“A Night for New Zealand” Benefit Concert

Updated April 30, 2011 6:40  p.m.

On February 21, 2011 a powerful 6.3 earthquake rocked Christchurch, New Zealand resulting in many fatalities and tremendous infrastructure devastation. Click here for a photoblog at MSNBC.  The funds raised from this upcoming benefit concert will directly support the victims of this tragic event. Click the following links for a March 3 article at the New Zealand news site TVNZ “Red Cross Says Emergency Grants Could Take up $13 million”   and the related video  of Sir John Hansen, Chairman of the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal Commission discussing the ongoing needs and that 10,000 people may apply for grants.

Event date: Friday, April 15th, 2011. 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (*Silent Auction: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. to view and bid on the items.)
Venue: St. Matthews United Church, 729 St. Clair Ave. West (at Rushton, just west of Christie), Toronto. Wheelchair accessible. 500 capacity. Download PDF of Google Map St. Matthews Church 729 St. Clair or get directions from your location using  Google Maps .
Parking:  there is limited parking behind the church. There are many public lots in the vacinity.
Admission (benefit concert): $15 regular, $10 students, $40 families
For more info: Dr. Paul Jessen, info@paulemlynjessen.ca or call 416-419-6904.

Click here for a PDF of the Programme .

I will be attending this fundraiser for Christchurch, New Zealand, organized by Dr. Paul Jessen and Dr. Cristina Lai (a part-Maori from Taiwan) which will have a focus on music and dance. The evening will cater to every taste, with rap, ballet, and ballroom dancing, popular songs, jazz standards, and classical music. A call for donations, a silent auction* and refreshments will add to the funds raised through admission.
**See below for list of performers, event sponsors,  and silent auction items donors.

The church holds up to 600 people. It would be great if they could have a full house. To reserve tickets and pay for them in cash at the door  email info@paulemlynjessen.ca .

* I am an Independent Representative of Silpada Sterling Silver Jewellery. I am donating a sterling silver “cha-cha” bracelet worth $202.00 (Cdn$) for the silent auction. Click the following link for a PDF of the catalogue page. It is Item C.   Sterling Silver Silpada Canada Cha-Cha Bracelet .  In addition I will donate 15% of my retail sales to anyone purchasing Silpada jewellery from me in Canada prior to May 15 who tells me they want to support this fundraiser.  Email me at sailonsilvergirl@rogers.com  for the link to my MySilpada webpage for online ordering,  to attend my next party, or for more info on Silpada. Or hold your own party and raise some more funds for this cause!

Hope to see you there. I will be the one wearing all the silver….

glenda

**PERFORMERS

• Susan Hirst, a NZ soprano resident in Toronto
• Dr. Paul Jessen, a NZ choir director, organist, and pianist resident in Toronto
• Ben D’Cunha, voice and piano, jazz standards
• Allan Macdonald (tenor)
• Christie Chorale, director Dr. Paul Jessen
• St. Matthew’s Church Choir, Dr. Paul Jessen
• Students from the Claude Watson School of the Arts program based at Earl Haig Secondary School
• Rock band
• Ballroom dancing demo
• Ballet dancing
• Rap dancing
• A string quartet
• A brass band
• A mini fashion show

MUSIC

• Pokarekare Ana (famous Maori song) arranged by Dr. Paul Jessen
• Songs from Musicals (On a Clear Day, Merry Widow)
• Jazz standards
• Spirituals & other lighter music

EVENT SPONSORS

• A. F. Home Bakery (cookies)
• Baker Street
• Starbucks (coffee)
• Tim Horton’s (St. Clair at Vaughan) (tea)
• World Class Bakers (coffee and cookies)

SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. to view and bid on the items including:

• Works from the Canadian Art Foundation  and subcriptions to their magazine Canadian Art
• Pen and ink drawing ($50) from Roger and Joan Cummington
• A collector’s item model of the first USS Enterprise ($35) from the Star Trek television series from John’s Hobbies
• Sterling silver Silpada “cha cha” bracelet ($202) from Glenda MacDonald, Independent Representative Silpada Designs (see link to picture in article above)
• 3 books (min. bid $5 ea.) by Master Sha
• Gift certificates from Absolute Endurance Training and Therapy ($180),  Acquolina Ristorante  ($40) , domenica & drea Salon Spa ($120) , Gerry’s Fast Food ($20) Hemingways restauant ($100),  and Vivace Dance Studio (dance lessons).