Spanish Cultural Center to Hold Concert for Haitian Volunteer Organization

Spanish Cultural Center to Hold Concert for Haitian Volunteer Organization
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 3/21/2013

In an effort to make the public aware of the work being done by the Help for Haiti Volunteer Organization (SOVOA in Spanish), the Cultural Center of the Embassy of Spain will hold a concert called “Getting to Know SOVOA” on March 23rd at 8:00 pm. The musical group “Avataj” from Haiti and the Dominican group “Son del Batey” will perform.

SOVOA’s mission is to helpimprove the living conditions of needy children in company towns where sugar workers live, known as bateyes, in San Pedro de Macorís and rural areas of Haiti.

SOVOA’s mission is to helpimprove the living conditions of needy children in company towns where sugar workers live, known as bateyes, in San Pedro de Macorís and rural areas of Haiti. Following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, many of the needs created by the devastating earthquake were not met. In addition to physical or medical needs, there has been widespread psychological and emotional trauma forHaitian children after the earthquake as well as for poor Dominican children living in and around the bateyes. This is what motivates SOVOA to do the work it does.

In addition to becoming familiar with SOVOA, its creators and members, this concert is part of the program organized for the Long Night of Museums that will be underway throughout the Colonial City.

SON DEL BATEY

“Son de Batey” is a salsa and song group that was born from the heart of Ingenio Consuelo in San Pedro de Macorísto spread joy with his music.Some of their music videos can be seen on YouTube. Their Facebook page can be found as: Son Batey Consuelo.

Son del Bateywas formed in 2008 when they started off playing at private parties. December 25, 2011 was their debut as an official music group at the Consuelo Cultural Center. On January 1, 2012, they gave a performance at the same Cultural Center and the rest is history – they have beenplaying at parties in the Center ever since.

Currently, Son del Batey is the only group from the Eastern part of the country with ten salsa songs, written and composed by one of the founding members and creators of the group, Santiago Scott. Musical arrangement is done by the group’s pianist, Israel Normal.

AVATAJ

Avataj was created in 2008. The group’s main founder is Fredo Rosilus, whose artistic name is Freedoo One.

The group has participated in various activities including the DesanmMusic Festival in 2008 and the Carnival in Port au Prince in 2009, under the slogan kale je n. They also took part in various recreational activities at schools and played at the InstitutFrançais in Port au Prince on February 17, 2013. Recently, on March 14, they gave a concert at the ÁlvarezResto Club in Haiti.

Avataj launched a demo with two tracks in September 2012. One of the videos is running on Haitian television and can also be seen on YouTube