Friends of the Peace Train assists young leaders and community projects

Since 1992, Sharon has been providing leadership training for South Africa's youth and development assistance for the communities hit hardest by the evils of apartheid.  With many of those youth now graduating from universities, Friends of the Peace Train is providing seed funding and consultation services for the community projects these young leaders are now developing.  In 2005, Friends Of The Peace Train began implementing job creation and therapeutic music and dance programs in schools and in shelters for homeless children's and orphanages in South Africa. These music and dance programs assist children from severely impoverished homes, as well as children who have been orphaned due to the AIDS pandemic, to find courage and hope in their everyday lives. Friends Of The Peace Train provides training and support to Durban musician Shophi Ngidi to teach in the music and dance programs; assists a children's feeding scheme at Insimbini Primary School in KwaZulu Natal; and helps to support several children at Lotus Childrens Home in Mabopane, South Africa. Friends of The Peace Train needs financial assistance in order to expand their programs for homeless children and create jobs for unemployed South African musicians.
 

 

For more information or to find out how you can become part of Friends of the Peace Train's work by donating equipment, services or funds, contact SharonKatz2000@aol.com

 

 

Grammy Nomination, Carnegie Hall Concerts & More

It's hard to beat a Grammy nomination for your first CD in America, but this South African group isn't stopping there!  A new CD has been released featuring the legendary Dolly Rathebe, Miriam Makeba's mentor.

After numerous performances for Carnegie Hall since 2003, the rave reviews and requests for more keep flooding in.  You can catch them for their fourth return appearance at the famous Hudson Clearwater Revival Festival.

 

 Grants, A New Musical & A Documentary

In a series of tributes to her talent, compassion and tenacity, Sharon was recently singled out by several arts organizations and honored with a series of extraordinary opportunities:

 

    American Composer's Forum Grant to compose new musical works

 

    Leeway Foundation Grant to study with a mentor in South Africa

    Sutton Bay Media to be the subject of a documentary about her life's work
 

National Liberty Museum Peace Train Project   In July 2007  the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia was awarded a special grant for Sharon Katz & The Peace Train to work with students in the public schools of Philadelphia.  There they are using their unique brand of music and music therapy to help to reduce violence amongst Philadelphia's youth.  Sharon and the band have created a unique model that uses African music and dance fused with contemporary American music and dance styles to inspire hope and expose the positive energy and creativity of Philadelphia Public School students.

Distell Performance and Job Creation Peace Train Project   The prominent Cape wine company, Distell, approached Sharon in 2005 to begin a unique performance and job creation project in the township of Kayamandi.  Sharon and co-director and choreographer, Ms. Shophi Ngidi, auditioned and trained a group of young adults who, as a result of their increased self esteem, developed the courage to go out and look for work. They are all now employed by local companies.  Through the Distell Peace Train Project the youth have developed into a fully fledged performing group called Masande and were recently featured with Sharon and Shophi at the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards in Cape Town and at the Woordfees Festival in Stellenbosch.