Concert for a Cause returns to the Nelson Odeon Sunday, Sept. 10, with the Jefferson Quartet featuring Allan Kolsky, principal clarinetist with the Syracuse Symphoria. Doors open at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm show. The concert will feature classical chamber music by Mozart, Dvorak and Nikola Resanovic.
Concert for a Cause began in 2017 as a grassroots initiative by local advocate, Mo Campanie of Bridgeport.
“The idea behind Concert for a Cause is that music unites us and even though we may feel divided as a country, we can put positive energy back into the world and use our passions to do good work and benefit some truly amazing local organizations,” Campanie said.
The September Concert for Cause will raise funds and awareness of Interfaith Works of CNY, a
Syracuse-based organization that builds bridges of understanding to affirm the dignity of all people in Central New York. Working with the different faith communities and the diversity of the region’s people, they address deeply embedded social divisions. Informed and influenced by the values and ethics of the faith traditions, they work with the community to find common ground on its issues. Using the tools of interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue, they create life-changing experiences that lead to actions for the creation of a more equitable and loving community.
Specifically, the Concert for a Cause will highlight Interfaith Works’ Center for New Americans program which provides resettlement and post-resettlement services to help refugee families reestablish their lives and overcome the barriers to successful integration in their new communities. The program typically resettles 500-600 new refugees each year and annually serves an additional 1,200 families who have been in the U.S. for less than five years. Olive Sephuma, Director of the Center for New Americans noted, “We can’t thank Concert for a Cause enough for raising funds for our Refugee Resettlement Program. It’s community events like this that have kept us
“We can’t thank Concert for a Cause enough for raising funds for our Refugee Resettlement Program,” said Olive Sephuma, director of the Center for New Americans. “It’s community events like this that have kept us going at such a critical time. We appreciate the help and look forward to this partnership.”
“My colleagues and I are really looking forward to performing at the Nelson Odeon, and we’re honored to support this great program run by Interfaith Works,” said Allan Kolsky, principal clarinetist of the Syracuse Symphoria. “We admire their efforts to spread love and understanding between people of all faiths, and we’ll be playing some great classical works that highlight cross-cultural influence and human harmony. At a time when political division seems to be driving folks so far apart, we hope that music can be one important way to bring people back together, again.”
The first Concert for a Cause, held April 21, 2017, raised awareness about the issue of Climate Change. Proceeds from the Concert benefited Citizens Campaign for the Environment; an organization that works to build widespread citizen understanding and advocacy for policies and actions designed to
manage and protect our natural resources and public health; $4,000 was raised at the event for the
organization.
In July, the series returned with a benefit spin-off entitled, “Comedy for a Cause,” which raised money for mental health awareness and education benefiting Samaritan Counseling Center in Utica and Pathways Wellness Center in Oneida.
Tickets for the event are on sale now via the Nelson Odeon website (www.nelsonodeon.com). Campanie
also suggests visiting the Concert for a Cause Facebook page for complete preshow ticket and t-shirt sales details. Information may also be obtained by following their Twitter account: @concert_4acause.