FIU School of Music joins local organizations to raise funds for Operation Helping Hands’ Japan relief efforts

WHAT: Renowned pianist Valentina Lisitsa will perform in a benefit concert to raise funds for Operation Helping Hands’ efforts to aid victims of Japan’s earthquake crisis. All proceeds from the event will go directly to help the people of Japan through non-profit organizations working in the affected areas. Funds will be used to support both immediate and long-term recovery needs.

WHO: The FIU School of Music, in cooperation with The Miami Herald, Friends of Chamber Music of Miami, Inc., The Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation, Miami Music Project, Piano Lovers, and the Boca Raton Steinway Piano Gallery, presents this benefit concert to raise funds for Operation Helping Hands. Operation Helping Hands is a collaboration between The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald and the United Way of Miami.

Classical pianist Valentina Lisitsa will perform works by Chopin, Beethoven, and Schumann, and will be joined on stage by Alexei Kuznetsoff for a special performance. Lisitsa and Kuznetsoff are the winners of the 1991 Murray Dranoff Two Piano Competition.

Born in Kiev, Lisitsa began playing the piano at the age of three and performed her first solo recital at age four. Lisitsa has recorded eight CDs and three independently released DVDs, including a best-selling set of Chopin’s 24 Etudes, which held the coveted top spot on the Amazon music video list.

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 8 p.m. at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center located in the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 10910 SW 17 Street in southwest Miami-Dade County.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: A minimum donation of $30.00 is suggested. Tickets may be obtained by visiting the events calendar at music.fiu.edu or by calling 305-348-0496.

Media Contact: Geisha Garcia-Pares at 305-348-6101.