Haitian Music of Justin Elie, Julio Racine, Emile Desamours, Dickens Princivil & Jean Rudy Perrault at Peoria Benefit Jan. 22

[TOP: Justin Elie (Cover photo of sheet music for Nostalgie) BOTTOM: Julio Racine]

Justin Elie (1883-1931) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com  Julio Racine (b. 1945) is another Haitian composer who is featured at AfriClassical.com. Works of Justin Elie and Julio Racine will be included in the concert program:

Dr.Joshua Russell is Instructional Assistant Professor of Piano at Illinois State University. He sends us this press release:

“On Sunday, January 22, 2012, at 6:00p.m. at United Presbyterian Church, in Peoria, IL, Dr. John Jost is hosting a concert of Haitian choral and orchestral music to benefit the Holy Trinity Music School's Summer Music Camp for Haitian youth. The concert will feature works by Emile Desamours, Dickens Princivil, Julio Racine, and Jean Rudy Perrault. The concert will close with a performance of Justin Elie's Fantaisie Tropicale, conducted by John Jost with Joshua Russell as piano soloist.

“To hear excerpts of the Fantaisie Tropicale, you can visit Joshua Russell's website at: http://www.joshuarussellpianist.com/haitian-piano-music/ 

“Proceeds will go toward camp expenses and helping provide airfare for experienced teachers, including Haitian musicians living in the U.S. to participate in the summer music camp for Haitian youth. This past July the three-week music camp was held in Cange, Haiti. a tiny mountain town with wonderful facilities thanks to Dr. Paul Farmer's Partners in Health (their headquarters in Haiti) and the Cange Episcopal Church. This area was not affected by the tragic earthquake of two years ago, and the relative prosperity of this region is a testimony to Haiti's potential for progress.

“About 250 youth particpated, from both the Holy Trinity Music School and the local villages. Small music programs have been springing up all around Haiti in recent years - there are at least 20 at present many of which have received some type of pedagogical help from the Holy Trinity program. Music continues to be a profoundly important part of Haitian life, a potent source of hope and expression.”