Lawrence University Hosts “Concert for Haiti”

Fox 11 WLUK, Red Cross and Wisconsin Musicians Join Fund-raising Effort

APPLETON, WIS. — The Lawrence University Memorial Chapel will be the backdrop for a special “Concert for Haiti” Tonight, Wednesday, January 20, at 7 p.m. The concert is the inspiration of Lawrence student Carolyn Armstrong ’10 and Lawrence Professor of Cello Janet Anthony, who last month traveled to Haiti to teach music. The Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince, where many of the lessons took place, was destroyed in the earthquake January 12 that killed an estimated 200,000 Haitians and left many more injured and homeless.

The “Concert for Haiti” will feature performances by Lawrence students and faculty, Bob Levy and John Harmon, Jeremiah Nelson, world-renowned improvisational cellist Matt Turner and others.  A collection will be taken to benefit Holy Trinity Music School.  In addition, donations can be given to the American Red Cross Haitian Relief efforts.  Haitian music and music composed at Holy Trinity Music School will be performed.  Tickets are not required.

On Thursday, January 21, at 9:30 p.m., Fox 11 WLUK will broadcast the concert highlights, sharing the message and music with viewers across Northeast Wisconsin.  “We are grateful for the opportunity to take this message to a larger audience,” Anthony said.  “More than 40 Lawrence students have visited Haiti in the last 15 years, many of them working with music students at Holy Trinity.  We care deeply about their welfare and we look forward to, when the time is right, bringing music education back to Haiti.” 

Holy Trinity Music School, Port-au-Prince

Holy Trinity Church was founded in 1863 by the Episcopal Church and, as part of the church’s mission, several primary schools were established.  Holy Trinity Music School began in 1970. Now serving over 1200 students, there are five orchestras, including Haiti’s only philharmonic orchestra, a boy choir, and three symphonic bands. Instruction is offered in all instrumental and vocal areas.  The Holy Trinity Philharmonic Orchestra and the Petit Chanteurs have a very active performance schedule across Haiti.  The Petits Chanteurs and a small instrumental ensemble have toured the United States five times in the past seven years to great acclaim.

The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit http://www.redcross.org/ or join its blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Fox 11 WLUK

FOX 11 is owned by LIN TV Corp., a local television and digital media company, owning and/or operating 29 television stations in 17 U.S. markets.

Lawrence University
Charting an uncommon course in higher education for more than 160 years, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It ranks among the nation's best small, private colleges, and was selected for inclusion in the book "Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College."  The development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience, where classes or creative and research projects tailored to students’ educational interests and life objectives are prevalent.  Lawrence draws its 1,450 students from 46 states and 51 countries.  Its picturesque, residential campus is nestled on the banks of the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin.  For more information about Lawrence University visit http://www.lawrence.edu/.