It was her senior year of high school when Castleton student Jessica Pierpont and her family received the news that would forever change their lives. A positive diagnosis of cancer for her father, Richard, in 2009 is a day they will long remember.
“When he got the diagnosis things were very tense,” said Pierpont, who originally hails from Connecticut before moving to Vermont after her father’s diagnosis. “It was a hard hit for my family since we were all so close, he was really our foundation.”
Turning a time of heartache into a positive community celebration, the Castleton music major turned the passion for music she shared with her father into a focus on creating an event devoted to raising funds for cancer research.
Known as BEAT IT! the benefit concert features a night of live musical performances by various singing groups from across New England. All event proceeds go towards the support of both the American Cancer Society and the Be the Match Foundation, which links potential bone marrow donors to those in need of a transplant.
“My dad was one of those people who was always positive,” said Pierpont, explaining how her father’s upbeat personality encouraged the creation of the event.
The labor of love quickly grew into an annual celebration of music and cancer awareness.
Pierpont hosted two successful concerts is her Connecticut hometown, before bringing the popular event to the Castleton campus.
“Doing these concerts has not only been a musical outlet for me,” she said, “it has been very much a part of my grieving process.”
In addition to founding the event, Pierpont, along with her mother and sister, play a large role in the concert execution each year. Together the three plan, organize, and publicize the event start to finish. Pierpont has even performed in many of the concerts as a member of Castleton’s a cappella group, Vocal Unrest.
Now in its sixth year, their efforts have raised over $5,000 for cancer research.
“Almost everyone is affected by cancer in one way or another,” she said. “I only hope this event can help others the way it has helped me.”
Recently accepted into the University of Arizona’s prestigious choral conducting graduate program, Pierpont hopes to continue organizing the concert series on her new campus.
Though her father lost his battle with cancer in early 2010, Pierpont believes the power of music partnered with cancer awareness and support can make all the difference.
“It’s something my dad would have been very proud of,” she said, “He was always a very big supporter of music.
This year's concert will be held Friday, April 18 at 7 pm in the Casella Theater. Vocal Unrest and Divisi, two of the region’s most popular and innovative a cappella groups, will perform a diverse repertoire that is sure to delight audiences both young and old, offering 20th century standards as well as new arrangements of today’s pop hits.
Tickets cost just $12 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and up, and $5 for students (children 12 and under are free). Tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance sales are not available for this event.