Cumberlands Music Department to host Haiti Relief Concert Series

A group of about 75 students and faculty at the University of the Cumberlands is doing its part to help victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti by taking up donations through a series of concerts this month.

The idea for the Haiti Relief Concert Series came from a new student organization on campus, the UC Musicians Making a Difference, which is a team of students and faculty members that raises funds through musicianship and service.

The group was formed by Dr. Patrick Tuck, a trumpet performer and professor at UC, who lived through hurricane Katrina in Louisiana in 2005.

“What we experienced in the United States happened with the benefit of pre-existing infrastructure that still failed. Haiti does not have a solid infrastructure to begin with,” Tuck said.

He hopes that in the future, UC Musicians Making a Difference will find more ways to help others who are in need.

“We are just hoping to raise awareness for Haiti,” said Jenna Wilson, one of the student volunteers with the Haiti Relief Concert Series, told the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club Thursday.

“With Katrina, after a few months, a lot of people left and there wasn’t really a lot of coverage so they didn’t have a lot of funds and help coming in after that. With Haiti, it is going to take at least 12 years to even start to rebuild.”

Wilson said that all funds raised will be sent to the Red Cross, which is a group they know will be there helping for years to come.

“What we really want more than money is prayer support for the people of Haiti,” Wilson said. “If a lot of people can help out in a little way, then we can make a difference.”

After Wilson’s presentation, she and three fellow students, Samantha Feltner, Jonathan Wyatt and Michael Kitts sang a handful of gospel hymns for the Kiwanis Club.

Following the group’s performance Thursday, Williamsburg Kiwanis Club members donated $104 towards the effort.

The first of the four concerts starts next week. All of the concerts are in the Mary McGaw Music Building Recital Hall on the UC Campus, and are free and open to the public.

Donations will be accepted for Haiti relief efforts at each event. The concerts in the series include:

• Chorale Concert – Monday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.

• Jazz Ensemble Concert – Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m.

• Concert Band Concert – Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m.

• Instrumental Music Faculty Recital – Tuesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m.

For additional information about the concerts or the colorful t-shirts that music department students and faculty are wearing to promote the concerts, call the music department office at 539-4332, or find the group on Facebook.

Donations to the music department relief effort can sent to the UC Music Department at 7525 College Station Drive, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Checks should be made payable to the UC Music Department with a note on the memo line that the money is for Haiti relief.