You never know until you ask.

That's a valuable lesson that John Sielski, a recent Spring Lake High School graduate, learned last year when he had an idea for a fundraiser to benefit The Little Red House in Spring Lake.

Sielski was a teen volunteer at the nonprofit day care center for adults with physical and cognitive limitations. He mowed the lawn and tended the flowers during the summer, and then was appointed to the board of directors as a teen liaison. In that role, he became aware of the organization's pressing need for operating funds, and he had an idea.

A veteran of the musical stage at SLHS, Sielski's vocal talents were being honed under the expert tutelage of Carlos Seise, a Grand Haven resident and accomplished tenor who performs on the world's best known concert stages with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and Eva Marton. Sielski wondered if his teacher would perform, just once, for the benefit of The Little Red House. "I thought we could create one night of great Italian opera in Spring Lake," he said.

Unable to find the words to ask out loud, Sielski put his thoughts into a letter, explaining his concern for his own grandparents who were aging, and the valuable service that The Little Red House provided for people like them and the families who care for them.

When he read the letter, Seise recalled, "I was inspired by words written from John's heart." The maestro was moved not only to perform for the benefit of The Little Red House, but he also asked his student to share the stage with him for one song. That was during last September's Bravo 2005, at which Seise wowed 250 festively dressed guests with a bravura performance of arias from the best-loved Italian operas.

And, in opening remarks before the performance, Sielski struck a chord with the audience when he explained the importance of The Little Red House to the community. "No one can say 'the age gene doesn't run in my family,'" he told them. The night was such a success, according to Little Red House Executive Director Jody Herrelko, that the board voted unanimously for an encore. And Seise readily assented to return. "I believe in what they are doing," explained Seise, who said he tries to lend his talents "wherever people struggle with health care."

He elaborated, "We are all heading down that road. I hope that when the day comes for me, someone will take me to a place like The Little Red House, where I can be with people who are like a regular family while my own family gets a break from caring for me."

"I am preparing a selection of much-loved Broadway tunes, including "Maria" and "Tonight" from "West Side Story," Seise said. "But there will be surprises, as well."

"We have an even bigger challenge this year than last," added Herrelko, referring to the fact that the event will take place in Spring Lake Country Club's new dining room, which seats 450, nearly twice as many as attended last year. "We have our work cut out for us, but we hope people will realize that this is the only time all year that they can hear Carlos perform in Michigan," she said.

To view a .pdf with more information about the Bravo program, click here.