Harmony For Peace Foundation
The Peace Dinner 2012
(Art images: courtesy of the students at Hill Freedman World Academy, Participants of "Art for Peace 2012" - Aaliyah Warrington, Candace Turner, Kylisha Robert, Tori Henry, Keishon Lee and Ashanti Robinson.
"Celebrate Youth in Music and Art for Peace"
Our Second Annual Benefit Dinner was held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Appleford in Villanova, PA with a great success. We welcomed many guests who enjoyed the special music programs by our featured young artists and special guests, dinner and live auction.
Our sincere appreciation to our guests, volunteers, artists and committee members for their kind and generous support.
Special Performers
Tomoko Sugawara (kugo- ancient harp)
Ms. Tomoko Sugawara was born in Tokyo, Japan, and began playing the Irish harp at age twelve. She took up the concert harp at sixteen and it was her main instrument when she graduated from Tokyo University of Fine Arts. Since 1991 she also plays reconstructions of ancient harps, also known as the angular harp which is called the kugo in Japan. She has given numerous solo recitals on the concert harp and the kugo in major international venues, such as the World Harp Congress (in Prague and Amsterdam), Indiana University, Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University and The British Museum. She played with a number of orchestras in Japan.
She has recorded a solo recital on a CD called “Spring” and played duo improvisations with a saxophone on a CD called “East Meets West” (1998). The first kugo CD ever, “Along the Silk Road,” released in April 2010.
Doug Shimell (NBC News Philadelphia)
Doug Shimell is an Emmy-winning news reporter who has been with NBC10 since 1995. Prior to joining NBC10, Shimell reported for FOX News Philadelphia, reported and anchored for WDAF-TV in Kansas City, Missouri and was a political reporter and tornado chaser for KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Among Shimell’s many notable stories, one report was responsible for a Pennsylvania law that protects against identity theft. Doug's reporting on other stories brought about arrests of scam contractors and closings of inhumane puppy mill pet stores. Shimell’s coverage of the high profile Tom Capano/Anne Marie Fahey murder case brought him national attention on MSNBC and NBC’s “Today” Show. In addition, his 4-hour live breaking news coverage of the Capano verdict garnered an Emmy nomination. During the course of his news journalism career, Shimell has reported on major breaking news events around the country.
Ethan Lee (14), piano
Ethan Lee, a Ninth Grade student at Radnor High School in Wayne, PA, is a highly accomplished pianist. He began his studies at the age of 6 with Elena Berman-Gantard at the Nelly Berman School. Presently he is a student of Igor Resnianski. In March, 2012, Ethan debuted with The Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center as a winner of the 2011 Albert Greenfield Student Competition. He performed George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."Ethan's numerous awards include: West-Chester University Pre-Collegiate Piano Competition, Tri-County Concerts
Youth Festival, Golden Key Festival, Young Classical Music Idol Competition, and the Kennett Square Symphony Competition.
Jelani Wheeler
(13; Keystone State Boychoir), vocal
Jelani Wheeler is an Eighth Grader attending Hill Freedman World Academy in Pennsylvania. Currently, he is a member of the Keystone State Boychoir. His participation in the choir has led to opportunities for Jelani to sing in four operas – Turandot, Wozzeck, Carmen and most recently La Boheme. In June of this year, he travelled with his choir to Norway and the Arctic Circle, where they were invited to sing for Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Aug San Suu Kyi.