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Altrusa presents an evening of 'Love Songs' by Diva Montell

Altrusa International of Elgin, a service club for active and retired executive and professional women, presents "Love Songs" by Diva Montell with pianist Murna Hansemann on Friday, Feb. 2, at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 1565 Larkin Ave. in Elgin.

A spaghetti dinner will be offered at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. and dessert at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are not required. There will be a freewill offering; checks payable to the Altrusa Foundation.

The club's popular silent auction will highlight the evening's fundraising activities. For more information about the event, contact Murna Hansemann at (847) 742-6431.

Montell's mother was an opera singer and her father a professional entertainer. Her birth name was given commemorating the "DIVA" record label created by them. With her first songs erupting at the tender age of 6, Montell eventually studied opera/vocal performance at the American Conservatory of Music and DePaul University School of Music, courtesy of scholarships.

Having a wide vocal range, Montell performs many music genres including opera, pop, Broadway and rock. She is one of Chicago's most recognized entertainers having shared the stage with such stars as Il Volo, Michael Bolton, The Drifters, KC & the Sunshine Band, and the Jersey Boys.

She remains busy singing at liturgical ceremonies, receptions and lounge shows. She is the 2017 recipient of the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Humanitarian Award in Entertainment and is the "go to" entertainer for Onesti Entertainment and numerous Italian-American organizations.

Hansemann was the recipient of the Altrusa International of Elgin's Woman of the Year honor in 1996 prior to her membership. She plays the piano and accordion and has performed her entire life. She is an accompanist for several local artists including Rise Jones and Jeorge Holmes.

Altrusa International of Elgin is part of an international nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. Its focus is "leading to a better community" to make communities better through leadership, partnership and service with a local and global impact.

Members reside throughout the Fox Valley area from Algonquin, Bartlett, Elgin, Hampshire, Huntley, Pingree Grove, St. Charles, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin and Wheaton. They engage in a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year, to raise funds for local Elgin area nonprofits with an emphasis on literacy. Currently, literacy programs and services are not on the priority list for Community Block Development Grants, making the club's efforts even more important.

For more information about Altrusa International of Elgin, contact president Kathy Canny at PSCCEO@aol.com.

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