T.O. youth sings for seniors

Michael Vannelli, a resident of Thousand Oaks and a senior at Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley, will sing in "The Best is Yet to Come," a vocal concert benefiting the Simi Valley Senior Center, at 7 p.m. Fri., Feb. 15 at the senior center, 3900 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley.

The concert will also feature Sarah Willis, a senior at Westlake High School and a member of "A Class Act," an elite show choir at the school.

The program is specially designed to appeal to both younger and older audiences, and includes the music of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett and others.

Vannelli organized and produced the concert as his senior project at the performing arts magnet school. Santa Susana High, a California Distinguished School, requires senior students to compete a senior project, which includes a research paper and a related project that utilizes creative thinking and reflects a learning stretch. Vannelli worked with the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District on the concert, and was mentored by voice teacher Jim Wilber, director of the Disney Choir.

Tickets are $5 general admission. Seniors 55 and over and children 10 and under are free. Tickets can be obtained in advance from Laurie Dickinson, senior services manager at the senior center, or at the door.