Jaime Jorge knows from experience the positive impact music can have on a child’s life. The native Cuban violinist moved to Chattanooga about 20 years ago, and last year organized the inaugural A Healing Music Festival with the goal of raising money to pay for violin lessons for children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.
Featuring three concerts over two days, the event raised around $16,000 for Jorge’s Hope Through Music program, which covered the costs of instruments, music books, supplies, lessons, and related activities and outings for 10 students last year.
The second annual event is expanding to feature four concerts over three days – July 19, 20 and 21 – at Collegedale Community Church. Performers include national Christian artists The Isaacs, Legacy 5, and The Freedom Singers, along with local group Message of Mercy. Attendees will also witness some of the results of the money raised through last year’s festival as a few of the kids who have been taking lessons demonstrate a bit of what they’ve accomplished with performances of their own.
“We tried to pick groups that are fairly well-known and will provide a good concert,” said Kim Kimgry, Jorge’s office manager. “I expect for all to be spiritually uplifting.”
Attendees will also get to see a performance from Jorge, who’s no stranger to performing for the benefit of others. In 2013 he started the nonprofit foundation Healing Music, of which Hope Through Music is just one arm. He’s performed more than 200 concerts a year to support mission work in countries all over the world, from Cuba, Nicaragua and Mexico to India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.