Violinists string together benefit concert for RIAC

Less Violence, More Violins, a benefit concert for the Refugee Immigrant Advisory Council (RIAC), is being held in St. John's Sunday.

RIAC, which depends on donations to keep its various services afloat, has spent more than 30 years helping thousands of refugees and immigrants adjust to life in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sunday's concert will feature live performances of classical music, including pieces by Bach, Mozart, Dvorak, and Franck.

It's been a rocky year for the group, as dwindling donations threatened to permanently shut down the advisory council.

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But an online fundraising campaign in May allowed the organization to stay open with a reduced capacity.

The weekend concert is especially timely, given the ongoing conflict in Syria which has displaced millions of refugees to neighbouring countries.

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Organizer Jennifer Johnson, a violinist with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, says Sunday's event has generated a lot of local support for RIAC.

"I think everybody's awareness has been raised, and I think all of our compassion has been raised," Johnson told CBC News.

"We've all seen these terrible clips, some of the terrible pictures of the suffering that's going on. It's really hard not to relate to that on a personal level."

Johnson will perform with a group of young musicians Sunday, including 13-year-old violinist Serena Piercey.

"I think it's a great way to help charity and I really support it and I think that RIAC are really helping in a good way — helping people once they get into Canada" said Piercey.

Others, like Rashmi Elangage, hope the event will bring more attention to the international crisis.

"Not many people know about what's going on in different places in the world like Syria, or other places, where there's war going on, so I think this might create more awareness," Elangage said.

She believes RIAC provides an important service to the immigrant and refugee community.

"(RIAC) helps them feel more at home, so they understand what life is like here, and that they just don't need to worry about war anymore."

Less Violence, More Violins will take place 2 p.m. Sunday at Cochrane Street United Church.