HKSB News Release
An Evening of Sight Through Sound Raises Funds for Blind Senior Center
December 13, 2009, New York — Over 100 dedicated souls braved the severe elements Sunday night (December 13th) to attend a unique charity concert at Farmingdale State College.
Jaisook Jin and the students and faculty of The Manhasset School of Music presented a concert entitled An Evening of Sight Through Sound—an evening of opera and classical music that benefited Helen Keller Services for the Blind’s Nassau Senior Center.
What was unique about the event that it all came about through an idea by a 16 year old Roslyn Heights resident.
Background —A young lady came into contact with Helen Keller Services for the Blind’s Nassau Senior Center a few months back because of a school project centered on a single word—blindness. The young lady and her partner wrote and performed a play that she staged not only for her school but for parents as well. Part of the research for her project involved interviewing the blind and visually impaired seniors Helen Keller for the Blind serves at its center and she loved the interaction so much she gave them a mini-concert. Lauren Nathan, the young lady in question, is a junior at Wheatley School in Old Westbury who also happens to be an opera singer, training in the craft for over 7 years. She came up with the idea of putting together a paying concert to raise funds for the center. She enlisted her singing teacher and other classical performers to donate their time for a 90 minute performance.
It all came together beautifully with various partners, sponsors and donors and the concert was performed at Roosevelt Hall on the campus of Farmingdale State College on Sunday, December 13th. A huge thanks to President Hubert Keen from the College for donating the use of the auditorium for the night. Other sponsors included the Hotel Indigo East End and Thomas Jacoberger and Transitional Computing and the Lions Club of Mineola, who donated $1,000 to cover all expenses.
During her welcome speech, Ms. Nathan credited Helen Keller for being an inspiration to her and showing her that “nothing is impossible.” Through her efforts and those of her mom, Liza Nathan (who worked tirelessly behind the scenes), Lauren raised over $8,000 for the senior center.
List of Performers/Faculty and Students of the Manhasset School of Music—Lauren Nathan, Michael Bulychev-Okser, Jung Won Yoon, Jeehyun Shin, Jiwon Suh, Daniel Hanul Lee, Dimitri Joseph Moise, Brendan Quinn, Justin J. Maloney, John B. Magovern, Angela Yoo, Elise Baik, and Jaisook Jin
photo: Jaisook Jin (left) and Lauren Nathan
