Banding together
Art leader presents a concert with a conscience
ST. JACOBS — In honour of Amanda Kind’s recently being named Conrad Grebel University College’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni Service Award winner, the local performer and music educator decided to hold a concert.
On Friday, Kind and several of her students and fellow alumni from the university’s class of 2006 will band together and present “Brave,” a concert with a conscience.
“There will be 25 performers and we’re donating the money. I wanted it to be meaningful,” she said, adding once she learned about Aurora House, an organization that supports victims of human trafficking, she knew she’d found her cause.
The concert title, “Brave,” honours the young people brave enough to break away from their victimizers and accept help from Aurora House.
Kind said such services are needed because often the victims are so fearful, they find it nearly impossible to break away and start a new life without a lot of help. Aurora House helps find housing and provides support services for the victims, many of whom are young women.
“I’d heard stories about human trafficking,” she said, adding she felt an emotional connection because she works with teenagers.
Being a singer — one who is so busy working and teaching she often doesn’t have time to perform — Kind thought a concert would be the most appropriate way to celebrate her award, which will be presented at the concert.
The British Columbian-born Kind was raised in a Mennonite family. Music was central to their lives and everyone either sang or played an instrument.
“If you couldn’t sing harmony by the time you were 10, you were weird,” she said. “When I was seven, me and cousins would put on shows in our basement and I’d charge 25 cents because I knew my performance had value.”
This appreciation for the arts has served her well. Kind is artistic director of KW Glee, marketing manager for Drayton Entertainment and a voice coach with her own private studio. This award gave her an excuse to pull together some of the finest musicians she’s worked with over her career, and each one is hand-picked by her based on their abilities. She also chose the music.
“It’s a real mixture: classical to gospel,” said Kind, adding there will be half a dozen ensembles as well as soloists.
The program will include classical, jazz, Broadway show tunes and pop hits, and will feature a small ensemble choir led by soprano and music educator Stephanie Kramer.
“I want to use this award as an opportunity to give back, in a different way,” Kind said. “Every part of my life is arts oriented.”