Around Cape Ann: Violinist, GHS show top weekend slate

Cape Ann Symphony continues its 60th concert season with the "Mothers' Night Out" concert Saturday at 8 p.m. featuring guest artist violinist Elita Kang playing Max Bruch's Violin Concerto in her Cape Ann Symphony debut.

A member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1997, Kang was appointed its assistant concertmaster n 2001.

The concert program includes Rossini's "Semiramide Overture" and Brahms' Symphony No. 4.

There will be an open rehearsal Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Fuller Auditorium. Conductor Yoichi Udagawa will take questions from the audience afterward.

Admission to the rehearsal is $10 and free for children 12 and younger.

Kang received her bachelor's degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1997. Prior to her work at Curtis, she studied at the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division, where for two years she was orchestra concertmaster. She twice won the Juilliard Concerto Competition and in 1992 won the Grand Prize in the America String Teachers Association Competition's pre-professional division. In the spring of 2009, Kang was invited to serve as concertmaster of the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin for the 2009-10 season.

The Cape Ann Symphony concerts are held at Fuller Auditorium at Blackburn Circle, Route 128, in Gloucester. The auditorium is handicapped accessible. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for senior citizens, $20 for young adults and free for children age 12 and younger. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org.

Meet the author in Rockport

Chris Pavone will discuss and sign his bestseller "The Expats" in a special event tonight at 7 at Rockport Public Library.

John Grisham stated for the book jacket that the novel was "smart, clever suspense, skillfully plotted...and a lot of fun to read." Fans of John le Carre and Robert Ludlum will welcome former book editor Pavone's first novel, a meticulously plotted, psychologically complex spy thriller. When Dexter Moore, a financial systems security expert in Washington, D.C., receives a lucrative offer to work for a bank in Luxembourg, his wife, Kate, resigns her position as a CIA operative, a job her husband knows nothing about. But Kate soon discovers that computer geek Dexter has been living a secret life as well, and that he may be a thief being investigated by the FBI and Interpol.

"The sheer amount of bombshell plot twists are nothing short of extraordinary, but it's Pavone's portrayal of Kate and her quest to find meaning in her charade of an existence that makes this book such a powerful read," according to a press release. All are welcome.

SSLqLittle Shop of Horrors' at GHS

The Gloucester High School Theater Program will present "Little Shop of Horrors" as the spring musical beginning Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., then again on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The show offers a suspenseful and entertaining presentation about a young man who gets a job at a flower shop alongside the woman he loves, Audrey. After an eclipse of the sun, a man-eating plant, named Audrey II, enters the mix and threatens to ruin it all.

Cape Ann Forum is Sunday

Sunday's Cape Ann Forum Sunday features international relations expert Stephen Walt, who will give a presentation about the "The Twilight of the American Era," in which he will discuss the changing influence of the United States and the impact on foreign and defense policy.

He is the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Gloucester, on the corner of Middle and Church Streets.

The forum, as always, is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.capeannforum.org.

Artist demos begin

The North Shore Arts Association will hold its first artist demonstration of the season Saturday from 2. to 4 p.m., featuring contemporary realist painter Claudia Kaufman.

Demonstrations are free and are designed to highlight the workshops taught by artist members.

Kaufman describes her works as "studies in observation-still life set-ups of familiar objects that are deceptively simple, yet complex."

She has had several solo exhibits over the past five years, most recently "Seeing the Light" at the Rockport Art Association (December 2011) and a Featured Artist show at the Rocky Neck Gallery (July 2011). The award-winning artist is also a member of the Copley Society of Art and the Marblehead Arts Association.

The North Shore Arts Association, at 11 Pirates Lane in East Gloucester, also offers adult, children and teen workshops, lectures, critiques, a live art auction and more. Visit www.nsarts.org for more information.

The solo exhibition of small works by plein air painter Steven Kennedy runs through May 24.

Gordon Grant show at Rockport Art

Concurrent with its first summer show of the 2012 season, the Rockport Art Association will also feature an exhibition of lithographs by historic artist Gordon H. Grant (1875-1962) in its Pearson Gallery from May 12 to June 12.

