Listen for Life Musicfest comes to Mission Viejo on International Day of Peace

Archive 09/24/2012 Community

Ruman Sali Shopov plays Tambura with Ant Glynne on guitar. (Angie L. Pineda)

Angie L. Pineda

Friday, Sept. 21 marked an International Day of Peace and the band Listen for Life celebrated their world vision by bringing a music fest to the World Cup Soccer Center off of Laz Paz Rd in Mission Viejo, CA.

Listen for Life travels with musicians from nine world cultures who all demonstrate their traditions with exotic instruments including the harp from Eastern Europe, the tambura from Bulgaria, the oud from Palestine, the sitar from India, and the Guzheng from China.

Donna Stoering founded the the Listen for Life group 14 years ago in London.

“We are all together restoring music as a unifying force for the good around the world,” Stoering said.

Stoering has created this musical concept through donations from people around the world who share the same view of world peace.

“We’ve managed so far to impact about 9 million people in 55 countries through our programs and projects,” Stoering said.

Stoering adds that in order to have a voice in global media in what you hear on the radio and on television, it’s important to make donations and support musicians so that they may continue singing about their cultures. They welcome contributions to make these things possible.

Each person paid $10 to enter the music festival. Unfortunately Stoering and her people didn’t have the outcome they expected.

There were about 200 people in the audience. Derek Tadashi Takeuchi, who helps with the world tour marketing as a volunteer, said that they expected a lot more people.

“We need more media support, not just domestically but globally,” Takeuchi said. “This event should be trending.”

But considering their budget for the project, it wasn’t possible.

“I feel sorry for the people who didn’t come tonight!” guitar player Andy Andus said.

In any case, the small audience was captured by such a diverse group that were dancing freely on the grass, waving their hands and jumping up and down along with their children.

Kyle Garrity went to the concert not knowing what to expect.

“My favorite part was seeing how much fun and joy the performers were experiencing, not caring about the small turnout from the crowd. It’s nice to see there are still musicians out there who love the raw power of music,” Garrity said.

Oud player Naser Musa from Palestine wasn’t discouraged with the small audience.

“I feel a great pleasure being around great company, we need actual inner peace that comes from within and that will travel around the world,” Musa said.

Many of the band members have played along and with renowned bands and musicians.

Keyboardist Teddy Andreadis played with Guns N’ Roses, Carole King, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley. Guitarist Andy Andrus has played with John Lee Hooker, Greg Douglass, Little John Chrisley, and Jeff Bova.

James East on bass had played with Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie, and Sergio Mendes. Guitarist Ant Glynne has played with Asia, Albert Collins, and Rick Wakeman. Vocalist Bobby Kimball was the original singer of Toto.” Drummer Joe Manno played with the band Norway and Greg Douglass. Butch Taylor who was on keys played with the Dave Matthews Band from 1997 to 2008.

The Musicfests‘ next stop will be in Hollywood, Sept. 27, 2012, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.