Attendees gathered with lawn chairs and blankets for the family-friendly event, which also encouraged donations of plastic and paper bags for a local community pantry.

The program, emceed by Brian Dunn, focused on themes of hope and unity. Jeremiah Herterich opened the evening with prayer.

Performers represented several local faith communities, including Light of Hope Community Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church of Scientology and area school programs, reflecting the Interfaith Council’s mission to build connections across religious traditions.

Highlights included performances by singer-songwriter Kathryn D’Costa, the San Jacinto Valley Academy’s Valley Singers—recent first-place winners at a national competition in New York City—and vocalist Sheila Diggs of Light of Hope Community Church. Additional performances featured Nathan Pacheco of Lake Elsinore and an interfaith collaboration by Linda Greilich and Chris Formica performing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

The evening concluded with a group rendition of “Amazing Grace,” bringing performers and audience members together.

The Interfaith Council said the event is part of its ongoing effort to promote understanding among diverse faith groups and support the broader community. For more information, contact hsjinterfaith@gmail.com.

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    The concert will feature a blend of patriotic, sacred and contemporary selections performed by the longtime community choir. Audience members can expect a program that includes favorites such as “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “The Impossible Dream,” “Measure Me, Sky!” and “A Little Song of Life,” according to information provided by the chorale.

    This year’s performance also marks the debut concert for the group’s new music director, Joshua Romo, along with newly appointed accompanist Julie Edwards-Matanga.

    Romo currently serves as director of music at First Congregational Church of Riverside. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Azusa Pacific University, where he performed with the university’s Chamber Singers and several other vocal ensembles. He also serves as associate conductor for the Vocal Affinity ensemble and previously worked as artistic director for the Rose Singers community choir.

    Edwards-Matanga holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Redlands. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively as a collaborative pianist and vocalist, performing in solo recitals, choirs, opera productions and musical theater performances.

    In addition to accompanying the Harmoneers Chorale, Edwards-Matanga serves as music director for Upland United Methodist Church and the Rancho D’Vines women’s chorus. She also teaches music courses at Mt. San Jacinto College’s Menifee and San Jacinto campuses.

    Founded in 1977, the Harmoneers Chorale has been a longstanding part of the Hemet-area arts community for nearly five decades. The organization traditionally presents two major concerts each year, including a themed spring performance and a holiday concert featuring sacred and secular Christmas music.

    The group also supports local students through scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors pursuing careers in vocal music, music education or musical theater.

    Tickets for the May 17 concert are $15 and will be available at the door. Membership in the chorale is open to experienced singers ages 18 and older who successfully complete an audition process.

    Additional information about the Harmoneers Chorale can be found at harmoneerschorale.com.

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Catie Stanley, a long-time Hemet resident and Hemet High School graduate, has stepped into the role of General Manager with a passion rooted deeply in her memories of the iconic theater.

“I remember coming here as a child when it was a two-dollar cinema,” she said. “Those experiences helped shape my love for the arts. I want this place to feel like a home for everyone; a place where everyone feels welcome and inspired.”

The Historic Hemet Theater is already seeing a wave of enthusiasm as locals return to enjoy the unique ambiance of this cherished historic venue and Stanley is eager to keep that momentum going.

“Our goal is to nurture a theater atmosphere that is welcoming, inspiring, and full of energy,” she said. “This is more than a performance space; it’s a place to connect, celebrate, and create memories together.”

Stanley’s vision for the future centers on making it a space where the entire community can come together, enjoy diverse entertainment, and feel proud of their local arts scene.

“This is about bringing the community back into the heart of the Historic Hemet Theatre,” she said. “We want to be a gathering place that celebrates community and offers experiences that resonate with people of all ages.”

This summer, the venue will showcase an exciting lineup of performances designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes and bring the community out in force. Highlights include Swing, Soul, and Rock ’n Roll, May 24; The Doobie Doubles, a Doobie Brothers tribute, May 31; Disney in Concert featuring Anne Martinez, June 7; Buffett Beach, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett, June 14; Southern Fried, celebrating southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, The Marshall Tucker Band, the Allman Brothers, and more, June 21; and Led Zeppelin IV, a tribute to Led Zeppelin, June 28. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

These performances underscore the theater’s commitment to providing diverse, high-quality entertainment while also cultivating a sense of belonging and excitement within the community.

With an entertainment destination that has been in the community for more than a century, it seems hard to find something new that will excite audiences, but Stanley and her team have big dreams. For those who want to support the theater’s mission, opportunities to become members or participate in seat naming are available, fostering a closer connection between patrons and this cultural cornerstone. There is also a place for lovers of the arts to volunteer their time to help make these dreams a reality.

