Once it became clear that the Myanmar government would accept aid, the church quickly lined up offers to perform from a number of professional artists including local resident Russell Braun, whose rich baritone voice is hailed in concert halls around the world, and jazz and pop vocalist Adam Broughton, a Georgetown native who performs throughout North America.

There will be moving music from the massed choirs of St. Andrew’s, St. John’s, and Norval United churches, and a performance by musicians of the Gaudeamus Children’s Choir.

Also in the line-up are folkie Jim Broughton, who is a regular entertainer at the Shepherd’s Crook, flautist Pandora Bryce, classical pianist Carolyn Maule, folksinger Katherine Wheatley, and concert soprano Monica Whicher. All are donating their talents for this event.  

St. John’s music director Carolyn Maule chose “Join Every Hand” for the concert’s theme, a line from Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom. Moved by news pictures of the earthquakes’ destruction, she says, “I can’t go over there and help those people. But I can give through my love of music, and support the people who can be there.”

Tickets are $20 or pay-what-you-can, available at The Freckled Lion bookstore, 56 Main St. S., or week days at St. John’s United Church office, 11 Guelph St.

The church will send concert proceeds directly to partners on the ground in Myanmar and China, who are already providing food, water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, basic medical kits, and bed nets to survivors. Because the United Church’s national office absorbs administrative costs, it can commit 100 per cent of funds to relief and reconstruction.