Legendary Folk Singers and Social Justice Advocates to Hold Benefit Concert in NYC

Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey Together Again to Sing the Songs of Peter, Paul and Mary

(New York, New York – August 12, 2016) For more than 50 years, Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary have, along with their greatly missed partner and friend, Mary Travers, used their music advocating for equity, peace and justice.  On Thursday September 29, 2016, they will sing together once more in a first-ever concert of it’s kind that includes members of the New York Choral Society and a special New York chamber ensemble of students and graduates from LaGuardia High School and the High School of Music & Art to benefit Operation Respect, the anti-bullying education non-profit Mr. Yarrow co-founded in 1999.

The gala benefit concert at Peter Norton Symphony Space will honor Robert De Cormier, Peter Paul and Mary's Music Director, who wrote both choral and orchestral arrangements for many of the trio's most beloved songs.  Mr. De Cormier, now 94 years old, will travel from Vermont to conduct this rare New York appearance by Peter and Noel Paul.

Operation Respect  is a non-profit education and advocacy organization dedicated to transforming schools, camps, and other youth-serving organizations into safer, more respectful, bully-free environments for children and youth.

“I believe that educating the next generation of children in such a way that they care about each other, love each other, and treat each other with kindness will create a heart-connected world. If we have that, we will be able to deal with most of the challenges of our time,” said Mr. Yarrow.  Mr. Stookey and Mr. Yarrow serve as members of the organization’s board of directors.

Operation Respect’s “Don’t Laugh at Me” classroom-based program is now utilized by thousands of schools and districts around the world who implement Don’t Laugh at Me and other efforts championed by Operation Respect including restorative justice, peer mediation, and anti-bias training for educators. With its inspiring music, social-emotional learning curricula, and highly-regarded professional training, Operation Respect provides educators and schools from New York, NY, Clark County, NV, Charlotte, NC, Israel, Hong Kong, Palestine, and Ukraine with the tools they need to help children express their feelings constructively, resolve conflict peacefully, celebrate diversity, and engage with each other in a spirit of caring, compassion and cooperation.

“After twenty-eight years with Peter, Paul and Mary, I’m so pleased to be back with Peter, Noel and the spirit of Mary to make music and raise funds for Peter’s incredible Operation Respect organization”, said Mr. De Cormier.  “I hope you’ll join us on September 29th to help Peter wipe out bullying in schools around the world.”

More information on the benefit concert can be found here, http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/9432/Music/peter-paul-of-peter-paul-mary .

To learn more about Operation Respect please visit www.operationrespect.org .

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