Concert for a Cause: Kurt Freeman organizes 988 concert fundraiser for suicide prevention

When senior Kurt Freeman’s teacher assigned the research paper in English this year, they knew exactly what topic they wanted to cover. The prompt of the research paper was to discuss a global issue and propose a solution, and the issue that first came to mind was a painful, personal and alarmingly important one. Suicide prevention.

Kurt was 10 when it happened. The research paper became a way they could express their years-long grieving process after their father’s suicide, as well as a way to investigate the topic of suicide and raise awareness.

“I lost him to suicide back in 2015, so ever since then, this is a very, very important topic to me and something that has driven a lot of the things that I’ve created, a lot of the things that I’ve done,” Kurt said. “It’s just something that [has] a big, big role in my life that I think is important to try to help.”

What started off as their required senior essay eventually morphed into an entire fundraiser concert over the course of a few months. On April 28, Kurt hopes to see the main gym filled with students — the more the better — because each $5 entry fee collected at the door will go to a cause close to Kurt: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Starting their senior research paper focusing on suicide prevention in teens and adults was the easy part. The second part of the assignment — proposing a solution to the issue — was harder.

“I think music and mental health have a very strong [relation], they go hand in hand for a lot of people,” Kurt said. “Also I just love music and I love playing music and I think other people love seeing music live. I know I do. So I thought that a concert was a perfect way to [fundraise].”

From there, Kurt had to find other musicians to play, a school club to sponsor the event, a venue to hold the concert in and what seemed like thousands of other logistics. They devoted any free time over the past few months to plan this concert and went through a long trial-and-error process of countless emails to potential sponsors and performers to find anyone available. 

But Kurt was determined for success. The pieces fell into place: Sources of Strength club agreed to sponsor the event, the main gym was available the day he wanted and the four of his friends from theatre he asked to participate were enthusiastic.

In fact, senior Kate Whitefield said yes immediately when Kurt casually asked her to play in the concert after a theater rehearsal. She trusted Kurt. She said she was aware of Kurt’s passion for both music and suicide prevention, so Kate was ecstatic to play guitar and sing to support her friend.

“They just came up and they showed me this poster on their phone that had my name on it, and they were like, ‘Hey, would you want to do this?’ And I agreed [right there],” Kate said. “Of course I would love to be a part of that and I’m really excited for it.”

Though she hasn’t finalized her official setlist yet, attendees can for sure look forward to hearing “Together Again.” The original song tells the story of Kate’s relationship with her cousin and how they grew apart due to her cousin’s mental health struggles — a fitting piece for a mental-health-related benefit concert. 

Another performer, senior Grace Fields, notes how excited she is to connect with audience members through her music. It’s intentional, she said, that music is the medium used to support a suicide prevention fundraiser. 

“I think that music can be very powerful with suicide prevention in itself,” Grace said. “Just the idea we’re performing music for that is very fitting, I think, because music makes you feel that you’re not alone and that someone is feeling the same emotions as you.”

Seniors Fritz Sullivan and Aaron Cameron will also be performing alongside Kurt. The performers are playing a variety of music, from original songs to covers. Cameron is even writing an original song solely for this concert.

Over the course of the next week, Kurt and the rest will rehearse, run through logistics and polish up any last-minute touches before Friday. Despite all of the expectations, Kurt says they just want it to be an enjoyable, high-energy event. Ultimately, Kurt has two goals — to bring people together and raise money for the 988 lifeline.

“I want it to be a fun event,” Kurt said. “[I hope] everyone involved gets to have a little fun and support a good cause at the same time.”