Kids Helping Kids
by Zoë Kirsch
This Monday, July 30th, all are welcome to join together and support our community and those outside of our borders by attending a Youth Benefit Concert. The show begins at 5:30 pm in the Methodist Church at 2 Centre Street. Young musical talents will perform in order to raise money for The African Children’s Choir (a group of kids from countries such as Uganda, whose mission is to raise awareness), as well as the restoration of the historically significant Appleton Organ on Nantucket. This is the perfect opportunity to not only support the musical talents within our community, but also enjoy a night of fun music, performed by none other than a group of Nantucket youth.
The African Children’s Choir was started by the prime minister of Uganda in order to raise awareness. It consists of seven- to twelve-year-old African children who perform worldwide. Their mission is to spread the word about needs of “destitute and orphaned children in Africa and to raise funds for continued development and support of the choir’s relief and development programs.”
A Nantucket teen originated the idea to help the choir. River Bennett, a sixteen-year-old Nantucket School of Music student, describes how and when he first envisioned the concept: “My mom saw something about a choir in Africa on TV [The African Children’s Choir]. I did some more research on the choir and figured that I knew a lot of musicians out here. Then I thought about how cool it would be to have a big concert.” While Bennett has been at the forefront of organizing this performance, the Nantucket Community has rallied behind him.
Bennett credits Mollie Glazer, his longtime cello teacher, first and foremost. When asked about how difficult the concert has been to pull together, Bennett points out that it’s been hard “to a degree, but I’m really grateful to the Nantucket School of Music. It’s really been Mollie Glazer and me pulling this through together.” Glazer, current head of the Nantucket School of Music has chosen to sponsor the event—“It celebrates the talent of Nantucket’s young musicians,” she stated. The organizational team also includes minister Nancy Nelson. Nelson offered up the church as the locale of the event. In return, a percent of the money raised will be used to help fund the restoration of the church’s organ.
The evening event will filled with a variety of music, all in the name of doing good. “It’ll be jazz, solo, acoustic, classical…a little bit of everything” says Bennett. Performing are The Cobbletones; cellists Ethan Philbrick, River Bennett, and Zeb Bennett; pianists Samantha Reis and Martina Ivanova; vocalists Jenna Newman, Lia Newman, and Kerry Fee; violinst Isaiah Williams; trumpet player Josef Kardell; bass player Nigel Goss; guitarist Aidan Sherry; and musician Blake Sylvia. Mollie Glazer describes the point of this to be “kids helping kids.” Glazer is enthusiastic: “I’m really excited about what he [Bennett] is doing. I love that it’s supporting the mission of the music school by showing what our young musicians are capable of. It’ll be a great evening.”
When asked what he hopes attendees will get out of this concert, Bennett sums it up: “I hope they realize the talent that is here. I’ve also learned that this is a generous community. I hope attendees can learn that; it’s been an influence of mine.”
