ICYMI: Tri-M Benefit Concert brings light to young Haitian orphan

The Tri-M Benefit Concert, held on January 28, 2016 at 7 p.m., showcased a variety of talented musicians in hopes of raising enough donations to purchase music materials for orphans in Haiti.

Donations collected at the event amounted to over 150 dollars to go towards the purchase of instruments, sheet music and other musical tools. Tri-M sends these to the Ministry of Restoration Orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti via the Paul Smith Musical Industry, Smith being one of Palmetto’s former band directors.

“We’re benefitting children who really don’t have anything, so being able to provide them with instruments and accessories gives them hope and validation,” junior and Tri-M president Klairissa Putt said. “It gives them something to do that lifts their spirits.”

After the devastating 2012 earthquake in Haiti, the orphanage admitted more children, increasing the need for donated music materials.

Tri-M — short for Modern Music Masters — consists of National Music Honor Society members who facilitate the show alongside Maer. This is the second annual Tri-M Benefit Concert, but Maer and Tri-M members hope to spread the word in order to receive more donations in the future.

“Even though we didn’t get the crowd that we wanted, the more we advertise it, the more people will know what Tri-M is,” chorus and AP music theory teacher Jennifer Maer said.

Students outside of Tri-M express similar concerns for a charity they earnestly care for.

“I noticed that no one really auditioned for it, and I was wondering why people wouldn’t want to audition for such a good cause,” senior and performer Jewel Johnson said. “It’s so underrated.”

Students of all ages and talents auditioned for the show. Performances included singing, a violin solo, a piano duet and a spoken-word act, displaying an array of different types of entertainment.

“Just knowing that you’re helping the kids is a great feeling because you’re helping someone else and raising money for them in order to learn music and appreciate it,” junior Gianna Failla said.

The performances contain a personal aspect in addition to its charity benefits for some of the performers.

“Other than raising money, it also gives [us] a chance to show people what we can do,” junior Natalie Huisa said.

Tri-M members, chorus and AP Music Theory students alike have high hopes of publicizing the event for next year while raising awareness about the purpose of the donations. The Modern Music Masters hope that the long-term goal will reach more of the Palmetto student body in coming years.

“I think that the orphanage is a good way for us to remember that this is something bigger than ourselves,” Maer said. “It makes us better people.”