MAXIE’S HOT CHOCOLATE HOUSE
A TEEN CONCERT INSPIRED
BY MAXIE MANDEL, 14,
TO SUPPORT LIVECONNECTIONS
Sunday, March 31 – 5 to 7 p.m.
Wayne, PA (March 1, 2019) Teens are coming together to promote the people-connecting power of music! The third annual Maxie’s Hot Chocolate House takes place Sunday, March 31st from 5-7 pm at 118 North, 118 N Wayne Avenue in Wayne, PA. Teen bands and solo acts from across the Main Line will be performing under the lights to benefit LiveConnections! This Philadelphia non-profit organization in residence at World Café Live provides collaborative music-making opportunities for public school youth and people with disabilities. All proceeds from the ticket sales, chocolate refreshments and donations will go to LiveConnections! To buy tickets or donate to the cause, visit https://www.mightycause.com/story/Cnvs0g. $8 Advance, $10 door.
Maxie Mandel, a 14-year-old singer/songwriter, has always loved music. In fact, when planning her Bat Mitzvah project two years ago at her synagogue Temple Beth Am Israel she wanted to use music to make a difference in the world. It was then that a musical youth-led benefit concert was born.
Soon after, Maxie heard about LiveConnections, and sat in on a signature Bridge session at World Cafe Live at 30th and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia. She was moved and inspired by the high-energy interactive programming that seemed to break through all boundaries and unite diverse youth of various income levels, race, gender, cultural interests and more.
“It made ME smile to see a little girl smiling as she played African drums to a Latin American beat”, says Maxie. “I got flashbacks from my sixth grade Social Studies class when the resident musicians explained how Rumba and Salsa developed. I could hear poetry as they played maracas like I’ve never heard before—even against legs! I traveled through imaginary jungles and oceans created by the students playing instruments. I could really feel the connective energy in that creative music-making experience.”
Hal Real, President and Co-founder of LiveConnections is most appreciative of the support of Maxie, a young person helping other young people. He said, “We are so inspired by Maxie’s dedication to using her music to help fund LiveConnections’ programs aimed at making sure world class musical experiences are part of everyone’s life!”
Maxie has been privileged to participate in rich music education experiences her whole life. She attended her first music classes as an infant, started piano lessons at age five and began guitar lessons around age 10. She realizes that not everyone has access to positive music experiences, and appreciates the work that LiveConnections is doing to promote equity in quality music experiences. Her belief in the boundary-breaking connective power of music is her primary motivation for continuing to help organize this “project” well past her Bat Mitzvah.
The first event took place at Temple Beth Am Israel, and last year at Radnor Middle School. This year, 118 North, an “intimate live music club” in Downtown Wayne is donating its space, lights, sound and more to the cause.
