The Town of Oakland is highlighting Giselle and Erik, a vocal and guitar duo on and off the stage, on Friday, July 23 from 11 am to 3 pm with a live music performance on the porch of the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland. In partnership with the HAPCO Music Foundation, the dynamic duo will be performing original music including jazz and classical guitar outside of the Center, inviting visitors to step into the gallery and enjoy the new exhibition called “Oakland Historical Homes & Buildings.”
Giselle Felice and Erik Abernathy are award-winning vocal and guitar duo based in Gainesville, Florida. As a duo, their style melds their roots in jazz and pop with Brazilian spirit and folk influences. Both songwriters will offer Center visitors the chance to listen to a collection of original music that pairs Giselle’s sultry voice and mellow piano with the sweet sounds of Erik’s jazz and classical guitar. Giselle and Erik began playing together in the University of Florida Jazz Program in 2017. The duo received a DownBeat Student Music Award (2021) in the Latin Group category at the graduate level.
Visitors are welcome to sit on the Center porch, picnic tables and benches, or bring their lawn chairs and listen to the music from the grass next to the West Orange Trail. Center capacity will be limited to 75 persons at a time. Visitors are encouraged to follow current CDC guidelines.
About the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland
The Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center is committed to preserving Oakland’s past, present and future. Working with its partners, the Center provides important tools and social connections to help residents eat well, stay active and enjoy life. This project is funded in part by a $1 million lead grant from the West Orange Healthcare District, as well as funding from Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program and countless other donors. The Center supports the mission of Healthy West Orange, a grassroots movement to inspire west Orange County to become the healthiest community in the nation. For more information, visit www.oaklandfl.gov/artsandheritage and www.facebook.com/HWOAHatOakland.
About HAPCO Music Foundation
Since 2001, HAPCO has educated and inspired over 25,000 young people – encouraging them to use their musical, culinary and artistic talents to fund their college education or to pursue professional careers. With their programs, young people in the community are improving their lives – using their artistic and musical talents to shape a better future, focusing their energies upon honing their talent and doing better in school. For more, visit hapcopromo.org/ and facebook.com/HapcoMusicFoundation.
