Singer/songwriter Charlie Moore, along with a band of current and former Greely High School students, will perform a benefit concert for SEED June 15 in Cumberland. Contributed / Charlie Moore
Charlie Moore started playing the piano at the age of 4. Immediately taken with it, he began playing guitar and singing, and five years ago he started writing his own music.
“Music is something that I’m very passionate about,” said Moore, a junior at Greely High School who often is inspired as a songwriter by the work of alternative folk band The Lumineers. “Singing original music in front of people is something that brings me great joy.”
He will perform some of those original pieces next month in a concert he organized to benefit Students Empowered to End Dependency. The nonprofit SEED is dedicated to reducing Maine students’ substance misuse, reducing the stigma associated with drug and alcohol dependency, teaching the science underlying substance use disorders and promoting recovery services.
He worked with SEED on its documentary series, performing two of his songs.
“They have given me many valuable opportunities that I will forever remember,” he said.
Last year, Moore put on a benefit concert with the help of piano teacher Ben Birkbeck from Studio B in Yarmouth and Greely’s band teacher, Kevin Rollins. Moore and a band of current and former Greely students performed for an hour and raised $800.
This year, he worked on his benefit concert as an independent study project at the high school. He’s learned how to promote and to collaborate with large groups of people, Pathways program coordinator Andrew Fersch said.
“The skills that students learn from creative projects are incredibly valuable,” Fersch said. “Why not create opportunities where he can both follow a passion but also learn hard skills that are transferable to anything?”
The June 15 concert will open with a performance by The Faculties, Greely’s faculty band. Moore will be backed by current and former Greely students Ben Marchessault, Eyezaya McFetridge, Nathan Howell and Brad Longfellow.
The benefit concert will be held at Greely Center for the Arts on June 15. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door and all proceeds will benefit SEED.
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