Ensemble Iberica ~ Fundraiser for Karen Lisondra

1221 Union Avenue,Kansas City MO 64101

03 February, 2022

Description

This fundraiser is to help cover a portion of the costs of Karen's medical expenses. Karen Lisondra is a musician, dancer, award-winning theatrical storyteller, and educator. Along with her husband, Amado Espinoza, she promotes self-esteem, creativity, and cultural and ecological respect through world musical workshops in elementary schools, libraries, and festivals. She plays native percussion, sound healing instruments, the bandurria with the Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City’s Rondalla, and studied cello with Sascha Grosschang. She has written and directed innovative theatre projects here in Kansas City, including El Amor Que Mueve al Sol y Las Demas Estrellas – a Spanish language radio play with Kansas City Public Theatre, the Storytelling Project for UMKC’s MFA Acting and Directing program, and We Are the Landscape, made through the Charlotte St. Foundation Studio Residency Program. Karen performed with world-renowned theatre companies in South America (Fuerza Bruta, Teatro de los Andes) and studied in the master’s degree program Musical Creation, Traditional Arts, and New Technologies at the University Tres de Febrero in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before making Kansas City her home again in 2014 together with Amado. Karen has been recently diagnosed with Thymoma, a rare slow-growing tumor on the thymus gland, located behind the breastbone and between the lungs. Due to the rarity of this cancer, the tumor size, and proximity to vital organs such as the heart and pulmonary artery, she was referred to a specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Chemotherapy, then surgery, then intensive radiation therapy will be required to treat Karen’s condition. Unfortunately, her health insurance does not cover any out-of-network costs. If left untreated, thymomas will eventually invade surrounding structures making it impossible to operate. Musicians: Amado Espinoza - percussion Ezgi Karakus - cello, vocals Coleen Dieker - violin, vocals Rich Wheeler - saxophone Beau Bledsoe - oud John Currey - percussion Classic Cocktail Lounge and Casual Dining in the heart of the West Bottoms