School of Music to combat homelessness through benefit concerts

The Midlands Interfaith Homelessness Action Council (MIHAC) will team with the University of South Carolina School of Music to perform benefit concerts April 30 and May 15.

The concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the School of Music recital hall, Room 206. Donations of $10 or more are suggested.

The April 30 concert, which is the eighth event in the “Light the Way with Music and Art” series to benefit the homeless in the Midlands, will feature Ukrainian guitarist Marina Alexandra. Her works will range from provocative Tango and classical Spanish composers to romantic and compelling pieces by contemporary Russian composer Nikita Koshkin. Joining Alexandra will be Tango Dream Dancers Harby Gonzalez and Erin Bolshakov of Vista Ballroom and poet Nicola Waldron Barilla.

John Williams and Larry Wyatt’s Colla Voce choir will perform Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz and Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes at the May concert. Williams is a professor emeritus of piano, and Wyatt is director of choral studies at the university.

“Light the Way with Music and Art” began under the umbrella of the MIHAC to find creative ways for local artists and musicians to raise funds to combat homelessness.

The Midlands Interfaith Homelessness Action Council began in 2007 and is committed to finding a comprehensive solution to the significant problem of homelessness. The organization encourages and coordinates the faith-based commitment and energy in the Midlands community to address homelessness and other social issues.

For more information on Light the Way and the MIHAC, visit the Web site: http://www.lightthewaycolumbia.com/. For more information on the School of Music benefit concerts, contact Laveta Gibson at 803-777-4336 or visit the Website: www.music.sc.edu.