The Lawrentian

Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: rachele krivichi

Less than a month after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti that killed at least 150,000 people and left over a million homeless, rescue and relief organizations such as the American Red Cross have spent nearly $80 million in sending food, clean drinking water and shelter items to those in Haiti, according to http://www.redcross.org/.
However, the Conservatory of Music at Lawrence is taking a different approach to sending relief to Haiti. Last Sunday, Jan. 31, faculty and student members of the Con performed in "On Spiritual Thought II," a vocal concert which raised money for rebuilding the Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
The Holy Trinity Music School is the largest music program in Haiti, and since its beginning in 1927, quickly has become one of the few institutions in the nation that integrates students from both the wealthy and poor social classes.
The school itself has grown exponentially, and this year the school has over 1,200 students who participate in the five orchestras, three bands, and boy choir and take lessons in orchestral instruments, as well as piano and voice.
The school has become internationally acclaimed, with groups like the "Les Petites Chanteurs" boy choir performing in the United States and participating in the Americas Youth Symphony Program, while the Orchestre Philharmonique Ste Trinité was coached by members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Lawrence has been very involved with the school over the years - since 1996, over 40 Lawrentians have volunteered and taught at music programs across the country, mostly at the Holy Trinity Music School.
"On Spiritual Thought II" had been planned since last Fall, according to Assistant Professor of Music Steven Paul Spears, but after the earthquake last month, it was deemed appropriate to have the concert geared to raising money and awareness for the Holy Trinity Music School, whose buildings were destroyed in the earthquakes.
Spears has organized other charity concerts in the past, including the original "On Spiritual Thought" concert held in January 2006.
"This was to encourage people to give to relief organizations helping Jakarta, New Orleans and other areas of the globe where natural disaster had struck," Spears said. "It was a wonderful success, employing many Conservatory faculty performing solos and ensembles, as well as a few professors in the Con and in the University reading selections that were especially poignant to the situation."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools