Canterbury Choral Society will raise money for Haiti earthquake relief efforts when it performs 4 p.m. Sunday, January 24, at Oklahoma City University's Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel, 2501 N Blackwelder.
The dramatic effects of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, shook Judith Willoughby, artistic director of Canterbury Youth Choruses, into action.
"I can't imagine how I would be coping if a building had just fallen on me or those I cared for, and there was no power, phone service, or hospital care because all were in the same boat," said Willoughby. She started making phone calls.
Two days later, Canterbury announced a concert to raise support for the victims of the disaster.
"We pulled it all together in 48 hours," said Kay E. Holt, executive director of Canterbury Choral Society.
Canterbury Choral Society has a history of partnering with relief efforts in disaster-stricken areas. Canterbury dedicated 10 percent of its concert season's ticket sales toward Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005.
"It's been a part of our history," said Holt.
The newest chapter in Canterbury's charity history will be a concert of the Canterbury Adult Chorus, the Canterbury Youth Choruses. Canterbury hopes to have several musicians and choirs from local schools and universities perform as well. All proceeds will benefit relief work in Haiti.
"Everyone who's seen TV has seen the devastation," said Holt. "We just jumped on board."
