Music For Mankind® Events 2012

Starting a new year! Wow. It's amazing to realize this is our sixth year. So much has happened in the past five years, it's incredible to think that more can still happen, but it can, and does and will.

2011 was quite an exciting year. I was involved in several events; an opera, a musical, a dance contest, and the audition for America's Got Talent; outside of our normal concert series, and at the same time the concert series did better than ever. As if that wasn't enough, I sang the National Anthem at stadiums all around the Northeast, at each event promoting Music For Mankind®.

2012 brings a whole new set of events. In December 2011 I studied Show dance, then in January took lessons in Tap dance. I added quite a bit more dance; Jazz, Show, and Tap; to the show.

During this time I worked with stage director Diana Stugger of Opera Theatre of Weston to fully stage Give My Regards To Broadway. The concert is now a show, with a lot of movement, and themes to each song. Having grown up in theatre and musical theatre this feels right to me, as though I've come back home. I'm enjoying the show now on an entirely new level, and the response is wonderful.

Here's what Dorothy Sullivan, Activities Director of Wheelock Terrace said about our show earlier this month.
 
"Kelly Moore's performance of Give My Regards To Broadway is nothing less than spectacular! His singing is absolutely beautiful and he presents himself with confidence and professionalism. Add to that, his new found talent, tap dancing!

The audience thoroughly enjoyed Kelly's performance. The songs from Broadway shows were very well received as they are known and loved by those who came to hear him. The hour performance went by too quickly and we look forward to having Kelly perform again in the near future.

I would highly recommend Kelly Moore and his program Give My Regards To Broadway to others. This performance is not to be missed!"

--Dorothy Sullivan, Activities Director, Wheelock Terrace, Hanover, NH

We've started this year off with several concert "shows" in Vermont and New Hampshire, and later this week I head to California for several dates in San Diego, my first performances of Give My Regards To Broadway on the West Coast!

When I return from California there are several performances booked in April and May, then more later in the year, including singing the Star Spangled Banner in July for the Vermont Lake Monsters.
 
Dates are booked throughout the year, so keep an eye on our Events page.

I wish to thank our sponsors Luxbrush Painting Company, Maple Street School, The Image Loft, Graph-X and Manchester Carpet Care, and everyone who reads this for your support and enthusiasm for Music For Mankind®.

Best wishes to all,
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Our Sponsors Are Angels!

We would like to gratefully thank our new Angel Sponsors for their generous contributions to Music For Mankind®, helping to fuel our work in doing all we can to alleviate chronic global hunger. No one should go to bed hungry.

You will see their logos on our website, newsletters with links to their websites, and read about them in our press releases. If you wish to become a sponsor, please contact us at info@musicformankind.net or 802-362-3806 or go to our Sponsorship page.

Our sincerest thanks!

Thank You and Happy New Year!

What A Year!

A year ago at this time I was in rehearsals for Mozart's The Magic Flute. I had no idea at that time that this year would turn out the way it did. And now it's drawing to a close. Looking back, it's still hard to believe that all of this has happened in just one year.

I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of folks for making this possible.

Thank you Nan Nall and Lise Messier of Opera Theatre of Weston, my vocal coaches and Producers of "The Magic Flute; Paul Opel, Kent Baker and Gary Schmidt, my pianists - 32 performances of Give My Regards To Broadway since we started, in Vermont, New York, Massachussets, and New Hampshire. Thank you to all our gracious hosts for having us.

Rip Jackson, Mitch Rosengarten and Diane Chart of Grace Congregational Church in Rutland for the opportunity you gave me to perform in Miss Saigon; and all the cast and crew. What an amazing and emotional experience that was.

Thank you Katie Gartner and Manchester Music Festival for the opportunity to sing with you this summer. Suprises are such fun!

Bernadette Robins and all the folks of Dancing With The Rutland Stars, and especially my dance partner, Nicole Fabian; thank you for giving me the opportunity to dance! What a joyful time we all had.

Thank you Kristi Segura, Jim Raposa, Ashley Hensel-Browning, and Erica Schmidt for all the dance lessons. What a joy to be dancing again.

My sincere thanks to The Vermont LakeMonsters, Tri-City ValleyCats, Pittsfield Colonials, Lowell Spinners, and University of Vermont Catamounts for the opportunity to sing The Star Spangled Banner. I am deeply honored.

My sincere thanks to my Board of Directors for believing in me and believing in my vision. I simply could not do this without you.

