On September 30, 2018, Her Campus at CNU attended the annual Playing for Change benefit concert hosted by the sisters of Nu Kappa Epsilon here at CNU. The Playing for Change foundation is NKE’s philanthropy, and the organization’s goal is “to create positive change through music and arts education.” I reached out to the current President Cassidy Hill, Philanthropy chair Kimberly Garlem and Music chair Tessa Delano to ask them a few questions on the event.
What is the Playing for Change concert and how did it all start?
“Playing for Change is the shared vision between co-founders Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, who went around impoverished areas internationally with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search for the ‘heartbeat’ of people through the arts. Nu Kappa Epsilon started doing work with this charity in 2015 under then-philanthropy chair Tori Rehder, who believed the best way for us to share music appreciation on campus was to show through service the impact music has on the world”.
What does this event mean to the sisters of Nu Kappa Epsilon?
“This event means so much to NKE because music education and fine arts are continued to be dropped from school curriculum. Music is claimed as the universal language and [is a great] way for people to communicate their feelings and ideas. From love to protest, music can communicate anything and everything between and it is important to teach others about that impact”.
Why is it so important to host this event here at Christopher Newport University?
“It is important to host our PFC Benefit Concert at CNU because we have a large variety of students who each have their own skills and hobbies. Having this concert lets us showcase the diverse talent of the student body while also educating and making a difference in the world”.
There were so many different performances at this event, each with their own unique and amazing talent. Some of the performances included those by CNU A Capella groups University Sounds, Take Note, and the Newport Pearls; the sisters of NKE; the ASL club; the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha; the band Daisy and the 27s; and the band Same Time Tomorrow. There were also solos and duets performed by some of the fraternity & sorority members, as well as Tori Rehder who played the cello! We had so much fun attending this event, and NKE did a wonderful job putting it together! The turnout was amazing and there were so many amazing and unique performances that always kept everyone on their toes.