The community is invited to the benefit concert, Transformation Through Rhythm, on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 7:00 pm in the DeKalb High School Auditorium in DeKalb, Illinois. The concert will feature the Harambee African Percussion Ensemble, the DeKalb High School Percussion Ensemble, and the Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble. Free will donations are appreciated.

The annual Transformation Through Rhythm concert brings diverse performers and audience members together to celebrate community, service, and music. Previous years’ proceeds have benefited Knysna Hospice in South Africa. At this ninth annual concert, all donations received will provide books for the new JAMS library.

Friends of JAMS will hold an African crafts market offering baskets and other beautiful hand-made items. All craft sale proceeds will benefit the new JAMS library as well.

Greg Beyer, Fulbright Scholar, composer, educator, and head of percussion studies at NIU said, “Music’s organized sounds possess powerful magic. Through our Transformation Through Rhythm Concert, we choose to use the best of music’s healing energy to bring our community together in celebration of our common values and share what we have to offer to support those in need halfway across the planet at the Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya.”

DeKalb High School Percussion Ensemble

Harambee African Percussion Ensemble

Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble

Sponsors of this event are Northern Illinois University School of Music, DeKalb High School and School District 428, the Harambee African Ensemble, WNIJ/WNIU—Northern Public Radio, and the Gateway Arts Building in Sycamore, IL.

For more information about Transformation Through Rhythm, call 630-360-3067 or email gatewayartsbldg@gmail.com.

For more information about Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls, visit www.JAMSKenya.org.