There have been some 10,000 performances in more than 129 countries to celebrate music for Daniel Pearl Music Days since 2002. This international network of concerts is not a fundraiser, but rather an awareness raising program, celebrating the power of music and reaffirming the commitment to tolerance and humanity. The concerts are designed to raise awareness of cultural, ethnic and religious differences and that even with these differences people can choose harmony.
The AOC Associated Student Body (ASB), plus parents and staff are involved in various aspects of producing this concert, following the lead of Kelsey and Jeffrey. When Kelsey was 12 she volunteered to work at a Daniel Pearl World Music Days Concert in Santa Monica. Up until this point she had never heard about Daniel Pearl and the tragic ending to his life. Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was brutally murdered in Pakistan while on assignment in 2002. After attending the concert she was so moved that she asked her piano teacher, Suzy Hanna, if it would be possible for her to host a concert for Daniel Pearl in the Santa Clarita Valley. Hanna said, “Of course,” according to Belinda Taylor, Kelsey’s mother. They immediately started making plans and made Kelsey’s dream a reality.
This will be the 4th year of this concert in the SCV and Pearl’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. Judea Pearl, make it a point to attend as they are deeply moved that a Christian Church has opened its doors to honor the legacy of a Jewish man whose hopes and dreams were to promote peace cross-culturally.
Valencia United Methodist Church is located at 25718 McBean Pkwy. Valencia, CA 91355.
For more information call 661.297.1311 or visit: www.danielpearlmusicdays.org.
AOC Students Bring Daniel Pearl Concert to SCV
