Ithaca College School Music Present Haiti Concert

ITHACA, NY — Performers from the Ithaca College School of Music will join local musicians on Monday, Feb. 8, in a concert to benefit the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. The event will begin at 8:15 p.m. in Ford Hall in the James J. Whalen Center for Music. Though the concert is free and open to the public, donations are encouraged. All proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists that provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe.“Sometimes music is art, sometimes it is entertainment, sometimes it enriches lives and sometimes it really does save lives. This time, it’s all four,” said Peter Rothbart, producer of the concert and professor of music theory, history and composition. “For the price of an iTunes download, you can help save a life. Imagine what you can do for the price of an album.”The concert will feature performances by School of Music ensembles, including the Ithaca Wind Quintet and Vocal Jazz Ensemble; faculty musicians Deborah Montgomery-Cove, Deborah Lifton, Charis Dimaris; and student performers Fanny Lora, Dan Mahoney, Russell Kniffen, Melissa Daneke, Jordan Harris and Ian Cummings. The popular student ensemble Ithacappella and the Ithaca-based band Ayurveda will also perform. More than 35 performers and 8 groups will play a range of music, from rock tunes and art songs to original compositions. Ithaca College President Tom Rochon will give the opening remarks.For more information, contact Peter Rothbart at rothbart@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-1497 (work), (607) 275-9982 (home), or (607) 351-2864 (cell).