Soprano Victoria Bechtold Kush will be the featured artist at a musical program titled Songs of Love and Inspiration at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. John's on the Lake, 4760 Pinetree Dr., in Miami Beach.

Also featured: Jorge Emilio Rodriguez on the piano and Jason Kush, the singer's husband, playing the soprano saxophone and flute.

The former Miss Pennsylvania in the 2004 Miss America pageant, Kush has performed with Grammy-nominated organist Cameron Carpenter and has performed before former vice president Dick Cheney and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

The program will include the music of Mozart, Puccini, Dvorak, Bach and Piazzola, as well as other classical and contemporary composers.

Tickets are $20, and $15 for seniors, students, online and at the door.

To purchase tickets, call 305-613-2325 or go to

www.artsatstjohns.com.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

It was a happy day for Marian Harris Shannon on Oct. 17, as she celebrated her 90th birthday. The party was thrown by her Zeta Phi Beta sorority sisters and friends and was in the social hall at the Church of the Open Door in Liberty City.

It is no secret that Shannon, a retired educator, remains a mentor to hundreds, including yours truly.

I am a journalist today because she wouldn't give up on me when I was a 10th-grader in her journalism class at Booker T. Washington Junior/Senior High School.

She was so pretty back then -- and still is -- and loved to wear a gardenia or any pretty flower in her natural, flowing, soft-as-cotton hair.

She loved her students, but did so with a stern look and a gruff voice.

Those of us who knew her understood that it was just her way. We loved her then, and we love her today.

At her party, she went around the room, greeting her guests just as graciously as ever. She was particularly happy to see some of the members from her beloved church, the historic Greater Bethel AME in Overtown.

At the end of the evening, Shannon said her last, close relative died recently at 96.

``I've asked God to let me live to see my 96th birthday,'' she said.

And all of us who love you, are praying with you, Mrs. Shannon.

ORGAN DEDICATION

Grace Lutheran Church, 254 Curtiss Parkway, Miami Springs, will present acclaimed organist Michael Stairs in a concert as the church dedicates its new Allen digital organ at 5 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary.

Stairs is organist for the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Organ Quartet.

A reception will following in the church's social hall.

It's free. For more information, call the church office at 305-888-2871, or go to www.gracelutheranmiami

springs.org.UM CHORALE TO PERFORM

The University of Miami Choral Studies program will present a musical concert titled North and South at 4 p.m. Nov. 8, at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 1142 Coral Way, Coral Gables.

The program will feature the Frost Chorale directed by Joshua Habermann, performing the music of Scandinavia, Australia and the United States.

Featured will be the works of Iain Grandage, Sarah Hopkins, Selga Mence, Samuel Barber and Jan Magne Forde.

It's free. For more information, call 305-284-4162.

PLAY READINGS

An evening of play readings will be at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Johns on the Lake, 4760 Pinetree Dr., in Miami Beach.

The program will feature original short plays by local authors, read by local actors.

The plays will include: A Nightmare of a Gift, by Jessica Jardine; Home for the Holidays by Barbara Fox; Get Out Now or Try Again by Dennis Bass; The Back Lot Costume Shoppe by Dee Deringer Piquette, and two more plays to be announced.

The readings are free. For more information, call 305-613-2325.

Also, at 7 p.m. Nov. 12, at St Johns on the Lake, Seth Bramson, a local historian, will give a talk and sign his book Sunshine, Stone Crabs and Cheesecake: The Story of Miami Beach.

The book features nearly 200 images drawn mostly from previously unpublished private collections.

The talk is free. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

AIDS DAY UNITY AWARDS

Mark Dec. 13 on your calendar.

That's when the Coalition for Community Mobilization will host the fourth annual World AIDS Day Unity Awards at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Miami.

Meanwhile, you can participate in the Dream Makeover, a project that provides the formal attire, hairstyles and makeovers for people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS, to attend the annual World AIDS Day Unity Awards program.

All donations may be dropped off at Empower `U' Inc., at 8309 NW 22nd Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

All contributions are tax deductable.

For more information, call Metris Batts at 786-318-2337.

Send all items at least a week in advance to Religion Notes, c/o Neighbors, 2010 NW 150th Ave., Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, fax it to 1-954-538-7018 or e-mail bhines@MiamiHerald.com. Pictures are accepted but cannot be returned.

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