Moses Bomett, senior in economics and president of the non-profit organization Hope 4 Africa, asked attendees of the benefit concert, Muziki 4 Hope, to raise their hand if they had ever had the opportunity to play an instrument growing up.

Nearly the entire audience raised their hand.

As college students, many students can say we have grown up surrounded by music. Whether it be hearing it, or playing it, we are fortunate enough to have it in our lives. The children of Nakuru, Kenya, are not so lucky.

These children have grown up without the luxury of musical instruments, or even having a music program in their school. This is why Hope 4 Africa’s program, Music 4 Hope is using donations brought from branch off clubs, like Hope 4 Africa @ ISU, to provide the gift of music to these children.

Three local bands, Bull of Arc, Helms Deep and The Real Quaid, played for the crowd at Zeke’s Thursday night for Hope 4 Africa @ ISU’s benefit concert Muziki 4 Hope.

Bull of Arc, consisting of Abhi Pant, freshman in industrial engineering, on guitar and lead vocals, Justin Moser, freshman in chemical engineering, on guitar, vocals and keys, Henry Smith, freshman in engineering, playing bass guitar. Chris Turner, freshman in general preveterinary medicine, was also on guitar, and the drummer was Ben Dennis, junior in marketing. They were the first band to play.

Pant said he grew up hearing all kinds of music from his family members, but never had any instruments to “express that sound.” When his uncle gave him his first guitar, Pant said, “It meant so much to me, and there are probably kids out there just like me.”

“Music is an international language,” Pant said.  “It’s an awesome opportunity to expose music to kids … makes us feel fortunate and thankful we’re giving back — spreading the love of music.”

Moser said music has always been in his life.

“[Without music], I wouldn’t be the same person I am now,” Moser said. “It’s such a great way for me to express myself. I can’t imagine who I’d be without music.”

Turner said he quit piano lessons at a young age, and it was his biggest regret.

“If someone else has that opportunity … it will change your life,” Turner said.

Smith learned how to play bass guitar from his dad. At first, he said he hated it.

“Now, it’s the most important thing in my life … I love that I can spread that around and help people feel the same way about music,” Smith said.

Helms Deep was the next band to join the stage. The band has 5 members, Emily Highnm playing cello, Leah Baugh, senior in english, on guitar, ukelele and keyboard. Hunter Holeman, senior in kinesiology and health, was on banjo and guitar, Doug Masik playing the cajon and Mark Lukasiewicz,senior in music, was playing saxophone and keyboards.

Highnm is a classically trained cellist. After years of training, she joined a band in high school, where she said she really “got into music.”

“I really appreciate how it can move people,” Highnm said. “Music is a really good way to connect to a part of history. … It’s a good way for the African children to reconnect with their ancestors.”

Baugh grew up with a musical mom.

“She always sings instead of talks,” Baugh said. She originally wanted to be a percussionist, but her mom said no, so instead she chose to pick up guitar instead.

“I like all kinds of music,” Baugh said. “The more music you listen to you realize how life changing it can be. … It brings a lot of hope. There isn’t a lot of beauty [in Africa], so music can bring the beauty.”

Holeman said communication is one of the things that make us uniquely human.

“Music as an art hones in on that … it’s such a powerful form of communication.” Holeman said. “People should celebrate this way to communicate. That’s what music does.”

“Music is the only true universal language that connects everyone together,” Masik said. “Making it our connection to the African children.”

Masik has been playing music for a lot of his life. He said he was the first of his family to actually take music seriously.

The Real Quaid members, Riley Hanus, junior in materials engineering, on guitar, vocals and piano, Matt Knoll, junior in finance, on guitar and vocals, bassist Colin Grace, junior in political science and drummer Vince Hartogh, freshman in computer science, were the last band to hit the stage.

Knoll said making music is one of the best ways to express yourself.

“For the kids in Africa who aren’t as fortunate as most of us, music can be a big deal in showing who you are when you can’t afford the material stuff.”

Hartogh said his musical journey began with good teachers. When he started playing percussion in the fourth grade, he said he was lucky enough to have an amazing teacher.

“I’ve been nothing but blessed to be around talented musicians who I’ve been able to learn from,” Hartogh said. “I think the greatest thing a musican can do is teach other musicians … if Hope 4 Africa could help teach these kids music that would make me very happy. I think about all the happiness that music has brought me in my life, and if these kids could have a teacher and some equipment that they could make their own noises with, they could have a positive thing happening in their lives too.”

Hanus said he’d like to see the event raise enough money to provide music for the event, and hopes to inspire these events more often.

“We all have a commitment to community service, this is how we love to do it,” Hanus said.

Grace said, “It’s a rare thing — doing something you love while helping people … we get our name out there, raise money for kids, and get hope for Africa’s name out there … but at the end of the day it’s about playing music for people.”