Annual MIA charity concert fast approaching

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: TERI MICHALARGIAS
Share The Land celebrates the hard work and talent of Fanshawe's MIA students, all while raising money for charity.

Students of Fanshawe’s music industry arts (MIA) program are gearing up for the culmination of months of hard work.

Share The Land is an entirely student-organized charity concert put on by MIA to honour former Fanshawe professor and Canadian music icon, Jack Richardson. The concert has been an annual tradition for MIA students since 2012. This year’s concert is being held at London Music Hall on Feb. 12 and 7:00 p.m. (doors at 6:00 p.m.).

The show is a collection of MIA students showcasing their talents to raise money for a charity of their choosing. Every year the executive team chooses a different charity to support, and this year’s executive team chose The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Navigator. Londons student lifestyles magazine.

Students have been preparing for the event since October, and one of Share The Land’s general managers, Ryan Glen said that process comes with many challenges.

“It’s a lot of work to get all the bands where they need to be,” said Glen. “Each week they have something new they all have to work on.”

Glen said that includes things like how to act and speak on stage or how to move and perform for a crowd. For many bands, Share The Land is their first exposure to playing for a large audience.

“They’re working on things that take a show from good to great,” he said.

Glen said this year that new steps have been taken to improve the show’s visual elements, offering a different experience for audience members.

“There are different intro videos and graphics playing in the background while artists are performing,” he said. Designing the visual aspects of the show is another major piece of the puzzle that MIA students work tirelessly to perfect.

For the show’s other general manager, Alison Procknow, months of hard work means exciting payoff.

“I’m excited to watch everything come together,” she said. “It’s been a long process. It’s been quite difficult. But I’m just excited to see it all come together as one.”

Glen added that the entire experience is an excellent learning tool for students, despite the stress that it comes with. Practice with technical elements of performance as well as the planning and promotion behind live music are all pieces that play a part in bringing Share The Land together.

Share The Land gives MIA students the opportunity to hone their skills as performers and event planners. Whether you’re looking to discover new bands, support the work of young students, or just support Sick Kids, Share The Land is an exciting evening for students and audience members alike.

Tickets for the event are $20 and are available at ticketweb.ca, Grooves Records, and the London Music Hall box office. For more information, find the event on Facebook at facebook.com/sharethelandfanshawe.