Music
wilmington symphony
orchestra teams up with
sister hazel
A
t the second annual Chords
for a Cause benefit concert,
the popular, upbeat, alternative
rock band Sister Hazel
— named for a nun who
ran a homeless shelter in Gainesville, Florida,
the band’s hometown — will play a Port City
concert that promises to be something extra
special because they will share the stage with
the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.
Chords for a Cause was founded in 2009 by
Wilmington cardiologist (and musician) Dr.
Damian Brezinski. “I played my way through a
number of forgettable bands, but I found my
niche,” says Brezinski. Last year, the 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization’s first benefit concert
was headlined by Edwin McCain and raised
$250,000, resulting in the purchase of a mobile
pediatric intensive care unit. The Sister Hazel
concert will benefit Mission Ready, an organization
that collects unused medical supplies
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WBM october 2010
in the United States and transports them to
nations around the world in desperate need.
“The United States is the only country that
has expiration dates for their medical supplies,”
says Brezinski. Medical supplies like gauze, for
instance. “Gauze can be a lifesaver in Africa,”
says Brezinski. During a previous mission trip
to Africa, volunteers ran out of gauze in two
weeks and had to cut strips of newspaper to
use during surgery.
“Chords for a Cause is a great example of
how a grassroots organization can make a big
impact both locally and around the world,” says
Carolyn Fisher, manager of NHRMC marketing
and public relations. The Sister Hazel Chords
for a Cause concert will be held on Saturday,
October 23, at 8 p.m., in Kenan Auditorium,
on the UNCW campus. Pre-sale tickets are
available through E-Tix and are $40. For more
information, contact the Kenan Auditorium box
office at (910) 962-3500. — Ashley Peel