Yamaha Institutional and Commercial Services Department Provides Portable Grand Piano "To Zambia with Love"
BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America's Institutional and Commercial Services Department (ICS) recently provided a YPG-625 Portable Grand Piano to singer/songwriter Karen Jacobsen for her initiative, "To Zambia with Love."
In 2005 Jacobsen sponsored a child living in the African nation of Zambia, through Children International's child sponsorship program. For a donation of $18 a month, a child in extreme poverty can receive clean water, health care and education. Jacobsen was then inspired to contact everyone she knew to recruit sponsors for 100 Zambian girls in 100 days. She even organized a group called "To Zambia with Love" and invited the members to join her on a trip to Africa.
In August, Jacobsen traveled to Zambia to meet her sponsored child in person.
While there, she gave a concert for 250 children living in extreme poverty in the town of Kanyama. When this project came to the attention of ICS director Mike Bates, the department donated a portable grand piano for the performance. The children performed for their visitors, starting the concert with the Zambian National Anthem, and Jacobsen responded with the Australian and United States anthems. In celebration of the event, all 250 children were provided an extra meal that day, and during the concert sang along to Jacobsen's original songs. The Yamaha piano was donated to the center, and Children International is planning to find a music teacher for the facility so these children will have the opportunity for music lessons.
"Jacobsen's innovative use of music to raise awareness of the situation in Africa has proven very successful, and we were delighted to be involved and donate the piano," states Mike Bates, Director of Yamaha's ICS Department.
Australian-born singer-songwriter Jacobsen believes that "by putting our energies into our similarities as human beings instead of our differences, we can live in a world that works for everyone." Now based in New York, Karen has shared the stage with Norah Jones, sung the anthem at huge sporting events including a New York Jets game at Giants Stadium, and her songs have been heard on "Dawson's Creek" and NBC. Jacobsen's latest CD, Kissing Someone Else, will be released soon. Visit www.karenjacobsen.com for more details.
Yamaha's YPG-625 features Yamaha Style and Voice technology in an 88-key weighted-action keyboard. Ultra modern enhancements include USB MIDI for computer connectivity, USB to device for connecting USB storage devices, and a backlit LCD that displays lyrics and notation.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Institutional and Commercial Services Department, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, e-mail infostation@yamaha.com or visit www.yamahaworship.com.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha Corporation of America manufactures a complete line of musical instruments, professional audio products, customer-driven support products and computer-based products targeted to both the amateur and professional markets.
 Karen Jacobsen performing in Zambia on a Yamaha YPG-625. |
In August, Jacobsen traveled to Zambia to meet her sponsored child in person.
While there, she gave a concert for 250 children living in extreme poverty in the town of Kanyama. When this project came to the attention of ICS director Mike Bates, the department donated a portable grand piano for the performance. The children performed for their visitors, starting the concert with the Zambian National Anthem, and Jacobsen responded with the Australian and United States anthems. In celebration of the event, all 250 children were provided an extra meal that day, and during the concert sang along to Jacobsen's original songs. The Yamaha piano was donated to the center, and Children International is planning to find a music teacher for the facility so these children will have the opportunity for music lessons.
 Karen Jacobsen, surrounded by Zambian children in the town of Kanyama, after her performance. |
Australian-born singer-songwriter Jacobsen believes that "by putting our energies into our similarities as human beings instead of our differences, we can live in a world that works for everyone." Now based in New York, Karen has shared the stage with Norah Jones, sung the anthem at huge sporting events including a New York Jets game at Giants Stadium, and her songs have been heard on "Dawson's Creek" and NBC. Jacobsen's latest CD, Kissing Someone Else, will be released soon. Visit www.karenjacobsen.com for more details.
Yamaha's YPG-625 features Yamaha Style and Voice technology in an 88-key weighted-action keyboard. Ultra modern enhancements include USB MIDI for computer connectivity, USB to device for connecting USB storage devices, and a backlit LCD that displays lyrics and notation.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Institutional and Commercial Services Department, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, e-mail infostation@yamaha.com or visit www.yamahaworship.com.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha Corporation of America manufactures a complete line of musical instruments, professional audio products, customer-driven support products and computer-based products targeted to both the amateur and professional markets.