CAPTIVATING TEENAGE MUSICAL STAR WEAVES A MAGICAL SPELL
By Gloria Karlak
She was born to sing. And to perform. In the meantime, her considerable talent is receiving national attention.
“Basically, I’ve been singing ever since I could talk,” said 17-year old Jami Lyn Clark, a Bear Creek resident. And her favorite musical expression is opera. “I am 100% dedicated to opera,” she said. Her interest in opera began during her sophomore year of high school when she was introduced to the haunting song “Time To Say Goodbye” (Con Te Partiro), sung by international operatic sensation Andrea Bocelli.
“Opera training is by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to endure ― in the best way possible. The amount of stamina that is required is truly incredible. . . . I once took a class on how to crack or break glass with your voice and my belly was sore for days because you have to push so hard with your diaphragm. . . . In the end, it is the most amazing feeling in the world to be able to call yourself an opera singer. The best part is that it is such an odd thing to do . . . no one really expects it. And, when you’re as small as I am, the reactions you get can be so funny because no one expects a sound like that to come out of a girl so small!”
While she is awestruck by opera, she is also interested in musical theater. “I like to make things come to life in the theater,” she said.
Clark practices throughout the year with classes in acting, dancing and singing. This summer she will be attending Master Classes in the three areas.
She has been an integral part of a successful traveling character choir over the past two years. The choir is comprised of students from local high schools who perform songs from Broadway musicals in theaters from Anaheim to Las Vegas to Florida. “It’s so much fun to get together and sing Broadway music,” she said.
Her favorite Broadway song is the lyrical “The Mama Who Bore Me” from the Tony-award winning musical Spring Awakening. “It’s the most beautiful sound. . . . You get to let loose and sing music that is gorgeous,” she said. The choir scored a first place prize for their rendition of the Broadway hit song at a national competition in Las Vegas two years ago.
To familiarize herself with musical productions and theatre, she has arranged to join a Royal Caribbean cruise ship traveling to the Bahamas during Spring Break. She is scheduled to go back-stage with the professional singers and dancers on the cruise.
Clark recently traveled to New York as a guest of Seventeen magazine. Each month she develops a cosmetic tutorial for the magazine’s website. When she was in New York, she did a photo shoot for the magazine and “. . . ended up getting my makeup and hair done to look like Taylor Swift. It was so much fun!”
She is completing her senior year at Murrieta Valley High School and is deciding on a college for fall. Her collegiate choice will be influenced by the school’s performing arts curriculum.
“Music makes one come alive,” said Jami. Her talent and commitment are testimony to the inspiration.
The Clacking of Mahjong Tiles
By Jackie Raspler
Mah Jongg was believed to be derived from an ancient card game from the early Ming Dynasty during the mid 1800's in China. The game starts with the shuffling of the tiles and is known as "the twittering of the sparrows," probably due to the accompanying noise. Mah Jongg means "the games of the sparrows" or "sparrow tiles" in Chinese.
In the 1800's and early 1900's, the game was played on hand-carved tiles of ivory or cow bone. Mah Jongg was introduced to the United States in 1920. The sets were also imported from China during this time. The game was predominantly played by Jewish women in the United States during the early part of the 20th century. Rule variations occurred, leading to the standardization of the game and the formation of the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) in 1934. The game then grew from this craze to a whole new generation of cross-cultural players. In contemporary times, one can find Mah Jongg on the internet and engage in play at various levels of skill.
Mah Jongg involves skill, strategy, and calculation. It definitely provides a mental challenge and has often been referred to as "the game of hundred intelligences,” simply because it requires so much concentration. Luck can also play a minor or major part in winning. The game is played by four players with a set of tiles that consist of Stones, Bamboos, Cracks, Winds, Dragons, Flowers, and Jokers. It is similar to the Rummy card games. The object is to get combinations in the official Standard Hands and Rules of the National Mah Jongg League, which are shown in an inexpensive colorful card purchased from the League. When you are the first at your table to get such a hand, you say “Mah Jongg” and win that hand.
Mah Jongg came to Bear Creek in 1998 when Karen Ganz advertised in the paper for players. Karen had played Mah Jongg in the desert prior to moving to Bear Creek. Several years later, the game came under the leadership of Caroline Coyte. Caroline worked hard to secure members and provide lessons in her home for those interested. She continues to provide rules, availabilities, and schedules to all members. As Mah Jongg continued to grow in Bear Creek, the Bear Creek players began to attend Mah Jongg Tournaments all over Southern California. In 2008, Bear Creek hosted its First Annual Tournament under the leadership of Mary Chang and Karen Ganz. Bear Creek had tournament participants from all over Southern California. The Tournament in 2009 had over 50 participants attending at the Bear Creek Golf Club. Bear Creek's Lisa Clark came in first place. Mary Chang and Jackie Raspler also placed. Many of the tournament participants have been playing Mah Jongg most of their lives. Many even attend Mah Jongg cruises. As a child, David Raspler remembers going to bed hearing the sound of mixing tiles or clattering tiles, laughter and women saying one crack, three bam, North, Green and Mah Jongg!
In December 2009, the First Annual Mah Jongg Christmas Party was held in Jackie Raspler's home. All players were invited to dress in ancient Chinese costume, play Mah Jongg and dine. A group of Bear Creek residents prepared a very special, delicious, authentic Chinese Buffet. Holiday Fortune Cookies were served as dessert. The evening was filled with laughter, fun, friendship, and good food. Those interested in joining this group may contact the Bear Creek Golf Club for dates, times, and contact people. May you say "Mah Jongg" many times this New Year!