Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

The first installment of the fundraising series “An Evening of Healing with Music” drew a packed crowd to the Fatima RC Church in Curepe on December 28.

Patrons agreed that the music at the event, a fundraising concert to assist with medical expenses for Martica Thomas, was more than worth the ticket price.

The event was organized by Liza Miller, head of Estuary PR and Thomas’ daughter, who said she was inspired to put on the show after sitting with her mother in emergency rooms for hours following Thomas’ diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis and encountering numerous people in pain. “I wanted to do something to be able to bring something good to the country, that could offer positivity and healing through the arts, because this is what I know best.”
The audience was wowed by performances by John Michael Thomas and Friends, comprised of Thomas, Danielle Williams, Nicole Wong Chong, David Frank, Kevon Carter and Tricia-Lee Kellshall, performing songs such as Oh Holy Night, On Christmas Day, Panis Angelicus, Grownup Christmas List, You Raise Me Up, Ribbons in the Sky, Back on My Feet Again and This is Christmas.
Tsahai Koo, Miller’s 12-year-old daughter, performed Amazing Grace and a self-composed solo on the violin. The highlight of the first half was the performance by Ken “Professor” Philmore, who had the audience dancing and singing with his spirited renditions of Homemade Wine, Could It Be I’m Falling in Love?, Eat Something Before You Go and My House.
Intermission gave patrons a chance to look at the art pieces on sale by artists such as Leroy Clarke, Richard Rampersad, Tessa Alexander, Fitzroy Hoyte, Ihsan Atiba and Miller herself. The pieces, which ranged from abstract to floral to portraits, were donated by the artists towards the fundraising effort.
Imani Miller-Sorzano, Miller’s seven-year-old daughter performed a self-composed piece on the piano as the first act of the second half. Miller said the final artist, Z4L4 (pronounced Zala) created music to nurture feeling in humanity and distract us from the constant bombardment of information and noise which surrounds us.
Miller and Z4L4 did a combined performance piece where they each spoke about the songs and their journeys taking care of their aging parents. First Lady told the story of the labour and legacy of mothers. Rescue Me spoke to the issue of depression which often afflicts the elderly when they become ill. The next song told the story of the feelings evoked when waiting in the hospital for hours without proper or any attention, while his last song spoke of the pain of a son caring for a dying father.
Miller said in being with her mother through her illness, which is an incurable degenerative disease of the lungs, she had gained a greater understanding of the process of aging and ailing, and realized how much T&T lacks in terms of care for aging, elderly and ill people. “I first had the experience with that when our family was trying to find a solution to caring for a cousin who was unmarried and had no children, and it was a real challenge to find a space where she could be nurtured and loved. Aging and illness is something we all must experience.” She said acceptance is key when dealing with the fact that elderly people will become ill, not only personally, but also by the family and the realization of the impact that that process will have on everyone.
“In organizing the concert, I came to realize how much the simplest things meant, like someone asking how I was doing. We’re often so caught up in our lives and what we have to get done and where we have to go that we forget these little acts.”
Thomas said it was a heartwarming feeling when she saw the hall filling up to capacity, and she was glad to see some friends she hadn’t seen in years. Miller said she was gratified at the turnout, especially considering she had put the concert together in less than two weeks. “I was so thankful that people actually made the effort to come out and support. The vast majority of our patrons were either friends of my mother or myself, but also we did have some people who came because of the concept and the idea of healing through music and providing a space for people to get a certain kind of nurturing spiritually through the music that was presented.”
Miller said the concert series, of which this was Volume 1, was something she wants to put on every three months, with the proceeds going to help persons in need. She said the funds from the next concert in March would go towards helping a mother with four children, the youngest of which has cerebral palsy and has to be treated in Cuba.
Thomas said the spiritual benefit to her from helping others to heal through music was quite strong. “I personally have had a lot of support spiritually from many people, and it was wonderful being able to share that through these concerts. Liza spoke of the experience and being able to share with people from her personal perspective and we really look forward to being able to assist others.”
For more information on the concert series, email liza@estuaryPR.com or call (868) 367-5295.