Namulauulu Dr. Paul Pouesi, Chairman of the Fine Arts Department at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), will host a very special Christmas concert on Sunday, December 20 th to raise funds for tsunami victims, and also to display the musical range and power of the Fatuoaiga Holy Family Cathedral pipe organ. For this performance which begins at 5 p.m., Dr. Pouesi along with guest singers and musicians will perform new arrangements of holiday favorites as well as a new piece composed for the event.

Though best known as the leader of the ASCC Concert Choir, Dr. Pouesi's many areas of musical expertise include extensive study of the pipe organ. "Although I started out as a concert pianist, the pipe organ is my major instrument," he said. "While studying the pipe organ for three years at the University of Redlands, I learned the techniques for playing organ works by great masters such as Bach, Messiaen, and Mendelssohn and later I composed an 'Organ Sonata' for my Senior Compositional Recital 1984."

Dr. Pouesi describes the Fatuoaiga pipe organ as "one of a kind in American Samoa, as well as a very substantial investment for the cathedral." He previously performed on the instrument in 2004 as part of a special concert honoring the late Governor Tauese Sunia. Guests joining Dr. Pouesi for the Christmas concert will include local guitarist and music instructor Harry Miller, trumpet player George Hema, and singers Chevonne Lafaele and Elijah Tavai. Bishop Quinn Weitzel will give the benediction and the concert's opening and closing remarks.

Among the selections in the evening's program is a new piece titled "Christmas Is Here Again," which Dr. Pouesi composed in memory of young tsunami victim Vaijerosa Fitiao from Leone.  "After reading an article about this child, my heart broke and instantly I wrote this song," he recalled. For the Christmas concert, Dr. Pouesi has arranged the song for soloist, organ, trumpet and guitar, but the ASCC Concert Choir will also perform a choral arrangement of the tune at the Fagatogo Malae next week during the ASG Annual Christmas Celebration

Last month, the ASCC Fine Arts Department held a highly successful choral concert at Fatuoaiga which raised a substantial amount of funds towards tsunami relief. "The concert on December 20 th will focus more on the pipe organ, "explained Dr. Pouesi, "but like last time, we will not charge admission. Rather, we want everyone to just come, enjoy the music and donate whatever they feel comfortable giving."

For more information on the concert, call the main ASCC switchboard at 699-9155 and ask for Dr. Paul Pouesi. Dr. Pouesi also maintains a website which the public can visit at: www.lenota.com.