Cindy Hernandez, music major and Vice President of the Music Club hosted a fundraiser which featured an evening of different styles of classical guitar played by the music students on Friday.

The event was to raise awareness and money for those suffering from NF(neurofibromatosis).

This disease is a dominantly inherited genetic disorder characterized by flat brown patches on the skin, neurofibromas of the skin and internal organs, and in some cases skeletal deformity.

Pamphlets with additional information about NF were being handed out to read at the intermission of the event.

Music Club Member Maria Garcia wanted to put on the charity event to raise money for a little girl she took care of for a year, Dakota Anderson.

Anderson was diagnosed with NF at birth and is now four years old. She is a carrier of non cancerous disease but is affected with tumors in her brain and nervous system.

“While I was taking care of her I saw the medical side of NF, seeing this little girl go to doctor appointment after doctor appointment and going through chemotherapy really took a toll on not only her family but myself,” Garcia said.

Although NF is a genetic disease, Anderson is the only carrier out of her three other siblings.

Carlos Bolivar played in the benefit concert, “This concert was a great way to raise funds for the Neurofibromas, and that’s what we do,” Bolivar said.

“We build communities through music, and ‘Building Unity Through Music’ is the Music Club’s motto,” he added.

Paul Garcia, who also played guitar in the event with a selection entitled “Romance.”
The other song was entitled “Prelude No.4,” which had a melodic tune featured in the 1890’s.

Garcia said that he liked the performance of the other artists as well at the fundraiser,  “I really liked how we changed our dynamics this concert.”

Jose Jimenez, music major at ELAC, attended the concert with a friend and was pleased with the outcome.

“Wow, I was amazed how great they are,” Jimenez stated, “Too bad there’s no classes in the summer here at Cerritos, I would of love to learn here.”

Cesar Jaramillo had a set by the artist of Heitor Villa-Lobos, a Brazilian composer. “Not many people understand how much time it takes to prepare for the classical guitar,” Jaramillo said.

“We had a brief amount of time to put on a whole concert, but thanks to the performers and everyone who came out and supported,” Jaramillo added, “we were able to have a good concert.”

The Music Club collected a total of $30 and  it will be donated to Anderson’s family.