Benefit Concert for WWDD Foundation

A concert benefiting the WWDD (What Would Daniel Do) Foundation will be held on Sunday, February 23, from 3-5 pm at the Scotts Ridge Middle School auditorium.

Four musical acts with award-winning young performers will be featured at the event. All proceeds will be donated to the WWDD Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds programs that build a sense of community and reduce social isolation.

The WWDD Benefit Concert will include a raffle featuring goods and services from local merchants. There will also be a bake sale.

Headlining the concert will be Marmalade Sky, a band that has played in venues throughout New York and Connecticut. The band, consisting of five musicians ages 12-13, won the prestigious Ridgefield BandJam competition in 2012 and 2013. Playing classic and contemporary rock, the band has played the iconic Bitter End twice, and was the only rock group invited to play at the Danbury First Night New Year's Eve celebration. Their latest concert at the Lumberyard Pub had a Standing Room Only crowd.

Amber Schaper, lead singer of Marmalade Sky, organized the WWDD concert. "We are truly honored to pay tribute to Daniel and help raise funds for this important organization," she said.

"I can remember Daniel playing the drums and his intense love of music. I know he will be looking down smiling at the concert and hope everyone there will be smiling with him."

The Barden family-endorsed WWDD Foundation was inspired by the life of Daniel Barden, a victim of the Newtown shooting last year. The Foundation honors Daniel's memory with the goal of inspiring others to share his kindness, compassion, selflessness, gratitude and appreciation of life.

The concert will also include a performance by Jared Bovine, a 15-year-old piano prodigy. A student at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and Manhattan School of Music's Pre-College Division, Jared has toured with the Fairfield County Children's Choir Chamber Singers in Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Montreal, Quebec, San Francisco, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall & Madison Square Garden.

Bluegrass duo G Rockwell (banjo) and Natasha Kaluzynski (fiddle) are also scheduled to perform, as well as Miss Schaper. Amber currently hosts (and performs in) the monthly Two Boots Shining Stars Open Mic Night in Bridgeport. Amber has appeared in Fairfield Preteen Theater productions, as well as the Music Theater of Connecticut. A piano player since age 5, Amber is a student at the Fairfield School of Music with Tracy Ellwanger and currently trains with film and television star Cynthia Gibb. Amber will be accompanied by her younger brother, Noah Schaper, on certain selections.

Tickets for the WWDD Benefit Concert are by suggested donation: $20 for adults, and $10 for children under 13. Doors open at 2:30 pm for tickets, raffle viewing, and the bake sale. All proceeds will go to the WWDD.

About the WWDD Foundation

"Our mission is to inspire and empower every person to act with kindness in order to make a positive cultural change. Our goal is to help individuals build a sense of community and reduce social isolation. We believe by bringing awareness to these issues and providing opportunities for interaction and acceptance, cultural change will occur." For more information, visit www.whatwoulddanieldo.com.