Ghana-Yale Benefit Concert Supporting Elimination Of Mother-To-Child Transmission Of HIV In Ghana

May 20, 2014

The Yale Percussion Group (YPG) and Yale Concert Band (YCB) from Yale University in the US along with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ghana will be giving a concert to benefit the Ghana-Yale Partnership for Global Health, which is working towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Ghana.

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to be represented at the performance — conducted by Thomas C. Duffy of Yale — on Friday, May 23 at 8 pm at the National Theatre in Accra. Yale musicians from the YPG and YCB will perform alongside the National Symphony Orchestra of Ghana; two pieces will include Ghanaian drummers.

The Ghana-Yale initiative, announced in March by President Mahama, is a collaboration between Yale University, the Government of Ghana, and high-profile organizations, including IBM and The ONE Campaign.

Would you be interested in covering this event and the larger partnership? I’d be happy to connect you with key individuals that you could interview.

Below is additional information about the initiative and concert.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Shana N. Schneider
Director of Communications
Yale Office of International Affairs

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Though Ghana has done a lot to reduce the rate of HIV transmission, the country still has a high rate of HIV among pregnant women. The initial objective of the consortium is to reduce the rate of mother-to-child transmission to less than 5% by the year 2018, which would meet a goal set by the World Health Organization. The Government of Ghana would like to go even further, however, ensuring a reduction to less than 1% by 2020.

While in Ghana, the Yale percussionists and members of the YCB will also study, perform, and record traditional drumming and dance pieces with Ghanaian master drummers. There will be “unity” concerts at two universities and the groups will undertake service projects in the village of Yamoransa, where Yale already maintains an engagement.

Tickets for the May 23 benefit concert are available at several locations, including the National Theatre box office, the Yale Alumni Club, the University of Ghana Department of Music, and at the door. The price is 100 GH ($35 US) for VIP tickets; 30 GH ($10 US) for adults; and 10 GH ($3.50) for students.

For details and a complete itinerary, please see “Yale Music Ensembles Travel to Ghana this May: http://music.yale.edu/2014/05/12/yale-music-ensembles-travel-ghana-may/