On Saturday, September 24, first-year and junior voice majors united with the College Democrats to create a spectacular performance and fundraising event. The Cabaret for Katrina was an evening of unity.

The benefit cabaret took place in CFA's Alumni Concert Hall. The performance was originally a freshman and junior cabaret; however, after Hurricane Katrina, the students decided to make it a benefit concert. The Cabaret attracted over 100 visitors and raised $867.25 for the American Friends Service Committee's relief effort for Katrina. 

"After the Hurricane, my friend and I decided we wanted to do something. We had plans for a junior/freshman cabaret, so then we figured, why not make it a benefit cabaret?" said junior voice major Anna Vogelzang.

"A lot of people don't know what to do. And what's more important than pointing fingers is getting stuff done yourself," said Helen Gruner, junior voice major and the main coordinator of the event. "We have this humongous base of talent and I felt it was important to get together and put it to work. Since College Democrats did the PR, we were able to attract a lot of people that we normally wouldn't attract. Although College Democrats was very involved, we tried to make it as non-partisan as possible. It shouldn't be about political beliefs; it should be about helping people."

The College Democrats also wanted a non-partisan image for this event.

"It's easy to just ask for money, but we wanted to help in a way that was bigger, different," said Kristina Shahriari, junior biology/psychology major and vice president of the College Democrats. "We wanted to show that College Democrats is more than go vote. We don't just care about politics. We care about community, other people's communities."

The performance began with a soulful, heartfelt rendition of "Motherless Child" by freshman voice major Gino Barletta. It was followed by a very diverse program that included musical theatre pieces, 80's pop music, and an original song by Vogelzang. The performers sat in a semi-circle behind the piano throughout the show; their support for each other was evident by the expressions on their faces.

For many of the first-year voice majors, the Cabaret was their first Carnegie Mellon performance.

"I haven't had that many performance opportunities, being a freshman, so this was a great opportunity. It's also cool to get a chance to sing with the juniors," said freshman voice major Steve Dagrosa.

Adam Richardson, also a freshman voice major, captivated the audience with his performance, causing many of them to tap their feet and smile as he hugged himself and sang "On The Street Where You Live." The audience members hooted and applauded when he finished and he thanked them with a smile. "I wanted to sing something upbeat and happy," Richardson had said before the show.

The Alumni Concert Hall was very crowded. The several dozen chairs quickly filled up and many people sat on the floor. The audience consisted of faculty, students, and their families. Many of them had never been to a College of Fine Arts performance.

"I came mainly because of the cause, but I'm glad I came. It's great that they're using their talent in a good way," said BHA junior Staci Steinberger.

"It's a good cause, very creative. It shows what they [voice majors and College Democrats] can do when they come together. The voice majors sang and the College Dems organized. I expected to hear good music and I did," said Chris Wegrzyn, senior math, physics, and history triple major.

The Cabaret ended appropriately with a duet of the hymn "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" performed by HSS junior Kami Smith and junior voice major Samantha Grenell-Zaidman. All of the performers stood up and sang the last verse together.

The evening of unity was a success and both the supporters and performers left pleased. Gruner closed the evening with a quotation from Gandhi, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Editor's note: "American Friends Service Committee's relief effort for Katrina" was originally published as "American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund."

	story images

CFA junior Amanda Russo performs the classic love ballad, "They Can't Take That Away From Me."	CFA first-year Adam Richardson performs "On The Street Where You Live" to the delight of audience members.
CFA first-year Steve Dagrosa belts out "Anthem."	CFA first-year Sheela Ramesh performs "Your Daddy's Son" at the Cabaret for Katrina.
CFA junior Helen Gruner performs "Louder Than Words" from the Broadway musical "Tick, Tick... BOOM!" during the September 24 CMU College Democrats and CFA voice majors' cabaret to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.	HSS junior Kami Smith and CFA senior Samantha Grenell-Zaidman lead the group in "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" during the CMU College Democrats and CFA voice majors' Cabaret for Katrina on September 24.

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