Yorktown, New York, residents Art and Nadeje Halperin are organizing a concert to benefit relief efforts in Haiti at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill on Sunday January 31, 2010 at 8pm. The Paramount Center for the Arts is located at 1008 Brown Street in Peekskill, New York. 

Art Halperin, an award-winning songwriter, singer, composer, producer and artist, has had a long connection with Haiti and the Caribbean for over 25 years.  His wife, Nadeje, was born and raised in Port-au-Prince and came to the United States in 1978.  The Halperins are utilizing their talents and resources to raise much-needed funds to help the devastated people of Haiti.  All donations will go to the “Stand for Haiti” initiative of Partners in Health, a registered non-profit organization that has provided relief to Haiti through medicine and trained medical staff since 1983. Founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Yong Kim (current President of Dartmouth College) and others, PIH today has the strongest health presence in Haiti, where in 2009 it treated 2.6 million patients there with clinic visits, vaccinations, mobile health care, and hospital services.

The benefit concert will feature Halperin’s band Work of Art. Other performers scheduled to appear include urban folk and jazz artist K.J. Denhert, Broadway stars Craig Schulman and Tamra Hayden, as well as interactive live painting by artist Zaza Noah. Zaza Noah, who was born in Africa and currently lives on the Caribbean island of St. Barth, will be painting live to Work of Art’s music. Her artwork will be auctioned off at the end of the show. 

The concert is being produced in partnership with Work of Art, Sword in the Stone Records Inc., the Paramount Center for the Arts, 100.7 WHUD, Pamal Broadcasting, and LF Communications, Inc. Tickets will be available at the door (cash and checks only) with a suggested minimum donation of $10.  No advance tickets will be available.  Tickets purchased by check are tax deductible and should be made out to “Partners in Health” with “Stand for Haiti” marked on the memo line. 

For information, see www.paramountcenter.org or www.WOAHaitiBenefit.com.

For full article, see http://www.westchester.com/Westchester_News/Entertainment/Haiti_Benefit_Concert_at_Paramount_2010012512709.html

For information on the participating artists, see Art Halperin and Work of Art at www.workofartmusic.com, KJ Denhert at www.kjdenhert.com, Craig Schulman at  www.craigschulman.com, Tamra Hayden at  www.tamrahayden.com and Zaza Noah at www.zazanoah.com

Photo of Zaza Noah and her artwork from http://www.omomisha.com/vol9-page4.html