As the theater continues its revitalization efforts, the focus remains clear: to bring the community back, build new memories, and keep the spirit of the Historic Hemet Theatre alive for generations to come.

For more information and tickets, call 951-658-5950 or visit www.HemetTheatre.org.

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The 13-time Grammy Award-winner said she is extending her “Just Like That…” tour with 30+ added stops, including one in Riverside County.

Toni McAllister | Patch

Iconic singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt has extended her “Just Like That…” tour to include a stop in Riverside County, it was announced Tuesday. The 13-time Grammy Award-winner will take the stage Sept. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Special Events Center in Indio. Tickets start at $59 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Fantasy Springs Box Office (84-245 Indio Springs Parkway), via phone at 800-827-2946, and online at www.FantasySpringsResort.com.

The 8 p.m. show will open with rhythm and blues artist James Hunter. “We’re very much looking forward to kicking off the night for the great Bonnie Raitt, so bring your dancing shoes and we’ll get you warmed up for a memorable evening of live music,” Hunter said.

The “Just Like That…” tour is an homage to the title track of Raitt’s 18th studio album of the same name released April 22, 2022. The song was written and produced by Raitt and lyrically details the story of a woman who is visited by the recipient of her son’s heart, which he received in a life-saving organ donation operation.

The song won “Best American Roots Song” and “Song of the Year” at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in 2023. “I was so inspired for this song by the incredible story of the love and the grace and the generosity of someone that donates their beloved’s organs to help another person live and this story was so simple and so beautiful for these times,” Raitt said in her 2023 Grammy acceptance speech. Raitt’s unique musical style blends blues, R&B, rock and pop. In 1971, she released her self-titled debut album and her career has been embraced by every generation of new fans since then.

The now-74-year-old slide guitar ace was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and Rolling Stone named her #54 on its recently updated list of the “250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” Raitt is also making her fourth headlining appearance on the award-winning television series “Austin City Limits.” The Feb. 24 show will feature L.A.-based folk-punk musician Sunny War joining Raitt for a special performance. The “Just Like That…” tour was extended with 30+ dates in the U.S. in 2024.

Raitt and her longtime touring band will headline concerts starting in Arizona and Southern California, traveling up the West Coast and finishing in the Pacific Northwest throughout September and October before heading to the Southeast and Florida in November to wind up the year.

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The Valley Vocal Ensemble will present its annual Christmas Holiday Concert at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 14th at St. John’s Lutheran Church (26410 Columbia St., Hemet) and again at 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 15th at The Diamond Valley Arts Center (123 N. Harvard St., Hemet).

In addition to a number of individual holiday favorites, the performances will feature “Sing We Now of Christmas” a masterwork of over 20 familiar Christmas Carols originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be purchased at the door.

The Valley Vocal Ensemble, a semi-professional choral group centered in the San Jacinto Valley, is directed by Randy Dawkins and accompanied by Virginia Pritchard. For more information call 951.660.6446.

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The new Friday night concerts are:

• Friday, July 12th – Tribute to Tim McGraw, featuring Vegas McGraw
• Friday August 23rd – Young Guns of Country (Tribute to the Superstars of
  Country Music), including Charlie Daniels Band, Rascal Flatts, Garth Brooks,
  George Strait, Florida Georgia Line and many more.
• Friday, September 20th – Tribute to Brooks & Dunn, featuring Neon Circus
• Friday, October 4th – Tribute to Roy Orbison, with Neil Marrow
• Friday, November 8th – Tribute to Reba McEntire – Corrie Sachs

MEANWHILE…

The Mighty Cash Cats made us remember Johnny Cash

The latest concert in the Friday Nite Live Series took the stage on Friday, June 14th. The Mighty Cash Cats performed their nostalgic Tribute to Johnny Cash. This was the group’s first time playing Hemet’s downtown art center, discovering for themselves what other bands have been saying for years… little old Hemet has the best concert venue in Southern California.

For this show, the crowd was small, but enthusiastic, clapping and cheering every classic hit. Many songs drew dancers to the foot of the stage, rocking to that iconic Johnny Cash beat. Michael J. Smith as Johnny Cash was impressive, but Leticia Blumette as June Carter Cash stole the show with a voice that gripped the room with emotion. Afterward, the audience proclaimed the show another hit performance and the band told the fans that Hemet is now their favorite place to play.

Later this month, Season Two of the Tribute Mania Concert Series continues with tributes to Santana (6/22), Led Zeppelin (7/6), Aerosmith (7/20), REO Speedwagon (8/3), and Tom Petty (8/17).

Tickets for Tribute Mania and Friday Nite Live shows are $22 presale / $25 day of show. Showtime is 7:00 pm, with doors open at 6:15 pm. Information on all theatre events is available at www.HistoricHemetTheatre.com or by calling the ticket office: (951) 658-5950.

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