Rhythm & Heart, a concert premiering this month, is a virtual benefit showcasing musical performances by Gorham High School (GHS) students and alumni. The concert will premiere on YouTube and on Rhythm & Heart’s website, www.rhythmandheartme.com, on January 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will be available for viewing only on YouTube after that date.
Rhythm & Heart was founded out of a desire to bring the community together through local music and giving, and to provide local musicians at the high school and college levels with an opportunity to return to the stage (albeit virtual). The Rhythm & Heart team is comprised of six GHS seniors: Grace Flynn (founder and director), Devyn Harrington (promotion and social media), Riley E. Johnson (social media and graphic design), Griffin Loranger (technology and production), Molly Rathbun (artist and beneficiary coordinator), and Delaney Seed (social media and graphic design). These seniors believe that there is a clear need for the assistance provided by charities such as food, furniture, and fuel within communities everywhere, including Gorham. Which is why throughout the concert, viewers will be encouraged, if able, to donate to one or more of three local charitable causes: the Gorham Food Pantry, Furniture Friends, and the Gorham Fuel Fund via the YouTube video and on the webpage.
The Gorham Fuel Fund provides necessary funds and supplies to Gorham community members in need of heating assistance. The Town Clerk’s office stated in a letter to Gorham Community members that the Fund “is supported by donations from Gorham citizens and local businesses and 100% of the funds received will go directly to people [they] assist with heating fuel.” The letter continued to highlight why the Fuel Fund is necessary, “Every winter, low-income and needy families struggle to heat their homes …We can focus our resources towards those people who have fallen through the cracks by not qualifying for general assistance or are in a bureaucratic process waiting for assistance from other entities.”
Furniture Friends is a Westbrook-based non-profit that provides mattresses and furniture to those in need throughout Greater Portland. The organization has partnered with over a hundred social service providers, hospitals, municipalities, faith-based organizations, and schools to identify “people in need who lack the financial resources to purchase furniture on their own,” according to their website. In 2019, Furniture Friends served over 550 people in need by providing quality furniture and mattresses.
The Gorham Food Pantry has been providing food assistance to any Gorham community member in need since 1997. It currently provides food assistance to over a hundred local families each month from its location on Main Street in Gorham.
The concert will include short interviews with individuals involved in each charitable cause. “I want nothing more than to give back to the community that’s helped me grow as an artist all these years,” said Sierra Cummings. The show will consist of performances from the following artists: Cummings, Tessa Dol, Logan Files, Mavy Ho, Haze, Isaac Martel, and Leah Scontras. Each performance, except for Haze, has been recorded at GoCAM studios. Georgia Humphrey, the community systems manager at GoCAM, directed the recordings. Haze, a rock group made up of GHS juniors Luc Puglionesi (lead singer), Will Boylen (bass), Mason Landre (electric guitar), and Gavin Lavoie (drums), recorded in its own location to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
Several GHS staff members have also been instrumental in the development of the concert: Luci Bowers (National Honor Society advisor), Neile Nelson (Interact Club advisor), Adam Parvanta (tech and production), Sandra Rockett (Student Council advisor), and Rob Roy (tech and production). The entire group of community members, organizers, and performers hope that you will join them for an exciting opportunity to give back and rock out to some fantastic music from the comfort of home.