2nd Annual a CATpella Festival to Belt Out Cancer - Jan. 19, 2018

ARLINGTON, MA - On January 19, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lowe Auditorium at Arlington High School seven spectacular a cappella singing groups will once again assemble for a beautiful tribute and benefit concert, entitled, A CATpella Festival to Belt Out Cancer, to remember the bright life and beautiful spirit of Catherine Malatesta and to benefit the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) and the Catherine J. Malatesta Scholarship Fund. Catherine, age 16 and from Arlington, MA, died in August 2015 from epithelioid sarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer after a seven month battle. The first annual A CATpella Festival was a brilliant success selling out the theater and raising $43,000.

Returning to a CATpella and headlining the program is the Tufts University Beelzebubs, Tuft’s oldest all-male a cappella group and Runner Up on NBC’s “The Sing Off”. Additionally, four powerhouse collegiate groups are featured including Bentley University’s Off the Clock co-ed ensemble, Northeastern University’s all-female Pitch, Please!, UMASS Lowell’s all-male ensemble, Hawkapella, and UMASS Amherst Vocal Suspects, a dynamic co-ed group. Returning is Catherine’s beloved Arlington High School’s Madrigal Singers and Winchester High School’s Octets. Reprising her role as Master of Ceremonies will be singer and actress Alexandra Socha, Broadway star and star of the Amazon Prime Series, Red Oaks.

“The Sarcoma Foundation of America is grateful to once again be a part of the A CATpella Festival to Belt out Cancer. We are privileged to join with Catherine’s family and friends in honoring her life,” said Richard Rumsey, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. “This festival provides a wonderful opportunity to create awareness for sarcoma, a devastating and rare cancer more prevalent in pediatric and young adult groups. We are honored to be chosen as a beneficiary of the A CATpella festival. Proceeds from this event will aide in our efforts to fund innovative research leading to new therapies, and ultimately the cure, for sarcoma.”

Catherine Malatesta died a month before she was to enter her senior year at Arlington High School. Catherine was an honors student who had been voted Student Council President and field hockey captain. Catherine rowed Varsity Crew. However, the place where she felt most at home was on stage. From a very early age Catherine sang in her church chorus, in her elementary school chorus and in local musicals. By middle school Catherine advanced to the select chorus where she loved the challenge of the complex choral pieces and landed the leads jn the middle school plays. In high school Catherine participated in the Gilbert & Sullivan Club school plays and earned a coveted spot in the Madrigal Singers group. Catherine loved the feeling of camaraderie and community that singing in a group provided. Her last concert was on May 2, 2015, during the throes of chemotherapy treatment, a mere three months to the date of her death.

The festival will also benefit the Catherine J. Malatesta Scholarship Fund which consists of two scholarships for two graduating, college bound seniors at Arlington High School whose high school experience closing mirrored Catherine’s in that they were involved in the performing arts, played varsity sports and demonstrated strong leadership skills.

Tickets are $20 per person and are available on-line at www.catherinemalatesta/a-catpella-festival.

For more information about the benefit concert, please visit www.catherinemalatesta.com/a-catpella-festival or call 781-710-7823.