SHS's Tri-M Music Honor Society Hosts Haiti Benefit Concert Sunday

John Cuk, advisor to the Scarsdale High School Tri-M Music Honor Society, believes that music has the ability to transcend the boundaries often set forth by age, religion, and political affiliation.

"Whenever there's a tragedy, people get together and sing or play music," said Cuk. "There's a therapeutic aspect to that."

This weekend, Tri-M, a group of 30 high schoolers who excel not just in music but in academics, leadership, and community service as well, will be hosting a Haiti benefit concert.

Admission to the event—which will take place in the SHS Music Tower at 2pm on Sunday—is free, but Tri-M is accepting donations, all of which will go to the Afya Foundation, a Yonkers-based non-profit.

The Afya Foundation, founded and led by 1981 Scarsdale graduate Danielle Butin, has sent medical supplies to countries all over the world, but is now concentrating its efforts on helping Haitians who survived a series of devastating earthquakes in January.

Last year, Tri-M participated in Give the Gift of Music, an effort that sent dozens of donated instruments to New Orleans in support of rebuilding school music programs there.

Cuk said that many Tri-M members have stepped up to organize this weekend's Haiti benefit concert. From writing press releases to getting the word out to parents and organizations like Friends of Music and the Arts in Scarsdale Schools, Cuk said his students have taken the initiative in raising money for Haitian relief.

"The fact that the kids mobilized themselves to do this, as a teacher, it's almost more important than the monetary aspect. It really builds character," he said.

Monica Rajan, President of Tri-M, said that the concert is an entirely student-run effort.

"It's a really great cause and it's been a district-wide effort," Rajan said. "It really embodies the school motto non sibi [not for oneself alone]."

Rajan, who will be graduating this year, also volunteers her time at Heartsong, an organization that offers music and art therapy for special needs children.

Rajan hopes that Tri-M's efforts to get the word out about Sunday's concert will be fruitful both in raising money and awareness for Haiti.

"It's a really great feeling to know that this one action could really make a difference for someone else," she said.

Cuk said that students have been practicing their pieces for the event independently.

"They've taken the initiative to do a lot of things on their own. I've suggested things and given them advice, but basically it's all them," Cuk said.

Rajan, who is a vocalist and pianist, said that the concert will have "something for everyone," including a string quartet, a piano duet, and a violin trio.

Tri-M's vocalists and musicians will also perform works by Mozart and Chopin, as well as a performance of "Flight of the Bumblebees" on xylophone.