Haiti benefit will bring together Gueph’s best
by Daniel Bitonti
It’s never an easy task bringing together a handful of world-class artists under one roof.
But when word got out that a Haiti benefit concert was in the works for Guelph, the response from the local artistic community was overwhelming.
“We had to turn away a lot of people, exceptional artists, because we have a limited amount of time,” said Sam Turton, one of the event’s organizers. “People are so moved.”
Taking place on Sunday Feb. 7, Help Haiti: A Guelph Benefit for Haiti Relief, will see some of Guelph’s most gifted singers, songwriters musicians and poets sharing a stage to raise funds for the earth-quake ravished country. Performing artists include the University of Guelph Choirs, Andrew Craig, Dionne Brand and Jane Bunnett.
While it’s not unusual for artists to perform for free at benefits, the Guelph benefit is particularly unique as all costs of the event have been waved: postering has been done free of charge, food has been donated for the artists and the city has stepped forward and offered organizers the use of the River Run Centre.
“Its always a challenge when you’re organizing fundraising events that all the money you make will go to the cause that you’re supporting,” said co-organizer Dr. Ajay Heble, a professor of English and theatre at the University of Guelph. “I think we are quite fortunate in that we are able to get the city council to wave all the costs with the use of the River Run Centre which would normally be out of our reach financially.”
Organizers said they have set the goal of raising $20,000 dollars, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross, an organization they said is capable of getting the funds raised directly to Haiti.
Both Turton and Heble recognized the unique scheduling of the event – the benefit concert takes place the day after Hillside Inside and on Superbowl Sunday – but are confident that the 140 performers taking the stage at the River Run Centre, 100 of those coming from the University of Guelph choirs, will attract a large turnout.
“I think [the Super Bowl] does have an effect, but what we are dealing with think is unique, the co-ordination and the variety. We have some interesting pieces that the choir is going to do. Then we got Kevin Breit who is the world’s craziest guitarist who can do anything and everything. And Jane Bunnett who is just a jazz icon,” said Turton. “You’ll never see these people together in this way ever again. Any performers that people know from around here who are not playing is because they are on tour or we couldn’t fit them in.”
Tickets for the benefit are $30 and can be reserved by calling (519) 763-3000 or by visiting riverrunca.