Local diva Jamie Chamberlin recitalizes at home this weekend
This Sunday, one of the area’s favorite sopranos goes home for the holidays, bringing vocal favorites to Santa Barbara for a benefit recital at St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church. Jamie Chamberlin is an engaging recitalist and loves working in that intimate format, citing it as her “favorite medium as an artist”. With pianist Renee Hamaty, the duo has prepped a two-sided program, starting with “Euro-Diva”: an international blend of arias, including the classic CsardasandSempre libera. The second half is chock-full of musical theater and cabaret.
This very festive event includes champagne, wine and goodies at intermission, and is clearly a labor of love for the homegrown diva: Jamie grew up in this church, and is the granddaughter of one of its founders. “There is a lot of history there for me. It’s actually the first place I ever sang in front of an audience.” And when a home church is as supportive as this one, giving back is a no-brainer: the congregation has continued to support Jamie’s career as it has grown, even going so far as to arrange buses to UCLA so they could attend her senior and graduate recitals.
Performing for charity is familiar ground for Chamberlin and Hamaty, as well. In 2008, they were asked to present a series of concerts at St. Barbara’s and in Orange County to raise funds for Mission Tanzania. (That’s a picture from one of those concerts, at the top.) The venture was quite successful, raising more than $75,000 to provide health services and well-digging equipment to communities in the east African country — one of the poorest in the world. “Clean water is the difference between life and death in some areas…Giving back is important to me, and since my grandmother was such a big influence on me, I always remember my roots. I am thrilled that I was again asked to do a concert on December 6th, with all proceeds benefiting St. Barbara’s and their various ministries. Every penny raised goes back to the church.”
Live in Concert
Jamie Chamberlin, soprano
Renee Hamaty, piano
Sunday, December 6, 4pm
St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church
1205 San Antonio Creek Road
Santa Barbara, CA
Map & Directions
Tickets $50 to benefit church programs
Calendar listing
Church website
Jamie’s website
