Youth in Focus

By Richard A. Ross

Voices of summer

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Ilene Pabon (left) and sister Christina created a beautiful and harmonious duet of “Sull’ aria” by W.A. Mozart with text by Lorenzo da Ponte at the St. James Episcopal Church on June 25. (Click for larger image)

CALLICOON, NY — The weekly profiles of dynamic young people who appear in this space occasionally warrant an update.

Three incredibly talented former “Youth in Focus” subjects showed up on July 25 to combine their musical talents to help the St. James Episcopal Church raise money to repair the church organ.

Ilene and Christina Pabon of Mountaindale, NY literally live to sing. Ilene recently graduated from Fallsburg High School and will be departing for the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory in August where she will be majoring in vocal music. Both she and Christina are products of Manhattan School of Music where they have been privileged to study with Lynn Vardaman.

	Contributed photo by Suzanne Hannah Gold Former “Youth in Focus” subjects Ilene Pabon, left, Joe Hawker and Christina Pabon have teamed up this summer to perform as Trio con Voci Belle. The Pabons (see “Dos Divas” in May 22, 2003 issue of TRR) and Hawker (see “Expanding Horizons” in July 3, 2003 issue of TRR) became acquainted three years ago during a Delaware Valley Opera Production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” (Click for larger image)

Christina is entering her senior year at Fallsburg. She will be studying at Sullivan County Community College this year and plans to apply to Northwestern University and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Joe Hawker of Narrowsburg, NY is off to the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington D.C.

The three decided to spend their summer doing what comes naturally: singing, performing and hanging out together. Though the girls live clear across the county from Hawker, they have formed an inseparable friendship, one that manifested itself in a memorable concert that featured solos by Christina and Ilene, along with several duets. Hawker’s fine piano playing accompanied and intertwined with the sisters’ dynamic singing. He prepared a professional-looking libretto for the pieces that were not sung in English. The translation enabled the audience to combine the words, gestures and mood of the pieces to better understand what was being sung.

Ilene and Christina’s voices differ greatly but both are extraordinary. Ilene’s solos included a bright and lively rendition of “Una donna a qunindici anni” (“A Woman of 15 Years”) by W.A. Mozart. Her powerful voice and sharp diction were exemplary. In “Mandoline” by Gabriel Fauré, she showed her great range, and she created a hauntingly beautiful sound in Fauré’s “Après un Rêve” (“After a Dream”).

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Joe Hawker and Christina and Ilene Pabon take their bows at the conclusion of their concert. (Click for larger image)

Christina’s rendition of “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess was stunning. “La Promessa” (“The Promise”) by Gioacchino Rossini was a richly sung pledge to undying love while the rapid-fire singing in “Zapateado” by Geronimo Giménez delighted all.

The sisters teamed up for “Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti,” which afforded them a chance to be “catty” with one another. Their final duet of “Sull’ aria” by W.A. Mozart featured their distinctive voices in harmony and counterpoint.

The three will perform again on August 17 at 7:00 p.m. at La Polt Park in Liberty, NY.

This week’s youths in focus offer a sonorous serenade of summer songs.