International Recording Artist Daniel Rodriguez Joins Babylon Native, Composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm in Crowdfunding Project to Honor Fallen 9/11 Heroes

Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, Babylon High School graduating class of 1989 and assistant conductor of Long Island Symphonic Choral Association from 2009-2011, is crowdfunding to professionally record his 9/11 “Dies Magna” choral work.  “Dies Magna” was written to honor the firefighters and first responders who lost their lives while rushing into the burning towers to save others.  This choral work was performed both in 2010 and in 2011 by a group of volunteer singers called “Long Island Voices” under the direction of Bussewitz-Quarm, leading to a local news outlet naming Bussewitz-Quarm the 2010 Person of the Year in the Arts and 9-1-1 Veterans naming him the 2011 Civilian of the Year.  

Mr. Bussewitz-Quarm launched his campaign to raise funds for his album mid-March.  After hearing of the campaign and listening to Bussewitz-Quarm’s “Kyrie”, Daniel Rodriguez, affectionately known as “The Singing Policeman” after 9/11, phoned Bussewitz-Quarm and told him he was interested in singing on the album.  Mr. Rodriguez has worked on multiple occasions with the Stephen Hiller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which will receive a portion of the proceeds from Bussewitz-Quarm’s choral album.

If the campaign goal for the choral album is reached, additional contributions will go to a concert benefiting our local veterans in need. This concert will be presented Saturday, September 13th at St. James RCC in Setauket.  It will feature Johannes Brahms’ “Ein deutsches Requiem”, performed by Long Island Voices and Sound Symphony, under the direction of Mr. Bussewitz-Quarm.  All ticket sales, as in 2010 and 2011, will go directly to 9-1-1 Veterans, a local non-profit assisting Long Island veterans in times of need.  If you’d like to contribute to Mr. Bussewitz-Quarm’s crowdfunding campaign, go to http://igg.me/at/I-am-a-Voice

The campaign runs through May 14th.  Upon conclusion of the campaign, rehearsing and recording the choral album begins.  In June, the volunteers of Long Island Voices will begin rehearsing Brahms’ “German Requiem” for the September 13th performance. 

Contribution levels to this campaign range from $5 to $5,000.  All contributors will receive updates from Bussewitz-Quarm as the recording process progresses and then the Long Island Voices prepare for the concert.  Donors at the $10 level and higher will receive a digital download of “Kyrie” from Dies Magna and 5% goes to 9-1-1 Veterans a local non-profit working tirelessly to help veterans in need.  Those contributing at the $40 level will receive a copy of the “Dies Magna” CD.  Donors at the $75 and higher will appear in the Long Island Voices program and those contributing at the $250 level and higher will also have their name appear in the CD cover.

For any questions, please visit the campaign page athttp://igg.me/at/I-am-a-Voice or contact Mr. Bussewitz-Quarm at hello@mbqstudio.com or at (631) 403-0890.