12/16/15 Sonic Relief: A Fundraising Concert for Syrian Refugees

Curated and organized by musicians Gabriela Martina (CH), Sophie Maricq (ESP/UK/BE) and Jussi Reijonen (FIN) in collaboration with Berklee College of Music’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, SONIC RELIEF is a humanitarian fundraising concert to gather donations and raise awareness to aid refugees of the war in Syria. Now in its fifth year, the war has cost the lives of more than 250,000 people, and displaced over 11 million people, creating a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.

This concert brings together musicians from around the world who will perform classical repertoire of their respective traditions to promote social awareness of the Syrian humanitarian crisis. Performing onstage will be world-renowned Arabic oud (11-string fretless lute) and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen, as well as the Lee Swensen Katz Trio with Cleveland Quartet founding member and Grammy-award winning cellist Paul Katz.

All artists are forgoing their performance fees to support the cause.All proceeds will be donated towards humanitarian aid in refugee camps and conflict-affected areas in Syria and Jordan via Questscope, an international 501(c)(3) organization based in Jordan. All gifts to Questscope qualify as charitable contributions and are 100% tax-deductible.Also appearing as guest speaker and sharing his experience as a Syrian displaced by the conflict will be Mr. Razek Siriani from Aleppo, as well as Ms. Nadia Rhodes Schroeder from Questscope giving a presentation on the organization’s work in the conflict-affected areas.

“Syrians are people just like us: educated, linked into their communities, schools, businesses - solidly upright middle class people - but now suffering from war and conflict in their country that threatens to completely destroy them,” says Questscope’s Curtis Rhodes. “They are a phenomenal human resource that we can provide support and assistance to in partnerships that alleviate their sufferings and increase their abilities to rebuild their lives.”

DIRECT DONATIONS TO QUESTSCOPE ONLINE: http://www.classy.org/sonicrelief