A&E

Stuff to do this weekend

by Dege Legg

The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana kicks off its PASA Plus performances with a chamber music recital performed by the musicians from the UL School of Music. The chamber music performance will feature faculty members as well as several guest musicians. Some of the musicians performing are Michael Blaney, Susanna Garcia, Jennifer Cassin, Hanna Mayo, Justin Berhtold, and Ben Bailey. It will include works by Brahms, Mackey, Marinu, Massenet and several others. The recital is today at 2:00 p.m. at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana kicks off its PASA Plus performances with a chamber music recital performed by the musicians from the UL School of Music. The chamber music performance will feature faculty members as well as several guest musicians. Some of the musicians performing are Michael Blaney, Susanna Garcia, Jennifer Cassin, Hanna Mayo, Justin Berhtold, and Ben Bailey. It will include works by Brahms, Mackey, Marinu, Massenet and several others. The recital is today at 2:00 p.m. at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

A benefit concert to support relief efforts in Haiti is scheduled for Jan. 23 at Parc International in downtown Lafayette. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross, the United Way, the Southern Development Foundation, the Art Creation Foundation for Children and Doctors Without Borders to support recovery and relief work. Admission is $10, but additional contributions are welcome. The show runs fromĀ  2 - 8 p.m. Performers scheduled to appear include the Givers, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole, and Roddie Romero and the Hub City All Stars with special appearances from Sonny Landreth and Buckwheat Zydeco. The event is organized by Lafayette Consolidated Government, Festival International and Le Centre International de Lafayette.

Don't get Ji-Yong confused with J-Lo or P-Diddy or Cee-Lo for that matter. He's freaking Ji-Yong, damnit! And he's an 18 year old musical personality and pianist who is taking the classical music world by storm. The Chicago Tribune calls him "a gifted, sensitive young pianist who is clearly going places." Take that, Yo-Yo Ma! Ji-Yong is a prodigy who at the age of 10 became the youngest pianist ever to win the New York Philharmonic Young Artists Competition. He's played esteemed international venues from Aspen to the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall and he ain't done yet.

At age 5, without any formal training, Ji-Yong was playing melodies by ear on the family piano in his native Korea. Not long after he was enrolled in the Korean National University of Arts. After a move to the U.S. in 2000, he began studies in New York with Yuri Kim at the Music Preparatory Division of Mannes College. Since then, he has been compared to Rachmaninov and Mendelsson. Now he's been tearing up the classical piano circuit. Tonight, PASA presents Ji-Yong on the piano at the Heymann Center. Show time is 7:30 p.m.

Cedric Watson plays the "Come in from the Cold" series at Barnes & Noble at Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

If you're in St. Landry Parish, drop by the legendary Savoy Music Center jam session. It runs from 9 a.m. noon in Eunice.

Acting Up (in Acadiana) presents The Doogie Monologues III, a 2010 Student showcase and original play written by Lian Cheramie, George Saucier, Harmony Decker and Acting Up students. It hits the Acadiana Center for the Arts on Jan. 22 & 23.

On Jan. 24, Bonsoir Catin play Vermilionville.

There will be a production of The Wedding Singer at the Heymann Center on Jan. 22.

On Jan. 24, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie play Whiskey River in Henderson.

"Oom pappa mow mow." The Oak Ridge Boys play Paragon Casino on Jan. 22.

Bisbano's is back! Mission vs. Madness and No Fuego play there on Jan. 22 and For Karma and Blue Logic play on Jan. 23.

On Jan. 23 catch the Liberty Theater's "Rendez-vous des Cajuns" Cajun Music Radio and TV Show in Eunice. The featured performers will be Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band and Kyle Huval & the Dixie Club Ramblers.