "Legends Icons"
Another cast member from Clo- vis, Mac McIntosh plays the parts of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Tom Jones and Art Garfun-
kel. McIntosh’s background includes being part of a barbershop quartet, the Jubilation Singers, and New Wrinkles at Fresno City College. He began acting at age 55.
“This show’s all about memories in my book,” McIntosh said. “The audience will be singing their favor- ite songs and tapping their feet.”
“Legends Icons” is the first production that Gill and Hill have co-produced. Gill has also directed “Ring of Fire,” “Young Franken- stein,” “Swing.” She first acted in RCTC's “Ain’t Misbehavin’” in 2012.
With a cast that is mostly in their mid-20s or younger, Gill said Leg- ends Icons is a chance to build the youth of RCTC.
“It’s an opportunity for them to hone their skills and be mentored,” Gill said.
Hill directed the popular farce, “Noises Off” presented by RCTC in April. He said “Legends Icons” is unique because he and Hill were given the title, but no script, allowing them freedom in creating the theme.
He said they relied heavily on pre- vious productions, what worked and what didn’t.
Hill said it’s wonderful to be part of the “Legends” series that was ini- tially started by RCTC’s founder, Mark Norwood.
Jessica Williams from Selma has acted in many RCTC productions, including last summer’s “Legends Returns” about one-hit-wonders. In “Legends Icons,” she plays Aretha Franklin and Donna Summer.
“It was fun gathering the songs and learning the dances,” Williams said. “It’s all been a fun thing.”
The cast of “Legends Icons” includes: Allison Botello, Bethany Houghton, Julie Valdez, Isaiah Bue- no, Shelby Diquirico, Mac McIntosh, Glenda Stewart, Jessica Williams, Jayromy Mercado, and Tidy Gill.
Performances will be Aug. 17-19, Aug. 23-26, and Aug. 30-Sept. 2.
For ticket information, call River City Theatre Company at (559) 638- 6500 or visit the RCTC website at Reedleyrivercitytheatre.org.
Balloon-powered race cars and marshmallow towers keep students engaged at Reedley College STEM Camp
By Jodie Reyna
Mid Valley Publishing
The wheels were turning, not only in the minds of students, but on the ground as well, at Reedley Col- lege’s annual STEM Summer Camp.
About 25 students from around the Central Valley participated in the camp that focused on science, tech- nology, engineering and mathemat- ics (STEM). The camp spanned four days, July 30 to Aug. 2 on the Reed- ley College campus.
“This is our third STEM Summer Camp that we have had,” said Juan Bedolla, camp coordinator. “Our camp allowed students to learn about various engineering fields, experi- ence 3D printing, learn how to build circuits, build towers, and vehicles.”
The camp was divided into two sessions. One session was taught by John Heathcote, an engineer- ing instructor at Reedley College for the past 18 years. Student on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 1, weren’t sitting in desks listening to a lecture. Instead, they were racing balloon-powered cars that students built from Legos. Students cheered as their cars passed the finish line, and a record was kept of whose car was the fastest.
“Students are learn- ing about mechanical engineering and design, as well as things with moving parts,” Heath- cote said.
He said there are an increased number of careers that involve STEM fields, and the sooner that students are exposed to them the bet- ter.
“We are trying to promote STEM in the younger grades and get them enthusiastic about these types of careers,” Heathcote said.
Ava Jones and her
sister, both middle school students from Clay Elementary School in Kingsburg, earned the fastest times in the balloon-powered car race.
“I really like science,” Ava said.
Bella Tarazi, a seventh grade home-schooled student, said the STEM camp was “very fun and in- teresting.” Her favorite activity was using a 3D printer to create a cell phone stand.
“We got to design a shape and put it together using a computer,” Bella said.
In the second session, students worked with Reedley College STEM Club members, which includes cur- rent and former Reedley College students.
“We wanted to get their minds working through hands-on learning,” said Jessica Guerra, vice president of the STEM Club. “The kids are having a great time here.”
The STEM Club conducts out- reach events at area schools through- out the year. During the camp, STEM Club members handed out raw spaghetti noodles and marsh- mallows and instructed students to build a sturdy structure.
With little to no guidance from adults in the room, campers worked
in groups and combined their cre- ativity with brainpower while trying to overcome their temptation to eat marshmallows. Later, students built catapults out of popsicle sticks, rub- ber bands and plastic spoons. Hav- ing fun while learning is the goal of the STEM camp.
“STEM subjects can be intimi- dating. We want the students to see that it can be fun and interesting,” said Stephanie Duarte, STEM Club president. “We take complex sub- jects and make them easier for stu-
See STEM page B2
About 25 students from throughout the Central Valley participated in the third annual STEM Summer Camp at Reedley College July 30 to Aug. 2. The camp fo- cuses on teaching students science, technology, engineering and mathematics through interactive hands-on learning.
ABOVE: Ella Cacace builds a tower out of raw spaghetti noodles and marshmal- lows. The object of the activity was to build a sturdy structure.
LEFT: (From left) John Heathcote, Reedley College STEM instructor, helps students Keilani Kim and Mikala Tarazi complete a team-building exercise where students
had to work as a group to stack plastic cups.
Jodie Reyna/The Exponent