A Benefit Concert, ‘New Orleans Night Of Jazz,’

For Hurricane Victims, Is In The Works

By Susan Coney

Parents, students, staff and administrators from two schools have been busy pulling together plans to put on a communitywide benefit concert for the gulf hurricane victims. Entitled “New Orleans Night of Jazz,” the event will take place on Monday, November 21, at 7 pm, at Reed Intermediate School, with a snow date of November 22.

Mmusicians from Newtown Middle School Jazz Ensemble and Newtown High School Jazz combo, plus the adult band Judson Jazz, will provide the evening’s entertainment.

Attendees will be treated to French pastries and coffee provided by the NHS advanced culinary students who have volunteered their time and talents to make the authentic pastries. The event will be set up like a relaxed, New Orleans style coffee house.

Admission is $25 for adults, and $10 students and seniors. All proceeds will go to AmeriCares, a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that provides immediate response to emergency medical needs, and also  supports long-term humanitarian assistance,  around the world.

AmeriCares is a Connecticut-based organization. Since its founding, AmeriCares has provided more than $4 billion in aid in more than 135 countries.

The concert committee, which is made up of individuals from throughout the community, chose AmeriCares as the recipient of the donations because of its exemplary record of maintaining an extremely low overhead, consistently making the organization one of the most efficient charities in the nonprofit sector. AmeriCares promises that donor dollars go to save lives, not to support administrative expenses.

Tickets and posters for “New Orleans Night of Jazz,” which will take place in the school’s cafetorium, are being designed and printed by the graphics art department at Newtown High School under the direction and supervision of teacher Kurt Ryder. The posters will be distributed around town in hopes of inspiring a large turnout.

There will be 550 tickets going on sale for the event. Even the musicians who will be providing the entertainment as well as all other workers at the event will be purchasing tickets to help support the cause.

Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the middle school at 426-7644. Those wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution are also welcome to contact the school.