The original divas are together again, and Carol Stein is excited about it.
The divas in question are singers performing in support of the Steinway Society of Central Florida — a worthy organization if there ever was one. Founded by Gary and Kathy Grimes, the society provides music lessons and pianos to children who otherwise could not afford them.
I won’t call Stein the “lead diva” — let’s not start trouble — but she is the “music director diva” for the “Divas in Concert” gala performance, which first took place in 2013 and after a few years’ hiatus has returned.
In very un-diva-like behavior, Stein can’t stop gushing about the women with whom she’ll share the stage at Orlando Museum of Art.
“They’re trained musicians, and their voices are their instrument,” she says. “When I get to accompany women like that, I love it.”
The women to which she refers are Jacqueline Jones, Michelle Amato, Michelle Mailhot and Suzy Park — all well-known beyond Central Florida for their skills.
They also happen to all be friends — attending Stein’s wedding, for example, or a recent birthday party — which may explain why there’s none of the egotism usually associated with the word “diva.”
“They’re divas in the sense that they have the command of the stage,” says Stein, a longtime pianist and entertainer at Walt Disney World. “That comes from experience and talent. And they’ve got both.”
The show has had different talent lineups through the years until a COVID-19 break, but these five women were there at the start. Back then, no one knew it would become an annual event.
“But it was so much fun and it was so successful that we did it again and again and again,” Stein says.
The money raised supports the Steinway Society, which has awarded 250 pianos in 16 years, and gives some 500 group piano lessons per year. But the programs go beyond teaching children their way around a keyboard.
“It’s a very cool concept,” Stein says. “The kids who stick with it — their grades improve, their behavior improves, their cognitive ability improves.”
While the mental benefits of playing music are well documented, children in the program gain other developmental and emotional benefits through their recitals, Stein says. She salutes piano teacher Sylvia Ferguson, as an example.
“She teaches them self-confidence — ‘You matter, you have worth, someone cares about you,'” Stein says.
And, of course there’s one more important benefit.
“You get the fun of music,” Stein says. “The actual joy.”
The divas felt that fun at their one rehearsal, Stein says — that’s right, one rehearsal for these pros. That’s diva power.
As the music director-band leader of her jazz quartet, Stein has a little more work to do. She’s making sure the charts are ready for the other musicians and practicing on her new Steinway grand so “everything’s slick.”
The format is in place: “Each diva does a ballad, than an up-tempo, there are a couple of duets, and we end each set with all of us onstage,” Stein says.
Guests also enjoy a buffet, and there’s a silent auction to raise more funds for the cause. By the way, if you have a piano you no longer use, reach out to the Steinway Society (407-339-3771). Your instrument could change a child’s life.
“They’ll take used pianos and recycle them for the next generation,” Stein says.
Charity, compassion, friendship, fun … I’m still not sure about this whole “diva” thing.
“We’ve earned the right to be called divas, we’ve paid our dues,” says Stein with a laugh. But in this case, “each one is a diva with a heart.”
‘Divas in Concert’
Where: Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando
When: 5:30 p.m. buffet, 6:30 p.m. show Sept. 11
Cost: $85
Info: steinwaysocietyorlando.com
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts, facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
