Songs of Hope, Songs of Home

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Saturday, June 15th, 2019
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Media Release – Community Events – Arts and Culture CONCERT TO BENEFIT MOZAMBIQUE CYCLONE IDAI VICTIMS

For Release May 7, 2019 -- Victoria’s Gettin’ Higher Choir presents its 22nd annual benefit concert for Mozambique on Saturday, June 15 at the Alix Goolden Hall in Victoria.

The 2019 Spring concert is especially important as Cyclone Idai ravaged through communities long-supported by the Choir, and floods, hunger and water-borne diseases are a greater threat.

The theme of the concert is “Songs of Hope, Songs of Home”, and will feature guest artist soul-folk singer Samara Jade.

All proceeds from the Spring concert will go to The Caia Connection, a partner charity of the Gettin’ Higher Choir. The Caia Connection is a grassroots charity based in Victoria that is dedicated to raising funds and supporting health, food and education programs in Mozambique.

The efforts started over two decades ago when the Gettin’ Higher Choir joined a small African choir to raise funds for a school in the home village of Joseph and Perpetua Alfazema, refugees from Mozambique who settled in Victoria. Over the past 20-plus years more than $350,000 has been raised to help people in rural communities in Mozambique with programs to support education for life, as well as HIV-affected families, school and music programs, health and food programs and more.

“Victorians have supported these communities in Mozambique for many years through the choir and The Caia Connection,” said Sarah Petrescu, a Caia Connection board member. “Since the Cyclone struck, much-needed donations and messages of support have come in. These have helped but so much more work is needed.”

Petrescu said The Caia Connection has helped deliver emergency food to over a thousand families and now efforts are focused on preventing water-borne illness, helping people to rebuild homes and crops and making sure children and young people can continue their education programs.

“The resilience of people in this rural area of Mozambique is phenomenal. They are working so hard to support each other and help life move on. We’ll do all we can to help them,” she said.

The Gettin’ Higher Choir’s Dick Jackson said he and co-director Cathy Baker are proud to continue the legacy of supporting Mozambique. “The choir’s longstanding relationship with The Caia Connection gives us a powerful sense of connection with what’s happening in Mozambique, and that much more reason to try to help where we can,” Jackson said. “Our hearts go out to our friends in Mozambique who have had to face so much. By coming together for this benefit concert, with its theme of hope and home, we hope to do our small part to let the people of Mozambique know they’re not alone.”

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Media Contact:

Gettin’ Higher Choir co-director: Dick Jackson 250-220-6117

The Caia Connection board member: Sarah Petrescu 250-813-0469

Concert and Ticket Information:

7:30 pm, Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Alix Goolden Concert Hall, 907 Pandora Ave.

Tickets are $25 general admission; $15 for students.

All proceeds to The Caia Connection

Tickets Available (as of mid-May) at:

• Ivy's Books

• Munro's Books

• James Bay Coffee and Books

• Dig This (Broadmead)

• Alexander Mackie Retirement Community (Langford)

• Alix Goolden Hall Box Office

• Online at ticketfly.com

About Samara Jade:

Samara Jade is a modern folk troubadour and musical seamstress who stitches together a unique tapestry of sounds with intricate guitar playing and an acrobatically emotive voice. Weaving diverse musical strands colored by folk, jazz, blues, world-fusion and even Broadway musicals, Samara’s songs cut through truth, open hearts, stimulate minds, and perhaps best fall into the nutshell of a fan-coined genre: "Philosopholk." https://www.samarajademusic.com/ For more information about the Gettin’ Higher Choir: www.gettinhigherchoir.ca For more information about The Caia Connection: https://www.caiaconnection.org