Audubon Center's Aug. 23 "Summer's Twilight in the Garden" at Pine Meadow Gardens

Sisters of Song will be among the “pop up” presentation performers during the Audubon Center at Bent of the River in Southbury August 23^rd “Summer’s Twilight in the Garden” fundraiser. The event will be held from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the beautifully sumptuous Pine Meadow Gardens in Southbury with a rain date of Sunday, August 30^th.

“For 2015 only, the Audubon Center is staging our annual fundraiser in a different venue and distinctive location,” explained Audubon Center Executive Director Leslie Kane. “We’re hosting our annual fundraiser away from our Center on East Flat Hill Road in place of our popular BentFest. This year’s “Summer’s Twilight in the Garden” is very different from our annual BentFest in that it will feature opportunities for attendees to stroll the beautiful numerous gardens while being entertained with vignette ‘pop up’ presentations that will also include flutist Stephanie Tornatore of Southbury, local area dancers, and live bird demonstrations with birds of prey from Sharon Audubon Center. Butterfly, bird and plant experts will be also be on hand while appetizers, beverages and wines will be served.”

Kane explained that the Audubon Center was offered the very distinguished opportunity in early 2015 to host their annual fundraiser event at the stunning Pine Meadow Gardens. “Owners Wesley Rouse and Robert McWilliam have very generously offered their lush gardens as a place where guests can gently enjoy the end of summer 2015 while supporting our mission and helping raise funds to support the year-round operations of the non-profit Audubon Center at Bent of the River.”

The mission of the Audubon Center is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats. Located along the Pomperaug River and bordering Little Pootatuck Brook, the Audubon Center at Bent of the River nature center and sanctuary is a private, not-for-profit organization that protects over 700 acres of numerous natural ecosystems, habitats, un-fragmented forest, grasslands, meadows, swamps and a portion of the Pomperaug River.

The Sisters of Song of Southbury is comprised of three Bower Richardson sisters Anna (16), Julia (14) and Grace (13) who are singers and dancers. Working as a family team, they are activists for environmental causes, raising funds and affecting recycling efforts in area towns. They have also been featured and profiled as members and supporters of the PRWC and Bent of the River, and as founders and leaders of a non-profit foundation, they have presented their concerns and ideas to the Federal, State, and Southbury governments. Their ongoing efforts have been recognized with awards for community service. The young sisters are also singers, dancers, and musicians, performing in local ballet and theater productions, most frequently with Newbury Musical Theatre Company and Main Street Ballet.

Flutist Stephanie Tornatore of Southbury has been the musical director for the Newbury Musical Theatre Company in Southbury for the past seven years and is a member of the Connecticut Chamber Choir. As a private instructor at the Stephanie Tornatore Music Studio she teaches oboe, flute, piano, saxophone and voice to music lovers of all ages. A former Manhattan resident, Ms. Tornatore played with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, One World Symphony and New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra. Prior to Manhattan, she toured Europe with the internationally-recognized Dr. Paul Head and the University of Delaware Chorale. Between 2009 and 2011, she was a development and marketing associate with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and in 2011 she graduated from the University of Delaware with a BM, MM, Oboe Performance.

Sponsors of the 2015 “Summer’s Twilight in the Garden” event include Gager, Emerson, Rickart, Bower & Scalzo, LLP; Giuliano, Richardson & Sfara LLC; Southbury Printing Centre, Inc.; Union Savings Bank; Merrill Lynch; Savings Bank of Danbury; Connecticut Community Foundation; and hosts, Pine Meadow Gardens. Parking for the event will be at the Medical Office parking lot at 22 Old Waterbury Road in Southbury where attendees will take shuttle service to the gardens.

Tickets to the “Summer’s Twilight” fundraiser are $50/person and should be purchased in advance at http://bentoftheriver.audubon.org, and will only be available at the gate the date of the fundraiser if event is not sold out. All proceeds will benefit the not-for-profit Audubon Center. For more information, call the Audubon Center at 203.264.5098.