Fairfield University to host "With a Little Help From My Friends" benefit concert for music scholarship in the name of Kim and Tim Donnelly

Fairfield University to host "With a Little Help From My Friends" benefit concert for music scholarship in the name of Kim and Tim Donnelly

"With a Little Help From My Friends," a benefit concert for the Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship, will be held Saturday, May 7, at Fairfield University. Performers for the event include The Fairfield University Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble, the local band Prophets of Funk and The Alternate Routes, a band featuring the Donnellys' son Eric.

The groups will put on two separate but identical performances at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Kelley Theatre of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Proceeds from the concert will go toward the creation of a scholarship in the Donnellys' name to assist a Fairfield University music student. The Donnellys were killed in their Fairfield center jewelry store in early February.

The May 7 concert will feature a variety of bands and selections and will kick off with Prophets of Funk, a local band formed by students at the Fairfield high schools and Fairfield College Preparatory School. The band, which includes a saxophone, two electric guitars, electric bass and drums, will play two short selections.

University Music Program Director Brian Torff, a noted composer and bassist, will accompany the Fairfield Orchestra and direct the Jazz Ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble will play two songs, "Jaimoe's Shuffle" and "Mike's Tune." The University jazz faculty, including Torff, Eric Donnelly and George Naha, and student Aaron Milazzo will then join the ensemble to play "There is No Greater Love." Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe was originally scheduled to perform with the ensemble and other performers, but is no longer able to attend.

The Fairfield University Orchestra, under the direction of Laura Nash, Ph.D., will be joined by Torff and Fairfield's Academic Vice President and accomplished pianist Orin Grossman, Ph.D., for "My Romance." Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will play guitar and sing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles, a favorite of the Donnellys.

The Alternate Routes, a rock band Eric Donnelly formed with fellow Fairfield graduate Tim Warren '03, will follow. The band, which includes two guitars, bass drums and vocals, will be playing three songs in tribute.

The end of the concert will feature a compilation of the groups playing "Sweet Home Chicago." The selection includes Torff and the horn selection from the Jazz Ensemble with the Orchestra joining in at the end. The finale is another Beatles tune, "Let it Be," played by the entire group.

"Never before in Fairfield University's history have the orchestra and jazz ensemble performed together, let alone the dean of Arts and Sciences and the academic vice president," Torff said. "In life, Tim and Kim always brought people together through their work and their humanitarian efforts. That legacy continues with the concert. We hope the public will support this concert."

The Donnelly family has strong ties to the University. Kim Donnelly worked in the University's finance office for many years before joining her husband at Donnelly Jewelry. Eric Donnelly and his sister Tara graduated from Fairfield in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Tara went on to earn her MBA in 2004. Eric has taught guitar as an Applied Music teacher at Fairfield University since his senior year.

Tickets to either performance are $100 or $50. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. Those who cannot attend are also invited to donate to the scholarship fund. Donations, which are fully tax-deductible, may be mailed to: Development Office, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824. To make a credit card donation call (203) 254-4000, ext. 3179. For more information, contact Nash at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2638 or LNash@mail.fairfield.edu .

Posted On: 04-12-2005 10:04 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 238