Adrian College Music Presents Haiti Relief Concert posted 2/12/10
Alums and current students team up to raise money

ADRIAN, Mich. - Adrian College music students and alumni will present a benefit concert for Haiti relief on Friday, Feb. 26 in Dawson Auditorium on the Adrian College campus. The concert will be presented in two parts featuring current music department students from 6:00 to 7:30 PM followed by music alumni beginning at 8:00 PM. There will be a 30 minute intermission between the concerts with refreshments and social time with the performers.

The concert is being organized by lecturer in strings, Cecilia Johnson and alumnus Eric Swanson ’07, with the help of Gerianne Ditto ’07.

Current instrumental and vocal students will entertain during the first part of the concert. The alumni portion of the concert will feature Gerianne Ditto ’07, Tom Pavlovich ’08, Aaron Taylor ’06, Eric Swanson ’07, Makenzie Fader ’09, Rebecca Ditto ’09, and more. Several instrumental pieces will be performed along with selections from various operas and Broadway musical productions.

100% of the proceeds from the concert will go to help rebuild the New Victorian School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Romel Joseph, founder of the school, has been featured on CNN.  Mr. Joseph, a violinist and Julliard graduate who has been blind since birth, built the school in Haiti with his former wife. They sought to provide Haitian children with an excellent education, including music as an important part of the curriculum.

Adrian College String Instructor Cecilia Johnson is a personal friend of Romel Joseph and has done benefits for his school in the past. During the earthquake that devastated Haiti, Joseph was rescued after being trapped for 18 hours in the rubble at the school.  In addition to losing his school, Joseph’s pregnant wife lost her life.

“We are honored to help him as he begins to rebuild his life and his school,” said Adrian Alum Eric Swanson.

Tickets for the concert will be available at the door for $10. For more information, please contact Eric Swanson at eric.swanson@roeper.org or Gerianne Ditto at gditto@gmail.com