15772: (Hermantin) Maimi Herald-Haitian Heritage celebrated at event (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, Jun. 01, 2003

Haitian Heritage celebrated at event
Library hosts cultural series
BY KEVIN DEUTSCH
kdeutsch@herald.com

Pop star Wyclef Jean bobbed his head in rhythm with the sweet sounds of
classical guitar and piano that echoed from the stage at the
African-American Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale Saturday
night.

The Haitian-born Jean and more than 150 concert-goers listened as the three
classical musicians, all of Haitian descent, played music from and inspired
by their homeland, as part of the Haitian Heritage Series.

The series, featuring art and music commemorating the 200th anniversary of
the Haitian flag, got underway May 3 and ended Saturday night with a concert
featuring three classically trained musicians: Jean-Ronald LaFond, Amos
Coulanges and Liliane Questel.

It was the third performance of its kind in May, sponsored by the
A.C.T.I.O.N Foundation, which works with at-risk children throughout South
Florida, using art and culture as tools to improve academic performance.

LaFond, a baritone opera singer who teaches at the University of North
Carolina, sang a mix of Haitian and traditional opera music, which included
the works of Bach, Schubert and Tchaikovsky.

''The family atmosphere in Haiti, and the music heard there, is what gives
us the impulse to play music like this in a country where there is not much
training available,'' LaFond said. ``Classical music needs to be taken
further, and for us, this concert is quite special.''

Coulanges, a classical guitar player, began learning her craft at the age of
8. He met LaFond and Questel while the three were attending a Cuban National
Symphony concert.

''This is a wonderful chance for us to pass on our music to people in cities
where they may not get much exposure to it,'' said the French speaking
Coulanges as LaFond interpreted.

The trio chose music they felt transcended cultural barriers.

''Tchaikovsky, who was Russian, was one of the first classical artist
outside of Italy, France, and Germany, so his music carried over to smaller
nations and areas which had never heard such sounds,'' LaFond said.

Questel, who is typically a solo pianist, learned how to play Schubert's The
Earl King specifically for Saturday's performance. As Questel pounded the
piano's keys with speed and grace, LaFond's forehead shone with sweat as he
brought his voice lower and lower, until the crowd erupted in applause, with
Wyclef Jean's appreciative claps among the loudest.

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