Conservatory students, led by Professor Janet Anthony, are holding a Haitian Benefit Concert Saturday, Nov. 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Harper Hall. The concert is to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti after the country was ravaged by four hurricanes last summer.
This benefit hits home for many conservatory students who have traveled to Haiti with Anthony to attend and teach at music programs at local schools. The students are immersed in Haitian culture, and hold a special place in their hearts for the people they meet there.
A few Lawrentians were in Haiti when Hurricane Faye struck. Junior Carolyn Armstrong explained her experience in Port-au-Prince: “We went walking in the city [before the hurricane] and people looked depressed, there was a weird vibe, and people were worried.”
Port-au-Prince was not hit hard by Faye, but the small town of Jacmel on the other side of the island, where Armstrong had been teaching weeks before, was devastated.
“There is a huge deforestation problem due to the economic situation in Haiti. This leads to mudslides during hurricane season, which have washed away homes and entire villages,” said Armstrong.
Saturday’s concert will feature Haitian music and dancing with performances by the SonShine Singers of First United Methodist Church, the Kaukauna High School Orchestra, the Lawrence Academy String Project, and the Friends of Haiti Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jean Rudy Perrault and made up of conservatory students.
The concert is free, but there is a suggested donation of $5 for students, $10 for adults, and $25 for families. All proceeds will go to hurricane relief and the music and education programs Anthony works with in Haiti.
Saturday benefit concert for Haiti