Jayne West, I cannot thank you enough for your incredible work on the Music For Mankind® website, your help with all of these emails, your friendship and support. You are a gem!

My deepest gratitude, however, goes to those of you, friends, family, and folks I've never met, who have so generously contributed to this cause.

I still remember standing in that stone hut in the mountains of northwestern Nicaragua in 2008, handing simple bowls of food to children who walk eight miles every day up and down mountainous, dirt roads just to go to school and receive what, for many of them is the only food they will eat all day; that simple look of gratitude in their eyes will stay with me all of my life. It brought tears to my eyes. It's because of you who contribute that make this possible to continue yet one more day. I so wish you could stand in that hut with me and see that look.

I feel as though this year has been a big stepping stone. I'm not completely sure where it's going. I have some glimpses. We'll see. But it has been absolutely amazing.

Thank you, with all of my heart, for all that each of you have done with me this year. Here's to 2012! May it bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all of you.

Best and warmest wishes to all,

Letter From The President

Five years ago in March 2007, after six months of planning and hard work, my dream of Music For Mankind® became a reality when we performed our first Music For Mankind® concert at the Riley Center For The Arts at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. Since that day we have fed nearly 40,000 people and counting.


I didn't do this by myself. It has taken the care and efforts of many people to get us where we are today.

Two years ago I started the Music For Mankind® Annual Fund Drive to help us in our efforts; through concerts, lectures, documentary presentations, and food drives; to help those who struggle every day to survive, and my heart is deeply touched with gratitude every time we receive a donation.

Music For Mankind® continues to grow. Your help is needed at this time to help us in that growth. Materials and supplies are needed for our new programs that we will be launching in 2012. These programs can put us on a new and bigger "stage" with the ability to help many more people, here at home, and around the world.
 
I'm personally reaching out to you at this time to ask you to please give, even a little. In our Declaration of Hope Sponsorships page you can learn about giving a one-time donation, or sign up for our new monthly subscription. There are several levels of giving, and any level in which you can give will help tremendously. Please take a moment to visit and give. Every little bit really does help.

Thank you for your time, consideration and support.

Sincerely,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

La Torreador - The Fun Never Stops

Recently I was invited to be part of a surprise performance with artists from the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann's Young Artists Development Program. The concert took place last Thursday evening, August 18, 2011 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont. This was the final 2011 summer concert for the Manchester Music Festival, and featured Layla Claire, Soprano; Renée Tatum, Mezzo Soprano; Andrew Bidlak, Tenor; Edward Parks, Baritone; and Caren Levine, Piano.

A delightful and full two-hour concert, the audience was rockin' throughout, thoroughly enjoying the vocal and piano pyrotechnics, sweet melencholy and emotional pieces, and huge dynamic range of music, vocal and instrumental ability of all.

The last piece was "Votre toast, je peux le rendre", the famous "Torreador" from the George Bizet opera "Carmen" featuring Edward Parks, Baritone. He delivered the popular and famous song in rich and full voice. The surprise that we had in store was that, when the song arrived at the choral section, about twenty or so of us jumped up from our seats, the house lights came up, and we sang the chorus in full SATB! The audience was absolutely delighted. Then, as Mr. Parks sang the next segment, all of us choral folks walked through the audience welcoming and sharing such a delightful moment together. As Mr. Parks sang his second chorus section, we "wandered" up to stand in front of the stage and join in on the final chorus and coda.

Of course we were totally thrilled to be singing with artists from "The Met" and applauded them vigorously. And they graciously and enthusiastically applauded our efforts as well. We all of us completely enjoyed the opportunity and fun of singing together. And we rocked the house! What a treat!

It's only mid-August, and already this year I've been in my first opera, Mozart's "The Magic Flute", performed in the powerful and emotionally wrenching musical "Miss Saigon", sang with artists from The Met, been performing my own concert series "Give My Regards To Broadway" all around New England, and have sung our National Anthem at four baseball games. And the fun doesn't stop there.

I will be returning to Burlington, Vermont to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" on Sunday August 28 for the Vermont Lake Monsters, and again on Wednesday August 31 in Lowell, MA for the Lowell Spinners, the Single A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox! I am thrilled to once again honor our country with this great song.

And each time I perform, whether it's a Music For Mankind® event or not, I hold a thought close to my heart of those less fortunate and hope that somehow my small efforts can help them in their struggles to create their own lives in peace and fulfillment.

Yet what I do can only succeed because of all of you who help me in my continuing efforts. Please know how grateful I am to you for your support.

I hope to see you at a concert, game or other event soon.

