In keeping with its mission to Heal the Community through Music, Boston-based Longwood Symphony Orchestra and New England Conservatory present Symphonic Relief for Haiti at NEC’s Jordan Hall, Sunday January 31, 2010, 12:30—2 p.m. Artistic Director Jonathan McPhee will conduct LSO, an orchestra whose membership is comprised mainly of health care professionals representing nearly every medical institution in the city, and musicians from NEC will perform.
Among the performers are two with Haitian backgrounds: baritone Jean Bernard Cerin, a Master's degree candidate at the Conservatory whose family survived the Haiti earthquake but is living outside of the home in fear of aftershocks; and 17-year old Haitian-American violinist Aurélie Théramène, a student in Project STEP whose family in Haiti has also been deeply affected by the disaster. Aurélie will offer a work by J.S. Bach. 
Jean Bernard will sing "Grief" by William Grant Still, with words by Langston Hughes:
Weeping Angel on pinions trailing and head bowed low in your hands.
Mourning angel with heartstrings wailing for one who in death’s hall stands.
Mourning angel silence your wailing and raise your head from your hands.
Weeping angel on your pinions trailing the white dove promise stands!
Proceeds will benefit the Stand With Haiti initiative of Partners In Health, the non-profit, Boston-based health care organization created in 1987. Longwood Symphony has had a longstanding relationship with PIH, which was one of the orchestra's Community Partners in 2006.
All musicians are donating their time and expertise to this ambitious effort because of their beliefs that music builds human capacity, elevates the soul, and prepares students for lives that enhance the public good.
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