Covenant News

Last-Minute NPU Concert to Benefit Haitian Ministry

CHICAGO, IL (April 8, 2003) - Thanks to a pair of North Park University (NPU) students, the acoustic folk duo Storyhill will perform a benefit concert for a Haitian medical ministry at 8 p.m. Wednesday (April 9) in NPU's Viking Hall.

General admission tickets, which will be sold at the door, are $15. North Park students with identification will be charged only $5. Wednesday's concert is sponsored by the Society of Physics Students and Tri-Beta (the two science clubs of NPU's Student Association). It is also co-sponsored by the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations.

Acclaimed for their tight harmonies and soulful lyrics, Storyhill has performed and recorded their distinctive brand of acoustic music for more than 15 years. Montana natives Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson released their first recording in 1989 titled "Chris & Johnny." Since then, they have gone on to produce 11 CDs and have amassed a loyal following.

Storyhill agreed perform at North Park after students Britt Erickson and Rachael Downing emailed them about a clinic in Haiti. Storyhill had already been booked to play at nearby Uncommon Grounds Coffee House and told the students that they would be willing to fit in an extra concert for a good cause.

"We sent them an email telling them how much we love them and how much we would love it if they would play a benefit concert for the clinic we will be working at in Haiti next year," said Erickson. "We never thought they would respond - it was a shot in the dark. But they emailed us back and said that they will be in Chicago in April and they would love to play a show at North Park. We were thrilled."

Erickson and Downing plan to spend six months next fall in Limbe, Haiti, where they will work with a Haitian doctor to modernize an existing clinic. Storyhill has agreed that the ticket sales from the North Park will go towards the budget of the modernization and towards the shipping of medical supplies to Haiti. Ticket sales monies will not go towards Downing and Erickson's personal expenses, however.

"We hope that by supporting this clinic and also traveling there ourselves, we can be the catalysts for future work in Haiti," said Erickson.

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