Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus presents the “One Soul, One Community” benefit concert for Haiti this Sunday, October 17th, starting at 2PM at the Cathedral of St. Mary. The performance will benefit the hundreds of Haitians displaced by the earthquake who are now living in Miami.

The centerpiece of the  program will feature a soul-stirring performance of “Kinalaganach”, a newly commissioned work in Creole by Haitian-American composer Sydney Guillaume that will be sung by the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami and accompanied by the MDC Da Capa Brass Ensemble. According to Guillaume, “Kinalaganch” was inspired by the resolve of the Haitian people. “Despite the gravity of the catastrophe and the incredible amount of suffering the earthquake caused, the people of Haiti continue to demonstrate a strong desire to live and to overcome all their misfortunes.”

Guillaume’s father, Gabriel T. Guillaume, who wrote the original text for “Kinalaganch”, frames the work’s themes this way: Fight until the last breath, Hope against all odds, Never give up despite of the circumstances… That is the Haitian People. That is “Kinalaganach”.

Communicating this message of hope and triumph over “all odds” is not always easy for a composer. When I spoke to Sydney Guillaume, he told me that his biggest challenge with this piece was figuring out “how to express human feelings such as joy, frustration, suffering, anger, sadness effectively in my work, always hoping those feelings will come through in the music.” “One Soul, One Community” is free however donations are gratefully accepted. In addition, beginning at 2PM, there will be a sale of Haitian Art, and legal and social services providers will be available at the church for those in need and to provide information for volunteers.

The benefit concert will take place at 4:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Mary, 7525 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami 33150. For further information call 305-490-5930 or email: [email protected].