The Online Reflector

What began as a hypothetical class project for a University of Indianapolis music student turned into a real-life, dual-donation project designed to provide an orphanage in Haiti with musical instruments and clean drinking water for the community as well.

Senior music performance major Susan Lutterbach took a professional development workshop course last spring semester, for which the final project was to develop a music advocacy project. After much thought, Lutterbach decided on Music Heals, which intended to raise money to purchase instruments for an orphanage in Leogane, Haiti.

“Once I talked to the pastor [of the orphanage], I kind of got attached, and I thought, ‘Oh, this would be really awesome to do in real life,’” Lutterbach said.

Lutterbach believes that participation in music, or any creative activity, is very important to the developmental process for children.

“I think everyone should have some sort of connection to music and the arts in general,” Lutterbach said.

She keeps in contact with the pastor and was informed in June that they [Leogane] had a cholera epidemic break out, and that is when Lutterbach began accepting donations for the water filtration project. Lutterbach said that $2,000 are needed to fund the water project.

At 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall of the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, the UIndy Beta Psi Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon hosted its annual benefit concert to support Music Heals.

“I’m happy with it,” Mu Phi Epsilon historian Lutterbach said. “This was the first time Music Heals had been vastly introduced to the public. It was a great way to get the name out there and I’m very happy and thankful that Mu Phi agreed to choose this charity for the benefit concert.”

For the first time this year, faculty-student collaborations were included in the benefit concert. Director of Educational Outreach and Associate Professor of Music Rebecca Sorley thought the collaborations added to the show.

“It is a great learning experience to work with one’s mentor, and the collaborations were definitely some of the highlights of the performance,” Sorley said.

Sorley is the faculty adviser to Mu Phi Epsilon. She thinks that organizing concerts is a great learning opportunity for students.

Music technology and recording major Kim Jansen played an important role in making sure that the benefit concert went smoothly. She put together the program, sent out the technology request and filled out the requirements for stage changes. As vice president of Mu Phi Epsilon, she was happy to help. She also performed a handbell number with senior music technology and recording major Maddison Swinney and Technical and Operations Manager Peter Nichols, while Sorley accompanied on piano. Eight other performances by music students and faculty showcased their talents and passion.

“We use music to make the world better,” Jansen said. “It’s important, because music is so valuable to us. It’s hard to live without art and we think it’s very important for us to share it in any way we can.”

Checks, cash and small instrument donations will be gladly accepted. Checks can be made out to Music Heals. Donations can be dropped off at Administrative Assistant in the Music Office Mary Catherine’s desk. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.