Artists Rally Around “Healing for Haiti” With Music & Prayer

Area classical artists will rally for Haiti on March 7, at 4 p.m. at Cape Island Baptist Church, Columbia & Gurney Streets in Cape May. Volunteering their time for the cause, they are coming from Ocean City, Cape May Point, Atlantic City, New York City, and Philadelphia and points in between.
The group was begun informally by Helena Bew, a classical pianist, who is known here for her spectacular abilities with Chopin and Lizst. Suzanne Conrad, executive director of Caring for Kids, joined her to help her to publicize the event.
The group gathered steam as Bew called a friend in Philadelphia, Polish pianist Katarzyna Marzec-Salwinski. The artist, born in Czestochowa, Poland, studied at the Academy of Music in Cracow and at Jagiellonian University in Poland. Katarzyna is going to perform the Grand Polonaise, a nocturne, and a scherzo.
Nancy Fox, soprano, Ocean City; Absecon singer Christopher Lorge, who teaches in Atlantic City; oboists Patti Lake and Cape May’s David Kurkowski; and flutist Pam Whitman of the Ocean City Pops will join the group of musicians who are all donating their time. Kenneth Young, who sang with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus for 20 years, will join Fox in song.
“It’s an elegant concert and unique in the way it combines music with prayer. The American Friends Organization is a legitimate organization that has been in Haiti for years. It’s a classical musicians effort to do something that we know best.”
said Fox.
“John Bate is coming from the Methodist Church in Ocean City. Composer Richard Bew will present a composition to set the mood for this original program. We can do a lot together.” Fox said.
We are grateful for the generosity of Cape Island Baptist and we are delighted to have the use of their wonderful piano,” Bew said. A free will offering for Haiti will be taken. If you are unable to attend, but wish to help, send a donation to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102.