"Students at New England Conservatory are soon going to be taking our places in the world as professionals in entertainment industry. Instead of always focusing on our own careers, some of us thought it would be healthy to begin thinking about our responsibility to those less fortunate, and helping where we can. We can use the power of music, our talents to change the world for the better. " So says Allegra Levy, founder and President of Musicians for Humanity, a student run organization on the NEC Campus in Boston, Mass. Allegra had volunteered during the summer for Litchfield Performing Arts where she met legendary jazz musician Dave Brubeck. When she heard of the work that some Brubeck family members were doing in Haiti and other countries, as well as urban children in the U.S, she was impressed. She wanted to be a part of it. "We voted unanimously to send our concert proceeds to Jazz'd 4 Life". Their first December Concert for a Cause raised enough money to feed over 50 children at the annual Christmas Dinner in Les Cayes Haiti.And that is just the beginning of their ambitions.
Over Spring Break, several students have decided to give up relaxing on the beach, sipping pina collatas, and instead serve for a week in the countryside of the earthquake ravaged island of Haiti. Their plan is to go with Jazz'd 4 Life to Les Cayes and assist with food, water and medical distributions throughout the Tent City to orphans and earthquake refugees. "We are hoping that the students can also utilize their vocal skills, and bring some joy and fun through free live performances at the camps, schools,hospitals and orphanages" says Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian, cofounder of Jazz'd 4 Life." Music, like children, has a way of softening the harshness of life's most severe blows. Plus it is such a great cultural unifyer.I am really looking forward to adding music into our traditional relief efforts." That is the essence of what Jazz'd 4 Life is about.