Images in the show will be mainly of Cape Ann, featuring iconic wharf and street scenes, and a view of Lane's Cove prominently showing the famous shack. There is a free public reception on Friday, May 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the association at 12 Main St.

Allen Estes Band at Old Sloop

Old Sloop Coffeehouse will present a performance by the Allen Estes Band Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Rockport.

Estes, who lives in Gloucester and hosts Cape Ann TV's weekly program "Local Music Scene," is a veteran singer, songwriter, and performer whose songs have also been performed and recorded by the likes of David Mallett, The Judds, Tom Wopat, Tammy Wynette, and Shania Twain.

Also in the band are Sal Baglio on guitar and vocals and Matt Leavenworth on fiddle, guitar, and vocals. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 from the coffeehouse web site at oldsloopcoffeehouse.org, at Gloucester Music, and at Toad Hall Bookstore in Rockport.

The suggested donation at the door is $12 for adults, $7 for those 65 and older, $5 for those younger than 18, and $24 for a family. For on-site babysitting during concerts or more information, visit the web site or call 978-546-3551.

Chelsea Berry in Manchester

Rockport-based Chelsea Berry will present a solo Mother's Day show upstairs at the Landing at 7 Central in Manchester-by-the-Sea Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door, and tickets are available at The Landing and by calling 978-526-7494. Space will be limited so please make your reservations early. For more information, visit www.chelseaberry.com.

Folk duo at Essex coffeehouse

Susie Burke and David Surette will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. at the One World Coffeehouse held at the First Universalist Church at 59 Main St. in Essex.

Together since 1988, the musicians have built a steady following for their blend of contemporary, traditional, and original folk and acoustic music.

The suggested donation is $15. For reservations, call 978-768-3690.

Artist Talk with Joel Janowitz

In a collaboration between the Rocky Neck Art Colony and the Cape Ann Museum, Joel Janowitz will persent a slide talk at the Cape Ann Museum on Sundayat 2 p.m. titled "Stepping Back to See: An Artist's overview of his work — from Venice to Cape Ann."

This event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.

Janowitz, a painter and printmaker, was selected to be the 2012 Distinguished Artist/Teacher in residence as part of the Goetemann Residency program of the Rocky Neck Art Colony.

This presentation will begin a four-day workshop on Rocky Neck.

Janowitz has exhibited both nationally and internationally. From January to March, he participated in a two-person exhibition at the Art Institute of Boston.

For more information, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.

Art exhibit at Tea Company

The public is invited to view the artwork of local painters and printmakers Ben MacAdam, Donna Therrien, and Rocky Delforge at Pleasant Street Tea Company Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.

The tea shop is located at 7 Pleasant St. in Gloucester, and will cater food and drinks for the opening.

The show will be up until the end of June. Local musician Brad Byrd will play a few songs during the opening.

Documentary about suicide

An indie documentary about suicide called "Don't Change The Subject" will be shown at the Cape Ann Community Cinema Monday night at 6:30 at the theater at 21 Main St. in Gloucester.

This film is described as a "darkly comic look at what happens when one man dares to ask questions about the dirtiest word in any language — suicide."

Director Mike Stutz investigates his mom's suicide by opening up a conversation with his family that they never had when he was a child. For more information, visit www.capeanncinema.com.

Helen Keller's love story

Rosie Sultan, a former Gloucester resident, will do a reading of her historical novel "Helen Keller In Love" (Viking 2012) at The Bookstore in Gloucester Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m.

The novel tells the story of Helen Keller's clandestine love affair with a Boston journalist when Keller was in her 30s. The book was excerpted in the May issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000 x3445, or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com. Items should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event.

Violinist visits before concert

Boston Symphony Orchestra Assistant Concertmaster and violinist Elita Kang came to visit East Gloucester Elementary School on Tuesday.

Kang spoke about what it's like to be a professional violinist at the BSO, discuss violin craftsmanship, and music in general.

She will be appearing this weekend as a guest performer with the Cape Ann Symphony for its Mother's Night Out Concert on Saturday.