Fanshawe music students host annual concert to support Atlohsa's women's shelter

Students in the Music Industry Arts (MIA) program at Fanshawe College in London, Ont. will be hosting their annual Share the Land concert at the London Music Hall on Tuesday night. 

All proceeds from the show will go to Atlohsa Family Healing Services' Zhaawanong women's shelter. The emergency shelter provides Indigenous-led crisis support for women and their children at risk of violence, abuse, and homelessness.

The concert has 23 scheduled performances. This will be the first time students perform live after having to play virtually for two years due to the pandemic, and students say they're thrilled.  

"Music was dying to be performed live," said Eric Wright, the concert's general manager. "It was a huge disservice not to be able to play in person, and so this return is scary, but that's what makes it so exciting." 

Dan Brodbeck, MIA's program coordinator, said that the community really needs a boost in morale with all the heartbreaking events happening globally, so they're excited to put on this show. 

"Immediate feedback from an audience is something that a performer can really feed off of, the energy of performing live is something that cannot be replicated," he said. 

The annual concert started 11 years ago to honour the legacy of late music producer and a former Fanshawe professor Jack Richardson.

Brodbeck said the concert's name fits really well with the message they're trying to send, which is to shine a light on the Indigenous community and work as allies with them. 

"Historically, 'share the land' has not happened, and we wanted to help the community in any way we can. This is a dedication to something that's supposed to be done," he said. 

Andrea Gonsalves of Atlohsa said it's been a pleasure to work with the students who have been very intentional in their support of the Indigenous community in London.

"The students are incredibly committed and passionate about producing this concert in a culturally responsible way," she said. "From the logo design to the inclusion of Indigenous dancers, this event exemplifies their commitment to building bridges toward reconciliation."

Wright said the cause is very close to his heart because growing up, his family also needed to use emergency shelters, and now it's his turn to give back.

The concert will feature contemporary music of all genres, which Wright said represents the variety of different students in the program. 

"I've had parents tell me they didn't even know what their kids were capable of. Watching these performances made our jaws drop, which I'm sure will be the public's reaction too," Brodbeck added.