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Ninth Annual Transformation Through Rhythm Concert to Benefit Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya

February 26, 2020

The community is invited to the ninth annual benefit concert, Transformation Through Rhythm, on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the DeKalb High School Auditorium. The concert will feature the Harambee African Percussion Ensemble, the DeKalb High School Percussion Ensemble, and the Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble. Free will donations are appreciated.

The annual Transformation Through Rhythm concert brings diverse performers and audience members together to celebrate community, service and music. Previous years proceeds have benefited Knysna Hospice in South Africa. This year’s concert offers an opportunity to support the Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls (JAMS) in Kenya.

JAMS was founded by DeKalb residents and NIU professors Teresa Wasonga and Andrew Otieno to provide orphaned and needy girls in rural, western Kenya a high school education “good enough for the richest, open to the poorest.” All donations received at the concert will provide books for the school’s new library.

Friends of JAMS will hold an African crafts market offering baskets and other beautiful hand-made items. All craft sale proceeds will benefit the new JAMS library as well.

Greg Beyer, Fulbright Scholar, composer, educator, and head of percussion studies at NIU said, “Music’s organized sounds possess powerful magic. Through our Transformation Through Rhythm Concert, we choose to use the best of music’s healing energy to bring our community together in celebration of our common values and share what we have to offer in support of those in need half way across the planet at the Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya.”

Sponsors of this event are Northern Illinois University School of Music, DeKalb High School and School District 428, the Harambee African Ensemble, Gateway Arts Building and Friends of JAMS. For more information about Transformation Through Rhythm, call (630) 360-3067 or email gatewayartsbldg@gmail.com. For more information about Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls, visit www.JAMSKenya.org or email Friends@JAMSKenya.org.