7 p.m. tonight at Emanu El
Kids make it an emotional Berry kids concert rehearsal with messages for theirhurt friends
Led by Dora Lee Grinberg, the P.A.W. Pals Children's Choir is composed of kidsfrom Congregation Emanu El, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, First PresbyterianChurch and St. John Vianney Catholic Church.Photo by Joel Luks
The concert has a selections of songs — some uplifting, some reflective — tooffer hope and healing to the Berry children.
Photo by Robin Barry
We are building a better world with love. With friends. With peace. One person at a time.
Those words resonated and echoed in the main sanctuary during a music rehearsal at Congregation Emanu El Tuesday night. Thirty children gathered to express their hopes and wishes for Peter, Aaron and Willa Berry through song.
The Berry kids are recovering from the horrific car accident that killed their parents over Fourth of July weekend — with 9-year-old Peter and 8-year-old Aaron currently paralyzed from the waist down and hospitalized in Chicago — and the kids at Emanu El, many of them friends of Peter, Aaron and Willa, wanted to do something for them.
The P.A.W. Pals Children's Choir — composed of kids from Congregation Emanu El, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, First Presbyterian Church and St. John Vianney Catholic Church and directed by Dora Lee Grinberg — practiced songs, choreography and readings in preparation for The Berry Benefit Concert for Hope and Healing — 7 p.m. Thursday night at Congregation Emanu El.
In their messages of love and support, all the P.A.W. kids wanted was their friends back home.
"I hope you get better soon so we can play games together," one boy said.
"I want you to know that you can live your hopes and dreams right along with us," a girl read.
For the adults participating, this reporter included, it was nearly impossible to keep our composure. Sure, this Houston family's tragedy has touched people around the country and drawn the mega celebrity attention of world superstars like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. But the message is exponentially stronger when it comes from innocent children, especially those kids close to the Berrys.
It is the quintessential example of kids helping kids.
Things didn't get any easier when the choir rehearsed a song written by Adam Berry, Joshua's brother. When the children joined Congregation Emanu El's Shabbatones with "We just need a little love and we'll find our light," getting through the tune — reminiscent of "Yellow Submarine" — became an emotional struggle.
The concert's repertoire has been carefully curated by pianist, music educator and artistic director Julie Sacks. It commingles uplifting tunes like "I'll Stand By You" and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Carry On" performed by Jewish Community Center Houston's a capella troupe, jTunes, with more classical selections like Richard Strauss' Morgen and Paul Schoenfield's Achat Sha’alti.
It's perhaps the lyrics to "Anytime (I Am There)" from Elegies by William Finn, sung by Dee Dee Dochen and Mike Kahn, that express everyone's sentiments accurately though:
I don't know why this thing happened, but this much is clear, be aware, I am there.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. concert can be purchased at the door for $18. All the proceeds will be donated to the Joshua and Robin Berry Children's Trust for the long term care of the Berry children.