Please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/ to see all the events we have listed there.

From Folk Music to Opera

Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore, having successfully created his new concert series, Give My Regards To Broadway, has accepted a role in the Opera Theatre of Weston's January 2011 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

 Kelly will sing in the Select Chorus and also perform as a Temple "Slave".

Opera Theatre of Weston Co-Producer Lise Messier said about him, "A multi-talented performer, Kelly brings enormous enthusiasm, solid vocal skills, sensitive and honest interpretations, and a big heart to a wide-ranging repertoire. He is a gifted entertainer. His background in theater, dance, and singing are a perfect fit for this production."

"Having grown up in theatre, this is my first performance in opera," said Kelly, "and I'm very excited to be in this one. Mozart's music is so beautiful that it brings tears to your eyes. To start at this level is, for me, an incredible experience."

"And," he added, "working with the OTW producers, directors and everyone involved is great. I'm really enjoying this and looking forward to the performances."

Performances will be as follows:

On Saturday January 8, starting at 3:00 PM, the performance will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland.

On Saturday January 15, a 3:00 performance will be held at the Weston Playhouse, in Weston, Vermont, and then again on Sunday January 16, with the performance starting at 2:00 PM.

There will also be performances for local schools.

Tickets can be purchased at:

Paramount Theatre
Box Office 802.775.0903
http://www.paramountlive.org/

Opera Theatre of Weston
Box Office 802.824.3821
Email: otw@sover.net
http://www.operatheatreofweston.org/

For more information about Opera Theatre of Weston please visit our friends at www.operatheatreofweston.org

Give My Regards Concerts Huge Success!

Music For Mankind® - Give My Regards To Broadway Concerts A Huge Success

Starting at the end of July, with Rutland pianist Paul Opel, I've been performing the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts all over Vermont, in New Hampshire, Massachussets and upper New York State to incrediby touching enthusiasm.

Starting the new series in retirement homes, sharing songs that I grew up with in musical theatre as a teenager, with octogenarians and up who were introduced to these same songs in their adulthood, the bond created singing together is powerful and emotional. You can hear a sample of the concert here.

I'd like to share a couple of personal stories here. Several times, after the concert I've been approached by a concert-goer in tears who has held my hand, thanked me profusely, and told me, "You have no idea the memories you have brought back."

And another, clearly in her mid to late eighties, who told me, "You made me feel young again. Thank you!".

Already this concert series is doing much more than I anticipated. It's so sweet when the audience is singing along on songs that mean so much to them, and to me, as well. And at the end, when we sing "Edelweiss" together, and everyone joins in, even those who hadn't sung previously, and those who smile who hadn't smiled the entire concert, I feel such a gratitude to be able to bring this experience to them and to share it with them.

When I sing "Try To Remember", and in the third verse I get to the line of "Deep in December it's nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow", sometimes I get choked up myself thinking about what this means to them, and what it means to me now, and what it will mean to me when I'm their age, and I'm touched and honored that what I can do is able to do this much for them.

To perform these concerts, to touch people's hearts, and to be able to contribute to organizations like the UN World Food Program and Feeding America, and help those who struggle every day just to survive, is a double dose of humility for me. I'm very thankful that I've been given this gift of music. It does things in my heart that I can never express, but just to let it out. I go around thinking, "If only people could feel what I'm feeling!", and possibly they are.

I've been showing my documentary, "Nicaragua - On The Ground", as well, and oftentimes am asked, "How can I help?".

We're continuing to book the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts, and expanding our reach into tour bus groups, resorts, corporate conventions and other events. Perhaps you have or know a group who would enjoy this music. Please let me know. That's how you can help. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802-362-3806.

Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm.

Kelly

Links:
Nicaragua - On The Ground
Give My Regards To Broadway

Guest Post by Senator George McGovern

Music For Mankind® contributes to the United Nations World Food Program School Feeding Program, which was started by Senator George McGovern. I have had the pleasure of meeting him twice while in Washington.

Recently the Friends of the World Food Program posted the following from him on their blog, and have been kind enough to allow me to share his posting with you here on my blog.

A Humbling Experience in One of Africa's Largest Slums

By Senator George McGovern

Originally posted on Friends of the World Food Program Blog Thursday May 13, 2010

Hunger is something I have fought tirelessly by encouraging a global commitment to school meals and nutrition. I am currently on a 10-day visit to Kenya and Uganda to see United Nations World Food Program (WFP) projects serving the same cause. This visit comes 50 years after President John F. Kennedy appointed me the first director of the U.S. Food for Peace Program.

