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By Marjorie Mader

Adriana Kwicinski, a senior at Menlo School, will present — with her musical friends — a "Songs for Life" pop and jazz benefit concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, in Florence Moore Auditorium at Menlo School in Atherton.

The concert benefits the Larry Kwicinski Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Research Fund, which she established in honor of her father, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2006 at age 57.

Just nine months before his death, Adriana and her father, an avid outdoorsman, were dog sledding in the snowfields of Canada and camping in the Arctic tundra. He was, she said, "the best dad any kid could imagine."

Adriana turned to her love of music to raise money for the research fund. She's raised $55,000 so far toward the $100,000 research grant commitment.

In addition to contributions from friends and family, she's raised money through the sale of two CDs she's recorded; singing at parties, receptions and bat mitzvahs; and organizing events, such as a 10K run and the Menlo School concert.

Guest speaker at the concert will be Dr. Maxence Nachury of Stanford University, the first recipient of the Larry Kwicinski research grant.

Among those performing at the concert will be Menlo student vocalists Andrew Sanford, Roxanna Meyers, Nicole Wolf, Harrison Nida, and Adriana; Seth Klebe from Aragon High School; the coed Menlo A Cappella Choir; and the Menlo Varsity Jazz Band, directed by Mark Warren.

Also performing will be the "Quintessential Jazz Band" with David Lee on percussion, Lucas Sokolsky on saxophone, Seth Klebe on bass, and Adriana as the vocalist. On the piano will be a pro — Larry Dunlap, the accompanist on Adriana's two CDs, "Irreplaceable" and "Day by Day."

To purchase tickets for the tax-deductible benefit, send an e-mail to akwicinski@hotmail.com and state the number and type of tickets. Prices are $40 for reserved seating; $25 for regular seating; and $10 for students.

Send a check made out to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to: Adriana Kwicinski, 1000 Atkinson Lane, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Tickets will be available at will call before the concert.

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