Monday, January 9, 2012

The African Children's Choir Rocks Rainey Street January 19th


The African Children's Choir Rocks Rainey Street!
“Helping Africa’s most vulnerable children today,
 so they can help Africa tomorrow”

AUSTIN CONNECTION: FORMER AUSTIN RESIDENT LOSES HOME IN CENTRAL TEXAS FIRES WHILE IN AFRICA HELPING CHILDREN

Join musical guests Carolyn Wonderland, Guy Forsyth, Patrice Pike and the internationally acclaimed African Children's Choir as they bring down the house in a benefit concert at Lustre Pearl, one of the city's premier hotspots. All ages are welcome.
 
For almost three decades, the Music for Life Institute, the parent organization of African Children's Choir, has educated over 50,000 vulnerable children and has directly impacted over 100,000 people through their relief and development efforts. Now Central Texans are invited to meet the children, listen to some great music and support a phenomenal cause.
 
All proceeds from this event – generously hosted by Lustre Pearl owner Bridget Dunlap – go toward offsetting the African food crisis that has adversely impacted Music for Life schools causing food prices to skyrocket. If the $10,000 goal is shattered, additional funds will pay for gardens and fencing so students can grow their own food. The event includes a silent auction and VIP accommodations.
 
Music For Life programs help children in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Sudan. It was almost three years ago Austin resident Scott Lambie quit his Fortune 500 company job and moved his entire family to Uganda to become part of this prestigious program.
 
“We both found ourselves staring at the ceiling at night wondering if that was really the purpose for our lives,” Scott says of himself and his wife Sarah. “We both felt like we needed to do something more significant with our time and we were always drawn to help needy children.”

After a trip to Africa helping with choir music camps in some of the country’s poorest slums, Lambie, now 39, returned a changed man.
 
“It was clear that this organization was significantly transforming the lives of children from some of the most extreme poverty on earth. After making the decision to move, everything just fell into place,” he recalls.
 
It was a hard sell to their families – on Sarah’s side all the grandchildren are now in Africa – Andrew, 14, Noah, 6 and Cory, 8. The Lambies are in the midst of adopting two more children before they return.
 
But their return date is uncertain. While in Africa, their home was destroyed in the recent Central Texas fires.  “We were considering returning next year, but when our house in Austin burned down, we felt that was a sign that we should stay,” Scott says.

During the Jan. 19 benefit concert, the Austin community has the opportunity to meet some of the children directly benefiting from Music For Life’s work in Uganda where the Lambies now live.
 
Be a part of helping Africa's children today to create the leaders of tomorrow.
 
The African Children’s Choir has been working with the most vulnerable children in Africa, raising awareness of the plight of Africa’s orphaned and abandoned, but also showing the beauty, dignity and potential of each African child.
Many choir children go on to attend university or vocational schools. They go on to become doctors, lawyers and leaders in their home countries. Many have given back to programs that were so instrumental in changing their lives.
 
The Choir has performed on some of the world’s greatest stages including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Garden, and the White House. They have performed with legendary entertainers like Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Tony Bennett, and Alicia Keyes. They have also performed for several U.S. presidents, Queen Elizabeth II and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela.
 
Details 
WHO: The African Children's Choir Rocks Rainey Street, a Benefit Concert for the African Children's Choir with special guests Guy Forsyth, Carolyn Wonderland and Patrice Pike
WHAT: Benefit Concert, Silent Auction, $1,000 VIP packages available
WHEN: Jan. 19, 2012, doors open 6:30
WHERE: Lustre Pearl, 97 Rainey Street, Austin, TX  78701
COST:  $15/person in advance http://www.AfricanChildrensChoir.com/AustinShow
 $20 at door; for children 12 and under a donation is suggested; $1,000 VIP group packages available
CONTACT:
 Choir volunteers & event producers Lance Ellisor (921-7824) and Clara Herrera (284-1214)
 Corporate VIP packages: Bridget Dunlap, Lustre Pearl bridget@dunlapdistrict.com
 Scott Lambie, Music for Life, Kampala Uganda 256-783-054-103
 Austin resident Julia Tracy, International Choir Operations Director, 201-978-8224, julia@africanchildrenschoir.com

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