Local flute teacher Shanna Toews will host a benefit concert this weekend to support the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado.
The concert starts at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church, 2101 16th St., Greeley. The doors open at 2:30 p.m. Entry is free, but there will be plenty of ways to donate. Five immigrant musicians from Mexico, China, Brazil, Venezuela and South Africa will perform, as well as some of Toews’ students.
University of Northern Colorado professors Leí Weng, piano, Dayvison Costa, trumpet, and Romina Monsanto, cello, will also perform. Myles Roberts will perform on the flute, and Johanna Quintana will be singing.
A silent auction will feature donated artwork from 24 local artists, a majority from Madison and Main Gallery. T-shirts with “Immigrants are Essential” will be sold for $20, and traditional donations will be accepted, too.
The Immigrant and Refugee Center is a part of Sunrise Community Health. Its mission is to “empower refugees and immigrants, connect communities, and advocate for successful integration,” according to the center’s website, ircnoco.org.
Toews hosted a benefit concert last year at her studio, Empower Flute Studio, to provide private flute lessons for refugee students resettling in the community.
In 2020, Toews saw her son treated like family on the Greeley Central High School cross-country team during his freshman year. She said that love and respect came from a group of refugee boys from African countries. That’s where her fondness and desire to be an ally for the immigrant community started.
“They stole my heart,” she said. “Shortly after that, I started the refugee program within my studio. I’ve gotten to know a lot of immigrants through that.”
Toews has been a private flute teacher in Greeley for 20 years. She has operated her refugee program since 2020.
She thanked GoJo’s Print Shop for their help in creating 200 shirts for the event. She said she has received positive feedback and donations.
“I’m feeling a good energy around this thing,” she said. “The word has gotten out, and everybody wants to help right now.”
Along with Toews, Alejandra Villalba Marquez, Susie Mearsha and Robyn Fall organized the event.
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