On Tuesday, I visited the Nairobi slum of Kibera—the largest slum in East and Central Africa—with more than 1 million people. Life is hard and most residents struggle daily to put a meal on the table. Many of the children in Kibera are orphans, having lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.


I want to share with you a touching experience when I met Lilian Adhiambo, a 22-year-old woman who is HIV positive and lives in Kibera. Lilian, through her HIV-infected child, receives WFP food assistance through a program feeding children who are HIV positive and their families.


With Lilian and her child, I saw the important role that nutrition plays in the management of the disease. Lilian said that with the WFP food, she and her child, together with the rest of the family, are able to lead a normal life and that she can even engage in small income-generating activities which, however, don’t always do very well because of the high levels of poverty in the slums.

Amid the squalor of Kibera, Lilian’s house, though mud walled and with a dirt floor, was sparkling clean and her sparse furniture was neatly arranged in her small room. The resilience I saw in her humbled me.


I danced with a 10-year-old lady from Stara Rescue Centre, and listened to poetry and songs from children in the centre, which is both a school and haven for destitute and orphaned children.

The poems and songs were about the nutritious lunch they receive daily in school because of WFP and how it helps them concentrate in class and encourages them to stay in school. At that moment, I was proud of the fact that in 2001, together with my colleague Senator Robert Dole, we pushed for the McGovern-Dole program which supports WFP’s school meals in Kenya.

I firmly believe that school meals are the most important form of assistance that the United States can give in Kenya and other parts of the world. This is because school meals provide both a safety net for hungry children and an incentive to keep them in school so they can learn for a better future.

###

For more information about Music For Mankind® please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/

Music For Mankind® - Ride For The Hungry™

Music For Mankind founder, Kelly Moore is starting the first of several fundraising motorcycle rallies.

Proceeds to be contributed to the United Nations World Food Program and Feeding America.

July 11, 2010


Registration 9:00 - 10:00 AM at Ronnie's Cycle, Rte. 9, Bennington, VT
Depart 10:30 AM
1st stop in Manchester, VT 11:00 AM (call 802-362-3806 for location)
Anyone who wishes to start the ride here is welcome.
Leave Manchester at 11:30 AM
Lunch at Matterhorn Inn, Rte. 100, Dover, VT
Return after lunch to Ronnie's Cycle
Riders traveling from out of state are welcome to stay at the Matterhorn Inn. Discount prices offered for rally participants. Call 802-464-4676
Click here for the printable poster.
Please email kelly@musicformankind.net if you plan to attend so we can have a count for lunch.
For more information about Music For Mankind® please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/

Music For Mankind, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity non profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent the law allows.

Last Reminder: Webcast Benefit Concert

I met these two adorable children in Nicaragua. They look to be about 1 and 3 years old. They are 2 and 4 years old. This is due to severe and chronic malnutrition. That look you see goes right through you. We called it the 100 mile stare. I think these two are really, really hungry. It's heart-breaking. An image I will never forget, and one I remember often when sitting down to a meal.

The webcast concert we are performing is to help children and others who just need a hand up. The concert will be available starting this Saturday March 20 at http://www.musicformankind.net/ on the Webcast page. You can find it in the pulldown menu from the Multimedia tab. Donations given online will go to help  the incredible efforts of the UN World Food Program, Feeding America, and The Prem Rawat Foundation.

If any of you are having a group viewing, please let me know by emailing me at kelly@musicformankind.net . I'd like to personally and publicly thank you for your support.

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support. It means so much in this effort to help.
Kelly

Save The Date for the Webcast Concert!

Please join us in helping those who struggle every day to survive!

I'll be performing a benefit concert, sort of a double header. The donations at the concert will go to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard. Online donations will go to the UN World Food Program's School Feeding Program, Feeding America (the national foodbank, formerly Second Harvest), and The Prem Rawat Foundation.

The webcast will be available Saturday March 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM. The concert will be performed in Manchester, VT. Hillary Smith and Anne D'Olivo,the vocalists from my ensembl Emerald Dreams will be performing with me. They are delightful singers and I really enjoy performing with them.

This is the first time we've done something like this, and I'm very excited and hopeful for a great outcome. We really need you to be a part of this, and to donate.

I've been in the field, and I've experienced it first-hand. Both the need and the hope. If my little efforts can help bring more people together as a community to help our global community, then we've succeeded. So please join us, enjoy the concert, and together let's make a difference.

Thanks!
Kelly Moore